NationStates Jolt Archive

Bird Flu 'Could kill 150m People' (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4292426.stm)

Man, don't beat around the bush.

And if it's that bad, what's this guy doin':
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40858000/jpg/_40858262_pigeons_ap_203.jpg
?

This might be the worst analogy ever:
"It's like a combination of global warming and HIV/Aids 10 times faster than it's running at the moment," Dr Nabarro told the BBC.

This is a very specific job:
The UN's new co-ordinator for avian and human influenza

However, this-
"The range of deaths could be anything between 5m and 150m," said Dr Nabarro.
C'mon man, just say you don't know. That's quite a spread.

I probably didn't leave enough room for comment here.


Any room for hysteria, counter hysteria? Complaints about asian virus strands?

We should just shoot all the birds.

Well it will either kill millions, or it won't.

In any case, a lot of people will blame Bush. They'll say, "Bush did nothing to stop the bird flu."

Even the people who survive the pandemic in other countries will blame Bush.

They'll say, "it was a racist conspiracy". Or "an American plot".

I personally hope that at least a billion die. Because if we're going to be blamed for it (and we most certainly will, even though we had nothing to do with it), we might as well get some big credits for it.

If it happens... I wont blame Bush :/. For once, this would be something Bush could not prevent.

Blame the Chinese for bird flu. They always act too late like SARS demonstrated.

dont you see this is god demanding sacrifice? we must sacrifice people and toss them into the lava pit if we are to survive...

Well it will either kill millions, or it won't.

In any case, a lot of people will blame Bush. They'll say, "Bush did nothing to stop the bird flu."

Even the people who survive the pandemic in other countries will blame Bush.

They'll say, "it was a racist conspiracy". Or "an American plot".

I personally hope that at least a billion die. Because if we're going to be blamed for it (and we most certainly will, even though we had nothing to do with it), we might as well get some big credits for it.
Wow. Just......wow.

I like this part:
Well it will either kill millions, or it won't.

In any case, a lot of people will blame Bush.
If millions don't die Bush will get blamed, too...then there's this:
I personally hope that at least a billion die.
Kinda speaks for itself.






Yes, I know that's not what he meant. But really, where else was I going to take that?

If it happens... I wont blame Bush :/. For once, this would be something Bush could not prevent.

I'm sure that most of the world will blame the US, or Bush, or both. In fact, I'm so sure of it, I'm willing to bet 1000 dollars that the international media will say that "if only the US had..." or "this was a creation from US secret labs..." or something similarly inane.

It's far easier to say that. Far, far easier. And it sells newspapers and gets good news ratings, and makes local governments popular.

Blame the Chinese for bird flu. They always act too late like SARS demonstrated.
In all fairness to the Chinese, they seem to do the best job they can, given the massive size of their population, and the lack of a more adequate infrastructure consonant with the size of the Country.

I'm sure that most of the world will blame the US, or Bush, or both. In fact, I'm so sure of it, I'm willing to bet 1000 dollars that the international media will say that "if only the US had..." or "this was a creation from US secret labs..." or something similarly inane.

It's far easier to say that. Far, far easier. And it sells newspapers and gets good news ratings, and makes local governments popular.
I agree with you on this ... there will be quite a few who will blame the US for everything from plate tectonics and earthquakes to Asian bird flu and the resulting deaths. But we just make too tempting a target. :(

In all fairness to the Chinese, they seem to do the best job they can, given the massive size of their population, and the lack of a more adequate infrastructure consonant with the size of the Country.

Not really. What normally happens it they pretend there is no problem and hope it goes away. If it does not, they cover up as much as possible and when it blows up on their face, they finally act.

PS - Most flus come from China because rural Chinese live with animals in their houses. Great for breeding flu strains.

Just read SARS might come from bats. Just great when I have a mango tree full of bats outside.

Blame the Chinese for bird flu. They always act too late like SARS demonstrated.

I don't believe that there is much you can do about it. No matter what nation you are.

As for a billion people dying, it's not like it would be the end of civilization as we know it. Yes, people would die, and the relatives and friends of the dead would be mightily upset. But, as you know, everyone dies in the end - it's just a matter of when and how.

