Comments wellcome.

Take care.

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000

Answers

The chem trails are causing severe chest congestion all over the world. A mild anthrax case. Mass inoculations by chem trails. The weak and elderly die. World UN depopulation efforts are at work. The UN wants to depopulate the world by at least 50%. Better start eating raw fruits and veggies so you will survive. Take colloidal silver every day! For more info on CS go to www.silversolutions.com

-- ... (...@...com), January 13, 2000.

Comments:

1. Learn to type.

2. Learn to spell.

3. Learn the difference between "Subject" and "Body".

4. Lay off the deleriants when posting.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), January 13, 2000.

George can't help it. He lost half his brain in the sewer.

-- ... (...@...com), January 13, 2000.

http://www.lucifer.com/~sean/Nano.html

nanotechnology intro

-- Hokie (Hokie_@hotmail.com), January 13, 2000.

Sorry ron

1. Instead of "flu", I should have said/written 'influenza'. Sorry about that. Won't happen again.

2. Instead of "bugs happen", I should have said "shit happens". Sorry about that two, ron.

3. Although we all know that you majored in English ron, the only "deleriant" around here is yourself. Sorry about that 2 rhonnie.

Take kare

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

There is NO FLU EPIDEMIC - as usual the media likes hype! And by the way, suddenly its normal to give everyone flu vaccine - this was designed only for people most at risk - elderly, etc. And now they've got all of you buying! Serious problems with vaccines and you wouldn't catch me ever getting one (I'm an RN too).

Flu Outbreak Is No Epidemic Experts Say It's a Normal Season By Jim Morelli WebMD Medical News

Jan. 11, 2000 (Atlanta) -- Jammed emergency departments. Sick patients everywhere. A flu epidemic. That is the media picture being presented of influenza season 2000. The reality, according to one source, is a bit different. "There seems to be a tenor of panic," says Lee Youngblood, RN, of the National Flu Surveillance Network in Oklahoma City. "But we're seeing it's not quite widespread enough to be called an epidemic -- and the CDC agrees with that."

"This is a normal flu season," says Lynette Brammer, MPH, an epidemiologist with CDC's Influenza Branch. "We know it's bad, and it's disruptive. But you do expect to see increased visits to physicians and hospitals, and deaths." Still, Youngblood says it is getting worse in some places -- particularly in the nation's heartland. Last week, the Network -- which bills itself as the only "real time" measure of the flu's progress -- had only one state, Oklahoma, in the most severe "warning" category. This week, Texas and Arkansas have joined that list -- with some Northeastern states likely to follow. Also, the number of states that have slipped into the runner-up "alert" category has virtually doubled in a week, from 11 to 20. "Last week was quite a busy week across the state, and it looks like it's continuing into early this week," says Lauri Smithee, director of the Communicable Diseases Division in the Oklahoma Health Department. But despite its categorization on the Surveillance Network, she says the state is not officially experiencing a "widespread" flu problem. "We haven't had yet many outbreaks reported -- like schools closing or nursing home outbreaks."

In Illinois, public health officials do report a widespread outbreak of the flu -- but say there's no reason to panic. "We haven't reached a level where it's out of control," says Tom Schafer, spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health in Springfield. "The only thing that's unusual, is it's a little early. Generally, our flu season peaks the last two weeks of January and early February."

In New York state, flu outbreaks have jumped by a third this week. "As of today, we're reporting 100 outbreaks -- that's primarily from long-term care facilities and hospitals," says Claire Pospisil, spokesperson for the New York State Health Department. "Last year we had 28 at this time, so it's about four times more this year." But Pospisil says there's no reason to conclude things are out of control. "We do expect to see flu this time of year, and with our surveillance system in place, we are in contact with the facilities reporting outbreaks -- and in contact with them to take appropriate measures to contain the outbreak."

