The Bad Influence Speaks

3.31 Hump Day Quote: Criminal Minds

When a woman tells a man about her feelings, she doesn't want him to fix her.  She wants him to shut up and listen.

-Emily Prentis, Criminal Minds (Lucky)

Purple Day: International Epilepsy Awareness

Today, March 26th, is International Epilepsy Awareness Day. Epilepsy is a disorder that results from the generation of electrical signals inside the brain, causing recurring seizures. Seizure symptoms vary. Some people with epilepsy simply stare blankly for a few seconds during a seizure, while others have full-fledged convulsions (Mayo Clinic). March 26th is also known as Purple Day, which was started in 2008 by Cassidy Megan, where you wear purple in support of those with epilepsy disorders. (Visit the Purple Day website) 

There are many varieties of epilepsy disorders. A (fortunately rare) type of epilepsy is Dravet Syndrome (pronounced dra-vay).  Dravet syndrome, previously known as Severe Myoclonic Epilepsy of Infancy (SMEI), is a neurodevelopmental  disorder beginning in infancy and characterized by severe epilepsy that does not respond well to treatment. Estimates of the prevalence of this rare disorder have ranged from 1:20,000 to 1:40,000 births, though the incidence may be found to be greater as the syndrome becomes better recognized and new genetic evidence is discovered. It is thought to occur with similar frequency in both genders and knows no geographic or ethnic boundaries (IDEA League). There is no cure. 

Sudden unexplained death in epilepsy (SUDEP) has had a major impact on the Dravet community causing the loss of several children in recent months. With SUDEP, people with poorly controlled epilepsy have a small risk of sudden unexplained death. Overall, less than one in 1,000 people with epilepsy die from SUDEP, but it's more common among people whose seizures aren't controlled by treatment. The risk of SUDEP is particularly elevated when generalized tonic-clonic seizures are frequent.

Compared to other diseases and disorders, epilepsy receives little media and monetary support. Part of Purple Day is to bring attention to the disorder.  Please wear purple in support today and explain to your family and friends why you are doing so. 

Epilepsy Facts to share:

• Anyone, at any age, can have a seizure.


• 1 in 10 people are expected to experience some type of seizure in their life.


• There are well over 40 types of seizures.


• You should NEVER put anything in the mouth of someone who is having a seizure.


• You can't swallow your tongue during a seizure.


• An average convulsive seizure will last from 1 to 3 minutes...if it is a first time seizure or if the seizure extends beyond 5 minutes...call emergency services immediately.


• If a person goes into status...this is when someone is seizing without a break between the seizures...call emergency services immediately.


• Not all seizures are Epilepsy.


• Not all seizures can be controlled by medication.


• Not all seizures are convulsive.


• Epilepsy is NOT contagious.


• People with Epilepsy can have a very high I.Q.

Please read the stories of the children and their families who have been affected by epilepsy and Dravet syndrome in particular:

IDEA League: Our Stories.  Reed's story, the final one, is heartbreaking. 

Epilepsy Outreach: Jennifer's story.  This one particularly hits home for me because I know the family and adore this spunky little girl. 

Further resources:

Epilepsy Foundation

CURE: Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy

IDEA League (Dravet Syndrome)

The Mayo Clinic: Epilepsy 

National Institute for Health: Epilepsy page

3.24 Hump Day Quote: Gaius Baltar

Life can be a curse, as well as a blessing. You will believe me when I say that there are far worse things than death in this world.

-Doctor Gaius Baltar, Battlestar Galactica

Eureka: A Night at Global Dynamics

Season 2, Episode 13

With Allison, Kevin, Henry and Beverly trapped in the bunker at GD and a mutated virus on the loose, Stark and Jack have to get to them before it's too late.

Quotes:

Zane: The ease with which you say that is almost as disturbing as it is hot.

Jo: Boys, there's enough backdoor access for everyone. Oh, that didn't come out right. Just make it happen.

Carter: I swear to God, if this thing turns into a zombie attack, I am quitting.

Carter: There's still one thing I'm trying to understand.
Stark: Just one thing?

Eureka Quotes Main Page

Eureka: All That Glitters

Season 2, Episode 12

Zoe's boyfriend, Lucas, seems to have the Midas touch when it comes to jewelry making but in a town like Eureka that can go very wrong.

Quotes:

Zoe: Now that we know my virtues intact, let's talk about you compromising yours.

Eureka Quotes Main Page

Eureka: Maneater

Season 2, Episode 11

Jack becomes dangerously irresistible to the women of Eureka. They'll have to find a way to stop this before it spreads.

Quotes:

Stark: I'm with Sheriff Grabass. This seems to be a ridiculous waste of time.

Carter: But you gotta admit having Jo explode a toilet was a great distraction.

Carter: And may be a psychopath, like you, only violent.
Stark: Give me time.

Carter: You didn't think it was a little extreme when your wife imprisoned you in your bedroom?

Eureka Quotes Main Page

St. Patrick's Day Toasts & Quotes

In honor of St. Patrick's Day, when we all get a chance to be Irish, here are a few quotes and toasts to celebrate the day.

Proverb:

The future is not set, there is no fate but what we make for ourselves.

Blessings:

Health and a long life to you.
Land without rent to you.
A child every year to you.
And if you can't go to heaven,
May you at least die in Ireland.

Toasts:

May your glass be ever full.
May the roof over your head be always strong.
And may you be in heaven
half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

Here's to the four hinges of society.
May you fight, steal, lie and drink.
When you fight, may you fight for your country.
When you steal, may you steal away from bad company.
When you lie, may you lie at the side of your sweetheart.
And when you drink, may you drink with me.

Merry met, and merry part,
I drink to thee with all my heart.

When we drink, we get drunk.
When we get drunk, we fall asleep.
When we fall asleep, we commit no sin.
When we commit no sin, we go to heaven.
So, let's all get drunk, and go to heaven!

Quotes:

Ireland is where strange tales begin and happy endings are possible.
-Charles Haughey

Irishness is not primarily a question of birth or blood or language; it is the condition of being involved in the Irish situation, and usually of being mauled by it.
-Conor Cruise O'Brien

Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat.
-Alex Levine

The great Gaels of Ireland are the men that God made mad. For all their wars are merry, and all their songs are sad.
- G.K. Chesterton

It's not that the Irish are cynical. It's simply that they have a wonderful lack of respect for everything and everybody.
- Brendan Behan

I spent 90% of my money on women and drink. The rest I wasted.
- Soccer superstar George Best

And a few not so Irish toasts that I'll admit to having said at gatherings (yes even in public) with friends:

We may no longer be virgins, and that might be a sin, but we still have the box the package came in

Friends may come.
Friends may go.
Friends may peter out you know,
But we'll be friends through thick and thin,
Peter out or peter in.