I'd say "we" stopped being afraid of polio about the same time we stopped being afraid and respectful of tuberculosis. I am astounded by how ignorant many health care professionals are of TB today, but after all, most of them have never seen a single case. Now on to read Nurse Teri's column. -----Alan
The Salk vaccine became available when I was in 5th grade; they loaded us all into school buses and took us down to the Veterans' Hall to be vaccinated. There was no question about whether or not a child should be vaccinated. A relative of mine by marriage got a dose of a bad lot of the vaccine and came down with the disease; not a bad case, though, and a rare occurrence. -----Alan
In re the Palisades fires, they are nearly a yearly occurrence. I think the houses in that area should be built to the fire resistance standard of the woodland-urban interface, but that is optional. I recall seeing a photo of a completely undamaged house built to that standard near Paradise after other houses were burnt to the ground in that terrific fire a few yeas back. Also a photo of a wealthy neighborhood near Santa Barbara that was largely burnt to the ground by a wildfire some years before that; here and there were untouched houses built in ways that made them more fire resistant, although by no means to the full woodland interface standard. ------Alan P.S.: Our home is built to be resistant to both fire and earthquakes, though neither of those things are anticipated hereabouts.
Hot and absolutely dry winds of 70-80 mph are common there at this time of year, if memory serves me well. (I have never had reason to visit the area.) The recommended building standards include non-flammable roofs and siding, covered eaves, no wooden decks or porches, and deployable window coverings to prevent ignition of flammable materials inside the house by infrared radiation passing through the glass. Also, of course, adequate clearance of brush and trees around the house. ------Alan
According to the local weather lady, these current winds are not the customary hot Santa Annas, but rather very cold winds from the Arctic. Also, IIRC winds up to cat 2 hurricane force were expected overnight. I haven't had the heart to follow the coverage today. The devastation I saw last night disturbed me enough for a while, though of course I'll have to check in on it eventually. Even on television/Youtube, those fires are the most horrific things I've ever seen.
If they are cold winds from the Arctic they are detouring around this part of the state; we have had only barely perceptible breezes, and no frost. I suppose they could come down east of the Sierra Nevada and go through the same passes the Santa Ana winds use. ----Alan
{listener} My family knew a man who had a curving bent arm and hand due to polio. There was a girl in my 2nd or 3rd grade class who wore leg braces. There was a girl in my Sophomore class with a leg and arm affected by polio. This is not the part of history that should be forgotten!
I remember the stories every summer about public swimming pools being closed because of polio outbreaks. During the US Civil War it was noted that soldiers from cities were less susceptible to polio, presumably because of subclinical infections during childhood. -----Alan
Yes! Vermont is ready to become the next Province of Canada! Whoo hoo! Universal Healthcare, good gun laws, women's health secure, LGBTQIA+ rights, and more! Vermont already shares a library with Quebec. We'll be happy to learn French to respect the citizens of Quebec, too.
I think it would be only fair for them to take all of New England. Brushing up my French is a very small price to pay to join an emenently civilized country like Canada.
Well, Cat, she does mentioned Vermont, NH and Maine later in the video. I imagine Canada would be pleased to accept ALL of New England. We could be the New England Province!
A Canadian commented that Elizabeth May is Canada's Bernie Sanders! She even mentioned Bernie. When we visited Ontario last Summer, folks there told us they love Bernie. So, if we promise to bring Bernie with us, I expect we'd be welcomed!
A cousin of mine lives in May's riding, in SE Vancouver Island, has voted for her, and tells me that she actively works for her constituents. The Canadian health care system has deteriorated quite a bit in recent years, unfortunately; there has been a notable decrease in numbers of [participating?] primary care physicians, who are the gatekeepers, much as in the UK. The federal government gives provincial medical councils block grants, and how the grants are spent is determined locally rather than by faceless bureaucrats in Ottawa. DUI laws in Canada are, in my professional opinion, nutzoid; they result in bizarre decisions by judges to maintain a semblance of justice. My sweetie and I drove through Quebec, Ontario, and part of New York (Buffalo area) about ten years ago; we anticipated wild drivers in Quebec and very well behaved ones in Ontario, but it was just the opposite (presumably because there are almost no highway patrolpeople in Ontario). -----Alan
I have heard one native North American English speaker in whose speech Mary, marry, and merry were still distinct, as they are in most of the UK. She was from an anglophone part of Quebec. The "Canadian rising" accent is evidently rather more to the west than that, and is a difficult thing to pick up, but would be good fun, I think. ------Alan
Not to worry! The Great Orange One will [again] encourage people to rake their forests! And arrange for the Columbia River to flow upwards over various mountain ranges and into California. -----Alan
The New Madrid and connected earthquake faults' behaviors are currently inscrutable, but would cause incredible damage if they were to bust loose again like they did about 200 years ago. -----Alan
One of the actors who has lost their home in the Palisades fire is Billy Crystal.
