Til Schünemann recounts being called into an unexpected one-on-one on 18 August and told he was being let go in a company restructuring; because he was still in a six-month probation he was placed on two weeks paid leave and logged out by lunch, marking the first time in roughly ten years he’d face unemployment. Shortly after, he developed what he believes was a Covid infection that triggered an autoimmune flare: weeks of low energy, joint pain, cough, loss of appetite and weight. After three weeks he saw a specialist, completed blood work, and had his medication adjusted; cortisone provided almost immediate relief by suppressing his immune response, though he notes it isn’t suitable for long-term use.
The cortisone left him energized and hyper-productive - restless, racing heart, fragmented sleep, a feeling of mania that he channeled into cleaning, reorganizing, planning meals, fixing household items and making concrete changes he’d long postponed. He noticed physical side effects (facial swelling, odd joint sensations) and disrupted sleep but values the regained sense of agency and clarity as he tapers off the drug. He frames the episode as an opportunity to reassess life priorities approaching 30, keep beneficial routines, and encourages others to use setbacks to reflect and act.
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Scientists now describe the increasing frequency and size of extreme heat events as 'heat storms' rather than 'heatwaves,' as these storms now cover vast areas and occur more frequently. These cascading heat storms affect nearly every person on Earth and highlight the urgent need for climate action. (coveringclimatenow.org)
Research shows that orgasm rates vary with age, highlighting a lifelong orgasm gap. The study explores how sexual satisfaction and orgasm frequency change throughout different life stages. (pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Investor-owned utilities charge an average of 17.8 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2025, which is 23% higher than public utilities. Prices for homes served by investor-owned utilities have increased 34% since 2020, outpacing inflation and raising monthly bills. (kadoa.com)
New evidence links far-right leader Bardella to antisemitic messages. The revelations raise concerns about his associations and rhetoric. (lemonde.fr)
Capitalists avoid taking on risk by shifting it onto workers, who bear the consequences of economic uncertainties. This dynamic allows capital owners to protect their assets while workers face the potential losses. (currentaffairs.org)
Jim Nielsen compares the religious-like dedication of nuclear war planners to AI researchers, highlighting their shared belief in a transformative future. He suggests that AI companies like Anthropic might forgo retirement benefits to show their confidence in a utopian future with universal high income. (blog.jim-nielsen.com)
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