I actually think this would be something that environmentalist activists would like. On one hand, they would say, "we told you so" and on the other hand they would be glad that human numbers would be reduced, thus reducing pressure on the environment.

I dig that the only ones mentioning Bush or America for blame right now are conservatives. That's some quality right there.

I dig that the only ones mentioning Bush or America for blame right now are conservatives. That's some quality right there.

That's because the billion haven't died yet. As soon as the deaths really ramp up, anyone who isn't a conservative will blame Bush.

Come on. I'm sure you will. I bet you can think of an articulate reason to blame him for bird flu right now.

That's because the billion haven't died yet. As soon as the deaths really ramp up, anyone who isn't a conservative will blame Bush.

Come on. I'm sure you will. I bet you can think of an articulate reason to blame him for bird flu right now.
I'll say it again.

Wow.





Just.....wow.

I dig that the only ones mentioning Bush or America for blame right now are conservatives. That's some quality right there.
Okay fine. I think they'll blame us too.

Hell, the world's been blaming everything on us since the Black Plague. ;)

Not really. What normally happens it they pretend there is no problem and hope it goes away. If it does not, they cover up as much as possible and when it blows up on their face, they finally act.

PS - Most flus come from China because rural Chinese live with animals in their houses. Great for breeding flu strains.

Just read SARS might come from bats. Just great when I have a mango tree full of bats outside.
Ouch! Bat guano is nasty stuff! :(

That's because the billion haven't died yet. As soon as the deaths really ramp up, anyone who isn't a conservative will blame Bush.

Come on. I'm sure you will. I bet you can think of an articulate reason to blame him for bird flu right now.

For instance, it's because he's racist and doesn't give enough financial support to the nation's poor (who are mosly minorities). This makes them skimp on the soap and water, and so they get sick first. If only he had given them anti-bacterial soap!

Or alternately...

He really hates those Iraqies, so he gave our poor the desease in order to give it to them...

You can really go on forever like this.

Okay fine. I think they'll blame us too.

Hell, the world's been blaming everything on us since the Black Plague. ;)

In the minds of anyone who isn't a conservative, Bush is responsible for the Black Plague (or his family).

I can't wait for the Michael Moore film on the bird flu.

I'm sure that most of the world will blame the US, or Bush, or both. In fact, I'm so sure of it, I'm willing to bet 1000 dollars that the international media will say that "if only the US had..." or "this was a creation from US secret labs..." or something similarly inane.

It's far easier to say that. Far, far easier. And it sells newspapers and gets good news ratings, and makes local governments popular.


How about when the conspiracy theories start spouting bullshit that it was a failed US military project that created the disease?

Meanwhile, there was a report of several mice missing from a "secure" lab in Newark,NJ-infected with Bubonic Plaque. The mice havent been found, but officials see no need for concern as no symptoms have shown up in the population.
Infected mice dont escape from labs. They are stolen & snuck out so they can be developed elsewhere.
Unfortunately, the world is overdue for a pandemic. people thought it would be AIDS. It isnt. People thought it would be Ebola, which kills the host far to quickly to effectively spread.
Look how careless people are about spreading the common cold. Now make believe its deadly.

Ouch! Bat guano is nasty stuff! :(

Its great fertilizer though. The garden loves it.

Well it will either kill millions, or it won't.

In any case, a lot of people will blame Bush. They'll say, "Bush did nothing to stop the bird flu."

Even the people who survive the pandemic in other countries will blame Bush.

They'll say, "it was a racist conspiracy". Or "an American plot".

I personally hope that at least a billion die. Because if we're going to be blamed for it (and we most certainly will, even though we had nothing to do with it), we might as well get some big credits for it.

What does the 'BTHP' stand for? I know the T is for trolling, but the rest?

With something like this looming possible, now might be a good time to look at a career in a death related field- lawyers that deal with wills and probate, funeral home/mortuary services, etc...

It likely wouldnt get me, but I'm really concerned it would get one of my family members or good friends.

What does the 'BTHP' stand for? I know the T is for trolling, but the rest?


And this isnt trolling?

Didn't see the thread going this direction.


Though I guess I should have.

What does the 'BTHP' stand for? I know the T is for trolling, but the rest?

