Community Open Thread February 27 to December 31 2011

Hello. Is this thing on? n/t

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by: pogge @ Fri Mar 04, 2011 at 22:41:56 PM UTC

Yes it is...now.

The Internets were turned off earlier for your own safety.

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by: Bronco Bill @ Sat Mar 05, 2011 at 12:16:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Biological Hazard - Mexico

Country: Mexico
State/Prov.: State of San Luis Potosi,  
Location: ,  
City: San Luis Potosi

Not confirmed information!

Deputy Jose Luis Martinez Melendez warned that a disease similar to mad cow disease is affecting hundreds of livestock in the highlands [San Luis Potosi] and it could spread to other parts of the state if the authorities do not intervene in time. Martinez Melendez said that so far the type of disease that is affecting the livestock has not been determined, but the presentation is similar to what had presented some time ago and was known as "mad cow disease."

The name of Hazard: Mad Cow Disease like infection (possible new strain?)

via RSOE EDIS ALERTMAIL
http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/i...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 14:06:46 PM UTC

Pro-MED Mail says BSE isn't likely to affect hundreds of animals at once.

[snip]
It is more likely to be rabies, perhaps transmitted by vampire bats.

While it has not been specifically indicated previously, there are plants that affect the purkinje brain cells, and can cause the bovine to be belligerent, stagger, fall and repeat the process. This moderator is unsure if the plant, Solanum dimadiatum is found in this particular region of Mexico.

We look forward to an accurate diagnosis.Mod.TG]

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/...

Comment: A poisonous plant is the best hope here.  sigh.  Another blow to the world's food supply.

Purkinje isn't a mistranslation after all: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 19:23:42 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

H5Moo1 ? n/t

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by: Bronco Bill @ Sun Mar 06, 2011 at 20:31:03 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Recall: Skippy Reduced-Fat peanut butter,

both smooth and chunky styles.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March 4, 2011, Englewood Cliffs, NJ - Unilever United States, Inc. today announced a limited recall of Skippy® Reduced Fat Creamy Peanut Butter Spread and Skippy® Reduced Fat Super Chunk Peanut Butter Spread, because it may be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). No other Skippy® products are affected by this recall.

The product was distributed to retail outlets in Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Wisconsin.

The affected product, which is packaged in 16.3 oz plastic jars, is as follows:
   •        UPCs: 048001006812 and 048001006782 (located on the side of the jar's label below the bar code.)
   •        Best-If-Used-By Dates: MAY1612LR1, MAY1712LR1, MAY1812LR1, MAY1912LR1, MAY2012LR1 and MAY2112LR1
             (Stamped on the lid of the jar.)
[snip]

http://www.peanutbutter.com/Re...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Mar 07, 2011 at 15:44:26 PM UTC

Just found this on Weather Underground

http://www.wunderground.com/ma...

Map of the U.S., showing Flu activity for the previous week. Click on your state to see more in-depth details

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by: Bronco Bill @ Tue Mar 08, 2011 at 16:53:58 PM UTC

Thoughts and prayers

To all those affected by yesterday's massive magnitude 8.9 earthquake in Japan and the resulting tsunami...

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by: Bronco Bill @ Sat Mar 12, 2011 at 12:08:54 PM UTC

Adding my thoughts and prayers, too. n/t

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Sat Mar 12, 2011 at 14:12:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hey, Carol

I'm using the mask & cape for a while.

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by: NewsDiary @ Sun Mar 13, 2011 at 01:43:58 AM UTC

All done

I replaced some of the sequins that came off when BB was doing the macarena last night.

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by: AlohaOR @ Sun Mar 13, 2011 at 01:54:21 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Indo newshounds need help pogge or BB

We have been trying to post some articles that mojo has but she is having an error message:

net.soapblox.exception.SoapBloxException: java.sql.SQLException: Incorrect string value: 'xE2x80x8BxE2x80x8B...' for column 'commentText' at row 1

We appreaciate it. Thanks.
cottontop

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 01:51:27 AM UTC

I'm guessing the error occurs when you're trying to save...

And that we're dealing with material you've copied and pasted in to the comment. The error suggests that there's a wonky character in the material you've pasted in. Trying pasting it into a plain text editor and then copying from there and pasting it into the comment.

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by: pogge @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 02:03:29 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Three of us have tried using Word Pad, but it still won't work.

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by: bgw in MT @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 02:05:03 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I'm going to try to post an article here to see if there's just something damaged in that page.

Kelana City
March 13, 2011 Report Agita Sukma Listyanti
Bird flu cases occurred
Environmental Concerns and Problems So Poultry Owners
Although the spraying and routine vaccinations held every quarter, but trnyata bird flu cases continue to occur. The biggest problem is the environment.
Finally, found 18 chickens died suddenly in the Village District Sidotopo Simokerto. From the test results, all positive indications of bird flu.
Heri Subagyo Agriculture Extension Office Surabaya reveal problems in the community who have poultry so that the bird flu cases still occur.
First, is the environmental issue. Between the cage and residents are very close. That way, both are difficult cleanliness maintained. In fact, several cages filled with birds and goats in one place. In fact, goats and poultry should not be put together.
The second problem is a concern. Action spraying and vaccination for bird flu anticipation done routinely every 3 months. However, volunteers can actually do their own initiative outside the specified time. Parties to the Department of Agriculture has been distributing to the district-district of the sprayer and spraying materials and drugs to specific vaccination of poultry.
"But, obstacles, people still do not care. If vaccinated, many do not want to. I'm scared to even make their birds die," said Heri on suarasurabaya.net, Sunday (13/03).
In addition, Heri also acknowledge the small level of community participation. When spraying done, poultry must be removed from the cage and do not roam in the open. This appeal has been notified through the district Animal Husbandry Department and then forwarded to the district for residents. Participation is what is felt Heri is still lacking.
Facts on the ground, residents are still many who do not secure their birds when the spraying done. Animal Husbandry Department also had to intervene. "As a result, our power out for it," he said.
Animal Husbandry Department is already preparing two sprayer and 10 liters of pesticides in sub-village to every act of spraying. One sprayer filled with 50 ml of pesticide. However, the Animal Husbandry Department will provide any equipment needed pesticides citizens demand.
http://kelanakota.suarasurabay...

