San Diego, CA

All the News That's Fit: Dining on dust, long COVID's description and the plus side of potatoes

Published

2 years ago

July 23, 2024

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All the News That's Fit: Dining on dust, long COVID's description and the plus side of potatoes

For The San Diego Union-Tribune

Body of knowledge

The average person ingests approximately 100 milligrams (0.003 ounce) of dust and dirt each day. Doesn’t sound like much, but in an average lifetime, it adds up to six pounds. It gets worse: Scientists have estimated that the average person inhales around 50 billion dust particles an hour and over a lifetime, that works out to 45 pounds.

Sometimes, it’s not water weight. Just the opposite.

Get me that. Stat!

Anorexia has the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric disorder: 5 percent of patients die within four years of diagnosis. The mortality rate nearly doubles if those patients have coexisting psychiatric disorders.

(Adobe Stock)

Counts

4.8 — Estimated amount of money, in trillions of dollars, spent on hospital care, clinical services, drugs and all other health spending in the U.S. last year

7.7 — Projected estimated amount by 2032

4.2 — Gross domestic product of Japan, in trillions, last year

Sources: Office of the Actuary at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Worldmeter

Stories for the waiting room

Long COVID remains a complex and poorly understood condition. It has at least 200 known potential symptoms, and manifests differently in each sufferer. Still, modern medicine requires an official definition.

Here’s the most recent, adopted by a special committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine:

Long COVID “is an infection-associated chronic conditions that occurs after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least three months as a continuous, relapsing and remitting, or progressive disease state that affects one or more organ systems.”

Tell that to your doctor.

Man Standing Laughing Out Loud, Studio Shot (Adobe Stock) — (Adobe Stock)

Doc talk

Cacchination — a fit of spontaneous, uproarious, unrestrained laughter

Mania of the week

Klazomania — an obsession or propensity to scream

Food for thought

A lot of folks happily declare themselves lovers of meat, carnivorous by choice. Still, maybe there should be limits. All of the following are eaten by people of different cultures and in different places, also by choice: guinea pigs, horse, bull testicles, snake, possum, raccoon, milt (fish sperm), tarantulas, maggots, chicken feet, head of sheep or calf and iguana. None but the feet really taste like chicken.

3D Illustration of Human Body Organs Heart Anatomy (Adobe Stock) — (Adobe Stock)

Best medicine

A man goes in for a chest X-ray.

Radiologist: “I’ve got your images. It shows you have pimples on your left ventricle.”

Man: “Omigod. What does that mean?”

Radiologist: “You’re still a teenager at heart.”

Observation

“Age is something that doesn’t matter, unless you are a cheese.”

— Spanish and Mexican filmmaker Luis Buñuel (1900-1983)

Medical history

This week in 1965, the first U.S. surgical operation on a bull to correct a sperm blockage was performed. The Aberdeen-Angus bull, named Linderis Evulse, was worth $176,000 and, presumably, all of his potential progeny made the operation cost-effective.

Ig Nobel apprised

The Ig Nobel Prizes celebrate achievements that make people laugh, then think. A look at real science that’s hard to take seriously, and even harder to ignore.

In 2006, the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine went to an international team of American and Israeli scientists for their published paper: “Termination of Intractable Hiccups with Digital Rectal Message.”

Say no more, but please cough.

Colorful organic potatoes at a local farmers market (Adobe Stock) — (Adobe Stock)

Medical myths

Potatoes are often vilified because they possess a high glycemic index, meaning their rapidly digestible carbohydrates can spike one’s blood sugar level — not a good thing in terms of conditions like diabetes.

But much depends on the type of potato, how it’s cooked and the total amount of carbohydrates consumed. Starchy potatoes have complex carbohydrates, which break down more slowly in the body than simple sugars. They’re also rich in vitamin C, potassium, fiber and other nutrients, especially when consumed with the skin. A whole baked sweet potato, for example, can be a fine addition to a meal; french fries, not so much.

Last words

“No.”

— Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen (1826-1906) reportedly stood up on his bed, protesting, after he overheard his doctor tell his wife he was looking better. (Ibsen suffered from tuberculosis.) Another version, however, he simply replied “Tvertimod,” which means “to the contrary,” and then died.

LaFee is vice president of communications for the Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute.

Originally Published: July 23, 2024 at 5:30 a.m.

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San Diego, CA

UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

Published

9 hours ago

March 5, 2026

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UNLV faces San Diego State after Hamilton’s 24-point performance

UNLV Rebels (16-14, 11-8 MWC) at San Diego State Aztecs (19-10, 13-6 MWC)

San Diego; Friday, 10 p.m. EST

BOTTOM LINE: UNLV faces San Diego State after Kimani Hamilton scored 24 points in UNLV’s 92-65 victory over the Utah State Aggies.

The Aztecs have gone 13-2 in home games. San Diego State is eighth in the MWC with 9.0 offensive rebounds per game led by Miles Heide averaging 2.0.

