Results matching “SARS”

This year's hot new look for Spring is undoubtedly the surgical mask, and we're probably just moments away from seeing ironic, sequined twists on the timeless medical classic. To test whether New Yorkers are ready to embrace the latest must-have accoutrement, the Daily News's Edgar Sandoval took to the streets yesterday with his mask on, being sure to cough a lot (which he blamed on allergies). Reactions ranged from fearful to supportive, and in Times Square, Brooklyn's Daniel Dickie sagely observed, "With the mask, you look like you were full of germs." And last night Gothamist's Billy Parker (pictured at right) put safety first during a Mets game, eliciting countless cries of "Swine Flu!" and even a couple old school cheers of, "SARS in the house!"

- Could you have AT THE LEAST included a disclaimer eliminating all the poor sick cold homeless folk as the potential mystery hacker?Gothamist's own, basic problem with this promotion is that we think coughers should stay home. Or remain extremely discreet. People walk away from coughers. Is Ricola trying to give the NYC-metro population colds, by being in sneezing-hacking distance of actually sick people? How this promotion can fly during the age of SARS and various other to-be-discovered diseases, we don't know. In fact, we might have to call the Health Department.

Check out NY magazine's guide to Chinatown. If you happen to see an early movie, think about getting some groceries - the food is fresh and cheap; see Chinatown market photos 1 and 2 from Bluejake

• Alessandra Stanley says, "Except for the politics and soft-core pornography, "The L Word," Showtime's new series about lesbians that starts on Sunday, is old-fashioned fun." Hey now!

Hmm, it seems that Canada is going to start decriminalizing possession of marijuana - but only small amounts. And of course, trafficking marijuana will still be illegal. This news comes on the heels of Toronto being put back on the travel advisory list of SARS afflicted cities, so Gothamist supposes frantic Torontonians will self-medicate.

The World Health Organization reversed its prior decision and has reinstated Toronto in its list of SARS sites. Summary: Toronto's still screwed. How does this affect Toronto's film industry? Will New York be the new New York in film and television?

It's all rumor, in Gothamist's book, but Screen Daily claims there are Asian films going into production based on the SARS episdemic. One, a "comedy drama, the film is divided into three stories: the first about Hong Kong’s medical workers; the second a love story about a boy and girl who meet when their building is quarantined and the third about a businessman who tries to deliberately catch SARS after the disease makes him go bankrupt." Another is a drama, possibly starring Gong Li as a nurse in a Chinese production. [Via Dark Horizons]

Hot on the heels of diners avoiding Middle-Eastern and French restaurants in a wave of misguided patriotism, people are now avoiding Chinese restaurants and Chinatowns in general from fear of SARS. EGullet, Gothamist's favorite food newssource, issues this plea for logic. The vanishingly small risk of catching SARS in Chinatown may not be sufficiently good reason to destroy the livelyhood of the people who live and work there.

SARS affects yet another trip - the L.A. Times reports that San Diego native Hua Mei's trip to China has been delayed. Hua Mei is a giant panda, who was born in 1999 to Bai Yun, and has lived in San Diego since. As most pandas in zoos are on loan from the Chinese government, part of the agreement between the San Diego Zoo and China is that any pandas born in the U.S. must be sent to China after a certain number of years. With SARS concerns, Hua Mei's trip back may be delayed for months. Here's hoping that other San Diego Natives and zoo visitors will take advantage of that and say hi to her.

The W.H.O. feels certain that the new coronavirus that was injected in monkeys, in experiment in the Netherlands, is what has been causing SARS. The W.H.O. (and the Times) are quick to explain that monkey experiments are essential to figuring out SARS, especially considering the high death rate. Gothamist feels conflicted: At what cost progress?

U.S. and Canadian scientists say they have identified the genetic structure of SARS, but

Doctors think that SARS is spreading more than they thought.

Slate's Explainer tackles whether face masks prevent SARS. Gothamist feels that masks are to SARS what duct tape is to biological attack: something to make people feel better but ultimately not that effective.

Unfortunately, more cases of SARS are being reported and planes are being diverted and quarantined. Plus the Hong Kong Film Forum is now postponed. The Times details the economic and emotional panic the atypical flu is causing in Hong Kong. Yesterday, it had a clear graphic showing, Outbreak style, the spread of the SARS.

Gothamist little brother (well, little age-wise...he's taller and might be able to beat me up now) Eric came back from Hong Kong on Saturday, and received this card.