On the 30th anniversary of the Iranian Hostage Crisis, protesters fill the streets.

An Italian judge convicts 23 C.I.A members of kidnapping.

This is one cat that isn’t laughing out loud…

Remember that Swine Flu H1N1 USDemocrazy reported on earlier?

Well it seems that it’s still causing quite a stir.

In fact a White House panel reported that the flu could kill up to 90,000 in the US alone.

That sounds shocking but there is speculation that folks are overreacting.  Karen Kaplan, writing at the LA Times notes,

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services declared a “nationwide public health emergency” on April 26, when there were only 20 confirmed cases and no deaths.

Whether or not H1N1 is a big threat, the world is taking actions, especially as students head back to school.

Traditional methods are important, such as mass inoculation, but kids developing healthy habits is necessary.

Sometimes it’s tough to get kids to listen so the government has enlisted our furry friends on Sesame Street.

For bigger kids, some colleges have set up quarantine dorms (talk about a crummy place to be an RA).

Of course there is more being done than just coughing into elbows and isolating infected folks to defeat the flu.  Vaccines for H1N1 are quickly becoming ready more distribution.

While you’re waiting for your H1N1 flu shot go out and grab a seasonal flu shot.  According to Maryland Governor O’Malley it’s your “Patriotic Duty”.

So, are you worried yet or is this just getting blown out of proportion?

Flip-flops may be popular, but they aren't your foot's best friend. Courtesy: http://trendliest.files.wordpress.com/2008/09/flipflops.jpg

Tip 2: Stop worrying about swine flu.

Despite frequent swine flu media frenzies, the virus seems to be behaving just like the regular seasonal flu – with mild symptoms and quick recoveries. The majority of deaths attributed to swine flu appear to have been triggered in persons already suffering underlying chronic conditions.

No. You don't need one of these. Courtesy: http://guestofaguest.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/swine-flu-masks.jpg

Tip 3: Feel good about your body.

Glamour magazine recently featured a plus sized model and everyone’s talking about her! Will less than model-perfect women finally be accepted for their bodies?

We hope so, especially after this alleged case of a Pittsburgh girl being bullied into anorexia by her male classmates.

Tip 4: Plan a play-date with some friends.

Sad news. Today’s Americans are lonelier than ever and this loneliness is disrupting our sleep, eating habits and overall levels of happiness. Newsweek says we’re coping with this loneliness in unusual ways. Think Tom Hanks’ character in the movie Castaway.

Beat this trend, get off of Facebook or Twitter, and spend some face to face time with your friends! Even if you’re broke, you don’t need to sit at home and mope. There are plenty of fun things you can do for free!

Tip 5: Visit the farmer’s market to avoid this stuff.

Even when populated with guys like this, the farmer's market is still worth going too! Courtesy: http://rvforsaleguide.com/images/los-angeles-farmers-market-picture.jpg

Eat cheap, simple and healthy during the summer months by visiting farmer’s markets which generally sell produce at lower prices than the grocery store.

While you’re at the farm you might want to pick some berries in the process. These small but mighty bursts of antioxidants have also been named one of the 10 Best foods for your heart.

WHY DID YOU STOP PANICKING?!?! Swine flu is not gone!!!!

Shocking! Apple announces an electrifying feature of its iPods and iPhones.

Michael Steele: Back and With a Vengeance. Summer blockbuster or real life?

So, Guantanamo, what’s new with you these days? No one is sure…

What is the surest way to make a healthy person sick? 

ANSWER:

Ask them about their health care.

Yes folks, health care is back the news… and this time it isn’t about swine flu! Er… we mean H1N1 virus…)

Just this week,  President Obama met with business leaders in health care to talk about trimming their mega-huge budgets.

The health care community is acknowledging their mega-huge problem  and, as the Washington Post says, are:

Volunteering to “do our part” to tackle runaway health costs, leading groups in the health-care industry have offered to squeeze $2 trillion in savings from projected increases over the next decade, White House officials said yesterday.

