Pearls (of wisdom) before swine (flu)
Posted By Mike Orren in Square Pegs on April 30, 2009
It's tough working in the media in days like this -- no one wants to be irresponsible, so we all dutifully report the latest swine flu news (sans the part about it not actually being "swine flu" because that's more complex than a soundbite).
But we (collectively) have fed the hysteria to the point that we're all starting to behave irrationally. I might even say cowardly.
Yes, we are looking at a disease that has killed between 8 (confirmed-ish) - 170 (possible) people worldwide and one person in the US in recent weeks. Otherwise, it's given folks a nasty, but treatable bout of the flu -- something we all get periodically. And for that, we've closed schools that have no reported cases of illness -- in the middle of the TAKS test; sports finals and proms. Tarrant County has cancelled all "outdoor public gatherings," including Mayfest.
By contrast, roughly 120 people a day die in car accidents. Yet 635 was still a bitch to drive to work this morning.
On an average day, 820 Americans die prematurely because of obesity-caused illnesses. Yet the burger shack line was plenty long at lunchtime today.
11,000 people worldwide die from smoking-related illnesses daily. And yeah, we've pretty much banned smoking everywhere around here, but I believe smokers are still allowed to gather outside. At least until the elections are wrapped -- that is unless we cancel them to prevent the spread of the flu.
Our pal Shawn Williams might accuse me of hypocritically pointing the overreaction finger as a member of the media. And while he might well be right, I'll argue that we've treated this situation with the levity it (so far) deserves. (Show me another news outlet with a databased listing of "Impending Doom" stories.)
And I'm not saying to be foolish. Don't go swapping snot with your friends. Wash up every once in a while, you dirty mugs. If you feel sick, stay home.
In other words, use some common sense and do what you should do any other day.
But let's not stop living our lives because there's talk of a flu. Learn the facts. Be smart.
Let's not cancel our lives because of this, eh? The cost of an extended school year; lost economic impact from festivals; etc. is certainly not the tonic our struggling economy needs. And frankly, even if the economy was strong, I'd still say that those canceling events and closing facilities for groups that have had no diagnosis of this treatable and so far domestically non-lethal flu are taking the cowards' way out -- making sure that if in the .00001% chance something awful happens, they can't possibly be blamed.
But I could be wrong. I dunno. Hard to think straight with this damn stuffy nose.
Pavel Lishin says:
I wonder if Mayfest really closed because they were afraid of spreading bacon lung through the general populace, or because they were worried that not enough people would turn up to make back enough money to not go broke.
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Mike Orren says:
Pavel, I think you're kidding -- But actually I'm sure they're losing their shirts by canceling. Most of the costs are sunk, but they won't take in any revenue.
Also, to further the overall point of the overhype on the swine-not-swine flu, it appears that it's only running a dead heat (pun intended) with the regular flu:
http://healthmap.org/swineflu
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Mike Orren says:
Sigh. I have a feeling we're not going to be able to keep up with the tidal wave of event cancellations. So we've put a blanket disclaimer on all events. Sample image:
<hr>
<img height="162" src="http://media.pegasusnews.com/img/photos/2009/04/30/Picture_6.JPG" width="600">
<hr>
We'll post major cancellations as we get them.
Follow the "Impending Doom" tag: http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/in/ne...
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Travis Bush says:
I really hope they aren't canceling the Wildflower Festival..
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Mike Orren says:
And for a bit of levity to tie to my image. Mysteriously, characters from The Stand have begun to appear on Twitter:
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/bl...
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Mike Orren says:
And now conventions start canceling:
http://blogs.dallasobserver.com/unfai...
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Travis Bush says:
I wanna be the crazy bomber guy who used to be Max Headroom..
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Scott Doyle says:
While I don't disagree at all that this has been hyped beyond reason, methinks #13 on Miko's <a href="http://blogs.discovery.com/news_animal/2009/04/health-experts-answer-swine-flu-questions.html">learn the facts</a> link is why this is newsworthy (but not to the extent of fear-mongering):
<i>13. Why the big concern if the regular flu kills 35,000 people a year, which is why we are all encouraged to get a flu shot?
This is a new flu strain that our bodies have not been exposed to before. The flu strains that the CDC creates a vaccine for each year all have the potential to cause great harm, especially in elderly, pediatric and chronically ill patients. This particular flu strain has struck seemingly healthy, young adults, with some resulting in death in Mexico. It also appears to be quite contagious. We will know more about this strain in the coming days.</i>
So yes, this type of thing does weigh on my mind, especially since <a href="http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol5no5/meltzer.htm#Ref">people who study such things</a> consider the probability of another pandemic to be ridiculously high (there have been 3 in the past century, btw).
Potentially exponential growth of a mutated virus we don't yet have a vaccine for is worth paying close attention to, imo...but until it's even relatively a problem, don't close down the everything b/c people who thrive on drama need something to do.
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Billusa99 says:
Relax - put some pork on your fork.
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Mike Orren says:
As seen on Trey Garrison's blog:
<a href="http://www.treygarrison.com/2009/05/friday-roundup-im-going-to-the-special-hell-for-item-one/"><img src="http://www.treygarrison.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/1.jpg"></a>
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Jasen Chavez says:
OH MY GOD!!! ITS THE APORKALYPSE,IT'S A HAMDEMIC!!(stolen from another source)
"But let's not stop living our lives because there's talk of a flu. Learn the facts. Be smart.
