Ten years ago by the New York Times published comments by Dr Abigail Zuger criticising certain supposedly unrealistic aspects of Contagion, Steven Soderbergh's film about a deadly pandemic sweeps the globe. The movie's screenwriter, Scott Burns, responded ... "We took great care to make sure our fictional story was based onreal science. The world had seen more than three dozen new pandemic-ready viruses in the last three decades. The scientists who consulted on the film, along with most of their colleagues in epidemiology and virology, believe it is only a matter of time — coupled with lack of preparation — before the world faces a real-life pandemic like the make-believe one in the film. Dr Zuger's point that the 'Contagion virus' or MEV-1 does not precisely replicate Nipah encephalitis, the 2009 H1N1 influenza pandemic or HIV/AIDS is correct. She is also right about the truncated speed of a pandemic as we have collapsed months of social catastrophe into an hour-and-a-half of a movie. The truth is we don't know when the next virus may appear or how it might progress. But a highly transmissible and novel respiratory virus in humans like MEV-1 could plausibly occur. Our objective in making this film was to entertain and initiate discussions among stakeholders in public health on the importance of global bio-surveillance and pandemic preparedness. Dr Zuger's perspective has highlighted the importance of this work, and we welcome her into what we hope will be a national and global discussion of how to prepare for and prevent and when necessary, respond to the next pandemic." (Via Letters of Note)
Tax dodge
Toronto restaurant renamed their burgers so the self-employed can claim them as a work expense.
The Firm's grip on royal fashion rules
The Queen has small, lead curtain weights sewn inside her hemlines. Though they weigh less than an ounce each, they keep her skirts from flying up if there were to be a sudden gust of wind. There is also an unspoken rule that the Queen expects — and enforces — female family members and their guests to wear tights to all public outings. And Her Majesty doesn't like wedged shoes. The rules also state that fingernails must be a practical and natural shade, meaning the royal manicurists favour pale pinks and clear polishes. In fact, since 1989, the Queen has been faithfully using the Essie shade Ballet Slippers. Kate Middleton, however, has found a loophole: The duchess dares to wear red on her toes.
1. About 67 per cent of conversations go on longer than the participants would like. 2. OVERZOOMED (German neologism) - stressed by too many video calls. 3. The Victorian slang for "chronically lazy" was "born a bit tired".
