Franz Kafka, the author of The Metamorphosis, believed that illnesses were caused by one’s actions and often blamed his weak constitution on the fact that authors were meant to be weak. For example, his thoughts on his tuberculosis were quite striking, as he believed it was caused by his indecision to commit to his ex-fiance, Felice Bauer. He believes his body had had enough of it after five years of indecision, so it decided for him; he ended things with Felice after his first bout of tuberculosis in 1917. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