Sierra is a manufacturer of bullets - the projectiles, not the cartridges.

BTHP means "boat tailed hollow point" - a specific projectil made for extreme long range performance.

And this isnt trolling?

If they disagree with something a conservative might post, and they know that deep down inside, the assertion that they will blame Bush or the US for bird flu is true, especially in their case, they feel it necessary to counter the argument by saying "wow" and "troll". They can't offer any cogent counterargument because they know the world will indeed blame Bush and the US for something it had nothing to do with.

If they disagree with something a conservative might post, and they know that deep down inside, the assertion that they will blame Bush or the US for bird flu is true, especially in their case, they feel it necessary to counter the argument by saying "wow" and "troll". They can't offer any cogent counterargument because they know the world will indeed blame Bush and the US for something it had nothing to do with.

That's just BS. There is absolutely no way Bush might get blamed for an outbreak of avian flu. Your 'Bush will be blamed for 100+ million deaths' is completely unrelated to the topic, and is just another example of your trolling.

That's just BS. There is absolutely no way Bush might get blamed for an outbreak of avian flu. Your 'Bush will be blamed for 100+ million deaths' is completely unrelated to the topic, and is just another example of your trolling.

Put your money where your mouth is. I'm willing to bet 1000 dollars US that Bush gets blamed by the mainstream media, by at least one outside nation, and the Democrats for not doing enough to stop bird flu - or for actually making bird flu worse, or anything they can think of to pin it on him.

Put your money where your mouth is. I'm willing to bet 1000 dollars US that Bush gets blamed by the mainstream media, by at least one outside nation, and the Democrats for not doing enough to stop bird flu - or for actually making bird flu worse, or anything they can think of to pin it on him.

I'd rather not, because I could only win that bet if 100+ million people would have died...

It's hardly trolling to post my opinion - and to state what will undeniably be true.

We recently had a poster here who asserted that "Bush can't even protect this country against a hurricane."

Interesting thought. Hidden within that statement is the implication that somehow, any other President could have made a Category 5 hurricane disappear or turn away from the United States before causing any damage.

With ludicrous attitudes like this, it's only a matter of time before Bush and the US are blamed for bird flu, or for the response to bird flu.

I've already heard stories on NPR this week that blame the US for not providing enough money to WHO so it can provide monetary compensation to Indonesian chicken and duck farmers so they can stop raising birds. There have also been stories about how US companies aren't making enough antiviral flu drugs, and how the US isn't doing enough.... yadda yadda

It's already started. And you think I'm trolling? You'll be on the bandwagon in due time. No doubt at all.

If they disagree with something a conservative might post, and they know that deep down inside, the assertion that they will blame Bush or the US for bird flu is true, especially in their case, they feel it necessary to counter the argument by saying "wow" and "troll". They can't offer any cogent counterargument because they know the world will indeed blame Bush and the US for something it had nothing to do with.

Bush is responsible for the bird flu, SARS, AIDS, the second world war, communism, spinach, the Mongolian Horde, the invention of the war chariot and poisonous bugs.

I was just listening to a radio program where they were discussing this, and even the most skeptical epidemiologists are saying that if the virus mutates to the point where it's transmissible from human to human ( as opposed to only bird to human, as it is now ), the minimum casualty rate would be 5 million! :(

Bush is responsible for the bird flu, SARS, AIDS, the second world war, communism, spinach, the Mongolian Horde, the invention of the war chariot and poisonous bugs.

Your list seems a bit short. You forgot other simple additions, like the imposition of a puppet government on Canada during the Clinton Administration (I'm talking about Chretien, and his Serb-bombing activity) is Bush's fault.

Bush is responsible for the bird flu, SARS, AIDS, the second world war, communism, spinach, the Mongolian Horde, the invention of the war chariot and poisonous bugs.
Yeah! That Mo-fo is also responsible for plate tectonics, killer metorites, and tsunamis! :headbang:

By the time the bird flu gets serious, he might not be president anymoer, though. His term might have ended or, at the rate his polls are going, he might get assasinated :sniper: . But anyway, ya, the U.S. is big and rich, so it and its leaders (whoever they are at the time) will get blamed. If, of course, this gets to be a big problem.