One way for individuals to contain symptoms of the flu is by using one of two new drugs -- Relenza or Tamiflu. These prevent the virus from spreading to other noninfected cells. These drugs lessen the effects of the flu but do not "cure" it. It's a strategy that is apparently proving popular. One source tells WebMD some pharmacists are resorting to keeping lists of those requesting the drugs, because they're in short supply. "I suspect some of the shortages may be the fact people are getting the drugs just in case they get sick," says Flynn Warren, MS, clinical associate professor of pharmacy practice at the University of Georgia in Athens. Glaxo-Wellcome, maker of Relenza, says it's geographically shifting stock to meet demand, but says there is no shortage.

"The demand has been high in certain areas where flu is breaking out quickly," says company spokesperson Veronica Grosshandler. "[But] I can assure you there's no product supply problem." Still, consumers may experience minor availability problems at the retail level. "What we are seeing is sporadic shortages in the chain," says Mike DeAngelis, spokesperson for CVS in Woonsocket, R.I. "We do have the products in the pipeline, but a customer may go to a store here and there, and we may be out of them." If that's the case, DeAngelis says CVS pharmacists will get the drug to the customer the next day. Eckerd drug stores reports it has "an ample supply" of Tamiflu and Relenza, and that it would be a rare occasion for one of its stores to experience an outage. In a statement to WebMD, company spokesperson Tami Alderman writes, "In cases of outage a supply can normally be obtained within 24 hours."

That fast turnaround is especially important when it comes to these drugs because Relenza and Tamiflu only work if given within 48 hours of coming down with flu symptoms -- which experts say are distinctly different from those of the common cold. "Most people have a very sudden onset," says Bob Hudson, MD of ZymeTx Inc., creator and maintainer of the National Flu Surveillance Network. "The temperature goes up. Headaches. By the evening you really feel lousy." "Influenza is a systemic illness," says William Shaffner, MD, chairman of the department of preventative medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. "It is a virus that affects the whole body. It has long been known that you can have abdominal cramps, and pain, and a little diarrhea."

In other words, you feel pretty miserable all over. Shaffner says one colleague who recently recovered from the flu described it this way: "The worst thing about it is you knew you would live." Though sadly, that's not always the case. Vital Information: Although there have been many media reports on the severity of this year's flu season, experts are calling it a normal one so far. In some areas, flu outbreaks have been greater than normal, including Oklahoma, Texas, and Arkansas. Two new drugs are available to treat flu symptoms, but they must be taken within 48 hours of the onset of the virus. ) 2000 Healtheon/WebMD. All rights reserved. WebMD - Article http://my.webmd.com/content/article/1728.54064

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-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), January 13, 2000.

George,

I will say you've taken the record for the longest message header I've seen(g).

Ther's flu every year. Every year, there are computer bugs to be fixed. This year is no different than any other year in that regard.

Jim

-- Jim Cooke (JJCooke@yahoo.com), January 13, 2000.

Sheri, thanks for posting the valuable Jan. 11 report.

This flu started first in Europe where the situation is far worse than in the US. In England, Belgium and Spain they do already have what they call an "epidemic". Semantics aside, in Europe they are far worse off and that's the trend expected for the US too, although somewhat later, because it started later. So by the Jan-Feb time frame it will be worse.

Have geeks/geekettes detected any flu impact upon IT staff?

That's the real question affecting Y2K repairs for the Jan-Feb time span.

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Naaah, don't worry about it. Geeks are in such poor physical shape that they have built up anitbodies to every virus that exists. Besides, they would never let a runny nose keep them away from their computers. :-)

-- Hawk (flyin@high.again), January 13, 2000.

I never get sick....every ten years do i even get dizzy. I've been sick lately more than I've ever been. There was such a widespead epidemic and there were widespread contrail reports. If Y2k was bad or will be, it would be better if more people were mellowed out by illness during a panic than not. If the power was out for any length of time, this epidemic could have had widespread fatalities. I do agree we all need to start taking much better care while rotating our stockpiles. This drought is not looking good either.

-- Feller (feller@wanna.help), January 13, 2000.

George,

Well Jim Cooke beat me to it, but that has to be the *longest* header I have ever seen anywhere. Congrats!

