Once again, New York City has lucked out and has not been plagued, as it has been in the past, with a large number of West Nile Virus cases this summer. Unfortunately, soon the US may be inundated with Zika. The Zika virus (spread by the infected Aedes species mosquito, the cockroach of the mosquitos, the same mosquito that spreads both the dengue and chikungunya viruses,) is a mosquito-borne illness that can cause fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes) but usually there are little to no symptoms. Unfortunately the virus is spreading rapidly throughout the Caribbean and is thought to be heading towards the US. (There have been more cases of Zika that Mad Cow Disease in the US this year.)
ACME takes some pride in this and once again we would like to publish this importance health update:
Mosquitoes can not cause spread the Ebola but do carry the Zika virus. Zika infection during pregnancy can cause a birth defect of the brain called Microcephaly and other severe fetal brain defects. Other problems have been detected among fetuses and infants infected with Zika virus before birth, such as defects of the eye, hearing deficits, and impaired growth. There have also been increased reports of Guillain-Barré syndrome, an uncommon sickness of the nervous system, in areas affected by Zika. Contrary to the examples of Microcephaly you see in the newspaper every day — such as Schlitzie and Zippy the Pinhead - microcephaly is a severe condition whose victims would be less likely to wear yellow pajamas with large buttons or performing unwillingly in the circus than to have seizures and hearing loss.
Zika virus is easy to avoid: like most viruses, it's very small, very slow, and not especially bright. Unfortunately, it's often carried by mosquitoes that are bigger, faster, and fiendishly clever.
It's not always easy to discern whether or not a given mosquito is carrying the Zika virus (or Malaria, for that matter,) so the prudent move is to avoid all mosquitoes.
This may be unfair to innocent mosquitoes who mean you no harm--the so-called "moderate" mosquitoes - but political niceties must be subordinated to threats to your survival.
It's important to remember that mosquitoes are masters of disguise. With a little makeup or a fancy hat, any mosquito can take on the appearance of several other species. They cannot, however, conceal their stingers.
Avoid all insects with stingers. If you encounter one that claims its stinger is merely a golf-club wedged into its rectum, do not believe it: insects don't golf.
Do not open your doors or windows to strangers before ascertaining whether or not they're mosquitoes. If they acknowledge being mosquitoes but deny carrying the Zika virus, do not trust them. Some mosquitoes may even offer to show you a doctor's certificate, but such evidence is meaningless: they may have picked up Zika virus in the time elapsed since their doctor tested them.
Be wary of delivery men, plumbers, electricians, and cable guys with stingers trailing from their jumpsuits.
August 7 annually recognizes a famous sea serpent sighting. This sighting was made by the men and officers of HMS Daedalus in August 1848 during a voyage to Saint Helena in the South Atlantic. The 60 foot long creature that they saw held a peculiar maned head above the ocean water.
Let us also remember that in 1752, Erik Pontoppidan, the Bishop of Bergen, wrote a published report of seeing the Kraken, a horned creature so large that when it surfaced, most of its body remained underwater.
(We should always celebrate Cecil the sea sick sea serpent. )
Get out there and go to the beach and celebrate Sea Serpent Day!
August 7, 1971 -
The Bee Gees early hit How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? topped the charts on this date. It became their first US #1 hit.
This was written during the same afternoon as The Bee Gees' previous American hit, Lonely Days in Barry Gibb's basement flat at Addison Road, Holland Park, London.
August 7, 1948 -
... Huh! I must be walking in my sleep. But how can I be walking in my sleep if I'm awake enough to know I'm walking in my sleep. The strange things people do in their sleep, especially if they're awake.
Chuck Jones guided Daffy Duck's personality change from a "screwball" character, to a greedy, self-centered one in You Were Never Duckier which premiered on this date.
August 7, 1953 -
The best musical of the Golden Age of Hollywood Musicals (unless you consider Singing in the Rain the best), The Band Wagon, premiered on this date.
