Cactus Game Design Message Boards
Open Forum => Off-Topic => Topic started by: DaClock on April 29, 2009, 10:59:39 AM
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/?GT1=43001 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/?GT1=43001)
I guess we're all going to die so we probably shouldn't go outside or talk to anybody... ever.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qJ2tOY7ss# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T_qJ2tOY7ss#)
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If they don't even know how old the kid is, how do they expect to know what killed 'em?
On a side note, California is now in a state of emergency due to Swine Flu.
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On a side note, California is now in a state of emergency due to Swine Flu.
I thought California was a state of emergency.
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Heh, an email just arrived from my school in the last couple of minutes...
Campus Community,
Late Tuesday evening we were informed by the Long Beach Health Department that [a CSULB student living on campus] received a “probable positive” test result for swine flu. Final determination of the test results will not be available for another two days...
Should be an interesting day...
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/?GT1=43001 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30471035/?GT1=43001)
I guess we're all going to die so we probably shouldn't go outside or talk to anybody... ever.
Thank goodness Al Gore invented the internet!
You're forgetting his other great invention.
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Unlike the majority of posts that I am reading, I am actually very concerned about the Swine Flu. Despite its humorous title, this flu contains just the right features to cause a pandemic. It is very contagious, and is fully capable of killing large numbers of people. Every time I hear about this sort of thing, climbing the alert levels as it spins out of control, I become very cautious.
On a positive note, I am also thankful that I do not live in the city. :)
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It can be a pandemic, yes, but I'm not convinced it will be serious/fatal in most places. The only death reported in the US so far was a kid who came up FROM MEXICO for treatment.
It's serious like The SARS (tm) was serious, but I also expect that it will come and go with very little impact like The SARS (tm).
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I think Swine Flu is just something that's been invented by the government/media to gauge how much control they have over the public. ;)
In all seriousness, how is this different from any other virus? They show up, do some damage, but eventually our bodies adapt and build up immunities to them and we move on. Why is Swine Flu different?
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1. because it is not prevented by flu shots
2. We don't have a cure/prevent for it. It will take 2 months for the 1st beta drug to be ready.
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I think the big surprise here is that the current strain has shown to be communicable between humans, whereas before you could only get it from the swine itself. That and it's killed a hundred people in Mexico already, although doctors are noting with interest that for whatever reason, people here in the States just aren't dying from it at this point. The symptoms are still treatable with Tamiflu, though, so :dunno:
:edit: had to post this:
(https://www.cactusforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.boardgamegeek.com%2Fimages%2Fpic417908_md.jpg&hash=d266d9fdf592ceb9f098e9c3c0612ba40788eae4)
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It can be a pandemic, yes, but I'm not convinced it will be serious/fatal in most places. The only death reported in the US so far was a kid who came up FROM MEXICO for treatment.
It's serious like The SARS (tm) was serious, but I also expect that it will come and go with very little impact like The SARS (tm).
You can never say that about the flu and not feel a modicum of worry. Just look back at 1918-1919, where the flu killed millions around the world. Even if there is only one death recorded in America, look at the death toll it has had in Mexico. With such weak border control, it would not take much for the Swine Flu to run loose on Americans. What is scary about the Swine Flu is that, unlike the common Flu which kills victims with weak immune systems, this form seems to target and kill victims with stronger immune systems.
In all seriousness, how is this different from any other virus? They show up, do some damage, but eventually our bodies adapt and build up immunities to them and we move on. Why is Swine Flu different?
I would not be so quick to assume that our bodies build up immunities to these things. Sometimes it takes millions of deaths to wait out a virus or disease. The scary thing is, humans are less likely to build up immunities to viruses which cross the species barrier and to viruses which are prone to mutate. The Swine Flu, like the Bird Flu, is one of these viruses. For moreof an explaination, see my above statement.
2. We don't have a cure/prevent for it. It will take 2 months for the 1st beta drug to be ready.
Actually, it will take aprx. 6 months to generate a vaccine.
I think the big surprise here is that the current strain has shown to be communicable between humans, whereas before you could only get it from the swine itself. That and it's killed a hundred people in Mexico already, although doctors are noting with interest that for whatever reason, people here in the States just aren't dying from it at this point. The symptoms are still treatable with Tamiflu, though, so :dunno:
All it takes is a mutation/immunity to the treatment to render this Tamiflu useless.
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I'll worry about that stuff when it happens. Medical knowledge and technology has advanced slightly in the last hundred years.
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yep, advanced....... http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/090429-flu-vaccine-mc (http://www.radionetherlands.nl/currentaffairs/090429-flu-vaccine-mc)
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I'll worry about that stuff when it happens. Medical knowledge and technology has advanced slightly in the last hundred years.
