From ‘The Sound of Music’ To ‘The Sound Of War’
Posted by Michelle Moquin on December 29th, 2008
Ya know I went to bed last night with pleasant thoughts on my mind. And we just got through watching one of my favorite movies, ‘The Sound Of Music’. I can never tire of that movie; the story line or the music. I know it’s a bit corny and sing songy, but it is done so well. Funny, for the first time I focused on the scenery and architecture and found myself drawn to Austria and the incredible mountains. Another reason to love the movie.
The musical ends with the Nazi’s invading and the Von Trapp family having to escape to Switzerland via the beautiful Austrian mountains. It is an uplifting movie that focuses on love and family, and war plays a very small roll. Even in the end when they are climbing the mountains, they are all smiles and love. Not exactly real life but, hey, it’s an uplifting musical, not a war movie.
The movie ends and boom…News flash, Israel has bombed Gaza City. They have launched massive airstrikes against Hamas for breaking a 6-month cease fire agreement. Hello…wake-up, welcome to the real world. This is not what I want to see as I shut my eyes and desire to dream of more peaceful and loving times.
BUT…this is reality. This is what is happening in the real world and for ‘these two’ it has been going on…in my mind way too long…and I’m sure for the Israeli and Palestinian people…forever. I say, ‘these two’ because it always seems that any war is between two or a few dictators who gather and inspire their armies to fight. And people, innocent people get brought into the mix and end up injured or worse, killed. I know my description is simplified and naive, but to me, war is stupid and archaic.
What I really wish was that war was just a game…a board game really…a battle of the minds, where the most intelligent one with the best idea for all concerned, wins. Win with wit not with weapons. Weapons and bombs feel so yesteryear. But then I remember that many of these dictators are just plain greedy and stupid and don’t care much about the people concerned. It is not a battle of the minds but one of inflamed testosterone levels. So put the two in a pit and let them duke it out and kill each other. Funny though…war is not just global but universal. Minds that are much more intelligent than us battle it out too by going to war. More evolved wit = more evolved weapons. So much for a battle of the minds.
I know…once again I am simplifying war and being naive. But honestly, what I have seen from those that are ‘experienced’ at war, I’ll take my naiveté any day and preach my ‘peace & love’ mantra. Somebody’s got to. And hey…we all remember the planet Sweteno – we know ‘peace & love’ amongst all, exists. ’There’…is living proof.
And speaking of my mantra….
Khaista: I am not holding back any ‘love’ for you girls. I support and send ‘peace & love’ to all of my sisters in this world, and right now especially the ones who are dealing with the ‘craziness’ of war. And unfortunately innocent people always get harmed in war.
Gidon: I am aware of your situation, and I feel for the people involved, but Madaline and the Girls are not available to fight for one or the other. My orders to them are to bring about peace and order and equality, not to kill unnecessarily. Killing in my mind is the last resort. My vision is preservation not devastation.
And with that said…I am signing off.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: Your Bad Ass Bitch Editor
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December 29th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
SAVE YOURSELF FROM THE WORST FLU YET
Let’s all take a nice, deep sigh of relief: Flu season is almost over. No doubt you’ve heard worrisome news stories about all sorts of flu-related problems this year, from the ineffectiveness of the vaccine to increased resistance to Tamiflu, a drug with which flu can be treated. I’m having déjà vu, however. Doesn’t it seem we hear these stories every year? Is this flu season really so different? Should people even bother getting flu vaccines if in many cases they are useless?
I called William Schaffner, MD, professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville and vice president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, to ask some questions. His take: It’s the media, not the flu vaccine, that’s not doing its job. Contrary to sensationalist reports, when all is said and done, he expects this will have been a remarkably average flu season.
FLU VACCINE DOESN’T DELIVER IMMUNITY
First, let’s understand that this “vaccine” does not typically confer immunity in the same way others do, Dr. Schaffner explained. “We don’t have the same expectation for the flu vaccine that we do for other vaccines. The influenza virus is a wily virus, which is constantly changing, unlike others such as polio or measles which are far more stable.” Developing a vaccine for flu, therefore, is chasing a moving target. Each year’s formulation represents the experts’ best guess as to what will work.
“Secondly, the main goal of the influenza vaccine is misunderstood by practically everyone,” he continued. “Given how the virus evolves, the goal is not to prevent the flu, but to prevent the complications of the flu.” If the strains in the shot match the virus you run into, it can prevent disease completely in healthy adults with a robust immune system. But when given to older persons and those with frail immune systems, its principle goal is to reduce severity of symptoms and help prevent complications of the flu, namely pneumonia, hospitalization and death for those who do get the flu.