March 13, 2011 Report Agita Sukma Listyanti
Anticipation of Bird Flu, Poultry Cage Hundreds sprayed
suarasurabaya.net Anticipation of bird flu, District Agricultural Office Surabaya Simokerto and spraying pesticides to hundreds of cage birds belong to residents.
RT 4 Area District Sidotopo Village Station Dipo precisely rear Sidotopo is densely populated. Approximately there are 200 head of the Family (KK) at RT. Most of them raise poultry and goats.
Henny Indriyati Camat Simokerto said it was routine to do the spraying in the cages of poultry owned by residents. However, these preventive activities intensified after the discovery of dozens of dead birds since January.
"Starting two months ago, there are 18 chickens that died of bird flu and positive.'s Why we do the spraying as a precaution," said Henny on suarasurabaya.net, Sunday (13/03).
According to Henny, residents in the area of RT 4 RW 2 Sub Sub Simokerto Sidotopo indeed have an average cattle. The existence of the cage with a residential population of almost no insulation. Day-to-day, chickens, goats and even birds roam among local residents.
About 2 months ago, 18 chickens were found dead suddenly. Entirely positive for bird flu. Meanwhile, two weeks ago, a few chickens die, but not indicated as affected by bird flu. Actually, the village has been routinely spraying pesticides to corral livestock owned by citizens of every 3 months or at the request of residents.
http://kelanakota.suarasurabay...

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by: bgw in MT @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 02:08:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Those articles were Helen's and they posted.

I put it in Word and they posted. I didn't do a save on it. I don't know whether that made a difference or not.

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by: bgw in MT @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 02:10:41 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

We have even taken

out commas and such. Still will not post.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Mon Mar 14, 2011 at 02:09:24 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

I've caused sidescroll on the Indo thread, and I don't know what I've done wrong.

If anybody knows would you please tell me how to avoid it in the future? (At least until I forget again.)

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by: bgw in MT @ Fri Mar 18, 2011 at 18:40:15 PM UTC

Mods: ...at least I suppose I caused it.

I don't know whether it was that way when I started or not.

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by: bgw in MT @ Fri Mar 18, 2011 at 21:12:41 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Do you mean

in this comment?

The lines created with the string of # characters are what controls the width of the column. There's no space, so there's no place for wordwrap to kick in and move to the next line. If you want a section separator that covers the whole width but adjusts automatically, try using the HTML code for a horizontal rule. Use the following only without the space after the opening bracket or the space before the closing bracket:
< hr >

That creates this:

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by: pogge @ Fri Mar 18, 2011 at 22:24:57 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's the one, Pogge! Thanks so much!

I'll ad it to my HTML cheatsheet!

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by: bgw in MT @ Fri Mar 18, 2011 at 23:29:06 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Didn't work...

I had forgotten about the sidescroll from too many characters in a row. The equal signs I had been using worked, I guess, because I didn't make the row too long.

I tried the HTML that you suggested ( < hr > without the interior spaces)and I know that it used to work, but I can't get it to work now. SoapBlox refused it with a "Disallowed HTML tag:" warning. Something has changed in the programming recently because all the Newshounds are having trouble posting in ways that they have always used. I know the HTML command for a line probably isn't one of the changes. I haven't used it in so long that I had totally forgotten about it. Oh, I did take out the spaces in front of and behind the h.

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by: bgw in MT @ Sat Mar 19, 2011 at 22:46:39 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

This is actually pogge

I'm logged in with a test account to make sure that what I do won't work just because of my magical admin powers. This user account has the same privileges as any user. And here's a horizontal rule using that same tag we're discussing:

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It works.

I've never seen the "Disallowed HTML tag:" error. As far as I know there hasn't been any revision to the software in the last few weeks.

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by: user_test @ Sat Mar 19, 2011 at 23:48:19 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

That's the error that showed up. Aren't I talented?

I can bring out errors even you have never seen. I'm going to try it on this post and see if it will work. I it does, I guess I've just got an intermittent curse going  on me.

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Whoopee! The curse may have been lifted. We shall see.

Actually, I'm guessing that I must have mistyped one of the letters, and just didn't see it. That's Probably the only thing I can see that would cause that. If I did, I didn't see it at the time and the pitiful thing is, I looked!

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by: bgw in MT @ Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 18:42:25 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Added note:

I have cataracts in both eyes and they are getting bad. I often have to squint to see print. I probably just didn't squint hard enough. Guess it's time to get them seen about.

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by: bgw in MT @ Sun Mar 20, 2011 at 18:45:48 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Hoarding vs. Storage" blog post

Sharon Astyk has a post today that clarifies something that's been bothering me:  "Hoarding vs. Storing: Examples from Fukushima".  

[snip] The implication of the CNN story, and of many of these news reports is that it is the "hoarding" masses who don't understand how badly others need it who have caused a crisis. In fact, what we're seeing is what we always see - the language of hoarding is used as a way of shifting ideological responsibility for lack of preparation and shortage in times of crisis.

Let's define "hoarding." Hoarding is an unethical act, and in Independence Days I talk about what actually constitutes hoarding.

Once you are already in a crisis AND there is a meaningful and rational system for ensuring people have access to food, water, medicine or other necessary supplies, building up stores can disrupt the existing system and its fairness. This is hoarding, and it is unethical. That is, if there's just enough rice to around, and it is going around in a fairly just way those who are wealthy enough to build up private stocks can disrupt the system, and shouldn't.

What is not hoarding? It isn't building up a reasonable supply of goods before a crisis point (this is only prudent), nor is it attempting to survive and protect the basic health of your family when there is no system of fair distribution. This last is a very important point. The reality is that if you can't feed your dehydrated infant, there are major health consequences to that and you are not hoarding. If you are worried that what was bad for a 7 month old might be bad for your 2 1/2 year old, and buy water enough for your 2 1/2 year old, you are not hoarding. If you are afraid the water might become entirely undrinkable for everyone, including yourself, your spouse and your elderly parents, and you buy water, you are not hoarding.   [snip]

http://scienceblogs.com/casaub...

Independence Days:  http://www.amazon.com/Independ...

