Why Ebola Shouldn't scare you ... too badly

It cracks me up when someone sends me an email, posts on my wall, asking if I heard the news of an outbreak. Me, really? I don’t open up to the morning news, I open up to disaster and biohazard news. I’m watching diligently. If I see something I’ll let you know if you should worry. The latest Ebola outbreak … nah.

Ebola is deadly. Yeah, that’s a fact. It starts out like a really bad head and chest cold, you get fever, chills and then suddenly with all that mucus, you’re now getting hit with the stomach bug. Only, your organs pretty much melt and ooze out your body orifices. Ebola has a kill rate of 90%+.  Yeah, it’s deadly. You’re a goner in under a week. In undeveloped and rural area Ebola can spread like wildfire. In industrial areas they stand a chance to contain it. The most recent case, while it hasn’t surpassed its historical worst, has actually breeched more boundaries. It’s now suspected in Malawi, and now one suspected case in Paris. Which, ok, I’m blaming Paris officials. Knowing damn well, that the incubation period can surpass three weeks (Meaning a person is contagious without symptoms) Why did they only quarantine that plane for twenty-four hours? Seems to me they could have sprinkled a little death around. How many of those people on that plane moved on to other countries?

Ok, even if it hits industrial areas, with quarantine measures above and beyond those in rural villages, the chances of nipping it in the butt are good. It’s not airborne, not yet. Meaning you have to come in contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person. If it starts to rise, it’s as easy as stay indoors, stay safe.

But Ebola doesn’t scare me. Every few years it does this. On average about 7 people die each year of it, outbreaks average from 75-500. To date Ebola has killed 3,000 total. That is all. Your chances of catching Ebola are slim. 

Odds of catching Ebola 1 in 94.6 million.

So deadly as it may be, swipe that fear away, there are other things more scary for you to worry about and you have a better chance of experiencing it. These should ease your mind about Ebola.

The Plague – there are so many variation of this pesky world killer, you gotta love it. While plague, if caught early can be treated, it still has a good 35% fatality rate and is still alive an kicking. Did you know 12 million people died of the plague in China in 1855?  That’s cary considering it wiped out 12 million not that long ago. 75% of the middle age population. Still plague is most prevalent every year between March and June and carried by the Y Pestis and those hideous rodents called rats. Every year the CDC estimates 2000 deaths of plague are reported a year. Without calling it an outbreak.

35 deaths in the US alone.

 Odds of getting and dying from the plague  1 in 3 million

Yellowstone Supervolcano – While some say this won’t happen, increased seismic activity around the park, coupled with fleeing animals … I don’t know. I think we have more chance of it blowing its top than Ebola wiping us out. 

Odds of it Erupting – 1 in 647,000

The Flu – World Health Organization says 10-15% of the population contracts the flu every year. Every

year on average 20,000 people die of the Flu. While that’s less than 1% fatality rate (Unless of course it’s like superflu or Swine) your chances of getting better are great. However you still stand more of a chance of catching a deadly case of the flu than Ebola.

Odd of catching the Flu – 1 in 67

Odds of catching a deadly Flu - 1 in 22,000

Tuberculosis – Although it is treatable and not always deadly it is still deadly. We always seem to forget about this one,. Easily transmitted. People with ‘active’ TB, can sign, cough, sneeze and spread it. It’s that easy. The scariest part is a person  not being treated regularly for TB or who doesn’t know they have it will infect 10 people a year.

It is estimated by CDC and WHO that there are 8.45 million new cases every year and 1.5 deaths. That’s a biggie that people forget about good old TB.

Odds of catching TB – 1 in 840

Odds of dying after getting TB – 1 in 6

Now, see? Ebola doesn’t see that bad, after all, does it.

Yellowstone, Ebola which will hit harder first?

So while half the world is focusing on the deadly Ebola outbreak, the other half of the world seems to be debating and dismissing what could very well sweep the death toll of the deadly disease under the rug and burying it in news of ash and debris. Not saying the Ebola outbreak isn't something to watch. It is. Thankfully, once a person shows symptoms it moves fast and can be contained. Unfortunately, it can lurk inside an infected person for up to three weeks. While it lurks, the asymptomatic person is contagious. How far can one person take it and spread it?

Frightening enough, we are one airline ticket away from the end of the world.

Or .... a boom away.

If you recall, months back, I blogged about reasons that FEMA was moving all sorts of supplies to District 3. While some speculated that something was going to happen in District 3, I held firm that common sense says, why stock a place that is going to be a disaster area.

