My next read is The Book of Night Women
by Marlon James (suggested by Marie). I started it last night.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Finished with The Great Santini
I'm still digesting it. I read a lot of it all at once the other night to get to the end. My marathon reading session coincided with a lot of seemingly random violence in the book. It's going to take me some time to process.
My next read is The Book of Night Women by Marlon James (suggested by Marie). I started it last night.
My next read is The Book of Night Women
by Marlon James (suggested by Marie). I started it last night.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Dream
I had a dream last night that my boss and our two main anchors got swine flu. I was the one who noticed and I told them to go home. They refused, even to the point of working really late and then all sleeping in the same bed together.
Because I stayed around them trying to convince them to take care of themselves and stop risking others' health, I ended up getting sick--though I'm not sure it was swine flu, because my face was covered in boils.
I also dreamed last night that Tom Welling guest-starred as Superman in a musical episode of a sitcom. When he started to sing, Neil Patrick Harris' voice came out.
I always have the best dreams when I'm off the CPAP. Or at least, I remember them...
Because I stayed around them trying to convince them to take care of themselves and stop risking others' health, I ended up getting sick--though I'm not sure it was swine flu, because my face was covered in boils.
I also dreamed last night that Tom Welling guest-starred as Superman in a musical episode of a sitcom. When he started to sing, Neil Patrick Harris' voice came out.
I always have the best dreams when I'm off the CPAP. Or at least, I remember them...
The real issue with swine flu/H1N1 flu/whatever's PC now
The main reason health officials are worried about H1N1 is not because it is somehow deadlier than other flus. The flu is pretty deadly. It kills around the same number of Americans each year as car accidents. That's why we have flu vaccines; we try to predict which flu strain will be the most common and then prepare ourselves for it.
The issue with swine flu is that we don't yet have a vaccine. We had no idea it was coming, so we were unprepared. As with any other flu, people who are very old, very young, and who have health conditions are the most at risk of actually dying, but anyone is in danger if they don't take care of themselves.
Because we weren't prepared for this, there's more of a chance that it will affect more people. And the more people who end up sick, the harder it is for the nation to go about its business. If no one at a certain factory is able to work, for example, that's a huge hit to that company and to all the other companies that depend on it. If police, firemen, doctors, and/or nurses get sick, that's a safety issue. We need to have enough healthy, well people in our society to function.
So you can stop worrying about dying from swine flu. Instead, worry about staying healthy. Wash your hands and encourage others to. Eat right, get enough rest. And don't let fear of the flu cripple your life.
The issue with swine flu is that we don't yet have a vaccine. We had no idea it was coming, so we were unprepared. As with any other flu, people who are very old, very young, and who have health conditions are the most at risk of actually dying, but anyone is in danger if they don't take care of themselves.
Because we weren't prepared for this, there's more of a chance that it will affect more people. And the more people who end up sick, the harder it is for the nation to go about its business. If no one at a certain factory is able to work, for example, that's a huge hit to that company and to all the other companies that depend on it. If police, firemen, doctors, and/or nurses get sick, that's a safety issue. We need to have enough healthy, well people in our society to function.
So you can stop worrying about dying from swine flu. Instead, worry about staying healthy. Wash your hands and encourage others to. Eat right, get enough rest. And don't let fear of the flu cripple your life.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Thai Chicken Salad
Funny
Occasionally a newspaper employee will joke that all local TV stations do is read that day's newspaper on air. This is silly for a couple of reasons. First of all, all news organizations read/watch each other for tips. They'd be stupid not to. There are plenty of times that TV breaks the story first. This was true even before the web.
But what makes this joke a little dangerous is the fact that it ignores a perhaps uncomfortable truth: all local news organizations make heavy use of Associated Press content. So sure, TV might have repackaged an AP story for air. But how many newspaper stories are copy-and-pasted from the AP wire?
This post contains the opinion of Heather Meadows and no one other than Heather Meadows. The above should not be construed as the perspective or conclusions of anyone but Heather Meadows. Heather Meadows!
But what makes this joke a little dangerous is the fact that it ignores a perhaps uncomfortable truth: all local news organizations make heavy use of Associated Press content. So sure, TV might have repackaged an AP story for air. But how many newspaper stories are copy-and-pasted from the AP wire?
This post contains the opinion of Heather Meadows and no one other than Heather Meadows. The above should not be construed as the perspective or conclusions of anyone but Heather Meadows. Heather Meadows!
Where is all my time?
This week has been both the longest and the shortest in recent memory. Laborious things drag out and fun things fly by--or I don't find the time to do them at all. I've been wanting to post on various topics for quite some time, but I've barely even turned on my laptop this week. Last night I finally pulled her out of standby, only to lie down to stretch my neck for a minute and then find myself waking up blearily at 4 am.
I'm not discouraged--yet--but I am irritated.
I'm not discouraged--yet--but I am irritated.
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