I'm not entirely sure about the influence of blogs on mainstream media, whether they serve to raise the discourse or dumb it down. Both outcomes have positives and negatives, and while no one scenario can be painted for all, I'm going to place the ball on the 50-yard line with this Washington Post blurb about a woman's tortured tummy. You decide which way to run with it.

Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, the nastiest diarrhea of her life hit — repeatedly forcing her into the hospital.

Thank you, Rob Stein.

Stomach Bug Mutates Into Medical Mystery [WaPo]

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