I believe District 3 is a prep zone. Possibly a relief area for the mass exodus of people that will be headed east following the eruption of the Yellow Stone Park Supervocalno and other disasters.

I gave Yellowstone as one of my reasons months ago, and supplied the following map to show areas affected by the blast and ash of the volcano. Notice District 3 is fine.

 So what gives lately? Yellowstone is no stranger to seismic activity, yet it recently experienced the biggest quake in over thirty years. While that alone isn’t much add that to the odd springtime exodus of animals leaving the park, just a few days later and people are wondering. Do these animals sense immediate danger and are fleeing for their lives? Or are they merely looking for food. Really, can animals predict disaster? PBS says yes.

I don’t know, if you watch any videos, they seem to be running. And if this was such a normal occurrence, why hasn’t such an exodus of Bison and other animals been documented. It I such a huge and unusual exodus, that Wyoming and Montana are at odds on what to do with the animals that left the park. Surely if this was normal, those two states would be butting heads.

We need to be diligent in watching the signs. This Disaster Websiteis BOMB. Visit this website Daily to be up to date on all world disasters. Bet ya didn’t know Ohio had a nuclear incident this week.

 Sadly, if Yellowstone blows, I don’t think we’ll get much more warning than we have already seen. Start adding that extra stuff to your shopping cart, all those on the east.  If it explodes, there will be a rush at the stores. Start now. And the west … have you prepped your bug out bag?

With the recent Yellowstone activity, Earthquake in LA, increase in Nevada and California quakes, Mudslides in Washington – I’m beginning to wonder if future generations won’t be reading ‘How the West was won’ but rather ‘How the West was Done.”

Falling through the Cracks of Affordable Healthcare: Yes, it happens.

Now that enrollment has ended we can all sit back and enjoy our affordable healthcare. Wrong. For millions upon millions of Americans, the Affordable Healthcare Act is misleading and an impossible, unaffordable joke.

I am not one to disrespect a sitting president, nor will I do that now. I fully believe that President Obama had all best intentions at heart, and a nation’s health in mind, when creating the Affordable Healthcare Act. In his enthusiasm to pass this bill, his passion and belief in it, he signed Executive Order 13535. Because he couldn’t get the support. Basically, he took it upon himself to make this law.

He made some pledges and promised, which again, I truly believe he believed, that Americans could keep their coverage, would not lose it.

Yet, factcheck states 4.7 million Americans lost their current insurance or would lose it in one year under the AHCA. Millions more will see premiums rise.

That’s really not my issue of this blog though. I’m talking about the millions of us, and I know I’m not the only one, who have fallen through the cracks and guess what, according to the law, it’s fine that we run around without insurance and Bonus … no fine.

I am self employed as a writer and far from rich. I have three dependants on my taxes. Yet, believe it on or not, that doesn’t matter when applying for AHC. Trust me, it doesn’t matter because I was only applying for myself. Even though I listed them as dependants.

Basically my letter states.

Good news: You’re poor and qualify under federal guidelines for FREE medical coverage.

Oh, my goodness, really, yeah!

Bad news: Your state didn’t expand their guidelines to meet the federal limits so your state won’t cover you.

Huh, wait. So, I don’t get insurance now?

Good News: You can pick a plan from the market place.

Ok, but the lowest one is so high … wait, tax credit, I heard about that, help to pay the premium …

Bad News: Because you qualify for free healthcare, you do NOT qualify for a tax credit there for you don’t get a break or instant tax credits to help pay premium prices.

Are you shitting me? What do I do now?

So you can pay the bargain monthly minimum Basic caveman premium price of 346.00 a month with 6,900 out of pocket expenses or … don’t. Because Bonus …you are exempt from paying a fine if you choose to go uninsured.

Ok, so back to square one. No health insurance. Ok, got it.

Where in the Government's mind is this right? Really? Think about it. The federal government believes I deserve free healthcare, but won’t give me a tax credit so I can pay for a premium since my state won’t cover me.

Like millions of Americans I am opting out. I just can’t afford it, even basic, a 300.00 a month premium. I don’t know what my income is from one month to the next. My taxes are high because I am self employed.

Somewhere, somehow, this could have all worked out, had it been thought about a little better.