Comment:  I've seen news stories about families who prepared for emergencies ahead of any crisis, thinking that having a supply of food (and water, and alternate means of heating, lighting, and cooking) are what they need to do to be responsible parents and responsible citizens, only to see their accumulation of supplies described in the newspaper account as "hoarding".   It's infuriating to read such sloppy thinking, especially if it discourages people from acting prudently and in their own self-interest.  We need a "culture of preparedness" as described by Lt. Gen. Russel L. Honore (ret.) in his book and on the lecture circuit (I heard him at the International Association of Emergency Managers conference in 2008.  (A brief quote from Honore:  In today's densely populated and technologically dependent communities, disasters have a far greater impact than ever before. It's time for America to wake up to this reality.)  http://articles.cnn.com/2008-0...  
More here:  http://www.emergencymgmt.com/d...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Wed Mar 23, 2011 at 19:15:37 PM UTC

Regarding the "incorrect string value" error

I'm referring to the error you see when you paste text into a comment and it previews as if everything is fine but it won't save. If anyone can point me to a block of text that consistently triggers that error, I'd appreciate it. I have a possible workaround I'd like to test.

Meanwhile, if you're on a Mac and you're encountering this error you could try downloading a free text editor called TextWrangler. There's a feature in it called Zap Gremlins that is supposed to strip unusual characters out of text and it's been reported that it solves this problem. I don't use a Mac so I can't confirm this myself.

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by: pogge @ Thu Apr 14, 2011 at 03:05:58 AM UTC

CDC Has Tips for Zombie Apocalypse

May 19, 2011
http://www.npr.org/blogs/healt...
Here's a simple public health message: If you've prepared for a zombie apocalypse, then you're ready for just about anything.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention seized on the idea as a way to get Americans to prepare for more likely natural disasters, ranging from floods to earthquakes.  Whether zombies are on the march or tornadoes are on the horizon, you'd do well to have emergency supplies of drinking water, nonperishable food and medicines. the CDC says. And you and your family should have contingency plans that include sheltering in place, evacuation and predetermined spots for meeting up in case you get separated.

And what would the CDC do in case of a zombie attack? A blog post that described zombie preparations said:
It's likely that an investigation of this scenario would seek to accomplish several goals: determine the cause of the illness, the source of the infection/virus/toxin, learn how it is transmitted and how readily it is spread, how to break the cycle of transmission and thus prevent further cases, and how patients can best be treated. Not only would scientists be working to identify the cause and cure of the zombie outbreak, but CDC and other federal agencies would send medical teams and first responders to help those in affected areas....
(more)

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Thu May 19, 2011 at 18:51:58 PM UTC

CDC's 'Zombie Apocalypse' Advice An Internet Hit

http://www.npr.org/templates/s...

[snip]

Khan's postings usually draw 1,000 to 3,000 hits in a week. This one - posted Monday - got 30,000 within a day. By Friday, it had gotten 963,000 page views and was the top item viewed on the agency's Web site, thanks in part to media coverage that began mid-week.

As of Friday morning, the traffic showed no signs of abating.

cont.

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by: UK - Bird @ Fri May 20, 2011 at 18:04:21 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

UK-Bird, two local disc jockeys had an on-line conversation . . .

about the whole zombie emergency prep angle, complete with call-ins, and it was hilarious.  One listener asked, "can you kiss a zombie?"  Another one said that he would shelter-in-place atop a local store that was close to both his mother's house and a Whataburger!  

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Fri May 20, 2011 at 20:37:43 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Honeyville discount

Greetings from Honeyville Farms:

For a limited time only we're offering 10% off of your entire order*.  Simply enter coupon code AFD2011 during checkout and your discount will be applied.  The field to enter your coupon code is on the 2nd page of checkout below the shipping options.  Enter the code and be sure to click on the Apply button.  Act now as this offer runs from Thursday May 19th, 2011 through Tuesday May 24th, 2011 at 6:00PM Pacific Standard Time.

We're introducing quite a few new products this month that complement our existing lines.  Now is a great time to try our new Long Term Storage Meals like Fettuccine Alfredo and Rotini with Meat Sauce.  Very tasty.  We've also got a new Freeze Dried Vegetable Mix that is a great way to add a variety of Veggies in a single can.  New this month as well are the Margarine and Shortening Powders.  Finally, we have a very innovative new Egg Product in the form of Ova Easy Egg Crystals.  These are 100% Fresh Domestic Eggs in the form of a dehydrated crystal.  Just add water and cook.  The beauty of these is that they're sealed in pouches (a dozen eggs per pouch) that are then sealed in a #10 can.  Great new products.  Check them out.

ACT NOW as this discount will end promptly on Tuesday April 24th at 6:00PM PST.  If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to place an order over the phone call us, toll-free, at (888) 810-3212.  We're happy to help.

Powdered Egg Update:  The wait is nearly over for our long absent Powdered Eggs in the #10 can.  The latest update I have is that all of the regulatory hurdles have been finally cleared and we will have eggs on the shelves some time in the next two weeks.  I'm crossing my fingers.  As soon as we have those back in stock we'll send out an email update.  Thanks for your patience through this trying ordeal.

Regards,
Chris Ondatje
Director of E-Commerce
Honeyville Food Products, Inc.
chriso@honeyvillegrain.com
http://store.honeyvillegrain.com
Toll-Free:  (888) 810-3212

*10% off discount does not apply to our already low flat-rate shipping fee of $4.49.  Discount valid for INTERNET ORDERS ONLY placed from Thursday, May 19th, 2011 thru Tuesday, May 24th, 2011 at 6:00PM PST.  For assistance call (888) 810-3212.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Thu May 19, 2011 at 21:20:23 PM UTC

Hope this is a misprint

"...offer runs from Thursday May 19th, 2011 through Tuesday May 24th, 2011..."

and then:

"...this discount will end promptly on Tuesday April 24th..."

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by: Bronco Bill @ Fri May 20, 2011 at 10:59:39 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oops, didn't even notice that.

A better version at  http://honeyvillefarms.blogspo...

ACT NOW as this discount will end promptly on Tuesday May 24th at 6:00PM PST. If you have any questions, concerns, or just want to place an order over the phone call us, toll-free, at (888) 810-3212. We're happy to help.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Fri May 20, 2011 at 17:04:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

History Lover, I heard on the NPR news radio

the website crashed it had so many hits. It certainly caught my attention when I read the headline.  

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Fri May 20, 2011 at 01:37:33 AM UTC

Hi everyone

I don't ever get on this thread so after reading some of pogge's, Bronco Bill's and AlohaOR's funny comments above, I think I have been missing some good laughs! BTW AlohaOR, thanks for replacing the sequins on my secret identity costume that got knocked off during one of BB's wild nights on the town! LOL Pogge, trust me, your magical powers go way beyond being a Fluwiki administrator!