So has transportation and commerce. ;)
I am not saying this is the end of the world, don't get me wrong but I will remain wary until this thing is quarantined and controlled. (I will admit that it does perplex me that so few cases of this have emerged here in the US.)
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Just to save you from worrying too much :)
There was a similar scare about the Swine Flu back in 1976. People then also pointed back to the problems from 1918. But it turned out to be nothing, and hundreds of people died from the Swine Flu cure compared to only 1 person actually dying from the Swine Flu itself.
Details can be found here. (http://www.capitalcentury.com/1976.html)
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Always remember: We live in America/Canada. AKA best medical/sanitation in the world, etc.
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Just to save you from worrying too much :)
There was a similar scare about the Swine Flu back in 1976. People then also pointed back to the problems from 1918. But it turned out to be nothing, and hundreds of people died from the Swine Flu cure compared to only 1 person actually dying from the Swine Flu itself.
Details can be found here. (http://www.capitalcentury.com/1976.html)
That is an interesting find... still, we should not overlook the fact that the alert level for the Swine Flu has risen to 5 (the second highest), as the number of victims increases beyond the 90 mark during this current Swine Flu "scare." (With its first death, it seems to be somewhat harmless. However, only yesterday, my city recieved its first victim and that is a bit unsettling, even if the death toll is so low in America.)
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It's the fault of PETA. We could take care of this thing easily enough otherwise.
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This is just another case of the media hyping some tiny risk factor to scare people enough to sell papers / advertising and get attention.
It happened with school shootings.
It happened with shark attacks.
It happened with child abductions.
Now it is happening with Swine Flu.
All of these things put together probably kill less people a year than are killed by bathtub accidents. But the media plays it up and everyone thinks that they are in great danger.
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This is just another case of the media hyping some tiny risk factor to scare people enough to sell papers / advertising and get attention.
Not that I disagree with the Prof about the media's tendency to sensationalize to push product, but...
The reason behind all the effort in the public health community is because this is a new virus. As a new virus, no one has any resistance to the swine flu. The last great flu pandemic--the Hong Kong flu--occurred in 1968 and killed around 35,000 Americans.
Just for comparison, 341 Americans died from drowning in bath tub accidents in the US in the year 2000.
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I've heard some cool things about Swine Flu in the past couple days.
"Swine Flu was created by Al-Qaeda and is the beginning of biological warfare."
"Barack Obama is the Anti-Christ and Swine Flu is the beginning of the plagues."
"The media isn't sensationalizing anything about Swine Flu."
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Those are all true, right?
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
You're sick Colin. Sick, Sick, Sick.
;)
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
You're sick Colin. Sick, Sick, Sick.
;)
I'm just being optimistic.
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
You're sick Colin. Sick, Sick, Sick.
;)
If Colin was sick we'd probably all have the virtual version of Swine Flu.
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...Swine Virus. I have it already...
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...
Le La Grippe Porcine. I don't have it yet...
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Un couchon, monsieur! Un couchon!
I caught the gender mistake, STAMP, but that's no reason for name calling. :p
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518534,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518534,00.html)
Bahahahahahahahahahaha!
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what kind of a board game is that, anywy, scheaf? looks intresting
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Joy....there a Kid from Preble High In Green Bay WI getting tested.....only 4 miles from my HS..and he busses with about 30 kids from my school......there talking about if this is a real case, they might cancel Prom..this saterday night.
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I just caught something red in my bug net. Is it swine flu?
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I just caught something red in my bug net. Is it swine flu?
Most definitely.
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I just caught something red in my bug net. Is it swine flu?
Most definitely.
does it have a pig snout and curly tail? XD
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
I've got to imagine that the prime victim's for this virus are going to be young children and the elderly. So most of those people are not going to have jobs. In fact, just about none of them will have jobs. So I doubt it will open up many jobs at all.
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http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518534,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518534,00.html)
Bahahahahahahahahahaha!
El oh El.. People are ridiculous..
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Look on the bright side, this will open up more jobs.
I've got to imagine that the prime victim's for this virus are going to be young children and the elderly. So most of those people are not going to have jobs. In fact, just about none of them will have jobs. So I doubt it will open up many jobs at all.
It will open up jobs for future generations then.
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what kind of a board game is that, anywy, scheaf? looks intresting
Um... it's called... Pandemic? It's a cooperative board game where the players work to combat the spread of various (abstracted to colored wooden cubes with no name) diseases and find cures to stop them for good. It's not a terribly deep game but it plays quickly.
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according to CNN this morning 34,000 people die from the regular flu virus in the US every year. compare that to the 1 confirmed US death so far by the swine flu.
I think it is a lor of bother over nothing. If it is caught and treated early, there is virtually not fatality rate. Im more worried about ebola than swine flu.
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It was once said that a black man would be president "When Pigs Fly". Indeed, 100 days into Obama's presidency.....SWINE FLU!