So we’re all on the same playing field, right? Congressman Patrick Kennedy from Rhode Island posted on the Huffington Post, that:

The recent outbreak of the swine flu serves as a stark reminder about the need for comprehensive health care reform in this country. Every citizen in this country should have access to affordable, high quality health care.

Affordable, high quality health care!  Who can argue with that?!?  How do we get it!?!

That’s where the arguing starts… 

Janet Adamy at the Wall Street Journal gives her thoughts here on one option, taxing health care to sustain health care:

The idea of taxing employee health-care benefits to raise money for an overhaul of the health system is gaining strength in Congress, although it drew criticism from Barack Obama when he was campaigning for president.

The NYTimes released their editorial on the situation. They say there is a middle of the road plan, and that’s letting the government toss its hat into the health care plan system:

It should be possible to design a system in which public and private plans could compete without destroying the private coverage that most Americans have and for the most part want to keep. 

One thing is for sure. What we’ve got now just isn’t going to cut it in the long run.

Former Clinton budget adviser Matt Miller, referring to the talks between President Obama and health care businesses, weighs in over at the Daily Beast:

Even if this goal were achieved over the next decade, America’s health-care system would still be radically inefficient compared other advanced nations.

So, what is the path ahead for health care? The path will be about as straightforward as the Burma Road (pictured below for all you history enthusiasts).

But where will it lead?  Have any ideas?

Some optimism over Swine Flu… I mean, just flu. Not Swine Flu… We can’t call it that anymore, right?

Truly the master prank:

Every one of Winfield Township’s road signs was stolen in a 48-hour period! 

Thanks to Disney.

Mickey on Hulu! Disney joins the NBC and Fox partnership.

BANKRUPT!!! Chrysler goes Chapter 11.

Four Legs Good, Influenza Bad!!! The Flu comes to Animal Farm.

Thanks to the Huffington Post

NEWS FLASH!!! The Swine Flu has been ERADICATED!!!

That’s right, thanks to “brave” bloggers like USDemocrazy (and maybe with a little help from the World Health Organization [WHO]), the term Swine Flu will not be heard again!

Instead, the WHO will call that strain of flu by its scientific name H1N1 influenza A. (All right, maybe we exaggerated bit in the paragraph above.)

So why the name change?  Well, it seems that it’s bad for marketing (and the pigs’ self esteem).  Pork producers are finding drops in demand for pork.

The name is also not that accurate. According to the United Nations Food Agency, the flu cannot be transferred by pig meat, and in fact might not even be carried by pigs.

Does this mean our porker pals are off the hook?  Not quite.

Recently Egypt’s government decided to kill 350,000 pigs hoping to stave of the Swine Flu H1N1 influenza A.  Russia banned the import of American pork.

On a closing note, Swine Flu H1N1 influenza A may not be the end-of-times pandemic people have feared. Scientists believe that H1N1 is a relatively mild flu.

Although people have died from H1N1, remember that the regular flu claims 36,000 lives in America yearly.

So calm down and hug a pig.

We at USDemocrazy  learned today the World Health Organization thinks a Swine Flu pandemic is imminent (or is it eminent? … We always get those two mixed up).  The WHO has raised the worldwide Flu threat level to 5 (out of a possible  6).

Doesn’t sound good… which raises the question… what are reasonable people to do? (Which clearly does not include us…)

We have a suggestion…

Smile.

That’s right, work those cheek muscles northward. Worries about Swine Flu are likely to be burdening millions of our readers (okay… maybe not millions… ) so we have decided to take a day off from Swine Flu talk. Instead we are providing a host of fun links that we hope will take your mind off of the imminent/eminent threat.

We also hope these will put a smile on your face (which unfortunately no one will see when you are wearing that little paper face mask).

So… wash your hands, sit down, click these links and have a happy day!

Obama: 100 days and OUT!

Late Night One Liners

Red State Update: report on Swine Flu

Drivers Ed anyone?

Finally… Nothing like a good song to bring a smile to your face… enjoy this great musical clip.

Playing For Change | Song Around The World “Stand By Me” from Concord Music Group on Vimeo.

Thanks to the Guardian

All you wanted to know about swine flu…

Another appointment, another problem…

The Yankees face another type of defeat…