navybsn

There is some debate about that mortality rate. I've seen numbers as low as 14% and some estimates at 33%. The problem is that there have been so few cases in humans and no cases of human-human transmission to date, those numbers would likely be significantly lower with more widespread dispersion. Right now you can only get it from long term exposure to infected birds, that's why it's usually found in poultry farmers in SE Asia which doesn't have an effective healthcare infrastructure and still relies a lot on traditional medicine practices.. The virus hasn't figured out how to make the jump between humans....yet. They always do. Then we're absolutely fucked. Quoting from Wiki (the parts I bolded are especially unsettling): A human H5N1 pandemic might emerge with initial lethality resembling that over-50% case fatality now observed in pre-pandemic H5N1 human cases, rather than with the still-high 1-2% seen with the Spanish flu or with the lower rates seen in the two more recent influenza pandemics.[47] As a WHO working group noted, Determinants of virulence and transmissibility. ... One especially important question is whether the H5N1 virus is likely to retain its present high lethality should it acquire an ability to spread easily from person to person, and thus start a pandemic. Should the virus improve its transmissibility by acquiring, through a reassortment event, internal human genes, then the lethality of the virus would most likely be reduced. However, should the virus improve its transmissibility through adaptation as a wholly avian virus, then the present high lethality could be maintained during a pandemic.[48] The U.S. CDC presents a similarly sobering conclusion authored by Robert G. Webster et al.: ... We cannot afford simply to hope that human-to-human spread of H5N1 will not happen and that, if it does, the pathogenicity of the virus will attenuate. Notably, the precursor of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)–associated coronavirus (31) repeatedly crossed species barriers, probably for many years, before it finally acquired the capacity for human-to-human transmission, and its pathogenicity to humans was not attenuated. We cannot wait and allow nature to take its course. SARS was interrupted by early case detection and isolation, but influenza is transmissible early in the course of the disease and cannot be controlled by similar means.[16] Although some mammalian adaptations have been noted, H5N1 remains better adapted for infecting birds than mammalian hosts,[49] which is why the disease it causes is called a bird flu. No pandemic strain of H5N1 has yet been found. The precise nature and extent of the genetic alterations that might change one of the currently circulating avian influenza strains into a human flu strain cannot be known in advance. While many of the current H5N1 strains circulating in birds can generate a dangerous cytokine storm in healthy adult humans, the ultimate pandemic strain might arise from a less-lethal strain, or its current level of lethality might be lost in the adaptation to a human host.[50][51][52][53][54] If H5N1 mutates so that it can jump from human to human, while maintaining a relatively high level of mortality, how many people could die? Risk communication analysts Peter M. Sandman and Jody Lanard give a round-up of the various estimates: The renowned virus expert Robert G. Webster provided perhaps the most extreme estimate when he acknowledged in March 2006 that H5N1 has the theoretical capacity to mutate into a form that could kill one half of the human population,[56] stating, "Society just can't accept the idea that 50 percent of the population could die. And I think we have to face that possibility".[57]

Definitely a grower. I wasn't crazy about it when it first came out, but I enjoy it more every time I listen to it. Hoping for a new one soon. Sorry about getting screwed over Jono. Typical story these days unfortunately.

Is that their split with Inquisition 😆

New Model Army - The Ghosts of Cain - never really listened to these guys. Big mistake on my part. Excellent stuff. Yes - Discipline Hawkwind - Warrior on the Edge of Time

I checked out his list last night. Some overlap with my own, but a few to check out. I'll miss his stuff on NCS. It was usually 4 or 5 parts and always had a dozen things that I had never run across anywhere else. I checked out that Subterranean Masquerade this morning. Not for me. A little too slick and the vocalist just doesn't do it for me. Reminded my of Orphaned Land.

