What do you feel like saying, right now?

[cheerfulgreek]

WIFLSRN: I finally got away to the coffee shop so I could get some “me time” and some much needed, relaxing reading done. I haven’t even gotten a chance to start reading my book I got for Christmas.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

WIFLSRN: I finally got away to the coffee shop so I could get some “me time” and some much needed, relaxing reading done. I haven’t even gotten a chance to start reading my book I got for Christmas.

I SO needed that. Such a good book so far.

[Sciencewoman]

Which book is it?

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Sciencewoman

Which book is it?

“Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems”

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

“Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems”

You love you some science. What’s that all about?

[Sciencewoman]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

You love you some science. What’s that all about?

I'm guessing it's about the evolution of fossil ecosystems. That, or the development of senior living centers that cater to different populations and needs!

[cheerfulgreek]

WIFLSRN: It’s too cold to go to the gym this morning. I looked on my phone and saw it was freezing, but I didn’t think it’d feel this bad. I mean, it’s 17, which isn’t that bad. So I got ready, put my gym clothes on, went in garage and got in the car, which was already warm, saw a package in front of the door, got out to get it and said “Oh dear, God!” 🥶

I marched right back inside the house and got back in the warm bed!

[cheerfulgreek]

I just saw the New Orleans incident on the news. I think aephi alum lives in New Orleans? If so, I’m hoping to see a post here that she and her family are well and unharmed.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

Lol what happened with the married one?

Nothing, because at the time, at 21, both the married and “single” pilot were more than twice my age. Their ages alone were too much. One summer, one pilot asked me out, I said no. The next summer I came back and worked for the same airline, and a different pilot asked me out and I said no. Plus, he was married. And then with the passengers, during that time, I lied and told them all that I had a boyfriend, although I was single, lol. That was always my response to guys I had no interest in.

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

WTH is that?

It’s a microscopic parasite, so you can’t see them with the naked eye. They infect the intestines of animals and people, which causes giardiasis. So, if you come in contact with contaminated water, food, or contact with infected feces, you can be infected. That’s why it’s imperative to always keep your hands washed before eating. Or keep them sanitized as often as you can.

Remember the pizza guy who was “tossing dough” in his car? His dirty fingernails were like the VIP entrance for pinworms. Eating pizza that’s delivered by someone whose fingernails looked like he’d been playing in potting soil, that would be giving pinworms and who knows what else an all-access pass to Club Intestine. Wash your hands or prepare for the itchiest after party of your life. That’s why I didn’t eat any of that pizza, lol. Eww!

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

Wait… CG, can you explain this for real, minus the jokes so I understand what you’re talking about? I’m paranoid about anything living inside me.

lol
You sound about as bad as my husband.

Okay, all jokes aside. So, with Giardia, it can be transmitted between animals and humans. I mean, the risk of transmission from pets to humans is generally low. But Giardia duodenalis is the species that infects both animals and humans. It’s like made up of different genetic assemblages. Assemblages A and B are known to infect humans, while other assemblages are typically host specific to animals. When I speak of assemblages, I’m referring to distinct genetic groups within the species, from A-H, which exhibit different host specificities. If you want me to tell you what those are, I’ll be more than happy to. But anyway, while zoonotic transmission is possible, most Giardia infections are host specific, and direct transmission between pets and humans is uncommon.

With pinworms, they’re species specific. You can get them by not washing your hands. They spread through fecal-oral transmission. So, you’d have to ingest their eggs in order to get infected. So like, let’s say you’re at work, and someone (infected) you work with scratched their butt the night before without washing their hands, then shakes your hand or touches your mouse on your computer, then you touch your mouth after contact, you could swallow the eggs and get infected. The eggs can live on surfaces for like 2-3 weeks, so you should wipe down surfaces you come in contact with. The eggs cause severe itching around the anus which makes people scratch there, and then they spread it. I mean, they’re simple to get rid of, but it’s just better to not get them at all, because that’s really gross.

[cheerfulgreek]

Originally Posted by Phrozen Sands

You love you some science. What’s that all about?

So, fossil ecosystems gives us kind of like a snapshot of what life was like millions of years ago, showing us plants, animals and even how parasites interacted with prehistoric environments. So, when we talk about their evolution, we’re really looking at how these ecosystems changed over time as species adapted, went extinct, or evolved into knew forms of life.

Like, during the Mesozoic period, the age of the dinosaurs, ecosystems were shaped by massive herbivores feeding on ferns, conifers, etc. and predators evolving alongside them to hunt efficiently. And then, at the same time, microscopic organisms and parasites, like prehistoric ticks or worms, co-evolved with their hosts, just like they do today.

I’ve always been fascinated with dinosaurs and prehistoric life since I was like 5 or 6 years old. And I never outgrew it. I’m a veterinary parasitologist so when I study parasites today, it’s almost like looking through a window into the past because parasites are some of the oldest and most resilient organisms on Earth. And then, many modern parasites have barely changed over millions of years, which means they’re like living fossils? If that makes sense?

I have such a love/hate relationship with them. They’re so amazing. I wanted this book so bad, lol. I was so happy when I got it for Christmas.

[Phrozen Sands]

Originally Posted by cheerfulgreek

So, fossil ecosystems gives us kind of like a snapshot of what life was like millions of years ago, showing us plants, animals and even how parasites interacted with prehistoric environments. So, when we talk about their evolution, we’re really looking at how these ecosystems changed over time as species adapted, went extinct, or evolved into knew forms of life.

Like, during the Mesozoic period, the age of the dinosaurs, ecosystems were shaped by massive herbivores feeding on ferns, conifers, etc. and predators evolving alongside them to hunt efficiently. And then, at the same time, microscopic organisms and parasites, like prehistoric ticks or worms, co-evolved with their hosts, just like they do today.

I’ve always been fascinated with dinosaurs and prehistoric life since I was like 5 or 6 years old. And I never outgrew it. I’m a veterinary parasitologist so when I study parasites today, it’s almost like looking through a window into the past because parasites are some of the oldest and most resilient organisms on Earth. And then, many modern parasites have barely changed over millions of years, which means they’re like living fossils? If that makes sense?

I have such a love/hate relationship with them. They’re so amazing. I wanted this book so bad, lol. I was so happy when I got it for Christmas.

This is interesting, CG. I didn’t know you were a specialist. I missed that one, if you posted it.

You’re definitely passionate.