In idcredulous awe,

Frank

-- Someone (ChimingIn@twocents.com), January 13, 2000.

Jim, you say that every year there are bugs to be fixed. I agree. But wouldn't you also agree in that THIS particular year there are many many more bugs to be fixed by the Jan-Feb time frame because of Y2K?

Let me put it another way: Have we ever experienced anything similar to Y2K before?? Koskinen says Y2K constitutes the largest managerial effort since World War II. So far, everything included, Y2K has meant a one trillion dollar expense, world-wide. Did we ever have any other IT project as expensive, as thorough, as Y2K?? The Jan 1 and Jan 2 world-wide shutdown, lost production, start-up costs and trouble have meant difficult manual operations and workarounds still not fully completed which require very special, sometimes un-replaceable people that still have not finished their jobs.

I have a hard time agreeing with you on that one Jim, and pretty soon we'll find out if we also disagree in that this flu isn't just the ol' flu we get every year. This flu seems to be quite different Jim, and it comes at the worst possible moment for IT staff.

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Hawk, seriously now. Senior geeks/geekettes are particularly prone to catch this flu. As you already know, they are badly needed right now.

Same goes for senior "workaround" and "manual operation" experts, retired engineers, foremen, etc.

I agree with you Hawk in that it's funny how some people can't see the Y2K importance of the Jan-Feb end-of-month processes.

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

This monster throat / lung octopus that won't let go of us is not the flu. Many symptoms don't fit. But it's miserable and keeps coming back ... exhausting.

-- Ashton & Leska in Cascadia (allaha@earthlink.net), January 13, 2000.

Hey, Gooooorgieboy -- the sun, where it doesn't shine, and you. Put the pieces together.

If you're trying to crash the server with a buffer-bustin' header, you seem to have failed.

Although I do have to wonder what a postcard from you would look like. I imagine you'd write a book-length scribblefest under the To: address, and then sign "Georgiepoo" on the back, surrounded by several inches of whitespace.

Tres cute. *puke*

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), January 13, 2000.

Sorry to hear that, Ashton & Leska. Sure hope you get well soon.

BTW, I had also already heard from other people too about the gut feeling that this wasn't "the flu". So I checked out with a W.H.O. high-ranking officer friend of mine at Geneva headquarters (my old man used to work in D.C. in charge of Pan American Health Organization virii programs in Latin America) and the answer I got from this M.D., Master in Public Health John's Hopkins U. was something to the extent that "this flu doesn't feel like the regular flu because it's a different flu". And he added, "or else it could be something completely different we haven't yet diagnosed". Whatever it is, it's still a royal pain in the neck, isn't it?

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Dear ronnie schwarzpuker:

The only 'deleriant' English majored asshole around here continues to be YOU.

Tres jolie

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Sheri: it may not technically be an epidemic here in the States, but it sure looks like one in Europe....

-s-

-- Scott Johnson (scojo@yahoo.com), January 13, 2000.

Lay off the crack, George.

It doesn't become you.

(Or perhaps it *has* become you?)

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), January 13, 2000.

There's so many ill companies are suffering w/loss of staff and then those w/brains half working. Have typed this stuff for over 7 years and never seen this before. I wouldn't attribute all this to the flu, there's many other problems, such as strep throat that is resistant to multiple antibiotics, increase in Valley Fever, increase in pneumonia and those with asthma are right now at very extreme risk. Started typing a lot of positive strep going back to the end of last summer. Too many to count that are experiencing upper respiratory symptoms w/ear problems, eye problems, chest congestion. Please note that all this listed has nothing to do w/the flu. Doctors are becoming concerned due to the volume of illness and traditional therapies do not seem to be working over the past several months.

-- claurann (claurann@aol.com), January 13, 2000.

Disregarding everything else in the question/header, I know that I just got barely well enough to come back to work after seven days of the most miserable flu/cold/lung & sinus infection/dysentery I've ever experienced. This isn't like any flu I've ever had. It just won't let go. Started feeling it about last Wednesday and haven't gotten over it yet. I spent friday through tuesday in bed. The hospital would have admitted me except that they had no open beds.

