Birdy

Isn't the article you posted an attempt to take them to task for it? When I originally read it I found myself kinda frustrated that they'd say 'you're spending $35million on what? what about the swine flu?'... obviously from my standpoint on the swine flu issue it was a weak attempt... much more effectual would have been 'you're spending $35million on what? what about skyrocketing unemployment and collapsing industry?'... Which is why I said if there were an election, i'm not voting for either of these parties. Go Greens!

aww, thanks buddy. i've tried to tone it down a notch or two more recently.

I don't recall where I heard this - but it's something to the effect that the Canadian government has purchased more vaccines for the H1N1 flu strand than it its infrastructure (health care workers) can administer during the flu season. I totally agree with phorbesie in that i'd want a government capable of dealing with any sort of pandemic should it arise, so if the above is true, wouldn't it make more sense to invest money in the system itself, rather than a tv advertisement which tell us to wash our hands? If i walked up to any given person on the street and said, 'have you heard of the swine flu?', i doubt i'm going to get many blank stares.

i'm an argumentative beeyatch online and a smiley, bubbly person in real life. go figure!

I'm not 'mocking' anything PT. I'm questioning the necessity of it at a time when that money could be better spent elsewhere. I understand a 'want' to be prepared, but like Ollie said above, I wonder just how effective a media campaign will be in preparing us, any more than it already has. If anything, I suspect it will make more people weary of travel. And I doubt that's what any government really wants. Not that i believe everything wiki tells me, but...

PS - thanks for piping in PT. I hear what you're saying. I guess i just have a problem with governments creating a sense of fear amongst its citizens for a reason they're not entirely sure will even come about.

Burn! Please tell me how this differs from other strands of influenza? To reiterate, i have no problem educating the public about healthy living, but I believe a special marketing campaign aimed at H1N1 is only going to add to the already growing hysteria. People get infected with influenza viruses by the thousands every single year with each passing flu season. This year's really no different in that regard.

How would I 'know' if i had it? Symptoms are reported to be similar to the common cold/flu, which is what I had. But I don't go to the doctors for a cold and/or flu, so? I'm only 'kinda' convinced as a week prior I was traveling through major airports and then came down with it... none of my friends or family had it. Could have been a cold, could have been swine flu. All flu strains have the potential to mutate. I'm not trying to downplay the seriousness that could jeopardize people with compromised immune systems, etc., but are these people not just as susceptible to other, more severe strains as well? Just seems like all the media coverage and political campaigning surrounding the swine flu is creating a sense of panic amongst some people when there need not be a sense of panic. I watched a little documentary on the CBC a couple of weeks ago that reported almost 500% more people die every year from a freak accident like falling down the stairs or getting electrocuted by a hair dryer than the swine flu.

I'm by no means a fan of the $35 million partisan marketing campaign, but why do our politicians/media have to drag swine flu into the mix? Do the libs want to spend $35 million to tell Canadians to wash their hands? From what i understand swine flu is less severe than most flu strains that fly around each and every year. I'm even kinda convinced I had it. And i'm alive! I'm so done with both of these parties.

Yeeikes! I've got one of those under your clothes wallet strap things, so hopefully that will keep me safe. Thanks for your help everyone! Can't wait for the trip!

Hahah... bingo!

Trey loves himself some peace queer.

Yep, just Barcelona - i'm working in London the week before and then taking an extra long weekend there before I fly home. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!! Anyone know if there's a particular area of town that is cooler to stay in than others? Like a historical district or something along those lines? Not sure exactly how the place is layed out but every overhead picture i look at makes it look like a mammoth city and so i want to make sure i'm not stuck out in the Scarborough of Barcelona.

I'm planning a trip to Barcelona and i'm wondering what's fun to do, where to stay, what to see, etc. Any help would be so appreciated! Thanks

I want to! You would.

aww thanks everybody! er... 'cept c-towns! pt - zing! i've come around now though! i'm the big 3-1.

And for what it's worth, unless the Liberals put something absolutely drastic and party-changing on their platform, which they won't, because they need to play it safe to win back those votes that went Conservative and maintain their status quo liberal membership, forcing an election that elects Iggy's liberals probably won't change anything.

I think you have this backwards, YT. I'd venture to say Iggy wasn't giving the Conservatives anything... rather taking what was needed to get the Liberal act together, enough to call an election and have a shot in hell at winning that election. Let's not think for one second the Liberals are just that nice to say 'See what you can do, Stevie boy'.

whoa! what's this about a band member of dino jr and a health issue? i'm kinda tossed about what to do... butthole surfers are playing with built to spill in detroit the same night that yo la tengo plays in toronto... for which i already have tickets. seems like every band in the world i want to see is coming to a town near me this fall. eek!

Do I get a couple dozen?

I wouldn't call this hard evidence by any means, but I have noticed way more people walking around the grocery store with cloth bags now. But the plastic bags did get way bigger, so instead of cutting down on plastic being used, i wonder if they've simply off-set it with a bigger bag.