All Things Rowdy

 I have a history of concussion with loss of consciousness. This has happened 6 times in my life. I also have a neurological issue that made me completely deaf in one ear. Genetic testing showed I carry two variants for Alzheimer's disease, increasing my risk 12-fold. I also had multiple brain MRIs this year to assess my function. After a year of noticing smaller issues, I was referred for testing with a specialist neurologist. More testing, more blood work, more genetic testing and hours or neuropsychological testing. All this led to a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment secondary to Traumatic Brain Injury. That diagnosis has advanced now to Early Onset Alzheimer's Disease. At 53 years old. Now you know.

I think it is fair to say most of us would have no issue with someone going back in time and killing Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pol Pot, and other leaders of countries who were mass murderers.  In my ethical view, some people should be killed for their actions. But not for their beliefs. Not for their beliefs. Assassination of a citizen, entertainer, journalist or politician simply for their beliefs is completely wrong. They're just thoughts and words.   It's only when their actions directly contribute to the deaths of innocent others that they become legitimate targets for removal from society.

We all know the line from the movie, with great power comes great responsibility. What is one of the most powerful items a person can own? A firearm. I think the top three are a device connected to the internet, a car, and a firearm. Those three items give a person more options to influence others, which is what power is, than anything else they own.   Unless wielded as a contact weapon, very few people can directly kill someone with their phone or laptop. I do recognize there are other forms of damage, but I'm only interested in loss of life for this discussion, as it is the ultimate loss.  How many people are killed by cars is a matter of public record and we know the contributing factors or alcohol, drugs, distraction, rage, poor vehicle control, and road conditions. Most readers of this blog have a driver's license and can still remember the process it took to require it. Younger readers needing more education and training than their older counterparts. In my case, I ...

Sometimes I wonder if my failing physical body is a reflection on some emotional, spiritual or intelectual failing in an other aspect of my life. Also, I don't support Trump and I think his politics, morals and business sense are ruining America.

I currently live in Texas, and have since 2018, so the past 7 years. I plan to visit where I grew up in Washington state next week and this has prompted me to think about the amount of time I have lived in each state during my life. I'll exclude my time in Spain and Iraq as they are measured in months and not years. Though I do consider myself having lived those places as I was in work or school, received mail and had and ID card issued. Oregon 14 years Washington 13 years Montana 2 years Ariozona 2 years California 12 Arkansas 3 years Texas 7 years

80% of individuals with MCI convert to AD within 3 to 7 years. Having both APOE4 allelles increases your risk 12 fold. Diagnosed with MCI this year. Amyloid PET scan in August. 3 to 7 years to Alzheimer's disease? That is frightening.