There are news-bits I had heard on the radio about hospitals turning away all but the life threatening patients because they're overflowing with flu cases. Then I saw it for real. It's an epidemic here. In every sense of the word.

Our IS department has been understaffed by about 20% since the rollover. It's been rough for everyone, we've got people working sick to keep up.

Check out the National Flu Surveillance Network at http://63.68.50.160/

-- Powder (Powder47keg@aol.com), January 13, 2000.

Thanks Powder, your input from the trenches is very much appreciated. Your URL is good stuff.

So in your environment I gather that IT productivity is very much down. What would happen if by the Jan-Feb transition all hands on deck are needed ?

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

I'm an RN and used to work Emergency Rooms and believe me, almost every year its the same story, hospitals turning away all but the most sick, etc., beds full, etc.

-- Sheri (wncy2k@nccn.net), January 13, 2000.

The flu comes and the flu goes, every friggin year! (major eye roll)

Some of you are really strange. I feel so...normal around you. (smirk)

-- Cin (Cinlooo@aol.com), January 13, 2000.

The following URL gives the latest information on the flu epedemic: http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/flu/weekly.htm Note that the vast majority of people who are tested do not have the flu. Presumedly, they had serious flu symtoms or they would not have been tested. I don't know if this pattern is unusual. Perhaps someone else does.

-- Dave (dannco@hotmail.com), January 13, 2000.

Strange flu allright, with rare symptoms and very long incubation period during which many sick and affected people are not officially "sick" and still take their own bodies to 'work', leaving brains behind.

Enclosed working environments are ideal for contagion.

Still, the point continues to be how this flu epidemic may affect Y2K repair capacity & performance. Personnel and human resources managers should have a clue. Any lurkers?

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

George, you are hopeless. The question was answered. No more bugs than normal (human or computer). We didn't do any software development last year, so we don't have bugs from new releases. We only did remediation. Actually, there are probably fewer computer bugs this year because remediation had fewer problems than new development.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), January 13, 2000.

So, according to you Maria, nothing or very little will happen at the Jan-Feb time frame and no end-of-month mistakes will arise.

If that is the case, you are the polliest polly of them all Maria. Every other polly is expecting 'some' action (albeit, correctable) if and when programmers are available and in good health. Good ol' Flint would tear your reasoning apart.

Take care.

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Furthermore Maria, you are also saying that the flu epidemic does not exist neither in Western Europe nor the US. Is that correct?

Quite frankly we are in two different wavelengths.

If you would only care to check out the URLs given above, you would understand how many bugs we have at hand.

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

Georgie, did you know Schwarz bought his wife on the internet? That's why he is such a cranky motherfucker. It was a no return transaction.

-- (Bargain@basement.hunter), January 13, 2000.

From: Y2K, ` la Carte by Dancr (pic), near Monterey, California

...almost every year its the same story, hospitals turning away all but the most sick, etc., beds full, etc.

How do you explain the very public advertising, providing a phone number to call in case these symptoms appear, and people being told to not visit their doctors. These two measures would tend to reduce both hospital congestion and morbidity statistics.

-- Dancr (addy.available@my.webpage), January 13, 2000.

Friends in Texas and New York City tell me that the "flu" (or whatever this is) is getting worse and worse. Small children also being affected, which is rather strange. Full recovery is slow I'm told.

Shouldn't health authorities spill the beans on what's really going on or is it that they don't really know?

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 13, 2000.

George said, "Comments wellcome." But he meant only agreeable comments are WELCOME. You are hopelessly doomed to be an idiot the rest of your life.

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), January 14, 2000.

Maria honey, you are hopelessly doomed to be a hysterical bitch the rest of your life. Questions for you Maria: do you HAVE a life? are you divorced or something or just plain ugly?

Folks: I am only saying that Y2K glitches and the flu are both alive and kicking. Healthy IT staff and plant technicians are badly needed for workarounds & fixes, and that could be a potentially serious problem. Y2K and THIS particular "flu" (or whatever it is) make a bad mix.

