What's old is new again

So, at the request of a friend, I dusted off this blog. I had to chuckle when I read the last post. In 2009, I was talking about President Obama and the swine flu. Now, in 2014, I could swap out "swine flu" for "ebola." I guess it is somehow comforting to know that whole years can pass and everything is just the way you left it.

Speaking of leaving things alone -- a thing that a lot of people have trouble with -- I was working on something this week that required edits from a more senior person. While one would think that the focus would be on whether or not the content was right, not so for this VP. Instead, I was questioned my use of the word "brand." You can't write "brand new clothes" because that might get confusing when talking about a company brand several paragraphs later. Ummmm...I am not sure that readers will be THAT confused by the use of the word "brand" in different ways.

And if they are confused, who are these people?

As the kids say, "whatevah!"

You swine

The latest outbreak of the influenza virus is giving journalists something new to talk about. Companies are restrcting travel to and from Mexico City and the US is declaring it a public health emergency, though President Obama is telling the US not to be alarmed. Meanwhile, the World Organization for Animal Health, according to The New York Times, is telling all of us not to call it the "swine flu" because people will think they can get it from eating pork. Huh?

What's really happening here? It's a good news story. Americans have grown tired of hearing about the economy, how the healthcare system is a mess, and we've long since figured out that "reality TV" is carefully staged. We needed something more interesting: an epidemic that can strike anyone, any where fits the bill.

Stay tuned.