Satire: 2012 apocalypse a likely occurrence

Read this story....HERE

It is about time someone accurately depicts the end of the world.
Today, the long anticipated movie "2012" hits theaters and will
tell the story of how the world will come to an end in a little more
than two years.

But how could that be fair at all? Society won't get to witness the
2016 Rio de Janeiro Summer Olympics.
What will our next president accomplish? Freshmen, we won't even
be able to graduate.

Well, that is too bad. The 13th cycle of the Maya Long Count
calendar - each cycle has 394 years - will end during the winter
solstice of the year 2012. Of course, there have been many
inaccurate apocalyptic predictions in the past, but this event has
got to be true.

Reason No. 1 - John Cusack has prioritized this ominous date
enough to make a movie about it.

Appearing in "Sixteen Candles," "1408" and "Igor," it is apparent that
Cusack only participates in movies that parallel his strong convictions.
For example, in "Must Love Dogs," his character demonstrates the
importance of dating, dogs and decision-making (Is he the right one?)
Obviously, such pressing societal issues need to be addressed and
Cusack is the man for the job.

Secondly, we must believe the Mayas. There is no doubt that this
ancient civilization was far more advanced than any other group on
Earth at the time. Extremely well-developed irrigation systems,
quizzically modern astronomical discoveries and complex
architectural achievements are great reasons to agree with the Mayas
on this "end of the world" issue. After all, who could argue with a
population that used chocolate as currency?

Disregard the accusations of Mayan culture experts who say that the
apocalyptic association with the date has no Mayan origin. What do
they have besides a decade or two of concentrated Mayan research
under their belts? They even go on to say that this "end of time" the
Mayas bring up represents a fresh start, rather than a disastrous end.
Such rational thinking could only deter the world from all-out chaos
by Dec. 21, 2012.

Although NASA has debunked this "myth," and one too many people
are skeptical of the association between the apocalypse and the
Mayan calendar, it might be in everyone's best interest to review this
 issue more thoroughly. Look at it from both sides - The New York
Times may have an article questioning the Mayan apocalypse, but
The National Enquirer fully supports the Doomsday date.

At the very least, try looking into selling your car or home
(the real estate market may be doing well by then), but if that doesn't
sound appealing, you might have more luck befriending John Cusack.

Written by:
Judith Schomp is a freshman political science major from Lindale.

 Now I wonder how many people actually believe this.....
There have been many people that believe in the end of the world
scenarios that they all miss the point..

From Nostradamus to Mayans and everything in between....
the world isn't in good shape and needs to change....
hence the end of this time of life...

You can judge how things are going now...
but I will still believe that we make the world what we like it to be.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Celebrate Yankee's Victory Online

Read the story @ Examiner!!!

traveling to New York to see the parade honoring the Bronx
Bombers would be quite cool. However, not all fans will be able to
do that. So as usual, the best place to watch the parade, the
presentation of the trophy, and the rest of the celebration will be online.

Lets start with the obvious; the New York Yankees Website, is the
best entry point to find the action. This is also including any Yankees
official regular season and World Series
merchandise and paraphernalia.

Boston's former Captain Caveman, Johnny Damon, NY Yankees
outfielder was classy enough to pay homage to the the team that
gave him his first World Series ring.

From Sports News out of The Gaea Times;

The Yankees parade 2009 will start at the Battery Place in

Broadway and will continue to the Chambers Street. The

heroes of the day, Derek Jetter, Alex Rodriguez and the rest

of the team will be treated to showers of confetti all along the

route. The procession will lead up to the City Plaza. There, the

team will be presented the key to the city, a great honor, by

Michael R. Bloomberg, the mayor of New York

The Parade Route will be through New York City's Canyon of Heros
and will start tomorrow, Friday the 6th at 1100 AM
You can watch it on MyFox in New York as well as MyFox Online;
both being live.


This should be an intense scene ...for those
who love baseball and fans of N.Y. it should
be the biggest thing online....

Yours Truly
mediamerlin 



Watch Live Here

Hurricane Ida hits Nicaragua coast

Read this story...Here!

By FILADELFO ALEMAN (AP) – 53 minutes ago

MANAGUA, Nicaragua — Newly born Hurricane Ida ripped into
Nicaragua's Atlantic coast on Thursday after forcing more than 2,000
people to flee their homes and knocking out power to some parts
of the impoverished region.

The hurricane struck land about 75 miles (125 kilometers) north of
Bluefields. It was forecast to weaken while cutting across Honduras
before possibly emerging over open water on Saturday — a still-
tentative path that could carry it near Mexico's resort of Cancun by
midweek.

Ida had winds of 75 mph (120 kph), according to the U.S. National
Hurricane Center, and it was moving to the northwest at 6 mph
(9 kph).

It could dump as much as 20 inches (500 millimeters) of rain in parts
as it crosses eastern Nicaragua, with the risk of flash floods and
mudslides, according to the Miami-based center.

The storm could also raise coastal water levels by as much as 3 feet
(nearly 1 meter) above ground level, with dangerous waves.

