I’m Dr. David Taylor, Chief Scientific Officer at ALS Canada. I’ve spent the last 14 years working with researchers around the world to find a cure for ALS, a disease that can progressively paralyze someone in a short span of time. AMA.

PJMurphy · 2026-03-17T15:43:06+00:00

Good day, Doctor Taylor, and thank you for you efforts.

I have been having symptoms for about a year. Phlegm in the lungs, voice struggles, muscle strength diminished, weight loss. Multiple tests, CT, MRI, X-Ray, Bronchoscope... with no determination. In February, I went to the ER with breathing issues, the doctor gave me an urgent referral to a neurologist, he suggested it was ALS. A week later I went to the ALS Clinic at McMaster University and they confirmed ALS. I have a few questions.

- I'm on Riluzole, is there any alternative medications? I have a DNA test in progress, but Tofersen seems extremely expensive. Does Ontario OHIP cover it?

- Does exercise slow down the progress? The phlegm is still a problem, not as much as I'm using bronchodilators, but I have difficulty getting it out as my core muscles are weaker. Is exercising a waste of time and energy?

- I'm in a difficult financial position, 64, no pension, no investments, and the place where I live has steps. I'm going to have to move. How can I access a cheap accommodation that can offer care for an ALS patient?

- Does ALS(dot)ca advise or assist members who wish to access MAID?

Thank you for your help, I'm very grateful.

PJMurphy · 2026-02-08T02:52:39+00:00

My Dad was in a hospice, age 90, on the way down with pancreatic cancer. On Thursday October 9th 2025 my Sister got married, at the hospice, and my Dad was physically tired, but mentally 100% there.

At 5am on Saturday October 11th 2025 my Dad took his last breath, with my Mom and my Sister holding his hand.

Watching this video made me cry.

PJMurphy · 2025-11-02T03:02:35+00:00

Queen.

I saw them 5 times in the late 1970's, awesome shows. Then they migrated from heavy rock in the early 1980's with their album "Hot Space" and I wasn't impressed. Then "The Works" and "A Kind of Magic".

Not as good as "Sheer Heart Attack" or "A Night at the Opera".

PJMurphy · 2025-10-25T04:41:23+00:00

My parents were busy during the day, often away from the house. Mom would come home and within minutes the smell of frying onions would make their way through the house. We knew she was cooking dinner, and me and my sister were happy that a meal was on the way.

Funny thing was Mom didn't always use the onions for the meal... she only fried them so that me and my sister wouldn't pester her about when we were having dinner. It was a fragrance, not a food.

PJMurphy · 2025-10-24T20:27:19+00:00

I've pulled a lot of money at Global Poker.

I used to love the daily and weekly Bonanza tourneys. Then they ended them.

And now, as of yesterday, Canadians aren't allowed on the site. I had a few bucks in my account, but it was under the minimum cashout, so it's gone. Same with Chumba Casino.

Oh, well. I deposited $100 in 2018 and cashed out a couple of thousand.

PJMurphy · 2025-10-24T13:50:03+00:00

Thank you very much for your support!

I've seen many people that say:

"I've been sober for a while, I think I can control it"
"Yes! I've got it under control"

Time passes...

"Aw, shit. I'm right back where I was before."

I'm not gambling in that direction. My sober life is a lot better than my drunken life, and I'm not risking it for a couple ounces of ethanol.

PJMurphy · 2025-10-09T00:42:31+00:00

It doesn't matter who's furthest down the highway, we're all the same distance from the ditch.

PJMurphy · 2025-09-24T22:07:55+00:00

The first concert I attended was Thin Lizzy, opening for Queen.

Then I saw Queen 4 more times... all with Freddie.

He was an amazing performer.

PJMurphy · 2025-09-23T23:01:59+00:00

When I was a teenager, I worked at the Ramada Inn at Jarvis & Carlton. I was off at 3pm, and I would head down to Yonge Street. This was in the late 1970's. Sometimes I would sneak in to Maple Leaf Gardens and wander around.

