From Troy Tempest (an infectious disease physician) on FB.

The H1N1 Pandemic has been around since April 2009. It shows no signs of leaving, and will likely extend to at least April of 2010. What do you need to know, or do?

1. Best defense: proper hand hygiene. Although flu viruses can be contracted via "droplet"s of fluid emitted during coughing or sneezing if within 3-6 feet of a person, most influenza is transmitted via hand contact with live virus on fomites (inanimate objects, such as doorknobs, computer keyboards that viruses can live on for up to 2 hours or more).
--wash your hands for 15 seconds before touching any part of your face, or poopy place
--alcohol gel sanitizers are actually very effective and can be used in lieu of soap and water if your hands are not soiled

2. The Regular Seasonal Flu kills approximately 40,000 Americans a year. So far, the death attributed for H1N1 has not matched regular seasonal flu, but remember: H1N1 may become this year's seasonal flu (there are influenza B's being reported, so it could be a mixture).

3. Those at increased risk for regular seasonal flu are NOT all the same as those at risk for serious H1N1 infections
-->At risk for serious H1N1 infections (unexpectedly higher death rates reported*):
pregnant persons*
children less than 6 years (particularly <2*)
people with chronic hematologic (sickle cell disease, leukemia), oncologic (Lymphoma, cancers), immune dysfunction (HIV/AIDS, patients on chemotherapy or immune system altering drugs such as remicade), cardiac (history of MI/heart attack), pulmonary (COPD, asthma) chronic disorders such as diabetes

4. The regular seasonal flu has typically been of H3 subtype since the late 1950's, however before then it was generally H1N1 subtypes-- this is why persons > 60 appear to be more immune to serious H1N1 disease; they are already partially immune. This is also thought to be why the more serious disease is occuring in those <50-- we have not been exposed to any H1 subtype of influenza until this season, therefore not even partial immunity.

5. H1N1 Vaccination: get it, especially if you are in a high risk group or take care of someone in a high risk group. The vaccine is made the same way regular seasonal flu vaccines are made. Comparisons to the 1950's vaccine are bogus. Technology has improved since then.
--attenuated live H1N1 intranasal virus: NOT for immunecomprimised. If you have HIV, are on chemotherapy, or have a lymphoma/cancer/leukemia, you should avoid this type of vaccine
--"killed" intramuscular vaccine: this is ok for most everybody, except those with egg allergies

All H1N1 vaccine is being supplied by the government. 40 million doses were expected by now; 28 milliion have been delivered, so there is a current, temporary shortage. Don't blame your doctor, blame the drug companies who "promised" they could make 40 million doses by now.

6. When to go back to work?--> 24 hours after fever has resolved, preferably any cough as well. There is a chance for post-infectious viral bronchitis which is just an inflammatory reaction to the past virus--> this is annoying, but does NOT denote infectivity. Consult your MD if you are wary. If you are sick, febrile and coughing you should stay away from work or dense, highly populated areas. Yes, you are Typhoid Mary at this point.

7. Tamiflu: this is the main drug being given to treat H1N1. It's efficacy is unknown. In medical studies for regular seasonal influenza, Tamiflu given 75mg bid (twice a day) x 5 days afforded about 24 hours less symptoms compared to placebo. So in other words, it shaves off only one day of illness...not the most effective drug. Take it if you need it but know it's limitations. Also, you might experience "CNS" or Gi side effects (dizziness, slow thinking, upset stomach, diarrhea) and temporary hair loss (not on the package insert, but trust me on that one).

8. Theoretically, gargling with salt water and/or daily nasal washings with normal saline *may* help in decreasing viral load. The theory is that the osmotic gradient will force fluid out of the viral cell and cause cell death. Just a theory, but I have seen this around a few times now on the web.

9. Most Hospitals or large clinics that know what they are doing will have a dedicated Flu Clinic which is separate from other medicine clinics, or will shunt you to a different waiting area and exam room. Don't be alarmed. . This is for infection control issues, public safety, and conservation of personal protection equipment (so don't freak out if your doctor is wearing a funny looking mask). If you need to see a doctor and you think you have H1N1, ask about any special Flu Evaluation Clinics available.

I dressed as Adam Lambert for work on Friday. I’ve heard from friends whose coworkers don’t get the costuming thing and look at them like they’re freaks. I suppose some people think the same of me, but they don’t say anything. On the other hand, I always have a few who are in awe of the costume, complementing me on details, etc., so I feel like my efforts are appreciated.

