Imperator Decertatio Detrimentum (Algormentia)
An extremely rare and curious affliction appears to be creeping up on it's latest (and last) victim. This mysterious malady has not been clinically identified by medical science yet, and luckily, threatens fewer direct subjects than smallpox.
Although the disorder is not fatal, those afflicted often become fatalistic, to the degree of questioning whether the sun will even rise tomorrow.
Imperator Decertatio Detrimentum, commonly known as Algormentia (named for its first victim), was first detected in November of 2000. Initial symptoms were mistakenly attributed to fatigue and stress. However, when the subject began displaying irrational behavior (unwillingness to accept reality) and exhibited paranoia (as evidenced by conspiratorial fantasies), rediagnosis seemed in order. Further observation of the subject revealed other symptons such as weight gain, isolation, and unexpected facial hair.
A paradox of the condition is that while it's two sufferers must live the remainder of their lives with the stigma and sense of loss brought on by the disease, the rest of the country, and in fact the world, has benefitted greatly from it's existence.
***This is a post I began a month ago, after John Kerry made some bitter remarks about Bush. I shelved it (and forgot about it with all the attention on Schiavo and the Pope...) and I plan to augment it later, with concrete examples of my main point here.
Although the disorder is not fatal, those afflicted often become fatalistic, to the degree of questioning whether the sun will even rise tomorrow.
Imperator Decertatio Detrimentum, commonly known as Algormentia (named for its first victim), was first detected in November of 2000. Initial symptoms were mistakenly attributed to fatigue and stress. However, when the subject began displaying irrational behavior (unwillingness to accept reality) and exhibited paranoia (as evidenced by conspiratorial fantasies), rediagnosis seemed in order. Further observation of the subject revealed other symptons such as weight gain, isolation, and unexpected facial hair.
A paradox of the condition is that while it's two sufferers must live the remainder of their lives with the stigma and sense of loss brought on by the disease, the rest of the country, and in fact the world, has benefitted greatly from it's existence.
***This is a post I began a month ago, after John Kerry made some bitter remarks about Bush. I shelved it (and forgot about it with all the attention on Schiavo and the Pope...) and I plan to augment it later, with concrete examples of my main point here.
posted by Brad @ 4:00 PM
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