Some of the ruckus we’ve been hearing has been raised in response to the news reports that the vaccine only works against 40% of the currently circulating flu strains. This seems low compared with previous years, when vaccines were able to fend off 70% to 90% of flu germs in healthy adults. Dr. Schaffner believes “it’s still too early to have a precise number for the vaccine’s overall effectiveness.”
WHAT HAPPENED THIS YEAR?
In Dr. Schaffner’s view, the flu vaccine is doing its job this season. “It’s performing reasonably well,” he said, choosing the word “reasonably” with care. “There are three strains in the vaccine. One of the influenza A strains (H1N1) is working well. A second influenza A strain (H3N2) was not quite on target. The third, an influenza B strain, was also off target but fortunately common strains of influenza B only occasionally cause outbreaks of note.” Keep in mind that much time is required to manufacture the 100-million-plus doses for the upcoming fall, when vaccination programs begin. The lead time means the flu viruses are already changing during those six or so months, rendering the vaccine less effective from the start. Flu experts work with current information, but “their crystal balls are often cloudy,” says Dr. Schaffner.
FLU EXPECTATIONS FOR NEXT YEAR
Last month the nation’s flu experts convened to determine the formulation for the Fall 2008 flu vaccine, which will be entirely different from the current vaccine. “It’s always important to get our flu vaccines, but in the coming season it will be hugely important to do so, as we will be faced with yet more new flu viruses that will make their way through the population,” said Dr. Schaffner. “We anticipate three quite new strains, so the potential for a big flu year is quite large.”
TAMIFLU RESISTANCE: REASON TO WORRY?
Another flu story that emerged this season was the “elevated resistance” of the seasonal influenza A (H1N1) virus to one of the principal antiviral drugs used to treat the flu, oseltamivir (Tamiflu). Again, Dr. Schaffner is not alarmed. “Infectious disease specialists are not surprised about this,” he said. “Resistance to Tamiflu remains very, very low, with less than 6% of viruses resistant to the drug. We’re keeping our eyes on this to make sure the resistance level doesn’t notch up.”
HOW TO PREVENT THE FLU
Flu prevention begins with frequent hand washing and a healthy lifestyle — with the flu vaccine being the first line of defense. “My tag line is, plan to get vaccinated and bring everyone along with you,” said Dr. Schaffner.
For information on what you can do to minimize symptoms and duration when flu strikes, this year or next, see the upcoming issue of Daily Health News on Monday, March 17. We’ll tell you about natural solutions and supplements that can help minimize the suffering.
Source(s): ??William Schaffner, MD, is professor and chairman of the Department of Preventive Medicine and professor of medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. Dr. Schaffner serves as vice president of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. He is active in the field of infectious disease research and has authored or co-authored more than 230 published studies, reviews and book chapters on infectious diseases. He currently serves on the editorial board of a number of scientific journals, including The Journal of Infectious Diseases, and is on the board of directors of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
December 29th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
This has been a great year for me. I discovered a very informative blog with loads of personality. If I could count on getting in I would really be a serious commenter. Maybe next year you could work on getting your blog to working better.
Happy New Year everybody
Jason
December 29th, 2008 at 4:31 pm
What happened to Howie and Al? Were they beamed up? How do I put myself on that list? I dream about making a journey into space so much, I might as well do it for real. What do I need to do to get on the list?
Sandra
December 29th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
Hi Mischa,
I forgot to comment about the soundtrack of Slum Dog Millionaire, loved it, might have to own that cd : )
Love the Sound of Music, too, but the sound of war, not so much…I feel for the people or should I say the women of India and Pakistan. Will female peace and love sentiment overrule male greed/violence? I’d like to believe it could be, but, there’s been no instance of that occurring in past history, will Madaline/girlZ lend a hand in changing that for the future? Can someone please intervene in Israel/Palastine or are these people destined to a life of war, war and more war?
Al and Howie, best regards, you can come back and be welcome anytime : ) hope you’re both well. I don’t think you’ve been beamed up but then again at least one of you believes I am now a cyborg : )
Women of the world, it always brings a smile to my face to hear from you even if the news on your side is not what I want to hear, the news releases I read and further research only tell so much. It’s good to hear it from someone living in the thick of things.
Doug, I was finally able to comment on your blog a few days ago, how’d that happen?!
Charles and Lisa, have a happy new year and it just may be time to forgive, forget and move on from each other now, no?
Happy New Year to all of you, it’s really my least favorite holiday but I’ll watch the ball drop in NYC’s Times Square, drink some champagne and look forward to 2009…maybe we can get some more comments from the Sheila’s in Australia?
