Swine Flu Coming to a School Near You?

I've just read about a college near San Francisco that has reported upwards of 2,000 students sick with flu-like symptoms. And this just in the first 10 days of that school's semester.

Good Lord, what will the rest of the year be like?

Luckily - for those students and the rest of us, this particular flu is less fearsome than it's been reputed to be. At least until it mutates into something akin to an Ebola Cold. In that event, we are heading for the outback of Australia. I'd like to see any virus survive there.

This is topical, as I am all set to pack my son off to his college. He seems healthy enough. No coughing or sneezing. No errant fluids pouring from normally dry orifices (that I can see). A happy, robust teenager in all critical aspects.

But, I think to keep him 'safe' I will need to prepare a special 'flu' kit to take to college: Antiseptic hand wash is a must, and quite fashionable these days. Also, a surgical mask to wear just in case his entire freshman engineering class comes down with the bug - only in that dire circumstance would he consider wearing it. And last, but not least, a huge supply of powdered vitamin C concentrate. It may be no more effective than the mouthful of vodka before bed that was my freshman antidote to all disease, but it's bound to cause fewer side effects.