What is Popeye to do now?

I was reading Cecilia's blog since there wasn't a new comic today. I had heard about the e-coli spinach infection and all that, but I didn't realize it was causing so much havoc. I guess the fact that my mother all the way back in Bolivia heard about it should've clued me in (yes, I've been slacking and not reading the news these last few days).

In any event, whatever news article about this I skimmed this morning was so paranoic! Be scared, be very scared, the evil spinach is out to get you. It reminds me a bit of the airport-security debate I've gotten myself into a few times recently. Why do we react before we think?

Do not buy spinach! Avoid greens! Careful you might die in a car crash...oh wait, we don't worry about that one.

The first few results of a google search on e coli facts seem to suggest that if you cook your spinach at 160 fahrenheit you will be ok. Second, suppose there have been 1000 cases (an overestimate I think), that is 1 in 3 million people or 0.0000033 of the population. Of course, I couldn't find that info on the news (I admit I didn't do the best job at looking since I have to go to class soon). All the info the news seem to have given is about where the first cases were found, how many people got it, what you should avoid, etcetera. Be very scared!

All in all, Cecilia is right: you are more likely to die in your daily commute than by eating a spinach salad for lunch. So, I say Popeye should eat himself a can's worth and go kick the meida's rear. I would, but I better head to class.