Our local right-wing radio host said these ABSURD things about bird flu...

[CoffeeCat]

I live in Central Iowa and I was listening to Mac's World this afternoon. The topic was bird flu, and he was discussing the subject, as was his "liberal" co-host.

The conservative host had absolutely NO IDEA what he was talking about. He kept saying that there was a vaccine for bird flu. The liberal guy kept saying, "It's not a vaccine. It's an anti-viral."

So, then the conservative guy says, "Ok, ok...it's an anti venom. But what are we going to do when there's not enough of this anti-venom to go around? Should the United States start stockpiling this anti-venom and saying to hell with the rest of the world...or not? Call me up and tell me your opinion."

Holy. living. buckets.

Anti-venom?

My husband called the show and was ready to say, "How in the hell can we have a serious discussion about this critical topic, when you first call Tamiflu a vaccine, then you call it an "anti venom"...Do you think we're fighting cobras?" However, my husband waited on hold until he could no longer wait and he had to hang up.

This entire show was a farce. The conservative host asked TWICE, "Now is the Avian Flu the same thing as the bird flu?". The liberal guy kept saying, "Yes! Bird...Avian...get it?" The guy had no idea what the word 'avian' meant.

I was so ticked--because this is a very serious topic--and this guy had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.

It was disturbing.

[donco6]

1. Perhaps we're seeing some natural selection in action.

What a dope.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. I'm sure more faith based, intelligent design education in our schools'll

take care of knowledge gaps like this...

[MuseRider]

3. It would be funny if

it was not for the fact that lots of people in your area are going to be asking everyone if they know what anti venom they should get.

Perhaps a call to the station manager?

[CoffeeCat]

7. You are right...

...We were laughing so hard, when he kept saying "anti venom" but then we started getting angry.

This is a VERY serious subject.

The host didn't even know enough information to join in a bird-flu discussion at a cocktail party. Why on Earth was he on the air discussing this?

The question he kept repeatedly asking was, "Should America stockpile bird flu vaccine and take most of it for ourselves and say to hell with the rest of the world---or should we not do that?"

He seemed to really want a discussion centered around--should we save ourselves or help others and then end up hurting ourselves in the long run.

It was a ridiculous debate, because the underlying supposition about a vaccine (or an anti-venom) being available----is false. There is NO VACCINE! There's nothing for the United States to stockpile OR hoard.

I take bird flu very seriously. The big crime is that anyone who has any intelligence--but has not researched bird flu extensively--will falsely believe that the media is hyping bird flu and that it's a ridiculous farce.

I swear, with bird flu--you have to read the scientific articles and medical journals--and ignore what the pResident and the media say. The pResident is using bird flu as an excuse to rob us of freedoms. The media is using bird flu to spark fear and increase ratings. You just have to ignore these clowns and do thorough research on your own.

Otherwise, you're screwed.

[MuseRider]

11. Yes, they are hyping it

but as a former nurse and my husband is a retired doctor you can bet we have been watching it closely.

I really would call the station, misinformation could kill someone and we really do not need it circulating through the population (the misinformation) and causing more problems. Maybe we could all write a letter to them? I would and I would bet a lot of people here would. These things are bad enough without these no nothing commentators freaking out the public with bad ideas and incorrect assumptions.

[CoffeeCat]

13. I agree with you...

...that someone should put these guys on notice--that they should do some background research--before discussing issues that affect public health.

You know what is so sad....I trust YOU and YOUR HUSBAND about bird flu facts and knowledge--more so than I would our own pResident or anyone in the MSM who has reported on the topic.

If you, the pResident, the science correspondent from CNN and other government officials--were standing together. I would make a bee line for you and your husband--if I wanted the facts about bird flu.

The media is hyping it all right. However, they're fear mongering. They're not reporting how unprepared we are. They're not discussing what Americans can do to become prepared. They're not holding the pResident accountable for ignoring bird flu--until a few weeks ago.

I swear...we are totally on our own, with this thing. The government is dishonest. The media is only hyping the horrors. It's people like you who will provide the best information.

I've been reading "Nature" and articles in "Scientific American" as well as information from the World Health Organization. There are many doctors and nurses, like yourself, who are speaking out on the Web and telling people that if this thing mutates, enabling person--->person transmission--we are in a world of trouble.

