Written by Liz Quilty on 04 May 2009
American graphic designer Irina Blok plans to fight swine flu with the power of design designer masks.
On her website, she says: “This would make a good Mother’s Day gift, if your mother has a sense of humour about the situation.”
However, the price is nothing to sneeze at. Blok hopes to sell her masks for US$10 (NZ$17.50) plus postage and handling, but proceeds will go to the humanitarian organisation Children International.
On Amazon.com, plain old swine masks are the No4 must-have women’s accessory, ahead of bras.
Not surprisingly, fashion designers are itching to get their hands on this viral fad, with industry insiders saying at least one fashion house is creating jewel-encrusted options for its wealthy clientele.
The fashion conscious in Hong Kong are sporting knock-off surgical masks with brand names like Gucci, Versace, Hello Kitty and adidas and Nike.
The pirated masks were reportedly retailing for a quarter of the price of standard white ones, but one customer was quoted as saying: “They’re less effective but I may as well look good before I get it.”
Kiwis are slow to catch onto the trend. However, for $500 on TradeMe you can buy an artwork called John Key has Swine Flu, or swine survival kits from $10 to $50, or a T-shirt urging everyone to put a mask on your pig.
Seen at http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/fashion/2381131/Viral-fad
Tags: fun, Health, masks, swine flu
Posted in Diary, Humour | Comments Off
Written by Liz Quilty on 30 April 2009
Whilst im all in favour of caution and having a few dry goods and water set aside for emergancies. I think this Swine Flu crap has gone on long enough.
Yes it might be made a Pandemic, that does NOT mean that people are going to die all over the show. A pandemic just means that its easy to catch, and its spreading. Thats all.
The death rate is really pretty crap as a % (under 4, and thats based on statistics of those not treated properly in mexico ). 36,000 people die in the US alone of the NORMAL flu. Just because somebody dies of a FLU , does not mean its the SWINE FLU. Try reading the WHO website for more information, its actually a lot better and more factual than most news websites.
Heres some REAL information about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swine_influenza
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009_swine_flu_outbreak
http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html
New diseases are, by definition, poorly understood. Influenza viruses are notorious for their rapid mutation and unpredictable behaviour. THIS is the only thing you need to really be worried about. So far its all good, sit back, enjoy life, and try not to worry so much.
The reason people are in a panic is because this can come to you. Most of us avoid conflicts and confrontation, we sit in our happy little houses and go to work every day and live happy lives. Things like Wars etc dont affect us because its nowhere near us. There a are people dieing all around the world which are a little more worry some. Check out these stats.
http://www.unknownnews.net/casualties.html
Casualties in Afghanistan:
| Afghan troops killed: |
11,017 |
|
Afghan troops seriously injured: |
33,051 |
| Afghan civilians killed: |
7,373 |
|
Afghan civilians seriously injured: |
13,271 |
| U.S. troops killed: |
574 |
|
U.S. troops seriously injured: |
1,722 |
| Other coalition troops killed: |
484 |
|
Other coalition troops seriously injured: |
1,452 |
| Contractors killed: |
75 |
|
Contractors seriously injured: |
2,428 |
| Journalists killed: |
6 |
|
Journalists seriously injured: |
unknown |
| Total killed in Afghanistan: |
19,529 |
|
Total injured in Afghanistan: |
51,924 |
Most people couldn’t care less about those stats however, because it doesnt affect them.
Tags: Family, flu, Health, sick, swine flu, war
Posted in Health, Informative | Comments Off