But what about those who don’t qualify for a tax credit, can’t afford the premiums and aren’t exempt from the fine. Oh, yeah, there are people too poor for the tax credit, and fall in the small margin that have to pay a fine. What do they do?

I have good news. Don’t pay your gas bill, get a shut off notice and file for a hardship exemption.

States right on the website …

If you have any of the circumstances below that affect your ability to purchase health insurance coverage, you may qualify for a “hardship” exemption:

1.     You were homeless.

2.     You were evicted in the past 6 months or were facing eviction or foreclosure.

3.     You received a shut-off notice from a utility company.

There’s an entire list, go check it out.

For now, I’m irritated that this thing has let me down and I have a headache. Good thing it’s nothing worse, because I don’t have healthcare to see a doctor. I’ll stick to our local ‘Doctor is In’ at 29.99 a pop located in the corner of our local grocery store pharmacy.

Season 4 Walking Dead Finale - Prediction. Who will die?

I can safely say for at least a while, this will be my last Walking Dead blog, then I will resume normal, erratic blogging.

I thought for my final Walking Dead blog of the season, I’d go out on a limb, make a fool of myself and try to predict the Season finale. Chances are I am going to be so far off. But what the heck, right?

I’m basing my predictions on articles I have read, and promo spots that are shown.

Breaking it down.

The latest promo spot plays eerie sounding voices talking about Terminus. It shows screenshots of  bloody hands, a bloody Rick and a beat of Daryl. Also, Michonne wielding that mighty sword.

The promo is leading us all to believe that Terminus is this evil place where all meet up and all hell breaks loose and contains, as Walking Dead comic fans have been shouting .. the hunters. For those of you who don’t read the comics, the hunters are a group of cannibals. That Mary, as we met in Episode 15 is cooking up a human on the grill.

I am going to have to disagree with this and say the editors of the promo are deliberately misleading us. Fans have been screaming about the hunters arriving since the beginning of the season, the writers aren’t going to deliver what the fans expect.

Terminus was introduced in the back half, it would be lame and a waste to have it appear in one episode, have everyone conveniently get there, discover Beth’s half eaten body and end the season on that. It could go that way. I mean they could all get there, find Beth without a leg and realize they weren’t eating leg of lamb and end there.

Is something weird going on there? Yes, but we’ll only get a hint in the finale.

Glenn, Abe and Gang …

I think, Terminus will be relatively calm for our crew there will they will encounter the man that actually has Beth, but our group doesn’t know it until they see her journal or something.

Carol, Tyrese and Judith

Their appearance will be sporadic, and we’ll only see them walking and inane conversation like we witness in episode 15 with Rick and Carl. . When last we left off they were walking and we didn’t know their direction.

Rick and Company …

I think Rick won’t get to Terminus. Early in the episode look for Rick, Michonne and Carl to stumble upon a building that has a candle lit room (I say this is early because promo pics show Rick beaten and bloody). The candles are a shrine to those who have died, it is there, Rick finds his watch that he gave to that hippy stoner boy early in the season. The one that disappeared. Realizing it is unsafe, they move on.

THAT is our hint of the Hunters that come in Season 5. Not 4.

While en route to Terminus, Rick and Company will face off against walkers and while battling they will run into Daryl and his new friends.

Daryl is ecstatic to see Rick, but that is short lived when Joe and the boys turn on them, discovering Rick is the one they have been searching. A battle will ensure and it is there, and my prediction, that Carl gets killed.

Rick totally destroyed by this, goes crazy and brutalizes Joe and the others like  no one has seen. Animal like, tearing them apart in his grief. Just as Rick is about to give up, end it all, say I quit .. he hears a baby crying.

This is where Carol Judith and Tyrese arrive.

That’s my prediction, how far off am I? We will find out shortly.

The Death of Daryl Dixon – Why Daryl WILL die this season

***Spoilers***

If you are not all caught up on The Walking Dead, you may want to stop here.

The Walking Dead truly needs to get professional screenwriters. What looks good on paper or sounds good in talks, doesn’t necessarily translate onto screen in an exciting manner. Too many characters, too many stories, divided episodes, with anti climatic endings. They have lost focus. Who drags stories on for six months to barely touch upon them? Not to mention trite dialogue that is also nothing but forced foreshadowing and a way to mention off screen happenings. (IE: Lilly’s death, passing the bus). Daryl Dixon is supposed to be this amazing tracker, right? Yet how does he miss a dirty diaper? Even I could sniff out a fresh shit diaper and I don’t track.

