As if preventing the flow of H1N1 is not hard enough, a group of paranoid conspiracy theorists are adding fuel to the debate over whether to be vaccinated or not. This was reported in today's New York Times.

So why not treat this as a grand scientific experiment and have everybody register as "vaccinated" and "not vaccinated." When someone who is non-vaccinated falls ill with a horrible, life threatening flu, it will be noted. We will then be able to see who is properly protected, and the debate might be settled once and for all.

To these paranoid anti-vaccination nuts: If vaccines are a scam, what happened to Smallpox and Polio? They didn't just go away on their own. They were eliminated through vaccines. They could not have just disappeared... they had existed for too long for that to happen. In countries where the vaccine is unavailable, people still get sick from these diseases.

Step up to the plate and get a shot. You might get a lollipop.

Does this demand Activism?

Here is another website set up by people who really have too much time on their hands:

www.consumerfreedom.com

Either drink soda or don't. Eat at McDonald's or don't. Make a decision. You don't have to justify your nutritional choices to the world. Nobody cares.

It won't matter if Congress passes a tax on soda because people will pay the extra fifty cents for a Coke.

Whom are these "consumer advocates" trying to fool? Soda is bad for you. End of story. It is delicious, but totally without nutritional value. There is nothing wrong with that. Candy is candy.

These people ought to find a worthwhile political cause. Why do they have a problem with people eating in a healthy way? These people should just eat their junk food and be quiet.

So Ayman al-Zalawhri called Obama a fraud. Here's a link to the article:

http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2009/09/28/al-zawahri-obama-al-qaeda.html

So I have to ask why he bothered. These people have gone out of their way to show that they don't like America, why offer a wimpy criticism of the President in a video? And what did people expect? That he would come out in favor of our President?

And how will this comment affect the outcome of next election? Bizarre.

An example of Wilson

Barack Obama should have made a direct example of Joe Wilson.

Let's be honest: The healthcare bill is far from perfect. It has been so watered down that it will be a miracle if anything changes after it passes, if it manages to even do that. It is too expensive, and the government simply does not have the money. Maybe next time.

But why did Wilson say choose to respond to Obama's statement that illegal immigrants would not be covered under the current plan?

Obama should have stopped his speech, said, "Who said that?" He then should have called Wilson up on stage next to him, handed him the bill and said, "Prove I'm lying. Find the part where illegal immigrants are covered."

This would have shown that even a senator cannot just say whatever he feels like and spread confusion about an already perplexing bill.

There has to be evidence. You cannot just make claims about something without backing it up. Why do conservatives feel the need to fabricate problems with the bill? There are plenty of real problems to examine and dispute. Why did he lie if he did not have to?

The logic is very strange.

So What?

So what if Obama gives an address directed at school kids? Some people are acting as if this is the first time any politician has spoken directly to children (with a political agenda in mind). It is impossible for a POLITICIAN to do anything but practice politics. That is his job. Speaking to children is great for publicity and might encourage a few of them to pay closer attention to American politics... who knows?

Besides, it will be another vague, cliché filled speech about staying in school, not doing drugs, breaking barriers, creating a better tomorrow, etc. Conservatives and moderates need not worry about Obama trying to brainwash kids with a message of Socialism. This is a stunt, like most Presidential appearances with or addresses to children or young people.

It won't be a useful speech, that is the worst it could possibly be.

No wonder stress is rising

I don't think I even have to comment on this... it is just disgusting and those responsible should be ashamed and banned from the world of graphic design.

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/wildlife-group-condemns-a-911-tsunami-ad/

Just spread this article around. Make sure ad designers see it and know that there is a line that can easily be crossed when trying to spread a message. And just when PTSD levels from 9/11 are rising.

Speaking of which, why are all these new movies being released on September 11? Do they think people aren't going to notice? The idiot movie executives in Hollywood seem to think that Americans can't remember anything more than what happened five minutes ago. How hard would it have been to release movies the next week so as to avoid these connotations?

Baseball v. Religion

This isn't as infuriating as it is weird:

The New York Yankees’ home game against the Boston Red Sox on Sept. 27 will revert to its original start time to avoid a conflict with the Jewish holiday Yom Kippur.

Originally scheduled for a 1 p.m. start, the game was moved to 8 p.m. New York time at the request of Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN network. Because that is after sundown on Yom Kippur, observant Jews who purchased tickets won’t attend the game or watch it on television.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601079&sid=aqq9k2G0aLqg

Boohoo, you wouldn't get to see the Yankees game because of a holiday you impose on yourself.

If you were religious enough to be observing Yom Kippur, why would you have purchased tickets for that day? Also, if the importance of the Yankee-Red Sox game is equal to the importance of the Day of Atonement, then what does that say about the current state of faith? Yom Kippur is not a social gathering; it is a serious religious holiday. You can't be strictly religious and a die hard Yankees fan at the same time... although they are both forms of faith in one way or another.

And what if it goes into extra innings? Well, as the Old Testament (I think in Leviticus) says: "If it should be the ninth of the innings, and yea thou shalt see scores of equal value, thou willest take thine brew of barley and hops and quit the stadium forthwith." Do those who are observant see how strange this is? I don't care if they do it, I just want them to see how weird it really is.

If it were the Mets game we were discussing, I could at least understand if you would want to pray fiercely afterward, for those are great sins we see committed on the field.