…and Mischa, please fix this site and quit keeping people out, will ya?? Just kidding…
- Zen Lill
December 29th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
I have been told that even after bush leaves the White House, his thugs with badges will still be after my head. Why? Because I revealed some of the criminal and stupid things he and his administration were guilty of.
One of those stupid things was to not investigate all the warnings that led up to 9/11. It is being hidden and in some cases rewritten. But the truth is that there were more than 300 chances to prevent 9/11. The bush run part of the government that was responsible for national security was inept in all of them.
The reason is simple. The was no money to be made protecting the country by actually arresting possible perpetrators. The money was in paying inflated prices for gadgets that they could claim would “protect” the country. I was one of the companies that sold those useless gadgets to the State Department. Was graft paid? You betcha. NOTHING was bought by the bush administration unless someone in it made something off it.
The bush administration was as close as you can get to having a Criminal Enterprise running the United States Government. Only white America would not admit that. Perhaps Obama will investigate the looting of the National Treasury by the bush administration. The facts are there.
The stupid members of the republican party were complacent because they were so happy to have a White House that would change the constitution to benefit their desire to force the rest of the nation to worship as they do and follow their moral beliefs.
Their ineptitude provided an opportunity to spend hundreds of billions of dollars a month in a war. It was so good during the war against Afghanistan. Cheney met with a group of us military industrial complex owners and made a obscenely blatant proposal. For 10 billion dollars. He would provide an opportunity for each of us to personally make more that 100 billion dollars apiece, NET. It almost sounded too good to be true.
Then he set about telling us about this dumb alcoholic that the american people had elected President. He said that bush’s father said that he was having nightmares knowing that his son was in charge of America’s security. Then he outlined how he was going to get America to launch a war against Iraq. One that we could provide the combat support for and make hundreds of billions of dollars in the process for at least four years.
We were told that we could charge anything for anything we provided as equipment, services, etc for the troops. We were told that if we could not raise our prices enough to meet our profit needs, then we could just not provide the equipment or service and charge the government anyway. I predict that any cursory inspection of what happened will show that we did just that. If there were no products or services provided for the troops, we charged the government handsomely for them anyway.
The troops were sent over with transport vehicles that were so cheaply constructed that most street cars were stronger. Bullet proof vest were either so cheaply made as to be inadequate in most cases or we just didn’t provide them though we charged the government steeply for them. The records will show that many soldiers bought bullet proof vest with their own money. We did the same with GPS devices. A simple check of the troops that went their in the first few years of the wart will yield records of soldiers buying the devices with their own money. Yet federal records will show that we billed the government exorbitantly for those very same devices which they never got. Yes, we made money an obscene amount of it.
Do I feel sorry for the loss of lives or the money the American people lost? No I don’t. It was those whites who put this obviously inept bunch of criminal racists in office who are now complaining about their state of affairs. They could care less about what the rest of the country is enduring. They are just crying because they got looted too. Fuckem!
We were told that these same racists were so eager to control the fate of the OTWs by assuring the supremacy of the white race through the Supreme Court and the Federal Bench that they would approve of any appointments that cheney made to the Federal Courts.
So bush and Cheney set about appointing judges that promised not to prosecute them should it come to that. The fact that they were racists and willing to legislate the moral convictions of the RNC from the bench was a bonus. The record will show that the bush administration has appointed 62% of the judges on the federal bench. A cursory inspection of their philosophy would shock most of the OTWs in America. White american probably will only be concerned with the lack of legal integrity these appointments have shown during their tenure and their willingness to legislate the popular moral beliefs of ignorant white hicks from the bench.
When you watch shows like Chris Mathews, Meet the press, Stephanopolous, etc. 90% of the time it is old white men discussing the crooks. What you get is a white wash of what happened. Us white men just can’t admit that we fucked and fucked up this country for a few dollars more.
I will be the first. Yes, I got filthy rich fucking this country. I take no credit for fucking up the country. That I give to the asshole racists that elected the bunch to the office twice. And if they had had their way would have elected McCain to the office. I owe NOTHING to these crying bunch of morons.
In answer to those of you who say you didn’t vote for bush, I say that if I hadn’t taken the money plenty would have stepped up and taken it. At least I am telling you what happen to your money, rights, and what will not happen to the Criminals who robbed you.
There is much more to be told. If those assholes continue to attempt to kill me, I will be even more vocal. Unlike some I have no restrictions on retaliating against those who attempt to harm me. Just remember boys, to me a thug with a badge is still a thug to me, and bringing your lunch doesn’t guarantee a picnic.
Anonz