Up until now, I haven't been too worried about the swine flu. It's not like you can get it from eating pork, nor can you get it from hanging out with pigs. But after watching the news tonight and checking out the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website, I am starting to become a little concerned. There are 6 people in my state that are possibly infected. One was a child and they were considering closing all schools in this childs' county since he has been at school. Since they have changed this possible pandemic to a level 5, (level 6 is the highest), how can you help but be worried?
Folks at the local airport are wearing face masks, and they aren't only people coming in from Mexico! (BTW from what I understand, there is no evidence that a mask will stop the spread of the flu.) Also, today was the first day that an infected person, (a toddler in this case), in the US died from the virus.
From what I understand, they are assuming that this flu (now called the H1N1 flu virus), is transmitted much like a regular flu. And the biggest concern is that no one will have an immunity to this flu. Which means every human has the possiblity of getting it.
6 Things to remember:
1. Symptoms of this flu are no different then the symptoms you have for any kind of seasonal flu. That may include, fever, sore throat, cough, stuffy nose, chills, headache and body aches and fatigue.
2. There is no vaccination against the swine flu. However, there may be one in time for next years' flu vaccinations.
3. There are some medications, 4 I believe, that are proving to be effective if you become infected.
4. Don't be scared of pigs. You can't get it from a pig, nor from pork. The strain that is going around is strain that is communicable through human-to-human contact. It is a mutated form of a swine virus.
5. The reason this flu is more viral then say the avian flu, is that it has mutated,and become transmittable between humans. The avain flu never got that far.
6. The only precautions you can take are to stay home if you are really worried about it, or if you or your children are ill. Control your sneezes and coughs, and stay away from others who are sneezing and coughing. If you cough into your hand, remember the virus could live on your hand for a few minutes, so wash your hands or use hand sanitizer right away. Don't shake hands with folks that appear ill. If you are really freaked out that you might get it, then don't go to places where a lot of people gather, like the mall, or a ball game. If you get symptoms suggesting the flu, call your doctor to see what their plan of action is, they might give you a prescription. Don't go the doctor's office or the ER for the flu unless you are seriously ill. You don't want to get everyone else sick. Remember to wash your hands a lot!
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
What is blogging to me?
As I am new to the blog world, I decided to do some research on blogging. The most basic definition I found for a blog was from the glossary on www.matisse.net. It is:
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominently.
Although somewhat restrictive, for the most part it sounds pretty simple right? If you are like me, then maybe it doesn't sound so easy.
After setting up this blog, I realized that to keep a blog you really need to have some sort of focus, in other words, what will your blog be about?
Now I'm thinking, how do you narrow that down? There are millions of reasons why people blog.
For example:
A blog about family, with pictures, videos and/or written updates. This type of blog usually caters to family.
A blog used as an online journal or diary.
A blog to maintain articles, papers or general writing. Something like an online resume.
A blog for celebrity gossip, like Perez Hilton, which caters to anyone who's interested in daily updates on celebrity life.
A blog for work, or for a job. This usually involves writing articles that are conducive to the company they are working for or maintaining a blog to advertise for these companies or websites.
"How to" blogs.
Like I said there are blogs for almost anything you can think of. So what is my focus? What is this blog centered on?
I love to write. In fact, I have written over 250 reviews, mostly on books, movies and skin care products. I want one place to keep these reviews. Sort of a list of accomplishments, as well as one place I can refer back to. I also enjoy writing for the sake of writing.
This blog will always be a work in progress, but for me it will be a place for me to retain my reviews and a place for me to write.
Now I think I've got it. Not too hard after all.
A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog.
Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in chronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominently.
Although somewhat restrictive, for the most part it sounds pretty simple right? If you are like me, then maybe it doesn't sound so easy.
After setting up this blog, I realized that to keep a blog you really need to have some sort of focus, in other words, what will your blog be about?
Now I'm thinking, how do you narrow that down? There are millions of reasons why people blog.
For example:
A blog about family, with pictures, videos and/or written updates. This type of blog usually caters to family.
A blog used as an online journal or diary.
A blog to maintain articles, papers or general writing. Something like an online resume.
A blog for celebrity gossip, like Perez Hilton, which caters to anyone who's interested in daily updates on celebrity life.
A blog for work, or for a job. This usually involves writing articles that are conducive to the company they are working for or maintaining a blog to advertise for these companies or websites.
"How to" blogs.
Like I said there are blogs for almost anything you can think of. So what is my focus? What is this blog centered on?
I love to write. In fact, I have written over 250 reviews, mostly on books, movies and skin care products. I want one place to keep these reviews. Sort of a list of accomplishments, as well as one place I can refer back to. I also enjoy writing for the sake of writing.
This blog will always be a work in progress, but for me it will be a place for me to retain my reviews and a place for me to write.
Now I think I've got it. Not too hard after all.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Diversification
The definition of diversification from Dictionary.com is; the act or practice of manufacturing a variety of products, investing in a variety of securities, selling a variety of merchandise, etc., so that a failure in or an economic slump affecting one of them will not be disastrous.
It's ironic that this word would mean so much to me, because of all the times I have heard it, I never realized what it meant or really, what it stood for.
I was having a conversation with a very good friend (who also happens to be a very smart business associate) today. Initially our conversation was of the usual things; what was going on in our lives, how my house purchase was going, how my friends’ recent vacation went, blah, blah, blah....What you would normally discuss with friends right? From there our conversation turned to employment, or more, opportunities to make money, on our time, with our own rules. We have brainstormed in the past, but I think today was very prolific.
I am in a situation now, where I need to find a line of work, that is for me three things; lucrative, positive and something that fits in to my life as a mama. I have been tossing three main ideas around, but have not been able to figure out where to start because I have been over thinking each of them. I go from:
1. What do I do with these ideas?
2. Which idea do I start with?
3. (This one I like to call panic mode...) How the hell do I even get started?
From there it's pretty much an uphill battle to get ANYTHING done, because I am too anxious to even begin. My friend and business associate was able to put these ideas in to perspective for me, he essentially explained to me that I was diversifying. He said that diversification was the word of the day. At the time I don't think I realized just how right he was! I soon realized that I was on the cusp of diversification and I didn't even know it.
Today I feel like my ideas have fallen in to place. Today I have accomplished a lot. Today I diversified. Today was a good day.
It's ironic that this word would mean so much to me, because of all the times I have heard it, I never realized what it meant or really, what it stood for.
I was having a conversation with a very good friend (who also happens to be a very smart business associate) today. Initially our conversation was of the usual things; what was going on in our lives, how my house purchase was going, how my friends’ recent vacation went, blah, blah, blah....What you would normally discuss with friends right? From there our conversation turned to employment, or more, opportunities to make money, on our time, with our own rules. We have brainstormed in the past, but I think today was very prolific.
I am in a situation now, where I need to find a line of work, that is for me three things; lucrative, positive and something that fits in to my life as a mama. I have been tossing three main ideas around, but have not been able to figure out where to start because I have been over thinking each of them. I go from:
1. What do I do with these ideas?
2. Which idea do I start with?
3. (This one I like to call panic mode...) How the hell do I even get started?
From there it's pretty much an uphill battle to get ANYTHING done, because I am too anxious to even begin. My friend and business associate was able to put these ideas in to perspective for me, he essentially explained to me that I was diversifying. He said that diversification was the word of the day. At the time I don't think I realized just how right he was! I soon realized that I was on the cusp of diversification and I didn't even know it.
Today I feel like my ideas have fallen in to place. Today I have accomplished a lot. Today I diversified. Today was a good day.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