[MuseRider]

15. Lol, you are getting your information

from the same places we do. We are out of the loop these days. You can't do any better I don't think. Get some Tamiflu if you can, it might help or at least lessen the illness a little. I don't know if it is even available anymore since all the scaring of the population or because so many other countries have been buying it up for their people. Must be nice :eyes:

It was not that long ago that we could feel confident that our government had most of our best interests at heart. Now we know, they don't give a shit. It is just so freaking sad.

[jody]

4. Thanks. n/t

[nickyt]

5. Two, now you'll be ticked at me, too, but honest to God,

this is the funniest thing I've read on this board in days. I'm sending it to everyone I know. "Bird...Avian...get it?" NOPE!
Hilarious.

[Radio_Lady]

6. As a talk show host myself, I must tell you that central Iowa...

probably attracts few "talkers" or would-be talk show hosts in the early years of their careers. You might check the biographies of the top 100 folks at: http://www.talkers.com (it's a magazine for those in the industry). By the way, I am assuming that this was a local show -- if not, then set this aside...

Smaller radio stations are referred to as the "long grass" (doesn't matter if you have no grass there!) where many people try out for larger markets or syndication. Many folks have to start there, but it's their knowledge and abilities that catapult them to larger markets. So I wouldn't expect much from your local hosts. Sounds like this guy wasn't too knowledgeable about influenza.

As for me, after becoming one of the first women to do radio talk in Miami and Boston and now in Portland, OR -- I tried to be intelligent about every issue, especially medicine. That's because I wanted to be a doctor.

But, I stayed away from anything having to do with sports -- just not my thing! Everything else was grist for the mill of "verbal battery"! One of the things I learned quickly is "your audience may be smarter than you are" -- ask a lot of questions and someone will call you with the (hopefully) correct answers! At least, that's the way it worked out in larger markets! Good luck!

In peace,


Radio Lady
(Packing for Hawaii tonight!)

[Radio_Lady]

8. Looks like Talkers isn't listing biographies anymore! Sorry!

I couldn't find Mac's World in their top 100 listings, either.

[CoffeeCat]

12. Thanks for your insight...

It's interesting to hear opinions, from someone who is in the business.

Yes, this is a local radio program. The radio station is 98.3 WOW FM. They run Bob & Tom in the morning, then Glen Beck and then Mac's World.

The hosts' name is J. Michael McKoy. Here is his Web page, from the radio station. http://www.983wowfm.com/showdj.asp?DJID=28729

This is a local show, sandwiched between national programs.

The show is out of Des Moines area (population 225,000).

It sounds like you've worked in some very big markets. I'd like to hear more about your show, and what you discuss.

...and Aloha! Have a great time in Hawaii!

[Radio_Lady]

14. Appreciate your reply. Yes, this does look like a "local yokel" --

He apparently owns a company in your area and is deeply involved in entertainment, along with his family!

http://www.mc2usa.net/about.html

Don't expect him to break into anything bigger than WOW-FM in Iowa anytime soon! (Looks like their real dial assignment name is KWQW -- they fudged the "Q" into an "O" and that really ticks me off!) :sarcasm:

Hey, give a look at that ancient but lofty (?) right-winger they have on their splash page -- Paul Harvey! And now you know... the rest of the story.

http://www.983wowfm.com/default.asp

In peace,

Radio Lady

[Ilsa]

9. After they were off the air, the lib cohost should have

worked to convince the idiot that they aren't the same and it's no sweat anyway. That's one less freeper to deal with in few months.

[Marr]

10. Republicans are usually either stupid, greedy, or hateful.

Occasionally one 'hits the trifecta' and you get a guy like GW.

[Kailassa]

16. Stockpile what?

The notion that America can stockpile a vaccine and say to hell with the rest of the world is a joke.

America imports flu vaccine from the rest of the world. The government is planning to import vaccine for bird-flu, as America cannot produce nearly enough for its own needs, but that might be difficult as other countries have already prebooked huge orders from the same suppliers, and will get theirs first.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=21693

[Radio_Lady]

17. Another good web site provided by the Infectious Disease Society of

America. Lists a lot of information about where the disease has broken out and what is being done to try and come up with a vaccine.

http://www.idsociety.org

http://www.idsociety.org/Template.cfm?Section=News_Room1

Right now, I'm trying not to worry about it. Going to Hawaii where I'm bound to interact with lots of Asians -- but I have a friend who works at a job which takes him to China and Vietnam regularly. I hope nothing happens to him...