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| Veruca Salt? |
Quibbles
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
News Update: Ebola
An update to Nargles's post on Ebola:
I just had World Affairs Club and we talked about Ebola. We focused primarily on two events:
1) Canada has found a cure to Ebola that has worked on animals. They have shipped 900 vials to the World Health Organization (WHO). Should the US be doing anything like that, or should we focus more on closing down airports and quarantining people? Keep in mind that the US has, in fact, had Ebola deaths, while Canada has not. In fact, this article gives 5 reasons why an outbreak is highly unlikely in Canada. But the question is, should we take a more preventative front on facing this issue (before disease) or a more cure-oriented front (during disease)?
On one hand, no matter how careful we are in our vaccines and quarantines, someone's going to slip and Ebola will (and already has) infect an American. On the other hand, cures might not work on everyone, and will be highly expensive. Also, with such a life-or-death matter at hand, we simply do not have time to find a perfect cure. It usually takes 8 years for a cure to be fully processed, checked, and double checked.
2) The new "Ebola Czar", or the person taking care of Ebola in America, is politician Ron Klain. He is a full time politician and businessman, with no medical experience at all. His job will be to advise President Obama on Ebola issues. The question is, is he suitable for this job? He was likely appointed simply because of his close relationship with the President. It is rumored that he will be part of the cabinet sometime soon. But he has no scientific or medical training, and probably has no idea how to deal with Ebola. Should we take our chances on some guy who knows nothing? It's such a big, dangerous, risky topic, and either we screw it all up and it becomes the SARS outbreak again, or we manage to contain it thanks to the help of our trusty friend, Mr. Klain. But then again, there's only so much he can do.
It's another controversial topic, which I guess is surprising, because really, how much can you debate about Ebola? But the US involvement, how much we should involve ourselves, and how we should involve ourselves, is really a tricky process. There are no do-overs, and people's lives are at stake globally. Four and a half thousand people have died of Ebola already, and it's quickly spreading.
Think about it, and let me know your thoughts.
Quibbles
I just had World Affairs Club and we talked about Ebola. We focused primarily on two events:
1) Canada has found a cure to Ebola that has worked on animals. They have shipped 900 vials to the World Health Organization (WHO). Should the US be doing anything like that, or should we focus more on closing down airports and quarantining people? Keep in mind that the US has, in fact, had Ebola deaths, while Canada has not. In fact, this article gives 5 reasons why an outbreak is highly unlikely in Canada. But the question is, should we take a more preventative front on facing this issue (before disease) or a more cure-oriented front (during disease)?
On one hand, no matter how careful we are in our vaccines and quarantines, someone's going to slip and Ebola will (and already has) infect an American. On the other hand, cures might not work on everyone, and will be highly expensive. Also, with such a life-or-death matter at hand, we simply do not have time to find a perfect cure. It usually takes 8 years for a cure to be fully processed, checked, and double checked.
 |
| Ron Klain |
It's another controversial topic, which I guess is surprising, because really, how much can you debate about Ebola? But the US involvement, how much we should involve ourselves, and how we should involve ourselves, is really a tricky process. There are no do-overs, and people's lives are at stake globally. Four and a half thousand people have died of Ebola already, and it's quickly spreading.
Think about it, and let me know your thoughts.
Quibbles
040.5 and 042.5 (2 in 1!) Responses to Warbles
Hey Warbles (and Nargles),
Sorry this is getting out so late. I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you or anything, because trust me, I know how annoying it is when no one responds to your post (*cough*). Your opinion matters, and you are definitely a valuable member in this community. School's just been tough lately and the first wave of tests are getting back and with them, my anxiety.
So anyways, about the Russian 'empire'. As you said, an empire is usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. Two loopholes:
1) "Usually". That means there are exceptions, including possibly Russia.
2) "Kingdom". Is Russia a kingdom? Vladimir Putin isn't a king, and although it is very big, so is Canada. Is Canada a kingdom or an empire? In fact, Canada has even more reason to be a kingdom, seeing that it uses Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign ruler. I guess we have to look further into what a kingdom is, as well.
