chipper
jennifer_brozek probably wasn't expecting to answer today:"Is your drug resistant bubonic plague actually yersinia pestis, or a mimicking virological agent?"
Because that's a totally reasonable thing for me to ask, right? I mean, bubonic plague is wiping out Texas, I want to know what its rate of spread is, how it's transmitted, whether the speed of spread is retarded by some animal infector (as in the original bubonic plague, where your spread is limited to the presence, health, and density of rat fleas available to spread the bacteria). You may all applaud Jennifer, because she had a quick and reasonable response, and did not threaten to smack me with the nearest available cat if I didn't stop being a geek.
(Jennifer is editing an anthology called Grant's Pass, set roughly fourteen months after a series of biologically engineered pathogens wiped out the bulk of the human race. Clearly, Jennifer loves me. Amusingly, Jennifer didn't know me when she came up with the idea for the anthology. So clearly, great minds think alike. Sadly for Jennifer, this means I have a totally valid reason to ask her questions about terrible diseases. I do so love it when people volunteer to be my cat toys.)
I've actually finished two lovely books on historical diseases in the last week -- The Speckled Monster (all about smallpox) and The American Plague (all about the yellow fever). Here's a handy tip: pandemics are scary. Here's another handy tip: try not to get stuck in the middle of one. I learned many things that I didn't know before, like 'smallpox dictated English succession several times' and 'yellow fever wiped out much of Memphis.' Also, the CDC views a single case of yellow fever as an epidemic. Pretty spiffy!
As I am flying to Seattle on Friday, no more plague books for me right now; I really don't feel the need to attract the attention of Homeland Security or the TSA just because I couldn't do without my daily dose of death. Also, after the premiere episode of Fringe -- which I loved blazingly -- I'd probably get myself lynched by my fellow passengers.
Yay, plague!
September 17 2008, 02:01:15 UTC 8 years ago
As for the question, turn about was fair play. I did wake you up one morning to ask you which disease causes blood to burst through the skin. You are my "go to" gal when it comes to icky things now. Fairs fair. Besides, you're writing for me. (Dance, monkey, dance!)
Speaking of Seattle ... will there be any visit time in that four day span?
September 17 2008, 14:22:56 UTC 8 years ago
I don't think so, this time -- I'm pretty booked, and there is muchly, muchly rehearsal to be done. (I seriously doubt you want to come have breakfast with me at the airport, and that would be the window.)