http://thepassionatethinker.wordpress.com/

I've changed my blog URL. You're a bit slow in keeping up with the latest news. Go.

Some truth

that I feel that I should share.

Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional, nor do I pretend to be one, and this post is not intended as medical advice. If you show any symptoms of swine flu, be sure to follow the procedures for your country (in most cases this means calling your GP).

The world (well, most of it) is currently embroiled in swine flu madness. The virus has now been reported in 22 countries (18 May 09 update: 33 countries), is showing an ability to spread amongst humans, and Mexico has "begun a five-day shutdown of... non-essential government services and businesses" in an attempt to control it.

As is to be expected, amongst all the excellent information and advice out there, there is a lot of nonsense and rubbish.
Here are the top three swine flu myths, and the corresponding scientific truths:

Myth: Swine flu is a killer virus, and could kill millions of people (i.e. 1918 Spanish flu)
Reality: Although ~160 people have died in Mexico of swine flu, there have been no deaths in more developed countries (the US death was a Mexican child that had crossed the border). This is mostly due to better healthcare and early treatment. We didn't have anything like Tamiflu (oseltamivir) or Relenza (zanamivir) in 1918, nor did we know as much about transmission methods. It is likely that many people will get sick, but unlikely that many will die, unless they have compromised immune systems (i.e. the elderly, people who are HIV-positive or undergoing intensive cancer treatment).

Myth: You can get the virus from eating pork from infected pigs.
Reality: Err... no, there is no evidence that the flu virus can be passed to humans from pig products as long as the meat is heated to above 70^oC (and pork is usually cooked at around 200^o). This fear about 'infected pork' is why the WHO refuses to call it 'swine flu' any more, they now use the term 'Influenza A(H1N1)', the 'scientific' name for this strain as it were.

Myth: We should all start wearing face masks to avoid getting the flu.
Reality: Not really. Although the UK Department of Health hasordered crateloads of face masks for doctors and other health workers, these are special masks with especially small holes to trap the tiny virus particles. The regular blue face masks that people have been buying are next to useless, especially when they get moist from your breath. Covering your mouth when coughing and sneezing (preferably with a disposable tissue) is a better way of minimizing the spread of the virus. Face masks also give a false sense of security, and may lead to people not practicing proper hygiene.

Hopefully this has helped clear up some of the 'woo' and sensationalism surrounding swine flu, and remember, ask for the science before accepting anything. Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence.

Ew, hiatus again.

School examinations! Approximately 19 days left.

I have always been ignorant about my lack of effort. Today, Jean gave me a truthful lecture... she told me that I was lazy. It was a pretty hard slap on the face, being told that I didn't want to put in effort.

From this moment onwards, I shan't be fussy about my lack of knowledge. 

Thanks, Jean!

Will be writing after examinations are done.

My dream

I had a weird dream.

I dreamt that my male classmate - Soo Ching Pau - changed for the worse. His scalp seemed pretty bald with patches of hair. I had the impression that he was sick. He was really sick with a disease. 

In my dream, I also saw my ex-infatuation (LOLWUT); he was an old, old man; we talked a lot and I saw visions of his youthful self. It was a long part on that dream, yet I couldn't remember much. 

Oh and I saw one of my school's students, one of the 'infamous' twins. I saw him using a phone booth, saying, "Yes! Finally, I'm in the first place for the 'Most fit' category." (WUT)

I dreamt that the world was rapidly getting smarter and a huge robot (reminded me of the transformers but it was not as glamorous as it) walked on the city of KL towards the twin towers. I saw two missile launchers coming out of its shoulders and it opened fire

 I watched in horror as KLCC was on fire. A few of my classmates and I were outside, about 1km away from the twin towers. We couldn't speak when we saw the robot; we were stunned. It was only when KLCC started burning that we ran for our lives. I had mixed feelings when I saw the robot. I kept thinking that it was sad that some humans use their intelligence to do bad.

When the robot was taking out the missile launchers, I thought (in my dream), "I think it's the US government who made thie robot; My prime minister must have provoked the US christians, somehow." 

Among the people who were near me during the witness of the 1500ft tall robot killing innocent people on the streets, I saw Wen Mei and Yee Lin. It was most probably because I saw them the who morning, therefore they were included in my dream!

As I'm writing this blog post, it is exactly 5.16. I have only gotten 3 hours of sleep.

Let me continue sleeping now.

I'm petrified, disgusted and dissapointed at the lewdness of today's western culture.

This is Lizzie McGuire. Her character is played by the beautiful Hilary Duff.

I'm surprised at her sudden whirlwind of transition and transformation.

Is it just me, or does the finger sucking look like a scene from a porn flick? Sure, they want to make a music video with erotica in it. What I want to know is, how come she doesn't care about her image? I'm sure she went, "Oh, all the other kids are doing it, I don't think I'd get any more discriminated." 

Let's analyze Jesse McCartney's multimillion viewed video, 'Leavin'.

All I see in the music video is a couple of young kids fondling, fooling around and grinding on each other. I'm no religious prim proper peach, but I am of the opinion that the directors of this music video are thickheaded men who can't think of better ideas for a music video.

Oh, indirectly 'selling sex' and promoting immoral acts of promiscuity sure 'sells', but can't the directors use their brains and imagination? They're just adding fuel to the fire; they don't know how it's like to watch a next generation of kids become even more corrupted and shallow, even more when they can't think for themselves.

Examples of kick ass music videos:

Super treadmill guys!

Touching music video; Beautiful costumes and story to match with the voice.

If they can't make a good music video, why bother making one at all? Assholes.