Poop Pandemic! Hehe! My home page >8]

So, you dug up this site, eh? Hmm. Masochist, eh? Look up the dictionary. >8]
Hey, check out the 'SPREAD POOP' page!

All right, so I promised you that you'd find out more about me (the author, not the Poop). Ok, so grab a dead mouse to nibble and read on ..."

Since there are now a significant number of self-destructive types accessing this site, I decided to really dig in and upset your sensitivities with more facts, but this time from the press. So, after this incredibly brief and interesting partial biography, you'll find links to real news items and facts, and maybe some comments by myself. Best to keep checking the site for life-saving tidbits, or should we say, poopbits.

Stop distracting me and focus. So there I was, toiling feverishly helping senior Earthlings justify their IT needs (Information Technology for those who failed anything each year), when in a sudden blinding light, I realized that we are all very sick. I mean, with such huge budgets to suck the sick from peoples using surgical things that look like devilishly designed torture instruments, or mashed up tree barks, roots and pretty flowers, which pharmaceutical companies call drugs, to service so few peoples, there has to be a serious problem in society. The problem where so many peoples slip sideways and get carted away in a nice, shiny box. Why? Why is it so easy to get sick? I mean we're all taught hygiene from when we're ankle-high to a Tyrannosaurus Rex, to scrub our paws, scrape our fangs, and do other unpleasant things to our bodies to be clean, and save society from extinction.

It occurred to me that it's not working. We're on the verge of being annihilated and we're doing little to save ourselves, leaving it all up to politicians. Sorry, but I had to say that word. So I thought about it, for a long time. So when I was offered a position at a health institution, I thought "Hark! Could this be my chance to make more money?" And it was. Oh, I could also think more about the health thing.

So there I was, working at a depressing institution called a hospital. Actually it was two hospitals. Well one really. Oh heck, it was one hospital corporation in Toronto, Ontario, Canada that had two hospitals in stock. Depressing, sure! Well really, I mean it's not like a fitness centre with people leaping about in pristine health is it? Most of them are either moaning, silent (either asleep or dead), or trying to talk. Granted there are those who still can talk - they're the ones who've been admitted but not yet treated, hehe.

... Hey! This is the first post since the end of April .. I'm glad to say. The fungus situation seems to have gone quiet. But I'll keep an ear open for more on that.

And the H1N1 bug alert from the WHO has been downgraded to post-pandemic status: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/

However, now there's a nasty little enzyme (a complex protein that is manufactured by cells and acts as a catalyst in specific biochemical reactions) named NDM-1. Okay so you want to have a label to remember this by .. eh .. lemme see .. eh .. "No Damned Mercy, not 1". Happy now? Hehe. Well it seems that a new strain of bacteria has developed the ability to make this ugly catalyst in order to multiply even in the presence of heavy duty antibiotics. And the "gene for the enzyme is found on DNA structures known as plasmids that can be easily copied and passed on to other types of bacteria" states the article. What concerns me further is that the enzyme has been found in E.coli, the friendly stuff that abounds in every human's digestive system, making the E.coli resistant to antibiotics. Quotes the article, "Antibiotic-resistant E. coli can cause fatal pneumonia and other infections".

Cases have been found in the following countries: United Kingdom: 37; Chennai, India: 44; Haryana, India: 26; Other sites in India and Pakistan: 73; Total: 180 (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases). The article says that cases have been found in Canada, specifically Vancouver and Alberta. I guess the Alberta city's not known. The article says "the Vancouver case" meaning just one case, and the patient has recovered. So don't get all whiney and shaky. It's early days yet. And I'll be keeping an eye and ear open on this one .. however, don't expect a daily update, alright. So now I get to slurp down a soup 'n sandwich for lunch. And my E.coli will work on it for me. I like my E.coli. We're friends. Enjoy your day :)
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April 25, 2010 - Reuters.com: Potentially deadly fungus spreading in U.S. and Canada ..

... Reuters reports that a new strain of fungus is on the loose with a quoted mortality rate of 1 in 4 among the 21 US cases analyzed. Small numbers, high ratio. Trouble is it's on the rise in Northern US and British Columbia (in western Canada). Apparently it's a spore forming fungus that can cause symptoms in people and animals two weeks or more after exposure to them. Symptoms include: a cough that lasts for weeks, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, fever, nighttime sweating, and weight loss. This is something we need to keep a close eye on. I'll update you when I hear more. This news has not yet reached me from north america, but from the UK. Bizarre ..
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... And spring has sprung! At least in Ontario here. And very quickly summer will hit, and I mean hit. Many people outside Canada don't realize that we have a very short spring and fall. The transition from spring to summer is very fast, when high humidity and temperatures soar. Likewise the opposite in the fall. Well now that you've been educated on Ontario weather on a healthwatch site I'll get back to work and stop irritating you .. but then again, irritating you is fun. Kiddin'. Enjoy your spring/summer/fall. And check in now and then .. just in case I spy something important.
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... Mild winter. Press pushes for washing hands. Kids don't want to die so they wash their hands. I know, it's difficult for experts to understand the obvious sometimes. Thinking inside the medicine cabinet as usual. However, there are a few really brilliant medicine people out there who do think outside the box. Shame they're not newsworthy. Just give me the stymied experts' pay for one week. That would work very nicely for a wee holiday in the Swiss Alps for a month. Thinks: Is there snow there this year? Heck, my tea's overbrewing! Gotta go .. have a good bug-free day ..
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February 24, 2010 - HealthZone.ca: H1N1 flu pandemic unofficially over for now ..

... "The H1N1 virus itself was not as lethal as officials first feared." Hmm, nuff said.
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... Apparantly, researchers have discovered that there's a 1:3 chance of getting asthma in a Canadian's lifetime, a 1:5 chance for it to start at over 20 years of age, and approximately a 1:7.7 chance when over 30. Interesting. My family has one who was 1(?) year old, another before 10, another after 20, and me after 30. The article doesn't raise the spectre that asthma may be caused by vaccinations. However, one poster, clearly educated, lists papers by medical researchers that raise the issue. I hope the author doesn't mind me copying their posts here, however, I think it is highly pertinent to this blog for me to do so. I've combined two of the posts by loandtreys_mom 2010/02/15 2:49pm EST and 3:22pm EST. Now I haven't verified these references, nor their relevance to the issue. So please research them yourselves if you wish:

"Sometimes, the answers are obvious, and it's reassuring that there are actually studies that have been done on these obvious lines of questioning.

Here is a study from the University of Manitoba that looked the relationship of early vaccination to the development of asthma, through the health records over a number of years. The earlier children received their DPT shots, the higher their odds of developing asthma by their seventh year of age. To be more precise, among children born in Manitoba in 1995 who received their first shot on time (on or before two months of age), nearly 14% subsequently developed asthma. By comparison, among children who received their first shot late (six months or later), less than 6% developed asthma.

McDonald KL, Huq SI, Lix LM, Becker AB, Kozyrskyj AL. Delay in diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus vaccination is associated with a reduced risk of childhood asthma. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2008;121(3):626-31.

A few of the many other similar studies:

Hurwitz EL, Morgenstern H. Effects of diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis or tetanus vaccination on allergies and allergy-related respiratory symptoms among children and adolescents in the United States. J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2000;23(2):81-90.

Odent MR, Culpin EE, Kimmel T. Pertussis vaccination and asthma: is there a link? JAMA. 1994;272(8):592-3.

McKeever TM, Lewis SA, Smith C, Hubbard R. Vaccination and allergic disease: a birth cohort study. Am J Public Health. 2004;94(6):985-9

Further to my last post.....more studies supporting an association between vaccination and asthma:

Kemp T, Pearce N, Fitzharris P, Crane J, Fergusson D, St George I, Wickens K, Beasley R. Is infant immunization a risk factor for childhood asthma or allergy? Epidemiology. 1997;8(6):678-80.

Wickens K, Crane J, Kemp T, Lewis S, D'Souza W, Sawyer G, Stone L, Tohill S, Kennedy J, Slater T, Rains N, Pearce N. A case-control study of risk factors for asthma in New Zealand children. Aust N Z J Public Health. 2001;25(1):44-9.

Farooqi IS, Hopkin JM. Early childhood infection and atopic disorder. Thorax. 1998;53(11):927-32.

Maitra A, Sherriff A, Griffiths M, Henderson J; Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children Study Team. Pertussis vaccination in infancy and asthma or allergy in later childhood: birth cohort study. BMJ. 2004;328(7445):925-6.

Bernsen RM, de Jongste JC, Koes BW, Aardoom HA, van der Wouden JC. Diphtheria tetanus pertussis poliomyelitis vaccination and reported atopic disorders in 8-12-year-old children. Vaccine. 2006 15;24(12):2035-42.

Bernsen RM, Nagelkerke NJ, Thijs C, van der Wouden JC. Reported pertussis infection and risk of atopy in 8- to 12-yr-old vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2008;19(1):46-52."

My thought process behind mentioning this is that if this is true, we have a very serious situation. If particular vaccinations cause asthma at any age for that number of the population, and if a respiratory-oriented virus like avian flu hits, then not only would asthma sufferers be badly affected, but more people would take vaccinations, get asthma, and be worse off the next time such a virus hits. This would become a never ending cycle, not only within one's lifetime, but generation to generation. If the vaccination-asthma link is true, then we have a major issue that needs resolved as quickly as possible, and we have a lot of very angry parents too, to say the least.

I'll be keeping an eye open watching for more on this. Better check I've still got my puffer handy in the medicine cabinet .. and make sure the expiry date's still ok ..
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February 10, 2010 - CBCNews.ca: Vaccinations may have spared Ontario new round of H1N1 ..

... So medical officials believe that Ontario may have escaped a third wave of the H1N1 virus due to the 5 million shots it spiked Ontario humans people with. Particularly the 700,000 shots in Toronto compared to 2.6 million residents. Oh, but wait a mo! How many Torontorians were there getting shots? I'll bet a significant number were commuters skipping out at break rather than waiting in their own time. But I'm too skeptical >8]

Hey, get this. Of the remaining 1,900,000 residents who did not get the shots during the inspired panic, one or two are still getting shots. Eh, ok. I'd love to meet them. Just to gawk. Well anyway, let's hope that the naughty virus doesn't gather an army and return to towns across the globe. That would be a little unkind and somewhat unsettling. I'd drink a lot more tea for one thing. Well, here's hoping you have a great month - yep, it's a month since I last wrote - on the basis that I don't write unless there's something to write about regarding contagious and infectious lifeforms. And I'm not talking about your unfavourite relatives here. Now, time for tea .. not just any tea, but black assam tea with special ingredients. Uhuh. Orange peel (nice big chunky bits too), dark chocolate (I kid you not), pink peppercorns (yeah, pink), and cardamom (what the heck does cardamom taste like anyway?). Enjoy my tea why don't you, heh heh ..
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... Hey, no news is good news on this blog! The only mention today was a snoring article on how much it cost the country with all those sick people staying at home .. yeah! Methinks just a few may have been 'resting' instead of going to work. I mean the temptation would even poke a saint in the eye would it not? Can't have helped the economic recovery though. Nor the economic recovery of those who are in debt if they didn't get paid. An important question is slurping its way around the grey and pink stuff inside my head part.

What will happen when the next pandemic pounces on humanity? Given the overblown government and media frenzy with H1N1 and the huge resistance of the public to buy into it, I'm thinking the numbers will show massive doubt and inaction. Borrowing from the Rogers Adoption/Innovation Curve business model (if you wish to be frightened, terrified, intimidated or feel the need to curl up in the fetal position under your kitchen table, due to the use of a business model, please feel free to do so - but take your monitor with you), the innovators and early adopters most likely refused to get vaccinated for H1N1. That's about 16%. But hold on! About 50% of USA citizens refused. Now the Early Majority representing another 34% may have refused already, making the total - wait for it - 50%. Oh this is looking wild! As always with large societal crowds, numbers define the story. It seems logical to assume that there will be a very significant upswing of people refusing the next pandemic's vaccine. This would then include the 34% represented by the Late Majority. Which leaves only the Laggard 16%. Now if only 16% receive vaccines, and the vaccines work (which is a possibility), then we could be in a wee tad of a pandemic pickle. That's 1 in 6, below what is needed to prevent the terrifying spread.

My concern here is that this H1N1 debacle by governments and pharmaceutical companies may be the very cause of a massive pandemic going completely out of control. Hmm. Think I'll go find the kitchen table and dive into deep prayer! More on this later. Not the prayer, silly, the bit about 'out of control'. Ouch! Darned monitor ..
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... Not heard a peep from me for a couple of weeks, huh? That's 'cos there's nothing much to peep about. Till today. Seems a solid source of research has discovered that kids aren't the H1N1 super-spreading bodysnatchers that the health authorities thought they were. And that people of all ages spread the virus. That last part we all know. Well, most of us bi-legged creatures. And the infectious period is a lot less than they thought at first - it's now down to a short number of days instead of a week. Sorry kids, but that means back to school time is grossly reduced .. hehe. The bottom line according to the US Centers for Disease Control is to kick your kids' butts out the door after 24 hours from the fever ending. Oh, and that means you as well. Ok, it's hard to kick your own butt - in a foolish moment I've tried. If you feel a real need to try, please wear rubber soled shoes and do it on a non-slippery floor, like I didn't. And on that note, I wish you a spectacularly healthy, pain-free, wealth-making, wild and silly, self-changing, friend-making, plenty of sleeping, taking up new hobby-ing, family closer-making, and I'm going to stop now, 2010. Now how the heck do I roast chestnuts? Probably have to roast them ..
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... Hey, hello world. Eh, I mean Toronto. At least for this info. On the link is a list of Toronto clinic locations, opening times and dates. Both H1N1 and seasonal shots will be available. Gotta go, got visitors here ..
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... I love Discover Magazine. It's always got new stuff to mess with my brain. This one is focused on virus mutation. It's YouTubed by an evolutionary scientist - not that he's evolving, you understand - but he studies evolution in things. Now whether you believe that we evolved from funny flapping things leaping out of the water a while back, or we were put here instantaneously by God, it doesn't matter, since this article's teaching about mutation of viruses. It's packed with juicy stuff that'll make your brain hairs curl, with an emphasis on H1N1 .. and beyond. So if you like studying things that go sneeze in the night, or if you want to scare yourself, do please go to the link and partake of this death defying information. Nice that it's in YouTube format. Listening is a lot easier on the ears than reading. Did that give you brainspin? Hehe. I really like the bit where he says ..
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... There are still clinics open. Interesting posts following this article. Particularly the one about WHO and pharmaceutical companies making steep profits. Just a post. I'm staying at my rating of a 2 right now, a 2 being "wash my hands more thoroughly upon returning from the Toronto transit system". Think that'll be my normal base from now on.

Have a wonderful Christmas season everybody! Remember to eat far too much, drink just enough, drive after supping tea or coffee, and help a bunch of people. Now, what to get for Christmas presents .. hmm .. ah, I know ..
>8]

... Deaths down. Lots of vaccines left over. Oops! Not much of a pandemic, eh? As I was driving in faint-hearted snow today I heard on 680news that there were huge amounts of H1N1 vaccine unused. The comment was along the lines of the government trying to push the remaining ones onto the public for fear of being left with inordinate amounts of the vaccine (at the public's expense - my comment). The third wave of pandemics, if they even occur, is usually less virile than the second wave. So I guess H1N1 will fizzle out. Of course, there will be the comment that the big push prevented the worse scenario, but only those endowed with less effective brain bits and politicians would believe that. Really, it was much ado about little, except for the pharmaceutical companies which must be licking their chops right now. Problem is that when the next real pandemic hits, nobody will believe the politicians, doctors, experts, media, friends .. well, anybody. So nobody will believe anybody. Could be a tad exciting.

Sort of like a parent telling the kid that he'll be thwacked if he misbehaves again, then the kid tests the parent and the parent doesn't thwack the kid. The kid laughs at the parent and ignores all future threats. Then when the parent tells the kid not to run across the street before looking or he might be killed, the kid laughs again. Then *crunch", the end. So how will we know the truth? Clearly not from WHO or medical authorities. Just a thought to torment you for a decade ot two, hehe. Well, I had my dinner at lunchtime today, so I get to have lunch at dinnertime, which is now. Doesn't seem right to have a sandwich at this time of day. Think I'll cook a hamburger and have it in my sandwich. With tomato, lettuce, and all the fixings. Wonder if I should have fries with that ..
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... Excellent data from Andre Picard, the Globe & Mail's public health reporter. Even got the elusive number of deaths per province. I'll leave you to click on the link for details. My head is telling my body to walk my legs back to bed .. darn cold. Don't forget to take your preferred nutrient/medical things if you spot early symptoms of anything you don't want in your body, such as colds and flus. *crashing into bed sneezing and coughing not feeling sorry for himself but thinking maybe he should but taking gulp of water instead and noticing he's run out of lotion facial tissues and grunting at the brain-flitting thought of him soon looking like a red-nosed clown*
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... You've been wondering haven't you? Come on now. Yes you have. Why I've been uncharacteristically quiet for 9 days. Two reasons: Nothing worthy of reporting; and, I caught .. wait for it .. no, not H1N1, but a cold. Only it was a really naughty cold. The type that grabs you by the credentials and forces you to sweat in your cot for days. Saw the quack and he said, not H1N1, not flu, but a cold. Never thought it was the big yin since it clearly isn't respiratory. It's a systemic and probiscous kind. Meaning I sweat like a fish (do fish sweat?) and go through cases of lotion facial tissues. You know the drill. You watch you work pile high, postpone your fun, drag your butt to make just-edible food without any sugar because it slows your recovery and avoid your milk lifeline because it makes your probiscous more active, drink far too much water, sink loads of vitamin C and echinacea tablets into your food tube, and pass the time somewhere between sweatmares and naughtythoughtland. Mmm. Think I'll go back to sleep ..
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November 21, 2009 - 680news.com: WHO investigating H1N1 mutations from Norway deaths, ..

... Ok. Here we go with another media panic wave. I choose to watch the feeding frenzy. Meanwhile, back at the ranch here in Ontario, Canada .. "York Region announced it will close its two H1N1 flu assessment centres at the end of the day on Sunday. Regional health officials say they will re-open if required. The swine flu immunization clinics continue to be open." Guess the demands down a tad, or a couple of tads maybe. I've had two friends increase their own adrenaline levels when they got itchy noses and tickly throats, went to hospital in a jolt, only to be told they had in one case the common cold, and in the other case seasonal flu, yet both seemed to want to hang onto the thought that they may have H1N1. Amazing the power of getting a doctor's note.

As an irrelevant aside, I've discovered that it's really not a good idea to place milky porridge on your netbook keyboard. It makes the keys somewhat lethargic both when depressed and when returning to their original position. Tip: And don't put the netbook into the washer and dryer. Doesn't work. The washer and dryer work on it ok. Comes out sparkly clean. The netbook goes into sleep mode permanently. No, I didn't try it. That's just a tip for you people on the odd or uncertain side of life. I'll just not do blogs while slurping breakfast in future. I suppose I could turn the netbook upside down, shake it while keeping out of the way, then squirt high pressure air at it. Eh, but dried porridge turns to oatcakes. The keys might sound somewhat crunchy. Mmm. **hurting brain part trying to think of ways to pour soggy porridge from inside netbook**
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... Nice. Yes. Very good. Uhuh. However, take a quick look under the section headed "Health Minister joins queue" - the part where it's nothing about the Health minister, joining anything, or queueing anything .. "Ontario is among the provinces holding back doses from one particular lot of the vaccine as the Public Health Agency of Canada reviews reports of a higher than normal number of allergic and anaphylactic reactions associated with it, said Jensen." Just thought you might want to know that, as in any vaccine, there are risks. Now hop out and see a nice movie. Oh, by the way, I'm going to be releasing the latest version of my book, but giving it a different, more apt title. So if you'd like a signed copy (don't get carried away with too much excitement now) then send me a good title, and the best two title givers each get a copy of the book when it's published. Just use the contacts page on this site. I promise I'll wash my hands and envelopes before sending them to the winners. Sending the books that is, not my hands. I need them. My hands that is, not the books.
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... Notice the pic in the link shows a huge crowd of people at an H1N1 station? Article on Tuesday with the first date offering shots as Wednesday. Eh, it said "soon" available. Och silly me again. They're lining up for a few days to get their shots. NOT! And the media wonder why they've lost their credibility with the public. Anyway, for those of you who have embraced the vaccine idea, at least you'll get it soon according to the press. I'm glad for you. We have enough stress in our lives. And for those of you who, like me, are not satisfied with the evidence so far put forward that a vaccine is the answer, let's keep vigilant on what's happening out there. Oh, that Mocha Cafe was goooooood, ah!
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... Notice how much dead air there is on the H1N1 air waves? No public outcries to talk of. How odd. Or are there no young people passing on due to the unfriendly virus, so no scary thoughts in the front of people's thinking compartment? Honestly don't know what's going on, if anything. It seems a passe subject as I chat to people. Maybe we should call it the Passe Pandemic .. hehe. Okay, so it may come back in a third wave. Or not. **deafened by silence**
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... Quote from the above link: "Ottawa initially ordered the adjuvant-free vaccine for use by pregnant women and young children, since there is a lack of clinical data around the use of adjuvants in these two groups. But when data started showing that the adjuvant version offers better immune protection for children under three years of age, federal health officials decided to offer some of the adjuvant-free doses to Canadians aged 10 to 64 with a healthy immune system." Hmm. So, you want the best of the best, right? So how does one measure whether one has a healthy vs unhealthy immune system? Must you be immunodeficient, or only get colds each winter in order to get the adjuvant version of the vaccine? More confusion. And does this really only apply to those aged 10-64? I met a chatty lady in the Toronto subway a couple of weeks ago who was 89, absolutely as sharp as a tack, fit as a fiddle, and clearly stated how healthy she was. She just threw her eyes up when I asked if she was going to get an H1N1 vaccine. "Never had a vaccine, never will!" was her fierce response. 89. I marvelled at her as she got up, smiled and waved goodbye, then, what I can only describe as sped her way onto the platform.