I think that only giving a country like Russia the label of 'empire' makes it an empire. It's not one of those things that are like, if you have symptoms of this and this and this, you probably have this. It's more about the way we interpret the word 'empire', which is very ambiguous. And is a modern-day 'empire' all so bad? Sure, empire usually means war and destruction and mass killing, but as seen in the Roman Empire or the Indus Valley Civilization, empires also bring huge developments in science, literature, philosophy, and architecture. Without them, we would still be in the caveman era with fires but no s'mores.
I'm curious. Could the USA be technically an 'empire'? How did you come up with this idea? Are there recent developments in Russia's borders that I don't know about? Please let me know.
Second, about the marmosets and monkeys: THAT MONKEY VIDEO IS SO ADORABLE. I LOVE IT. I WAS LAUGHING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VIDEO, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. I SHOWED IT TO MY MOM AND WE HAD A HUGE BONDING SESSION OVER THE MONKEYS. But it also brought up the issue of gender inequality for me. Women and men work just as hard in the workplace, yet men often get higher wages. This is just like how both monkeys did the same job, but one got a grape and one got some cucumber. The monkey with the cucumber stood up for itself and threw the cucumber back at the worker (I still can't get over it), but when women stand up for themselves they are usually ignored.
Nargles, it's your turn. What do you think?
Ed Sheeranly yours,
Quibbles.
Sorry this is getting out so late. I don't want you to feel like I'm ignoring you or anything, because trust me, I know how annoying it is when no one responds to your post (*cough*). Your opinion matters, and you are definitely a valuable member in this community. School's just been tough lately and the first wave of tests are getting back and with them, my anxiety.
So anyways, about the Russian 'empire'. As you said, an empire is usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom. Two loopholes:
1) "Usually". That means there are exceptions, including possibly Russia.
2) "Kingdom". Is Russia a kingdom? Vladimir Putin isn't a king, and although it is very big, so is Canada. Is Canada a kingdom or an empire? In fact, Canada has even more reason to be a kingdom, seeing that it uses Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign ruler. I guess we have to look further into what a kingdom is, as well.
I think that only giving a country like Russia the label of 'empire' makes it an empire. It's not one of those things that are like, if you have symptoms of this and this and this, you probably have this. It's more about the way we interpret the word 'empire', which is very ambiguous. And is a modern-day 'empire' all so bad? Sure, empire usually means war and destruction and mass killing, but as seen in the Roman Empire or the Indus Valley Civilization, empires also bring huge developments in science, literature, philosophy, and architecture. Without them, we would still be in the caveman era with fires but no s'mores.
I'm curious. Could the USA be technically an 'empire'? How did you come up with this idea? Are there recent developments in Russia's borders that I don't know about? Please let me know.
Second, about the marmosets and monkeys: THAT MONKEY VIDEO IS SO ADORABLE. I LOVE IT. I WAS LAUGHING THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE VIDEO, I LOVE IT I LOVE IT I LOVE IT. I SHOWED IT TO MY MOM AND WE HAD A HUGE BONDING SESSION OVER THE MONKEYS. But it also brought up the issue of gender inequality for me. Women and men work just as hard in the workplace, yet men often get higher wages. This is just like how both monkeys did the same job, but one got a grape and one got some cucumber. The monkey with the cucumber stood up for itself and threw the cucumber back at the worker (I still can't get over it), but when women stand up for themselves they are usually ignored.
Nargles, it's your turn. What do you think?
Ed Sheeranly yours,
Quibbles.
Monday, October 13, 2014
Ebola, and everything you need to know
If you live in the United States, which statistically, most of the people who read this blog do, you've undoubtably heard news about the Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa. And well, if you haven't, you need to crawl out from the rock you live under and turn on the news.
The first case of Ebola found in the United States was that of Thomas E. Duncan, a Texan resident just returned from Liberia, one of hardest hit countries in West Africa. Of course, with this recent development, many Americans were launched into a frenzy. Ebola in America, how could this happen? Am I safe? Is my family safe? How can I protect myself? While these are somewhat valid concerns, there is a very low risk of an everyday American contracting Ebola. How often does one come into contact with a random stranger's bodily fluids? I'd say not too often. Furthermore, unlike the flu, one is only contagious if showing symptoms. This does not mean that you shouldn't be cautious, as the threat of the spread of Ebola is not unrealistic.