I saw this opinion piece by Killian Crawford and I thought some of you might be interested in reading it. "Timid Bureaucrats Can Be Lethal" http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2011...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

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by: Carol@SC @ Mon Jun 06, 2011 at 18:34:08 PM UTC

June 25-26: Ham radio field day

ARRL Field Day Overview

ARRL Field Day is the single most popular on-the-air event held annually in the US and Canada.  Each year over 35,000 amateurs gather with their clubs, friends or simply by themselves to operate.

ARRL Field Day is not a fully adjudicated contest, which explains much of its popularity.  It is a time where many aspects of Amateur Radio come together to highlight our many roles. While some will treat it as a contest, most groups use the opportunity to practice their emergency response capabilities.  It is an excellent opportunity to demonstrate Amateur Radio to local elected community leaders, key individuals with the organizations that Amateur Radio might serve in an emergency, as well as the general public. For many clubs, ARRL Field Day is one of the highlights of their annual calendar.

Objective:  To work as many stations as possible on any and all amateur bands (excluding the 60, 30, 17, and 12-meter bands) and to learn to operate in abnormal situations in less than optimal conditions. Field Day is open to all amateurs in the areas covered by the ARRL/RAC Field Organizations and countries within IARU Region 2. DX stations residing in other regions may be contacted for credit, but are not eligible to submit entries.
http://www.arrl.org/field-day

Dates:  Field Day is always the fourth full weekend of June, beginning at 1800 UTC Saturday and running through 2059 UTC Sunday. Field Day 2011 will be held June 25-26, 2011.

To find an event near you, use the interactive map here (you can drag it until your area appears) or type in your location:  http://www.arrl.org/field-day-...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Sat Jun 25, 2011 at 18:54:52 PM UTC

Pogge, the squirrel problem is here again.

Of course, when I tried to post it to show you, there was another squirrel comment, and it wouldn't post.  D'oh.

The comment I tried to post is the meat of this article, with a couple of snips.  I didn't see any weird symbols in it, but there were dashes here and there.
http://medicalxpress.com/news/...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 20:06:33 PM UTC

might have found the problem

In the title of the journal article, there's an odd letter "k" that might have been the problem.  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Tue Jun 28, 2011 at 20:17:16 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Relief may be on the way

The new owners of SoapBlox have announced that version 2.0 is now in beta testing. One of the new features is advertised as "No more Unicode errors" which means that pasting text from sites that use unusual (to us) character encoding should be less of a problem. More info when I have it.

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by: pogge @ Thu Jun 30, 2011 at 17:31:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I would click "like" if I could ;-) n/t

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by: Bronco Bill @ Fri Jul 01, 2011 at 03:27:27 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Happy 4th!!! Have a safe holiday. n/t

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Mon Jul 04, 2011 at 14:43:33 PM UTC

Email from IRS today: scam

I wondered why the IRS would have my email address and send a message with attachments to me on July 4, especially.  And why would they include the addresses of 20 other people??  Hmm, funny that they're all the same email service, too.  I didn't open the attachments, but copied it and highlighted the many typos.  THEN I googled IRS email scam and found this:

[snip] In a news release, the IRS warns that the agency does not send unsolicited emails to taxpayers, nor does it communicate payment information through email.

If you've received an email, don't click on any link or open attachments, and do not reply to the sender.

The IRS asks taxpayers to forward suspicious emails to the IRS at phishing@IRS.gov. Taxpayers who suspect that a website has falsely represented itself as affiliated with the IRS should report the website by sending the URL of the site to phishing@IRS.gov, using "Suspicious website" as the email subject line.

http://fairlawn-bath.patch.com...

Even more strange is the disappearance of the email from my inbox.  Maybe after-the-fact spam block?  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Mon Jul 04, 2011 at 16:03:36 PM UTC

New "Bird Flu" movie this September

Here's the trailer on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

"Contagion" follows the rapid progress of a lethal airborne virus that kills within days. As the fast-moving epidemic grows, the worldwide medical community races to find a cure and control the panic that spreads faster than the virus itself. At the same time, ordinary people struggle to survive in a society coming apart.

Starring Gwyneth Paltrow, Jude Law, Matt Damon, Lawrence Fishbourne and Kate Winslet --- lots of Hollywood "heavy-hitters"...

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by: Bronco Bill @ Fri Jul 15, 2011 at 01:10:42 AM UTC

And directed by Stephen Soderbergh.

It looks like a quality movie.  

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Sat Jul 16, 2011 at 14:27:13 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

"Contagion" article interviews the virologist-advisor

Posted by Alert at Flutrackers
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08...

A Virus Movie Determined to Get Real

Claudette Barius/Warner Brothers Pictures
[snip]
By DENNIS LIM
Published: August 26, 2011
The new thriller "Contagion" revisits a conundrum that has bedeviled many filmmakers over the years: how do you make a movie about a virus, a villain that isn't even visible? Epidemic movies have sidestepped the problem by focusing on the aftermath of a deadly plague, as with "The Omega Man" (1971) and "12 Monkeys" (1995), both set in postapocalyptic wastelands. Another option is to invent a disease with outlandish symptoms, as in "The Crazies" (1973), in which the infected turn homicidally insane, or "28 Days Later" (2002), in which they become zombies.

But unlike many of its predecessors, "Contagion," which tracks the global spread of a lethal flulike virus, resists the sheen of science fiction or fantasy and instead stresses the chilling plausibility of its nightmare situation.

"It's an ultrarealistic film about a pandemic, and that's the key phrase," the film's director, Steven Soderbergh, said. "We were looking for something that was unsettling because of the banality of the transmission. In a weird way, the less you trump it up, the more unsettling it becomes."

With a large all-star cast (Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Laurence Fishburne, Marion Cotillard, Jude Law) and a sky-high body count, "Contagion" - which Warner Brothers will release on Sept. 9 - belongs to the fitfully popular Hollywood genre of the disaster movie. "It's an Irwin Allen movie, at the end of the day," Mr. Soderbergh said, referring to the so-called master of disaster behind "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno." "We're doing exactly what he did, using a lot of movie stars and trying to scare a lot of people."

[snip]

In matters of scientific accuracy, the closest collaborator was Dr. Ian Lipkin, who directs the Center for Infection and Immunity at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health. (Elliott Gould has a small role in "Contagion" as a star epidemiologist gist named Ian.) In an interview at his office, Dr. Lipkin described how he devised the virus in the film as a corollary of the rare Nipah virus, which spread from pigs to farmers in Malaysia in the late 1990s.

