So, before you get too uptight about travelling anywhere or contemplate wearing some kind of mask in public because a few hundred have passed away from the Mexican flu, remember that the world-wide annual death rate from the flu can be up to ONE MILLION. That's the high norm, but hardly a pandemic. Thus, be mildly concerned, but, heavens, don't worry. All governments will hyper-react to this episode because, first, you can't take a chance, but, two, if less than one million die worldwide over the next year from the flu, they can take credit for responsibly preventing an epidemic.
Thus, as predicted, the world overreacted in the days following the original mention of the swine flu. Very quickly, the pork industry very effectively influenced the virus, still H1N1, to be called the North American flu. Remember, at last check, the number of deaths from this flu in Mexico is 15, which is about as many as get killed each year from falling coconuts (see SIMPLE SOLUTIONS for Humanity). Now, there is the predictable backtracking, and commentators are beginning to express a careful sentiment for sensible normality. Governments, though, can point with pride to their responsiveness, and take some credit for preventing an epidemic. Schools can be re-opened and people can comfortably travel, although enclosed environments circulating all sorts of germs, such as in air travel ,will always be a health risk. You can certainly stay home and still slip in the bathtub, so enjoy life while you can, for your lifetime is limited. In the meantime, the Mexican economy will no doubt undergo yet another mini-collapse, but the general public will at least have been somewhat educated. Perhaps this near wolf-crying experience will help minimize overreactions in the future.
2. Sometime soon, the Planet Mars might replace the Swine Flu as the next media event. Like the Swine Flu, much of the information being circulated on the World Wide Web is dubious, if not hyped. This proximity actually occurred in August of 2003, and if you missed this celestial event, Mars was said to be 85 times brighter than normally. If you don't remember this spectacular, it just shows how quickly you forget. However, don't expect too much from any 2009 encounter. Mars will approach reasonably close to Earth in January of 2010.
3. After three days, the Sumida Safari has played at Falcon Ridge, Wolf Creek (said to be the third toughest in the nation) and The Ledges, a Matt Dye course, where there is a Jack Nicklaus Academy. Wolf Creek is featured in the EA Sports Tiger Woods PGA Tour ’09, and was a humbling experience. The Ocean Course (Kiawah Island) has a slope rating of 155, The International (Massachusetts) is at 154 and Wolf Creek 152. The Koolau Golf Club was 162, but has been humanized to 152, now tied with Wolf Creek as #3 toughest.
- Leroy, Andy, Pat Tanaka and Lefty in top photo and Wally, Gerry, Kenji and I (second photo) at Wolf Creek
Above, Kenji, Leroy and Andy at The Ledges
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Next: Country #3, Algeria.
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1439-174*-68 countries
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