San Diego, CA
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
RAMONA (CNS) – Four rare western spotted skunks were released back in the wild after weeks of rehabilitation and socialization at the San Diego Humane Society’s Ramona Wildlife Center, officials announced Wednesday.
The successful release marks a major milestone for a species rarely seen in wildlife rehabilitation. The group included one orphaned skunk that was flown more than 400 miles by Flying Tails Animal Rescue from Sierra Wildlife Rescue in Northern California to join an orphaned group in Ramona, according to the SDHS.
The four skunks were returned to a carefully selected, remote habitat in Valley Center after reaching the necessary weight and developmental milestones to thrive on their own.
Western spotted skunks are a rare sight for the Humane Society’s Project Wildlife team. While the wildlife center typically handles hundreds of striped skunks each year, admitting six spotted skunks from different litters in one season is unusual. Spotted skunks are generally found in remote forested areas and are not as common in urban neighborhoods, officials said.
“We have never seen this many western spotted skunks in a single season before,” said Autumn Welch, wildlife operations manager at the Ramona Wildlife Center. “Because they are more reclusive than striped skunks, they require very specific care and even more secluded release sites to ensure they can stay wild.”
Socialization is critical for orphaned spotted skunks. During their stay at the Ramona Wildlife Center, the group became a bonded unit — exploring, digging and sleeping together, according to SDHS officials. Experts say these social cues prevent habituation to humans and teach the orphans natural skunk behaviors.
While four members of the group have returned to the wild, two spotted skunks remain in care at the facility. The smallest skunk was moved to an outside pre-release habitat and introduced to a slightly older skunk in late June.
Wildlife officials said by keeping the pair together, the wildlife team ensures the younger skunk will have a companion to learn from until they are both ready to be released, likely within the next month or two.
Anyone who finds an injured, sick or orphaned wild animal is encouraged to visit sdhumane.org/wildlifehelp or call 619-299-7012.
Copyright 2026, City News Service, Inc.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — A 33-year-old man was sentenced Tuesday to 325 years to life in prison for sexually abusing two 6-year-old girls, in addition to a slew of other felony sex abuse charges, according to the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Christopher T. Gardner was convicted of 15 felony sex abuse charges, which included molesting the two girls, who were relatives of his, over a five-year period.
The abuse reportedly first came to light when one of the victims told a friend in confidence during a sleepover that she had been touched inappropriately. The friend then told her mother, who contacted law enforcement.
After Gardner was arrested, a third victim came forward, who was also a relative. Now a young adult, the victim said that when she was 7-8 years old, Gardner sexually assaulted her.
During the nine-day trial, the first two victims reportedly testified to multiple vulgar acts of sexual abuse by Gardner.
“Predators who rob children of their innocence and inflict lifelong trauma do not belong in our communities,” DA Summer Stephan said. “This sentence sends an unmistakable message to abusers: you will be held accountable. I am deeply grateful to our specialized sexual abuse prosecution team for their dedication in bringing a measure of justice to the survivors.”
Thursday, July 9
• La Jolla Town Council: 6 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. lajollatowncouncil.org
Friday, July 10
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
• Kiwanis Club of La Jolla: noon, La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd. kiwanisclublajolla.org
Sunday, July 12
• La Jolla Open Aire Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Girard Avenue at Genter Street. (858) 454-1699. lajollamarket.com
Monday, July 13
• La Jolla Library Book Club: 1:30 p.m., Community Room, La Jolla/Riford Library, 7555 Draper Ave. The July book is “Fresh Water for Flowers” by Valérie Perrin. sandiego.events.mylibrary.digital/event?id=316631
• La Jolla Planned District Ordinance Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., La Jolla Recreation Center, 615 Prospect St. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
• Laughmasters Toastmasters: 6:30 p.m., online. Email jrmmt@cox.net.
Tuesday, July 14
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Hensel Phelps Construction Co., 9404 Genesee Ave. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• Rotary Club of La Jolla: noon, La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St. rotarycluboflajolla.org
• Co-op Toastmasters Club: noon, online at bit.ly/46W13bx (meeting ID: 849 4320 0407, passcode: cccu2020). (669) 900-6833. toastmasters.org/find-a-club/00001125-coop-club
• La Jolla Development Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Wednesday, July 15
• Torrey Pines (La Jolla) Rotary Club: noon, online. torreypinesrotary.org
• La Jolla Shores Association: 6 p.m., Martin Johnson House, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, 8840 Biological Grade. lajollashoresassociation.org
Thursday, July 16
• La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club: 6:58 a.m., La Jolla Shores Hotel, 8110 Camino del Oro. Call Cheryl Collins at (760) 936-3272 or Steve Cross at (619) 992-9449.
• San Diego Blood Bank blood drive: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Sanford Burnham Prebys (patio outside Buildings 6 and 7), 10901 N. Torrey Pines Road. Donors must be 17 or older, weigh at least 114 pounds and be in good health. Photo identification is required. (619) 400-8251. sandiegobloodbank.org
• La Jolla Shores Permit Review Committee: (pending items to review), 4 p.m., online. Email info@lajollacpa.org.
Friday, July 17
• La Jolla Golden Triangle Rotary Club: 6:45 a.m., UC San Diego Faculty Club, 270 Muir Lane. lajollagtrotary.org
Did we miss listing your community event? Email calendar information to Noah Lyons at noah.lyons@lajollalight.com by noon Thursday for publication in the following week’s edition. ♦
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