Somehow I just knew this was coming xP
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It was once said that a black man would be president "When Pigs Fly". Indeed, 100 days into Obama's presidency.....SWINE FLU!
*badum psssshhh* XD
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It was once said that a black man would be president "When Pigs Fly". Indeed, 100 days into Obama's presidency.....SWINE FLU!
*badum psssshhh* XD
Please edit that to badum craaash
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Please edit that to badum craaash
Whats wrong with the other version?
Also... I think I either have a cold or teh O NOES flu... and I still have two days left of school. >.>
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It was once said that a black man would be president "When Pigs Fly".
(https://www.cactusforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aoweq.com%2FPolice_chopper_rear_view_static.jpg&hash=06ad433b19b50002b5a974945d5708cde7c84650)
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Ryan and I literally lol'd.
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that pic doesn't make any sense whatsoever
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This is just another case of the media hyping some tiny risk factor to scare people enough to sell papers / advertising and get attention.
It happened with school shootings.
It happened with shark attacks.
It happened with child abductions.
Now it is happening with Swine Flu.
All of these things put together probably kill less people a year than are killed by bathtub accidents. But the media plays it up and everyone thinks that they are in great danger.
ah.. you are right. but the way i see this "swine flu" is worse here are two reasons why.
1.swine flu kills people and kills people faster then cancer.
2.it is spreading awhole lot faster then any other sickness i have sceen.
One person?
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1.swine flu kills people and kills people faster then cancer.
Yes, but oddly, here in the US, it is not killing people at all.
2.it is spreading awhole lot faster then any other sickness i have sceen.
You should have seen the stomach virus I caught from the baby last December. He was sick on Monday night. I caught it from him, my wife caught it from me. Our friend who was with us on Monday night caught it, gave it to the people in her lab. Except her boss. Who took it home and gave it to her husband. Who took it to the main campus and gave it to all the people in HIS lab. All of these illnesses were reported to me on Friday evening, 100 hours after my son first yakked all over his car seat.
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In Mexico its wiping out people rapidly. Lack of treatment? Of course.
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To expound on Schaef's first comment, the only death in the US was a Mexican child brought into the US hoping to receive better treatment. That child died in the US, but was not an American. Americans are better immunized and have not died from the virus, even though the total of confirmed cases is now over 140.
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I like how the media is urging us "not to avoid contact with Mexicans".
I mean, should political correctness outweigh practicality?
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You should have seen the stomach virus I caught from the baby last December. He was sick on Monday night. I caught it from him, my wife caught it from me. Our friend who was with us on Monday night caught it, gave it to the people in her lab. Except her boss. Who took it home and gave it to her husband. Who took it to the main campus and gave it to all the people in HIS lab. All of these illnesses were reported to me on Friday evening, 100 hours after my son first yakked all over his car seat.
Wow, that sounds a lot like the second commercial in the video I posted. Minus "yakking."
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I like how the media is urging us "not to avoid contact with Mexicans".
I mean, should political correctness outweigh practicality?
The government is trying to avoid Racism.
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I like how the media is urging us "not to avoid contact with Mexicans".
I mean, should political correctness outweigh practicality?
The government is trying to avoid Racism.
Does anyone see a conflict of interest here?
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In Mexico its wiping out people rapidly.
Or maybe not. A recent report has found that a majority of the deaths in Mexico were incorrectly attributed to H1N1.
Of course, the Great Flu that killed tens of millions in the Fall/Winter of 1918-1919 started as a very mild flu in the Spring of 1918. As it mutated to adapt itself better to human hosts, it became markedly more deadly.
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You know, the government used 911 to make us afraid of terrorists and not protest the patriot act; the swine flu will probably just be a similar attempt to take control of the people.
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It was once said that a black man would be president "When Pigs Fly".
(https://www.cactusforums.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aoweq.com%2FPolice_chopper_rear_view_static.jpg&hash=06ad433b19b50002b5a974945d5708cde7c84650)
;D
I'm thinking it could get me out of a couple weeks of school if we get some cases locally, that'd be great if it was the last few weeks before graduation. ;)
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You know, the government used 911 to make us afraid of terrorists and not protest the patriot act; the swine flu will probably just be a similar attempt to take control of the people.
Sometimes I don't know whether you're being serious or not.
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You know, the government used 911 to make us afraid of terrorists and not protest the patriot act; the swine flu will probably just be a similar attempt to take control of the people.
Sometimes I don't know whether you're being serious or not.
I'm being pseudo-serious.
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Personally, I feel as if we should start a national 'Hug a Pig' day. The little guys are not getting any love anymore.
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You know these "don't be racist" things that they're putting in the news is just serving as reverse psychology: warning people about the threat without provoking mexicans.
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that pic doesn't make any sense whatsoever
It makes perfect sense.. Just think about it a little bit harder.
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It makes perfect sense.. Just think about it a little bit harder.