What are we doing to ourselves? Of course there's a good case for vaccinations. And of course each individual doesn't need every vaccine invented by humans. However, is there perhaps a balance for each person? Should we get some vaccines and not others? Are they really as effective as is made out? Are there really potential risks? Are such risks worth the promoted protection? At what level of particular unhealthiness should a particular vaccine be taken? How many of the media 'facts' are true? How many of the government 'facts' are true? Our lifetime wellbeing and happiness depend on these answers and the actions we take based on those answers. Not only ours but our loved ones'. Too many questions and not enough authenticized answers. Wish I could help more, yet I'm in the same boat, scratching around for answers. There seem to be extremists on both camps. I saw a doctor on TV furnished with a showie bowtie, tell the journalist that he had a couple of young kids and that he was going to get them vaccinated for sure, and then plasticized his face with a fake broad smile. If you're reading this, dear Doc, please see an image specialist .. hehe. I personally read zero credibility. I like facts. Endorsements serve to make me highly suspicious even if they are true. Give me the facts and I'll make my decisions all by myself, or as one of my kids used to say when they were learning to speak, 'all my byself'.

Oh, by the way, did I miss something or are there no line ups any more (apart from the places without vaccinations)? Awkward silence ..
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... All right. I give in. So you want a hand doing your H1N1 research. Well I've given you a chain of news articles with their own chains of links. So you want more? Okay. Try the link above if you dare. It leads to the Canadian web site called the Vaccination Risk Awareness Network. Don't eat before reading this site, however a strong drink is allowed. I can't vouch for the authenticity of any of the information although it seems to be filled with authentic authority-quoted articles, quotations and quotes. Hey, I didn't promise I'd spell it out. So you'll have to mouse it yourself, hehe. Oh yes, best to have a towel or bowl beside you, just in case. And a clean, damp facecloth wouldn't go wrong either. Just keep a tad back from the keyboard. Hell to clean. Not that I've thrown up on any of my many keyboards. But you get the picture. Funny. I more than often seem to blog just before a mealtime. My excuse. I'm off to force some ingredients together and apply rapid energy to them. You'd call it pizza. And yes I'll rip live vegetables apart, throw them into a circular glass coffin, and drown them with gummy stuff. Followed by a nice cup of very strong India Tea. Thank you India.
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... Well, well, well. A chief medical officer has the intestinal fortitude to state it the way it is! Congratulations Dr. Schabas! I respect you big time. Readers, please do check out the link above and read the whole page. Here's the overview: "Public health officials and journalists have overstated the importance of the swine flu, a former Ontario chief medical officer of health says." But there's more - real numbers at last! The number of people who die from all causes in Canada every year: 200,000. Seasonal flu: 4,000. He estimates that H1N1's toll will be around 200-300. Reportedly, he continued, "A healthy child in Canada is about 20 times more likely to be killed by a car than by the H1N1 virus", Schabas said, "but that isn't going to make the national news." Followed by, "Children actually die of flu every year and a few more die of H1N1. This was not unexpected, and the way it was presented — as if this was a sudden bolt out of the blue, some change in our perspective of H1N1 — that's what created the anxiety. It was the way it was presented." Thank you CBCnews.com for such clear reporting.

So. Still want your kids vaccinated? Still want to line up, just in case? Makes you think some, doesn't it? Now all those people who got their kids vaccinated will be scared silly for a long time that their kids may have long term side effects and that they, as the parents who made that decision, will be fully accountable for whatever happens. They must be thinking, "How will our kids treat us if a side-effect is really serious and they are limited in life in some way?" Can't blame government or media. Each person makes a decision and is accountable for that decision. Just like what career they follow or what food they eat. There's a huge amount of data and research and opinions on each of these subjects, including H1N1. However, how many parents actually researched the data before running to the lineups? I'm sure the majority were emotional responses, not cool, thought out, researched decisions. I mean, if I said "Here, squirt this liquid into your kid's arm. He/she will be just fine.", would you do it? Course not. So why did so many do it? Because government said so? Because the media talking heads said so? Because the well-meaning but totally unqualified parents of the kid who died said so? It's called a knee-jerk reaction. I'm not criticizing parents at all. I understand their dilemma. Yet we as parents have a critical responsibility to our kids to do the research which is now at our fingertips. I wonder how many people just watched TV and made their decisions that way. Yes, I know. I do the research and found it difficult since the numbers weren't easy to find. Yet there were other bloggers like myself, and other concerned citizens shouting "Foul!" We were just part of that research. I truly hope the vaccine has not one side effect as the authorities are suggesting. I love people, and care for them deeply. Which is why I wrote my book and why I write this blog. And in case you're saying, "You just do it for the money!", the sales are not massive and the profit is so low, that my expenses have not even been paid back yet. Ask any recent author. You'll hear the same words.

So now I'll just go cry in my soup and sandwich .. hehe ..
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November 5, 2009 - 680news.com: H1N1 forces cancellation of 56 elective surgeries ..

... Why are the health authorities using hospitals in the first place? I mean think about it: take hundreds of highly infectious people to an institution where there are hundreds of sick people who could easily be lethaly hit with the bug, not to mention all the health professionals who are overworked as it is. Dah! Ok, you say, so stop criticizing and come up with solutions.

Ok. Here: Buy freight containers, convert them to powered pandemic stations able to accomodate several patients, two nursing staff, an assistant, and a doctor's station; fit them out, and ship to local areas. Some areas may need one, others several. In cities, in rural areas, in reservations, in .. well .. anywhere. Just supply what's needed in that locality. When the need for, say, three diminishes, then cart one off to the locale that needs another one. Sort of 'just in time' scheduling, well understood and software'd in the freight industry. And keep pandemic people away from the hospitals! You say 'doctors travelling to all these units?' Yes. Since it wouldn't take long to handle the few patients, doctors could be on a rota system to visit units in their geographical area. Only those patients who are in serious condition needing respirators and the like, would be taken to hospital. Situate these units in parks, surrounded by fresh air, and ventilate them well. Stake the 'do not cross this boundary' infection area so people would steer clear - no issue there. And then when the pandemic (if there actually is one) is over, disinfect, restock, and pile them wide and high at a pandemic container terminal awaiting the next pandemic. These could also be used for major health catastrophies, being shipped out quickly by air or by truck.

Now did I miss anything? Oh yes. Similar containers could be used as vaccine stations with three nurses and one assistant. Long line-ups? Ship out another container or two.

And what about this idea: In Scotland, doctors call patients who they know have issues that compel the patients to have an early vaccination, inviting them for a shot. No liars in the lineups. Simple. Quick. Effective. No brainer.

If you know someone in government who could work on this idea, please send them this site's link. Please. Oh please .. grovel .. grovel ..
>8]

... Hmm. No numbers to talk of. Gimme some stats! Why no numbers please? So I go to the World Health Organization's H1N1 confirmed cases timeline as of 25 October 2009:
http://gamapserver.who.int/h1n1/cases-deaths/h1n1_casesdeaths.html

Interesting. And then I frustratingly try to find a WHO world 2009 map for "seasonal flu" vs "H1N1". Can't find one. However, I do find this:
http://whqlibdoc.who.int/hq/2006/WHO_IVB_06.13_eng.pdf

Seems it's all about "Global pandemic influenza action plan to increase vaccine supply". Fascinating. Something about needing US$2-9 billion. And this:
"By 2008 or 2009 the full production capacity for monovalent pandemic influenza vaccine – based on the assumption of 15ìg of HA per dose, as for seasonal vaccine – would not exceed 2340 million doses per year. This would be several billion doses short of the expected demand if there were to be a pandemic."
Now I know they were focusing on H5N1 back in 2006. But this is about vaccine production. You may be consumed to check it out. Think my eyes have scanned enough for now. They, and the rest of my live carcass, need a nice cafe mocha. **slurp** Your turn to do some research ..
>8]

... Overwhelmed. Population of GTA (Greater Toronto Area in Ontario, Canada, for those of you who don't live around these parts): 5 million, give or take 300,000. 28 H1N1 clinics. Average population to be served by these clinics: 178,571 people. Let's assume 'everybody' wants a shot, as per the media. Everybody would be assigned as 80% following Pareto's 80/20 Rule (20% are the vital few who make up 80% of the whatevers). So 4 million people would be 'everybody'. Thus the average population to be served at each clinic would be more like 142,857. Now we've 8 weeks till Christmas, and we're told all the shots will be available before Christmas. That's 17,857 shots/week/clinic. That's 2,551 shots/day/clinic. If 80% of the population want shots. At the biggest clinic, Metro Hall in Toronto, there are "20-28 nurses', let's say 24. No numbers of nurses at other clinics. Huh? Why not? I'm going to hazard a wild guess at an average of 10 nurses at each of the other locations. That would mean each nurse administering 255 shots/day till the shots run out, say in 8 hours. Guess at 30 shots/hour/nurse, which means a shot every 2 minutes/nurse. For 8 weeks. If 80% of the population want shots. Just feasible. Given that a few hundred people forming the lineups would naturally occur before opening time, and that the dispensing of shots is fairly constant throughout the day, then those lineups should also remain fairly constant throughout the day, with people left untreated at the end of the day. Okay, life's not as orderly as that. But we've got to work from some model here due to the lack of information provided by the media. Conclusion: We should expect such numbers for the next 8 weeks.

Now just for fun, let's see what the numbers would look like if only 20% of the population turned up. Easy. It would be 1/4 of the above numbers. So if the number of nurses stayed the same, then each nurse at the average clinic would be administering 64 shots in 8 hours. That's a shot every 7.5 minutes. There would be no lineups after a short while. Of course, they'd reduce the number of nurses at the clinics. So what should we look for over the 8 weeks? Reduced lineups, less nurses, and even less information about the average clinic numbers, and more panicked statements by officials. Should be interesting.

Of course there will always be a surge up front. So I'll give it a week then observe. This will be a great case study for future pandemic outbreaks. Meanwhile, my photographer+web site developer cash-earning DNA says I need to get out there and take photos of .. wet streets .. or something .. Have a great, dry, day!
>8]

... Panic, panic, everywhere. At least that's what the press would have us believe. Long line-ups, people being turned away, angry citizens ...

What's there to panic about? A boy dies, and that's horrible. Yet people of all ages die of flu each year. Why are the Canadian public to easily controlled - or are they? I'm not saying that H1N1 is not dangerous or infectious or whatever. I'm saying there's no proof yet that it's truly as bad as we've been made to believe. Sure people who are most likely to be affected by ANY flu should make their decision to have the H1N1 shot or not. I continue to speak to people as I go about my day, and most people whom I talk with are still saying they're not going for the vaccine. So why aren't the press showing them on TV? Because that's not newsworthy. So people think that everyone's going. They're not! Ask your friends. Don't ask them whether you should go. They'll play it safe. Ask them what they think about the vaccine, and listen. Somewhere along the conversation they'll let you know what choice they'll probably make. And check out facts, not opinions. You might be surprised. Still a '2'. Oh, and about hospitals being overloaded with people .. of course they are .. no surprises there .. I mean, whereas if someone ordinarily gets a sore throat or temperature or cough, they don't rush to the local hospital now do they? If your kid gets a temperature, you get the off-the-shelf medicine and hey presto, in a day or two, they're back to normal frustrating you once again.

My take is that we should all cool it. Rather than getting brain-washed by watching the latest news every hour, and listening to the tales from co-workers, we just need to stand back and be intelligent. I'll bet there are thousands of neurotic parents taking their kid's temperatures before they go to school, after they return from school, and before they go to bed! Kids pick up on fear faster than you can read a tweet from twitter. And how many kids just can't wait to rush off to school for algebra or history? "Don't feel well .. " or "cough, cough". They know how to play their parents, after all, they've been doing it for years. And so another day or two or three off school. You get the picture. And kids can be all ages .. and schools turn into companies ..

That's one thing about being your own boss. No time off for bad behaviour. Think I'll bury my head in a book, music, and apple & cheese. There. That's better ..
>8]

... Please note the URL .. the part where it says "vaccine-campaign". What does that tell you? Let's look at what the minister says, and I quote:
'"I encourage Canadians to get the vaccine to stop the pandemic," federal Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq told CBC News.
"One of the things that we can do as individuals is get the vaccine to prevent yourself from getting ill. Not only that, but your children and everyone else around you," she said.
"Not getting the vaccine — there's huge risk to that," Aglukkaq said.'
We're being told by health officials that the H1N1 virus isn't nearly as bad as recently predicted. Now we're being emotionally jockeyed into seeing ourselves as being unfair to our families and fellow citizens and at dire risk if we don't get a shot, and told it's a huge risk if we don't get it. This sounds like major manipulation to me. I may be wrong completely, however, this is sounding so much like a campaign to justify ordering millions of shots and approving them before testing, than it is about the health of people. Is my thinking twisted or am I onto something? Your choice. Politicians are much like you or I, just motivated by power. They don't have as much access to data as we give them credit for as witnessed by the number of times they say things then retract them or refuse to answer the tough questions when the facts are presented to them. They're not endowed with superior intelligence or moxy, they colour every decision with the political fallout of the decisions they might make, and they accept collateral damage even if it involves the loss of human life. You and I know all this. And the press wants issues sold before their competition, so they use power words to sensationalize the issues. All this is why we don't trust either of them any more. And now they want us to allow vaccines into our bodies and the bodies of our children without having tested it? If the second wave proves vicious, then it may be the best solution we have. However, it isn't proving vicious yet - you just have to compare it to the number of regular flu deaths for that to be clear.

My rating remains at a '2' until provable numbers are announced, with an emphasis on 'provable'. You want H1N1 FAQs? Check out this site bearing in mind the question 'Why has it not been updated since July 21st?': http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2009/04/24/f-swineflu-faq.html

Hey, you say, what's with your change in attitude? You used to be crass and sort of humourous - what gives? People's lives at stake is what gives. I love people. It's that simple. The thought of people being mercilessly used as the pharmaceutical industry's guinea pigs makes me angry. And with that, I'll go eat some comfort food - oh, just remembered I didn't get any since I'd decided to lose weight. Dang. I suppose I could always have plain 0% yogurt. Have a nice day laughing at me why don't you ..
>8]

... 680news.com says, "More than 45-million people around the world have already been involved in clinical trials." Er .. million? Er .. people? 45 million people. 45 million human guinea pigs - that's what trials are - tests to see if there's an adverse reaction. Yes they need to do trials on humans. But humans who realize they are on trial.

Well, the H1N1 syringe frenzy begins .. well, maybe. Let's see what the general public do. Those with chronic ailments, pregnant, and babies, may take the shot. So I'd expect an initial surge which no doubt the press will jump on as a mad rush for shots by everyone. I'll be patient and keep my eyes to the ground :)

So, what are you going to do? What, with all the varying views around, and even on single blogs changing direction - this one included, it may be hard to decide. However, the choice is yours alone, and your responsibility. No-one else's. It doesn't matter what other people believe, or say, or do. Your decision is yours alone. The only entity you can come back on are the data sources readily available to you via the internet and phone: government and pharmaceutical companies. All the best ..
>8]

... "The H1N1 vaccine has been approved for rollout across Canada, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced Wednesday." '"This is a milestone in our efforts to fight H1N1," Aglukkaq told a news conference'. Fight? Are you sure, Minister? Fights need an opponent. And your own department isn't sure there's really a fight.

I may be wrong .. goes with the territory .. however I wouldn't risk the wellbeing of millions of people without a real trial in Canada, with Canadians, since the numbers are much less than expected. I'd monitor it daily with statisticians on hand looking for patterns. Only when is seemed to be about to go exponential would I make the (already shipped) vaccines available. Has anyone asked who would foot the massive class lawsuit that would result from millions of Canadians being adversely affected by the vaccine? The whole chain of suppliers and distributors would be hit. Which includes government and pharmaceutical companies. Deep, deep pockets. Hope there's no permanent adverse side effects. For me, I'll sit and watch. Think I'll go switch on my UV air cleaner ..
>8]

... "Health Canada is poised to approve the H1N1 vaccine as early as Wednesday as Canadian tests of the vaccine against the swine flu virus get underway." Eh .. did I miss something? 1. H1N1 is not as bad as expected; 2. Tests are 'getting' underway - that means they've maybe started testing; 3. In one day they'll be approved. Nope. Not missing anything. Now I'm really, really concerned. "The final picture of how the vaccine works won't be clear until well after Canada's largest immunization program is underway." In other words, Canadians are a bunch of guinea pigs for the pharmaceutical companies - free guinea pigs. Wanna be a guinea pig? I can just imagine how so many of the Ministry of Health staff, care workers, medical and surgical staff, hospital specialists, general practitioners, and paramedics are shaking their heads in disbelief and horror! Putting untested vaccines out on the public without testing, when apparantly there's NO NEED! Oh, oh! News just in ..

"H1N1 flu clinic locations announced in Toronto." http://www.cbc.ca/canada/toronto/story/2009/10/21/toronto-flu.html Not very useful since the article says that they will be in operation as soon as the vaccines are available - they're talking first week in November.

Time for carbs ..
>8]

... Well, I've decided! I will not be going for an H1N1 vaccination. Period. Why? Read on ..

Quote from the article: "Toronto's top public health official said Monday the city is preparing a massive H1N1 immunization plan, even though the second wave of the virus may not be as bad as predicted." And: "Dr. David McKeown, Toronto's medical officer of health, said there have been 45 reported cases of H1N1 in Toronto since the beginning of September. (New para) Nine people have been hospitalized, but nobody has died from the virus in Toronto." Also: '"In terms of the overall impact on the health of the population and our healthcare system, it has not been the really bad pandemic that we've all been planning for," McKeown said.' Uhuh. In other words, he seems to be saying that there hasn't been a pandemic, and doubts if there will be one. In more words, business as usual. Does this not sound like the Year 2000 millennial bug to you, or the Avian Flu scare? Does to me. And make no mistake, I'm not at all bashing our doctors, researchers, hospitals, government health employees, or emergency workers. Really. I have the utmost respect for these people. I've worked in the Ministry of Health, and in the hospital system. I know their commitment to us. And I share it. They keep us healthy and alive. However, I am focusing on pharmaceutical companies, politicians and the media. The pharmacies want gold, the politicians want power, and the media want both. On a scale of 1 through 10, with a 1 being "keeping my eye open on developments" to 10 being "head to the North West Territories for a month's vacation", I'm downgrading my rating to a 2 from 3, a 2 being "wash my hands more thoroughly upon returning from the Toronto transit system". A 5 would indicate N95 time.

It's smart to ship out all the doses across the country so if it is approved, they're immediately available. Of course that assumes approval. But what will happen if they are not approved? Who pays for this? Where will the next huge number of shots come from and when? Or will they? If they are not approved, then the pharmaceutical companies will hardly have another huge batch to send out that will be approved, or they'd have sent that out instead. Seems to me they'll be approved regardless - in my own, personal, just-my opinion. After all, look at the mud-mixed-with-egg on the faces of the politicians and pharmaceutical companies if the staffers at the government disapproved ..

I speak to lots of people. It's my personality type. I love people and get energized from them. Hopefully they feel better after they meet me than before. Anyway, I've been inquiring with even causual bumpintos - people I bump into, casual like - whether they're going to get the H1N1 shot. Only one said 'yes' since they are asthmatic, two out of very many (lost count) said 'do not know yet', while the very many rest said 'no'/'you kidding?'/'yeah right'. Mixed ages, genders, ethnicities, socio-economics, and everything else. Ever heard of the "Wisdom of Crowds"? I used never to believe that. Yet over the years as people have become more educated and the internet seeps into millions of brains, I'm learning that our collective intelligence has indeed improved - well, in many ways, not in all ways.

