NationStates Jolt Archive

Here are some sites you may want to bookmark which address the topic of the coming avian flu "pandemic:"

http://www.pandemicflu.gov/

http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/avian_influenza/en/

http://www.ladlass.com/intel/archives/010022.html

http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/avianflu/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Flu/story?id=1172638&page=1

http://www.fludemic.com/avian/

http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=CHO20051004&articleId=1041

It's better to go here:

http://www.isid.org/

and subscribe to the pro-med mailing list.

You will get stories on every outbreak in the world of any kind in your in-box - long, long before the press ever covers it.

What's with the quotation marks around the word pandemic?

Here are some sites you may want to bookmark which address the topic of the coming avian flu "pandemic:"

How very thoughtful. ...but no, thanks. I think I'll survive just fine without bookmarking 10 web sites.

edit: What's with the quotation marks around the word pandemic?
...good question.
And how come you're so sure there will be a pandemy (sp?)?

How very thoughtful. ...but no, thanks. I think I'll survive just fine without bookmarking 10 web sites.

edit:
...good question.
And how come you're so sure there will be a pandemy (sp?)?

He's not, which is probably why he put quotes around it. In any event, it isn't a pandemic yet.

(And while I usually avoid being a spelling nazi, I have to ask - how can you misspell a word when you quoted the same word directly above where you typed it?)

:rolleyes:

It really is a very silly thing to be worried about.

...good question.
And how come you're so sure there will be a pandemy (sp?)?

It's not a question of if, but when. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/11/07/bird.flu.who.ap/index.html)

It's not a question of if, but when. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/11/07/bird.flu.who.ap/index.html)
Thats precisely what I was gonna say. Being prepared doesn't make you a loony or a chicken shit scarredy cat. It makes you, well......Prepared. And how is that a bad thing?:confused:

Thats precisely what I was gonna say. Being prepared doesn't make you a loony or a chicken shit scarredy cat. It makes you, well......Prepared. And how is that a bad thing?:confused:

When it happens, you'll either get it or you won't. Then you may or may not die. I don't really imagine that there is much that can be done about it.

In any case, for every country that tries to stop the spread, there will be at least two that do nothing but wait for aid packages, so really trying to halt the spread is futile.

But look on the bright side. Sometimes, in the long run, massive pandemics that kill half the population are beneficial to society. The great plague of the fourteenth century which killed over half of Europe's population turned out to be a good thing ultimately.

So like I said, it is a very silly thing to worry about.

It's not a question of if, but when. (http://www.cnn.com/2005/HEALTH/conditions/11/07/bird.flu.who.ap/index.html)There is a finite chance there won't ever be another pandemic.
Admittedly the probability is ludicrously small, but it's nonzero. So, "if" is appropriate, be it suggestive. But then so is "when".

When it happens, you'll either get it or you won't. Then you may or may not die. I don't really imagine that there is much that can be done about it. So like I said, it is a very silly thing to worry about.
Kind of like catching a bullet in combat... Or a bus crossing the street. Shit happens. Behave normally, wash you hands and relax. Who knows, you might just have an anurisym before you may or may not die of the flu you might not catch anyway.

But look on the bright side. Sometimes, in the long run, massive pandemics that kill half the population are beneficial to society. The great plague of the fourteenth century which killed over half of Europe's population turned out to be a good thing ultimately. Enlighten me, what was ultimately good about it?

Kind of like catching a bullet in combat... Or a bus crossing the street. Shit happens. Behave normally, wash you hands and relax. Who knows, you might just have an anurisym before you may or may not die of the flu you might not catch anyway.

You know, I have to echo these sentiments. The same panic occured around the world last year with SARS. Every now and again, there is this big fear..... "IT'S coming" *dramatic music*

What is? Life, death... big whoop! I'm still more likely to die by getting hit by a drunk driver or via a mugging then by this pandemic...


Having said that *crosses fingers* :)

We're not talking about duct taping your house shut, for christs sake! GEEZ!
All we are adevocating is that on the off chance a pandemic does occur, you take 10 minutes out of your obviously busy life, and sit down and think about whether or not you are prepared incase you can go into a population center for a while. 10 MINUTES, is that TOO MUCH to ask so you don't go spreading the shit around, and get us who ARE prepared sick?

