ping (or should that be oink?) Bovinehost

**Aussie Mark** · 04-29-2009, 11:26 PM

Jack, what's the vibe like in D-FW at the moment? Many people wearing face masks?

Our media down here is jumping on the pandemic bandwagon pretty heavily, just wondering how the US media is treating things, given it's close to home for you guys.

When I was living in Jakarta 70+ people died from the avian flu in Indonesia, but I can't remember the media getting a pandemic woody like they have this time.

**Ken Baker** · 04-29-2009, 11:56 PM

Hey, Mark

I'm in SoCal and the media is throwing a feeding frenzy. It has a feel of being way out of proportion to reality. Not that this isn't a serious problem - it is. But feeding a panic is NOT what anyone anywhere needs.

Here in the US the CDC and local officials seem to making serious moves at containment where ncessary, but I get the feeling that they're honestly trying to keep a lid on the emotional aspect. The WHO, on the other hand, seems to be pushing the media's buttons and the media is responding.

I do hope things settle down soon, but people are sheep.

Get plenty of rest and drink lots of water. Wash your hands a lot (President Obama said so). Use common sense.

Ken...

**silverburst** · 04-30-2009, 04:32 AM

The economy is not failing as rapidly, so the media had to find something else to hype.

**Aussie Mark** · 04-30-2009, 04:39 AM

Originally Posted by silverburst

The economy is not failing as rapidly, so the media had to find something else to hype.

Maybe, but once people stay at home because of the media hyping the flu risk and don't travel domestically or internationally, the failure of the economy will accelerate. I'm betting a number of airlines will go bust in the next couple of months because of swine flu, and presumably a large number of hotels and restaurants.

Will be an interesting period to watch.

**bovinehost** · 04-30-2009, 06:54 AM

We've already had a few cases and people are....concerned. They just shut down the entire Fort Worth school district - 140 schools. While there is a bit of an overreaction SO FAR, the effort is designed at restriction and containment and I don't think that's a bad thing, especially with a "new" virus. Or at least an old one with a new outfit.

My friend Tracy says, "Call me when this one kills as many as the REGULAR, yearly influenza strain." This makes sense on the surface, but no one's quite sure what this strain is going to do next.

But, well, an ounce of prevention, as the saying goes. We have many friends here from Mexico, and they're nervous about spending time with family there. And they're worried about their families, of course.

Meanwhile, we're washing hands frequently, avoiding large public gatherings and trying to stay realistic about the numbers.

**Big Poppa** · 04-30-2009, 09:00 AM

The swine flu hates Bongos......

**fidooda** · 04-30-2009, 09:02 AM

Originally Posted by Big Poppa

The swine flu hates Bongos......

does that mean it propagates thru talkbass?

**iamcatwarrior** · 04-30-2009, 09:31 AM

I'm more concerned about the neurotic, knee-jerk response of the public and the media to everything, swine flu or otherwise, than I am about actually contracting the disease itself. Being hopelessly OCD myself, I wash my hands enough already. (Hell, every time I sit down to play any of my basses and then store them afterward, I give them the polish job.)

**CFA** · 04-30-2009, 10:31 AM

The media is going crazy up here in Canada. And the outbreaks started (coincidentally) after a 2012 special on the Discovery Channel, so everyone around here is saying that it's 2012, "the end of the world". That's the people in my school, no the media however. By my understanding the media seems to be slightly contradicting about the whole thing though, because (even though I haven't been watching the news, I've caught bits and pieces when it was on TV) they seem to imply that it is a horrible, unstoppable, sickness that needs specialized medication... but then say that the government has medicine stockpiled that can help... But like I said, I don't watch the news, so I might have something misconstrued or confused.

**Grand Wazoo** · 04-30-2009, 11:35 AM

Don't you think that the global scaremongery is none other than yet another scheme by the pharmaceutical industry to make more money with medicines and antidotes? There's big bucks in this, you know? Sorry I am just being cynic.

**GreyDad** · 04-30-2009, 11:37 AM

...or a great way to distract us from the economy for a while...

**five7** · 04-30-2009, 11:48 AM

Grand Wazoo and GreyDad, you guys are so right!

**bkrumme** · 04-30-2009, 11:50 AM

I have a feeling that the Swine Flu "epidemic" won't be any worse than SARS or Avian Flu. It's unfortunate that anyone would die because of it, but the media really does blow things out of proportion.

I'm gonna go wash my hands now...