Minnesota Vikings Quiz: 1) Most rushing yards, career?
2) Most passing yards, season? 3) Most TDs, career?
4) Most interceptions, career? Answers below.
Bioinvasion!!!
My buddy Mark R. keeps reminding me of the problems we face
in this country with the misuse of antibiotics to treat the simplest
of illnesses. He”s right. But today, let”s address the problem of
bioinvasion and the spread of various plagues.
This year, for example, while only one person has died of the
West Nile Virus, the disease itself has spread from New York and
New Jersey to Washington, D.C., a worrisome development. In
Israel, 19 have died this year from West Nile, while in Saudi
Arabia and Yemen, 95 have died from a West Nile cousin, Rift
Valley Fever, a disease also spread by mosquitoes.
Since the mid 1970s, some 30 diseases new to medicine have
emerged in the U.S. and what is particularly worrisome is the
fact that many of the pathogens that once only affected animals,
are now crossing over to humans. In fact, scientists estimate that
as many as 70% of all pathogens are capable of jumping species.
Because of the nature of globalization, a man could be on a farm
in South America, pick up a disease and travel to a Texas ranch
the next day, infecting all.
In the U.S. alone, 100 million foreigners visit our shores annually,
16.7 million farm animals pass through inspection points, 20
million exotic animals are brought in, mostly to be used as pets,
and yet, only some 5% of all bags are inspected. Not that
inspecting 100% would really do anything to alleviate the
problem.
For example, a University of Florida veterinarian was recently
treating a leopard tortoise when he discovered it was infected
with thumbnail-size African ticks who, in turn, were infected with
heartwater, a bacterium that could wipe out whole herds of
livestock.
The National Intelligence Council, the research arm of the CIA,
issued a report listing foreign animal diseases as a risk to national
security. Currently, foot-and-mouth disease is savaging Korea,
Taiwan and China. Korea has had to slaughter 350,000 head of
cattle; Taiwan, 3.8 million pigs.
In 1997-98, classical swine fever led to the destruction of two-
thirds of the Netherlands pigs. And mad cow disease in Britain
and other nations in Europe has cost their economies dearly; in
Britain, alone, to the tune of $6.5 billion.
Science can not keep up with the burgeoning problem and, to
compound matters, the real fear is that agroterrorism could be the
new way of crippling an economy. All you have to do is infect a
couple of feed lots and you”d have a disaster. Experts agree, a
serious outbreak in the U.S. is a question of when, not if.
[Source: Janet Ginsburg / Business Week]
Bear Chat, Part XVII
So my favorite wildlife reporter, Howard Brant of the Star-
Ledger, had the following bit the other day about the ongoing
bear problem in my home state of New Jersey. A mother bear
and her two cubs had been breaking into numerous homes in the
northwest part of the state.
“In every case, she (the bear) would enter a home through a
window, either breaking it or tearing a screen. The animal would
(then) open all kitchen cabinets, refrigerators and freezers,
consuming everything found to be edible. Fortunately, such
break-ins occurred when the residents were not at home.”
So the state wildlife officials tracked down the sow and her little
bruins, drugged them and moved them miles from the capture
sight.
Well, darned if that damn mother didn”t return to the exact same
site just three days later. [Perhaps one of the homes was stocking
Grizzly Beer.] This time the officials weren”t as accomodating.
Lou Gehrig Day
On July 4, 1939, the Yankees honored Lou Gehrig and he was
given a plaque with the following inscription, as written by John
Kieran of the New York Times.
We”ve been to the wars together;
We took our foes as they came;
And always you were the leader,
And ever you played the game.
Idol of cheering millions;
Records are yours by sheaves;
Iron of frame they hailed you.
Decked you with laurel leaves.
But higher than that we hold you,
We who have known you best;
Knowing the way you came through,
Every human test.
Let this be a silent token,
Of lasting friendship”s gleam.
And all that we”ve left unspoken,
Your pals of the Yankee team.
Homers
The home run pace slowed considerably the second half of the
2000 baseball season but, nonetheless, 2.34 homers per game
were hit this year, breaking 1999”s record of 2.28. 47 players hit
30 or more versus the previous record of 45, also set last year.
Barry Bonds
Mr. April through September once again let his team down in the
playoffs. After hits in his first two at-bats, he went 1 for 15 as the
Giants fell to the Mets. And all Bobby Jones did for the Metsies,
in wrapping up the series Sunday, was pitch the greatest game in
franchise history.
Summer of 1816
As a follow-up to my piece on the record cold summer of 1816,
Harry K reminds me that it was so cold, the Thames River froze
over.
Top 3 songs week of 10/11/69: #1 “Sugar, Sugar” (The Archies)
#2 “Jean” (Oliver) #3 “Little Woman” (Bobby Sherman…as a
kid I remember getting a Bobby Sherman ”45 on the back of a
box of Sugar Pops)
Frank Sinatra
If you saw the “60 Minutes” piece on Frank Sinatra, and are of a
generation that can”t identify with him, may I still suggest his two
best albums. “September of My Years” and “In the Wee Small
Hours.” They”re awesome.
Vikings Quiz Answers: 1) Rushing, career – Chuck Foreman,
5,879 yards 2) Passing, season – Warren Moon, 4,264 (1994)
3) TDs, career – Cris Carter, 95 4) Interceptions, career –
Paul Krause, 53.
The Vikings have retired 3 numbers…Frank Tarkenton, Paul
Krause, and Alan Page.
Schroeder approaches the mound to talk to Charlie Brown
Schroeder: The bases are loaded again, and there”s still nobody
out.
Charlie Brown: So what do you think?
Schroeder: We live in difficult times.
Next Bar Chat, Wednesday…Frankie Valli and the 4 Seasons.