There were no immediate reports of deaths, but Nicaragua's National
Civil Defense director Mario Perez said more than 2,000 people had
been evacuated — 800 of those from flimsy, makeshift homes on
Corn Island and nearby Little Corn Island, where strong winds
damaged about 45 homes, toppled trees and knocked out power.
Residents were taken to the port authority building and concrete hotels.

About 2,500 people live on the two islands, which are popular
tourist destinations.

"There is no electricity on the island and telephone is out and there
is little water," Perez said.
About 1,100 people had been evacuated in Bluefields, Perez said.

Heavy rains and winds kept officials from evacuating about 80 people
on Cayos Perla, but authorities said they planned to used speedboats
to get them out.

I just feel humbled by the massive energy that nature can produce..
we should all be living in respect of the awesome powers.

Yours Truly..
mediamerlin

What Recession: AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds

Story found  Here

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds have a
patented triple flange ear bud design and delivers optimal noise
protection and excellent ear fit to reduce noise.

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds have
integrated volume control and a 24 decibel Noise Reduction Rating,
and an ultra-comfortable design, and is compatible with any device
with a 3.5mm jack including MP3 players and iPod.

The AO Safety 99014 Blockade Noise Isolating Earbuds meet
ANSI/OSHA standards, comes complete with 6 extra ear buds
and 2 carrying bags and can be purchased via Woot for a price
of $14.99.

 At least they are taking into consideration that if you where earbuds
for too long you could develop hearing loss...now you can rest assure
that our ears are a little more protected now.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Droid cell phone becomes Motorola MILESTONE

Read on
>product reviews website

The Motorola Droid is to be named the MILESTONE in Germany
when it is released on the O2 network. According to BGR, Germany’s
O2 website released some details on this new handset; the biggest
detail is the €404.20 retail price of the MILESTONE for corporate
customers.



Vodafone will also be getting the Motorola MILESTONE in Europe
and the latest information tells us that the handset comes with pinch
and zoom, something that is not seen on the US version Motorola
Droid, for more information on this, visit Engadget.

We have also learned that the Milestone will come packed with
MOTONAV turn-by-turn directions; this is strange as we would
have assumed that this Android smartphone would have come
with Google’s Maps Navigation.

Does the Motorola Droid / Milestone offer enough for you to
consider getting one, do you think that the handset is a match for
the Apple iPhone 3GS?

The more technology advances the more gadgets that come out.
Maybe we should learn how to use our Minds as much as the
latest gadgets then we could develop devices that increase our
intelligence too.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Vampire Diaries episode 7 full episode and Vampire Diaries episode 8 preview

More info Here

Last nights episode was a really good Halloween episode....it is a shame that Vicki was staked?
Is she really gone?  Watching on to find out.................................

Fans really wish for more of this show....two hour episodes might be a good idea.


The Vampire Diaries is based on a novel series penned by L.J. Smith where you are given the insight into the diary of Elena Gilbert. Elena had always been a star student; beautiful, popular and involved with school and friends.

As the fall semester begins, Elena becomes fascinated with the mysterious new boy in school, Stefan Salvatore, and she has no way of knowing he is a centuries-old vampire.

While Stefan struggles to live peacefully among humans, his brother Damon is the embodiment of violence and brutality. Now these two vampire brothers-one good, the other evil-are at war for Elena's soul in the small town of Mystic Falls, Virginia.

Produced by Scream screenwriter Kevin Williamson, the show has a pair of ageless vampire brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. In the TVD they are shown making efforts to integrate into the lives of humans in present-day Virginia.

Reality show watchers feel that the extension may help show’s network CW to improve its ratings. To date the show premiered on September 10 attracted 4.8 million viewers. This was the network’s highest-rated series debut in its history. Surprisingly, some 3.9 million views tuned in to their popular show to watch the October 15 episode.

The show takes an interesting twist after Paul Wesley analyzes his 'Vampire Diaries' character traits. Declaring about his and Ian Somerhalder's roles in the CW series, he said: “I don't think I am a good vampire ... I think Damon is a sociopath.”

Making the show spicy, Wesley thinks that Damon just really loves being a bloodsucker. "He's consumed in being a vampire and power and he really believes that feeding on humans ... it's just as simple and natural as breathing. He doesn't understand," he said. "There's no guilt, which is fascinating." More blood will be spilled soon. Keep on watching the show. 

The episode with Vicki wanting more blood is truly eerie.
I just thought her character added a little...chaos.

Yours Truly
mediamerlin

Swine Flu: A Danger to Your Rights as Well as Your Health?

I read the story...Here.

Earlier today, the Constitution Project and the University of Maryland
Center for Health and Homeland Security brought together a group
of expert panelists at the National Press Club to discuss the civil
liberties implications of the government's response to the H1N1 flu,
more commonly known as swine flu.

Moderator Sharon Bradford Franklin, Senior Policy Counsel at the
Constitution Project, opened the event with a brief overview of
recent news developments in the H1N1 outbreak. The panel
featured Professor Michael Greenberger, Director of the University
of  Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security, Professor
Wendy Mariner of the Boston University School of Public health,
and Dr. Marita Mike, the Health Director at the University of
Maryland Center for Health and Homeland Security.