Many loved the hair – as is true with the other costumes, the wig is one of the more expensive details. His cost around $100. And of course, I still had to alter it; you can’t buy an “Adam Lambert” wig. ;)

Adam’s neck chains are the most interesting detail, IMO. There are several chains in linear strands, not closed loops. I drape them around my neck and tie them like a scarf. These were made from six necklaces I bought at Claire’s. The chains were tied in a knot with some cheap looking plastic beads. Remove the beads and voila!

After work, “Adam” went to a club where a friend of mine runs karaoke. It was fun trying to choose songs in character. I would have done “Whole Lotta Love” (in a lower key, lol), but the Led Zeppelin version has that whole instrumental “orgasmic” thing going on in the middle, and I didn’t want to go there, hehe. I sang “Ring of Fire,” though, sort of in Adam’s style. I also sang “Tracks of My Tears,” “Like a Prayer,” “Working for the Weekend,” and “I Want Your Sex.”



Saturday, Adam handed out candy to about 210 kids. A couple of people guessed who I was. One thought I was Sharon Osbourne. Huh?

The cutest costumes were Raggedy Ann and Andy in a twin stroller and a two-year-old kid dressed as a soldier – who could barely climb up the curb to my sidewalk. ;)

The November & December Calendar for LARPs in the Ozarks region (Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, and Oklahoma) has been posted.

Our usual caveats: -

• Game/Event missing for November or December? Leave a comment


• Games / Events (for your group) coming up in January 2010 or February 2010? Leave a comment.


• Blog or LJ Community that we should forward this announcement to? Leave a comment.

Blog Community @ ozarks_larp

• 21:23 Check this video out -- Hilarious Muppets Bloopers! bit.ly/DY78Q #

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Thank you to all who responded to my Tolkien post. I felt all of your comments raised good points about the work, though of course, we may all be a bit biased. ;~)

William Shatner appeared on the Tonight Show this week reading Levi Johnston's tweets. I was going to put it up, but it has since been revealed that the tweets were from an impostor. Shatner read some real ones the next night, but they weren't as funny.

But back in July, Shatner read Sarah Palin's speech as she resigned as governor of Alaska.

Well, this is the first time that I've logged into old Livejournal in something like a year. The reason for this is that I'm working on something that I feel that some of the Dragon*Con community might have an interest in.

I'm working on a novel.

Yes, that makes me about as unique as saying, "I have a facebook page."

The point is that I'm writing a novel about Dragon*Con. I've attended D*C for 10 years now and I've always enjoyed telling stories about the things that my friends and I have experience during our years at the convention, so I decided to write about it. I'm also one of those people with lofty dreams of transforming from a "writer" into a "published writer." So I've decided that I'll share the novel as each chapter becomes something that I'm comfortable with sharing. It's in no way a set in stone manuscript but more of a near-final draft.

At the time of this posting only the first chapter, more of a brief intro the setting, is available but the second will follow shortly. I plan to update the blog with a chapter or two every week, usually on the weekends.

What I would like is feedback from people that I don't know who have experienced Dragon*Con. I want to know what you think about it. So please leave a comment either positive or negative. Let me know what you like and what you didn't and what you would like to see.

So drop by and take a peek, at http://dragonconnovel.blogspot.com

Thanks and see you in 2010!
Chris C. Wicker

Hmm, well, I watched the most recent episode and it wasn't quite what I was expecting. It was very much show skating, though I did think Jaime Sale and Craig Simpson had a good program with enough difficulty to make it interesting. The rest was kind of meh, but I'll probably still try to see who wins in the end, since they are down to three couples

Today I decided to take a picture of my very own little monster in a box (this is refference to Spalding Grey's movie/monologue of the same name which I talked about several entries ago). Anyway this is what 628 handwritten pages looks like. So this is my novel Ambriel a.k.a. The Russian Fucking Novel a.k.a the RFN





Ambriel started in a much smaller three ring binder, moved to the black 3-ring binder above which it shared with several writing projects until it grew so large the other projects were relocated to other 3 ring binders.

Someday I hope someone out there will want to read it. If needs be I may self publish it and face the scorn of REAL  authors and publishers everywhere. After all, nothing washes off the stink of self-publishing. But I really don't know how sellable it is. Aldo someday I may need beta readers as they call them these days.

And for those two of you waiting for chapter 2 of Roserie and Marro, my apologies! I haven't had time to type on it i a couple weeks. And for those of you who would LIKE to read Roserie and Marrow and critique my crap there is still time to volunteer. I will need to e-mail it to you though. OR you can join critters.org and read it as it comes through the queue.

