Cheap Labor From South Of The Border

The Wave Pictures - 'Just Like A Drummer' @ Yahoo! Video

Guatemala to be exact. London group, the Wave Pictures hired a Guatemalan commercial director to go out on the street and film locals lip-synching to their mellifluous ditty, Just Like A Drummer. Ironically, there is not a single drummer featured.

A Lighter Shade Of A Darker Shade of Palin

Jon Stewart to the rescue!

Truth Is Stranger Than (Meta) Fiction

J.C.V.D., the upcoming French film already generating some critical buzz gives Van Damme the Malkovich with strong potential for a Travolta.

We Now Resume Our (Ir)Regular Programming

Thanx for your patience.

So, it's been three weeks since I woke up with the mysterious blind spots [See: Please Stand By – Ed.]. After a fast-tracked journey (aided significantly by a succession of great doctors) and a series of tests that covered the gamut (A range held down at one end by, I sh*t you not, "how many fingers am I holding up") to discover the 'what' and the 'why', we're on the cusp of a confirmed diagnosis. I say confimred, because Friday's test, a lumbar puncture – commonly, 'spinal tap' – should erase any doubt about the informal diagnosis that has been suggested almost since I took the first test. Multiple Sclerosis.

So, one mystery seems to have been solved but the answer, MS, is itself a bit of a mystery. Even with a diagnosis it's almost impossible to get an accurate prognosis – it's sort of a 'wait and see' disease that follows a few different paths.

Now, in case anyone wants to get all dramatic and overwrought about the news, please know that myself (and Hol) made our peace with the diagnosis almost as soon as it was suggested and are doing just fine at this point. We're ready to take it as it comes. The prognosis does get a boost by the early (within 3 months) catch – so we've got that going for us.

I've learned a lot about the disease in the past three weeks and have a lot more to learn. I will probably share some of it in the coming weeks. So, I apologize in advance, but there's a distinct posibility that WTF will skew 'MSy' for a bit. But, I'm hopeful that it won't define WTF and I'm hopeful it won't define me.

A few things worth noting:
1. We won't have a confirmed diagnosis until next week, but we're 90 - 95% certain.
2. Aside from the likely MS diagnosis, I'm strong like bull. Blood pressure, heartrate, vision, blood work etc., etc. are all excellent.
3. If you're like me, the terms 'lumbar puncture' and 'spinal tap' conjur sensations and expectations of something akin to medieval torture. However, I'm pleased and relieved to report that an 'LP' is not significantly worse than having blood drawn. Go get one today!
4. I certainly have no expectations that any of you learn more or 'do someting'. But, if you're compelled to there's a new button over on the left, for JoinTheMovement.org, that would be a good place to start.

Please Stand By

We are experiencing optical difficulties. WTF will return as soon as we have them resolved.

Specifically, I'm having some eye trouble and am working on getting it diagnosed. The symptoms aren't particularly drastic, just a bit iritating and mysterious at the moment. I have some 'blind spots' in both eyes that make reading, writing, and anything involving focused use of eyes a bit more trouble than they're worth.

More news as it develops.

On a related note:
After being told a few times over the past two days by optomologists that "smoking is bad for your eyes", I found it particularly ironic to find a large framed Hockney print in the retinal specialist's office.

Oh, the irony!

Week one and the blog's 'concept' completely fell appart. Not only did I not post exclusively on W, T and F – I didn't post at all on W,T or F. WTF?


Big pitch on Mon. Look for new post(s) Sun/Mon.