The National Flu Surveillance Network clearly indicates that as of Jan 14 over 90% of the US population is either under outright "warning" and/or under concerning "alert" status. Check this out yourselves at : " http://63.68.50.160 "

And as far as increasing Y2K glitches I rest my case. Just read the many threads above or below.

Oh, BTW Maria honey, if my extra "l" in my original 'comments wellcome(sic)' phrase bothers you so much, just shove it.

Take care.

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 14, 2000.

George...

If you think all women who disagree with you are ugly, we must all be ugly. In fact, you can call me hideous. =o) (toothless grin)

-- Cin (Cinlooo@aol.com), January 15, 2000.

Not relevant

-- Michael Erskine (Osiris@urbanna.net), January 16, 2000.

Cin, it's not only that Maria is ugly. Read her posts and you'll find out that she's also a hysterical bitch.

Michael, "not relevant" you say. If this "flu" gets to be in the US as bad as it's getting in Europe, I'm sure you'll reconsider your current opinion. Still, take the trouble to check out the National Flu Surveillance Network web site at

" http://63.68.50.160 "

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 16, 2000.

George...

My kids and I have already had this flu. With colloidal silver and vitamins, we beat it in just a couple of days. People at work and everywhere around here have had it and are over it now. This is NOT bubonic plague for gosh sakes. I think you are goin off the deep end on this one George.

-- Cin (Cinlooo@aol.com), January 16, 2000.

OK George...

This is copied from the link that you listed above. *******************************

Facts about the Influenza Virus The influenza virus changes every year. These changes cause seasonal flu epidemics. These changes mean that the flu vaccine must be reformulated every year.

How Influenza Is Spread Influenza is spread via respiratory secretions (coughing and sneezing). The incubation period is from 1 to 4 days. Infected persons are contagious for about a week, although children and immunocompromised patients are contagious for a longer period of time.

Facts about the Influenza Virus The influenza virus causes one of the world's most serious respiratory illnesses. It is potentially fatal and infects humans in the tens of millions each year. The virus changes each year - sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. Major changes, known as subtype changes, produce worldwide epidemics called pandemics. In 1918, the influenza A virus subtype H1N1, known as the "Spanish Flu," killed 500,000 people in the U.S. and 20 million people globally. In 1957, the "Asian Flu" (H2N2) killed 70,000 in the U.S., and in 1968, the "Hong Kong Flu" (H3N2) caused another epidemic. The minor changes are called strain changes, but they are not always so minor. In the 1997-1998 flu season, the "A/Sidney" strain caused almost double the U.S. yearly average of 20,000 influenza-related deaths. These yearly changes demand yearly vaccine alterations.

The next pandemic can occur at anytime. It will be a different virus subtype, one that may never have been encountered by humans. Because we will have no immunity, it will kill many more than the yearly average of 20,000 people in the U.S. Even young healthy adults will have a severe illness. The National Pandemic Preparedness Task Force is carrying out preparations for this scary event to come.

-- Cin (Cinlooo@aol.com), January 16, 2000.

Thanks for your last input Cin.

I rest my case.

Take care

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 16, 2000.

Thanks George, I'd rather be AN hysterical bitch than a hopeless idiot like you. What's the matter, can't stand a woman who's smarter than you?

-- Maria (anon@ymous.com), January 19, 2000.

That George is one piece of work.

-- Ron Schwarz (rs@clubvb.com.delete.this), January 20, 2000.

George

Have you tried Viagra?

-- (I'm@pol.ly), January 20, 2000.

I'm@polly, Maria, have you tried colonoscopy ?

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 20, 2000.

January 22 update:

As of today, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, Arkansas, Kentucky, Tennessee, and West Virginia have been added to the list of maximum warning flu status.

Cold weather & oil shortage (and/or high prices) mean heating problems which worsen flu contagion and cure.

Is it that difficult to foresee the flu impact upon badly needed IT and non-IT staff for EOM Y2K repairs?

-- George (jvilches@sminter.com.ar), January 22, 2000.