Chrononaut Mercantile founders Heather Kahn and Jeff Witkavitch combine years of experience working with beads, fabric, leather and reclaimed materials to translate a world of the imagination into reality. Their creations include jewelry, handbags, luggage, cloaks and capes, jackets, belts and accessories to outfit a variety of looks – from knight in arms to gentleman pirate. Their Medieval Marketplace line is marked by the liberal use of leather, wool, brocade and the intricate details of the Middle Ages.




Check out our website Chrononaut Mercantile and join our mailing list for a chance to win in one of our upcoming giveaways!

The November & December Calendar for LARPs in New England has been posted.


Our usual caveats: -

• Game/Event missing for November or December? Leave a comment


• Games / Events (for your group) coming up in January 2010 or February 2010? Leave a comment.


• Blog or LJ Community that we should forward this announcement to? Leave a comment.

Blog Community @ ne_larp

x-posted to bostongamers

Hey Guys, thanks for all the comments and return questions!   If any of you live near Cleveland Ohio, please drop me a PM!

I thought some of you might like to know how things turned out.  I was quite surprised at how it turned out:
( Cut for those who are not interested )

Week one entry for brigits_flame
Prompt: China
800 words




Gilligan's Problem
by Kayden Eidyak



It was with some trepidation that Gilligan the bull rapped (perhaps harder-than-necessary) on the door labeled, Marjorie Crane, Psychologist.

"Come in," came a reedy voice in answer to his knock.

Gilligan entered the room, twisting his front hooves nervously as he glanced at his surroundings.

Before him was a white crane wearing gold spectacles, holding a notebook and pen and sitting in an enormous winged armchair of a truly horrid shade of green. There was a window over-looking the street, a bookcase containing more books than Gilligan had ever read, a desk upon which stood a rather sickly looking plant, and in the center of the room, a large, plush, red couch.

"You must be Gilligan," said the crane. Without waiting for an answer, she went on. "I am Marjorie Crane. Please, have a seat." She motioned towards the red couch with a wing.

Gilligan carefully sidled to couch and sat down gingerly. The springs and wood creaked in protest.

Marjorie opened her notebook and uncapped her pen. "Now then, what seems to be troubling you, Gilligan?"

"Well..." Gilligan began hesitantly, "I'm having some problems at work."

"What sort of problems?"

"Nobody likes me," the bull replied mournfully.

"Nobody? Who, specifically?"

"My boss tries to fire me almost every day. And none of the other employees talk to me. And all the customers are afraid of me."

"Hmmm..." Marjorie Crane jotted a few lines in her notebook. "Is it because of your size?"

Gilligan considered this. "Well, partially, I suppose. If I were smaller I guess I wouldn't cause so much trouble."

"What sort of trouble do you cause?"

"Um, I tend to break things. On accident, of course," Gilligan added hastily.

"I see." Marjorie scribbled again in her notebook. "How do you end up breaking things?"

"Oh, well, you know, I'm sort of clumsy, I guess. And it's kind of hard to hold things with these." Gilligan held up his front hooves. "I broke twenty-eight pieces of merchandise last week. The boss wasn't pleased."

"No, I wouldn't think so," agreed Marjorie. She pushed her spectacles further up her beak with her wing and jotted something else in her book.

Gilligan leaned forward as if hoping to see what she'd written and the couch gave a particularly loud groan. He grimaced and sat back again.

"Gilligan, where exactly do you work?"

"In a china shop."

The crane took off her spectacles and stared at her patient. "A china shop?"

"Yes. I like pretty things, you see."

Marjorie replaced her spectacles and wrote some more in the notebook.

"Have you considered changing jobs? Perhaps you might find something more suited to your size and demeanor."

"Like what?" asked the bull, glumly.

"Well, you might take up painting instead."

"Already tried it." Gilligan's ears drooped dejectedly. "Was a disaster. Paint everywhere!"

"Ah. Well, then, what about music? Surely there's an instrument you can't damage?"

"Tone deaf."

"Er...how about welding!"

"Welding?" The bull gazed at his therapist doubtfully.

"Welding can be pretty...in its way."

The bull merely grunted in response.

"No. How about ballet?"

Gilligan pondered this a moment. "Ballet?"

"Yes! It's perfect!" exclaimed Marjorie, capping her pen and closing her notebook with a satisfying snap! "It's pretty, you can't deny that."

"True," agreed Gilligan.

"And really, your only problem is you need a little more finesse! A little grace!  Few ballet lessons should get you so light on your toes you'll never break another plate again."

"But I drop things!" wailed Gilligan.

