Pandemic? Plague? How worried am I?

Are you worried about a swine flu pandemic?

I’m less worried about the global spread of the strain we’re currently seeing than about the one that could develop in the fall. Influenza viruses mutate. This isn’t “flu season.” Given a few months of human-host percolation, the wee nasty could become more deadly. Or not. Am I worrying to the point of losing sleep over it? Nope. Everybody dies. No point in actively worrying about that. What troubles me is how society deals with what happens. The first short story I ever read was The Masque of the Red Death, when I was around 8. I’ve casually studied “plagues” (bacterial and viral) ever since. Influenza’s nothing to screw around with. It’s not as colorful as Yersinia Pestis but it’s certainly got a kick to it.

Here’s an iris, not a virus:

I rock. Seriously. *takes a bow*

OK, I wasn’t going to post for a couple of days, because I’m behind in visiting, etc., but this is just TOO COOL to keep quiet about: my little brain is just the best ever. Don’t laugh! I wanted a quick way to return to the top of the page while working on the computer, and I know VERY few keyboard shortcuts. Went to one of those places where they give you MILLIONS of Mac keyboard shortcuts. I was in a hurry (as usual) and didn’t feel like screwing around reading page after page, so I looked at the keyboard itself and thought. THOUGHT! Used the little gray cells and logic, thusly: The Command key seems very powerful. The arrow keys provide direction. I wanted a POWERFUL up movement, right? Instead of the tiny normal up movement? So I hit the Command key and the up arrow and went to the top of the page. Lightning-fast! Ta-DAH!!!!!

Brilliant!

That’s why I rock.

It’s OK to laugh now.

*runs before someone tosses a rotten tomato*

Infinity as Sunshine: The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow!

On April 21, 1977 ANNIE opened on Broadway. As soon as I heard the words “endearing moppet” used to describe the title character I knew I didn’t want to see the show (and I never did), but some of the songs have become such a part of our musical life that it’s hard to resist them. That link will take you to more links, and here’s a video. Get that earworm remedy ready!!

The sun really WILL come out tomorrow, you know? Because tomorrow’s always a day away…a deep concept, something to ponder on especially rainy days.

If Texas Secedes, How Will They Brand It?

What’s up with TEXAS??? What will they call it, if it wanders away from the rest of the United States?
Texasistan? Texasopia? Texicle? Texaseria? Texasland? Texasorra? Texulencia? Texasuda? Texivia?

Texico?

Just wondering. Names are important; they can go very, very wrong. If the people who are contemplating secession are serious, they ought to have someone shopping around right now for a company that develops brand names and branding strategies. Texans should be familiar branding, right? Some of them, anyway?
OK, so here’s an online site for developing/selecting names. If you’re a Texan, you might want to start looking for a name now. Don’t wait until it’s too late and some knucklehead selects one that will make all the other nations giggle.

[Note: If you ARE from Texas, please don't be angry with me. I don't want you to leave!]