Actor Billy Crystal said in a statement that he and his wife, Janice, were "heartbroken" by the loss of their Pacific Palisades home where they had lived in since 1979. The When Harry Met Sally star said in a statement: "We raised our children and grandchildren here. "Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away. "We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
I never heard anyone say so, but my great grandparents must have seen the smoke rising from the 1906 fire in San Francisco from their front porch in Napa County (to the NE of San Francisco, across San Francisco Bay). -----Alan
Just watched the Elizabeth May video; in addition to Vermont and New England, she also invites California and Cascadia to join Canada! (I am a native-born Cascadian.) Maybe Northeastern California plus eastern Oregon and Washington could remain in the USA. -----Alan
Nurse Teri is first! She co-wrote this:
ReplyDeleteWhen Did We Stop Being Afraid of Polio?
{^listener} _
DeleteAlso, Teri’s co-author, Donna Gaffney, had to evacuate her Palisades home yesterday, due to the fires!
I'd say "we" stopped being afraid of polio about the same time we stopped being afraid and respectful of tuberculosis. I am astounded by how ignorant many health care professionals are of TB today, but after all, most of them have never seen a single case. Now on to read Nurse Teri's column.
Delete-----Alan
The Salk vaccine became available when I was in 5th grade; they loaded us all into school buses and took us down to the Veterans' Hall to be vaccinated. There was no question about whether or not a child should be vaccinated. A relative of mine by marriage got a dose of a bad lot of the vaccine and came down with the disease; not a bad case, though, and a rare occurrence.
Delete-----Alan
In re the Palisades fires, they are nearly a yearly occurrence. I think the houses in that area should be built to the fire resistance standard of the woodland-urban interface, but that is optional. I recall seeing a photo of a completely undamaged house built to that standard near Paradise after other houses were burnt to the ground in that terrific fire a few yeas back. Also a photo of a wealthy neighborhood near Santa Barbara that was largely burnt to the ground by a wildfire some years before that; here and there were untouched houses built in ways that made them more fire resistant, although by no means to the full woodland interface standard.
Delete------Alan
P.S.: Our home is built to be resistant to both fire and earthquakes, though neither of those things are anticipated hereabouts.
{listener}
DeleteThey may have yearly fires, but this year they are accompanied by winds up to 100mph. That’s been the game changer.
Hot and absolutely dry winds of 70-80 mph are common there at this time of year, if memory serves me well. (I have never had reason to visit the area.) The recommended building standards include non-flammable roofs and siding, covered eaves, no wooden decks or porches, and deployable window coverings to prevent ignition of flammable materials inside the house by infrared radiation passing through the glass. Also, of course, adequate clearance of brush and trees around the house.
Delete------Alan
According to the local weather lady, these current winds are not the customary hot Santa Annas, but rather very cold winds from the Arctic. Also, IIRC winds up to cat 2 hurricane force were expected overnight. I haven't had the heart to follow the coverage today. The devastation I saw last night disturbed me enough for a while, though of course I'll have to check in on it eventually. Even on television/Youtube, those fires are the most horrific things I've ever seen.
DeleteIf they are cold winds from the Arctic they are detouring around this part of the state; we have had only barely perceptible breezes, and no frost. I suppose they could come down east of the Sierra Nevada and go through the same passes the Santa Ana winds use.
Delete----Alan
There are now 4 fires in the LA area, all four 0% contained.
DeleteMake that 5 fires that are 0% contained. And 5 people confirmed dead. Just horrific.
DeleteAlan, that sounds about right.
