Everyone is home sick lately. There have been so many people missing from my classes it's astounding. There is definitely something going around, something very flu-like. And a lot of people have mentioned in conversation how bad the flu is this year.
And in light of the flu shot, they're surprised. Well, I'm not.
The flu is a virus. Viruses change and mutate to overcome resistance. That's why you have to get the flu shot every year; because after a year, the strain has changed so much that your immune system no longer recognizes it as the flu it was vaccinated against. It's not like most other vaccines, where it's one shot, maybe a booster, and you're covered.
So when you think about it, we are really creating a superflu. To overcome the vaccination, the virus gets worse and worse, and it hits those who are not vaccinated incredibly hard.
Which raises the question; is this morally sound? Or safe? What happens when someone brings our superflu overseas to some place where they aren't vaccinated and exposes them to the virus? Scary stuff to think about.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Thursday, February 5, 2009
And You Thought the Cries for a Pony Were Bad
My mother just came home with a very interesting story for me. One of her coworkers had a five year old daughter who had been invited to a birthday party.
On the invitation, it read: "Child is registered at Toys "R" Us."
Yes. That's right. A gift registry for children. Where kids can sit down and make out a whole list of demands for their birthdays. Check it out: http://www.toysrus.ca/registry/index.jsp
The theory is that this is helpful, that the guests won't have to stress about what to buy. But what is this teaching the children? Instead of being grateful and pleasantly surprised, they expect everything they have demanded.
If I were the mother of the child who received that invitation, I would use it as a learning opportunity for my daughter. I would make a donation to a charity in the birthday girl's name, and my daughter would learn what giving is really about... which, by the way, is NOT making sure a five year old's every whim is met.
On the invitation, it read: "Child is registered at Toys "R" Us."
Yes. That's right. A gift registry for children. Where kids can sit down and make out a whole list of demands for their birthdays. Check it out: http://www.toysrus.ca/registry/index.jsp
The theory is that this is helpful, that the guests won't have to stress about what to buy. But what is this teaching the children? Instead of being grateful and pleasantly surprised, they expect everything they have demanded.
If I were the mother of the child who received that invitation, I would use it as a learning opportunity for my daughter. I would make a donation to a charity in the birthday girl's name, and my daughter would learn what giving is really about... which, by the way, is NOT making sure a five year old's every whim is met.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)