So, at this point, I'm very close to believing that the N1H1 virus has become just another flu. Hopefully I'm right. Unless it develops multi-year over the long term. Let's hope not. I guess if this all fizzles out, then fingers will start pointing between the 3 P's: the press, politicians and pharmaceutical companies. If you want to check out what vocal members of the public are saying, check out the Comment section in the article in the above link. I usually don't have much time for comment sections since they seem unbalanced with unthinking ranters much of the time. Yet I found a few of them were thoughtful, considered, and mirrored by thoughts. That makes them thoughtful and considered. *giggling foolishly* Well, I think I'll go shower now and breathe in some fresh Toronto fall air from my balcony .. that's not showering from the balcony, silly! And that's not fresh air either ..
>8]

... "Swine flu is attacking young people in the prime of their lives." So the article says. First, let's call it what it is: H1N1. Second, let's define "young": Average age of 42, according to the limited study of 29 deaths. Average of 42 is meaningless since it could mean 3+3+3+81+81+81, with no-one aged 42. If we're kind and assume that the Median Age is 42, meaning a significant cluster of the deaths were of the age 42, then this makes it clear. And when I think of 'young', 42 doesn't come close. Teens to mid-twenties comes to mind - that's what advertising does to us. Third, 21 of the 29 were women, 72%. Was this a woman's hospital, or a general hospital, or all hospitals in Canada, or what? Fourth, "other serious cases .. average age was 32". What does 'serious' mean here? On ventilators, almost died, only needing hospitalization? Fifth, what organization financed the study? Government, private, pharmaceutical company with an interest in selling drugs? Or is the study group interested in self-promotion? Or is it a well-intentioned medical group trying to get to the heart of the issue? Then the article goes on to fear-monger the hell out of people by this: '"You look around at your workplace and that's who it's going to affect in great part. So that's one, you are at risk," Dr. Kumar said. Number two, this is not a year to be a skeptic about vaccination. (new para)"This is a pattern not seen since the 1918 Spanish Flu"'. Medical lingo? I don't know. Really.

Okay, so I'm a wee bit frustrated with sensationalized press coverage. People today in many countries are well educated. We want the key facts along with the blurb. Then we can asses the relevant elements ourselves.

Bottom line: I'll wait for WHO's assessment, hopefully addressing worldwide rates rather than only Canada's. I think you're telling me that I need a cup of tea .. *sheepishly slinking over to the kitchen to brew orange pekoe for the 10,000th time*
>8]

... Summary of article: #Seasonal flu shots for the over-65s in Ontario, starting in October. #H1N1 shots will be delivered in November. #"In November, Ontario will start to offer H1N1 flu shots to everyone who wants and needs it, following federal guidelines on who should be first in line, namely:

* People under age 65 with chronic conditions.

* Pregnant women.

* Healthy children age six months to under five years.

* People living in remote or isolated communities.

* Health-care workers involved in pandemic response or providing essential services.

* Household contacts and those providing care to those who can't be immunized, such as infants under six months of age or people with weakened immune systems."

And here's an interesting if not sobering concern: "In another development on Thursday, the World Health Organization announced that a panel of experts will look at the unpublished Canadian data that suggests previous seasonal flu shots may put people at greater risk of catching the swine flu virus." Scary concept. I mean, how do you undo a vaccine you've had the year (or more) before? And does this apply to other vaccines? However, before jumpimg to frightful conclusions, let's wait for the verdict on this to come in. Thought: could this be why young people are so easily affected by H1N1 since their dutiful parents were sure to get them the vaccines so they wouldn't be sick at school? The implications are nasty. Yes, let's wait. *worried furrows on brow - actually both brows*
>8]

... Just in case you missed it, here is the swine fly shot priority list outline from the Public Health Agency of Canada: First to get the shots are pregnant women, health-care workers, kids and those with chronic conditions. Makes sense from the swine flu morbidity stats.

I discovered my son (at college) was sick after one week of being on campus. So I raced to his bedside with N95 mask on my face, one for him, a thermometer and a case of water, as any noble parent would do. Discovered him at his computer, over the worst of it, and most likely not the swine flu - no serious temperature, no respiratory issue, no cough. *sighing with relief*
>8]

... I was asked why it's three weeks since my last comment. For those new to this blog, let me explain. I don't comment for the sake of it. Only when new information comes to my attention. And only if it might be of help to you. I hope you prefer that philosophy rather than personal brain dumps on a daily basis. So here we go ..

"To vaccinate, or not to vaccinate: that is the question:
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of vaccines,
And by opposing end them. To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks
That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation
Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;
To sleep: perchance to dream: aye, there's the rub;
Etc."

Okay, so it's a really bad twisting of Willie Shakespeare's brain. Thanks for the input Willie! But let's face it, most of us are not wrestling with whether to die or not, in some melancholic, middle of the night, desperate sadness, like a business acquaintance of mine who hung himself successfully last week. Very sad. I mean, most of us want to live. So we choose vaccines if we're the type who likes to put all the odds in our favour, or we choose not to be vaccinated if we distrust them or like to live dangerously. However, perhaps we, in this egocentric world we live in, should consider that our children depend on us adults for their health and safety. Most children aren't mature enough to make considered choices here. Will our healthy kids catch the H1N1 virus at school, or is it just not even going to be a seasonal-type flu at all? Tough call.

Government has no option but to err on the side of protection. Pharmaceutical companies are owned by shareholders who invest their hard-earned savings for healthy dividends and rising share prices which only happen when lots of sales are made. With such forces at work, and the need to bring vaccines to market very quickly, will there have been enough time to test the vaccines thoroughly? Do we want to risk a bad call for our kids? Yes, it's a tough one all right. And one that each individual has to make based on all intelligent sources of information. I empathize with you. My 'kids' are young adults who will make their own decisions about whether to get the vaccination or not, given that they are in densely populated institutes of learning. Their calls. My concerns. Ah, saved by the door-bell .. gotta rush .. I wish you the best of decision making!
>8]

... Numbers at last! Well, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), two billion people may get swine flu over the next two years. That's one third of the world's population. However, note in the article that it states that most of the cases would be in undeveloped countries that have poor health care systems or poor pandemic processes in place. If you go squirrely with numbers, just go directly to the last paragraph, otherwise, feast your neurons on these numbers. Taking figures from Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_and_dependencies_by_population_density) , since China is (over 1.3 bn) plus India (over 1.1 bn) is 2.4 bn, and the world is over 6.7 bn, that makes for China & India at about 35% of the world's population. Now USA plus Canada is at 0.33 of 1 bn - that's USA 0.3 bn and Canada 0.03 bn - not even 4.5% of the world's population. For perspective, Europe is at 0.830 bn which is just over 12% of the world's population.

Now that we have the data, we can play silly games with the numbers. Let's assume that the vaccine companies are highly motivated to come up with the necessary quantity of vaccines in the USA and Canada, being somewhat motivated by profit - the companies, that is. And let's assume that our pandemic response processes are well in place, (I know I'm being daft here), and that our hospital staff remain healthy, and our educated peoples **rofl** use the necessary elbow method of coughing and sneezing and washing hands (not that there's an elbow method of washing hands), and thus we suffer only modestly with regard to deaths. Also, note that only 0.45% of people die from this flu worldwide (although it's 0.57% in the USA - huh?) - so let's say 0.5% for practical purposes. So, looking at USA and Canada, of 335 million, 0.5% die, that's 0.005 times 335,000,000 equals 1,675,000. Taking Canada as 10% of the USA population, then 1/11 of the combined population, Canada would have 152,000 deaths per year. How does this compare to 'ordinary' flu?

Looking at http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/us_flu-related_deaths.htm, we see that in the USA, approximately 36,000 people die each year from 'ordinary flu'. Can't find the figures for Canada, so let's say 1/10. That's 3,600. Total around 39,600. That's 0.0001 of the population who actually perish. So that's 0.01%, making swine flu more than 50 times more deadly than ordinary flu. Thus the term 'pandemic'. 152,000 vs 3,600. Hmm. Unless I'm way out in my calculations, (do please correct me if I am), we're in for a wee bit of a nasty, tense time this winter and next. From what I can find out, this swine flu is actually swine+avian+human flu - unique in our history, thus the collective neurosis as to how to fix it.

I know this all sounds scary. However, remember that if you follow the advice in my crass volume, Poop Pandemic (available on Amazon in all countries or from your local bookstore), plus exploding your face in your sleeve, you'll have less chance of getting and spreading this flu. And just remember, if 0.01% die, then 99.99% survive! How would you like those odds in a lottery? Just remember to wash your sleeves. Which reminds me, it's laundry night **curling up in fetal position and wailing due to hating laundry night**
>8]

... Swine flu czar! Excellent idea! Like, nobody thought of this before? Like, all the different levels of health care don't need to a central node authority? **deep sighs of intense frustration with supposedly intelligent people in authority positions** And there was me thinking they already had one - the Medical Officer of Health. Grrrr. Methinks some of us should form a think-tank and send our idea missives to key people in key organizations - they clearly need some brain help here. Not putting anyone down. They're up to their thinning hair in corporate alligators - been there, done that! Thinning hair to prove it :)

I wonder if anyone has actually drawn up a hierarchy of decision-makers and influencers regarding pandemic identification and control? Or thought up an appropriate organizational structure that is not hierarchical when it comes to multi-disciplinary brain merging to resolve complex cross-disciplinary issues? Or developed web software to matrix all appropriate parties identified as relevant to any particular fact which may be important for them to know instantly? And other such unconventional questions and ideas .. **looking inside my head and doubting it - not doubting my head silly, the actioning of such ideas** No doubt we'll find out this fall .. think I'll recommend my around-twenties offspring (that's age, not quantity!) to accept the vaccinations at their schools of learning .. just in case .. and send them off with an N95 mask .. just in case .. and ensure they have health coverage .. just in case .. eh, time for a distracting cup of India Tea.
>8]

... ".. $400M contract goes to GlaxoSmithKline factory in Quebec City." Think I'll be a pharmaceutical company when I grow up. 50.4 million shots. Population of Canada: 33,739,000 as of today, courtesy of Wikipedia. Exactly 1.5 shots/face. "Excuse me nurse. Could I have half a shot please?" Well, it's for a percentage of the population who need/want a second doze. So $400m/50m shots = $8/shot. Or $12/face if the whole population screams for 1.5 shots. I ramble .. I guess we all wonder if vaccines are more risky long-term than the disease, if we're not in the demographic danger zone. My 19+ offspring (that's 19+ years of age, not 19 offspring) will both be sharing breaths with many other students and both are in the zone. Methinks it wise for them to be jabbed, yet I have reservations about the long-term effects. I wish I were friends with Dr.Who. He very conveniently hops around in time - we'd be able to tell you exactly what to do after we returned from the future, apart from giving very accurate financial advice **face twitching uncontrollably at the thought**. Think I'll read up on time travel. Weren't there a few episodes about this on Star Trek, or was that alternate universes? Good excuse to watch them all .. hehe
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... Drug-resistant. Now it begins. This is what I was waiting for. By the way, the link here also has people commenting on the issue. Since we don't know what qualifications they hold, best to research what's said rather than take it at face value. Now, since small doses of vaccine or antibiotic drugs (or even drugs not taken completely as prescribed) can allow the bug to develop resistance to it, we've now entered the point of close watch. Sadly, the majority of people don't take meds the way they are prescribed. They either forget to take them at the times they should, or they feel better and stop. Either way, the bug smiles. And here's a fact that many people are unaware of: when one bug gets immunity sorted out, it can transfer that immunity to another bug. So if a flu bug becomes immune to the drug, then a variant of that bug or even an unrelated bug may pick up the immunity. The implications are sickening. Society's drug companies have to quickly find new ways to attack the bug. And that's tough because it takes a long while to analyse the issue, invent possible solutions, test those solutions, apply to the government's drug authority to sell it for human use, manufacture it in sufficient quantities, then distribute it worldwide. See the issue? All because your neighbour can't be bothered finishing his dose or because she forgets. That's what we expect from young children, not adults. But that's our reality. So basically we're killing ourselves. The bugs are just our ammunition. Angry yet? Me too. Frustrated? Uhuh. I'm off to console my soul with comfort food .. eh, I mean lunch. **grinning sheepishly**
>8]

... Let me quote a CBC News Alert I received today. And I quote 'Independent investigator Sheila Weatherill has released her report on the listeriosis outbreak that killed 22 Canadians last year, calling it a "rare [and] complex event that defies simple solutions."' Really? Rare? Not. Think Swine Flu, Avian Flu, Eboli, ad nauseum. Good way to keep the consulting dollars rolling in. That's what the consulting books say to do. Consultants work on the issue for sure, however, they also work on securing more consulting work by often concealing the simple situation and making it sound complex, and recommending 'further research'. So here's the alternative view from CBCNews.ca. And I quote: "An independent investigator's final report on the 2008 listeriosis outbreak calls on manufacturers to design easy-to-clean meat-processing equipment that limits the spread of bacteria, and says the federal government should review the training of its inspectors and examine the resources devoted to food inspection." Shiela, maybe you should chat to the investigator and pick up a few solutions? Hmm. Methinks maybe I might be a consultant .. hehe .. thinking up more problems from problems, from problems, from problems .. eh, no. That's not my style. I like to hit at the heart of an issue and get good solutions quickly. Like: Hungry .. I get food ..
>8]

... No dah! I'll bet it took many committees to think that one up. They then go on to recommend that countries consider the next level to be "Pregnant women; Those over the age of six months with a chronic health condition such as asthma or other chronic lung disease, and obese people with a body mass index greater than 30, and particularly greater than 40; and Healthy children and healthy elderly". The last grouping is because these demographics are targeted by the virus. Sensible. Not that the vaccines work very well, but something's usually better than nothing.

Now for some numbers to keep your grey matter excited: there have been a total of 94,512 cases of swine flu worldwide, of which 429 have died. Very low mortality count. In Canada, 9,855 cases, with 39 deaths. Very low count, lower than the worldwide ratio by a cough. 138 new cases reported across Canada yesterday (Monday, July 13,2009) - none in Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, PEI, Newfoundland and Labrador nor Yukon. The article counts the numbers for the other provinces and territories. What the numbers boil down to, worldwide and Canada, are that 1 in 250 people contracting the disease will die (0.004). So if you went for a walk and bumped into 250 people, and only one was wearing a tie with birds on it, that's the odds of dying from swine flu. Bet your brain is still trying to imagine this, hehe. Think I'll go bump into 250 people and look for the tie .. or something odd enough to identify 1 in 250 people. Oh, I know! Someone who's courteous! That's it! Sad but true. Oh oh! That would be me **gripping fear as I realize the 'orrible implications of not seeing another human being to pin the title on** Have a courteous day.
>8]

... Now before you rush for your mask, almost everybody recovers, just like with the regular flu. The key is to remain vigilant and keep coughing, sneezing and spluttering into your messy elbow. And pleeeeeease wash your grubby paws whenever you have been involved in anything I write about in my book. Like coming home. Or having touched THE KNOB! That way you stay alive and ensure others have less chance of giving you a personal pandemic. I'm raising my alert level to a '3' due to the numbers involved, not the danger level. Now go out and have a mask-free day. Personal thought: how the heck does one eat lunch at a restaurant while wearing a mask anyway? Hmmm.
>8]

... Another brief article on swine flu. No real change from a pandemic point of view. Still my '2'. Have another pleasant day .. and remember your trusty sun tan lotion stuff.
>8]

... Well, nothing new to report that would make you gird your loins. Still at a 2'2 - I'll try that again - '2'. The heat's swelling here in good ol' Toronto. 'Bout time say all of us. Except when the high humidity hits the hidden parts of our bodies, soaking our clothes once again. It's that time when air conditioning units fail and garbagepeople go on strike - yes they have indeed - city employees actually. Just when there's swine flu in the city. So much for plague planning, I mean pandemic planning. Not that the unions care too much - it's more leverage for them, at the public health's expense. Poke. Well, let's hope the city unions and the city management don't take so long to drop their collective pride and increase their common sense that we all start getting angry and putting garbage in illegal but very, very awkward places to get at it when it comes time to remove it. Not that I'd advocate such an illegal, immature and unfair practice. Unless I felt an illegal, immature and unfair moment pass across my brain part. But since they're picking up my and other apartment dweller's garbage to prevent mountains of garbage collecting from 200-400 apartments daily in a whole lot of apartments, then I guess I won't have the urge. Although sillier things have happened >8]

I've started taking photos of the garbage as it piles up. Just messy streets after 3 days. People leaving the garbage in front of public litter bins and inside bus shelters and other easy-to-drop-without-being-noticed places. Should make for interesting street photography .. he he. Well I'm going to toddle off to my cot to sleep, perchance to dream - hey, mind your own dreams .. you enjoy yours and I'll enjoy mine ..
>8]

... This article is the clearest indication not to panic that I've read in a while. Just gives facts. This means the press doesn't find it interesting or sensational enough to load it with long and 'splat'-type words. Just facts. Like: Total Ontario cases = 2,265; People in hospital = 18; Recovery = Most; Died = 2 - both had chronic medical conditions prior; Ages = average 21, range 1-80 years. I am lowering my rating for Canada to a '2', being "wash my hands more thoroughly upon returning from the Toronto transit system". Have a pleasant day.
>8]

theglobeandmail.com: Asian countries say WHO has advised pandemic will be declared #### UPDATE: WHO HAS DECLARED AN OFFICIAL PANDEMIC #### ..

... Well, looks like a pandemic is beginning. Still could be at its peak. Hard to tell. Of course, WHO can't take risks, and political mindsets are all about panic in anything these days. Yet the numbers are high and growing in Asia and Australia. I'm raising the bar to a '4'. #### UPDATE: RAISED TO MY LEVEL 5 #### Let's hope the numbers stabilize then drop. Need my breakfast .. hard to eat with an N95 on .. just kiddin'. #### STILL NO NEED FOR N95 IN CANADA in your humble servant's opinion ####
>8]

... Almost all mild. Still holding at a '3' rating. Have another healthy week. ..
>8]

... And 805 confirmed cases in Canada. Yes, that's a lot of cases. And two people with "pre-existing health problems" died in Ontario. I don't mean to sound callous, but 5,000 people die of flu each year, and that's not swine flu or avian flu. That's people flu. And how many people catch it each year? So we can relax methinks, and watch. Still holding at a '3' rating. Remember, it's not the numbers that count, it's the number who die of H1N1 that I go by. And 2 in Ontario is not a pandemic. Have a healthy week. Think I'll pack away the N95s ..
>8]

... Now this gets concerning, even if the cases are all mild. If indeed Canada has no unusual (for any flu) number of deaths due to this swine flu, then this hospital situation is a no sweat deal. Having worked in the Toronto Western Hospital, I'm sure they'll keep a close track of the numbers now. I'll be monitoring the relationship between all-Canadian numbers and the Toronto University Health Network hospitals' numbers for a strong correlation. I stay at a '3' rating ..
>8]

... According to 680News.ca, Ontario's total is now at 110. All mild. **glad to be yawning** I stay at a '3' rating ..
>8]

... According to CBCNews.ca, Alberta has confirmed Canada's first swine flu fatality. I move to a '3' rating ..
>8]

... According to 680 News, 62 is the latest number of mild cases for Ontario. Another mmm. Another quite a jump. Need to keep another close watch on this. I still stay at a '2' rating ..
>8]

... Okay. One US citizen dies. And people begin to panic. And another serious in Alberta. Sheez. Still rating it a '2' on the PoopPandemic scale. However, it's always smart to have an emergency plan. Meaning buy some bottled water, cans of food, your favourite analgesic, a few DVDs, and lots of coffee. If someone in your family gets a flu, your neighbours might not want to help this time. Just a miniature precaution. Now go and enjoy your day people ..
>8]

... According to 680 News, "Ontario's total number of cases almost doubled to 31 Monday, pushing the national total to 130. There are 17 new cases in Ontario, nine of them in Toronto, including a four-year-old child." "but all 31 cases were mild and the people were recovering at home without having been admitted to hospital." Mmm. Quite a jump. Need to keep a close watch on this. I stay at a '2' rating ..
>8]

... No fright plans yet! Ok, so all the people in Ontario who have mild cases are between 21 and 49 years of age. And all have had contact with Mexicans or people who visited Mexico. I won't be rushing out to buy a thousand N95 masks. Hey folks, at this point it's simply another flu. I'm keeping a close eye on it and will report if I feel I'd want to wear a mask or take other serious measures. I must admit to having a sincere desire to wash my hands more thoroughly upon returning from the Toronto transit system, and moving away from inconsiderate people who have a desire to cough or sneeze near me. On a scale of 1 through 10, with a 1 being "keeping my eye open on developments" to 10 being "head to the North West Territories for a month's vacation", I'd say I'm at a 2 right now, a 2 being "wash my hands more thoroughly upon returning from the Toronto transit system". A 5 would indicate N95 time. Just my personal thing. Think I'll go clean my shirt sleeves ..
>8]