Your list seems a bit short. You forgot other simple additions, like the imposition of a puppet government on Canada during the Clinton Administration (I'm talking about Chretien, and his Serb-bombing activity) is Bush's fault.

That's right. We liberals were thwarted by this devious ploy in our attempts to prove that the US under Bush has bombed any countries.

By the time the bird flu gets serious, he might not be president anymoer, though. His term might have ended or, at the rate his polls are going, he might get assasinated :sniper: . But anyway, ya, the U.S. is big and rich, so it and its leaders (whoever they are at the time) will get blamed. If, of course, this gets to be a big problem.

It's going to be a big problem.

So, just checking, I'm not the only one who finds it silly-the complaining about the hypothetical future blaming that supposedly is going to happen? And that it's still the conservatives that are insisting that Bush is involved?

In a thread about avian flu? In China?

So, just checking, I'm not the only one who finds it silly-the complaining about the hypothetical future blaming that supposedly is going to happen? And that it's still the conservatives that are insisting that Bush is involved?

In a thread about avian flu? In China?

I'm not insisting he's involved, if you can read English. I'm insisting that everyone who isn't a conservative will blame him for it.

After all, people on NPR are already beginning to blame him and the US for it.

And, people on this forum magically expect him to be able to deflect or vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane with a snap of his fingers.

Not silly at all.

I'd rather not, because I could only win that bet if 100+ million people would have died...

No, in order to win the bet, you and every other person who likes to blame the US and Bush would have to keep their mouths shut on the subject for eternity.

The people are going to die whether you take the bet or not.

I was just listening to a radio program where they were discussing this, and even the most skeptical epidemiologists are saying that if the virus mutates to the point where it's transmissible from human to human ( as opposed to only bird to human, as it is now ), the minimum casualty rate would be 5 million! :(

That's a conservative number. Simple flu is already responsible for a lot of deaths (source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs211/en/):

Although difficult to assess, these annual (influenza, K.) epidemics are thought to result in between three and five million cases of severe illness and between 250 000 and 500 000 deaths every year around the world. Most deaths currently associated with influenza in industrialized countries occur among the elderly over 65 years of age.

No, in order to win the bet, you and every other person who likes to blame the US and Bush would have to keep their mouths shut on the subject for eternity.

The people are going to die whether you take the bet or not.

Interesting. Without saying anything negative about Bush, in fact without bringing him up at all (before you did) I have to shut up about him for eternity? Strange, especially since I made the case that he wouldn't be blamed for avian flu...

I'm not insisting he's involved, if you can read English. I'm insisting that everyone who isn't a conservative will blame him for it.

After all, people on NPR are already beginning to blame him and the US for it.

And, people on this forum magically expect him to be able to deflect or vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane with a snap of his fingers.

Not silly at all.
Whatever. All I'm saying is it's you paranoid cats that keep bringing it up.

Well it will either kill millions, or it won't.

In any case, a lot of people will blame Bush. They'll say, "Bush did nothing to stop the bird flu."

Even the people who survive the pandemic in other countries will blame Bush.

They'll say, "it was a racist conspiracy". Or "an American plot".

I personally hope that at least a billion die. Because if we're going to be blamed for it (and we most certainly will, even though we had nothing to do with it), we might as well get some big credits for it.

But given that you're evidently a Bush supporter, and evidently not only aren't concerned about the death of a billion people but would actively welcome it, this really is not surprising. A man who has the likes of you as supporters will always have enemies in all civilized societies.

Interesting. Without saying anything negative about Bush, in fact without bringing him up at all (before you did) I have to shut up about him for eternity? Strange, especially since I made the case that he wouldn't be blamed for avian flu...

As I said, NPR has already started down that path this week. Too late.

But given that you're a Bush supporter, and evidently not only aren't concerned about the death of a billion people but would actively welcome it, this really is not surprising. A man who has the likes of you as supporters will always have enemies in all civilized societies.

Your assumption that I am a Bush supporter is incorrect.

What I am talking about is idiots who think that everything can be blamed on Bush. It's as dumb as the people who used to think that everything can be blamed on Clinton. Or the US.

Whether or not I'm concerned about their deaths, those people will die. And your concern will not stop it from happening.