He would have to know that police officers are referred to as "pigs," at least in the inappropriate derogatory sense.
You know these "don't be racist" things that they're putting in the news is just serving as reverse psychology: warning people about the threat without provoking mexicans.
That sounds so Christ-like. What was our government thinking?
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First, "Mexican" isn't a race, so you can't be racist against Mexicans.
Second, illegal immigrants are criminals. Would you want to hang around the local Fence or his clients?
Third, um, MEXICANS ARE AT LARGER RISK FOR BEING CARRIERS!
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Third, um, MEXICANS ARE AT LARGER RISK FOR BEING CARRIERS!
The largest, actually. I noticed that the most US cases were in New York. Maybe there really is some connection to 911. :o
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Yeah so, Im almost positive I've got it now. Fever, sore throat without any nasal congestion, achey muscles, and im tired. :(
Thankfully my mom found 5 tamiflu pills in her room. ;D
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First, "Mexican" isn't a race, so you can't be racist against Mexicans.
FWIW, you can be racist against Latinos. Mexicans are not Caucasians. And whether or not it's "racism" is just nitpicking, the point is they're looking to avoid discrimination regardless of which term you think is appropriate.
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Racism may not be the best term, but the discrimination is real. Ironically, I had to face this in my classroom on Friday. First understand that 90% of my students are Hispanic, with backgrounds from all over - Peurto Rico, Venezuela, Mexico, Dominican Republic, etc. Many of them have parents that are recent immigrants, so the language barrier has been tough for me as a teacher.
On Friday, several students were making negative comments about one student whose family was from Mexico. They were basically telling him that he should not have come to school and that he was a threat to all of us, even though his family had not been in Mexico since last year.
The hysteria that Swine Flu has brought is causing negativity toward anyone of Mexican descent. That will worsen here since Florida just confirmed its first two cases this morning, with many tests still waiting a return. There is fear that many people who visited Disney World recently were infected due to vacationers from Mexico.
With that said, the concern is real for many of us. I was planning on going to Aquatica today, but since Florida's theme parks are an inherent risk because of crowds, a water park seems to be a higher risk. With a 2-year-old, I can't afford taking that kind of chance. She has not had all of her immunization shots yet.
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First, "Mexican" isn't a race, so you can't be racist against Mexicans.
FWIW, you can be racist against Latinos. Mexicans are not Caucasians. And whether or not it's "racism" is just nitpicking, the point is they're looking to avoid discrimination regardless of which term you think is appropriate.
It is possible for a Mexian to be Caucasian. All the term Caucasian means is that you are of white skin generally from Europe. Since they speak Spanish in Mexico because Spaniards came from Eurpoe, it is very possible for someone to be a Caucasian Mexican. Furthermore, the term Mexican is just a designator of nationality, not race. Race is a physical characteristic that destinguishes a large group of people. Generally skin color, facial form, and/or eye shape.
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It's possible but you're nitpicking just like Polarius. You know as well as I do that the vast majority are Hispanic, and you know as well as I do that the point here is discrimination, whether it's technically "racism" or not.
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So I've been quite sick since... I honestly don't know; I've lost track of the days. I don't think it's the swine flu because I've been quite a recluse of late, but it's really not very nice.
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if you guys havnt noticed. (scheaf this goes for you to.) talking this way is being racist even if you dont mean to be.
No it isn't.
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if you guys havnt noticed. (scheaf this goes for you to.) talking this way is being racist even if you dont mean to be.
No it isn't.
so talking about mexicans this way isnt being racist?
No
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if you guys havnt noticed. (scheaf this goes for you to.) talking this way is being racist even if you dont mean to be.
No it isn't.
so talking about mexicans this way isnt being racist?
No
ok but we are still blaming the mexicans.
We aren't blaming the Mexicans. But its common knowledge that the medicine/vaccination rate is extremely low in Mexico and they are more vulnerable.
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if you guys havnt noticed. (scheaf this goes for you to.) talking this way is being racist even if you dont mean to be.
Get real. It's not racist to say that Mexicans (in general) are not white. If not being white was somehow construed as a BAD thing, that would be racist.
it isnt the mexicans fault anyhow that the swine flu came here.
No one is blaming Mexicans for anything. All anyone said is that people are getting sick and dying in Mexico. Because that's where it's happening. Here in the US, people are getting sick and NOT dying, and the one thing that is NOT a factor is race; Americans are black, white, red, green, purple, and striped, so the reason they're not dying has to be something else. Probably quality of medical care.
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You know, before I got sick, one of my friends who is 1/4th Mexican was over here...
Coincidence?
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You know, before I got sick, one of my friends who is 1/4th Mexican was over here...
Coincidence?
Most likely.
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You know, before I got sick, one of my friends who is 1/4th Mexican was over here...
Coincidence?