... So, WHO states we're at Phase 5! Not very nice. Yet fully expected. I mean it is a flu bug after all. People, there's no need to panic. Just take the precautions: wash your handies in hot soapy water; don't spit at people - cough and sneeze into your elbow - you can clean up the soggy mess when you get home; eat out less; try not to hold door handles, subway or tram hand rails, and escalator handrails; push elevator buttons with your knuckle; open doors with your arm if possible; and flush public toilets with your shoes (preferably while wearing them). Oh, and you might like to be less promiscuous for the duration. You know what I mean. And have a nice evening. I leave the masks at home unless I'm in an unfortunate area where people are passing on with the virus. Take care ..
>8]

... I'll be posting the WHO Phase definition link with each report, for your convenience. Those of you who check in regularly know that I only post when there's something important to post about, or if nothing for a while, then to let you know I haven't died of some outrageous plague. So here we are: seeing a potential pandemic delivered by the Poops. A clever strategy: go for the young, healthy people. Hmmm. At least Canadian politicians are smug with their "we're OK with our super pandemic control system". Are we? Viruses don't like being controlled, and have this irritating yet admirable way of changing their genetic structure to suit their current purpose, unlike us sophisticated humanoids. We're so darn arrogant. Anyway, the pandemic scale is at Phase 4. I guess this means the stock market can jump into the abyss thinking all products and services will cease! Silly. Affected a tad maybe, temporarily. More to the point, we get to wear N95 masks soon. It's started in Nova Scotia, no doubt will be in BC, and then of course the old TO where I now live. I'll be your on-location private eye reporter discretely reporting back to you what people are actually doing in Toronto. I watch the TV rarely, but more during times like these. I was shaking my head listening to the hours-long programming on the "flu outbreak", talking heads asking irrelevant questions, putting experts in awkward positions having to answer diplomatically what they had already explained in the previous sentence. Grrrr! Gets the populace unnerved when they see hours-long programs like that. All we have to do right now is wash our pretty paws, elbow our sneezes and coughs, wash our paws whenever we've been outside in public, wear appropriate clothing so we don't catch any flu by our resistance being lowered, eat well, drink plenty of water, and get enough sleep. I personally think it advisable to reduce (but not eliminate) visits to public eating places, since the news reports that 1 in 6 people in Toronto gets sick due to "food laced with bacteria" - see the previous article here. Note: When WHO's Phase hits 5, a pandemic has been confirmed. But don't panic. Just be cautious. Think I'll have lunch at home today ..
>8]

... According to a report from Toronto Public Health obtained by the Star, 1 in 6 Torontonians "is sickened by food laced with bacteria, such as salmonella and listeria, according to a groundbreaking study of foodborne illness in the city". Well, I don't know if it's groundbreaking - sensational language from the press again. Yet it is unnerving to realize that every 6 visits to your favourite chomping grounds could have you wretching or sitting alone for long periods in a place you don't want to be. Toronto's Medical Officer of Health (should be called the Medical Officer of Sickness since the position doesn't help people who are healthy ..) said words to the effect "Between 20 per cent and 40 per cent of food-borne illnesses in restaurants can be traced to sick food handlers who transfer bacteria to diners through the food they prepare." No dah! It's all in my book called Poop Pandemic (Aw go on, buy it and giggle for a week >8] ) available at Amazon.ca and your local bookstore - check out "the DOORKNOB" hehe. It was written for times such as these. So that's why I always order cooked foods, not salads and the like. Nor do I clutch finger food with my bare hands. I use implements or hold the food with those advertising pieces they give you to wipe your food eater with. When I go into a restaurant I first check the washrooms to see if they are clean. If not, I'm outta there since that's what the staff use. Lots of startling facts in the book. Never leave life without it ..
>8]

... How to recognize H1N1:

- Fever greater than 37.8degC (100degF)
- body aches
- coughing
- sore throat
- respiratory congestion
- in some cases, diarrhea
- in some cases, vomiting

However, note that the outbreak is miniscule - at this point. To counter that, note that the authorities have not yet worked out the cause, distribution, and control of this disease, the epidemiology, that is. And humans seem to have no immunity to the disease. And it's attacking healthy people as opposed to the old, young and infirm. Very odd. It's a combination of human, bird and swine influenzas. All of this adds up to a potentially fast-spreading, international pandemic.

Here are the definitions of Phases 1-6 by the World Health Organization: http://www.who.int/csr/disease/avian_influenza/phase/en/index.html

I'll be keeping an eye on developments. Please send this site's link (pooppandemic.com) to your friends so that they can be kept up-to-date with the facts of the disease. The more facts (as opposed to sensationalising) we have, the better prepared we can be should this bug develop into higher Phases. Might be a good time to buy some N95 masks before a panic spreads and the prices jump up like during the 2003 SARS pandemic. Now where did I hide those masks ..
>8]

... Let's start with the FAQs: ".. it takes more than a new virus spreading among humans to make a pandemic. The virus has to be able to spread efficiently from one person to another, and transmission has to be sustained over time. In addition, the virus has to spread geographically."

"Is There a Treatment for Swine Flu? .. Yes. While the swine flu bug is resistant to older flu medicines, it remains sensitive to Tamiflu and to Relenza."

"Can You Get Swine Flu by Eating Pork? .. No. You can only catch swine flu from being around an infected pig -- or, if it's the new swine flu virus, from an infected person."

Ok. So now the scary parts are dealth with, what about the scarier fact? That the outbreak in Mexico is hitting young healthy people. If this virus is truly able to transmit from person to person and cause such extreme sickness, the CDC points to it being a pandemic threat. And pandemic flu bugs smacking healthy young people is "a Hallmark of pandemic flu bugs."

Is this the big expected one? Who knows. The bird flu scare died a quiet death or temporary coma. Will this flu? No-one knows. If only no-one would tell us we'd be more prepared to help everyone >8]

It all points to one thing! We really do need to be hygienic at all times. If only more humans would read my book "Poop Pandemic" and take the recommendations seriously, albeit that the book has crass humour throughout. The Poops wouldn't find it so easy to multiply! At least a couple of Canadian hospitals are trying harder to get their staff to wash their hands more often ..
>8]

... And I quote: "Humans regenerate heart cells throughout their lives, say scientists who found the rate of renewal slows into adulthood." Coooool! Mind you, I know some people who have developed into adulthood way early .. hehe. Gives new meaning to "Have a heart!" Yes, I know. I don't report on medical new things. I only report on health issues and health authority silliness. I just couldn't resist this one. I mean, for a few thousand decades - eh, forever - till a few years ago, the human brain pool thought brain neurons couldn't renew. Then the researchers found that brain elasticity was the rule. And now there are even software packages designed to stimulate their production. I'm glad of both of these things. My brain likes having my heart around and my heart has a close relationship with my brain. Nice to know they both regenerage. Now if I can just make them keep doing that for a bunch more decades .. and all my other parts as well, come to think of it. Think I'll go and grow some more neurons by studying more about photography .. now where are my heart and brain supplements ..
>8]

... GRRRRRRR!! GRRRRRRR!! This is a 2-Grrrrrrr piece. This is exactly what I wrote about several weeks ago about what I suspected was happening. The government is half the problem. They changed the rules about three years ago and told the industry to monitor itself. WHAT?? Read this quote from the TheStar.com article: 'In a move toward self-regulation of Canada's meat inspection system three years ago, the CFIA handed companies the responsibility for conducting their own tests.' And this: "Federal inspectors aren't up to speed on swab testing protocols because they haven't been doing it for years."

This makes me see RED!

The definition of an incorporated company is to do whatever it can within the law to benefit its shareholders. I know. Where is the bit about benefiting customers. Doesn't exist. Now many family businesses know better and will make it clear to their employees that they want their customers and clients to benefit also, and the employees themselves. Although this sadly is not always the case. Yet public companies only consider the bottom line. Full stop. Oh, you say, what about the environmentally conscious companies that support good causes? Please don't be niaive. They do this for one, and only one reason. To increase the bottom line. If they don't do it, then their competition will. Simple. Have you noticed how well known companies have reduced the longevity of products over the years. Used to be you could invest in furniture and appliances. Now they're short term expenses, since they're designed for short life spans. And to ensure this, they make repair costs prohibitive and new styles ever changing. All for the bottom line. Now don't get me wrong. I'm all for companies making money. Heck, I've been in business for years. And if the company doesn't make money, then it can't employ people not produce goods and services, nor even repair their existing items. They need to make profit. And the shareholders who risk their money don't do it out of a good heart. They invest to get a return on their hard earned cash. That's good. What I object to is the executive who puts his/her bonus or power move before public safety. And that's what's happening here, in my opinion. So you see, what incentive does a corporation have to spend profit on safety testing if they know the government holds half the reason for not inspecting? None. So they don't. Or at least minimize it.

Although government doesn't have mandates for the bottom line, power mongering is definitely part of the game. Increasing one's turf is the currency. And increasing their budgets the method. Of course not all government leaders are like this, yet many are. And I'm not talking about politicians here, but senior government staff. If they don't get the budgets, then they don't provide the service. Or even cut back. Such as stopping sending inspectors out to plants, or reducing the training of inspectors. If they cut the fat from their projects and reallocate the resources to the key issues, then they won't get the increased budgets and thus the increased turf. And that's probably what's happened here, in my opinion.

Well, at least they're doing something about it now. Pity that so many citizens had to give their lives in order that the work that should have been done all along will get done. Personally, I thank these souls for their sacrifice, yet I feel terrible for their families. What I'd like to know is who are going to be held accountable for all this? Anyone? ..
>8]

... Let me cover this topic closely as to how DiscoverMagazine did, since you may not yet subscribe to it. In the April 2009 physical magazine, page 13, Jessica Ruvinsky reports that scientists are toying with using bacteria-killing viruses called bacteriophages. In other words, they use viral technology to design bacteria killing nanomachines. However, a number of scientists are really worried over this, saying that the bacteriophages themselves could create the next superbug! These bacteriophages, according to the research by two scientists, "can rapidly accelerate the evolution of human pathogens by transferring genes from one bacterial species to another". This isn't jolly good. This is bad. Really bad. They can "also transport plasmids, which often carry antibiotic resistance". If that doesn't scare the red juice from your arteries I don't know what would. A Listeria expert from the Pasteur Institute, Pascale Cosart, states that a staph-enabled Listeria bacterium "would be a monster". And it's difficult to detect the gene transfer. Yep. You got it! Richard Novick, NYU, says "It could be happening all over the place, and we would never see it." Oh, nice! Doesn't that give you confidence in science! Better subscribe to Discover Magazine fast and read authors John Chen & Richard Novicks' research paper "Phage-Mediated Intergeneric Transfer of Toxin Genes" in Science at http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/323/5910/139.

I have to admit that this deeply concerns me even more than the Avian Flu virus! People suck down antibiotics at a scary rate and don't even finish the course, inviting the bug they have to become resistant to the antibiotic, and also to transfer their new found resistance to any other bug that's hanging around inside that body. So what would people do with this new super-antibiotic, noting that the gene transfer isn't detectable? And you know how transferable herpes is and why. Imagine how this would cause chaos - truly monstrous. Think I'll send up a prayer right now. **Gulping with anxiety** ..
>8]

... It's taken 5 years to create and pass this law. FIVE YEARS! That's 250 weeks to research and put together a document! So how long do you reckon it's going to take for them to implement the new law! I'm guessing a conservative multiple of 3, so 15 years. Now my son is 18, so that means he'll be 33, married with kids, well secured in his career, holding a mortgage, and eating out too much. Freak! That's scary! Not his eating out too much. His age! Implementation always takes much longer than the initial research, since research is loaded with management wanting to know costs for budgets and so is pushed to get it done quickly. Implementation is where the cash has to be put out, and so annual budgets are affected, taking much longer to enact. In my project management experience it varies wildly depending on the industry, the need for the change, and the people and cash available. So a 3x factor is not wildly out. And China doesn't have a reputation for fast change. I think I won't be eating much Chinese food for the rest of my life. Now and then ok. Daily, no chance. So let me see, it's Sunday, eat out/take out night. Hmm. **crying bitterly and beating my forehead against the wall cos I love Chinese food** ..
>8]

... The CFIA doesn't stand for the Central Food Intelligence Agency, and with good reason. Fill in the gaps. I mean how long has it taken to think up and implement what should have been done decades ago? The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has at last decided to enhance its listeria and reporting requirements in food processing plants that produce ready-to-eat meats. They'll be based on early detection. Uh-huh. How early? Who will do the testing? Let me quote: "As of April 1, plant operators must have programs in place for testing surfaces that come in contact with food". Nice. So the agency has no responsibility for the activity except to send out a sheaf of papers to companies and just keep on testing as usual. Gosh, am I just being cynical or is a "DUH!" in order? This is just to keep the populace quiet methinks.

And then Maple Leaf Foods reportedly has "agreed to pay up to $27 million to settle class-action lawsuits after a deadly outbreak of listeriosis ..". Hello! That's a rounding error compared to their huge revenue. Try $270 million. That would cause a few sleepless nights. And senior jobs. Time for my ready-to-eat deli sandwich to quell my rage. Let's see .. no, not a Maple Leaf Foods product. Yum! That's better. ..
>8]

... To cut a short story shorter, Peanut Corp.'s filing for bankruptcy. The recalls stretched far and wide, due to there being 9 deaths and 600 illnesses alleged to be due to salmonalla. Now I've been hit by a serious food bug for 6 days now, food poisoning of some sort, and I'm your nice, healthy, sorta fit speciman, and yet I was knocked out badly with this. I can't imagine how salmonella would feel! Now here's the first maddening part, quoting from the article: "An inspection of the plant found roaches, mold and a leaking roof. A second plant in Texas was shuttered this week after preliminary tests came back positive for possible salmonella contamination". Uuggh! And here's the second really, really upsetting part, with reference to the president of the company, quoting again: "But emails surfaced indicating he directly ordered products the company knew were tainted to be shipped anyway".

Now maybe it's just me, but something's making my hackles rise to a 10 out of 10 right now. If this is true, that he ordered shipment anyway, knowing the goods to be bad, then I reckon he's as bad as the executives in China who did likewise. They were put to death for their murderous crimes. Now I'm not advocating the death sentence for this crime .. or am I? Nine people died due to an executive decision, it's reported. Now if I took poison and handed it to nine people without them knowing the poison was just that, and they died, I'd be tried for 1st degree murder, with intent to kill. When an executive gives the order to ship poisonous goods, he/she is doing exactly that. No playing with words, no messing with cultural mores, no all-American softy judge let the poor guy who was brought up in a bad neighbourhood without parental guidance it's not his fault stuff, none of we're too civilized to sentence a killer to death idiocy. Oh gosh, I sound like a bad extremist! Nope, just a justice hoping sort who doesn't want garbage executives to kill my kids. Or yours. Or you. But no doubt if the executive did what is alleged, he'll either get a heavy fine (oh dear, he'll have to extract some of his Swiss bank account assets - or whatever assets he has) or he'll spend a few months in a nice executive prison for being naughty, and off he'll go and get a job set aside for him by his old boy network buddies. Right. A familiar old story. No justice. No change.

But wait a minute! Why didn't the governmental inspection agencies catch this one? Surely they would have noticed roaches, mold and a leaking roof? So what happened here? Is the government going to investigate that side of the equation? It should. After all, they are supposed to protect us from executive hooligans. Aren't they? Let's see what happens on that front. Oh, oh! I just had a sickening thought. Maybe I've got salmonella! I mean, I don't get this sick so easily. And I may have eaten peanut infested food since all those packages in the supermarket proclaim that they may have had peanuts in them somewhere. Think I'll get better real fast. If you don't see another article here for three months, then you know my clock's run out. Now where did I put those vitamins ..
>8]

... Gosh! Tut! Tut! Look at this long list of sordid peanuts. Or rather, a list of products that may have peanut salmonella. Because of one supplier! Oh, that's a tad scary. The first article is scant of useful data, however, the second link gives you access to the Canadian and US made products that may have the terrible bug. 500 people sickened and 8 may be dead as a result of the bug. This is serious stuff! Thought you should know sorta fast - and there's me enjoying my birthday innocent of all this, musing on nice plants and macro-photographing bits of flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens! Just to think, I could have taken a peanut bar along for a snack on this snowy picnic! Instead, we ate Chinese food. Oh, oh. I wonder if they use peanut sauce .. oh well, no tummy wrenches so far. Think I'll gobble some delicious, non-peanut, Chinese mango cake, hehe. Pity you can't join me .. Mmmm! Hehe! ..
>8]

... The slaughter of 60,000 turkeys may begin Jan 26, 2009 after tests showed some of the birds are infected with the H5 Avian Flu virus. Ok, so it's a "low pathogenic level" of the virus, meaning that it's relatively harmless. Hmm. Is this designed to prevent panic, or is it simply the fact? It's getting more and more difficult to distinguish the truth from the lies from business and government leaders, just when we need the raw facts. The press covers its collective butt by throwing in a busy safety net of "may"s, "so-and-so said"s, "according to"s, and a hundred such phrases. I don't blame them. They have to, since the sources are so often lying. Anyway, the euthenasia method is not pleasant, but I'm sure it's necessary. Do you realise there's been nearly 250 deaths worldwide with the deadly strain of avian flu? I prefer a few thousand fried turkeys to a flu epidemic myself. Oh look, guess what I have for lunch? Uh huh! Turkey sandwiches. Yummy. I think. Eh. Think I'll have boiled eggs today. Hard boiled eggs. Just to make sure, I'll double cook 'em. Stop laughing, this is serious - we're talking lunch here. I hate bullet eggs. Think I'll just have a mug of tea. ..
>8]

... The chief chap at Maple Leaf Foods says not to worry. Ok. I won't worry. Why would I? Why worry about Listeria in the food. Heck, it only killed 20 people last year. Give me a break old boy, we're not retarded you know! Listeria is Listeria - get it? That's about the worst PR position to take in the world, since it says "Be Bloody Worried!" It always amazes me as to how concrete stupid Chief Executives think the populace is. I can just hear them in their conference room (not Maple Leaf Foods of course, but a fictitious company) .. "(Legal Advisor) You can't admit any fault even if the company is 100% at fault - be sued off the planet"; "(VP PR) Can't say we're not to blame since we make the frickin' stuff"; "(VP Production) Every company has frickin' Listeria - we just get targetted 'cos we got caught last year - J..C.. they'll have us selling only cooked food next"; "(VP Market Research) Some of our frickin' competition has Listeria breeding like rabbits on every surface for G..'s sake"; "(VP Sales) Tell the suckers it's all ok and they won't wake up dead in the morning. The frickin' suckers believe everything they're told!"; "(VP PR) Yeah! Go for it!"; "(CEO) Now that's what I like to hear! Positive recommendations. Make it so PR!". Disclaimer: Note that these are not actual quotes nor reflect what may have or may not have gone on in the particular conference room of this particular company in this particular country, and all necessary legal stuff to protect me, blah, blah, ..