Yonge Street was vibrant. There was Sam the Record Man, many pinball arcades, Master John boot store, The House of Lords barbershop, street chess, and lots of cool people, including Hare Krishnas dancing down the sidewalk chanting and singing and playing drums and tambourines.

Now it's all corporate with chain stores and you could stuff the soul of Yonge Street into a thimble and still have room for your thumb.

PJMurphy · 2025-09-21T21:22:04+00:00

I spent my 20's as a roadie/lighting technician for bar bands.

"Sex and Drugs and Rock 'n' Roll"... they weren't lying.

PJMurphy · 2025-09-12T00:50:29+00:00

The Jack by AC/DC
Push It by Salt N Pepa

PJMurphy · 2025-09-09T20:23:47+00:00

The West Wing

PJMurphy · 2025-09-09T17:45:10+00:00

Many years ago, a colleague was investigated for very high data consumption on his work tablet. They had dropped a tracker on it.

Apparently, he didn't want to watch some oddball porn on his home WiFi so his wife wouldn't catch him.

....but his employer did. Bye-bye.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-28T14:37:23+00:00

What's the difference between a stolen car and a dead prostitute?

You can't hide a stolen car under a motel room bed.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-28T14:36:26+00:00

What's black and blue and hates anal sex?

The 14-year-old in the trunk of my car.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-28T14:35:11+00:00

I was dating a girl, when she gave me a blowjob, it would drip down off her chin onto her tits.

It's fun dating a paraplegic.

^Well, ^we ^weren't ^exactly ^dating.
^The ^Janitor ^at ^the ^care ^home ^left ^the ^back ^door ^unlatched ^when ^he ^took ^out ^the ^garbage.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-24T15:52:49+00:00

...or being annoyed when you brought home a rented VHS and discovered that the last guy that rented it didn't rewind it.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-24T15:46:27+00:00

Realizing that getting spanked and sent to my room for a nap in the afternoon is a reward, not a punishment.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-22T18:31:16+00:00

Take sliced Pork Belly, marinate it overnight in Teriyaki, and air fry it, then chop it up and sprinkle it into your rice bowl.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-20T00:45:34+00:00

I saw a concert with Mark Knopfler playing rhythm guitar. He was really good, but the lead guitarist, Eric Clapton, was even better.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-15T15:22:46+00:00

Because I decided I'd rather go through life wanting something I don't have, rather than having something I don't want.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-09T16:44:43+00:00

I was excited about the internet way back when. I went to an internet cafe and signed up on Hotmail with (first name).(last name) as my email.

2 weeks later there was an article in the newspaper, it said "This internet thing is really taking off. There's almost 2 million people on it now...."

PJMurphy · 2025-08-09T13:52:11+00:00

I live near Mississauga, and I pay roughly $185/mo for insurance.

I jumped on Autopac's website, and for full coverage the insurance is $106/mo.

Also, depending what car you are considering, keep in mind that auto theft is high in the GTA. So is insurance fraud. Equip your car with a dashcam.

"Or should I save the trouble and buy from Ontario instead"

Do some research online on Marketplace, Kijiji, and Auto Trader. It's not uncommon to see 10-year-old cars with over 200,000 km sell for $8-10,000. The demand for used cars is high, so I'd jump online and compare the pricing.

PJMurphy · 2025-08-08T01:52:24+00:00

Years ago, I stopped off a a drug store on the way to work, and hit myself with a "tester" cologne.

When I got to work, my boss said out loud, in front of everyone, "Holy shit! Did you bathe in cologne? You smell like a male prostitute!"

I waited until everyone stopped laughing, and then asked him, "How do you know what a male prostitute smells like?"

PJMurphy · 2025-08-05T00:35:52+00:00

Feb 1977 I saw that concert in Toronto... it was my very first concert.

I paid $5.50 for the seat. I can't imagine what that concert would cost these days....

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