Ok, my friends know I'm a bit germaphobic...

But this one put me over the top...
(Also, CorpseBoy reminded me of factory farms and their role in breeding viruses and bacteria...)

**********

Ben Sherwood

Author, Journalist, Founder and CEO of TheSurvivorsClub.org
Huffington Post
April 27, 2009 | 01:56 PM (EST)
BIO Become a Fan
Get Email Alerts Bloggers' Index
Swine Flu Survival: The Science of a Single Sneeze (and Three Simple Ways to Protect Yourself)

A single sneeze propels 100,000 droplets into the air at around 90 mph, landing on door knobs, ATM keypads, elevator buttons, escalator railings, and grocery cart handles. In a subway station at rush hour, according to British researchers, as many as 10 percent of all commuters can come in contact with the spray and residue from just one sneeze (or sternutation). That means as many as 150 commuters can be sickened by one uncovered achoo.

No wonder health officials are extremely concerned about the new strain of swine flu that has infected at least 20 Americans in five states, killed some 80 people in Mexico, and has traveled to the other side of the world in New Zealand. Understandably, US authorities - following the lead of the World Health Organization (WHO) - have declared a "public health emergency."

"This virus has, clearly, a pandemic potential," says Margaret Chan, director general of WHO. Why? The virulent new H1N1 swine flu strain spreads quickly and efficiently from human to human. It's "a completely novel virus," says the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). This latest variant is a mixture of human virus, bird virus, and pig viruses from all over the world. Experts say it's particularly worrisome because people are getting sick without any encounters with pigs. Even worse, young, healthy people (ages 20-40) are dying at a striking rate, a telltale sign of the worst flu epidemics.

Swine flu fears aren't new in the United States. In February 1976, a 19-year-old army private at Fort Dix, New Jersey, died within 24 hours of becoming infected with swine flu. Soon, 500 soldiers were afflicted and the US government began a controversial nationwide vaccination campaign. Ultimately, some 40 million Americans were inoculated. As a result, several hundred people developed Guillain- Barré syndrome, a serious neurological condition, and the immunization program was stopped.

What's going to happen this time? Without question, the disease will spread farther and wider. At this point, as the CDC says, it can't be contained or controlled. (The flu shot from last fall, for instance, won't combat this strain).

What can you do to protect yourself? "No single action will provide complete protection," the CDC notes, but taking a few steps can help reduce the likelihood of transmission of swine flu (or many other infections).

1. Sanitize -- i.e. Wash Your Hands Frequently. It may sound obvious, but hand-washing with soap and water for around 20 seconds is the single best thing you can do (if you're going to go out into the world and interact with other human beings). The CDC estimates that 80 percent of all infections are spread by hands. If you can't wash your hands regularly, try hand-sanitizers with 60 percent alcohol content.

2. Avoid -- i.e. Engage in "Social Distancing." That's the fancy term for reducing unnecessary social contact, staying away from crowds, and avoiding people if you're sick or if you're concerned that they may be infected. It may not be especially practical when you have to go to, say, work, but experts believe it's worth repeating: Isolation and avoidance reduce your chances of getting infected or infecting others.

(Researchers in the UK - mentioned above and sponsored by a cold remedy company - found that 99 percent of commuters suffer at least one cold per winter. By contrast, 58 percent of people who work from home and 88 per cent of those who walk to work caught a cold last winter).

If you need to go someplace crowded, the CDC says, try to spend as little time as possible and try to stay six feet away from potentially infected people. Wearing a surgical or dental facemask - cleared by the FDA as a medical device - "can help prevent some exposures," the CDC says, but they're not foolproof.

3. Be Alert -- i.e. Recognize the Symptoms and Get Help. Swine flu symptoms are similar to regular flu: Fever, body aches, sore throat, cough, runny nose, vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. If you don't feel well, seek medical attention. So far, it's important to note, this swine flu is treatable (and absolutely survivable). It's resistant to two of four antiviral drugs approved for combating the flu: Symmetrel and Flumadine. But two newer antivirals - Tamiflu and Relenza - appear to work.

What are the chances of a global pandemic? "The situation is uncertain and unpredictable and likely to be a marathon more than a sprint," says Dr. Richard Besser, acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"We expect there to be a broader spectrum of disease here in the U.S.," adds Dr. Anne Schuchat, interim deputy director for the agency's Science and Public Health Program. "I do fear that we will have deaths here."

Swine flu will dominate news headlines in the days ahead. Every case around the world will be carefully tracked and tallied -- and deservedly so. It may not sound like much, but the best defense involves some very simple steps: Every sneeze should be covered -- preferably with the crook of an arm - and every hand should be washed ... and washed again.

For more information about swine flu or surviving other kinds of life-changing adversity, please go to TheSurvivorsClub Website.

The CDC has set up a toll-free hotline: 1-800-CDC-INFO. Or check out the CDC Website.