Got this in the mail today:

Date: Thu 29 Sep 2005
From: Marianne Hopp <mjhopp12@yahoo.com>
Source: World Health Organisation (WHO), CSR, Disease Outbreak News, Thu 29 Sep 2005 <http://www.who.int/csr/don/2005_09_29/en/index.html>


The Ministry of Health in Indonesia has today [29 Sep 2005] confirmed
another fatal human case of H5N1 avian influenza. The patient, a
27-year-old woman from Jakarta, developed symptoms on 17 Sep 2005, was
hospitalized on 19 Sep 2005, and died on 26 Sep 2005. Confirmatory testing
was conducted at a WHO reference laboratory in Hong Kong.

Initial investigation has revealed that the woman had direct contact with
diseased and dying chickens in her household shortly before the onset of
illness. The woman is the 4th laboratory-confirmed case of H5N1 infection
in Indonesia.

As a result of intensified surveillance and heightened public concern,
growing numbers of people with respiratory symptoms or possible exposure to
the virus are being admitted to hospital for observation and, when
appropriate, treatment. Until a conclusive diagnosis is made, these
patients are classified by the Ministry of Health as suspect cases. While
many do not have symptoms compatible with a diagnosis of H5N1 infection,
screening of patient samples is being undertaken in national laboratories
as part of efforts to ensure that no new cases are missed.

Laboratory testing to confirm human infection with H5N1 avian influenza is
technically difficult; some tests produce inconclusive or unreliable
results. To ensure a reliable assessment of the situation in Indonesia,
authorities are, after initial screening, continuing to send samples from
people considered likely to have H5N1 infection to WHO reference
laboratories for diagnostic confirmation.

According to FAO, highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza is now endemic in
poultry in many parts of Indonesia. As influenza virus activity in
Indonesia may increase during the wet season, from November to April, human
exposure to animal virus could be greater during the coming months. Further
sporadic human cases can be anticipated.

I'm not insisting he's involved, if you can read English. I'm insisting that everyone who isn't a conservative will blame him for it.

After all, people on NPR are already beginning to blame him and the US for it.

And, people on this forum magically expect him to be able to deflect or vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane with a snap of his fingers.

Not silly at all.

Damn. Our cover appears to be blown. Here we've been using our iron grip of the US media to claim that in the aftermath of hurricane Catrina, relief was not provided as quickly and in such force as one could expect of a wealthy nation like the US, and that the bureaucratic system might need revisioning since a city like New Orleans did not get get the economic means they needed to start securing their dams from the ravages a category five hurricane might bring about, even though this has been technically possible for several years. In reality, it was all a cunning plan to convince Americans that Bush is Satan himself, and that he actively plots the destruction of the world (us.)

Luckily, our scientists are currently developing a virus which will cause a zombie plague to spread throughout Australia, which we intend to pin on Bush's failure to recycle his bottles. America will fall!

In the minds of anyone who isn't a conservative, Bush is responsible for the Black Plague (or his family).

I can't wait for the Michael Moore film on the bird flu.

lmao he is probably already planning it seems to think that we actualy care about his opinion, oh i guess that because millions of morons beleive him.

Damn. Our cover appears to be blown. Here we've been using our iron grip of the US media to claim that in the aftermath of hurricane Catrina, relief was not provided as quickly and in such force as one could expect of a wealthy nation like the US, and that the bureaucratic system might need revisioning since a city like New Orleans did not get get the economic means they needed to start securing their dams from the ravages a category five hurricane might bring about, even though this has been technically possible for several years. In reality, it was all a cunning plan to convince Americans that Bush is Satan himself, and that he actively plots the destruction of the world (us.)

Luckily, our scientists are currently developing a virus which will cause a zombie plague to spread throughout Australia, which we intend to pin on Bush's failure to recycle his bottles. America will fall!


As I said, I saw the ridiculous assertion that Bush could not protect the country against a hurricane.

Well, bureaucratic bungling at all levels of government, cronyism, and other things might be interesting to bring up and deal with - but the poster was saying that Bush should have prevented the hurricane from doing damage in the first place.

I'd like to see someone do that - vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane just like that.