And doesn't it irritate you how many so-called intelligent people have to incorporate schoolyard vocabulary as adults in responsible positions? Ok, so they may have said "ok, chaps and chapesses, nobody's died so nobody'll die. Jolly good! No problems here. Meeting over." Who knows? They do. We depend on four bodies to keep us in health: the company, public health testers, the press, and ourselves. Since you're reading this blog, yourself is covered. With internet, TV and the papers, the press is most likely covered as they race for who gets the bad loot first. Public health leaves a whole lot open for discussion, since it's come to light that testing leaves a whole lot to be desired. And the companies? Now there's the rub. My experience of corporate executives (as opposed to boards) is that they care much less about public health than they do about lining their pockets with juicy options and fat commissions. Human nature, yes. Ever read Warren Buffett's take on this? He's the wealthiest/second wealthiest person in North America and gets paid $100,000/year with no huge options. $100,000! And he teaches this as a structure to design companies around. My experience of many executives is that they can be the nicest of neighbours and family people, but when they get in their cars and head to the office, the horns come out and they become nasty pieces of work bent solely on personal ambition, back-stabbing their peers and politicking their way to the top - and for what? Power, control, money and prestige. Unfortunately, ethics and morality have very little to do with power, control, money and prestige these days. They could, but I suggest they very seldom do. For if they did, Listeria would be a complaint of a bygone era. Now what are the Boards of these companies doing about this? They are the people responsible for the governance of the corporations. They ought to be the conscience and directors of ethics and morality on behalf of the shareholders, and indirectly on behalf of the customers. Some are, I'm glad to report. Yet many just pick up the extra stream of income. Perhaps there lies the issue .. and blame? I think I'll just have a nice cold meat sandwich for lunch and ponder the taste of Listeria, hehe ..
>8]

... Apparantly there have been pieces of plastic mesh incorporated into said cheese slice packages. None too healthy. Particularly if you have a small gullet, like children and some adults. The details are on the web site clickable above. Funny how the press says "there may be .. plastic mesh .." when there have been two complaints so far. I mean, Complainer: "Ahem, I found this plastic mesh in my lunch cheese slice"; Press: "He may have found that plastic mesh in his lunch cheese slice". Everyone is so scared of litigation that even the press cover their behinds ridiculously. All they have to do is report the facts as they stand at that point in time, no more, no less. Then we, the public, will have said facts to munch on. What the heck's that stuck in my teeth? Oh look ! Plastic mesh from my cheese slice! Mmm. They're even coming out with built-in tooth floss in the food. What a jolly good idea. Oh look, I got two! Hehe, I win! ..
>8]

... Butt out, that is, when together with kids under 16 in vehicles. And they've got to be Ontarians in Ontario at the time, hehe. Apparantly the smoke generated in vehicles is up to 30 times as concentrated as indoors. Particularly homes. 30 times! Mine Gott! That's a lot of times. I mean, imagine drinking beer 30 times as strong as your favourite ale. Or cheese 30 times as strong as blue cheese. No, how about smelling raw fish 30 times as strong as normal. That would rip yer lungs out laddie/lassie. One alveoli at a time. And those wee kids, well, not so wee at 15, but anyway, those wee kids are roped into a steel and nylon harness and forced to suck down that filth, probably daily. Hey, I'm not judging smokers. Heck I was mentally irregular enough to smoke when I was in my teens, and at 60 a day. I know, I know. Really crazy. I'm being so kind, diplomatic and inoffensive here. What I really mean is that smoking is way past stupid. I stopped at 25. Doc Blair told me as he inhaled his cigarette that I'd be dead in 6 months if I didn't stop. He looked at me looking at his cigarette and nodded, saying, "But I don't smoke 60 a day laddie!" I stopped. Dead. Well, cold. Never sucked one again. That's a few decades ago. And I'm the healthiest guy my age I know. But then the 20 food supplements I've taken for 27 years may have something to do with that. Anyway, the best way to cut down tar addiction is to become an unaddict. Hey, it's hard. Real hard. I remember being a bear for three weeks. My wife says it was three months. Take your pick. I'd be so dead I'd be gas by now. Bones only last so long. Ok, I'm grossing you out. But think about it. If you smoke, you're actually killing your child. Stone dead. And giving them a hell of an unhealthy start to life. And all the way through life. Nice of you. How thoughtful. You must really love your kid. Mustn't you? Huh? Poke. Poke. Guilt is an unwieldy weapon in the hands of a smoker. If I can quit 60 a day for a decade, what's keeping you from quitting? Oh, you enjoy killing your kid. Guess you must. Enjoy your day. ..
>8]

... Have you noticed that with the economic crater that people aren't so ill .. at least as usual .. at least right now. I wonder if it's got something to do with not wanting to lose a job or business. "Not fair" you shout! Hehe! I'm right on the dollar/pound/yen/whatever am't I? I remember back in the late 90's, and before that the '87 crash, and the '73 oil crisis, and .. think I'll stop there or you'll think I'm old enough to be dragging my entrails around. Oops! Politically incorrect .. haha! Anyway, people were all bright eyed and bushy tailed on their best behaviour in front of the big bad boss, but had networks racing behind the water coolers and coffee machines betting on who'd be sliced next. Ah, those were the days! Of high adrenaline and 15 coffees a day, then more in the evening. Of super-health and unintentional weight loss. Of booze after work and pity-parties into the night. Such memories! So I decided to go on my own and never be afraid of being fired again. Yes! Except, your clients/customers/members get silly with you telling you that they can't afford things, and there you are, at your very own water cooler, or your very own coffee pot, of high adrenaline and 15 coffees a day, and .. well .. you get the picture. So here I am in the best of health, losing weight, scrambling my brains (no comment thank you very much! Hey, listen to yourself some day!), working on coming up with another business idea. I know, now you get to laugh. Ha ha! Enjoy yourself while I go away into a corner in the fetal position and sob .. think I'll grab another couple of coffees first .. and some chips .. and an ice cream .. stop laughing, this isn't funny *sobbing heavingly* ..
>8]

... Now I don't feel much like a rat .. well, most of the time >;] Definitely not a rat that uses a cell phone. Spooky thought that. Anyway, the scientists down under found that mobile phone’s microwave radiation can affect the ‘blood-brain barrier’. That's the bit of us that stops naughty stuff from getting through to our brains. They found that this protein thing called albumin "leaked" into the brain when the rodents were exposed to the rads. Albumin is a transport molecule in the blood, so when it's exposed to the radiation it does its thing into the brain. Albumin damage happens immediately after exposure, while the memory system is altered 4-8 weeks after exposure. Hey, the related genes were also found to be affected.

Now I'm a wee bit stressed since I use the cell 100% choosing not to have a landline. At least I only use it a few minutes at most per day. My thoughts go to those who stick the blue cork in their ear and walk around with it active. And then there's those masses of teenagers who seem to have free airtime all day as they walk and talk, sit and talk, probably sleep and talk. Well, I guess the pharmaceutical companies will have a hay day down the road. Sad that corporate governance doesn't have the ethics it once used to have, where thorough testing would have been done before unleashing this demon to the world. Wonder if we'll go back to landlines .. Gotta go, got a call coming in .. yeh, on Ma Cell ..
>8]

... The jist of this brief article is that most drugs are now manufactured in China and elsewhere - relative to the USA (and probably Canada. The issue is that since the FDA can't just trample across Chinese soil and say "Boo! We're here to inspect your pharmaceutical ethics, methods, ingredients and processes to see if we feel all cosy and toasty warm with them". They can practically only check the drugs as they arrive on US soil. As the article points out, there are an unknown number of companies not being very nice and sending the US below grade products (what's new!). Trouble is, when you're sick and go to your local cheesy smiling pharmacist, you don't realize (and probably they don't either) that some short-cutting, profit-maximizing, uncaring chief executive on foreign soil has shipped a load of .. stuff. And it isn't about to change. Bit nerve-racking that, ain't it? Many people depend on the exact measure and quality of the drug. Someone close to me was taking a generic make of drug (read "foreign manufacture") and had a significantly variable reaction to it. Very upsetting for her and those connected with her. The doc said to change to the brand name since it may be purer. Now that's a scary idea. They should all be pure. Actually I don't think it had much effect on this person, but it could in a more drug-sensitive individual. Now take antibiotics. But only if you have to. They'd better be pure or we could become resistant to the pure form! Here, take a test. I mean give one. Ask all your friends (I'm assuming here that you have some - ok, ask a bunch of people, family if you must) whether the drugs they take regularly .. eh, change that to pharmaceuticals they take regularly, are pure. And watch their reaction. I'll wager they look back awkwardly and say words to the effect "Huh?" since they aren't aware that most pharmas come from China and other places. So, enjoy your daily pharma and pretend everything's ok. I'll just rush off and gulp down my (Chinese) water pill now ..
>8]

... Awesome use of data mining! I can see it now .. where is measles outbreaking, or smallpox, breast cancer, heart attacks, ad infinitum? And, of course, SARS or Avian Flu or the next big thing. This is huge! Let's find out where Parkinson's disease is prevalent and growing. Which would lead us to ask why there, why now? And then correlate this with, say, pesticide use - particular pesticide use - with dates of use. How about correlating this within age groups, when the disease started and if it peaked. What caused this and why and when. I can see the eyeballs of the world's overpaid CEOs glistening with fever at the prospect, and the eyeballs of lawyers and reporters glistening with delight. As for me, I'm just glistening .. I hope it opens up a whole new world of philanthropy, disease prevention, health budget refocusing, and the effects of climate change on health. Not to mention a super-early warning system for pandemics. Hmm .. wonder if it could somehow work out where people wash their paws the least and the most and then correlate that to health levels of the locals. Might be a nice place to live - the clean one that is. Ah yes! Nanochips in the doorhandles of washrooms that not only count the number of people exiting the washroom, but whether they wash their hands and touch the DOORKNOB! One can but hope .. have a DOORKNOB-free day! ..
>8]

... It's everywhere! So rightly proclaims the article. It is! It's a bacteria. They're everywhere. That's what they do. They do everywhere .. as in my book. We contain them when we wash our mitts, bathe, brush our teeth, clean the car, wash the veggies, cook meat to the minimum temperatures, use germicidals on the toilet, ad infinitum. Sometimes we can't reach those spots deep in the machinery or fingernails. Sometimes we can't clean the surfaces fast enough to prevent contagion, such as the DOOR KNOB, or escalator hand rails. We are surrounded by the pesky things. There is a balance that we must be on the winning edge of, all the time. When we get greedy or lazy or believe our own spin, then we open the door to our microenemies. Then we panic, and eventually get back to our side of the balance. Better to stay vigilant and preventative. It's cheaper, safer, right. But then we get back to human reality .. and politicians. Lunchtime. Think I'll check the part on the meat knife that joins the blade to the handle .. you know .. the part the brush and hot water can't get at. Hehe .. ..
>8]

... In Discover Magazine, that is. I subscribe to the magazine in it's physical form as well as all the digital versions of it. I'm totally fascinated by science and technology, biology and disease, neuroscience and physics, psychology and economics, politics and information technology, eh .. let's just say 'everything'. The article you may be temted to read is called 'The Perfect Plague' by Jared Diamond and Nathan Wolfe, on page 42. It's sub-title is 'The next killer germ could burst from the African rain forest - or from your family pet.' Makes you stare at Spot with a different glint doesn't it? Well, read the article, but only after you invoke your favourite fear-prevention system - such as dessert or brandy. I won't spoil your day by detailing it out. Five pages of print and photos to make you stay awake at night. And even during the day. Enjoy. ..
>8]

... No, I haven't died or relished a coma or been idle. Thought I'd best say Hi! so you don't think I've stopped my blog. There's just not much news out there regarding health worth noting. Everything's clouded by the exciting financial spinathon and watching our investments go on extended leave. Anyway, no good pouting about it. Life's too short to be grumbly. Let's all go cheer someone up today. Being from a small township north west of Toronto, Ontario, I was down in the 'big city' of Toronto yesterday enjoying my weekly 'date' with my daughter who is studying there. In my usual way I greeted everyone I even half met, opened the door for people and smiled, asked for help where city-ites dare not, and generally continued to be me. I found people very receptive to kindness. Only one person looked at me suspiciously - probably a reflection on themselves rather than me with my smiling countenance. Most people were pleasant, friendly and helpful. I rather think that people we meet reflect who we are and what we expect them to be, rather than the image cast by the media and 'general knowledge'. Yes, New York is definitely faster in pace than Toronto, and at lightning speed compared to my town, yet people's thoughts, hopes, dreams and fears are generally the same: survival at various levels. And so when we are kind, people reciprocate, mostly. Even chimps know the difference .. really. Well, think I'll go check out my losses .. on second thoughts I'm sure they don't need my input. I'll go eat instead .. it's lunchtime anyway. Lovely comfort food .. Mmm! The world always seems better after fooooood ..
>8]

... "Ontario hospitals had 319 cases of C. difficile last month .." (August), and "More than 460 patients have died of C. difficile at 22 hospitals in Ontario in the past two years" (by mid-2008). That's a lot of humans. At last, however, the hospitals must track and report on the C. difficile numbers, and "By the end of this year, hospitals will also be required to post rates of two so-called superbugs — Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE)". Do you reckon they were listening? He he. And not only that, but "Ontario would also create an infection control resource team of medical professionals that can be sent to hospitals with an outbreak". I think they might be catching on! They're even going to be hiring "66 more infection control practitioners for hospitals and public health units". Makes you wanna cry in your pizza with relief. Then again, use toast, pizza's too good to waste. That makes Ontario and Quebec the only two provinces to post infection rates of C. difficile. What are you others waiting for? Call them up, copy what they're doing, and stop trying to come up with your own ideas. They can be added on later. Delay your glory, as well as your carpel tunnel from excessive keyboarding all those recommendations. Think I'll leap off to bed and have a peaceful night's sleep ..
>8]

... Listeriosis - eh, part 2? The article starts off with: "Canadians should have known earlier ..". No dah! And this is according to the medical director of Ontario's public health laboratories - not the 'no dah!' comment, but the one before that. This article is worth punching the link to read it. Astonishing!

By the way, symptoms of listeriosis — which include high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea — can occur up to 70 days after consuming contaminated food, though the average incubation period is 30 days. Now for the aftermath as people armed with this knowledge start getting high fever, severe headache, stiff necks (usually only one stiff neck), and nausea. Now if I wasn't my own boss I'd probably start developing the symptoms. Come to think of it, maybe I should, to get a sympathy vote from my good lady. Hehe! Oh, just a moment, she wouldn't want to come near me! Foiled! ..
>8]

... Hmm. About 15 lives taken out by Listeriosis. Nasty. However, from a public health perspective, and a cold and objective one at that, 15 isn't very many for the huge coverage it's getting. I don't mean to sound callous, yet I can't help realising that this isn't contagious, so quite rightly everyone is learning about what not to buy right now. Let's ponder. How come so much widespread affliction across Canada? Why so suddenly? Poor old Maple Foods is taking the brunt, and deservidly so, since it appears that a machine of theirs was cohabiting with the nasty bacteria. However, it seems from the press that inspectors from the government may not have been getting high ratings at their annual job reviews. So .. here's an alternative explanation. The naughty guys didn't check the machines out quite as they should. One machine gets found out. The public health department gets all in a frenzy in case they have the finger pointed at them, so they send out their inspectors to redo their machine checks, and lo and behold, they discover more. Now any self-respecting political employee of any government public health hierarchy is going to protect his/her ass. So they focus attention on one plant and say it's the only one. Maybe, maybe not. Continuing .. if it's more than one machine, maybe a whole lot of people have been contracting Listeriosis for years! Ever had a bout of headaches, gut pain, and liquid elimination and not been able to explain why? Me too. So maybe lots of people get this from many machines, except that this time someone was checking the source of people dying. Finger-pointing ensues. Press gets happy. Consumers get sad. Civil servants hide under their desks till it all goes away. Some people stop .. eh, keel over. And it all goes away. And we keep getting sick.

"Oh, don't be extreme, you silly Billy!" you might say. So why do you check your spinach and wash the pre-washed stuff anyway? And why do you stare longingly at mushrooms and meats before buying the dead stuff? Because you suspect I may have a point, right. Me too. What we need is to divert a tad few millions to public health inspection inspectors .. like independent auditors doing flash checks at random sites to ensure that the inspectors are doing their jobs properly. That might put a fire under a few butts. And it might even keep us healthier.

Now for a tasty meat sandwich! Eh, Hon, where d'you put the meat? ..
>8]

... Just thought you may want to get some extra sleep .. hehe .. really good article on what the Poops are doing to our world. Happy dreams! ..
>8]

... Listeriosis. Nasty little Poop. "The bacterial infection can be caused by eating contaminated food" says the authority on the subject. But here's the kicker: unlike most food bacteria, this crazy poop just loves cooler temperatures, (read "fridge"). And it can take up to three months to incubate. Do you remember the meat you ate three months ago, where you bought it, and what the brand was? Thought not. Me neither. So ... let's all just huddle in a group in the fetal position and hope it isn't inside us. But what I get testy about is this: the article explains that while government "was aware of a surge in the number of cases of listeriosis weeks ago, there was a delay in alerting doctors and consumers." What the heck are they waiting to find out? We're not all going to panic! We're Canadian after all. We are so cool, relaxed and expect the government to look after everything for us. They'll fix this listeria hysteria. Won't they? Course they won't. They're procrastinating again. As usual. They need to be accountable to the public to quickly prevent this sort of thing at the first sign. If they don't get used to this and execute a speedy system, then when a big one hits it'll get quickly out of control. Then what? All it takes is common sense and the political will to do what's right and sensible. Only with the political will are budgets created. However, this needs to be done before an alert like this one. It needs to be created when the situation is stable and tested thoroughly before it's needed. Or even while it's needed, in time for the next one which will surely come. Like, maybe, NOW! So after I toss all my meat, think I'll have a sardine sandwich. Sardine from a can. Safe sardine. I think. Maybe. Think I'll stick with bread and butter. Oh wait a mo! I can't eat gluten. Guess that leaves butter. Ok. *sighing* Butter it is ..
>8]

... Actually the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. Oh, well that's okay then. If the FDA says it's okay, I'll glug the chemical down each day then. Right! I may sound a bit cynical here, so excuse me or don't, but it seems to me as the years roll on, that if the FDA says something's okay, then my antennas spring into action. Let's face it, don't pharmaceutical executives move to the FDA for new jobs, and FDA execs recipricate by moving to the food & drink companies and the food & drink company execs move to the tobacco companies and sometimes bounce around to the FDA and back? Consider this: big tobacco buys food companies. They understand addiction and how to market it, very well. Wonder why supermarkets have whole two-sided aisles full of chips? Because the most likely people to become addicted to them watch TV a whole lot and don't spend time in the gym. So they nourish themselves with chips. A lot of chips. Every day. And they get fatter. And many of the same people smoke. Heavily. And drink beer and soft drinks. And get fatter still. Which makes them want more smokes and more chips (it's the salt in the chips, you see). Then they get sick more often, and gulp down pharmaceuticals many of which are advertised on tv. See which market the 'bigs' are after? And they are some of the wealthiest companies out there. See how the whole thing works? Now I'm not saying that they're being naughty or anything, gosh no. I'd never even think such a thing. Me? No! So when I hear of drugs maybe causing cancer, or plastic chemicals oozing into water, and the FDA saying it's okay, when they apparantly got most of their data from industry research and not their own scientists, then my intelligence beats the tar out of my wish that it was not so. Think I'll just ignore the FDA reports again and drink filtered water from my high end water treatment system. Here's to ya, eh! Gulp! ..
>8]

... You know what nanomaterials are, right? No? Ok. They're so tiny as to measure in billionths of a metre. That's millionths of a millimetre. Kinda small. The red blood cell, (like some folk's one and only brain cell - for example, politicians >8]), is of the order of 8,000 nanometres. So you can imagine the ease of a nanothing waltzing through the skin cells, lung cells, brain cells and so on, and attaching to some lonely biothing. Great for disease curing. Really bad for rogue nano escapes. That is, bad for us and all living things, like chocolate, (sorry, thinking of chocolate), eh, like wheat. As in fields of the stuff. If the nanothings aren't tested thoroughly and right through their existence cycle, then only the big yin (God, for those of you who are not Billy Connolly fans - the Scottish comedian par excellence) knows what they'd be capable of perpetrating. Trouble is, as perps, we may not have a nanopoliceforce to stop their perping. Ah, but .. **thinking till it hurts** wouldn't the drug companies just love perp nanos, 'cos then they'd have to come up with antiperps at high prices to get the bad guys. Then those nanos would maybe become superperps and need superantiperps to catch 'em. But I become too cynical, hehe. Maybe. Think I'll get online and buy some pharmaceutical stock, hehe ..
>8]

... This time it's MRSA in the news. That's Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus. But then I'm sure you knew that. This is the antibiotic-resistant kind of a common bacteria found on the skin. But then I'm sure you knew that. This rather unfriendly poop is one cause of skin infections and boils. Notably, it's becoming an increasingly major issue in th north of Canada. However, the fact that it's infectious from skin to skin means it's all the more important for people to be a tad careful when touching anything in public, like people. Or what people have touched. At my gym, as in any good quality gym, we have to use disinfectant on all parts of the equipment we touched after we use them. Sweat .. you know. Body fluids. Hmm. Makes me ponder on hand-shaking. Troublesome. I must admit I shake people's hands (usually only one hand though) rarely these days. Only if they look hygienic and if offence could be taken if I don't shake (their hands I mean - not me shaking). Now what about public transport and door handles? No, I don't go cleaning those after using them, nor do the majority of people I see. Hmm. Could become a major pandemic issue. Must keep my eye on this. I'll let you know should I spot any lurking trends. Hmm. Keyboards. Think I'll go wash my hands. Oh, just a mo. I'm the only human who uses it. Oh well, it could probably use a wash anyway. It's got those darkened patches over some keys - you know the ones that are used most often, the ones with the letters worn away. Now where did I put the alcohol? ..
>8]

... It's only taken upteen years to do this. In Ontario. So they're going to track the Bad Poops. This is good. This is helpful. This is so simple. This is timely. The public gets to know the numbers. Government departments get to know the numbers. Employers get to know. However, what are they going to do with the data? Create budgets to do things with? Know which hospitals to avoid? Who knows! Then the article states, "At the end of December, the government will begin tracking methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospitals". Well that's nice. Same question. And then "starting April 30, hand hygiene compliance among health-care workers will be tracked". And how the heck do they plan to do that? Healthcare workers filling in forms to say they washed their hands? Hand-washing enforcement officers on each floor? Come on!