The Ebola outbreak originated some 55 odd years ago on the Ebola River, with no significant threat to large numbers of people, and for a long time, there were small outbreaks, but really nothing to be worried about. However, as all diseases do, it mutated to become a perfect killing machine, first shutting down the immune system, leaving the body defenseless. Ebola works its magic extremely quickly, killing its victims in little under a week, with symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, internal and external bleeding, etc. Ebola can only be spread through direct contact with bodily fluids (which means not by coughing or sneezing), but this poses a greater threat in West African than in America, where we like to keep our personal bubble in tact at all times. It's traditional of a burial ceremony in much of Africa to wash down the loved one's body, and perform rituals, which if the personal died of Ebola, likely spreads the disease. When people in countries like Liberia began collecting bodies of those killed by Ebola, many residents were devastated and uncomprehending, some even going so far as to claim Obama himself had constructed the disease. Despite peoples' efforts, the disease is spreading, with more than 4,000 deaths in the last 6 months, and has even spread outside of Africa, to places like Spain and the United States.
The first case of Ebola found in the United States was that of Thomas E. Duncan, a Texan resident just returned from Liberia, one of hardest hit countries in West Africa. Of course, with this recent development, many Americans were launched into a frenzy. Ebola in America, how could this happen? Am I safe? Is my family safe? How can I protect myself? While these are somewhat valid concerns, there is a very low risk of an everyday American contracting Ebola. How often does one come into contact with a random stranger's bodily fluids? I'd say not too often. Furthermore, unlike the flu, one is only contagious if showing symptoms. This does not mean that you shouldn't be cautious, as the threat of the spread of Ebola is not unrealistic.
One way to help stop the spread of Ebola at its source is to donate to the foundations that are doing all they can to help the people of West Africa. They have hospitals set up, but they are few in number, and all filled to capacity. They turn away countless people every day for lack of room, and with nowhere else to go, they return home and spread the virus. Ebola is completely ravaging the countries of West Africa, with the country in turmoil as people die on the streets. It may not be a big threat in America at this time, but it is a very palpable threat to West Africans. Personally, I will be making a contribution to an organization to try and help as best I can in aiding the fight against Ebola. I think it's frustrating that often one of the only ways to help a cause is to open up your wallet, but really when a situation as dire as this comes along, we all really need to band together in order to put a stop to it.
Love Always,
- Nargles 10/13/14
UPDATE: Breaking news! Ebola virus rumored with the capability of being transmitted airborne! Get you masks, folks, we may end up needing them. - Nargles 10/16/14
Ebola: Airborne?
UPDATE: Breaking news! Ebola virus rumored with the capability of being transmitted airborne! Get you masks, folks, we may end up needing them. - Nargles 10/16/14
Ebola: Airborne?
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
042 Monkeys and Marmosets...
- Warbles
041 xoJane Sperm Donor Story
This story originally appeared on xoJane.com.
What to do? What to do? Jennifer Cramblett is suing a Chicago sperm bank for wrongful birth because a lab mix-up produced a baby of the wrong color — black.
The Uniontown, Ohio, resident who lives with her lesbian partner Amanda Zinkon and biracial daughter Payton, two, also alleges breach of warranty in the suit filed this week in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which has the largest population of black folks in America, by the way. (This population is what probably explains the creature that is Barack Obama, but that’s another story.)
During her pregnancy, Cramblett found out what she thought was sperm from donor vial No. 380, a white guy, actually came from donor No. 330, a black dude. So now this lesbian couple living what until very recently was widely considered a nontraditional lifestyle is clutching their chests over the prospect of having to raise a black girl, though they report having “bonded with Payton easily.”
It’s just that the neighbors are a problem. And the family.
“Family members, one uncle in particular, speak openly and derisively about persons of color. [Cramblett] did not know African-Americans until her college days at the University of Akron,” the suit says.
“Because of this background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans, and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”
This suit, these women, America’s un-evolved racial attitudes present some problems, so let me start here:
They’re right.