DeleteI remember well, as a child, my mother warning us all to wear jackets outdoors because "it's polio weather". ~Susan
ReplyDelete{listener}
DeleteMy family knew a man who had a curving bent arm and hand due to polio. There was a girl in my 2nd or 3rd grade class who wore leg braces. There was a girl in my Sophomore class with a leg and arm affected by polio.
This is not the part of history that should be forgotten!
I remember the stories every summer about public swimming pools being closed because of polio outbreaks. During the US Civil War it was noted that soldiers from cities were less susceptible to polio, presumably because of subclinical infections during childhood.
Delete-----Alan
Okay, now, this will really make your day!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth May of Canada has something to say to DJT
Yes! Vermont is ready to become the next Province of Canada! Whoo hoo! Universal Healthcare, good gun laws, women's health secure, LGBTQIA+ rights, and more! Vermont already shares a library with Quebec. We'll be happy to learn French to respect the citizens of Quebec, too.
DeleteI think it would be only fair for them to take all of New England. Brushing up my French is a very small price to pay to join an emenently civilized country like Canada.
DeleteBetter version of the video here.
DeleteWell, Cat, she does mentioned Vermont, NH and Maine later in the video. I imagine Canada would be pleased to accept ALL of New England. We could be the New England Province!
DeleteA Canadian commented that Elizabeth May is Canada's Bernie Sanders! She even mentioned Bernie. When we visited Ontario last Summer, folks there told us they love Bernie. So, if we promise to bring Bernie with us, I expect we'd be welcomed!
DeleteAnyplace that loves Bernie is the place for me. *smile*
Delete😁
DeleteA cousin of mine lives in May's riding, in SE Vancouver Island, has voted for her, and tells me that she actively works for her constituents. The Canadian health care system has deteriorated quite a bit in recent years, unfortunately; there has been a notable decrease in numbers of [participating?] primary care physicians, who are the gatekeepers, much as in the UK. The federal government gives provincial medical councils block grants, and how the grants are spent is determined locally rather than by faceless bureaucrats in Ottawa. DUI laws in Canada are, in my professional opinion, nutzoid; they result in bizarre decisions by judges to maintain a semblance of justice. My sweetie and I drove through Quebec, Ontario, and part of New York (Buffalo area) about ten years ago; we anticipated wild drivers in Quebec and very well behaved ones in Ontario, but it was just the opposite (presumably because there are almost no highway patrolpeople in Ontario).
Delete-----Alan
I have heard one native North American English speaker in whose speech Mary, marry, and merry were still distinct, as they are in most of the UK. She was from an anglophone part of Quebec. The "Canadian rising" accent is evidently rather more to the west than that, and is a difficult thing to pick up, but would be good fun, I think.
Delete------Alan
Video: HORRIFIC LA Wildfires Show We Are NOT Ready For Disasters Like This - Click
ReplyDeleteThey just announced a 6th fire has started in the Hollywood Hills area!
DeleteI cannot image how those fire fighters are going to survive this brutal effort!
DeleteNot to worry! The Great Orange One will [again] encourage people to rake their forests! And arrange for the Columbia River to flow upwards over various mountain ranges and into California.
Delete-----Alan
The New Madrid and connected earthquake faults' behaviors are currently inscrutable, but would cause incredible damage if they were to bust loose again like they did about 200 years ago.
Delete-----Alan
{listener}
DeleteLet us pray that that does not take place just now…!
Hmmm.... that comment immediately above is a non sequitur.
Delete------Alan
One of the actors who has lost their home in the Palisades fire is Billy Crystal.
ReplyDeleteActor Billy Crystal said in a statement that he and his wife, Janice, were "heartbroken" by the loss of their Pacific Palisades home where they had lived in since 1979.
The When Harry Met Sally star said in a statement: "We raised our children and grandchildren here.
"Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can't be taken away.
"We are heartbroken of course but with the love of our children and friends we will get through this."
I never heard anyone say so, but my great grandparents must have seen the smoke rising from the 1906 fire in San Francisco from their front porch in Napa County (to the NE of San Francisco, across San Francisco Bay).
Delete-----Alan
Just watched the Elizabeth May video; in addition to Vermont and New England, she also invites California and Cascadia to join Canada! (I am a native-born Cascadian.) Maybe Northeastern California plus eastern Oregon and Washington could remain in the USA.
ReplyDelete-----Alan