"There isn't anything in the laboratory part of the film that hasn't either been done with a bona fide surrogate or assembled from something that was real," Dr. Lipkin said. He spent weeks on set ensuring that the filmmakers didn't lapse into the errors and omissions that often ensue when Hollywood gets scientific. He taught Mr. Gould how to don medical gloves properly, coached Ms. Paltrow through a seizure and asked that a scene in which Jennifer Ehle's virologist character injects herself be reshot because she was wearing tights.

"Every time there was a question Steven would ask, 'What's real?' " Dr. Lipkin said. "His argument was that truth is stranger than fiction, and it resonates more." The filmmakers came to depend on Dr. Lipkin as a fact checker. Scrolling through his e-mail, he turned up an exchange with Mr. Burns about an added line of dialogue involving Mr. Damon's character, who has an immunity to the virus and raises the possibility of using his antibodies as a cure. Mr. Burns's suggestion read, "Blood serums are very expensive and they don't always work." Dr. Lipkin said: "It's not that they're expensive, but that there aren't enough antibodies in this man. So I had them change it to, 'You don't have enough blood to save the world.' " [snip]

http://www.flutrackers.com/for...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Sat Sep 03, 2011 at 15:47:38 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

If anyone is wondering about that software upgrade...

Remember all those social media icons that appeared and then disappeared again?

The folks at SoapBlox ran into problems on a few sites when they upgraded the software so they've ended up rolling the upgrade back for everyone. They're working on it. I'm guessing we'll get more warning before they try it again and we'll let you know.

---

by: pogge @ Mon Aug 08, 2011 at 14:24:53 PM UTC

*Sigh*

Which part of "all flu, all the time" do you think they're not getting?

---

by: pogge @ Tue Aug 09, 2011 at 18:25:00 PM UTC

???

Who are 'they'? Y'mean our lovely spammers?

---

by: Bronco Bill @ Tue Aug 09, 2011 at 23:18:05 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Aye

I had just finished cleaning up after someone who thought this would be a good place to publish an essay extolling the virtues of the software package he's promoting. Trust me when I say it had nothing to do with flu or public health.

---

by: pogge @ Tue Aug 09, 2011 at 23:23:35 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hello everyone

I'm back once again.  

I had a very back 8 months with 607 days in the hospital.  The doc's had to rebuild my left leg and left knee.  I now have more metal in my left leg then bone.

After it was all over I had to take 2 months in rehab to relearn once again how to walk up right.  

That is my reason for not being here very often.

An update for everyone is a major movie is coming out about a future pandemic here in the USA and how the different Government Departments react to it. From what I have heard it is as realistic as is possible,  It comes out in September 2011

  No warning - no way to fight - no way to win!  
We need help in our local communities to survive. Remember that quote:    "...No man is an island..."

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by: RICHARD-FL @ Thu Aug 18, 2011 at 01:47:11 AM UTC

Sorry there is some errors in my last post

It was not 607 days but 67 days  I know because I got the bill last month!

  No warning - no way to fight - no way to win!  
We need help in our local communities to survive. Remember that quote:    "...No man is an island..."

---

by: RICHARD-FL @ Thu Aug 18, 2011 at 01:48:51 AM UTC

Great to have you back, Richard-FL (n/t)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Thu Aug 18, 2011 at 04:12:42 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Welcome back, Richard-FL!

Glad you're doing better!

The flu movie "Contagion" sounds good (and shudder-y).  I like Matt Damon and Gwyneth Paltrow. (Kate Winslet, Laurence Fishbourne and Jude Law are in it, too.  Wow, really good cast.)  http://www.imdb.com/title/tt15...  September 9 is the date.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Thu Aug 18, 2011 at 15:50:02 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

At Vacant Homes, Foraging for Fruit

ATLANTA - As she does every evening, Kelly Callahan walked her dogs through her East Atlanta neighborhood. As in many communities in a city with the 16th-highest foreclosure rate in the nation, there were plenty of empty, bank-owned properties for sale.

She noticed something else. Those forlorn yards were peppered with overgrown gardens and big fruit trees, all bulging with the kind of bounty that comes from the high heat and afternoon thunderstorms that have defined Atlanta's summer.

So she began picking. First, there was a load of figs, which she intends to make into jam for a cafe that feeds homeless people. Then, for herself, she got five pounds of tomatoes, two kinds of squash and - the real prize - a Sugar Baby watermelon.

[snip]

Over the last few years, in cities from Oakland, Calif., to Clemson, S.C., well-intentioned foraging enthusiasts have mapped public fruit trees and organized picking parties. Volunteers descend on generous homeowners who are happy to share their bounty, sometimes getting a few jars of preserves in return.

There are government efforts to turn abandoned land into food, too. In Multnomah County, Ore., officials offer property that has been seized for back taxes to community and governmental organizations for gardens.

[snip; much more to read]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Fri Aug 19, 2011 at 22:46:51 PM UTC

About that upgrade to the forum software

Some of you may recall that a while back, suddenly there were a bunch of social media buttons attached to each post on the front page. Then they disappeared again.

That was part of a software upgrade that was rolled back because of problems on some sites. Apparently, they're in final testing on the revised new version and expect to be rolling it out later this week. If we get something more specific on the timing, we'll let you know. Meanwhile, be on the lookout...

---

by: pogge @ Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 16:33:23 PM UTC

Pogge, will there be a choice

of seeing or not seeing those buttons, for those of us who don't use them anyway and prefer the clean and uncluttered layout of these pages as they are now?  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 16:40:10 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I don't know but I'll check as soon as I can

I've just checked the original message I received about the new version and it doesn't indicate anything about opting out of those buttons. I'll check when I see the new version has been rolled out. But honestly, they were so proud of getting that feature added, it may not have occurred to them that someone might want to turn it off.

---

by: pogge @ Tue Sep 06, 2011 at 19:23:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

movie "Contagion"

Hello to old friends, have been gone for far too long due to protracted illness. Happy to see the swan/duck upright!
Saw the movie today, loved it and hope it spurs folks to get their flu shots-good timing with the movies' rlease today.

It is better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret.

---

by: Grace RN @ Fri Sep 09, 2011 at 22:57:14 PM UTC

Good to see you again, Grace RN

There will be diary posted later this evening for discussions about/comments on the movie, if you want to add any more comments.

