Announcement!!!

Posting for Week of October 15, 2001

Panic of Attack or Panic Attack?

    In these trying times we must keep hold of what is true and not what the mainstream media wants to tell you what is true.  Yes, other people have been been infected by Anthrax, however we do not need to panic and claim that everything we come in contact with is contaminated with Anthrax.  That is ludicrous and plain ignorant on behalf of the general public.  Yes, it is important that we are aware of things we come into contact with, however it does not mean that every white powdery substance contains Anthrax.  Let's use some common sense people and get your heads out of the ground.  For example, around a coffee dispenser the white substance is NOT anthrax but coffee creamer.  Here are some more ridiculous examples that have actually occurred.

***** Taken from Nealz Nuze *****

The tales of panic are widespread, and increasing:

    A man on the West Coast receives some chocolates. He panics and calls the police, convinced they contain anthrax. Buildings are evacuated --- people inconvenienced -- the frightened man turns out to be a loony.

    A man on an airplane in California opens a greeting card … confetti spills out. Another passenger tells a crewmember that the man had released a powdery substance into the ventilation system. Eighty passengers are held on the jet for three hours … the man who opened the greeting card is stripped, hosed down and put into a hazmat suit.

    Two Orthodox Jews stand in the back of an airliner on the way to Newark from Atlanta and pray. Some passenger hears the “foreign tongue” and panics. The plane lands in Charlotte and the two Jewish passengers are forced to take a later flight. Authorities on the ground had been told that passengers were trying to break into the cockpit.

    A Charlotte to Denver flight is diverted because a flight attendant finds talcum powder in a restroom.

    Seats are removed from several airliners after employees report white powder on the seats. It turns out the be the powder that is put on the seats to prevent sticking.

    A Sears store near Atlanta is evacuated for three hours … powder on a countertop. You could put anthrax powder on a countertop and leave it there all day and not one person would get the disease.

***** Taken from Nealz Nuze *****

Now how can you say that the terrorists have not changed the way we live our lives?

Today's Quotes

"This Senate and this institution will not stop, We will not cease our business … Our work will continue." - Senate Majority Leader, Tom Daschle

"We have no hard data yet but it is clear that Mr. bin Laden is an evil man.'' - President George W. Bush

"It's a symbol of terrorism and death and fear and destruction and repression." - University of Massachusetts physics professor Jennie Traschen told the town board what the United States flag meant to her.

Today's Links

National ID card won't stop terrorists, but will infringe on Americans' liberty - You bet!!!

Bin Laden threats increase sense of panic - Would you like more anxiety to go with your panic attack?

United States Struck by New Anthrax Cases - Seems like they are targeting Democrats in these attacks - first Tom Brokaw, then Tom Daschle...Got to be careful people.

Anthrax Scare

    One of the deadliest forms of terrorism is using Biological Weapons, it is aimed at countless innocent individuals and can rapidly spread far across the nation with stealth speed.  As a former researcher of microbiology, I have studied the implications of the latency period with such infections such as HIV, Herpes, and Ebola and I will inform the public that certain diseases have their strengths and pitfalls.  HIV, one of the most successful viruses for its ubiquity, had widely spread through the United States by the promiscuity of humans and the long latency period for detection of infection, however as a virus it is weak outside of a host's body.  Ebola, on the other hand, can kill almost all of its hosts in a short amount of period but remains an unsuccessful virus for its great effectiveness in eliminating it's host which causes its inability to spread to a greater population.  What we do not know we must found out the facts on ourselves.  Do NOT rely on the media to give you the right answers or the full information on a subject.  A lot of the media's role is to create a sensationalism in order to capture their audience so that they can watch more of their commercials and make money.  That is why the media can cause utter chaos on something very trivial and unimportant just for their ratings to shoot through the roof.  Most of the media are doomsayers and will continue to report misleading facts to get the people's attention.  I am not saying that we do not need to worry about the onset of an Anthrax epidemic in our country.  However, what I am saying is to only watch the news and take what you hear with a grain of salt and to find out prevention methods and facts on your own instead of relying on the media to give you an exaggerated report.  Listed below is from the Centers for Disease Control about Anthrax.

Anthrax is an acute infectious disease caused by the spore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax most commonly occurs in hoofed mammals and can also infect humans.

Symptoms of disease vary depending on how the disease was contracted, but usually occur within 7 days after exposure. The serious forms of human anthrax are inhalation anthrax, cutaneous anthrax, and intestinal anthrax.

Initial symptoms of inhalation anthrax infection may resemble a common cold. After several days, the symptoms may progress to severe breathing problems and shock. Inhalation anthrax is often fatal.

The intestinal disease form of anthrax may follow the consumption of contaminated food and is characterized by an acute inflammation of the intestinal tract. Initial signs of nausea, loss of appetite, vomiting, and fever are followed by abdominal pain, vomiting of blood, and severe diarrhea.

Direct person-to-person spread of anthrax is extremely unlikely, if it occurs at all. Therefore, there is no need to immunize or treat contacts of persons ill with anthrax, such as household contacts, friends, or coworkers, unless they also were also exposed to the same source of infection.

In persons exposed to anthrax, infection can be prevented with antibiotic treatment. Early antibiotic treatment of anthrax is essential–delay lessens chances for survival. Anthrax usually is susceptible to penicillin, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones.

An anthrax vaccine also can prevent infection. Vaccination against anthrax is not recommended for the general public to prevent disease and is not available.

This material has been developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Reuse or reproduction of this material is authorized. Information updated September 2001.

Today's Quotes

"To alcohol! The cause of, and solution to, all of life's problems." - Homer Simpson

"We're Americans; we don't walk around terrified." - Secretary of State, Colin Powell

"This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave." - Elmer Davis

Today's Links

Report: Iraq Behind Anthrax Attacks - What do you think?

New Anthrax Cases Heighten U.S. Bioterror Fears - How deadly is Anthrax really?  Find out for youself...

Anthrax: More Deadly Than Reported - Is it?