5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SWINE FLU

by Madam Toussaint on October 26th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Posted In: GREEN, HEALTH
Photo Credit: AP Photo: Japanese tourists wear masks as they visit the historic Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. The Ministry of Health announced the third fatal swine flu case, with the death of a 25-year old woman. Egypt has recorded more than 1000 cases of swine flu.

Photo Credit: AP Photo: Japanese tourists wear masks as they visit the historic Pyramids of Giza, Egypt, Saturday, Oct. 24, 2009. The Ministry of Health announced the third fatal swine flu case, with the death of a 25-year old woman. Egypt has recorded more than 1000 cases of swine flu.

Why is it called “the swine flu”?
“Novel H1N1 (referred to as “swine flu” ) is a new influenza virus causing illness in people. This virus was first detected in people in the United States in April 2009. This virus is spreading from person-to-person worldwide, probably in much the same way that regular seasonal influenza viruses spread. On June 11, 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) signaled that a pandemic of novel H1N1 flu was underway.” ~answers.flu.gov

Who is swine flu affecting?
“The illness, unlike other flu strains, has been particularly tough on children and young adults and appears to have a disproportionately high fatality rate in pregnant women.” ~nytimes.com

What about the vaccine?
The H1N1 vaccine is controversial. Some consider it more dangerous than the flu itself. “The federal vaccination program for H1N1 flu is VOLUNTARY, just like the seasonal flu vaccination ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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SWINE FLU DECLARED NATIONAL EMERGENCY

by Madam Toussaint on October 24th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Posted In: GREEN, HEALTH
Photo Credit: Reuters Pictures: William Harris grimaces as he receives a swine flu vaccination at a public clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin October 23. 2009. With a national shortage of the vaccine the City of Milwaukee Health Department has less than 7,000 doses of the vaccine available on a first come first served basis, local media sources report.

Photo Credit: Reuters Pictures: William Harris grimaces as he receives a swine flu vaccination at a public clinic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin October 23. 2009. With a national shortage of the vaccine the City of Milwaukee Health Department has less than 7,000 doses of the vaccine available on a first come first served basis, local media sources report.

President Barack Obama has declared the outbreak of the swine flu a national emergency.

A proclamation was signed Friday, October 23, 2009 that would allow medical officials to “bypass certain federal requirements.”

This move is considered to different from “declaration ahead of a hurricane making landfall.” The declaration is intended to prepare the U.S. in case of “a rapid increase in illness that may overburden health care resources”

I guess that’s supposed to calm us down. ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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CONSEQUENCE, RICK ROSS AND OVERSPENDING

by Madam Toussaint on October 24th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
Posted In: GREEN, MONEY IS GREEN, FRESH, MUSIC

consequence

FUN FACT: According to azfamily.com:

“While the total amount spent on Halloween has fallen from last year, it is still considered one of the most costly holidays. The National Retail Federation expects consumers to spend $4.75 billion on Halloween this year.”

That’s a lot of money for candy and outfits you won’t wear again. I was never that into Halloween, but it is important to keep in mind that there are some major holidays coming up and the temptation may be to overspend. It is the American pastime. One of the things that helps prevent me from overspending (sometimes) is seeing my purchases as an investment not just something to buy for now.

Whether that As Seen On TV Shamwow you bought on sale was useful or not once it’s yours it yours. It will be in your home taking up space and if something is going to take up space in your home shouldn’t it be useful? Or something you wouldn’t mind seeing in a year or two? If the answer is no consider thinking about what it will be like after the purchase before you buy.

Consequence feat. Rick Ross- “The More I Get”

Friends, in my lifetime I’ve been called a lot of things. “Rick Ross fan” was never one of them. That said I like this song a lot. Produced by Statik Selektah, “The More I Get” showcases Consequence’s wit and Rick Ross’s successful vocals blending into this beat. Con’s flow is cool and you would wonder when does this guy take a breath if you couldn’t hear him take it every time. This song is brief which makes the Teddy Pendegrass sample more tolerable and less distracting.

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Madam Toussaint As A Treehugger

by Madam Toussaint on October 22nd, 2009 at 8:00 am
Posted In: GREEN, NATURE
Birch-leaved Pear, Morton Arboretum acc. 38-85-2, photographed May 5th, 2009

Birch-leaved Pear, Morton Arboretum acc. 38-85-2, photographed May 5th, 2009

It’s true I’m a nature lover. I do like trees, not the ones you smoke, the ones you climb and is under on a hot summer day. I had the great fortune of growing up in a household that had a big yard.

On summer days I would set out to prove what I learned in science class. I experimented with photosynthesis by trying to revive sick houseplants in the yard by giving them what my mom gave me when I was sick: orange juice.

Needless to say that didn’t work out so well nor did the ant hotel I made complete with the pool. Who knew ants couldn’t swim?

Anyway, back to the trees. Our yard was full of evergreens, even a holly tree, but the one that intrigued me the most was the pear tree.

I could see it from the kitchen window. I watched it go through it’s changes year after year. In the spring it was ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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KATRINA VICTIMS COULD SUE OVER GLOBAL WARMING

by Madam Toussaint on October 19th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Posted In: GREEN, CLIMATE CHANGE-GLOBAL WARMING, GREEN, PEOPLE

PORT SULPHUR, LA - MAY 13: Jamie Riley pauses after cooking dinner for her seven children in the FEMA Diamond trailer park May 13, 2009 in Port Sulphur, Louisiana. Seven children and four adults from the family are living in the trailer after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. They are still awaiting money from the federal Road Home program to purchase a new home. Approximately 2,000 families in the New Orleans metropolitan area still live in FEMA trailers nearly four years after Hurricane Katrina. Eighty percent of those still in trailers are homeowners who are unable to return to their storm damaged houses. May 1 marked the end of the Temporary Housing Program for Katrina victims as those still living in the trailers have been given a May 30 deadline to move out or face possible legal action.

Photo Credit: Getty PORT SULPHUR, LA - MAY 13: Jamie Riley pauses after cooking dinner for her seven children in the FEMA Diamond trailer park May 13, 2009 in Port Sulphur, Louisiana. Seven children and four adults from the family are living in the trailer after their home was destroyed by Hurricane Katrina. They are still awaiting money from the federal Road Home program to purchase a new home. Approximately 2,000 families in the New Orleans metropolitan area still live in FEMA trailers nearly four years after Hurricane Katrina. Eighty percent of those still in trailers are homeowners who are unable to return to their storm damaged houses. May 1 marked the end of the Temporary Housing Program for Katrina victims as those still living in the trailers have been given a May 30 deadline to move out or face possible legal action.

Based on a ruling Friday by from the Fifth Circuit in New Orleans Hurricane Katrina victims may have standing to sue oil and coal companies for producing greenhouse gases, contributing to global warming and rising ocean temperatures, which in turn contributed to the ferocity of hurricanes.

Does that sound like a lot? Does that sound like a leap? ↓ Read the rest of this entry…

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