Comments on: And I’m back from luddite land…

By: PB

PB — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:09:39 +0000

CK levels? When did you get Calvin Klein in your system?

By: treyci

treyci — Thu, 28 May 2009 06:08:36 +0000

wow. that catfish is seriously pretty heinous… i feel terribly sorry for the poor thing.

and i have to comment about the susquehanna river – i used to live close to there – i wouldn’t fish it but it’s not that bad anymore.. there has been some major cleaning up in the past few years…

By: Curious Moth

Curious Moth — Wed, 20 May 2009 22:55:10 +0000

Aww, poor catfish :(

By: p7tms

p7tms — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:02:39 +0000

p.s. where I used to live I would go fish from time to time (susquehanna river) and well, you know the fish aren’t worth catching when you see the sides of the “beach” covered with dark orange and white foam (that strangely did not move when the current would be strong)

By: p7tms

p7tms — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:00:02 +0000

CK levels? When did you get Calvin Klein in your system?

By: siobhan

siobhan — Wed, 20 May 2009 04:56:37 +0000

My mom has a rare disease called dermatomiositis. Her CK levels are always elevated. Besides her, I’ve never even met anyone who knew what ck levels are.
Also, just like Rosie said, it was so common to see people wearing masks in Taiwan and so not acceptable to call in sick to work. Even though I’ve been back in Canada for almost two years and have paid sick days, it’s still hard for me to get over the Taiwan mentality that was instilled in me.

By: Em

Em — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:19:49 +0000

There’s something like 190 cases of pig flu here (in Japan) and people are FREAKING the fuck out like zombies have hit. All the stores are sold out of masks, schools and offices are being shut down and anyone who so much as coughs in public is being stared at like they’ve got plague. People are being told by their offices in some cases that they are forbidden to visit the Kansai region (where the most cases have been found) as well as overseas until the thing settles down.

it’s all pretty stupid, but Japanese people are sheep and it’s a wonder anything amazing ever comes from this country.

By: rosie

rosie — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:02:49 +0000

I’m sure most people who have spent extended periods of time in East Asia will have encountered this phenomenon. If you have a cold, or will be in an environment where other people may be sick, then you often wear a mask to avoid getting sick or spreading your germs. This is born of a culture of never missing class or work — in China and in Taiwan I was told by several teachers at the beginning of semesters that unless we were actually delirious with fever or in a coma, we would be expected to come to class. Also confirmed by the doctors I saw whenever I was sick in Taiwan, who never issued sick notes but told me to be sure to wear a face mask so as to avoid contaminating others.

If there’s a load of flu going around, be it swine or otherwise, then a lot more people will be susceptible to reverting to their old mask-covered ways!