I wish I could find Albert Collins singing his classic Flu Blues! Unfortunately I have had no luck, and I can certainly relate to what Albert was feeling. I starting getting sick on Tuesday night, and then by Thursday I was stuck on the couch or in bed until Sunday morning! I am not sure if I had the flu, or if it was a bad cold. The doctors around here never tell you what you have, which is probably ok. After all who wants to worry about H1N1! It might be best not to know! All I do know is that I am better tonight, and I am looking forward to getting back to work, and blogging.
Tom Gary
Blues Historian
Showing posts with label flu. Show all posts
Showing posts with label flu. Show all posts
Monday, September 7, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
From Historical Rants
I posted this on my historical rants blog. All weekend I have been angry at the obsession with the new flu strain that they media has had. Drudge started it a few nights ago and the rest of the media followed suit. I know that this is not blues, or even blues related, but I also know that far more people will read this here than at historical rants.
Thanks
Tom
I know that the Center For Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization(WHO) are doing what they need to do. A new strain of the flu needs to be investigated, but the media is doing no favors by hyping this beyond reason. I first saw this on Drudge and as of Sunday night(April 26) he has several red links(you can find his site yourself, it is not like he needs any help) and over the top headlines about what is going on. Then CNN, Fox, and MSNBC, followed suit. However, no one has taken the time to even look at the facts.
Here are a few things you need to know about the flu. First the flu kills 20-30 thousand people in the US each year! Read that again. 20-30 thousand! Why isn't the media playing that stat up! So far in Mexico the number of people who have died from the new flu is 100. As of 11:30 pm Sunday April 26th no one has died of this new strain in the US.
Of course, 100 people dying in a few weeks is a scary stat. So perhaps those who catch this version of the flu are more likely to die?? At this point no. The death rate for the flu is 8% while the death rate for this new strain at 11:30pm tonight is 7.69% or basically the same as the flu.
So why all the gloom and doom? Why all the panic? It really isn't rational. I suppose part of the fault lies with the CDC, and the WHO who tend to not speak in the most optimistic terms. They don't want to encourage the spread of this, and really a lot of this is to cover their backside. The media is the true blame for this. If they would just look up the stats for the flu they would see that this is not something to cause panic over yet.
The real problem, is that at some point people will stop taking the media seriously. (LIKE ME!) and then if there really is a problem how many people will pay attention. It is the boy who cries wolf syndrome. At some point the villagers quit running out to see what is going on, and when the real wolf shows up no one is there.
I certainly hope that this new bug turns out to be just like any other bug, but the flu is nothing to play with. My mother died from complications of the flu 10 years ago, so I know how dangerous it is. However, the media has a duty to not screw around with our fears just to get higher ratings.
Thanks
Tom
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Fear Mongering
The news all weekend has been the stuff that legends are made of. Flu pandemic sweeps Mexico. Hide the kids! Death stalks at every doorstep!! Don't leave the HOUSE!!!!I know that the Center For Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization(WHO) are doing what they need to do. A new strain of the flu needs to be investigated, but the media is doing no favors by hyping this beyond reason. I first saw this on Drudge and as of Sunday night(April 26) he has several red links(you can find his site yourself, it is not like he needs any help) and over the top headlines about what is going on. Then CNN, Fox, and MSNBC, followed suit. However, no one has taken the time to even look at the facts.
Here are a few things you need to know about the flu. First the flu kills 20-30 thousand people in the US each year! Read that again. 20-30 thousand! Why isn't the media playing that stat up! So far in Mexico the number of people who have died from the new flu is 100. As of 11:30 pm Sunday April 26th no one has died of this new strain in the US.
Of course, 100 people dying in a few weeks is a scary stat. So perhaps those who catch this version of the flu are more likely to die?? At this point no. The death rate for the flu is 8% while the death rate for this new strain at 11:30pm tonight is 7.69% or basically the same as the flu.
So why all the gloom and doom? Why all the panic? It really isn't rational. I suppose part of the fault lies with the CDC, and the WHO who tend to not speak in the most optimistic terms. They don't want to encourage the spread of this, and really a lot of this is to cover their backside. The media is the true blame for this. If they would just look up the stats for the flu they would see that this is not something to cause panic over yet.
The real problem, is that at some point people will stop taking the media seriously. (LIKE ME!) and then if there really is a problem how many people will pay attention. It is the boy who cries wolf syndrome. At some point the villagers quit running out to see what is going on, and when the real wolf shows up no one is there.
I certainly hope that this new bug turns out to be just like any other bug, but the flu is nothing to play with. My mother died from complications of the flu 10 years ago, so I know how dangerous it is. However, the media has a duty to not screw around with our fears just to get higher ratings.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Cold And Flu Season
I know to most of you this is the holiday season, but for those of us who work in the K-12 schools this is cold and flu season, and I have a whopper. A couple of weeks ago I had strep throat and I seemed to rebound somewhat from it. I had the good ol Z pac antibiotic. However, today I feel like a train has hit me. I was fine this morning. A little dizzy after breakfast, but no real problems, and once I got to school I seemed ok. However, by the end of my second hour I started to hurt, and by the time I got home I had a 102 temp. So I ended up at the doctor and they gave me some powerful antibiotics and now I am waiting to feel better. I still have fever and body aches, and it feels like the flu, but I got a flu shot so I am pretty sure it is not it. I must admit that we have had a ton of bugs flying around school, so I am sure I got what I call one of the local high industrial bugs. I would laugh, but it hurts too much:-) So anyway I am a bit delirious while I am writing this, but I wanted you to know whats going on if I don't post for a couple days. Anyway, I am sure that once the holidays start and all the kids start going to all the relatives then it will be your turn! So eat those zinc decongestant or whatever you do to keep the bugs away and have a safe holiday.
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