---

by: AlohaOR @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 01:22:07 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Grace!!

Diary for "Contagion" posted at 11pm Wiki time tonight.

I dragged DW to see the movie...she wasn't happy with me until about 20 minutes in, when she leaned over and said "This is the same sh*t you've been talking about for over 6 years!"

I the movie to be very realistic, and seemed to follow most of the scenarios people have been posting since 'Old Yeller' was alive.

The only problem I had with the flick was how fast the CDC and WHO reacted, based on how slow their reactions were during the H1N1 pandemic of 2009...

---

by: Bronco Bill @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 03:55:20 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Annie B. Hi Grace RN

Good to hear from you both.

I'm going to see the movie today and my family wants to go with me. Shock!  

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 12:11:39 PM UTC

Nice to see some old faces around here.

Well, I didn't actually mean "old."  Uh, I also didn't mean I can "see" you.  Oh, you know what I mean!

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

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by: History Lover @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 14:22:47 PM UTC

Did you want to take another run at that? ;-) n/t

---

by: pogge @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 15:06:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

LOL!!!! n/t

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 15:10:04 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I think I'd better leave well enough alone. LOL! n/t

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

---

by: History Lover @ Sun Sep 11, 2011 at 16:52:31 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Flooding in Northeast

I've been wondering how our fellow Fluwikians are doing in those flooded areas.  News reports describe horrible situations in PA, NY, and Vermont.  Here is one update from a poster on a volcano forum:

birdseye on September 10, 2011, 12:03 AM
OT Lots of folks around here along the Susquehanna are underwater & will be for a while. We're fortunate to be up in the hills , have a well, and have propane & oil rather than city services & natural gas, which has been shut down in some areas. Supermarkets under water are leading to boom business and bare-ish shelves at the higher ground ones that are accessible.Yesterday regular auto gas supplies were scarce, today seems to be better. Lots of small bridges out, as well as some larger closings, so it's interesting to hear about enterprising semi's suddenly appearing on back hill roads as they try to work around the problems and reconnect to the interstate. Weeks to longer before kids get back into some schools. Hard times ahead for many. All police, fire depts., nat'l guard and others are to be commended. they're putting in very long hours.

http://bigthink.com/ideas/4012...

Sharon Astyk has posted several entries about NY state flooding.  Here is one, with photos of her farm:

Storm Views and Supporting Northeastern Farmers
Posted on: August 30, 2011 1:45 PM, by Sharon Astyk
Thought you might want to see what the storm looked like from here. Let me note that this is a pretty minor situation - the farms in the valley that we rely most heavily on lost all of their crops - the whole thing was swept away by the storm. [snip]

http://scienceblogs.com/casaub...

Another post, about the ethic of salvaging instead of letting food go to waste:

Salvaging My Garden
Posted on: August 31, 2011 10:19 AM, by Sharon Astyk
[snip]
Why spend my day out among the rotting vegetables looking for the good ones? Most simply because it is food, and you don't just waste it.

This, I think, is a mindset that is worth getting into early on. It would be easy to say "oh, it was a terrible crop, why bother." Or perhaps to say that the birds can have the last of the sunflower heads - and perhaps they are entitled to a share of the grain as well. Fair enough, but now they've had their share, and I'm taking mine. Even if it is imperfect. Even if it wasn't what I dreamed of.

We live in a world that throws away nearly half of all the food it produces - and a world where we increasingly struggle to feed everyone. There's a connection there - the food I don't salvage is lost, and I buy in the markets. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for the markets, but everything I waste, that is lost that doesn't have to be costs us something.

The ability to make something of vegetables caught by frost, flooded, stunted by drought, partially eaten by some creature is one of our gifts - food preservation methods can mean that something that would otherwise have been lost can be saved - onions that won't store well can be dehydrated or frozen, as Gussow points out. Or new recipes arise for green tomato pickles, the outer leaves of cabbage and green pumpkin pie. It is food, and you don't waste it. [snip]

http://scienceblogs.com/casaub...

Comment:  Browse around Sharon Astyk's blog and enjoy!  If you want to smile, see the photos of her sons holding baby goats.  :-)

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Sat Sep 10, 2011 at 16:39:14 PM UTC

Cold looks like it's on its way.

The North Pole is cooling down quickly this year.

http://ocean.dmi.dk/arctic/mea...

Eastern Russia is seeing early snow as is Switzerland .

http://climate.rutgers.edu/sno...
http://www.theprovince.com/tra...

It looks like another La Nina

http://www.ecmwf.int/products/...

There's a lot of Arctic sea that needs to freeze over (second lowest modern extent) and that usually kicks up Arctic temps

http://www.ijis.iarc.uaf.edu/c...

but there are a lot of pointers to an early and cold winter. This tends to lead to a lot of bird migrations and the spread of bird flu. And cold winters often means heavy influenza outbreaks.

---

by: UK - Bird @ Wed Sep 21, 2011 at 22:01:20 PM UTC

For anyone on FW Forum tonight (Friday)

You can watch the path of the UARS satellite (and see when you might be able to see it in the sky) at this website: http://www.theweatherspace.com...

---

by: AlohaOR @ Sat Sep 24, 2011 at 03:10:34 AM UTC

Kimberly Lindsey Arrested: Charges Filed Against CDC Researcher

Excerpts:

According to her professional biography on the CDC website, Lindsey holds a doctoral degree in immunology and molecular pathogenesis from Emory University and a bachelor's degree in molecular biology from the University of Central Florida. Lindsey serves as the deputy director for the Laboratory Science Policy and Practice Program Office at the CDC.

Lindsey has also worked as a senior scientist with the Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Program and served as a senior health scientist in the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response. Her primary role as the senior scientist was to provide "oversight of the $1.5 billion fiscal allocation process for Terrorism Preparedness and Emergency Response funding agency wide," according to the CDC website. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away. --Unknown

     

---

by: Carol@SC @ Tue Oct 11, 2011 at 23:57:06 PM UTC

CDC's website shows a different Kimberly Lindsey

Photo doesn't match at all.
Where did this mistake originate, I wonder.
http://www.cdc.gov/osels/leade...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Wed Oct 12, 2011 at 00:38:49 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Oops, not a mistake;

I was comparing the reporter with the CDC photo.  Should have watched the video first.  Sorry.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Wed Oct 12, 2011 at 00:47:11 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hello

Drive by poster here......