The movie reflects two real-life situations. In the movie Tony Hunter (Fred Astaire) is washed up. In real life Astaire's career was at a standstill. In the movie much is made of whether Cyd Charisse's character is too tall for Fred's character. This was also true in real life. Whenever Cyd and Fred are together she is in shoes with low heels.
August 7, 1963 -
American International released the first "beach-blanket" film, Beach Party, on this date.
The film was intended as a low-budget imitation of Elvis Presley's musical movies, with added teen appeal, but the series took on a life of its own.
The Word of the Day
Today in History:
August 7, 1782 -
... the road to glory in a patriot army and a free country is is thus open to all.
Washington authorized the award of the Purple Heart for soldiers wounded in combat.
August 7, 1876 -
The German spy Mata Hari, a Dutchwoman named Margaretha Geertruida Zelle, was born on this day. She was executed by the French on October 14, 1917. (I seem to bring her up a lot.)
There was not much actual evidence of espionage, but she had been seen naked with German officers and the French found this distasteful enough to kill her.
August 7, 1882 -
Ellison Hatfield was stabbed 26 times and shot in the back by Tolbert McCoy and two of his brothers. Two days later, the Hatfield clan captures the three McCoys and executes them by firing squad.
Thus begins generations of bloodshed between the families, ultimately causing about 100 casualties.
Louis Leakey was also born on this day, in 1903. Mr Leakey was a prominent British archeologist who discovered that either mankind was much older than had previously been supposed or that mankind had not actually been mankind but some other kind instead.
August 7, 1953 -
If only Nixon had given Eisenhower that rum toddy today and tucked him in for his afternoon nap, the 2004 election might have been different.
President Eisenhower signed legislation retroactively granting Ohio official statehood for the previous 150 years. In 1803, apparently everyone just assumed that Ohio was a state, even though Congress had never passed legislation to that effect. The nation remained blissfully unaware of this fact until nosy historians began snooping around in preparation for Ohio's Sesquicentennial.
August 7, 1955 -
The first transistor radio, the model TR-55, was sold in Japan on this date. The first transistor radio in the US, the Regency TR1, was put on the market on October 18, 1954.
August 7, 1957 -
It was 1954 and the world's most beloved comedy duo were getting ready for a comeback. Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy were enjoying a resurgence of popularity in the U.S. thanks to constant showings of their old movies on television. The duo were on the verge of starring in a series of TV comedy specials when Stan Laurel suffered a stroke in April of 1955. While recuperating, Oliver Hardy suffered a massive heart attack. Doctors ordered Hardy bed rest and a diet regime. Hardy lost an amazing 150 lbs and Laurel completely recovered from his stroke.
Unfortunately, on September 12, 1956, Oliver Hardy suffered a debilitating stroke. while he survived, he was left completely disabled. His wife cared for him constantly (at home) while Laurel visited often. Oliver Hardy succumbed to his stroke on this date. Upon hearing the news of his death, Stan Laurel said, "What’s there to say? It’s shocking of course. Ollie was like a brother."
August 7, 1959 -
Explorer 6 transmitted the first TV photo of Earth from space on this date.
The satellite, popularly known as the 'paddlewheel satellite,' featured a photocell scanner that transmitted a crude picture of the earth's surface and cloud cover from a distance of 17,000 miles .
August 7, 1960 -
Film and television actor David Duchovny (sex addict and another member of the Milton Berle club) was born in New York City on this date. Two of his most popular TV roles include Special Agent Fox Mulder from The X-Files and troubled writer Hank Moody on Showtime's Californication.
Remember, the truth is out there. But then again, What is truth, what is beauty and remember hemlock is poison.
August 7, 1974 -
Yes kids - The past is a foreign country: they did things differently there.
Philippe Petit, the French high wire artist, walked between the Twin Towers in New York City on this date.
And so it goes.
Before you go - Puddle Pity Party's new video for the week is his cover of Coldplay's Fix You
Ok, you may go.
1263
No comments:
Post a Comment