10 MINUTES, is that TOO MUCH to ask so you don't go spreading the shit around, and get us who ARE prepared sick?Hey, if you're not prepared enough to shoot me, don't complain :p

Hey, if you're not prepared enough to shoot me, don't complain :p

It's Sick Nightmares. He has no quarrels about such things.

It's Sick Nightmares. He has no quarrels about such things.
You know me well, Fass! :D
But contrary to popular opinion, I would rather not. I'm just prepared to if need be.

Enlighten me, what was ultimately good about it?

The renaissance, abolition of the villeinage, free alienation of property, amongst other things.

Really, if you were one of the suvivors, or near decesendents thereof, it was quite a plus.

It's better to go here:

http://www.isid.org/

and subscribe to the pro-med mailing list.

You will get stories on every outbreak in the world of any kind in your in-box - long, long before the press ever covers it.
Kewl! I subscribed. Thank you! :)

What's with the quotation marks around the word pandemic?
( Shrug ) Seemed like a good idea at the time, probably because it hasn't happened yet. :)

Thats precisely what I was gonna say. Being prepared doesn't make you a loony or a chicken shit scarredy cat. It makes you, well......Prepared. And how is that a bad thing?:confused:
It isn't, which is why I thought listing sites where we can get more information when we want would be a good thing. :)

The renaissance, abolition of the villeinage, free alienation of property, amongst other things.I really don't see how that's connected to the plague.
I know those things follow after the plagues. But just because it happens after doesn't mean there a causal relationship. Wouldn't those things have happened anyway?

Enlighten me, what was ultimately good about it?
Decrease in surplus population - particularly of the weak - ia always good for the species in the long run.

Die-offs happen, and the species genetics get stronger because of it.

Decrease in surplus population - particularly of the weak - ia always good for the species in the long run.

Die-offs happen, and the species genetics get stronger because of it.I suppose that true. If nothing else the genes that give protection against the plague or more frequent in the genepool. And they may give some protection against other diseases.

I really don't see how that's connected to the plague.
I know those things follow after the plagues. But just because it happens after doesn't mean there a causal relationship.

Sure there was. Half the population was dead, there was a massive labor shortage and huge land surplusses, all of which caused the winds of political change to sweep through medieval Europe.

The peasantry, instead of existing on the margin, could now demand favorable treatement for its labor, which ultimately resulted in the abolotion of the villeinage and the notion that the peasants were tied to the land. Indeed, landholders which once worked in tandem to ensure that any peasant who fled his manor would be branded an outlaw, now actively conspired with them to lure them away from rivals through the offer of better wages and living conditions. Part of this was the de facto, and eventually the de jure, grant of the right of the peasantry to actually hold land. Along with this was also granted the right to alienate (buy and sell) real property. Something which was unknown before the plague.

Also, agricultural land was now available for more than just the production of basic goods. Whereas before the plague population pressure caused every available acre of land to be dedicated, by and large, to the production of necessary foodstuffs, now all needs could be statisfied from the more fertile and easily farmed tracts. In addition, plenty of excellent land was left over for the production of luxury items and foodstuffs. In short, leisure time increased at the same time diet and standard of living improved. This provided both the time and the wealth for many to spend upon the finer things in life, such as music, art and learning. Hence the Renaissance.

It's no accident that these things happened when they did.

Great Plagues are only bad if you or your loved ones die from them.

You know, I have to echo these sentiments. The same panic occured around the world last year with SARS. Every now and again, there is this big fear..... "IT'S coming" *dramatic music*

What is? Life, death... big whoop! I'm still more likely to die by getting hit by a drunk driver or via a mugging then by this pandemic.
It's not the individual deaths that worry people, it's the thought that millions could die and that some of those would be important to each of us, such as family, friends, bosses, co-workers, managers, politicians, leaders, etc.

Hey, if you're not prepared enough to shoot me, don't complain :p
Ok. :mp5:

It's not the individual deaths that worry people, it's the thought that millions could die and that some of those would be important to each of us, such as <snip> bosses, co-workers, managers, politicians, leaders, etc.And the loss of these are supposed to depress me in what way? :p

Thats precisely what I was gonna say. Being prepared doesn't make you a loony or a chicken shit scarredy cat. It makes you, well......Prepared. And how is that a bad thing?:confused:

Using Howard Hughes as just one example, being sanitationally prepared may be a sign of paranoia. Though staying on the safe side of life is usually a good thing.

Thanks Lacadaemon, now I know, and knowing is half the battle ;)