The only determining factor would be whether they were in Mexico recently or were exposed to someone who was in Mexico recently.
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I'm not getting a vaccine, that's all I know. A lot of people get very sick from vaccines... I don't know, my mom was a nurse for many years and she's not sure getting vaccines is EVER a good idea, unless a disease is like 100% fatality rating or something like that. A lot of times it doesn't even work, and you either get sick from the vaccine or you don't let yourself get sick, and the disease comes back much worse and your body doesn't have the immunity to it. Just my :2cents:
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Herbal remedies are the way to go, they build up your immune system.
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I heard that was the catch phrase in the 60s.
Godspeed,
Mike
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but how do you know mexicans are the only ones dying? you know, some people may have died here and we didnt know yet. they may have thought that they just had the regular flu and didnt think it was serious. and they died in ther homes. :-\
The CDC currently has 241 confirmed cases in 34 states. The only death in the United States was a child who traveled here from Mexico for treatment.
So yes, we do know.
And it doesn't change the simple fact, that stating a fact about who has died from the virus IS NOT RACIST. I even dedicated a whole paragraph in my last post to the fact that there are people in America from all over the world, which PROVES that race is not a factor in who does/does not die from the virus.
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Who's to imply that political prejudice is equated with racism?
For example, I have an extreme dislike for French political practices.
Girls of French heritage, on the other hand, I do not have such a dislike for.
I also have a supreme dislike for the German government circa WWII.
German girls, on the other hand, I am quite fond of.
As for Switzerland, I'd have to say that it just all around wins everywhere: girls and government.
I see no problem being overcautious about people coming from a certain country which isn't known for its mastery in matters of medicinal and sanitary practices in time of flu.
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Who's to imply that political prejudice is equated with racism?
For example, I have an extreme dislike for French political practices.
Girls of French heritage, on the other hand, I do not have such a dislike for.
I also have a supreme dislike for the German government circa WWII.
German girls, on the other hand, I am quite fond of.
As for Switzerland, I'd have to say that it just all around wins everywhere: girls and government.
I see no problem being overcautious about people coming from a certain country which isn't known for its mastery in matters of medicinal and sanitary practices in time of flu.
I think this means you win the thread.
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First, it would be ironic to call this a necro-post. In fact, it isn't a necro-post because this is still an issue and has since triggered many deaths. While the rest of you have been joking around about how this virus is racist, we have since neglected to follow up on where H1N1 has come since its introduction into the U.S.
Before I go too far, I want you all to understand that I am not the sort of person who likes to excite fears in others, but I have been talking this issue over with a molecular biologist who has been closely following this virus and its progress. Thus, I am only passing along the sort of caution which I have come to adopt from his warnings.
While I admit that the ratio of reported cases to deaths is not yet intimidating, the fact that is has spread so quickly, affected so many, and killed 556 Americans and Canadians in the span of a few months is worthy of caution. Maybe you are all right, a virus with such a funny name can't be so dangerous! However, I want you to at least take this issue more seriously and attentively. Even if this virus does not kill a large fraction of its victims, this virus is very painful and debilitating. At least look to the data and facts for your own conclusions:
http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/#totalcases (http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/updates/us/#totalcases)
Now, many of you have ignored the threat of the H1N1, claiming that the normal flu kills significantly more people per year. However, this is a fallacy since the H1N1 is a subcategory of all Flu's and should thus be taken with much more than a grain of salt. (The term Flu applies to a large number of influenza viruses, of which the H1N1 is emerging as one of the most threatening.) All the virus needs is a quick recombination in a host and a mutation before it turns into the H1N3 virus and renders all current vaccine research useless. In addition to the H1N1 here in the U.S., a second wave is swelling in other countries. A very virulent strain of H1N1 is forming which we should keep our eyes on as well. With international trade and commerce, it will not take long before this particular outbreak reaches our country. For more information on this virus, look at the following article:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,544262,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,544262,00.html)
This article wisely puts this virus into the perspective of time; These reports, these outbreaks, only set the stage for a long and horrible sweep of H1N1.
Maybe you are all right when you pass this issue along without much comment, and I hope you are right. However, in the event that you are wrong, it would be wise to educate yourself and be prepared for the worst. Like you, I hope for the best, but it amazes me how readily people ignore these sort of threats. They are very realistic, they are contagious, and they are full of potential.
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When the Bird Flu or the Killer Bees arrive, I will become concerned. As far as I can tell, 'pandemic' basically means 'WHO needs money'. An N3H2 'pandemic' has been going on for 20 years, but the CDC doesn't freak about it.
FWIW, H1N3 cannot be caught by humans, only birds.
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When the Bird Flu or the Killer Bees arrive, I will become concerned. As far as I can tell, 'pandemic' basically means 'WHO needs money'. An N3H2 'pandemic' has been going on for 20 years, but the CDC doesn't freak about it.