"You'll just have to learn to be more careful," the crane said, tartly. "I certainly have my share of difficulties with wings, but I manage. It's all about making the best of what we've got."

"That's it!" exclaimed the bull, leaping to his feet and knocking the couch backwards. "Oh...oops. Sorry..." He hurried to right the couch and backed into the bookcase, causing it to rattle violently and dump several books on the floor. "Oh...oh...sorry!" Gilligan stooped to pick up the books, but as he stood, his horn caught the rim of the pot that contained the plant. He swung his head trying to see what he was stuck on and the pot went sailing straight through the window to crash on the sidewalk below. Several exclamations of "hey!" and "watch it!" could be heard from outside.

Gilligan gave the therapist a sideways glance as he set the few books he has managed to pick up on the edge of the desk.

"Uh..."

Marjorie rose from her chair where she had just barely manage to escape disaster by covering her head with her notebook and went to the door. She opened it and waved the bull through. "Good day, Gilligan. Think about those ballet lessons."

Gilligan grinned sheepishly as he ducked through the door.

Marjorie Crane closed the door behind her patient and set about restoring her office to order.

The empire strikes back

In recent weeks, we've taken huge steps towards blocking spam accounts on LiveJournal. In fact, we've suspended as many as 30,000 accounts in a single day! We've implemented several pre-emptive measures to prevent the creation of spam accounts, and we've honed our detection of suspicious content. Spam bots are a crafty lot, so we'll continue to refine our tactics and keep up the good fight to keep you safe from spam attacks on LiveJournal.

RSS feeds again

If you're addicted to xkcd_rss, icanhaschzbrgr, or other syndicated feeds, we're pleased to report that we've resolved the update error that was mucking up your RSS feeds. While content was being pulled correctly, it wasn't being posted to the feeds themselves. Late last week, we finally nailed down what we hope was the root problem, so content should post properly. We thank you for your patience.

Wii have killer CSI Deadly Intent contests!

c_s_i

If you're a gamer who loves CSI, have Wii got news for you! c_s_i is sponsoring killer contests. Simply post a question to a member of the CSI crew. The winner will get a free copy of CSI: Deadly Intent for Nintendo Wii (with a retail value of $39.99) and get their question answered by a member of the CSI writing team! There's also a fantastic monthly contest. To enter, join c_s_i, play the online version of CSI: Deadly Intent, and respond to a two-part query for a chance to win a Wii! Entries will be judged on composition and originality. Sorry, but you must be a U.S. resident and over 18 years old to participate. Check out the rules here.

Enveloped in postcards

Last week, we asked you to send in postcards to help us decorate our drab concrete walls. Here's a photo of the results so far! Thank you so much and please keep them coming! You can mail them to Frank the Goat, Esq., c/o LiveJournal, Inc., 539 Bryant Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94107. Be sure to include your username, since we'll be giving ten random users paid account credits.

Photos of the week

If you haven't visited our new LiveJournal photo community, you're in for an amazing visual trip. LiveJournal users from around the world will take you on a scenic journey to everywhere. Post your own pictures or kick back and enjoy at lj_photophile. You can view some of this week's awesome photos after the jump. Please start tagging with geographic location, since we'd like to track all the places around the world represented in this community. Keep on commenting too!
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Nobody knows where my BRIGHT RED suitcase is. Apparently it made it out to 'the pier' in Atlanta but doesn't show as being loaded :(

I'm playing a cleric of Tyr in the underdark, she's a slave--which has been pretty harrowing, but she's doing her best to keep her alignment and whatever good she can.   Yeah, I know-- she's probably going to die horribly, but it's pretty cool right now.  At the moment she's alive, and unsurprisingly stuck with a moral challenge:

The cleric of Tyr has been traded to some slavers.

One of the slavers, a drow NPC who seems actually pretty decent, offered her to protect her from The Sisters.   Who I'm guessing are probably some kind of cleric of Lloth.   This would require sleeping with him, as the Sisters find those who have been 'tainted' by a lowly male unsuitable.    He would otherwise not be interested in sleeping with a human. 

So...what should she do? 

   She is a chaste (and currently celibate by perference) widow.   The cleric is by all standards rather chivalrous and a 'nice girl', sleeping with a stranger is something she would not do on her own.   It's not that she considers it evil, but perhaps a more respectful and honorable choice.

Of course she'd rather not be at the mercy of these Sisters, her death in these circumstances would probably not serve Tyr particularly well. 

  I don't think that Tyr would abandon her with either decision(1).

(1) http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0490.html

• 19:50 @BillCosby Amen. #

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Remember, remember the 5th of November.

That is all. ;)