 

All's quite in Seattle.  I hope it remains that way.

 

Best wishes all!

 

 

Just rolling along, making waves and causing trouble...

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by: pablo escobar @ Thu Oct 13, 2011 at 17:34:00 PM UTC

Hey pablo! Good to hear from you!

Don't be a stranger. Would love to hear more from you.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Thu Oct 13, 2011 at 19:53:46 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just lurking away.....

I'm currently enjoying an excellent rioja with a surfeit of jamon serrano straight off the leg....

http://www.tienda.com/food/products/jm-32.html?site=1

 No big things to follow lately, however, I've noticed the strange disappearance of news stories about barn fires in the US over the past 2 years.  No more entire heards of pigs being roasted alive from faulty "light bulbs".

 Strange isn't it?

 

Just rolling along, making waves and causing trouble...

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by: pablo escobar @ Sat Oct 15, 2011 at 19:31:30 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Glad to see old friends still here

and very appreciative of those who are still working hard to keep the rest of us informed.  Do not think that your work is in vain... It is not!

Gut feeling is that many are still actively reading, just in the lurking mode.  Me? I am buried in work, and still working on behind the scenes,  here in my community.

For those who are still dedicated to bringing us the news... I am so very thankful!

and it is good to see others drop by also.  Hey ya'll... Hi from Florida!!!! (waving)

Miss everyone.. and being in the thick of things...

Keep up the good work!

Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have. ~ Margaret Mead

---

by: FloridaGirl @ Sun Oct 23, 2011 at 22:04:17 PM UTC

Great to see you again, FloridaGirl! (n/t)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Mon Oct 24, 2011 at 04:05:12 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

How to Prep for a Zombie Invasion

Some pretty good tips here.  (hammering sounds in the background)

http://realestate.aol.com/blog...

"I am opposed to any form of tyranny over the mind of man."  Thomas Jefferson

---

by: History Lover @ Sat Oct 29, 2011 at 14:52:13 PM UTC

"Assume the Local Utility Company's Employees Have Been Eaten"

(Alternate plumbing suggestions here, too)
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/to...

There are links to other articles here, too.  http://www.thisoldhouse.com/to...

• How to Beat a Break-In
• 11 Ways Yard Work Can Kill, Maim or Blind You
• 10 Ways Your House Can Kill You

All scary thoughts, but useful ideas.  Somehow, reading all this is kinda funny; I may just go to bed and pull the covers up over my head, though.

Another list: 12 deadliest garden plants.  Eek, hydrangeas, lily of the valley, and rhododendrons are on this list.
http://www.thisoldhouse.com/to...

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Sat Oct 29, 2011 at 15:59:56 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

US: Nationwide Test of the Emergency Broadcast System

http://www.fema.gov/eastest/

Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 PM EST

Joint FEMA/FCC Letter: National Alert System Test

As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our country and communities safe during emergencies, we're working in partnership with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct the first nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS). The EAS test plays a key role in ensuring the nation is prepared for any type of hazard, and that the U.S. public can receive critical and vital information should it ever be needed. (snip)

Here are specific items we want everyone to know about the test:

• It will be conducted Wednesday, November 9 at 2:00 PM EST.
• It will be transmitted via television and radio stations within the U.S., including Alaska, Hawaii, the territories of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and American Samoa.
• Similar to local emergency alert system tests, an audio message will interrupt television and radio programming indicating: "This is a test."
• When the test is over, regular programming will resume.

(Note: This website also has information on the test in American Sign Language and in Spanish.)

---

by: AlohaOR @ Tue Nov 08, 2011 at 00:55:36 AM UTC

Potential problem with Firefox for news posters

When you try to copy and paste some URLs a new "feature" causes the http:// to not display in the address bar for some/many websites.

There is a solution:

Type about:config in Location (address) bar, press Enter
Search for browser.urlbar.trimURLs (or scroll until you find it)
Right-click or double-left-click on that phrase and toggle it to false

---

by: UK - Bird @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 08:41:38 AM UTC

Thanks! n/t

---

by: pogge @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 13:52:50 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

My Mac said "This might void your warranty"

Yellow triangle with exclamation point: This might void your warranty!

Changing these advanced settings can be harmful to the stability, security, and performance of this application.  You should only continue if you are sure of what you are doing.
box, check marked: Show this warning next time
button:   I'll be careful, I promise!

Yikes!  I don't know enough to risk clicking that button.  Maybe I don't have the problem, anyway.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 17:17:00 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The part about the warranty is a joke...

In case that's not obvious. They're just trying to get your attention so you'll slow down and pay attention to what you're doing while you're in there.

---

by: pogge @ Wed Nov 09, 2011 at 21:49:01 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Hi Carol@SC

When I did as you requested and deleted two comments, it deleted your request along with it. Rather than clutter up the current news diary, I'm posting here just to let you know I saw your request and took care of it.

---

by: pogge @ Fri Nov 11, 2011 at 14:23:36 PM UTC

Chicken pox infected lollipops

(I recieved this in my RSOE EDIS ALERTMAIL.-cottontop)

The U.S. authorities are cracking down on parents who are sending chicken pox infected lollipops or saliva-soaked tissues to other parents who expose their children to the chicken pox virus. These actions are receiving mixed thoughts. Doctors have not supported these actions because the chicken pox virus is most commonly spread through the air, not through saliva. In addition, young children being exposed to saliva-soaked tissues or lollipops might be at more risk for other unintended diseases or sicknesses.

Some state governments are taking a stance on this growing activity. Jerry Martin, the U.S. attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee declared sending "pox packages" through the mail against federal laws. It is illegal to mail biohazards across state lines. Although "pox parties," where non-infected children go to the home of a child with chicken pox for virus exposure, are nothing new.

"Pox packages" and social media event invitations are new and are receiving hostile attention. The bottom line is parents want their children to have exposure to the chicken pox virus, which proven to be more effective in developing immunity than the chicken pox vaccine, in some cases. There are critics to the U.S. vaccine program, who propose that the government does not provide parents with enough control over the vaccinations their children receive. There are more than a dozen vaccinations children must receive prior to attending public schools; yet, some scientific studies have linked some vaccinations to increased risk of developing certain conditions.

http://hisz.rsoe.hu/alertmap/i...