The Thing

Smoking set tonight at The Loft by The Thing



Swedish saxophonist Mats Gustafsson and two Norwegians, bassist Ingebrigt Håker Flaten and drummer Paal Nilssen-Love

First session

At the fantastic new Conrad Prebys Music Center, we had our first full tracking session in the new recording studio. (By they way, does that make all of us that use the music center "Prebysterians"...?) Anyway, it went *very* smoothly, this in spite of the inevitable setup/mic/console snafus/confusion that you would expect with eight people having their hands on everything. Tom Erbe, the instructor for the class (who amazingly avoided my camera), the students, and myself (TA) had a great time with musicians James Williams on piano, Richard Sellers on drums and Rob Thorsen on bass playing the music of James Williams.

I'm all smiles...

James Gordon Williams

Richard Sellers

Rob Thorsen

Dustin and Ben, looking surprised

Students asking the question:
"Maybe we shouldn't have typed 'command-a, delete' at the end of the session?" (not)

I love tofu...

From the AP:

Woman's tofu license plate curdles in Colo.

1 hr 46 mins ago

DENVER – One Colorado woman's love for tofu has been judged X-rated by state officials. Kelly Coffman-Lee wanted to tell the world about her fondness for bean curd by picking certain letters for her SUV's license plate. Her suggestion for the plate: "ILVTOFU." But the Division of Motor Vehicles blocked her plan because they thought the combination of letters could be interpreted as profane.

Says Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch: "We don't allow 'FU' because some people could read that as street language for sex."

Officials meet periodically to ensure state plates stay free of letters that abbreviate gang slang, drug terms or obscene phrases.

The 38-year-old Coffman-Lee says tofu is a staple of her family's diet because they are vegan and that the DMV misinterpreted her message.

Great Weekend...!

What a great weekend. Besides getting a lot of work done in the studio mixing Jeff Denson's album, I had friends visiting to play gigs. Steuart Liebig, Bill Barret, Tony Atherton and Joe Berardi (The Mentones) played Spring Reverb here, as did Hans Fjellestad. Then PLOTZ! and Andrew Durkin's Industrial Jazz Group ended their tour at Dizzy's last night. Kris Tiner drove in after their LA gig Saturday night, and we had a great hang Sunday. He hipped me to more iPhone apps that I knew existed that I now NEED. Including, this screen cleaner.

On to the photos:

Ian Carrol, me, Phil Skaller, Jason Ponce after the IJG gig.

George Lewis, David Borgo, and Miss Hubbard. We had a great talk about Sun Ra and the AACM and George extended some of the ideas in his book, which is a great read. While you're there, check out David's book, which is also a wonderful read. Both books are insightful and thought-provoking, as well as engaging reads.

Hans Fjellestad played a beautiful, gritty, bone-grinding set. I do believe some of the sounds he developed during the gig cause calcium depletion. I had a great hang after with Borgo, Bill Barrett and Hans at the Aero Club. Turns out Hans has a taste for the single malts, and they had some decent one's on hand.

The Mentones: Joe Berardi, Steuart Liebig, Tony Atherton, Bill Berardi burning down Kava Lounge.

Great to see all my LA/Ventura friends in PLOTZ: Jake Vossler, Dan Rosenboom, Gavin Templeton, Austin Wrinkle, Brian Walsh, Orest Balaban...a smoking set.

The Industrial Jazz Group played a great set at Dizzy's. Andrew Durkin rocked the place, and in addition to the great music, there were an array of costumes and non-costumes. (For an example of "non-costume," see the clothes challenged trombonist Mike Richardson on the right.)

Great April Fool's joke...from Microsoft?!

Thank you, Stephen Colbert...

For showing people the ridiculousness of Glenn Beck...

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The 10.31 Project
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

Colbert DESERVES to have the space station named after him!

Well, at least a space station toilet...!?

Microsoft...

Ballmer makes Tom Cruise's sofa and Scientology antics look *almost* sane...Makes you wish Steve Jobs was around...

Odd food...for me...

As a vegan, why do I attract such odd food news?

From the AP:

Warning sought for burger the size of your head
AP
Wed Apr 1, 1:25 am ET

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The West Michigan Whitecaps say they have no plans to put a warning label on an enormous new hamburger they're selling this season — despite a vegan advocacy group's request to do just that.

Susan Levin, a staff dietitian for the Washington-based Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, sent a letter to the Grand Rapids minor-league team on Tuesday. She's asking that the 4,800-calorie burger be labeled a "dietary disaster" that increases the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The 4-pound, $20 burger features five beef patties, five slices of cheese, nearly a cup of chili and liberal doses of salsa and corn chips — all on an 8-inch bun.

Whitecaps spokesman Mickey Graham says the burger is a gimmick that's being promoted as a very unhealthy menu item.

*************

AND food links for your enjoyment:

http://thisiswhyyourefat.com/

http://www.porktopia.com/2009/03/porkgasm.html

Organic AND Green Tea AND Beer...?

Three things I love, in one convenient package!

Organic Green Tea Beer