Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: There is History

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  • Matthew Poole,

    Lucy, that would speak to one hell of a breakdown of the Mexican press. The first wave shouldn't have passed without notice in the space of a month, which is the kind of time period being suggested.

    Auckland • Since Mar 2007 • 4097 posts Report

  • Gareth Ward,

    Until someone can actually confirm the veracity of those comments, they're on the best-friend's-sister's-dog-walker-said level of accuracy.

    Your best friend's sister has a dog walker? Fancy.

    the Guardian report is slightly alarming:

    "It's all psychological," said 20-year-old Edgar, an emo whose fringe covered most of his face. "I think it is a plot by the government to control us,"
    Well, the first 90% of that story is interviewing said emos and someone who revealed that "you can't see it". Not really insightful analysis, but I agree that the final point about the pattern of infection is an interesting one.

    Auckland, NZ • Since Mar 2007 • 1727 posts Report

  • Lucy Stewart,

    Lucy, that would speak to one hell of a breakdown of the Mexican press. The first wave shouldn't have passed without notice in the space of a month, which is the kind of time period being suggested.

    No, absolutely not, which is why it was only a thought. It would explain the virulence differential nicely, but the timing makes it pretty unlikely.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 2105 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    It's the ideal ring wingnut response to the economic crisis. 9 Day working week? Too much overhead. Kill one in ten with a virus? Ideal...

    And as a bonus, all those funerals boost GDP. It's win-win-win!

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • Craig Ranapia,

    It's the ideal ring wingnut response to the economic crisis. 9 Day working week? Too much overhead. Kill one in ten with a virus? Ideal...

    And as a bonus, all those funerals boost GDP. It's win-win-win!

    Come on guys, you're just not trying. Come back when you've worked in Big Pharma, the man-hating Lesbian-Marxists and the Jooows...

    North Shore, Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 12370 posts Report

  • Caleb D'Anvers,

    Well, the first 90% of that story is interviewing said emos and someone who revealed that "you can't see it".

    Well it can't be easy with all those fringes ...

    London SE16 • Since Mar 2008 • 482 posts Report

  • Idiot Savant,

    Survivors it's time to start stockpiling food and munitions.

    So I wasn't the only one seeing passports being stamped then?

    Actually, those opening credits are a nasty reminder of how fast a serious disease can spread round the world - and that was in 1976! Since then, globalisation and the massive increase in international travel will have only made it worse, while the importance of tourism and trade makes governments incapable of a proper response until it is too late.

    Palmerston North • Since Nov 2006 • 1717 posts Report

  • David Cormack,

    Come on guys, you're just not trying. Come back when you've worked in Big Pharma, the man-hating Lesbian-Marxists and the Jooows...

    I think you'll find that those of us in the nasally gifted class are collectively shaking our heads and saying "told you so...should've gone kosher."


    Of course had we consumed the pigs to the point of extinction then maybe this wouldn't have happened...

    Suburbia, Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 218 posts Report

  • Katita,

    Actually that's not entirely true the single best way to limit the spread is for people to wash their hands with soap and water for one rendition of Happy Birthday. Seriously :).

    I was living in Toronto when SARS broke out there. And yes staying home if you felt sick was actively encouraged. I also recall that every public building from office blocks to banks had a decontamination point on the front door or lobby dishing out squirts of hand sanitiser. Washing your hands is one of the single easiest and most effective things you can do.
    I do recall stocking up on 36 toilet rolls ... oh wait, that was an online shopping order gone wrong.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 67 posts Report

  • Mark Harris,

    Your best friend's sister has a dog walker? Fancy.

    So we're told...

    Waikanae • Since Jul 2008 • 1343 posts Report

  • Rich of Observationz,

    Actually, given the main vector so far has been high decile schools taking their kids on exotic schooltrips, I could see this wiping out the NACT vote.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    Come back when you've worked in Big Pharma, the man-hating Lesbian-Marxists and the Jooows...

    Well Daniel's got the Jew angle. Big Pharma... well that's so obvious that I don't need to mention it.

    Lesbian Marxists? The virus was released by the Zapatistas!

    I'll have ex-Rangitoto College principal Peachy worked in by the time you get back from lunch.

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • Tom Semmens,

    Great. First a depression, then a pandemic. I wonder when the Aliens will attack.

    Sevilla, Espana • Since Nov 2006 • 2217 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    First a depression, then a pandemic. I wonder when the Aliens will attack.

    After the earthquake.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • Sam F,

    Do you think we can stretch to a Plague of Frog as well?

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 1611 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    Come on guys, you're just not trying. Come back when you've worked in Big Pharma, the man-hating Lesbian-Marxists and the Jooows...

    Well, with the global population decimated, we should have no problems consuming less and there'll be no excuse for any country not meeting or exceeding Kyoto obligations.

    Therefore....it's clearly a plot by extreme Eco-terrorists in league with the Lesbian-Marxists!

    Do I win a prize?

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Come back when you've worked in Big Pharma, the man-hating Lesbian-Marxists and the Jooows...

    I do kind of wonder how this thread turned into something about how the bad right wing people cause the flu. Or something. Rich - how limited is your sick leave that you can't actually take it when sick? And how crappy is your employer if you think it's great to skive off them? That's the sort of thing that actually causes sick leave entitlements to be reduced.

    I mean, come on, the evil right wing business set does enough ACTUAL bad shit without making them responsible for flu pandemics as well.

    Also, I worked on the pandemic strategy a few years back when it was being developed for bird flu. If anything, the legal powers available are overly draconian (fairly stringent detention powers for sick people). And we have heaps of tamiflu, which appears to work. And easily controllable entry to the country. So even if this gets really bad, which its not likely to do, we're in relatively good shape.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

  • Danielle,

    I'll have ex-Rangitoto College principal Peachy worked in by the time you get back from lunch.

    I'll say it: no good has ever come from that school.

    (Apart from you and me, Kyle. And Jackie.)

    Charo World. Cuchi-cuchi!… • Since Nov 2006 • 3828 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    After the earthquake.

    Ahem. We've had an earthquake.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • Kyle Matthews,

    I'll say it: no good has ever come from that school.

    18 years and still bitter ;)

    Since Nov 2006 • 6243 posts Report

  • LegBreak,

    After the earthquake.

    Ahem. We've had an earthquake.

    We’ve had pandemics and a depression too.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 1162 posts Report

  • giovanni tiso,

    Meanwhile, so long as we're talking about history, the top roading police offers describes New Zealand roads as the Killing Fields since having a sense of proportions is obviously not part of the job description.

    Wellington • Since Jun 2007 • 7473 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Capitalism/Mactional/The Business Roundtable/EMA/etc have a lot to answer for over this particular behavioural pattern where the 'pillock' with the nasty flu struggles into work.

    Yes, comrade, because nobody is ever ill in our planned Socilaist utopia. Now get back to work in your factory before I call the commissars!

    I mean, come on, the evil right wing business set does enough ACTUAL bad shit without making them responsible for flu pandemics as well.

    I agree - you can't pin this one on the Business Roundtable. Blame the Church!

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • ScottY,

    Meanwhile, so long as we're talking about history, the top roading police offers describes New Zealand roads as the Killing Fields since having a sense of proportions is obviously not part of the job description.

    OMG, disaster has befallen our land! Pol Pot's legacy has spread to our shores, and Stalin's murderers have taken control of Wellington.

    West • Since Feb 2009 • 794 posts Report

  • Eddie Clark,

    Let's have a purge of the BRT, EMA, people with glasses, and the ideologically impure. Using the flu.

    Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 273 posts Report

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