Damn. Our cover appears to be blown. Here we've been using our iron grip of the US media to claim that in the aftermath of hurricane Catrina, relief was not provided as quickly and in such force as one could expect of a wealthy nation like the US, and that the bureaucratic system might need revisioning since a city like New Orleans did not get get the economic means they needed to start securing their dams from the ravages a category five hurricane might bring about, even though this has been technically possible for several years. In reality, it was all a cunning plan to convince Americans that Bush is Satan himself, and that he actively plots the destruction of the world (us.)

Luckily, our scientists are currently developing a virus which will cause a zombie plague to spread throughout Australia, which we intend to pin on Bush's failure to recycle his bottles. America will fall!

i knew it, it is true,

besides, blaming bush for the cat 5 hurricane is useless, its just a scapegoat for the local government that didnt do tehir job, new orleans is one of the most ocrrupt places on earth. and since the local government is democratic, liberals dont seem to want to talk about their faults. they rather place this on Bush

As I said, NPR has already started down that path this week. Too late.
I'm not seeing that. (http://www.npr.org/search.php?text=avian+flu)

Really, I still have to think you're jumping at your own shadow.

As I said, I saw the ridiculous assertion that Bush could not protect the country against a hurricane.

Well, bureaucratic bungling at all levels of government, cronyism, and other things might be interesting to bring up and deal with - but the poster was saying that Bush should have prevented the hurricane from doing damage in the first place.

I'd like to see someone do that - vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane just like that.

Who is this "the poster"? I'm guessing he must be a fairly influential person. "The poster" claims that Bush should have prevented a hurricane from hitting New Orleans. Therefore, people worldwide will blame Bush for the bird flu epidemic and for Canada's bombing of Serbs. The extent of this worldwide accusation will be such, that one can only hope that this bird flu epidemic will kill billions. That ought to show'em.

As I said, I saw the ridiculous assertion that Bush could not protect the country against a hurricane.

Well, bureaucratic bungling at all levels of government, cronyism, and other things might be interesting to bring up and deal with - but the poster was saying that Bush should have prevented the hurricane from doing damage in the first place.

I'd like to see someone do that - vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane just like that.
I don't recall anyone saying that Bush should have stopped the hurricane or vaporize it. Perhaps you have a link, a quote from someone? Or perhaps you are exagerating in order to belittle legitimate criticisms about the response after the hurricane from the man who was playing guitar in California or the horse judge director of FEMA he appointed who apparently didn't have cable because he didn't know New Orleans was flooded or that people where in the Superdome?

I'm not seeing that. (http://www.npr.org/search.php?text=avian+flu)

Really, I still have to think you're jumping at your own shadow.

Not in the titles or headers of the story. You need to listen to the entire program to hear them say things such as, "WHO would like the Indonesian government to stop people from farming chickens and ducks, but that takes money - money that the World Health Organization just does not have. What is required is more money from the United States..."

Similar crap in other stories about how there just isn't enough antiviral flu drugs - because the US doesn't make enough - and the WHO doesn't have enough doses to really stop anything - because they don't have the money - because the US doesn't give them enough money...

Not in the titles or headers of the story. You need to listen to the entire program to hear them say things such as, "WHO would like the Indonesian government to stop people from farming chickens and ducks, but that takes money - money that the World Health Organization just does not have. What is required is more money from the United States..."

Similar crap in other stories about how there just isn't enough antiviral flu drugs - because the US doesn't make enough - and the WHO doesn't have enough doses to really stop anything - because they don't have the money - because the US doesn't give them enough money...
I don't know dude, cause I actually did listen to the top few stories and all I heard about America was the one cat who thought he had come up with a vaccine and how they where working on a global distribution so that they could contain outbreaks. Care to point out which story has what you're talking about?

Not in the titles or headers of the story. You need to listen to the entire program to hear them say things such as, "WHO would like the Indonesian government to stop people from farming chickens and ducks, but that takes money - money that the World Health Organization just does not have. What is required is more money from the United States..."