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 13:26:59 PM UTC

Pox parties didn't exist among my childhood friends

so I got them when I was about 40... and while uncomfortable it wasn't as bad a dose of flu for me. At least I knew why I wasn't supposed to scratch. Maybe I was lucky but most people I know who got chickenpox as an adult didn't suffer much either.

Given that I know two people who have lost sight in one eye and another who suffers from terrible nerve pain 15 years after they got shingles, I think people need to rethink pox parties as a harmless solution to a terrible adult affliction. Whether the vaccine could reduce incidence of shingles is still up in the air.

---

by: UK - Bird @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 15:50:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

I agree UK - Bird

Underlying health problems are not taken into consideration, or there may not be any knowledge of any underlying health problems in people. It truly isn't as harmless as they make it seem. I had the chicken pox when I was 8 or 9 and it was a mild case. However my daughters, (18 and 9) have not had the chicken pox and I would never purposly expose them just to get it over with. I do know of a person that contracted chickenpox when they were 10 and got very sick.

I just find this so irresponsible.

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

---

by: cottontop @ Sun Nov 13, 2011 at 16:31:47 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tests Show Most Store Honey Isn't Honey

Ultra-filtering Removes Pollen, Hides Honey Origins

More than three-fourths of the honey sold in U.S. grocery stores isn't exactly what the bees produce, according to testing done exclusively for Food Safety News.

The results show that the pollen frequently has been filtered out of products labeled "honey."
The removal of these microscopic particles from deep within a flower would make the nectar flunk the quality standards set by most of the world's food safety agencies.

The food safety divisions of the  World Health Organization, the European Commission and dozens of others also have ruled that without pollen there is no way to determine whether the honey came from legitimate and safe sources.
(big snip, lots of detail, including some honey found with contamination by antibiotics and/or heavy metal)

http://www.foodsafetynews.com/...

(Comment: I wonder how long this fraud has been going on.  Perhaps some of my old stored honey predates it, I hope.  sigh.)  

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

---

by: Jane @ Tue Nov 15, 2011 at 21:50:34 PM UTC

Honeyville Grain discount - 10% off

We usually order the 50# bag of quick oatmeal.

Coupon Code:  HOLIDAY

SUMMARY:  SAVE 10% ON YOUR ENTIRE ORDER* from Wednesday 11/30/2011 through Tuesday 12/06/2011.  Stock up and save on all of your favorites, and try some of our great new items.  Simply enter coupon code HOLIDAY during checkout.  ORDER NOW!  SALE ENDS ON TUESDAY the 6th of December.

http://store.honeyvillegrain.com/

Hope the Holidays find you in the company of friends and family.  We know your Inbox is probably bulging from all of the retail offers from Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Spend-Money Thursday so we'll make it quick.  From Wednesday 11/30/2011 through Tuesday 12/6/2011 you can save 10% off your entire order*.  To receive your instant discount enter the coupon code HOLIDAY in the coupon code field on the second page of the checkout process.  Be sure to click on the Apply button to activate the discount.  Act now as this discount is only good from Wednesday, November 30, 2011 through Tuesday, December 6, 2011.  

http://store.honeyvillegrain.c...

We appreciate your business and strive to offer quality products at affordable prices.  Should you have any questions or concerns, or just want to say hello, give us a call, toll-free, at (888) 810-3212 or shoot us an email at webmaster@honeyvillegrain.com.

Regards,

Chris Ondatje

Director of E-Commerce

Honeyville Grain, Inc.

*10% off discount does not apply to our already low flat-rate shipping fee of $4.49.  Discount valid for INTERNET ORDERS ONLY placed from Wednesday, November 30th, 2011 thru Tuesday, December 6th, 2011 at 6:00PM PST.  For assistance call, toll-free,  (888) 810-3212.

"The truth does not change according to our ability to stomach it."  Flannery O'Connor

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by: Jane @ Fri Dec 02, 2011 at 03:37:32 AM UTC

Remember this email address

I've just changed the DNS record for this domain to point to a new server at our hosting company's request. It seemed pretty straightforward but just in case... if you begin to have trouble reaching the forum you can email me at:

pogge AT pogge DOT ca

Let me know if things blow up and I'll backtrack to the old settings and then investigate.

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by: pogge @ Thu Dec 08, 2011 at 17:58:05 PM UTC

Thank you pogge

for caring for our "home." We appreaciate it!

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Dec 10, 2011 at 02:08:43 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

You're welcome

It appears to have worked. We'd know by now if it hadn't.

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by: pogge @ Sat Dec 10, 2011 at 14:00:44 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Just a quick Thank You during this season...

To all of the NewsHounds who continuously update the daily news here on the FluWiki Forum, in no particular order:

BGW in MT
Carol@SC
AlohaOR
History Lover
Jane
cottontop

and to all who contribute and add news and updates to both the Wiki and the Forum--THANK YOU to all!!

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by: Bronco Bill @ Thu Dec 15, 2011 at 03:48:46 AM UTC

Behave yourselves

I'm heading out to see family soon and I'll be off the grid 'til Monday. Compliments of the season to everyone. And your families. And friends. And anyone else for whom you think the sentiment is appropriate.

And try not to break the place while I'm gone!

(I'm kidding. You knew that, right?)

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by: pogge @ Sat Dec 24, 2011 at 17:20:40 PM UTC

pogge, with you away...

we will have no adult supervision, so we are gonna play!:-)

(Unless you left BB in charge. :-)

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sun Dec 25, 2011 at 01:49:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Whoever said...

...that I could provide adult supervision? :-D

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by: Bronco Bill @ Tue Dec 27, 2011 at 12:19:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

The place is still standing...

So how much trouble could you have gotten into?

On second thought, don't answer that.

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by: pogge @ Tue Dec 27, 2011 at 14:57:08 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Season's Greeting

Season's Greetings to all. I hope everyone has a great holiday season and stays safe.  

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sun Dec 25, 2011 at 01:43:51 AM UTC

Happy New Year!

I hope everyone has a safe celebration tonight. May 2012 be a haealthy, happy and productive year for you.

cottontop

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 22:18:47 PM UTC

My first request of the New Year pogge...

Can we have a new community diary? LOL  

United we stand: Divided we fall
www.flunewsnetwork.com

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by: cottontop @ Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 22:29:46 PM UTC

Done!

It will be promoted to the front page at the stroke of midnight (EST).

Link: http://www.newfluwiki2.com/dia...

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by: AlohaOR @ Sat Dec 31, 2011 at 23:48:20 PM UTC

[ Parent ]