Let's not cancel our lives because of this, eh? The cost of an extended school year; lost economic impact from festivals; etc. is certainly not the tonic our struggling economy needs. And frankly, even if the economy was strong, I'd still say that those canceling events and closing facilities for groups that have had no diagnosis of this treatable and so far domestically non-lethal flu are taking the cowards' way out -- making sure that if in the .00001% chance something awful happens, they can't possibly be blamed.
But I could be wrong. I dunno. Hard to think straight with this damn stuffy nose.-MikeO"
Dude, best post ever... Total agreement, this is no worse than anything else we deal with, its just getting more coverage. BTW-Love The Stand ref the character can be called Hamdal Flag. Ok, enough with the pig jokes I am off to have some chops and eggs with an extra side of bacon at (A)waffle House.
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Mike Orren says:
1976 swine flu PSAs via <a href="http://www.veryshortlist.com/vsl/daily.cfm/review/1191/Web_video/swine-flu-public-service-announcements-1976/?vp">VSL</a>:
<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/9iJLpe1tZl8&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed allowfullscreen="true" height="344" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/9iJLpe1tZl8&rel=0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&feature=player_embedded&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425"></object>
I actually remember the second one. Scared the bejeezus out of me as a kid.
Notice that poor Dottie didn't even attend an outdoor music festival.
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Alex Bentley says:
What about the chihuahua?! How can they leave us hanging like that?!
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Mike Orren says:
If I remember correctly from my <s>history</s> Stephen King, the animals are largely immune.
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Travis Bush says:
Couldn't resist after finding today..
<img src="http://designyoutrust.com/wp-content/uploads5/swine_flew_001.jpg">
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Scott Miller says:
Well, the Denton Charity Mudbug Boil is still on for tomorrow; although they've done such a poor job of promoting it I can't link to an official website or even an event listing here at PN. Bands, crawfish and a gumbo cook-off.
Swine flu be damned!
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Travis Bush says:
The 12th Annual Denton Charity Mudbug Boil and Gumbo Cook-Off
May 2, 2009 1211 W. Hickory Street
$5 or $3 with a canned food donation/$15 for all-you-can-eat The 13th Annual Denton Charity Mudbug Boil and Gumbo Cook-Off is Saturday, May 2. The event will be held at 1211 W. Hickory Street in Denton (behind Riprock's and Lucky Lou's) from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Live bands will include The Drams, Rodney Parker and 50 Peso Reward, The Heelers, Spitfire Tumbleweeds, The King Bucks, and Big Daddy Alright. For more information, call Gayla Martin at 940.390.3020.
http://cpch.org/events.html
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Scott Miller says:
Thanks, Travis.
One more thing- I hear from an informed source that there will be plenty of big tents set up since it looks like there's a hard rain gonna fall.
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GG says:
I am actually really glad that they are treating this seriously. There is a small window during which closing schools and canceling events can make a difference in preventing a pandemic.
While I appreciate the death stats, that IMO isn't the real danger with a possible pandemic. The CDC had run scenerios in which 65% of the population may come down with the flu simultaneously. The danger is not that those people will die, but think of what that will do to businesses and the local economy. The "recession-proof" economy that we have all been patting each other on the backs for can go bye bye. Think about it, who else in your office can do what you do? How many people do work that no one else does? How many people would have to go home before work would be impossible?
The danger of this flu isn't death counts it's dollars.
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6 months, 3 weeks agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Scott Doyle says:
*One more thing- I hear from an informed source that there will be plenty of big tents set up since it looks like there's a hard rain gonna fall.*
Were those epic failures <a href="http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/may/03/dallas-cowboys-practice-facility-collapses-injurin/">like Valley Ranch</a>?
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Scott Doyle says:
Also, GG, with all due respect (only b/c you may be a wonderful poster who...is about to consistently post) - I somehow doubt shutting down business and schools for a longer time-span than it takes you to get over the flu is mitigating costs.
If so, perhaps a thinning of the herd is needed. =p
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Chris Kidd says:
First: Ya gotta love great '70s style PSAs. You dont see the greatest hits for Swine Flu, VD or Drunk Driving anymore.
Second: Pork Gut/Bacon Lung is a serious illness no doubt, but I think people have gotten WAAAY out of hand when it come to canceling events. I can understand schools shutting down to disenfect the halls, toliets and ducts. But to cancel an outdoor event because theres a slight chance someones going to get sick is sheer idiocracy. It reminds me alot of the weeks after 9/11, when everybody was freaking out when a plane flew too low near their house/residence, somebody accidently dumped out some flour/powdered sugar and didnt clean it up or someone w/ a turban on their head sold them gas. In a way, we're letting the porcine terrorist win when we act paranoid. I say go out, enjoy life and breathe on everyone.
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alexander troup says:
It is almost over and then again, it has just begun, oh well, it takes time to kill off germ's or people....While us white folks will go quick....A/T, ..WASH YOU MOUTH OUT BUBBA..
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Scott Miller says:
Yeah the Mudbug thing got rained out mid-day and The Drams ended up playing indoors at Dan's Silverleaf but, as far as I know, no one got hurt (or came down with H1N1).
There's hard rain and there's torrential downpour that wreaks havoc and hail and flash floods and spurs tornado warnings.
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Travis Bush says:
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Jasen Chavez says:
Ok gang since the mud bugs got canceled then I say we all meet up for Taste of Addison.. We can all roll in like the Pegasus Pimps. Mike-O what the verdict on this?
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