Using the term swine flu

Never gets old.

 

Avoiding the swine flu is another reason to keep kosher.

 

Along the same lines of what phrases not to use, how about a kibosh on using the word "pandemic"? The hysteria level is just nuts right now, and I don't even know why.

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pandemic

Pay attention to the second part of that. 130 deaths in a world of 6 billion people is NOT a pandemic, no matter what the WHO says. Hell, even 2,000 deaths is not affecting an "exceptionally high proportion of the population."

To report otherwise is simply reckless.

To paraphrase the Buddha, when you find "pandemic" in a story or headline at your paper, kill it.

 

Scientists call WHO's attempt to rename swine flu BS (Not in those exact terms)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090501/ap_on_he_me/med_swine_flu_name

 

<img src="http://musicvault.firestream.net/rateimages/450_03_09_2008_10_41_12_swineflew.jpg">

I just thought one of my favorite punk bands were making a comeback.

Oink!

 

Since this outbreak doesn't seem to be as virulent as the hype suggests, I propose the following name:

Midshipman Trips.