Coming This Winter: SEPTA Flu

If you’ve noticed, everyone seems to be sick (with bad colds) quite early this year. Or maybe that’s just me. But a local doctor tells KYW 1060 the answer: It’s all SEPTA’s fault.

Mass transit ridership is up because gas is not only $50 a gallon but nobody has any money anymore, having been laid off by Lehman Brothers or something. Well, Dr. Kathleen Squires says blame SEPTA — or, rather, the number of people on SEPTA — for the upcoming epidemic of the flu this winter:

“Any time that people are in crowded conditions and in close contact there is always a chance to spread colds viruses and influenza.”

The good news she says is that simple hand washing and getting a flu shot can help cut your risk significantly since this year’s vaccine is different and covers three new strains of the virus. What if you just keep your cold weather gloves on while riding mass transit?

“I wouldn’t necessarily encourage that we all go around wearing gloves, but remember that if you cough into the glove and then touch a surface, whatever is on the glove can be transmitted to that surface.”

Oh, just wait ’til the media hops on the “SEPTA flu” bandwagon in a few months. It’ll be great.

Local Dr. Links Flu Cases to Crowdedness on Mass Transit [KYW 1060]
Photo by qilin, Creative Commons license

Peter The Great To Aid Flu-Ridden Flyers?

Although the Flyers were coming off a 22-60 season, the worst in their history, a couple people thought they might be able to sneak into the playoffs this year if they caught a few good bounces. Instead, the Flyers are first in the division and only three points back of first-place Ottawa.

Now comes the news the team will get Peter “Foppa” Forsberg back if he feels he’s healthy enough to return. Yes, the dreamy blue-eyed Swede could be returning to break the hearts of all the women in South Jersey and Northeast Philly.

Forsberg (at right, apparently getting ready to chase after some birds) played with the Flyers for 2 1/2 years before the club shipped him off to Nashville. The Flyers could definitely use him right now, as they all have the flu right now.

Photo by Markus Sandin, licensed via Creative Commons

Reason #31 To Love Philadelphia: The Weather!

After weeks of 90-degree temperatures in January — or whatever — colder weather is finally here!

Not that there’s anything wrong with 70+ temperatures for the mummers parade, but it’s nice to have a little bit of winter (and possible flurries) with us finally this season. It’s going to be in the 40s for the rest of the work week, with slightly nicer days in the 50s over the weekend.

See? Perfect winter weather. (Or as perfect as we’re going to get right now.) I knew it’d come back eventually.

January 9th, 2007 Forecast [Phillyweather.net]

Hurricane Changes ‘Winter’ Forecast

Last night, NBC 10 weather forecaster Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz — who was last seen apologizing for hating Christmas — decided to revise his weather forecast and cut his expected winter snowfall total in half.

Schwartz did this in light of the recent weather and because “the NAO has been way too positive.” (Oh!) He originally called for 35 to 40 inches of snow but now predicts just 15 to 20, with one big snowstorm in February.

Clearly, Hurricane is hoping that big snowstorm falls on another hated holiday of his, St. Valentine’s Day.

Glenn Schwartz Revises Winter Storm Forecast [NBC 10]
Archives: Glenn “Hurricane” Schwartz

Christmas In July

Put my column about snowflakes smack dab in the dead of summer, please!

Is Every Snowflake Different? [Slate]
Related: Philly Pops Christmas Concert Tickets Go On Sale