It's very similar to COVID. The problem is that humans have never been exposed to that strain (save a few cases in SE Asia) and have zero existing immunity to it unlike the usual strains that go around. That and it's highly pathogenic, highly mutable, and has a mortality rate around 60% (pandemic plans normally account for 0.1-0.4% mortality rates, the 1918-19 flu was 2-3%). The good news is we have a good stockpile of vaccine against it, but as we've seen with COVID, that's no guarantee we could effectively distribute the vaccine or convince people to take it. The public worries about things like Ebola, but URIs (upper respiratory infections) are what worries epidemiologists because of their transmissibility (they spread faster) which is so much higher than diseases passed through contact with bodily fluids. Another SARS variant presents an equally scary threat. We got very lucky with the first one that emerged. Unlike most related viruses (common cold, COVID) that are infectious before symptoms begin to show, SARS is not transmissible until after symptoms present. Had that been reversed, we would have seen a lot more deaths and would likely still be dealing with it today.

Skeeters in most of the Southern US too.

That Mork album is top 5 for me. Hits the sweet spot. It's really good. Now I have to go check some of your recs, especially that 70's Israeli prog album. Sounds like it could be up my alley. And Jameson is doing lists for IO now? He usually does them for No Clean Singing.

The lack of adequate Public Health resources or interest from the public is a huge problem. As evidenced by all of the Covidiots running amok at the moment. As environment change accelerates, the importance Public Health is only going to increase. Considering the resistance to those efforts we are seeing now, a mosquito net suit or proper forcefield probably isn't a bad idea.

Malaria and other mosquito borne illnesses are still a huge threat to humanity that get little attention in the west. We tend to think of them as a "third world" problem, but as Zika proved a few years ago, we are certainly vulnerable. And don't forget tick-borne illnesses that continue to threaten to become a bigger problem. Global warming and population encroachment continue to increase our exposure to new vectors of disease that do not bode well for humanity in general.

Eternal Champion - The Armor of Ire Eternal Champion - Ravening Iron Visigoth - Conqueror's Oath Satan - Court in the Act

Add another to the list. I was raised on the nuttier side as well but nothing like @Sardonicist. Adventist/Southern Baptist during the Satanic Panic. I remember watching all the propaganda against heavy metal and supposed Satanists and ended up thinking that they were way cooler than the total douchebags I saw in church. I bailed on the cult when I was old enough to be independent of my parents requirements.

The boosters have been shown to be effective in research trials. I got my third a month or so ago. I don't believe the doomsday prophets anymore than anyone else, but I'm not taking chances. I work in healthcare. I see too many sick folks to take chances not too mention I've been through way too much already to do so. I didn't survive cancer twice to die from a preventable respiratory infection... One thing that does worry me is that COVID is bad, but there is endless potential for more diseases that are worse in the world. Ebola, Marburg, COVID, H5N1, smallpox, Nipah, Q fever...those things are all known quantities. It's the ones we don't know about that are scary. I highly recommend Spillover by David Quammen and The Coming Plague by Laurie Garrett for anyone that is interested in reading about infectious disease and emerging threats. Great books that will keep you up at night. Overpopulation and encroachment in environments where people have not previously been in large numbers is increasing our risk for new zoonosis and most worrisome is that it is happening in places in the world with the worst healthcare systems (SE Asia, South America, Africa). The healthcare system is fucked if H5N1 ever jumps from birds to people, it will make COVID look minor league. Read The Great Flu by John Barry or any of the myriad of books about the 1918-19 epidemic and imagine how much worse an event like that would be today. The worst impact hasn't been the virus, negligence, or even the tin-foil hat Q-anon bullshit. It is the number of experienced healthcare workers who have died or decided they no longer want to work in the field. Added to the reduced number of people in the pipeline for medical/nursing/med tech training and the pre-existing shortage of healthcare workers, it's a recipe for disaster. The healthcare system in most countries is ripe for collapse unless major intervention/overhaul is done. Healthcare costs, wages, patient expectations, drug prices (in the US), and public health education all need major attention. Now look at me, I'm the doomsday prophet.