FWIW, H1N3 cannot be caught by humans, only birds.
I suppose I don't understand your arguments since you are arguing about strains which I am not talking about. With regards to the H1N3, I simply meant that a simple mutation can render all pending vaccines useless. The name H1N3 was just a reference to what new name the virus could adopt through its transformation, so the argument still holds.
The bit about the WHO is a valid concern, albeit without any backing to your claim. Your argument suggests that the WHO is making up the facts about how the virus is spreading, and is dishonest about a worldwide threat which can be cross-referenced to other sources.
The bit about the N3H2 does not seem to fit this conversation. I would need more info about why you think this argument is significant.
Finally, I want to point out that the Bird Flu strain is closely related to the one in question and that Killer Bees have been arriving for some time now! ;)
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My points being:
- Both the Bird Flu and the Killer Bees were promoted as the next Spanish Flu, and neither were.
- I'm not saying WHO is lying about the virus, but they are over-hyping their worst-case-senarios (which are often misrepresented as likely predictions of what it will do by the media -- I'm actually more frustrated with how serious everyone takes the news channels, which, I remind everyone, is solely entertainment programming...)
- N3H2 is a strain that has been labeled 'pandemic' by WHO for 20+ years, but never amounted to anything even as serious as the normal flu. They use 'pandemic' way too liberally.
- Fair enough on H1N3, I thought you had a specific strain in mind. However, note than any form of the flu can mutate and make all pending vaccines useless.
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I take your points as valid to a certain extent:
You are right in that the term "pandemic" is too frequently used to sell stories to readers, but that does not detract from this case, it only makes the media look bad. Because of this, I cited a Federal source which is not really subject to the same publicity stunts.
What makes this particular virus so unique is that the octapartite RNA genome of the Influenza virus easily recombines and mutates. Furthermore, this strain is known to attack the strong and healthy young people rather than weeding out and attacking the weak victims in the masses. The impact of this is obvious: The H1N1 is going to harm a much larger population than most influenza viruses are even capable of. I am not claiming that this virus is going to be 1918 Flu Pandemic all over again, but I think this issue must be handled warily. This virus alone can easily wipe out millions of people within the first wave when it hits.
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I cited a Federal source which is not really subject to the same publicity stunts.
I hope that was a joke. ;)
This virus alone can easily wipe out millions of people within the first wave when it hits.
I was under the impression that the first wave had hit.
I certainly think that caution should be taken. As a teacher exposed to hundreds of kids every day (many from families of immediate Mexican or other Central American descent), I would probably be considered in a high risk setting, but the school system's current response (in accordance with CDC recommendations) is to provide tissues and hand sanitizer for every classroom. Students are told to cover their coughs and sanitize after every class. Only a handful (no pun intended) actually use the sanitizer, but we have not had any problems so far.
I would agree with the general synopsis that the immediate threat is overblown for dramatic purpose. People have died and continue to die, so it is no joking matter. But if the question is what I am going to do differently in my everyday life because of Swine Flu, the answer will be nearly nothing. I already take certain precautions because I am public school teacher. At the beginning of last school year I had Walking Pneumonia. That was the most sick I can ever remember being. Precautions can protect or prevent some illnesses. But sometimes you just get sick.
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I cited a Federal source which is not really subject to the same publicity stunts.
I hope that was a joke. ;)
Well, I am aware that government agencies must try to pull numbers and results etc. to keep their funding, but their stunts are not the same ones, or at least, they are not for the same reasons. Since it seems that I need another source, I will use my personal example. A friend of mine just went to the hospital, and upon questioning, we discovered that this one hospital has been handling 40 cases a day of this Swine Flu! According to the chart with the various states and alert levels, I discovered that mine is one of the states that has been labeled for "regional" cases.
This virus alone can easily wipe out millions of people within the first wave when it hits.
I was under the impression that the first wave had hit.
I certainly think that caution should be taken. As a teacher exposed to hundreds of kids every day (many from families of immediate Mexican or other Central American descent), I would probably be considered in a high risk setting, but the school system's current response (in accordance with CDC recommendations) is to provide tissues and hand sanitizer for every classroom. Students are told to cover their coughs and sanitize after every class. Only a handful (no pun intended) actually use the sanitizer, but we have not had any problems so far.
I would agree with the general synopsis that the immediate threat is overblown for dramatic purpose. People have died and continue to die, so it is no joking matter. But if the question is what I am going to do differently in my everyday life because of Swine Flu, the answer will be nearly nothing. I already take certain precautions because I am public school teacher. At the beginning of last school year I had Walking Pneumonia. That was the most sick I can ever remember being. Precautions can protect or prevent some illnesses. But sometimes you just get sick.
Most illnesses come in two diffeent waves. The one that is currently running loose in America is not nearly as bad as the one coming from the eastern part of the world. The first wave I was cautioning about was the one from Asia.