Similar crap in other stories about how there just isn't enough antiviral flu drugs - because the US doesn't make enough - and the WHO doesn't have enough doses to really stop anything - because they don't have the money - because the US doesn't give them enough money...

you know, the world looks to the US for help in disasters, but they hate us when there isnt one, even in disaster i guess we arent helping them enough, isntt that like a bum on the street complaining because you only gave him a 50 cents.

the world takes adavantage of the USA generous ethics.

Damn. Our cover appears to be blown. Here we've been using our iron grip of the US media to claim that in the aftermath of hurricane Catrina, relief was not provided as quickly and in such force as one could expect of a wealthy nation like the US, and that the bureaucratic system might need revisioning since a city like New Orleans did not get get the economic means they needed to start securing their dams from the ravages a category five hurricane might bring about, even though this has been technically possible for several years. In reality, it was all a cunning plan to convince Americans that Bush is Satan himself, and that he actively plots the destruction of the world (us.)

Luckily, our scientists are currently developing a virus which will cause a zombie plague to spread throughout Australia, which we intend to pin on Bush's failure to recycle his bottles. America will fall!
I understand that this is sarcasm, but surely you do know that there are actually people who think like that, and that some of them are on NS General? :headbang:

Bush IS NOT responsible for Hurrican Katrina, he IS responsible for the Federal Goverments faluire to respond properly after Katrina(along with that FEMA Director dude), but to be fair, there were failings at the State and Local levels too.

I do believe that Bush is responsible for the Iraq War(and its mismanagement) and the major increase in the deficit. Bush could not stop the Flu, but he can start doing things to try and lower the death toll(exactly what? I will have to consult my dad on that(he works at CDC)).

I'm not insisting he's involved, if you can read English. I'm insisting that everyone who isn't a conservative will blame him for it.

Get off the cross, Sierra, someone else needs the wood.

You have a serious persecution complex. This story didn't involve Bush, doesn't involve Bush and has no relation to Bush, yet right out of the gates you assume everyone will blame it on Bush and completely hijack the thread, turning it into yet another "Pro/Con Bush" debate.


After all, people on NPR are already beginning to blame him and the US for it.

And, people on this forum magically expect him to be able to deflect or vaporize a Cat 5 hurricane with a snap of his fingers.

Not silly at all.

But highly repetative.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9718402&postcount=14

There's the bit about Bush can't protect us against a hurricane.

I'd personally like to see the poster get out there and personally stop a Cat 5 hurricane from striking the US.

I understand that this is sarcasm, but surely you do know that there are actually people who think like that, and that some of them are on NS General? :headbang:

There is a logical leap between aknowledging that some phenomenon exists and claiming that it is common. In other words, the fact that there are actually people who think like so doesn't imply that people in general think like so. But it makes a great excuse for sarcasm.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9718402&postcount=14

There's the bit about Bush can't protect us against a hurricane.

I'd personally like to see the poster get out there and personally stop a Cat 5 hurricane from striking the US.
While on the hysterical side, it doesnt' call for personally stopping a hurricane. Here in California we don't try and stop earthquakes, but we do build in preperation from them. Building earthquake safety isn't trying to stop an earthquake but rather minimize damage. The leap, I'd have to say, is yours.

Further, I don't remember making Lyric spokesperson for anything. But yes, you did find one cat who thought there should have been more pre-hurricane preperation. What a bastard.

I'm kind of a sucker for going for this, because at this point the challenge just became find a guy. Down on Pacific Ave I'm pretty sure I can find people with any number of theories about just about anything. I'm not sure what that would prove. I'm not sure what this proves, but it's my fault because I was fish hooked into it and my revelation at this late point in the game would just be adjusting the goal posts.

So I have to conceed that you did find a guy who thought there should have been more pre-hurricane preperation. I don't see him saying that Bush should have stopped the hurricane, but tomato tomaato I guess...

Potato, potatoe (oh, and Quayle was an idiot).

Potato, potatoe (oh, and Quayle was an idiot).
Which ever works. Though looking back I did actually ask for someone asking the storm be stopped or vaporized. But if you saw a story about a bird flu in asia and saw an attack on Bush, well, who knows...

I was just listening to a radio program where they were discussing this, and even the most skeptical epidemiologists are saying that if the virus mutates to the point where it's transmissible from human to human ( as opposed to only bird to human, as it is now ), the minimum casualty rate would be 5 million! :(
In the interest of maybe getting this puppy back on track (and thanks for the on-topic posts, pretty much the only ones...) I haven't really encountered the notion of how likely that mutation is.

