THIS AND THAT

I had the displeasure to find a copy of the Seattle Times Newspaper yesterday at one of the fast food places I sometimes visit. It was a day old (the paper not the fast food (but then how would I know?)). What the heck. I hadn't read any newspaper lately, so I felt obligated. On page B3 of the March 6, 2003 issue, I found a small article titled "Flu virus keeps kids out of school in Gig Harbor."

My interest level immediately rose. Was it the same Gig Harbor, Washington school that had the air problems a while ago? Was it Artondale School? No, it turns out that it was not. It was Vaughn Elementary. Now, that name also seems familiar. Why? Do I have something on it also? If I do, I'll have to work to dig it up.

" . . . prompting School District officials to shut it down until Monday while cleaning crews disinfect the premises." Curious choice of words. Operation can be shut down, but can a school building, a school be shut down? It can be closed, but I suspect that it already was and that, being the source of the problem, couldn't be stated. Another tightly closed or sealed school? On the other hand, wouldn't the school be "shut up" while it was disinfected? I wish someone could get this right so I could shut up (and shut down).

Apparently, the kids and staff were infected with the Norovirus which we are informed "is a variation of the Norwalk virus, which sickened hundreds of cruise passengers last year." Isn't it grand? A virus of the week! Aren't our health officials wonderful to be able to parse (I hate "parse." It is one of the words in favor these days. So, why did I use it? How is it related to parsley?) viruses like that? Ooh, I am so impressed! Which one will they identify next time? There will be a next time and a next and a next, etc..

Bank on it. How much are sick kids and disabled staff costing us? You should be suspicious. The health worms have statistics for everything else. Where are the statistics for this? Are they hiding them from you? Such incidents are wide spread and have been going on for years now, so where is the data? (The whole truth is that they had the data before this even started. Years ago, we were told that one in six of us would now have such respiratory problems. How did they know that? Did they read the bottom of the Kleenex™ box - - - or, did they write it? Why did we let them get away with it)?

Would you believe it if I told you that cruise ships were also sealed these days? Why would you think you would be getting fresh air out there on the high seas? Are you nuts? (That reminds me of a recent bumper sticker - - - "We're all here because we're not all there"). If you could take a cruise and get fresh air and start to recover, then you wouldn't need them anymore. You don't believe that they would let go of you that easily, do you? Take a cruise and bring home more ailments than you left with! You think I am joking? What is one of the things prescribed for those suffering from stress and ill health, particularly the elderly? The cruise operators know who their shills are. How do they reimburse them? (Getting too far out for you? Back track. Read about another alliance, an alliance between "medicine" and "law enforcement" that is definitely evil. Yes, Martha, EVIL)!

So, where is the data on how much this is costing us? Is the missing data evidence of a "conspAIRacy?" If not, why not? Ponder this also. This week, on March 3, 2003 to be precise, I heard Portland, Oregon radio station KEX announce that three Portland schools with air quality issues would be closed permanently. I tried to find confirmation of this with a google search and had no luck. Instead, I turned up three Portland, Maine schools with air problems! Why would a search of google and also the Oregonian Newspaper online not turn up this information? Should it be there? Do the forces in Oregon have a tighter grip? Remember Joe Weller?

The above was put to digital medium on Saturday, March 8, 2003. The next day I heard the 4pm news on radio station KONP, Port Angeles, Washington about the fact that Artondale School in Gig Harbor, Washington had spent $810,000 on "air circulation" upgrades, and there had been no complaints since the school reopened in September (2002). This was repeated again at 7:10am Monday. Information about Vaughn Elementary was also given. (I probably just missed that on Sunday). KVI radio in Seattle was also reporting the story on Monday. (In fairness, I want to disclose that a subsequent google search revealed other branches of the Seattle media were aso reporting on the story).

So, just when I wonder why something is not there, I find something else that is. Are things reported on radio these days that don't find the light of day elsewhere? I did find the original report in a newspaper. Therefore, no generalizations for you today. No, wait a minute, there must be a generalization to be made. Where is the outrage at having to spend $810,000 to fix a problem that should never have been - - - a problem that is extremely widespread, from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon and all points inbetween, etc., and a problem that has been going on for years. And, a problem that is not responsible just for respiratory problems but also the "behavioral" ones such as depression, anxiety, "panic disorder," A.D.D., A.D.H.D., etc.

Ok, so some of these things are reported. They are reported "matter-of-factly," incompletely, without the sense of betrayal that they deserve, and absent any appeal to the populace to rise up against this madness. My generalization for today is that we do not have the fortitude to stand up against those who would do this to us and make them stop and make them pay. Without it, we are lost.

Stick it in their ear . . . , or else!

Now can you tell me why we have to go after Iraq?

Copyright © 2003, Donald L. Beeman. All rights reserved.

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