What is needed is a deep, educational, attitude forming, cultural, highly motivating, change of habits by health care workers. Patients are not going to say "Did you wash your hands doc/nurse/auxiliary?" And if their boss says, "Doctor X, did you wash your hands before examining each of your patients today?", the $40,000 support staff through to the $200,000/year specialist are not going to say "Yessir/madam! Yessir/madam! Three bags full sir/madam!". Are they? It needs to come from the people themselves. It needs to come each time a staff member is seen by a patient. Why? Because one never knows who a patient is! **grinning evily** So how about a massive ongoing public relations blitz showing magnified little Poops squirming around on a healthcare worker's hands, and leaping onto a patient's body part, and multiplying like rabbits? Real micro-videography (speeded up) with revolting sound effects, so people "experience" the need to wash hands. It's what Hollywood does. And advertisers. It works. Crass? Of course. It works. Have the ad finishing with the patient looking at the doctor then the nurse then the orderly with a question on the patient's eyes that screams "HAVE YOU WASHED YOUR HANDS BEFORE TOUCHING ME?" and splashing that question across the screen. Have it in different patient/health care worker situations from general practitioner to lab technician. Develop the pressure to change from the customer back to the provider. It's what motivates corporations the world over. Health care is no different. Doctors are no different. Patients should be able to see the health care worker using the gel or soap and water. Peer pressure works. Let's use it positively. Oh, and they could use my book to educate people **licking chops** purchasable at Amazon.com/ca/co.uk/etc. or at their local bookstore or from me directly at www.PoopPandemic.com, and click the "Books" tab, then the book cover. Think I'll go autograph a bunch of my books again, hehe ..
>8]

... Quoting the article in the link above: "possible side effects from radio frequencies, children under eight should only use a cellphone in emergencies and teenagers should limit calls to less than 10 minutes." Yes, I know. We've heard so many research reports say this years ago, followed by reports denouncing that research. So what is the truth? Look, we all know how poisonous white sugar is - I mean even rats won't touch it. Likewise white flour. Yet most of the world keeps them legal. How about tobacco? Many pharmaceuticals? Now even majiruana (at least in Canada)? It seems to me that wherever big business depends on the stuff, the stuff doesn't become illegal. Big tobacco. Big pharma. Big food. Now big telecom? Doesn't take a planetary leap to get the connection. When big money's at stake, the big industries invest in sizeable and well financed lobby organizations. And so white flour continues to be huge in our food products.

Back to phones .. Frankly, I use landlines most of the time since I'm in my office most of the time. My cell I use otherwise. What deeply concerns me is what my daughter and many young adults like her do. They only have a cell phone, no landline, since they spend most of their time out of home. I understand the logic of course, and am not attacking it by any means, yet I grow increasingly concerned for the health of this whole generation. If it is true that much cell usage may cause brain tumours, then caution is necessary. And I think Loren Vanderlinden, a Toronto department of health supervisor and the author of the report, is spot on with her advsory: "Teach them the ways to use a cellphone responsibly — to make shorter calls, to use other modes of communication; if it's possible, use a landline". I know, I know. How many young people will even consider it .. only those who are mature enough to not rebel against anything and everything as youth is heir to. But one can teach them anyway. I'm constantly surprised by how much our offspring really do take in what we teach even though they object to it or appear not to listen or care. Sometimes it shows years later. For their own sakes, please don't stop teaching .. we just mustn't nag. Oh, oh! There goes my cell, and I'm in the office. "Hello Hon! .." ..
>8]

... And I'm not talking about doctors disappearing to other better paying countries either. It's similar to Creutzfeld-Jakob disease (CJD), (Mad Cow to the rest of us), except that the new disease causes the brains of sufferers to fill with tiny holes, preventing them from using their ability to think, speak and move. Now I know you think you know someone with this disease, or maybe even most people you know, however, contrary to the evidence as you behold your own offspring, this particular form of the disease is rather rare .. at this point in time. Seems the more we mess around with genetically modified food, bug killers, super fertilizers, carbon fumes, and rap, the more we have new diseases cropping up. And it's hardly because we have better diagnostic equipment, since diseases are usually identified by their effect on biological forms, and these have most often been noticed for long periods of time.

My point, if rather obscure, is that we should stop messing around with nature and get back to grass roots .. and I'm not a vegetarian. Let's quit this mad thirst for an overabundance of cash with the latest investment opportunities, and survive. So much is invested in genetic opportunism, (take patenting genes as an example of how totally ridiculous we can be), that it seems to cloud our vision of health as being a higher priority. Yet we humans learn so slowly. It often seems to me that we want to learn from our own experience rather than from generations before, without realizing that we simply cannot learn that quickly. We depend on past generation's knowledge to progress at all, so why are we so sloth-like in our thinking when it comes to health? Money. Greed. Selfishness. (Add your own favourite vice or weakness here). I refuse to get caught up in it. I prefer the wonders of close relationships and helping my friends, to the pride underlying avarice. Now, I think I'll run along and check on my stock, hehe ..
>8]

... BATHROOM! Ouch! Here's the quote .. "suggests sterilizing sponges with a one-minute high-powered blast in the microwave, washing hands and avoiding rinsing chicken in the sink". The sponge as a kitchen tool should have been killed off decades ago - a real germ factory. So I get that ok. Hand washing .. the DOORKNOB comes to mind (for those of you unkind enough not to have read my crass book "Poop Pandemic"). I get that clearly. But hold on a moment .. "avoid rinsing chicken in the sink". Eh, so where does one rinse it? In the toilet? Please give us an alternative. Oh, I know. Hold your chicken up in the air more than two feet above the kitchen sink .. no, make that the toilet bowl .. then spray it down with water from the bathroom sink, and dry it off with your hair dryer (conveniently located in the bathroom). But no! The air would blow the confounded toilet Poops all over the chicken .. eh .. so wipe it down with a dry kitchen towel. Likewise wash the chicken cutting board down over the toilet, I suppose. You know I'm kidding .. I hope.

As for bachelors' kitchen counters being the most hygienic, not the bachelors I know! You kidding? Most of them wouldn't know how to ever clean the counter. Och, (pronounced from the back of your closed throat as you force air through it without hacking .. an ancient Gaelic term meaning "Oh gosh, I do believe I have an obvious solution to our dilemma!"), all we have to do is spray the kitchen counters and sinks with bacteria killer, then wipe it down with a kitchen towel, followed by a wipe down with water on a paper towel to remove the bacteria killer since we don't want that in our gut ceating havoc more than the bacteria we're killing, then wipe the counter down with a nice dry kitchen towel to remove the water and let the air do the final dry-out. There we go! So who sponsored (read 'paid for') the study anyway? Ah, the bacteria killing stuff company. Funny, seems to me the kitchen paper tissue company should have had a stake in this study too. Odd, isn't it? I've never been sick from the kitchen counter bacteria. And we eat chicken or other poultry almost daily. Good idea to keep everything clean without sponges, but methinks this is somewhat overblown. Now, I'm going out to get a few big boxes of kitchen paper towels .. hehe ..
>8]

... I returned to Scotland for my twin sister's funeral. I terribly sad occasion, exponentiated by the preliminary results from the well-known pathologist conducting the post-mortem examination. His visual inspection was sufficient for him to re-write the cause of death on the death certificate as malnutrition. It had been certified as cancer by her doctor. The pathologist is even now analysing her at the cellular level to determine the precise cause of death. So it seems to me she was simply starved to death by the health system. We'll see. The flip side of this is that there was no cancerous growth. We'll know soon whether the cancer was killed at the cellular level or whether it was simply held at bay, in recession. I can't describe how I feel about this without becoming too emotional. So I'll wait for the final report. And now for some Clannad music ..
>8]

... It's so hard to watch a loved one pass on. My lovely twin sister is no longer with us having died of either cancer or malnutrition. Huh? you say! Yep. She was diagnosed 18 months ago with stomach cancer, refused chemo and instead took B17 and many good nutrients. Problem was that with half her stomach cut out and the rest sewn up, she seemed unable to eat any nourishing food. The doctors said she would not survive three months. The feeling at the time was that they patched up her stomach without the detailed care they should have taken since they assumed her soon to die. As she grew better and had a stomach stint inserted, she got better and better. The PET scan showed no cancer at all, and the doctors were confused. Then she had further eating issues, finally being unable to eat at all. She wasted away eventually losing all her muscles and fat, looking absolutely awful. I saw her the day before she passed away in Scotland. She could only whisper and slowly open her eyelids. Her mind was acute, her body at it's end. So her adult kids have pushed for a private autopsy. We'll see what the verdict is.

I remember reading one of those wet-eye email 'real stories' that may or may not have been real. It described a giving young man in an accident which looked to be fatal. He saw the faces of the surgical team and they clearly expected him to die. As the surgeon was about to operate and before he got the anaesthetic, he said "I want to live. Operate on me as if I'm going to live, not die!" And they did, and he lived. Good advice for anyone going in for any operation or test. Perhaps my sister's surgeon thought she only had three months and patched her up without due care or without the attention to detail that they would have used if they thought she'd survive long term. Or maybe the extent of the cancer was too advanced to save her stomach to the required level for proper digestion. We'll soon know. It may be okay to patch up cars or clothes that have a short life span left, however, human beings should never be patched up for a short life, since we know so little about the human body and the power that the human spirit has over it. No surgeon should exemplify such arrogance to say someone only has a short time to live. Meanwhile, as I wait to again fly out to Scotland, this time to her funeral, I look at her photographs and remember .. ..
>8]

... This is the sort of thing that incences me! Here is a blatantly obvious disease transferring process, and yet hospitals clearly don't care! Hospitals are the very foundation of our health system where trust is paramount. Without that trust they lose their authority, and with authority, people will suffer rather than become sicker. This is proposterous! People don't go to hospital to become sick, they go there to be cured! I have worked in one of the major Toronto hospitals in the '90s, and I was totally shocked when I discovered that one-use items were routinely re-used. With all the scares that have followed, one would think that they would have done something about that. The answer I got then was the same as now, "can't afford it". If it means shutting down beds, it's their duty to do so in order to afford 100% sterile instruments! This should not even be in question. I know, they are corporations, quasi-government or not, and they are run by executives as any other firm. However, this doesn't mean they should put lives at risk. Putting a stock price at risk is way different from putting a life at risk. Ok, I've vented. But justly so. Now what?

This is what the federal government exists for, to protect its citizens. Be that from invading countries, terrorists, or disease. The one thing that these have in common is that they take lives, precious lives. We may not be able to easily stop invading countries or terrorist actions, but we sure can and must stop this pathetic practice of re-use. If the manufacturers are selling reusable devices as non-reusable because they make more money that way, either the government should put in place public health laws to prevent it, or provide funding for every individual who gets a disease, with a high probability of having got it while in hospital, to sue the manufacturers. That puts companies out of business, so they change their practices. Better that they change the practice before they are made to. That's just business sense. Of course, as Warren Buffett correctly explains, very few public corporations' executives have high ethical standards, as witnessed by the trail of corrupted corporations from the 90's on. Could this be true of hospitals? But, you say, they don't have shares in hospitals in Canada. May be, but potential promotions between hospitals can be very enticing. So maybe the hospitals need sued also, if that's what it takes to force change. It always comes down to the bottom line. What such executives fail to really understand and internalize, is that the real bottom line is based on solid ethics practiced in life, not just at home or with the kids, but in every job. Every job. ..
>8]

... This is a WOW! The full headline reads "Amid growing concern over spread of infection, watchdog demands hygiene audits and compliance plans from acute-care facilities". At last! This is what my book's all about! And the article, which is well worth a read, goes on to say "Canadian hospitals seeking accreditation will soon be required to audit whether their doctors and nurses are washing their hands – and are expected to do something about it if they are not". With only 40% of health care providers washing their hands this is a major issue! Just remember the DOOR KNOB! And this is in a hospital with diseased people, people of all habits entering the building, and usually in heavily populated areas! I was at an Ontario hospital with a close friend of mine this past week. Interestingly, when I visited each afternoon I noticed people using the very evident hand cleansing units presented at the entrance and exit. When I visited in the evenings, hardly anyone used them. Why? Then I realized that the demographic of the hand-washers was the early boomer and mature population, as opposed to the madly-rushing younger folk in the evening. The older population have been sick more often and have had kids who were sick. The younger population may have young kids if any, and have been sick less often. Could it be that the focus of hand-washing advertising should be more directed at younger people rather than the general population? Perhaps more focus in schools and colleges?

I heartily commend Accreditation Canada for their strong position and implementation of handwashing in hospitals. Frankly, I'm relieved. Only thing is, how will they actively enforce this .. in reality, as opposed to threat? How do they creep into doctor's offices within the hospital where doctors live by doctor-patient confidentiality, and watch to see if they wash their hands? Not practical. We'll have to watch, wait, and see what happens. Well, think I'll go swallow some lunch .. after washing my hands ..
>8]

... I agree with the union (not that I often agree with unions, frankly). I agree with MPP John Tory. Hmm. Seems I agree with Tory quite a bit these days. I'm not extreme in many political views, really. However, here the unions and the Progressive Conservatives intersect. It's called 'common sense'. Okay, C. difficile is aptly named as a very difficult bacteria to kill. It's a real bad Poop. I visited a major Toronto hospital today with a friend who was going for an MRI - yes, Mother's Day. Good day to go. Very quiet, little traffic, three people to be MRI'd in a 24x7 MRI unit! Anyway, I noticed how few people use the hand disinfectant dispensers located at the entrance to the hospital. In fact none apart from myself. I watched as I waited anxiously for my Timmies Steeped Tea, double cream, double sugar, double cupped. Okay, not healthy. But have you tried it? Wicked. Not one person used any of the six dispensers. Not one! Now that's scary! It's also really very stupid.

The scarier part is that many of these visitors plus inmates and outpatients, oh not forgetting the staff, medical and otherwise, use the washrooms. Makes life available. They all use the DOORKNOB! Actually, the DOORHOOP! Then all these good people exit the building, and do you know how many use the dispensers at the exit? You gottit! None! Except me. There have to a few me's. But that's just not enough. Wanna bring home some C. difficile to accompany dinner? How many of these fine upstanding citizens wash their hands when they get home? How many DOORKNOBS or escalator hand rails have they gripped? I mean, this isn't rocket science or genetic statistics or even quantum equations we're talking about here. This is in the same bag as Plague and 1918 Spanish Flu. I'll bet most of the medical staff don't even use the dispensers when they leave at night. Think I'll stop shaking hands with the doctor the next time we go .. ..
>8]

... What a novel idea! (Please excuse the sarcasm ..) And Indonesia is not a wealthy country. Sure they want to show the world that they're not the 'naughty, asian flu spreading, hotbed of the H5N1 bird flu, and not doing anything about it' nation. Half of the 240 bird flu victims were in Indonesia. Now how about a brain-stretching-brain-hurting-brain-tickling idea? Yeh, each country does the same thing! Wow what a high! How is it that we ordinary folk can think up such simple, common-sense ideas like this yet specialists and governments take full or part decades to do the same thing? Budgets you say? Don't be silly. they find budgets for recording the wailing sound of the Canadian flap-backed, turquoise, nail-nibbling, half-goose-half-pidgeon, (no, it's not a real thing), yet can't allocate a budget to save the nation! Course they can! Yet all they can quack is "country's in debt, can't afford it" lies. What we Canadians need to do is for once in our lives strongly object to some political decision or massive increase in costs (how about gas prices?), instead of letting governments at all levels make our decisions for us and letting the powerful lobbyists control our costs of living. Hope I'm doing my bit writing this blog to help people keep in touch with what's happening with H5N1 plus other health-things and even offering a few ideas. Hate to scratch under your skin a tad (well actually I quite enjoy it, hehe!), but we need to at least express our opinions instead of sitting on them.

Coming from the UK originally, where pubs seeth with political, spiritual, social and business chat, not to mention some sports talk, when I came to Canada I was totally side-swiped by the non-intellectual conversation and almost total discussion about sports, and moaning about social things. Not a put-down, just an observation. I really enjoyed such pub chat in the UK. Had a stabilizing effect on one's views, whilst opening up one's mind to novel and often humorous ideas. Sports is .. well, sports. Ok for a short while, but zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. Perhaps that's why we're a nation of 'do what the government says and say nothing' people. Sure we're also a nation of multi-racial, multi-faith, almost total acceptance peoples, if you know what I mean. And that's awesome! But I feel we need to stretch a whole big tad. Think I'll go down to the pub and shake up a few brains, hehe ..
>8]

GlobeAndMail.com - National: Canada first to label bisphenol A as officially dangerous

... The Globe & Mail's excellent article describes Bisphenol A as a "hormonally active chemical .. one of the most widely used synthetic chemicals .. the basic building block for polycarbonate, the see-through, shatter-proof plastic that resembles glass, and is also used to make the epoxy resins lining the insides of most tin cans, along with some dental sealants, sports helmets, and compact discs". Succinct. The scary part is that it is used in almost every Canadian home .. or should I say almost every North American home? That's quite a few homes and a whole lot of people. Apparantly U.S. tests discovered more than 90% of their population carries a small amount of BPA. BPA's molecular design mimics estrogen, the female hormone. Residual amounts of BPA can transfer from food and drink containers when people heat them up or use hot water on them or when acids in the food react with the chemical. In summary: people are sucking down female hormones from plastic containers made from BPA. And Canada is the first country to do something about it. Yea Canada!

Of course, the industry has no such finding. Right. Of course they don't. Imagine a major BPA plastic bottle and BPA plastic coated can using drink company with such cans and bottles containing its stuff that is in millions of vending machines, carts, stores, markets, sports centres, schools, in cities, villages, at olympics, at major sports events, drunk by little kids through aging folks the world over, recommended by wildly successful money management companies, a darling of the stockmarket. One day it says "Oops, our stuff is slurping female hormones into males and eh, well, that's not good, but we'll just keep on with the program". Ha. And remember that public companies (those on stock exchanges) have the legal objective of ensuring that all actions are for the good of the company. Any director who does not swim with this current is in conflict with corporate law and governance. But, methinks, if all those people get a tad upset with these companies and cease to use their products, then profits go down and share prices plummet, and the "good of the company" means changing the container material. So why not preempt this and change it quickly and look like a hero, so people will switch to their brand away from the competition's, and profits go up with share prices. And that's for the good of the company. Oh, and for people too .. mustn't forget them. Think I'll have a .. cup of tea! ..
>8]

... THIS IS REALLY SERIOUS! Now you know that from my article 7 below this one and titled "CBC News: Botox® linked to severe side effects, deaths: FDA", that Botox® is really Botulinum Toxin Type A which blocks nerve impulses from the brain to the muscles. As humans, we find the clear message-sending concept of brain-nerve-muscle communications to be a somwhat handy idea. It lets us live. Now if what the good ol' neuropeople say is true, then this toxin is wending it's covert way to the brain. Question is, does it dissipate or does it accumulate. Here's another irritating question: being a toxin that enjoys a free ride along the nerve cells, does it whip around the body's nerve cells till it finds a cosy spot (read 'weakest point in the body') to settle down in and do some silent damage? And might it do damage, unnoticeable by our smart bodies and doctors, until it becomes too late to keep us above the earth? Look. By now you know me. I'm not a pessimist nor an optimist. I'm an idealist. But sort of a practical idealist. There's no way on this space island we call Earth, that I'm going to let any creature, human or otherwise, put (even supposedly sterile) Botulinum Toxin Type A in this bod! Disclosure: I own an anti-aging clinic that refuses to use any form of invasive procedure on our ladies. Not one. Nada. But that's not why I'm writing this. It's just plain silly to pump deadly toxins into the human cell structure. We're not that smart, really. Isn't it true that we're constantly discovering how silly we've been with medical ideas we once thought innovative and life-changing. Take antibiotics. Good for their initial purpose. Bad for use in everything. Botulinum Toxin Type A, good for a few situations, bad for everyday use. Think of it this way. If you were told that your morning hot buttered toast had marmalade with sterile Botulinum Toxin Type A spread on it, would you really push it into the hole in your face or run for the nearest exit? Thought you might. Me too. And yet hundreds of thousands if not millions of people have willingly chomped away at it via injection. Scary. Wonder what the various country health systems will do when huge numbers of boomers claim for medical support due to paralysis, should it come to that. Would you want to pay for other people's silliness in your taxes? Not me. Toast! Butter! Marmalade! I'll stop ranting now and go help my body to some hot toasted gluten-free cheese bread, unsalted butter, and organic marmalade - yes, it works - and some delicious cancer-detering tea. Mmmm ... yesss ..
>8]