The couple questions their “cultural competence” to raise a black child given their limited experience with black folks. Not enough white parents involved in what’s called transracial adoption question their competency in these matters. “Love will conquer all,” they say, until the first time they’re perplexed by the inability to get a comb through their little black girl’s hair, then cut her “bangs” that shrivel up into a curious forehead afro. Mark that No. 1 on things to discuss with the therapist when that little girl grows up.
As white women, they’re certainly typical. Most white people don’t have any black friends, as we know from a recent Public Religion Research Institute study showing three-quarters of white Americans don’t have any non-white pals. It’s so easy to pretend America’s racial problems (think: #jordandavis #ferguson) don’t exist until they populate your Twitter feed.
The couple also say they live in what they consider a racially insensitive town that might give the child hell one day. Yup, that could happen. Just ask Trayvon Martin. Oh, we can’t.
They didn’t ask for their lives to be turned into a giant social experiment. Yes, the sperm bank messed up big time, and they should take the hit for it. Whatever money this family receives could be used for Payton’s education or to provide enrichment opportunities of the culturally enriching kind so she just grows up happy and well rounded regardless of her skin color. I hope she doesn’t grow up hating herself or other black people because that happens, you know.
They’re wrong.
They’re gay, so they’re already a social experiment (meaning, homosexuality is only now being accepted as a norm in mainstream society). Gay marriage may soon one day be the law of the land, but the fact that it’s a fight proves the point.
They’re women living in what author Tara Mohr calls a “transitional historical moment.” On one hand, women have more freedom and opportunity than ever, thanks to everything from the first-wave feminism of 1848 Seneca Falls to the success of the 50-year-old Civil Rights Act of 1964, largely thought to be aimed at minorities like Payton. This law is totally responsible for breaking open workplace doors for women, mostly white ones. The very nature of being a woman is a social experiment.
Both women say they were sexually abused as girls, so when “you think of sperm, you think of sexual encounters and neither of us wanted to think of males in our lives again,” according to the suit. In other words, the fact that the baby came out in a way they didn’t plan underscored the lack of control they have felt over their own bodies.
These are strong women for surviving sexual abuse and carefully planning to have children who would be blood relatives by virtue of being inseminated by the same sperm. But did they consider the fact they could have had a boy?
The genetic engineering (and entitlement) tendencies of these women is nauseating. So what, life didn’t turn out the way they planned. Look at employment stats, housing numbers, the failure of public education and mass incarceration — that’s black life, baby.
And what? They don’t know any black lesbians? With children?
Each woman seeks an undetermined amount that exceeds $50,000 in damages. Because they certainly are — damaged.
Deborah Douglas is a journalist living in Chicago.
- Quibbles
(Warbles, I will answer your question in the next post. I've been a little busy lately :/ Sorry.)
What to do? What to do? Jennifer Cramblett is suing a Chicago sperm bank for wrongful birth because a lab mix-up produced a baby of the wrong color — black.
The Uniontown, Ohio, resident who lives with her lesbian partner Amanda Zinkon and biracial daughter Payton, two, also alleges breach of warranty in the suit filed this week in the Circuit Court of Cook County, which has the largest population of black folks in America, by the way. (This population is what probably explains the creature that is Barack Obama, but that’s another story.)
During her pregnancy, Cramblett found out what she thought was sperm from donor vial No. 380, a white guy, actually came from donor No. 330, a black dude. So now this lesbian couple living what until very recently was widely considered a nontraditional lifestyle is clutching their chests over the prospect of having to raise a black girl, though they report having “bonded with Payton easily.”
It’s just that the neighbors are a problem. And the family.
“Family members, one uncle in particular, speak openly and derisively about persons of color. [Cramblett] did not know African-Americans until her college days at the University of Akron,” the suit says.
“Because of this background and upbringing, Jennifer acknowledges her limited cultural competency relative to African-Americans, and steep learning curve, particularly in small, homogenous Uniontown, which she regards as too racially intolerant.”
This suit, these women, America’s un-evolved racial attitudes present some problems, so let me start here:
They’re right.