The Rebels have gone 11-8 against MWC opponents. UNLV ranks eighth in the MWC shooting 34.4% from 3-point range.

San Diego State averages 79.1 points per game, 0.6 more points than the 78.5 UNLV gives up. UNLV averages 7.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.9 fewer made shots on average than the 9.1 per game San Diego State allows.

The teams play for the second time in conference play this season. San Diego State won the last meeting 82-71 on Jan. 24. Miles Byrd scored 23 points points to help lead the Aztecs to the win.

TOP PERFORMERS: Reese Dixon-Waters is shooting 35.9% from beyond the arc with 1.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aztecs, while averaging 13 points. Byrd is averaging 10.2 points and 5.1 rebounds over the past 10 games.

Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn is shooting 50.9% and averaging 20.6 points for the Rebels. Hamilton is averaging 1.4 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.

LAST 10 GAMES: Aztecs: 5-5, averaging 74.9 points, 28.9 rebounds, 13.7 assists, 6.9 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 46.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 69.0 points per game.

Rebels: 6-4, averaging 84.1 points, 32.3 rebounds, 14.7 assists, 6.4 steals and 4.8 blocks per game while shooting 50.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 80.8 points.

___

The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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San Diego, CA

Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

Published

21 hours ago

March 4, 2026

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Military bases in San Diego County increase security following Iran attacks

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – Military bases in San Diego County and nationwide have increased security measures due to last weekend’s U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran, prompting traffic delays near base entrances, enhanced ID checks and access restrictions.

The Naval Air Station North Island on Coronado ports three aircraft carriers, including the San Diego-based USS Abraham Lincoln, which led some of the first-wave attacks on Saturday.

Naval Base Coronado warned motorists of possible traffic delays at all base entry points due to the increased security measures.

Targets included Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps command and control facilities, Iranian air defense capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and military airfields.

The U.S. operation, dubbed “Epic Fury,” and Israeli operation, “Raging Lion,” began striking targets at 1:15 a.m. Eastern Time Saturday.

As of Tuesday, at least six U.S. service members had been killed in action.

The strikes also killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Hosseini Khamenei, who had been Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Iran’s offensive forces claimed to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles, but according to an X post from U.S central Command, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”

Those with concerns regarding the heightened security can contact San Diego County’s Office of Emergency Services at 858-565-3490 or oes@sdcounty.ca.gov.

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San Diego, CA

SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

Published

1 day ago

March 4, 2026

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SD Unified moves forward with layoffs of classified employees

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — Less than 3 weeks after the San Diego Unified School District finalized a new contract with teachers, the school board voted unanimously on Tuesday to move forward with layoff notices for other district employees.

The layoffs affect classified employees — workers who are employed by the district but are not teachers and are not certified. That includes bus drivers, custodians, special education and teacher aides, and cafeteria workers.

The district says it is eliminating 221 positions — 133 that are currently filled and 88 that are vacant — to save $19 million and help address a projected $47 million deficit for the next fiscal year.

Preliminary layoff notices will go out on March 15, with final notices by May 15.

The district estimates about 200 classified employees will receive preliminary notices, but of them, about 70 are expected to lose their jobs based on union-negotiated bumping rules.

Bumping allows employees with more seniority to move into another position in the same classification, thereby “bumping” a less senior employee out of that role.

Lupe Murray, an early childhood special education parafacilitator with the district, said the news came as a shock after the teacher strike was called off.

“When the strike was called off, I’m like, ‘Yes!’ So then when I got the email from the Superintendent, I’m like, ‘Wait, what?’ So, I think everyone was shocked,” Murray said.

The district says it sends out annual layoff notices, as all districts in the state do.

Before Tuesday’s board meeting, classified employees rallied outside, made up of CSEA (California School Employees Association) Chapters OTBS 788, Paraeducators 759, and OSS 724. They were joined by parents, students, and the San Diego & Imperial Counties Labor Council, AFL-CIO.

Miguel Arellano, a paraeducator independence facilitator with San Diego Unified and a representative of San Diego Paraeducators Cahpter 759.

“What do we want? No layoffs! When do we want it? Now!” the crowd chanted.

Arellano said he felt compelled to act when he learned about the potential layoffs.

“The first thing that went through my mind was that I need to speak up. I need to protect these people,” Arellano said.

Inside the meeting, the board heard emotional, at times tearful testimony from classified employees before voting unanimously to move forward with the layoff schedule.

Superintendent Fabi Bagula said the district has tried to protect classrooms from the cuts.

“We have tried our best to only, I mean, to not touch the school. Or the classroom. But now it’s at the point where it’s getting a little bit harder,” Bagula said. “What I’m still hoping, or what I’m still working toward, because we’re still in negotiations, is that we’re able to actually come to a win-win, where there’s positions and availability and maybe even promotions for folks that are impacted.”

Arellano warned the layoffs could have a direct impact on students.

“We are already spread thin, so, with more of a case load, it’s going to be impossible to be able to service all the students that we need to have,” Arellano said.

Follow ABC 10News Anchor Max Goldwasser on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

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