Speaking of cool characters, hate me for saying it, but Daryl Dixon is gonna die. One of the last episodes this season. And I present the eight reasons why I THINK he is going to die.

8.  He was not meant to be in the show. Norman Reedus auditioned for the part of Merle and they created his character. They have shaped him, molded him, gave him his due last season but what now?

7.  What has he done for us lately? Nothing. A few lines, arrow shots. His bestie, Carol was kicked out and we never really got to see him to react. That storyline seems buried. It seems to me that the writers, who look at the comic books and figure a way to change them, keep forgetting about Daryl because he’s not in there. So they are like, “Shit, we forgot Daryl. Oh, yeah, just have him shoot an arrow, fans will like that.”

6.  They have taken him out of character. How much have we seen Daryl this season? His recent 15 minutes with Beth were stupid. Lame tracker missing those rabbits and diaper. Is this the same Daryl that went to look for his brother in Atlanta, for Sophia half of season two? Yet we are to believe Daryl wouldn’t go back to the prison for Judith or Carl and choose to run with an annoying teenage girl. Yeah, right. Again, they don’t know what to do with him. Merle is gone.

5.  He’s getting his own episode. Yeah, an entire episode, like the Governor. Sound familiar. Granted Beth is in the episode and it’s the bait and switch. Make us think they are killing her, but they aren’t. Does anyone really care about Beth? We’re rooting for her to die, and we all know WD never kills the ones we want.

4.  Daryl has already been replaced. In the comics, after Tyrese dies, Ford becomes Rick’s right hand man. Tyrese never became the right hand man on tv, Daryl did. So … out he goes. Plus, we will soon forget about him because Morgan returns (IMDB) episode 15 this season.

3.  They already played their high card this season. Walking Dead can’t survive by simply killing red shirts (A term for characters brought in to die). They survive by shocking us and killing people we love. When killing Hershel, they crushed us. Sorry to say, they now must top that. Who is left? Who will the fans really clamor about? Who is that high ended that people would riot over … Daryl.  He is the only one that can top Hershel’s death.

2.  They won’t kill him. That is almost my top argument as to why they will. People are so convinced the show won’t kill Daryl, that I think they will. The show can and will survive without him. Again, I refer you to Number “What has he done lately?’

And finally, Number one … the guilt move. I can see it. Ring. Ring.

Norman Reedus: Hello.

Robert Kirkman: Uh, hey, yeah, Norm, I’m like really sorry I killed you off this season.

Norma: Sucks, dude.

Kirkman: Yeah, I know, anyhow … to make it up to you. How about... uh a starring role in my new sci fi dystopia movie? (Winks to Gail Hurd with a look that says, we got him)

The movie is all true. Read Here. Robert Kirkman called Reedus to co produce and star in the new thriller AIR. Production has been kept secret. Probably to hide the fact that production on the movie coincides with production of WD. Confirming that Daryl Dixon won’t be back for season 5.

No High Hopes from me on Walking Dead Season 4.

Today Walking Dead Mid Season premiere will show, and I believe it will probably be the last Walking Dead that I watch.  I expect the back half to suck.  I am prepared for a good opening episode, but I am also preparing to turn it off for good mind you, unless my expectations of the show are proven wrong.

I’m sick of the way they handle it and here’s why.

My first expectation is they divided up the group, I will bet money, the first episode back,  that they don’t show the group. That we don’t see Glen, Maggie, Tyrese or the others. That we only see Rick and Carl and maybe Michonne. They left us in limbo for 8 weeks and sorry, bet we have to wait another week or two to get answers. Typical anymore to get us back.

They don’t know what to do. Start a plague, end a plague, no reason for it. Just to eat up time. Jump to the Gov on a road trip. What the hell? Did they say, “Hmm how do we end this plague, I know, show the Gov for two weeks and people will forget.” I expect more of that on the back half.

While I totally understand the need to vary from the comics, my argument is don’t do it half assed, as the writers and producers have done.

If they are going to vary and stray from the comics so as to give the element of surprise plus new storylines, than damn it. Do it. Stray. There is no element of surprise if a character dies in the novel and still dies on the TV show, Just because the writers change the course of direction and don’t’ change the outcome just irritates us.

Point taken … Judith. In the novel, she died in Lori’s arms. On the show, Lori died, Judith lived … lived the entire season. Through the flu that really didn’t make sense, just a way, I guess to eat up time. And then they kill her, showing nothing more than a bloody car seat.