... Hmm. At first kiss this seems .. eh, wrong's the wrong word. It seems unsettling, unnerving, un-other things. Why? I guess because I, like billions of other humans, don't want to get the wrong stuff wandering around our bodies doing naughty things where they're not supposed to be. We know it takes doctors years of practice (do they ever move out of practicing?), to be able to diagnose those nasty ailments we all dread. But really, diagnosing a cold is done by parents the world over. So why not nurses and pharmacists? Because if it's bird flu, they may get it wrong, and wham! we're cold meat. And I don't know about you but I prefer to be warm meat. Apparantly, the British government has a slight financial problem with their "come free, come all" approach to health care (I wonder why it's taken decades to figure that one out? But then we're talking about politicians of course, silly me ..). So now they're looking at ways of curbing the bill. Nurses and pharmacists are cheaper and faster to educate than doctors, with minor ailments and ongoing conditions (not the nurses and pharmacicts with minor ailments and ongoing conditions .. I meant the patients they serve .. ). If I crack open my mind and think a bit, disregarding the pain, it seems like a reasonable idea, as long as strict controls are put on their freedom. However, we all know what governments are like with controls .. they either overdo it or underdo it .. both with serious ramifications. Just look at economies, taxes, health care, city planning, gun control, immigration, health care, water and sewage, environmental issues, health care, and even health care. They just keep getting into trouble with dollars, pounds (British that is), yen, guilders, you name it. And they always spend more to make the problems more complex. What do you think about this latest solution? Eh .. are you thinking about this latest solution? Ok .. are you thinking right now? Hehe. Couldn't resist it. I think it's a good idea, but they should do a three year test of it to learn more about it before rushing in to cover the British Isles with their new found concept. Think I'll eat a nutritious meal right now .. and for a while, till I weaken .. ..
>8]

... That's a few! At least compared to the last slaughter of 2.8 million in 2006-2007! Sure glad they're not pussyfooting around. Do you notice how there are no bird-huggers (and I say that in the nicest way) crying "Foul!" at the slaughter of millions of winged beasties? If that was trees that were being .. eh, slaughtered .. there would be a huge outcry, even if it was to stop some heinous tree disease. Anyway, here in Ontario, Canada, spring has at last poked it's head out of the clouds and promises a few good days to tease us with. Welcome respite after an evil winter that lasted what seems like six months. The silver lining is that not many birds fly in that weather. I saw several brave Canada Geese gaggles flying north (yes, that's the correct group term for geese .. nice one, eh?). This is when indoor Canadians hold parties and outdoor Canadians hold .. well, cry. I'm an indoorsy. Except when it's sunny at 22degC, then I'm outdoorsy. Now I have to keep a lookout for flocks of birds flying everywhere. Hopefully with no parasitic viruses. Have a nice weekend! ..
>8]

... Yea! The first flu outbreak to cause Hong Kong authorities to close the schools - just in case. I feel a slight release of tension as I realize that they are actually watching! And doing something about a potential repeat of SARS. I wonder if all/any other countries are doing the same thing? Something deep in my colon suggests this is not the case. China says they have had no flu outbreak that is different than normal. Okay. Yet they have a particular ability to conceal the case when it suits them - like when an Olympic hosting is about to happen. Oh, I know, I'm being paranoid, a bit. Or am I? Politicians have this nasty little habit of lying through their teeth. It's in their corporate psychopathic nature .. (corporate psychopaths don't physically hurt people, just do the equivalent emotionally - some call them sociopaths - I'll leave the fine details to the psychiatrists amongst you). This being so, politicians will always gravitate to those words and actions which serve their self-interest .. no dah! So, China. Well, those of you brave souls who want to descend on the Olympics in China where millions of people will be milling around coughing and sneezing at each other due to the heavy pollution, have fun. Methinks I'll save some coins and watch it from the comfort of my telly. Come to think of it, I don't really enjoy sports, so I think I'll just write my blog instead .. maybe something interesting will happen there and I can gloat at my prescience. Hopefully not .. ..
>8]

... According to the article, Dr. Rémi Quirion, scientific director at the CIHR Institute of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Addiction said "They are merging the best of neuroscience with cutting-edge technology and engineering." Now is that awesome or is that awesome? May I suggest that we are at the very, very beginning of a massive wave of technological invention and innovation that could change the lives of anyone under, say, 60? Ok, so I may have the age limit wrong, but gosh, nerve cells in circuits! My Parkinson's Disease friend may be encouraged by this! Not to mention people with Alzheimer's, and other such debilitating things, like paraplegism. My heart's giving me that toasty-warm feeling that people can be very nice ..
>8]

... That's what I'm talking about! Open, creative, out-of-the-box thinking! Nice to see such a wealthy man pour money into such research instead of paying it in taxes and having the government squander it on partisan policy idiocy. What I really like about this is that scientists who would otherwise have their ideas controlled/quashed/ignored by their corporate-political bosses can now spread their intellectual wings and freely come up with meritorious ideas that Bill & Melinda's foundation would support. One more step would be to create an open forum for ideas not by scientists, but by anyone else, that could then be sifted through by a think tank comprised of a variety of specialists (not only scientists). Those ideas could then be assigned for study to appropriate scientists. After all, how many innovations come from people outside their field of expertise? A huge number! Look around. Everywhere you can see ideas that sprang up from the well of imagination within ordinary people having an "Aha!" moment, and who did something about it. Specialists also come up with great ideas. I mean, Bill & Paul came up with a great idea: an operating system for home computers, and POW! Look at the worldwide impact today! And tomorrow! Thank you Bill & Melinda! Now, about that idea I had ..
>8]

... Yeah! So some body's doing something bright! Ok, so they find that if people are snugly close physically in great numbers (ie: cities) then bugs spread faster. No-brainer. But their other findings look promising from a predictive point of view. And let's face it, we need all the predictive tools we can get in order to prepare as early as possible for any pandemic. Even if the poor bugs are snuffed out before pandemic day, at least we'll be prepared for the one that gets away! Keep up the good work you folks at the research thing. I'm going to join my daughter and boyfriend and listen to some Afro-Celt (African-Celtic [Celtic: Scottish/Irish/Welsh]; African you know, I think) music. Yes, there is such a thing. Beautiful ..
>8]

... Oh oh! This is what we've been afraid of! I really don't like the way this is going folks. The cunning poops are everywhere! And you thought my book was just fun .. think again! There seems to be an innate intelligence within viruses that causes them not only to recognize such a drug as Tamiflu, but to adjust, adapt, mutate, to be able to just whip right by the drug and get on with the business of killing people. Bit disheartening, isn't it people? Yes, there's another drug that works .. for now. But how long before the poops handle it? Are we keeping pace? Nay, are we outpacing the poops, or are they outpacing our best and brightest researchers? Now apparantly, they don't have any neurons - the poops, not the researchers. So how is it that they can beat these best neuron-loaded researchers? There might be a tack to take instead of just trying to kill the little things. If we can find out what form of intelligence they have, then we might be able to . eh, download a virus so to speak, or out virus-think them, or get them into a self-destructive loop. Something new. Something we've not thought of yet. The research companies, the pharmaceutical ones that is, may be on the wrong track completely. Maybe the geneticists are more likely to succeed at discovering viral intelligence, or even some parallel to it. Or perhaps we need a think-tank to come together made up of really out-of-the-box thinkers, not people trying to get the next promotion or make a name for themselves or their companies. Clearly, the current thinking processes are only leading to short-term solutions, as valuable as they are. Hmm, I rest my case .. and now for a nice cup of tea and home-made creme brulee .. I wonder if poops can taste?
>8]

... If you're not aware of why people use Botox®, let me expand your mind. Botox® is one of the trademarks for Botulinum Toxin Type A which blocks nerve impulses from the brain to the muscle, thus paralyzing that particular muscle. In it's natural, devastating form, it can stop its victims from breathing (lung muscles), from circulating blood (heart muscles), limbs (limb muscles) and so on. Not the sort of thing you want to have happen on your birthday, or any other day for that matter. There are severe life situations where it may be justified, however there is also cosmetic use for the stuff. The toxin is injected into the face part such as upper lip or between the eye-brows, so that those muscles become paralyzed thus removing the wrinkling effect of the contracted muscles. Temporary, yes. Unless it becomes permanent by way of death or toxin misdemeanor.

The company that makes Botox® claims that their product, Botox® Cosmetic (http://www.botoxcosmetic.com/how_botox_works/index.aspx), "works by reducing the contractions of the muscles that cause those persistent frown lines that have developed over time". Now, one of my businesses is a non-invasive anti-aging clinic, where we absolutely refuse to administer any kind of invasive procedure, relying on time-tested safe methods and products where the methods do not allow any direct penetration of the skin. Why did we choose this route to go rather than the extremely lucrative Botox® and Plastic Surgery invasive route? Simple. It's safe, and brings out the natural beauty of the woman, rather than often giving "freeze-face" which Hollywood is now rejecting due to the actors not being able to express emotions, or plastic surgery causing a disconsonance between a woman's natural age body language and her face (which comes across as false tending towards the ridiculous, in our opinion). Yet many plastic surgeons say Botox® is safe. If so, then why the alerts springing up across age groups, sexes and countries?

Now Allergan Inc., the corporation that produces Botox®, states an age range that may use their cosmetic product, yet incidents are being reported which are apparantly within these groups. My question is this: just how much research by independent organizations and government agencies went into testing Botox® before and after it was introduced to the market? What were the results? I don't have any figures on the product safety, and it doesn't seem to appear on any of the sites I checked out. Was it a case of the product being safe 99.99% of the time, or 100%? How much is someone's life worth? Now 99.99% may sound excellent, but try out the math: 99.99% of 100,000 people means that 10 people get affected in some negative way. And I don't mean temporary effects. I'm talking death, or paralysis affecting people's long-term quality of life. I can't accept that even 1 death per 100,000 justifies use of a cosmetic product. Or even a cosmetic procedure such as a surgical facelift.

Further, and even more importantly, we shouldn't be messing with such a virulent and potentially devastating bug! Just suppose the researchers handling this toxin don't know everything to do with genetics. I mean, does anyone? And now millions of people have it in their bodies. Yes, it's supposedly dead, etc. But suppose they missed something science hasn't discovered yet. If something springs to life, we would now have a major pandemic the likes of which we can't even imagine - infective Botuminum Toxin. Is beauty that worthwhile?

What do you think? After all, heck, it's only peoples' lives at stake. What's that worth? In my view, even one is precious ..
>8]

... First, my apologies for the lack of articles over the past few days .. I'm in the midst of a house move. So here are four articles to make up for the lack thereof, starting with off-label drugs.

Good reporting by CBC! And scary too! The report says that "It's estimated that up to a third of all prescriptions written are for off-label use." A THIRD! Off-label: A drug that's been approved by Health Canada for use in condition A, but has been found useful for condition B, but has not been approved for use in condition B, but doctors prescribe it for B anyway, legally. And doctors are assumed to be able to judge whether it's appropriate for use off-label. No issue with that, after all that's part of their training. However, doctors are largely dependent on pharmaceutical reps for their continuing pharmaceutical education. Now if a pharmaceutical company gets reports about the drug being good for condition B, they cannot advertise that on the packaging or info slips. Yet somehow doctors get to know about it. Hmm.

And the doctors see the results in their own patients, confirming the usefulness of the drug for A and B. Yet the drug is not approved by Health Canada for B. So what? Well, not all drug companies rush to get the drug approved for B. Why not? The business must be there. Could it be because they know something they're not telling? In some cases, probably. They know they'd have to report on some adverse effect perhaps. My thought is that although conditions A and B are assisted, the drug may cause a condition, say C, and the cause not discovered for years. But by then the pharmaceutical company has made some dough and invented another drug for B and also for C. All it needs is for Health Canada to prevent such use, except in small trials, until the drug becomes approved or otherwise.

By the way, the CBC.ca site above has links for all sorts of health articles. Worth checking out for you, family and friends. Now I think I'll rush to the kitchen and down some more vitamins and minerals .. and .. dark chocolate, the curer of all ills .. hehe! ..
>8]

... Really interesting! Someone I know well has Parkinson's Disease. Has had it for maybe 10 years. Basically Parkinson's is caused by the lack of dopamine manufacture in the movement area of the brain. So specialists recommend dopamine meds to supplement this lack. Unfortunately, as time goes on, less dopamine is produced naturally and so more meds need consumed to offset this difference. Which poses another problem. The centre of the happiness part of the brain (to keep this basic) is highly sesnsitive to dopamine. Thus, when the dopamine med is consumed, the parts of the brain which still naturally produce the correct quantities of dopamine now get flooded with the med, making the victim make exaggerated movements by the limbs not affected by the shortfall, and making the person seem high as if on recreational drugs. This becomes an impossible orchestra to harmonize.

Enter Deep Brain Stimulation. Over 40,000 DBS surgeries have now been conducted worldwide, making this an operation with a good chance of success. The electrodes stimulate the affected movement areas instead of using dopamine alone, thus reducing the need for as much dopamine, therefore keeping the rest of the brain in a more balanced state. The future looks good for the lucky few who both qualify for the treatment and who are willing to have their brain proked into, and who are patient enough to wait the very long wait times for the surgery. Clearly not the sort of operation one leaps into with joy and delight. Can be very frightening since the patient must remain awake throughout the multi-hour ordeal. At least there's no unmanageable pain since the brain has no pain sensors. I wish all the best to my contact and those who wait in hope for the chance to live a more normal life.

So if Alzheimer's disease and other memory loss conditions can be helped by such procedures, and the funds made available by governments and insurance companies, then many patients and their relatives and close friends would be well served. Let's hope it works out that way. ..
>8]

... A Winnipeg testing lab has discovered that 10% of H1N1 viruses in Canada are now Tamiflu resistant. That's huge! H1N1 is another way of saying 'Avian Flu', and Tamiflu is an Avian Flu squasher drug - well, should I say 'was'? Other countries are finding various figures including 5.5% in the USA. Europe has also found alarming resistances. Here's the freaky part: all these scientists on the leading edge of pandemics have been taken by surprise. Every organ in my body including my brain part have gone into high alert! This is what we all hoped wouldn't happen. I really hope those experts get working fast to keep us safe. And that they get governments to set aside their time-wasting political arguments and platforms and get some immediate budgets put together to handle this internationally. This is not fear-mongering. This is real. Now. Here. Think I'll work late tonight .. might not get a whole lot of sleep ..
>8]

... The gist of it is that heating water in bottles made from polycarbonate plastic releases bisphenol A. This is not a good thing. Wikipedia states that bisphenol A mimics estrogen, the hormone that makes female .. well, female (and yes, guys do have some too). Problem is that the human body is really good at balancing the amount we need and isn't designed to handle any more such as this mimicked one. And get this, most of us don't heat up plastic bottles, but many Moms do, for their mini-people eh .. babies. So now we have babies sucking down estrogen mimicked hormones. Thing is, this stuff in studies has been suggested to affect, if not cause, infertility.

Now link this: The western world fertility rate is declining, just as we have added plastic to our menu over the last few decades. Scary. This stuff is inside canned food cans. Uh huh. Makes me wonder about other plastics. How about our favourite plastic coffee cups. You know, the white, very lightweight fluffy plastic stuff - I think it's called urethane. Water just below boiling is poured into them, then we wait till it's cool enough to drink, then down it goes. I remember reading about a very bright high school student who submitted an experiment to a high school science fair. She nuked a dish covered by plastic wrap as one would do with dinner, and measured the mass of the wrap before and after, finding the mass had decreased after zapping. Her thesis was that the plastic gave off chemicals and it may not be safe. What intrigued me was that research scientists at a big company hailed her method and results as nothing short of brilliant, which means she was onto something. This was a few years ago, maybe 2005 or 2006. Worrying.

My point is that we're most likely swallowing and even breathing gases from plastic materials, and yet our body was not designed to consume plastic. Remember, plastic is all man-made - no such thing as natural plastic. It comes from oil, deep in the Earth. So our genetics cannot have had aens to adjust to it. Could these plastic compounds be the root cause of cancers, infertility, allergies, and a host of other health issues? Makes me shudder. Anyway, have pleasant dreams tonight .. yeah. ..
>8]

... Austria is at the top of this Euro-Canadian study, with 806 out of 1000 points. Canada is 23rd with 550 points out of 1000. Although 'solid outcomes' for Canada are good, presumably meaning we live, we have 'moderate to poor provision levels', eh, like long waiting lists maybe? We are 'very poor' on patient rights and accessibility, which means that we still look upon healthcare experts as god-like rather than as advisors, which is what they are. And all this for more spending than all other European countries at 30 out of 30. Makes you feel all warm and cozy doesn't it? Think I'll do a European trip for my next vacation, maybe mostly in Austria and the Netherlands .. guess I'd better start socking away some Euros ..
>8]

... An organic farmer and inspector opines that the government certification by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is inadequate. Further, he asserts that cheating is going on on some organic farms. Why does he state this? Because he states that the inspectors inform farmers before arriving that they are coming, and also because they don't actually test, but instead look for documentation on purchases of materials to prove content or method. This is completely ridiculous! Any even slightly unethical farmer can doctor paperwork with today's PC technology. All it needs is to scan the actual letter, optically character read it to MS Word, make textual changes, and print it out. Dah! And the farmer's got time to do it before the inspector gets there! Even young kids can work this out. So why is it done this way? Now don't squawk that lack of budgets prevent it. We're talking of a billion dollar industry here. Food, no less. So how's the budget being used if not for actual testing. Hmm. This needs an oversight structure of the non-government, cross-industry type. Look, my family spends over the normal amount on food by choice. We like to live outside of hospital wards, so we munch on organic foods at every turn, and take organic food supplements, drink carbon-filtered water, and (sometimes, ahem) keep fit. We don't have time to drive around farms checking their produce. This is truly a government duty to its citizens. So why the lack of proper protocols? Oh, Oh! I sure hope there isn't corrupt gold crossing paws! No, that's silly, of course there isn't. After all, we're talking government here .. **awkward** .. hehe ..
>8]

... The Ottawa Hospital, the report syas, will begin tests in January for two virulent strains of bacteria to help fight infections and deaths. Gosh! What a novel idea! Almost 5 years after SARS and someone thought of testing incoming patients. Do I hear a new generation of doctors and hospital administrators chatting? Why does it take so long to do the obvious? Meanwhile we all have our lives on the line. Having worked in hospital administration in one of the top Toronto hospitals, it's easy for me to know why. Politics and budgets, or should I say, power and money. Same old same old. Now understand that I'm not just griping here. Thousands of Canadians are killed annually due to hospitally transferred superbugs. Are you next? Relax, if you're not in hospital. Get out of there as soon as you can if you're incarcerated there. Pray if you can't escape. And stay as healthy as you possibly can in 2008! Gives new meaning to "The best of health in 2008", huh? Let's hope that other hospitals follow the lead from Toronto's and Ottawa's hospitals. All the best for 2008! ..
>8]

... published by the British Medical Journal no less. I like the one about eight glasses of water per day. Even my nice doctor said 8 glasses. However, I failed to ask her if that included 3 mugs of coffee, a big juice, a big helping of gravy/sauce, lots of water in salad, and others. Wouldn't it be neat to be able to enter our data on what we drink and munch and have apage come up showing how much water is in it, so we could top up with the amount of water we need? Methinks I could down a few extra glasses knowing that, a lot easier than pure willpower. And then there's the turkey one. Now I kill a slice of white meat daily in my gluten free sandwich. I never .. get .. dr .. ow ....s ....y. Never. Unless I supplement it with some delicious bad food. How about the 10% of our brains myth? I've met some people that prove that figure's an exaggeration .. hehe. But really, as if a whole bunch of neurons just sit there idle! I mean, no other part of our bodies sit idle, except maybe fat .. but that's another story. Any read of a book on Neurology and you know quickly that every brain cell has its function, and that new ones develop as required, mostly.