The couple questions their “cultural competence” to raise a black child given their limited experience with black folks. Not enough white parents involved in what’s called transracial adoption question their competency in these matters. “Love will conquer all,” they say, until the first time they’re perplexed by the inability to get a comb through their little black girl’s hair, then cut her “bangs” that shrivel up into a curious forehead afro. Mark that No. 1 on things to discuss with the therapist when that little girl grows up.
As white women, they’re certainly typical. Most white people don’t have any black friends, as we know from a recent Public Religion Research Institute study showing three-quarters of white Americans don’t have any non-white pals. It’s so easy to pretend America’s racial problems (think: #jordandavis #ferguson) don’t exist until they populate your Twitter feed.
The couple also say they live in what they consider a racially insensitive town that might give the child hell one day. Yup, that could happen. Just ask Trayvon Martin. Oh, we can’t.
They didn’t ask for their lives to be turned into a giant social experiment. Yes, the sperm bank messed up big time, and they should take the hit for it. Whatever money this family receives could be used for Payton’s education or to provide enrichment opportunities of the culturally enriching kind so she just grows up happy and well rounded regardless of her skin color. I hope she doesn’t grow up hating herself or other black people because that happens, you know.
They’re wrong.
They’re gay, so they’re already a social experiment (meaning, homosexuality is only now being accepted as a norm in mainstream society). Gay marriage may soon one day be the law of the land, but the fact that it’s a fight proves the point.
They’re women living in what author Tara Mohr calls a “transitional historical moment.” On one hand, women have more freedom and opportunity than ever, thanks to everything from the first-wave feminism of 1848 Seneca Falls to the success of the 50-year-old Civil Rights Act of 1964, largely thought to be aimed at minorities like Payton. This law is totally responsible for breaking open workplace doors for women, mostly white ones. The very nature of being a woman is a social experiment.
Both women say they were sexually abused as girls, so when “you think of sperm, you think of sexual encounters and neither of us wanted to think of males in our lives again,” according to the suit. In other words, the fact that the baby came out in a way they didn’t plan underscored the lack of control they have felt over their own bodies.
These are strong women for surviving sexual abuse and carefully planning to have children who would be blood relatives by virtue of being inseminated by the same sperm. But did they consider the fact they could have had a boy?
The genetic engineering (and entitlement) tendencies of these women is nauseating. So what, life didn’t turn out the way they planned. Look at employment stats, housing numbers, the failure of public education and mass incarceration — that’s black life, baby.
And what? They don’t know any black lesbians? With children?
Each woman seeks an undetermined amount that exceeds $50,000 in damages. Because they certainly are — damaged.
Deborah Douglas is a journalist living in Chicago.
- Quibbles
(Warbles, I will answer your question in the next post. I've been a little busy lately :/ Sorry.)
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
040 The Russian "Empire"
Hello Everyone!
So there is an issue with the 21st century world that I would like to talk about today. It is Russia. Dictionary.com partially defines "Empire" as "usually a territory of greater extent than a kingdom" Which would imply the annexing/taking over of other territories. So, by that definition, modern day Russia is an Empire. This is quite an issue, I'd like to know what the two of you think of it, and what we, as America, should do about it. (You can also state what you think we should do about ISIS/ISIL if you like)
To the Cow Problem: I disagree. In my opinion, the cause of the HIV epidemic in Africa is the education that its citizens are getting: between "absolutely none." We lived in Zambia (Africa) for about 10 years when I was little. They are constant fighters of the HIV/AIDS virus, and from what I recall, have never mentioned cows being the instigator of the whole HIV thing. I don't think Africa is as primitive as most people think: Africa is an expanding entrepreneurship, where its capitol society helps its development. It is very much advancing now, and in the future, hopefully it'll be a fully functional Developed Continent.
- Warbles
To the Cow Problem: I disagree. In my opinion, the cause of the HIV epidemic in Africa is the education that its citizens are getting: between "absolutely none." We lived in Zambia (Africa) for about 10 years when I was little. They are constant fighters of the HIV/AIDS virus, and from what I recall, have never mentioned cows being the instigator of the whole HIV thing. I don't think Africa is as primitive as most people think: Africa is an expanding entrepreneurship, where its capitol society helps its development. It is very much advancing now, and in the future, hopefully it'll be a fully functional Developed Continent.
- Warbles
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