I am glad to hear that your school has not yet been hit so hard by the Swine Flu, and I hope it stays that way. Also, the fact that it is working to stay sanitized is a good idea anyways! I, too, will not be taking special changes in my everyday life until I have the immediate cause to, but I will be watching this virus closely. That is all I am really asking people to do! Stay informed, and stay aware! I am not telling people to run into caves and hide, but I want people to just be cautious about the matter.
Remember, Under the Influenza, Over the Limit! ;)
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but the school system's current response (in accordance with CDC recommendations) is to provide tissues and hand sanitizer for every classroom. Students are told to cover their coughs and sanitize after every class. Only a handful (no pun intended) actually use the sanitizer, but we have not had any problems so far.
Thats probably a good thing. If everyone used hand sanitizer, the virus would build up an immunity to it, allowing it to kill even more people.
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but the school system's current response (in accordance with CDC recommendations) is to provide tissues and hand sanitizer for every classroom. Students are told to cover their coughs and sanitize after every class. Only a handful (no pun intended) actually use the sanitizer, but we have not had any problems so far.
Thats probably a good thing. If everyone used hand sanitizer, the virus would build up an immunity to it, allowing it to kill even more people.
I am not sure if this is a joke or not. In the event that it is not, I have to point out a couple of facts about the Swine Flu:
1. The Flu is easily destroyed by sanitation because of how the proteins built inside a layer of fat. Sanitation easily destroys this bug by destroying the fat. Thus, even a mutation cannot protect this virus against sanitation.
2. This virus is transmitted via the respiratory system and contamination. Thus, even in the most optimistic cases, all that you are accomplishing by applying good sanitation is by limiting the carriers. Even that is not true. However, it is still a good idea to keep yourself clean for many reasons.
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Y2k and 2012, all over again.
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Y2k and 2012, all over again.
Actually, the Mayans thought that in 2012, demons would pour forth from the center of our galaxy to chew everything up. I recently read "Maya Cosmogenesis 2012" and smirked a lot. :)
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well if Obama is re-elected......anything could happen
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be nice....don't blame everything on one person...
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If Obama AND his liberals get re-elected*
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I think the Killer Bees were a better analogy. I remember that hysteria. The news showed the map of Central and North America, and gave the timeline for when they would arrive in certain parts of the US. That paranoia sparked a few feature movies that made most people afraid to go into a field. Couple that with Jaws and I was afraid to leave my house as a child.
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I think the Killer Bees were a better analogy. I remember that hysteria. The news showed the map of Central and North America, and gave the timeline for when they would arrive in certain parts of the US. That paranoia sparked a few feature movies that made most people afraid to go into a field. Couple that with Jaws and I was afraid to leave my house as a child.
Except the threat of killer bees is still very large and growing. Perhaps it isn't as sinister and deadly as sensationalists thought it would be, but since I am a beekeeper I have been keeping my eye on the migration of killer bees and it is inevitably expanding northward.
Thus, the killer bee scare just goes to prove my point that although paranoia should be avoided, caution in both cases is very much warranted.
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Except the threat of killer bees is still very large and growing.
Based on the minimal amount of research that I did on this, killer bees "have become the preferred type of bee for beekeeping in Central America and in tropical areas of South America because of improved productivity." and they only kill 1-2 people in America each year. Comparing this to 355 Americans dying from falling off a ladder (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_fal_on_and_fro_lad-mortality-fall-ladder), I'm not worried.
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Y2k and 2012, all over again.
Actually, the Mayans thought that in 2012, demons would pour forth from the center of our galaxy to chew everything up. I recently read "Maya Cosmogenesis 2012" and smirked a lot. :)
And he opened the bottomless pit; and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great furnace; and the sun and the air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth: and unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads. And to them it was given that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five months: and their torment [was] as the torment of a scorpion, when he striketh a man. And in those days shall men seek death, and shall not find it; and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. And the shapes of the locusts [were] like unto horses prepared unto battle; and on their heads [were] as it were crowns like gold, and their faces [were] as the faces of men. And they had hair as the hair of women, and their teeth were as [the teeth] of lions. And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings [was] as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle. And they had tails like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tails: and their power [was] to hurt men five months.
Dum, dum, DA!
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If Obama AND his liberals get re-elected*
I's just funny to me how people blame all the countries problems on the leader that's been in power nine months whose trying to fix the country, not the one that was in power for Eight Years and completely screwed it up in the first place.
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I will say this again...BOTH parties are at fault for the mess we are in...quit with the partisan comments...
