Things Have Always Been Terrible

A series in which I make you feel less lonely, realizing how much shit humans have lived through. Swedish Poliomyelitus Epidemic of 1911 I didn’t know polio and Sweden went together, but in 1911, they did. There were almost 4,000 cases reported in Sweden in that year, and it was the biggest outbreak of polio […]

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Things Have Always Been Terrible

A series in which I make you feel less lonely, realizing how many other awful things humans have lived through. Russian Cholera Epidemic of 1829-31 Who can we blame for this epidemic? This one’s fresh and new: the Kirghiz tribes. It started in India, but it was the Kirghiz people who probably brought it to […]

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Things Have Always Been Terrible

A series in which I make you feel less lonely, realizing how many other pandemics humans have lived through. Roman Plague of AD 590 If you’ve ever seen dragons being flushed out to sea by a flood, you’re going to relate to the people of Rome in 590 AD.  This particular plague, I’m going to […]

Read More Things Have Always Been Terrible

Things Have Always Been Terrible

A series in which I make you feel less lonely, realizing how many other pandemics humans have lived through. Vietnamese Plagues of the 1960s I have a special place in my heart for the people of Vietnam. I grew up knowing a refugee family who had been sponsored by our church, and I’ve ended up […]

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