I mean it's obvious that it is at least possible to the point of likely, otherwise they'd also be concerned that the virus could mutate into a giant monster and destroy Tokyo. Is this just concern for some thing that would be really bad if it happened or something that is just very likely to happen?

Is this a case of just worst case scenario preparedness, or impending doom?

"Bush doesn't care about birds." - Conway West

"Bush doesn't care about birds." - Conway West
I can't even get Google to tell me who this cat is, much less why he's talking about birds and Bush. More to the point, do you have a comment on the virus itself or the coming of the possible epidemic?

I can't even get Google to tell me who this cat is, much less why he's talking about birds and Bush. More to the point, do you have a comment on the virus itself or the coming of the possible epidemic?

it's a play on "Kanye" West

and no, not really.

"If Bush can't even keep us safe from a friggin' HURRICANE that we had several days advance notice on...and if NOLA is any example of the kind of response the Federal Government has in response to a natural disaster that we had days advance warning on...what in the HELL makes any of you Bush butt-kissers believe he can keep us safe from terrorists, who generally do not give days of advance notice, and who will probably do far more damage...and more malicious and targeted damage...than any hurricane ever could?

What about a nice dirty bomb along the NOLA levees? The refineries?? You think the terrorists are not paying attention to what has been happening here the past few weeks? They see our emergency response as ineffectual, we're flopping around like a great lobotomized beast. And don't think they don't know it!

Now, how much safer do you Bush-supporters feel?"

Lollollollol! Counterpoint 1: I didn't realise that Bush failed to get that anti-hurricane force-field built around the Gulf...
Counterpoint 2: I can't think of a single time terrorist attacks have been more devastating to Katrina.
Counterpoint 3: What does terrorism have to do with hurricanes, anyway? They seem like two completely unrelated subjects to me.

They seem like two completely unrelated subjects to me.
On the topic of unrelated subjects, care to tie this into avian flu?

On the topic of unrelated subjects, care to tie this into avian flu?

the avian flu has to do with birds, and the birds are affected by hurricanes that bush wasnt able to stop with his lvl 24 hurrican stopping powers.

And in the last days there will be an increase in pestilence

the avian flu has to do with birds, and the birds are affected by hurricanes that bush wasnt able to stop with his lvl 24 hurrican stopping powers.
I think that the only way you cats seem to think of protection as being a magic waving of the hands to stop the event all together is rather telling.

EDIT: Did you really dig up this dinosaur of a thread for just that?

I think that the only way you cats seem to think of protection as being a magic waving of the hands to stop the event all together is rather telling.

EDIT: Did you really dig up this dinosaur of a thread for just that?


From the dictionary:

protect: To keep from being damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; guard.

Well, to "keep from being damaged" the area affected by Katrina, you would have to make sure the hurricane didn't go there. Or you might rebuild everything in the area to the same specifications as a nuclear missile silo.

"Protection" against a hurricane simply is not possible. The best you can do is run away, and come back later to clean up the mess.

From the dictionary:

protect: To keep from being damaged, attacked, stolen, or injured; guard.

Well, to "keep from being damaged" the area affected by Katrina, you would have to make sure the hurricane didn't go there. Or you might rebuild everything in the area to the same specifications as a nuclear missile silo.

"Protection" against a hurricane simply is not possible. The best you can do is run away, and come back later to clean up the mess.
You can always tell when someones got nothing left when they go for the dictionary defenses.

You can always tell when someones got nothing left when they go for the dictionary defenses.
You can always tell that someone's got no arguments left when all they can do is roll their eyes.

I seriously doubt all non-conservatives will blame the US for the bird flu. All, that's really a large bunch of people :P.
And on this discussion, no one really has any arguments except: they will blame us <---> no they won't. Those are statements, not arguments.

More on topic. Is any organisation searching for vaccins/cures for the bird flu? Or doing some research in the area, as it's probably not that easy researching on a virus that has yet to mutate. It should be possible though to get to know at least some useable facts to battle the disease, just in case.