Sarke - Allsighr Darkthrone - Eternal Hails

The Meze are my go to's as well. They just do everything right to my ears.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Primordial Arcana - I like it but way too mellow for most of the record Circle of Ouroborus - Kiromantia - in my top 2 for the year

Key - Crown of Winter Rudimentary Peni - Death Church

Key - Crown of Winter (2010) CD. Been looking for this one for a bit.

There's a few gems on there, and a lot of stuff I skip. I'd say the best tracks are: Bob Destiny – Wang Dang, Fadoul – Bsslama Hbibti, and Sharhabeel Ahmed - Argos Farfish. Those definitely feel like very early rock (think Chuck Berry era). I picked it up mostly for background music to throw on playlists so I can impress my friends when they come over with my eclectic music tastes 😆. Seriously though, I have been intrigued by the "Arab" sound (I know that's not a real description but it's the only way I can think to describe it) since discovering Yaz Ahmed a few years ago. Problem is, other than a few artists, it's been tough going finding interesting stuff. So, samplers are the easiest way to go to discover ones to dig in to. A good albums I've found: Yaz Ahmed - La Saboteuse Rabih Abou-Khalil - Blue Camel Yussef Kamaal - Black Focus (most projects Yussef Dayes has been involved in are good) I don't know if it's an accurate reference, but all of these make me think of the 50's Moroccan Golden Era. That's the sound I'm after anyway. This morning has been decidely non-metal. Nursing a weekend hangover and not quite ready for the full-strength stuff yet. SPECTRES - Nostalgia NP: Rabih Abou-Khalil - Blue Camel (since I mentioned it, might as well give it a spin) I've been waking up with weird shit in my head for a few days. AC/DC - You want blood mashed up with that fucking song from Grease, Sonny & Cher - I got you Babe, that Mariah Carey Christmas song (and I hate Christmas Music just slightly more than I hate hangovers).

A bunch of random shit I just bought on Bandcamp. Habibi Funk mix (interesting jazz and other normo genres from the Arab side of the world), some goth/post-punk collections, and the new Rope Sect while I set up my new office rig.

Not a big Kiss fan, but it's okay stuff to put on a mix when I'm cleaning house on the weekend. I've never actually purchased any of their albums, but I have a few including 3 of 4 solo records. I've found or been given all of them. I remember my dad's friend was a huge fan. We would go to his house and he had an awesome game room in the basement that had Kiss posters all over, a pool table, foosball, pinball, and an Atari. I'd play Centipede and eat chips while they played pool and got smashed. All the while, Kiss and a variety of 70's rock blasted in the background. Probably some Zep, Allman Brothers, BOC... the usual stuff. That was probably 80-81. It would still be a few years before I really got interested in music. By that time, Kiss was old news.

AC/DC - High Voltage Black Sabbath - Master of Reality Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith ASG - Survive Sunrise ASG - Win Us Over KISS - Alive! Def Leppard - High 'N' Dry

Never really got into Overkill or Exodus. The one Overkill album I have is one of those meh 2000's efforts. I bought it to see why people liked them and decided that they were not for me. Still have it somewhere but not really interested in digging it out. Same for Exodus. I have Bonded by Blood and it's ok, but I think I was too late to that party. They are fun live. My thrash days were the big 4 plus Testament, Suicidal, Sepultura, Sacred Reich, Destruction, DRI, Coroner, Demolition Hammer, Kreator, Sodom, Flotsam, Forbidden, and maybe a few others I'm forgetting. Exodus and Overkill weren't very popular down here with my friends in the sticks. May have something to do with the Florida Death Metal scene blowing up around the time we got old enough to spend money on multiple records and take more chances. Slayer - full stop at Seasons although that cover album they did was entertaining.

Circle of Ouroborus - Alttarimyllyt

Circle of Ouroborus - Vangin Laulu