3 Social Questions About Swine Flu

First it was the Mad Cow Disease. Then we had the Bird Flu or Aviar Influenza. Now it's the pigs who're getting us back? Isn't it interesting how all of these, the last epidemics known to man, are all rooted in the most exploited farm animals?

1. Shouldn't we think about the way we use farm animals for food and products, mostly due to extreme and unjustified consumerism, trying to find smarter ways to minimize this exploitation?

It has been well known (for decades) that around 95% of the agricultural production in the world is used to feed farm animals. It's also known that the human body does not require eating meat more than once a day and that it's actually unhealthy to do so in most cases. How about simply eating less meat? Less animal slaughter, less need for farming fields, more forests, better diets: It's a no-brainer.

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2. Why has swine flu only killed Mexicans? Swine H1N1 Influenza has been reported in many countries but only has it taken lives in Mexico. I think it's obvious that the reason for this fact is not the behavior of the virus but the incapacity of the Mexican public health system to treat the disease.

All of the deaths are related to poverty, people who can afford private hospitals have all been cured. The Mexican public health system is well known for its ineffectiveness, it's workers for their negligence and its infrastructure for its obsoleteness. Public money in Mexico always finds its way into politicians and private pockets, tax money that never helps the people who provided it.

In fact I wouldn't be surprised if the Mexican government was hiding the true numbers about this disease. I believe many more have died than those officially reported. When this epidemic is finally controlled, it will be obvious, and worlwide known, how the Mexican govenrment and health system are to blame for many of the deaths.

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3. How come worldwide governments have acted so swiftly in view of this possible pandemic while ignoring other very alarming sanitary conditions? Isn’t AIDS worth taking extreme measures? For how many centuries has hunger cursed 3rd world countries, particularly Africa, without countries declaring any state of emergency?

This health crisis proves the capacity of the governments to act. Why do they only do so on specific ocasions? Maybe only when the population is scared do they feel any pressure to take measures, fearing for their public image, which is really all that keeps them in power.

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A very complete analysis of swife flu from Nathan Wolfe@TED: http://blog.ted.com/2009/04/qa_with_virus_h.php

Mapa del Metrobus en Google Maps

Update: Post más actual: Mapa del Metrobus de la Ciudad de México

Update: Ahora con línea 4, ambas rutas. Además cambié los iconos de estaciones de cada ruta por viñetas correspondientes a cada color de las líneas. Pero voy a hacr un nuevo post al respecto de hecho.

Post original: Estoy haciendo la chamba del gobierno y tratando de gererar un mapa de todo el metrobus y algunas rutas de RTP (autobus público) sobre la ciudad de Mexico en Google Maps. Ayuda será bien recibida!


Ver Transporte Público México D.F. en un mapa más grande

El mapa oficial está en http://www.metrobus.df.gob.mx/mapa2.pdf y http://www.metrobus.df.gob.mx/mapa.html

El jordi hace suyas a las vacas

Ya que he sido citado en el blog del afamadísimo Jordi Adame tengo que declararme honrado. Y aprovecho para hacer público uno de sus más secretos gustos: "hacer suyas" a las vacas.

http://jordi.net/blog/view/147/las-vacas-estan-extintas

Favor de leer.

Pero ya en serio las vacas están extintas excepto esas peludas que corren libremente por las planicies mongoles.

De esta canción salió Aserejé

Así es, este video delata de dónde tomaron el ritmito lírico de Aserejé las Ketchup ! eeww

Anxiety

Fear, terror, obsessive thoughts (I can’t stop thinking about something), fear of dying or other death-related thoughts. Nothing makes sense, nothing matters. Am I going crazy? No! You’re not nuts, you’re O.K.

The most important thing is for you to tranquilize: relax. But that’s not easy. For starters call somebody if you think you might need help even if you’re not sure, dial 911 or other emergency phone; just do it, it won’t hurt. You’ll feel better right away when you share the burden. Breathe in deep and let the air out slowly, that will pace your heart. Get out of the building; don’t deny what’s going on. I assure you that you can feel better, remember you have felt better! This is not the end.

Most probably you’re simply very anxious. This means you’re nervous system has become weak temporarily and the stress or repressed emotions have got to you all of a sudden so you don’t recognize what you’re feeling. It’s all O.K. really; it’s all in your head. YOU’RE NOT ALONE, this has happened to millions of us but it’s a taboo topic so lots of ignorance still prevail. In any case there are many persons who can help you.

This is what happened: during your anxiety attack adrenaline was liberated in your body making you extra aware of everything in and out of your body. You’re super tense in your muscles and might be trembling. Your heart might be beating rapidly, with taquicardia but it will resist so don’t worry (it can go on like that for weeks). Maybe you feel you can’t breathe normally but it’s not true and you might over ventilate trying to breathe, thus causing dizziness. Your stomach is probably altered and you’ll be nauseous and gassy. It’s all known. But it’s vital that you get help anyway or at least human support and company.

This short post was made with the intention to help people who are having anxiety attacks and looking online for answers in that moment. I hope it helped and look for specialized help, this is more common than you’d imagine J Don’t lose hope life is strong.