@Steve - Valley fever isn't actually a bacterium but a fungus.  There are people who test positive for having had Valley Fever at some time in their life but never knew it.  There are so many different ways this disease manifests itself and the severity can range from none or very mild symptoms to an agonizing death. ...more

I live in Bakersfield, CA (Kern County) and we a a hotbed for this disease.  I have been tested and I show that I have had it at some point but never knew it.  There are people in my town who have suffered greatly from cocci.  I had a friend at work who got it and it went into his spinal column and his brain.  I watch ...more

I know this is a story about Barnes and Noble and I, too, lament the fact that we are losing so many great book stores, including the little Mom & Pop stores.  There's just something about touching and smelling a new book that "hooks" a bibliophile.  However, don't forget about our libraries.  In recent years what with...more

@Matt - I couldn't have said it better...

I especially love the middle picture of the dog.  He really does have a cute hair cut but really - a lion?  I don't think so and I don't think being under the influence would help make it look like one.

@Linda - excellent post - I couldn't have said it better.

@Roland - there should be nothing derogatory you need to say about Huell Howser.  Nothing.  If he was gay, so what.  Making even one bigoted comment about him is just not cool.  He was a very nice guy and tried to keep his private life private probably just because of people like you making light of him.  Enough said f...more

I loved Huell.  I have never seen anyone get as excited as him over the most mundane things.  His excitement was catching and I would find myself wondering about the little towns he talked about with such enthusiasm. One of his shows was about a store in the LA area that sold all the old time soda pop that you couldn'...more

@Roland - you say in your post the you "have no issues with gay people"  and "I was not being derogatory toward him" but then 20 minutes you say "holy crap he was a flamer."  Well if that's not derogatory I'll eat my hat.  Why not at least be honest - you are a bigot and prejudiced against gays.  Ya know being called a...more