Anyway, have a very pleasant Christmas/holiday/whatever the end of the year means to you! Now for lots of turkey .. oh, no, wrong! We're having Bambi this year. Venison by name. Should be interesting. Do I hear "poor Bambi"? Hey what about "poor cow"? Or "poor soy bean"? Hehe ..
>8]

... The Hib vaccine (not HIV vaccine) prevents really bad bacterial infection according to Merck, the manufacturer. They say these include Meningitis and Pneumonia. And 14 million doses are given in the USA. 1.2 million were recalled. Why? Because the drug company was concerned they may be sterile, that is, impotent. Mmm. Just less than 10% recalled. That's reassuring to those people who popped the vaccine. I've got mixed emotions on the issue of vaccines: doubt and fear. Certainty and faith have fled over the years, and I seem to vacillate between getting a flu shot and avoiding them. I'm a healthy guy so I'm not in any risk category. Not very reassuring I know since poops eat anyone, especially those with kids at school. I'm moving to the center of the debate where I would accept vaccines for deadly poops but refuse those for the usual flu poops. I hear echoes of "mercury", "silver", and "eggs". Frankly, I just don't know what to think, since there are just so many studies with contradictory "evidence". I know, it's not like me to waver uncontrollably, to cry in my soup, or to scream with indecision. But I can't bring myself to express an opinion when it could inadvertently hurt a lot of people. **sobbing in soup** You're welcome to write to me with your opinions. I need your input. Please, please, please. I need data, more data. **going manic** ..
>8]

Wow! Spit out that mouse and read this! 10 TIMES! 30,000 patients at any point in time! Let's do math - hey, don't escape now - 30,000/3,000,000 = 1 in 100 patients. Now if I told you that you had a 1 in 100 chance of winning a lottery of $10,000,000 would you risk $10? Sure you would. I mean the chances in a lottery are usually 1 in 10s or 100s of MILLIONS. That's 1 in 10,000,000 to 1 in 100,000,000 and we're talking 1 in 100! Visited someone in a nursing home? Been in hospital recently? Know someone who has? (Please remember the infectious nature of Poops). Nuff said. Have a nice day!
>8]

Oh oh! Do I sniff a red balloon! Are the powers that be getting us ready! Probably not, but I'm sniffing closely. I don't know what Bali's hospitals are like, but I sure hope more doctors and med staff wash their hands than here in Canada. Yep. I'm researching the numbers and it doesn't look good. More on that later. Meanwhile, enjoy your lunch .. oh, tip: when eating food in the car or anywhere you like, with your bare hands, you're heading on a slippery slope these days. Instead, put it (your sandwich, not your hand) in a plastic or paper bag before you leave home, and eat it (your sandwich, not your hand) by holding onto the bag instead of taking your sandwich out. I know the bag tastes awful but that's only because you kept going after you finished your sandwich .. sheesh! Do have a nice day!
>8]

Mm. Methinks this is not the best place to take a vacation! That's a whole lot of mistakes. Ever been in hospital? In my brief (ahem) life, I've been in four times. When I had my gall bladder whipped out I suffered huge pain in my chest. So they had a look and discovered the tubey thing that went from the liver part to the duodenum part was blocked. So they kindly cleared it up. Then I had severe pains in my chest - lung it appeared to be. That's when they decided I must have one of those clotty things having a party, so they put a tube from the fragile part of my upper leg through my heart part and on into my lung (at least so I was told). And the nice panicking (really) staff removed the thingy. I am vague on the exact thingies since they had sedated me. It appears there were two errors here in my opinion (no allegations intended - gotta be super legal on the net .. ). I have this slight (read mind-convulsing) aversion to signing up for an op. Combine this with the lack of sufficient hand-washing in the general areas of the hospitals and you get the picture I'm sure. I wonder how it is in other countries' hospitals? Maybe you might let me know. Have a nice, healthy, non-hospital day!
>8]

Why do I suddenly need the washroom? It's that last comment that scares the DNA out of me! How many times has a scientist said "It can't happen" and it did? Yeah! Try the word "every". Think of it in terms of the Poops. Here is man attempting to produce a synthetic life form, about the Poop's size. Now if I were a Poop, I'd be real interested in meeting this new being and seeing if I could engage in .. eh .. duplication/merging things. Now the scientists wouldn't have any idea what was created and nor would they know how to control it, contrary to the noises they might make. Clearly they haven't read my book yet. I'm not saying they shouldn't do it to help with disease. Just that overconfidence invites catastrophe with the door wide open and a strong smell of fresh baking coming from it. Talking of baking .. think I'll snaffle a view calories now .. after washing my paws :)
I wonder if scientists wash their hands more than doctors?
>8]

CBC News: Sterilization malfunction at Saskatchewan hospital prompts blood test alert

".. CEO Jim Hornell .. insisted the risk is minimal given the procedures that were performed were minimally invasive." Oh really, Jim! Minimally invasive? What's the spin here? May be minimal for you, an administrator, but how do all those poor folk who had "minimally invasive" procedures feel? I'll bet they feel "maximally invaded" due to the institution apparantly not having the equipment tested for more than seven months .. SEVEN MONTHS! And those poor people are being advised to get their blood tested for hepatitis B and C, and for HIV! Jim, it doesn't need maximally invasive procedures to contract these diseases. It just needs one infected person to cause Poop chaos! The Poops must be laughing their heads off with this one.
Ok, ok, people. I've blown off enough steam in your face. **calming down and breathing slowly** Now how many other institutions are not checking their autoclaves? And if they're not checking their autoclaves, then what else are they not checking? These things are done through protocols that are designed to prevent infection of patients and staff. If you worked there would you be rushing off to get your blood tested? I sure would! There's something to think about over your lunch .. did you wash your paws before grasping that sandwich?
>8]

... and you thought I wasn't serious about the Poops! I can just see it now: A scientist examining the bacteria says "Hark! Look what I've found! Bacteria that are still alive after hundreds of thousands of years. I wonder what type of bacteria? Hmm. (Later ..) That's odd, got a sore throat .. must be the kids friends at school .. always got bugs .. really don't feel well .. must go to hospital .. darned triage .. have to wait in waiting room .. I feel nauseus .. heart's racing .. can't breathe .. aaaargh!" In the waiting room, in a hospital, after opening a few doors with his hand - yes, the freakin' door knob! And all those nice door-knobbing people picking up an unknown bug from hundreds of thousands of years ago. Hmm. I wonder if those Poops might not be completely unrecognized by the human immune system? **feeling not mildly panicky** Oh well, the nice government will take care of everything .. eh, mmm. Have a most pleasant sleep
>8]

... formaldehyde!?! Read this from http://www.carnells.com/articles_details.php?id=24 : "Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable gas with a strong pungent odor. It is sold to funeral homes .. Formaldehyde is a regulated substance that can pose substantial health hazards. It is immediately and seriously hazardous to the eyes, can cause skin damage within a short period of time .." And this from Wikipedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embalming_chemicals : "IARC Classes Formaldehyde as a Class 1 Carcinogen". An unsubstantiated report at http://www.creationresource.org/health/health_article.htm would indicate that we have too much formaldehyde in our bodies. I don't know if this is an authentic source or not, but I wouldn't put formaldehyde in my porridge! Makes you sort of queezy to think we're slurping down or absorbing formaldehyde, doesn't it? Even the Poops wouldn't like this for dinner since it kills them dead apparantly. Well, enjoy your day after you stop beating your head against an unfriendly surface.
>8]

... 90%, huh? No cure, huh? Wow have the Poops got this one under control! And the authorities don't know which one of two diseases this is. Could this be a sign of things to come? I think so. Imagine you're the Poops for a moment. Would you have just one such super-resilient and super-contagious disease attacking the human race, or would you pile them on in an orderly fashion in order to scare the feces out of humans and thus reduce their immune systems, making the next diseases more effective? Mark my words, in all seriousness, I believe there really is an intelligence behind germs. Perhaps not the cerebral kind that we understand, but a more instinctive, primeval sort. But more on that later ..

Now be good and take your Vitamin D this winter if you abide in the less sunlit climates like I do. Here's the URL: http://www.cbc.ca/cp/HealthScout/070608/6060813AU.html
Have a great day! Oh, and I appreciate you clicking in to read these thoughts!
>8]

Sorry, can't find the URL at www.680news.com for Monday, September 17, 2007 By: Kevin Misener - if you find the URL please email me with it and I'll insert it - thanks! So here's the article:

Toronto - It is recognized around the world. A handshake in greeting, a handshake to seal a deal, a handshake to bind your word.
But you may not want to shake anybody's hand after you read the results of a new survey.
Harris Interactive has found only 77 per cent washed their hands after visiting the washroom -- down from 83 per cent two years ago.
There's no question how Torontonians feel about people who don't soap up after flushing.
"It's disgusting," one person said.
But amazingly, no one who would admit to being guilty of the offence.
"I wash my hands every time... every single time," another said.
After spending a few minutes in one public men's room, 12 men went in and two walked out without washing their hands.

... uhuh! Having read my book you know 77% is far too high. Wanna do a survey in your local washroom? Just be a tad careful where you set your eyes - people can misunderstand so easily. I think the survey was not quite statistically significant. My own observations show baaad numbers - in the men's washroom that is. If you do a survey, you're welcome to send in your stats along with the state or province and country, and we'll publish it on this site - with your name if you wish. Here's the general URL: www.680news.com
Have a great day! And I hope to see your results!
>8]

... And they state "Animal studies showed that bacteria flown in space were almost three times as likely to cause disease compared to control bacteria grown on the ground." Yeeow! 3x. Well, we'd best keep space outside of Earth. As long as our human erring scientists keep the Poops they're playing with, out in space. I mean, suppose their DNA adjusts in space and stays that way (as seems logical), then they import them back to Earth, and let them free (accidentally of course). Makes me shudder and shake to think of the consequences. The article says: "There's currently no vaccine for salmonella foodborne infections in humans." 3x. Mmm. Just a moment, aren't we in space? So somewhere out there where man has never been before, there is probably a place where Poops live happily without being as virile as on Earth. After all, isn't it all relative? Read the tongue in cheek part of my book where I talk about the Garden of Eden ..
>8]

... And they state ".. a single test may cost as little as 20 to 50 cents, compared to $20-$50 for existing kits .. a chip that can detect the deadly bird flu virus in 28 minutes, faster than any other method." Cool! Doesn't it warm the cockles of yer heart to know that someone somewhere is working on protecting us? Well, at least they're going to detect the H5N1 Avian SuperPoop! Now if they could just find a way to zap it's DNA and stop it spreading, I'd be able to sup my porridge more easily each morning. Och Aye! Have a delirious day my friend!
>8]

... I scooted over the water .. well, flew actually .. to see my twin sister who was reported in January this year to have terminal cancer .. the stomach type that had invaded a good portion of the pancreas, and was hitting her liver badly via an abcess, not to mention her lung infection and small intestine issue. Poor thing has had a hard time. However, the good news: her two sons told her they weren't going to let her go so easily and cancelled her order for coffin and burial - no kidding! They searched the internet and consulted with an alternative therapy person who knows about cancer, and came up with a possible cure. The surgeon had told her she had 6 months, but confided in the family two at most. Good thing the boys didn't listen! She refused chemotherapy, and instead took crushed apricot kernels (from the USA I believe) plus lots of vitamins and minerals. She appeared to be getting better, so the doctor ordered an MRI scan and found no tumours, so he insisted that the scanner was not functioning properly. But the scanner was ok with other people, so the doc ordered a PET scan which she had yesterday, and - yes - the cancer's no where to be found! The surgeon had to admit she was cured - except a couple of little nodes in her lung that are in remission, and a little cancerous goings on in her small intestine. But since the stomach sphincter muscle is not behaving properly due to the surgery, less curing material is reaching that part apparantly, but should eventually be fixed. Such a relief. But hold on a moment! I thought there wasn't a cure for cancer! Hmm, how odd. Guess I must have got that wrong ..
Think I'll ask the boys exactly what they discovered. Might come in handy some day for someone, eh? Have a smiling day my friend!

PS: Legal disclaimer: This article by no means suggests that apricot kernels are a cure for cancer .. just what I was told was happening to my Sis.
>8]

... And 450 people received vaccinations following the announcement. No wonder! Hep A's a horrible thing. In fact all the Heps are. In fact, all diseases are. And note that Hep A is spread by the spreader not washing their hands after using the washroom ('toilet' for you Brits, 'restroom' for some USA people, hehe). Sort of reminds me of my book. Remember the DOORKNOB! Such a simple thing to do .. just move the hands to the faucet and soap and splash about and dry 'em. If you're reading this, (and I sure hope you are or you'll freak me out that you know what I'm writing ..), then you're the washing-hands type like me. You can always forward this site's URL to those friends of yours who need a gentle or blunt reminder to do same. Well, have a pleasant day! Don't know where you live, but it's getting a tad too cold here in Canada .. better grow some more hair on my chest I suppose ..
>8]

... Look. How many times have we read or heard about E.Coli being in our supper food? Meat, sea food, veggies, fruit. You'd think by now that someone somewhere in government would have put together a system to source the food, test it, and deliver a recall message to the populace really quickly. But it's left up to the press. Nothing wrong with letting the press know, but they have a wee tendency to exaggerate everything when there's nothing big going down. Like a new war or a celebrity doing something stupid. What we need is an independent organization - and please not a government body - we need to know this year not next. An independent, non-industry specific, well-funded, international group of scientists and communications experts who can act really quickly, reporting the precise issues and locations where the food is being sold, and updating a well-publicized web site for all to get the latest info, with email opt-in for auto-distribution to anyone signing up for it. And that would include the press. But then the medical, surgical, pharmaceutical, food and news industries would make less money .. wouldn't they? Oh gosh, I'm being too cynical. Probably just feeling a tad extreme in my anguish for my beloved family. Maybe. Mmm ..
>8]

... Yes, this is a bit off topic. But I couldn't help myself thinking of how wonderful the human spirit really is. Sure, a few of the doctors are probably thinking they can make a name for themselves, however, I'm aware that many of them see their human call to assist the afflicted. This to me is a great example of what it means to be human. Not how much power an individual can wield over others, or how much wealth an individual has, or even how much territory they command. It's that deep call to help one another and simply have a happy life in peace. Isn't that what most balanced and mature people want really? Nice to be wealthy, but that's hardly at our core set of values as human beings. I hope all goes well with the operations for Lakshmi. She sure deserves it. Well, better get ready for my colonoscopy .. just a routine checkup. I sure hope all the staff scrub up 100%. Think I'll take some extra vitamin C and Echinacea .. just in case ..
>8]

... So there I was, focusing my bleary eyes on the powder in a big 4L bottle. Had to mix the powder with water up to the 4L mark. **reading instructions as eyes bulge bigger and bigger** They want me to gulp down this stuff in 250mL (8 ounce) shots every 10 minutes till 2L is consumed so my insides will be well .. eh, scrubbed. Right. 2L. 8 glasses. No food. For a long time. I'm thinking. **don't want cancer .. never have .. sister got it .. must check it out .. 8 glasses .. wretching muscles getting ready** Actually, the drink wasn't so bad. Sort of mild fruity, pear taste. Huh! So I obey. Glass 6, my taste buds seize up. Glass 8, I'm wondering why my bladder isn't working, not even a jot. So I go about my business. Then very, very suddenly, I understand why they recommend being near a washroom. For a long time. Four hours. Uhuh. Four. Hours. You can do a lot of reading in four hours. If you remember to have a book ready. Not the slightest chance of standing up and leaping for a book.

So I read the label in detail. Ah! So that's why my bladder's at rest! The stuff doesn't get through the intestine! Except for potassium and sodium. The heart needs them. **gladness flows throughout my body that the company put those two in the stuff - I like my heart to work** So, I eventually remove the pins and needles from my legs and stumble out to my home office. Only to find out that standing up has its consequences on the large intestine. I'm back in my four hour office. I go to bed. Only to find out that lying down has its consequences on the large intestine. I'm back. So, I eventually get to sleep and wake up in the morning to do exactly the same again. You read right. Same. Again. 2L. Four hours. And they expect me to travel 1.5 hours in standstill traffic to the hospital. Gratitude for their having a sense of humour fills me and then dumps. No food. No drink. Couldn't even finish the 6th glass. Wretching muscles in full working order. Not even allowed water. Fresh air never tasted so good.

Then we enter the hospital, my daughter and I, and appear in the Gut Department. I change. They tell me I'm going for a Colonoscopy, and since I've been such a good boy, I can have a Gastroscopy as well. I blink. I stop thinking. They entice me into the "lab". I lie down. The nice doctor can't find my veins. Heck, you think I'm going to let her splosh around in my red juice? Ha, she can't find any. Then the nice nurse asks, "Shall I try on this side?" realizing the doctor's incompetence at using a needle. And this is the best doctor they can find with this expertise in this huge town? I think **crap!** Doctor thinks **awkward**. Nurse thinks **gotcha, big fancy doctor person who can't even stick a needle** I think **and she's gonna poke around inside me - i've changed my mind** just as the nice nurse shoots stuff into my veins and .. I feel .. really warm and comfy and benevolent and I say "this feels so good, mmm" and very fuzzy and ..

I wake up. I see a nurse's face taking up the whole of the sky above me. She says "Come on now Tork, wake up, eat this popsicle." I see a funny coloured thing in my hand and move it towards my mouth. I wake up. Another nurse is bombarding me with "Eat the popsicle. Wake up." I move the popsicle to my mouth and feel something funny in my mouth. I wake up. Another nurse is shouting at me. "In the mouth Tork" I think I smiled. She smiled back. Popsicle misses my mouth. They say I tried to put it in her mouth. I wake up. A nurse lifts me into the sitting position. I see a popsicle in my hand. I stare at it. My mind says "That's a popsicle that guy's holding". I see the popsicle getting bigger. I wake up. An exasperated nurse lifts me up again and stuffs pillows on each side of me, and takes my hand and puts another popsicle in my mouth. I crunch it. She's talking. I see her face moving and hear her words. I don't know what she's saying this time. The popsicle's taking all my attention. I wander in my mind. I see my hand fall to the bed still clutching the popsicle. I blink and my eyes stay closed. Nurse shakes me gently and puts the popsicle in my mouth saying "Come on now, wake up." Then they gang up on me. I see three nurses in front of me. I smile. Two of them smile back. I pass a huge amount of gas. They say that's good. Never heard that before. I like the popsicle. I see lots of colour on the white sheet - realize popsicles have made a tartan pattern. I laugh. I hear them say "He's back. Keep him awake." Fat chance, I just wanna sleep. They don't let me. Cruel. They take away my nice popsicle. I pass even more gas. And more. And more. Then I'm standing in a cubicle with the nurse (I don't mean she's in there with me .. read 'while the nurse is ') shouting "Tork! Have you changed yet?" Changed? What am I supposed to change into? A frog? I giggle. I'm still in my blue and green things. I'm putting my clothes on then realize I'm putting my briefs on after my pants. I giggle uncontrollably. I re-change. They ask again. I say something like "In a minute." I stare at my shoes. Then I remember my feet go in those things. But can't figure out what the heck the laces are for. Then my autopilot kicks in. Eventually, I leave the cubicle and two of the nurses cheer. They won't let me have a popsicle. Then the frowning nurse comes over and tells me the good news. "You'll have to wait for three weeks until the doctor meets you at her office." Good idea. Not the three weeks. How the heck would I understand her otherwise? They wheel me out in a wheel chair to my daughter. She looks at me and her eyes say "If you were any higher they'd have to send in the Air Force!"

Apparantly, I talked a whole lot all the way home. As I throw away the nearly empty bottle of stuff, I ponder. If that was my reaction to a sedative, what would a general anaesthetic do? And what did it do to my incredible brain jelly? Now that's really scary. And why did it take 8 months to get this 30 minute test? But then, that's normal in this part of Canada. Enjoy your dinner ..
>8]

... To quote a clear description from The Associated Press, "Ebola typically kills most of those it strikes through massive blood loss, and has no cure or treatment. It is spread through direct contact with the blood or secretions of an infected person, or objects that have been contaminated with infected secretions." Now that's scary! 51 victims discovered to date and 16 dead. At this point on the clock that means at least one third die. Bad odds. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that the virus belongs to a new subtype different from the four already discovered. Is that gleeful Poops I hear high-fiving in their research labs at this news? Seems to me that the Poops are laying the groundwork for an invasion on lots of fronts .. so to speak. We really need to step up our hygiene habits worldwide. Think of it: if North America or Europe as a people decided to wash their hands after every washroom/restroom/toilet visit and after getting home from the outdoors, sneezed into their elbows (their own that is), and didn't touch the DOOR HANDLES, then we could show the world the best way to avoid transmission. If we don't, what legacy will we leave our children and their children? Enjoy your night's peaceful rest ..
>8]

... The article says 20% of the developing countries' working populations work owlshift. Now, your faithful reporter sitting typing this news is a nightowl. Now I'm nervous. I open my brain at about 11am-12noon, and shut it down slowly 16-17 hours later. And I work in between in an unlit-by-the-sun room for those hours. Half my sleep is in partial daylight forcing itself through the shades. I am at risk. **gulping noticeably loudly** I think I might just join the other 80% of the working human race after all .. just because .. I don't .. want .. eh .. cancer .. **sweating profusely**
For those of you who are compassionate and care about someone you don't know (except through this exciting blog), I got my gut result back after the colonoscopy and gastroscopy - 100% clear on both counts! Now that's a relief! Worth the taste. Go on, you know you want one. Sleep well ..
>8]

At the request of everyone, I shall now be putting new articles at the top of the page but after the biography thing, instead of here at the bottom. You can all smile in feindish delight at having caused me to cave in to your preference. **crying in corner**

Now for the serious side of life ..

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