Who the hell would put their child in a car seat in the apocalypse anyhow. I can guarantee my grandkids wouldn’t be in one, they’d be in my arms, as any baby would. Buckle them in, buckle them out? Too much work should you have to run.

Many are saying she isn’t dead. But unfortunately, according to Gimble, the show’s front runner, they couldn’t show her death on TV. She’s gone.

What the hell? I am so sick of Walking Dead killing people for the shock. Yes, inevitably people have to die,  but, really two years post apocalypse, some sort of survival skill has been acquired enough that one will not die as easily or as stupid. Putting a child in a car seat. Not clinging or assuring your own baby? They led us on with Judith, and to shock us and bring about emotions, they slaughter her.

Wasn’t Hershel enough? Really. Not only was I the viewer distraught but the cast was as well.

What made Walking Dead appealing throughout the novel was its ability to hold true to the center of an apocalypse universe. To have a good solid story, you need strength, weakness, hope and wisdom. So you need a sense that there will be a better tomorrow … children. Along with the weak, and the survivors and you need older characters to deliver the wisdom.

They killed Dale but Hershel was waiting in the wings. They killed Hershel there is no more voice of reason or wisdom. Gone.

The writers have turned to a shock effect instead of a story. Killing Judith is just wrong. A baby in the z-poc is a challenge, I feel the writers wanted to go with it, then chickened out.

And where the hell is Carol? How many weeks do we have to wait for answers? It’s ridiculous.

Actually, that’s a problem this season. Toss out something here (Michonne emotional with Judith) A tease  there, kick Carol out, wait three weeks to show Darryl’s reaction to Carol being gone and it’s what? Ten seconds?

Someone needs to go into that writer room and say, “People focus. Go back to basics and tell a single story.” They are all tossing out so called brilliant ideas on the table, starting them and not knowing how to weave them.

If Judith is really dead, we don’t see anyone but Rick, Carl and Michonne on the premiere, then I’m saying goodbye to the Walking Dead. They are using nothing but bait and switch tactics to reel us in, keep us waiting. I waited eight weeks to find out what happened to everyone, and if I have to wait any longer, I don’t want to know. Hershel’s gone, they need to give me a reason to tune back in for good.

The Castaway: Real, Killer, or Cannibal?

I have to weigh in, I do. I have to give my theories on Jose Salvador Alvarenga. Who? If you haven’t heard, recently in the news, he’s the man who was stranded at sea for 13 months. His boat lost power, and he drifted for thousands upon thousands of miles and finally drifted to safety .. over a year later. He survived from eating fish, birds, turtles and drinking the blood of these things and his own urine.

When he first left, he set sailed with a young man whom he just met. He didn’t return with the young man. The young man died four months into the survival turmoil. You probably have two reactions. Either , “wow, that’s amazing’ or ‘No way, Jose,’ (No pun intended to our castaway).

Now you can believe everything he says, and bask in the survival wonder. Or you can look at the facts.

Doctors say he was weak and severely dehydrated.  Yet, he seemed ‘plumper’, they explained it as swelling. Hmm. I thought the tissues had to hold fluid to swell, if you’re severely dehydrated where is the fluid coming from? Maybe I’m showing my ignorance.

Let’s go visuals…

This is him before (Left) and after (following his haircut) 

Maybe I’m wrong but does this look like a man who spent 14 months at sea starving?

To better demonstrate, look at the picture below and ask yourself which of these two look like they can use a cheeseburger?

Honestly, no one is away at sea, doesn’t eat, doesn’t have enough water and looks healthy and fit. Just go look up pictures of his whole body. He didn’t lose weight. IN FACT, he looks as if he gained it. So what’s the scoop? I offer two scenarios

.

1) It never happened. He could have killed the young man, took him out in this boat and dumped him in the ocean. To cover the murder, he stayed away for a year, got back in his boat and, inspired by the look of Tom Hanks, mimicked that and returned. Uncanny, isn’t it? That would explain the lack of weight loss.

2) My favorite theory. He really did get lost at sea, his boat really did break down, and to survive it became a ‘me or you’ situation and he chose himself, killed his companion and yep … wait for it … ate him.

What he didn’t eat he used as bait.

I honestly believe the whole story will eventually unfold. We’ll either find out that someone saw him during that time frame he was allegedly floating about ot he’ll admit to dining on his companion.

I for one am very interested in this story and will keep following it.