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+1
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I will say this again...BOTH parties are at fault for the mess we are in...quit with the partisan comments...
yes I agree. I just read where the Banks that were "too big to fail" have gotten bigger since last fall. Am I alone in thinking that this is a problem? Why were they allowed to get "too Big" (and btw, while I do have some left leaning tendencies, I dont think that ANY firm is too big for the economy to take behind the woodshead and put it down. If you run your buisness into the ground then you deserve to watch it die a miserable death) and if they are "too Big" then they should be broken up into smaller more managable pieces.
I cant believe that these banks are still in their present forms and we have BOTH parties to thank for that and it makes me MAD
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You understand the economy about as much as the leftist kitten to the left understands you.
And I mean "you" in the general sense, not you personally, reader of this post.
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You understand the economy about as much as the leftist kitten to the left understands you.
And I mean "you" in the general sense, not you personally, reader of this post.
Since that comment came after my post it is hard not ot take offense at it. I hope there is some sort of clarification that is clearer than that second sentance bcause it really doenst make any sense? who is "you"?
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I should clarify further. By "you," I meant your mom.
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I may be alone here but I really dont find that funny
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Colin, that is a funny parallel but simply inaccurate. If you look into the legend of Mayan Cosmogenesis, you will find the Christian doctrine can hardly relate to the outlandish drug-inspired conclusions which the Mayan and Toltec priests arrived at.
Except the threat of killer bees is still very large and growing.
Based on the minimal amount of research that I did on this, killer bees "have become the preferred type of bee for beekeeping in Central America and in tropical areas of South America because of improved productivity." and they only kill 1-2 people in America each year. Comparing this to 355 Americans dying from falling off a ladder (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_fal_on_and_fro_lad-mortality-fall-ladder), I'm not worried.
It is an ironic truth in beekeeping that the more productive a colony, the more aggressive it is. I concur that the productivity of the bee is attractive, but not to my neighbors or to anybody for that matter. I find that 1-2 death statistic very misleading for a few reasons:
1. It does not account for total loss of life, but only human deaths. Livestock isn't even considered a part of the damage caused by these bees, and I would speculate based off of the behavior of bees, that the fatality rate is much higher in other animals.
2. "Deaths" does not encompass total attacks from Africanized Honey Bees, but only accounts for fatalities. I have met plenty of people who have been stung hundreds of times in one confrontation and lived to tell the tale. Are these attacks not significant?
3. This statistic is young, much like with the Swine Flu and has yet to grow. We are starting to see these bees pass their genes northward. When the bees, like the flu virus, are widespread, then we will see much more scary statistics. Compare the few deaths in America to the many 100+ deaths south of our borders, and you might see our numbers rise to meet theirs in due time.
You can take all three of my responses and link them to our huge analogue concerning the Swine Flu.
I also want to make one final point: As a beekeeper, I have to look at my bees and determine what strain of genetics I want my bee to have. Do I want a hundred hives that are pleasant and worthy of barehanded treatment, or do I want half of that many hives which are capable of twice the productivity but are also more menacing and dangerous? After twelve years of tossing this question around in my head, the answer is most clearly the former. Just because the feisty hives can do twice as much work, does not cut my work in half. The time that I waste trying to ward off the evil and painful bees is not well spent and not worth the effort in my opinion.
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1. It does not account for total loss of life, but only human deaths.
I can't find any stats on how many cows are killed by bees, so I guess I'll have to leave this one alone :)
2. "Deaths" does not encompass total attacks from Africanized Honey Bees, but only accounts for fatalities.
I've been stung by bees many times, and I would propose that if the bees aren't killing people, then it's not significant enough to be worthy of raising nationwide alarm.
3. This statistic is young, much like with the Swine Flu and has yet to grow. We are starting to see these bees pass their genes northward. When the bees, like the flu virus, are widespread, then we will see much more scary statistics. Compare the few deaths in America to the many 100+ deaths south of our borders, and you might see our numbers rise to meet theirs in due time.
That's a fair criticism. So I looked it up. "South of our borders" in Mexico, there were a total of 88 deaths (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_con_wit_hor_was_and_bee-mortality-contact-hornets-wasps-bees) due to all hornets, wasps, and bees (not just the "killer" ones). Comparing this to the 233 deaths (http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/mor_vic_of_lig-mortality-victim-of-lightning) by being struck by lightning puts this stat into perspective. I'm still not concerned about this.
Just because the feisty hives can do twice as much work, does not cut my work in half. The time that I waste trying to ward off the evil and painful bees is not well spent and not worth the effort in my opinion.
That may be your assessment, but it seems that most of the people who have lived with these bees for a while disagree with you.
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Colin, that is a funny parallel but simply inaccurate. If you look into the legend of Mayan Cosmogenesis, you will find the Christian doctrine can hardly relate to the outlandish drug-inspired conclusions which the Mayan and Toltec priests arrived at.
Or if you look at the fact that they were written on complete different continents unable to communicate with each other.
Hm...
Could the Mayan writings also have been written as a political critique of their nation disguised in metaphor? That'd be a cool parallel.