Giveaways and Bill Gates' fear

5/29/2015

Congratulations to Samantha for winning the Pandemic one-year birthday prize pack!

There is still time left to enter the giveaway for a query or chapter critique from Julia Byers, founder of Ch1Con, a writing conference for teens. You don't need to be a teen to benefit from Julia's expertise. Visit this blog post and scroll down to access the giveaway.

Bill Gates worries about pandemics! Who knew we had so much in common? He predicts there's a 50% chance that a widespread deadly contagious disease will occur during his lifetime. Read more about his view here. And let's hope he's wrong.

Do you worry about pandemics? Natural disasters? Zombie-causing wasps? Feel free to share your fears below.

Liz A. link

5/29/2015 03:50:28 pm

I think that we fictionalize so many disasters in ways that would never occur in real life. Could some contagion get out there? Sure. But we know so much more about these things nowadays that we know what to do to mitigate a full-out disaster.

I think there's this fear of a pandemic that comes from species memory. We've had plagues before, and somewhere deep in the recesses of our brains (in the same place that makes us fear the dark) we "remember" it. But because it didn't happen to us, we project that fear into the future. Rather than recognizing it comes from the past.

Yvonne V link

5/30/2015 03:06:15 am

Interesting theory about species memory. Something to ponder. I also think it's the general sense of lack of control in a disaster situation.

Traci Loya

5/29/2015 04:05:32 pm

I think its valid to fear a pandemic. Who knows what has been created somewhere, behind closed doors or deep underground. Natural disasters are a huge fear also...

Yvonne V link

5/30/2015 03:07:06 am

Traci -- yes, I'm with you on natural disasters,too!

Lanie link

5/30/2015 07:43:10 am

I do worry about pandemics because all it takes is an airborne disease or one piece of contaminated food to start a chain reaction. Do I believe one day we'll have zombies running amok? Nope! However, there are plenty of disease, specially ones like rabies which can mock those types of symptoms of craziness. It's always better to be prepared and realistic about the potential for outbreaks than be loosey goosey an end up like the plague victims from medieval times.

As for natural disasters, those are a concern specially with the drastic changes in seasons and growing cycles. I'm more worried though about the oil digging in residential areas though.

Yvonne V link

5/30/2015 11:59:01 am

Yes, loosey-goosey = bad. :) I agree about being somewhat prepared. And natural disasters are always worrisome.

Patricia Lynne link

5/30/2015 08:37:49 am

It's not something I think of often. Mostly because I have an overactive imagination, soooooo, yeah, I can easily convince myself the world is going to end tomorrow. It's better if I channel that energy into writing.

Yvonne V link

5/30/2015 12:00:28 pm

Our worries do end up in our writing, one way or another. :)

Pempi link

6/1/2015 10:07:10 am

In the UK we all got very concerned about swine flu a few years back and were all issued with instructions on what to do in such an event and vaccination programs were set up for those most vulnerable - I think it showed that we need to be vigilant and that there will be more likelihood of pandemics as the world becomes ever smaller with the amount of air travel undertaken each year by so many and the exotic destinations more people travel to.
<a href=http://pempispalace.blogspot.com/>Special Teaching at Pempi’s Palace</a>

Yvonne V link

6/6/2015 02:16:25 am

Pempi -- It's interesting to hear what the UK is doing. Thank you!

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