Prateek Srivastava

Leaving X. This platform has gone crazy. Violence is not a solution to anything.

@RickSteves Wish you speedy recovery sir

Thanks for all the support since I first told you about my prostate cancer diagnosis. I promised you an update when I shared this news back in August — and I’m happy to say that I’m home now after successful surgery and a night in the hospital. (Packing light for my homecoming, I left my prostate there.) Since I was first diagnosed, I’ve thought of cancer as the latest adventure in a lifetime of travels — and like always, I’m excited to share a trip report with you. My journey began with a blood draw to screen for prostate cancer. I was told that, at my age, a PSA score of 4 or greater would be considered “abnormal.” So, when I got the shocking news that I had a PSA score of 55, it was like I’d been thrown into a new land fraught with mystery and uncertainty. Suddenly swept away from my general practitioner and into the world of oncology, I needed to make important decisions about things I knew nothing of… and I barely spoke the language. In my case, I had options (basically non-surgical treatments or just cut it out). Caring people with strong opinions and lessons from experience weighed in as if in a debate tournament, competing in the interest of my health. Psychologically, I was inclined to embrace the “ectomy” route — cut it out. And in my case (where the cancer is, how it’s acting, and my willingness to deal with — or live with — the side effects), it seemed surgery was my best option. After talking with my doctor and carefully considering each treatment strategy, I chose to undergo a robotic radical prostatectomy. On the big morning, my alarm rings at 4:30 a.m.… and the day for surgery is finally here — certainly a high point on this journey’s itinerary: Drive through a sleepy world, check in, strip down… gown up. A moment of prayer with my surgeon and Shelley (my angel caregiver through the physical and emotional white water of this ride). Then, careen gracefully down the hallway on a gurney (feeling kind of melodramatic to actually live the POV of so many movie scenes) and enter the operating room — which is reassuringly filled with an awe-inspiring mix of masked-up experts, technology, sterility, and humanity. I give myself over to the crew that now holds my very future in their hands. The ventilation mask lowers… take three… deep… breaths… and… I wake up feeling great, chatty, and making jokes I think are clever… clearly on some serious medicine. Thankfully, my doctor has a good report: Surgery went well, there was no sign of any spread, and the cancer seems to have been embedded deep in my prostate, which is now at the lab. Before the surgery, I had two visions of my cancerous prostate: a small apple with an invisible rot at its core and an old dandelion with missing spores. My wish was the apple, and that’s what I got. But we won’t really know how “it went” until the lab reports are in. And that’s when I hope to hear the words “cancer-free.” But for now, I’m still in the next stage of this trip: “the road to recovery.” Buckling myself gingerly into the passenger seat, I was overcome with thankfulness: that I live in a corner of the world where hospitals aren’t being bombed or flooded... that I have access to a brilliant @UWMedicine surgeon and the best tech anywhere at Seattle’s @FredHutch Cancer Center... that I am surrounded by the love and support of so many…and receiving quality care in a major medical crisis with no concerns about crippling costs (which for a citizen of any great nation should be a civil liberty). Yes, I am thankful. On my first day back home (when not napping), I read through cards and social media comments from caring people sharing experiences and cheering me on. All those good vibes, warm thoughts, and fervent prayers — while intangible — took on a kind of tangibility as they collectively worked to fill my sails with hope and strength to finish this journey successfully. Thank you. It wasn’t so long ago that people called cancer “the C word,” or if they called it by name, they did so in a whisper. As anyone who gets cancer learns, it permeates all corners of our society, and it’s nothing to be ashamed of or to hide — and when it comes to older men, it seems being tested for prostate cancer (a simple blood test you can request from your GP) is a smart idea. As for me, the next step is to get my catheter taken out — after which I’ll be steep on the incontinence learning curve. Then, I’ll get the lab reports. (I’ll be sure to keep you posted.) In the meantime, I’m making a point to celebrate the vibrancy that fills my world... to give thanks for everything that works well in my body... and to meditate on how communities, technologies, and livable environments that we enjoy are not accidental — they happen when good people care and do good things. I’m looking forward to many more years of happy travels — and, of course, I’ll be sure to bring you along! —Rick

Wisconsin Republicans spent like 15 years talking about how no one would ride a train in the Midwest and it would be an expensive boondoggle...and then a new route was added and it turned a profit in less than two weeks. bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news…

@PopSci Not because it is heavy, but because it is dense. There is a difference between the two.

Sagittarius A* is so heavy that even light can't escape. trib.al/G0tCTzn

Strongest aurora in 20 years this evening. This is the astounding view as far south as Switzerland a short while ago …on top of Jungfraujoch 😍😍 via Jungfrau.ch

@muktabh Went out to see just now, not visible from my area. Others did report it nearby. Just my luck.

That is beautiful !

@GrayMarker99 Happy 50th sir!

Getting harder to blow out the candles…guess that’s why my wife bought only one!! Lol 😂

Reap the rewards of your unwavering dedication as you nurture your passion. New beginnings spark attention, but it's the persistent effort over time that multiplies your impact. Stay committed, and watch your passion blossom. #Passion #Dedication #Consistency

"Discover the breathtaking beauty of Newfoundland's abundant puffins! A must-see for nature enthusiasts and a perfect opportunity for stunning photography. #Newfoundland #Puffins #NatureLovers"

Just asked our #AI what the future of #HealthTech looks like. It showed me a world where doctors diagnose patients through holograms and AI assistants prescribe personalized health plans. But the best part? It still insists that an apple 🍎 a day keeps it away! #AIHumor

@mindoverdata Incorrect. You also need buffer space around that car to allow it to go in and out of that parking spot. For bicycles, you don't need that much space to get it into the parking spot. Let us count that space as wasted as well.

In the space it takes to park a typical car, you can park 9 typical bicycles. What do you think is the more efficient, scalable, and sustainable use of space? #TOpoli #BikeTO

@LDNSharkTrike You definitely need a 3rd wheel

Because there's absolutely no way anyone could transport a Christmas tree by cycle. #TreeByBike

This unsafe condition has to stop. A private company is using a public roadway as their personal loading dock, endangering the lives of cyclists and all road users. They do it every day and have been for years.

Engineers to product managers on Fridays:

Malaviya Alumni Meet-2023 will be organized during 25th-26th December, 2023. Dear Alumni/Alumnae are cordially invited with their families to attend the Alumni Meet.

A good alternative message for all of you who were planning to blame the victim again this fall. (by @TheBikingLawyer/@tomflood1)

A short-sighted, divisive policy that will hurt Quebec/Montreal, drive resentment and regional divisions across Canada and deeply hurt world class institutions like McGill and Concordia. Out of province students coming to Quebec are an asset to the province. Terrible decision.

🌟📈 Every product has a North Star metric, and it makes sense. But what about micro services? 🤔 I believe they should have one too! Each micro service contributes a specific function, which needs to be measured. #ProductDevelopment #MicroServices #ValueDelivered

Maybe don’t post about killing high speed rail while you sit in a private plane?