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Apr. 29th, 2009
http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2009/04/29/miss-california-to-star-in-tv-ad-from-conservative-group/
(note to self: need to dig up old pageantry materials at parents' house and write about weird political things that wound up entangling themselves in the process).
(note to self: need to dig up old pageantry materials at parents' house and write about weird political things that wound up entangling themselves in the process).
Casting for Australian looking people. Australia had a huge wave of immigrants post-WWII from Italy. The only place I've ever seen more people who look like me than Sydney was in Sicily. But American casting people? Would think I am smoking crack. So weird.
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zarq:
Okay, now don't panic.
No, really.
All this means is that everyone is acknowledging a lot of people are going to get this flu. Yes, this flu has killed some people. The flu kills people every year. A lot of people. Right now the mortality rates and patterns are unclear, but truly, this may be no more risky than any other flu.
HOWEVER, it takes months (at the minimum) to develop new flu vaccines, which means in terms of prevention, your immune system is on its own and it's not prepared. Elderly people, young children and those with compromised immune systems might be at more risk. But maybe not; there's also speculation that those with healthy immune system might be at higher risk because this flu may cause the body to attack itself. The fact is, we just don't know right now, and what you should do is the stuff you always mean to do to protect yourself during flu season but never bother with.
Use common sense. Wash your hands. Don't touch your face. And do not freak out if you start sneezing -- it's allergy season. Also, colds don't come with fevers. If you get something with a fever, take it seriously and try to minimize your contact with others.
If you can walk to work instead of taking mass transit, that's a good plan. If you share a keyboard with others at work, spray it with disinfectant before you sit down to work.
Right, now the real issue is that this is probably the point in which jackasses are going to start panicking.
Remember all that stuff I told you to do when there was concern about the economy collapsing and we'd all be living in tents and I said the problem wasn't the economy (which yes, was and is fucked but not apocalyptically, largely because we've refused to allow it to be -- but whether we should have let it crash and burn is another discussion for another time) but idiots who thought civilization was about to end?
Same drill.
Have the non-prescription stuff you like to take to treat cold or flu in the house. Get face masks now if you're really concerned. Keep your freezer full. Always have at least $100 in small bills in your home.
The world is not going to end and people you know are probably not going to die of this thing. However, the world might be about to get very annoying and you may see sporadic spikes of violence as people have fights at the drugstore over the last packet of face masks. Don't let this be you, eh?
zarq:"NPR's Joanne Silberner has confirmed from a source in a direct position to know that the World Health Organization will raise its pandemic alert level from 4 to 5. Announcement in Geneva at 5PM ET."
Okay, now don't panic.
No, really.
All this means is that everyone is acknowledging a lot of people are going to get this flu. Yes, this flu has killed some people. The flu kills people every year. A lot of people. Right now the mortality rates and patterns are unclear, but truly, this may be no more risky than any other flu.
HOWEVER, it takes months (at the minimum) to develop new flu vaccines, which means in terms of prevention, your immune system is on its own and it's not prepared. Elderly people, young children and those with compromised immune systems might be at more risk. But maybe not; there's also speculation that those with healthy immune system might be at higher risk because this flu may cause the body to attack itself. The fact is, we just don't know right now, and what you should do is the stuff you always mean to do to protect yourself during flu season but never bother with.
Use common sense. Wash your hands. Don't touch your face. And do not freak out if you start sneezing -- it's allergy season. Also, colds don't come with fevers. If you get something with a fever, take it seriously and try to minimize your contact with others.
If you can walk to work instead of taking mass transit, that's a good plan. If you share a keyboard with others at work, spray it with disinfectant before you sit down to work.
Right, now the real issue is that this is probably the point in which jackasses are going to start panicking.
Remember all that stuff I told you to do when there was concern about the economy collapsing and we'd all be living in tents and I said the problem wasn't the economy (which yes, was and is fucked but not apocalyptically, largely because we've refused to allow it to be -- but whether we should have let it crash and burn is another discussion for another time) but idiots who thought civilization was about to end?
Same drill.
Have the non-prescription stuff you like to take to treat cold or flu in the house. Get face masks now if you're really concerned. Keep your freezer full. Always have at least $100 in small bills in your home.
The world is not going to end and people you know are probably not going to die of this thing. However, the world might be about to get very annoying and you may see sporadic spikes of violence as people have fights at the drugstore over the last packet of face masks. Don't let this be you, eh?
hate crimes bill and anti-gay lies
Apr. 29th, 2009 04:47 pmvia ginmar:
The link provides video of the remarks from Foxx.
I recognize that many people reading this may be opposed to hate crimes legislation because it can be said to create a category of thought crime, and a murder is a murder, after all. However, discourse on the subject shouldn't be happening based on the lies above.
I've had friends hospitalized due to anti-gay violence. I've been threatened with rape for being queer. I am _deeply_ unamused by this turn in the discussion.
ginmar:
http://shakespearessister.blogspot.com/2009/04/shameless-brainless-heartless-factless.html
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-North Carolina): The, uh, hate crimes bill that's called the Matthew Shepard Bill is named after, uhn, uh, a very unfortunate incident that happened where a young man was killed, but we know, uh, that that young man was killed in the, uh, in the commitment [sic] of a robbery. It wasn't because he was gay. This—the bill was named for him, the hate crimes bill was named for him, but it, it's, it's really a hoax!
Text: FALSE. Fact: "According to local police and prosecutors, the two men lured Mr. Shepard out of a bar by saying they were gay. Then, the Laramie police say, the pair kidnapped Mr. Shepard, pistol-whipped him with a .357 Magnum, and left him tied to a ranch fence for 18 hours until a passing bicyclist spotted Mr. Shepard, who was unconscious."—The New York Times, 10/12/98
Liss' comments: In case you'd like to call one of Rep. Foxx's offices and politely let her know she's got her facts wrong and politely request that she not perpetrate lies about Matthew Shepard and the much-needed Hate Crimes Bill, you can call her Washington office at 202-225-2071 or her North Carolina offices toll-free at 1-866-677-8968. You can also contact the National Republican Congressional Committee at 202-479-7000 and politely let them know you disapprove of Republican House members disparaging victims of hate crimes and telling demonstrable lies on the House floor.
The link provides video of the remarks from Foxx.
I recognize that many people reading this may be opposed to hate crimes legislation because it can be said to create a category of thought crime, and a murder is a murder, after all. However, discourse on the subject shouldn't be happening based on the lies above.
I've had friends hospitalized due to anti-gay violence. I've been threatened with rape for being queer. I am _deeply_ unamused by this turn in the discussion.