The Last Word: November 10-14, 2014

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DavidKingham_8199741707More imaging, more problems: Colin Norman’s medical troubles began with his heart. But in this week’s post, an MRI of Colin’s heart shows that his pancreas is wearing a cyst ominously called an intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm. These cysts may be an early sign of pancreatic cancer, but using them to screen for the disease . . . well, that’s tricky.

Why does Christie love elk hunting? Maybe because you do it in the dark. “Something magic happens in the woods when the sun goes down. Without sight as a guide, the other senses become more vivid, in the way that I imagine a blind person must become more attuned to sound or touch.”

Lava smothers everything in its path, but eventually life returns. Craig goes to Hawaii to see succession for himself. “The force of the living seemed more cunning and unstoppable than any devastation, ready to explode onto whatever it touched.”

Countries can’t seem to come to any agreements on climate change. But maybe megacities could lead the charge, says Jess. “City governments are used to down-and-dirty infrastructure tasks and practical decision-making – the kind of pragmatic thinking we need to follow through on carbon commitments.”

And if you’re looking for action on climate change, don’t look to Congress, says Richard. Politicians aren’t scientists. They’re not farmers or teachers either. “Don’t expect any votes on agriculture or education,” said one House member, speaking on background.” They aren’t experts on . . . well, anything.

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Image: La Veda Pass at night by David Kingham via Flickr.

 

Categorized in: Miscellaneous