Dr. Mike began the conversation by offering a medical perspective
on the unique health risks posed by the H1N1 flu, comparing the
most recent outbreak with past public health crises in the United
States. Professor Greenberger built on the doctor's introduction by
outlining the remarkably broad executive powers that may be
leveraged at the state and federal levels to combat the flu. Finally,
Professor Mariner rejected the notion that emergency preparedness
laws can prevent disease, and critiqued the post-9/11 focus on coer-
cive public health tools that threaten individual civil liberties. Instead,
she argued that the focus of the government's response to the H1N1
flu should be on creating a healthy, educated population that has
plentiful access to information, vaccines, and other medical care.

The discussion featured vigorous exchanges on the constitutional
concerns raised by quarantines, mandatory vaccinations, and
interstate travel restrictions. The panelists agreed that the federal
government's response to the H1N1 flu has been timely and
proportionate to the real dangers posed by the disease, but voiced
concerns about how state and federal governments may employ
existing executive powers if more virulent strands of the flu merge.
The panelists encouraged members of the public to take appropriate
health precautions, and urged a rational public dialogue on the tools
state and federal governments need, or think they need, to
effectively combat public health risks like the H1N1 flu.

Today's event drew a diverse and engaged audience to the National
Press Club's Murrow Room, including attendees from various print
and radio news outlets, the Department of Homeland Security,
the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, congressional staff,
as well as numerous other advocacy and health organizations.

To see photos from this afternoon's event, please click here. A video
of the discussion will be posted as soon as it's available.

Follow Ginny Sloan on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ConPro

You always here about threats of this disease but everything in
life can be threatening I think we need to take everything with 
a grain of salt...and eat healthy and learn to deal with life's
stresses before everything is controlled for us.


Yours Truly
mediamerlin


 

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ginny-sloan/swine-flu-a-danger-to-you_b_337785.html

Trust drug companies and officials?

ADHD Ritalin child 500% greater sudden death risk but FDA silent

October 16, 12:01 PM Human Rights
Examiner Dupre'


Read this story @examiner

 An example of why parents today distrust drug makers and officials is FDA's silence about the new study revealing that healthy children taking Ritalin have a 500 percent greater risk of sudden death.

"These aren’t kids with pre-existing heart conditions. The results would have been worse if they were included," stated Dr. Al Sears, M.D. today.

Thousands of children have suddenly died as direct result of using psychotropic drugs used for ADD and ADHD according to Heather Smith, Executive Director of the National Alliance against Mandated Health Screening and Psychotropic Drugging of Children. (Smith, H. What Drugmakers Don't Want You to Know, Thousands of children have suddenly died over the years, as a direct result of using psychotropic drugs used for ADD and ADHD, RitalinDeath.com)

ADD and ADHD are the most common child diagnoses.

Sears provides the following alert that what parents have been told for decades – "Ritalin is safe for children" – could not be further from truth:

Ritalin is a stimulant. It causes the heart to beat faster. This can lead to sudden cardiac arrest.

Ritalin acts exactly like amphetamines such as crystal meth and cocaine.

In spite of evidence that it could stunt their growth1, and cause irreversible brain damage2 and that it is linked to serious cardiovascular events, the FDA remains silent.

Still, the FDA refuses to take action.

No new warnings are planned and prescriptions for Ritalin continue to spiral upward.

Objections to the FDA’s sluggishness are even starting to appear in conservative medical journals like JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association. In a recent editorial, they criticized the FDA by saying the FDA is “interpreting the results cautiously.”

Plus, JAMA notes that the FDA funded and approved the design of the study. Only when results came out did they have a problem with the design of the study. I guess the FDA didn’t like the results their own design produced.

This is the big point for all of us: Doctors hand out Ritalin prescriptions every day. And too often you aren’t told of the dangers.

ADHD is still the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children.

What’s more, studies show that the drugs don’t work. The same study that found Ritalin stunts kids’ growth also found that it has no beneficial effect on behavior over a three-year period.

So what do you do for children who have trouble concentrating, focusing, or calming down? Here are a few easy, safe, and natural ways to bring kids “to attention” without endangering their mental and physical health. 

1. Ramp up the amount of omega-3 in their diet.

  Studies show that many children with ADHD don’t get enough omega-3. Cod liver oil and fish-oil capsules deliver the two kinds of omega-3s the body needs.

You can also get them to eat more lean meats, eggs, and nuts, preferably free-range, grass-fed and organic. These are all great sources of omega-3. I recommend 1,000 mg of omega-3s daily. 

2. Pine bark extract is another natural supplement that works. 

One European study using pycnogenol, an organic compound found in the bark of the French maritime pine tree, showed that after only one month, children’s behavior improved significantly on as little as 1 mg per day.3 

3. Finally, certain naturally occurring amino acids can treat ADHD. 

One of them is 5-HTP, a precursor to serotonin and one of the chemicals in the brain that relieves anxiety and depression (popular antidepressants like Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro all boost serotonin levels).

I recommend 50 to 100 mg three times per day with meals.

Another is tyrosine. It works like 5-HTP, increasing levels of various chemicals in the brain connected to mood and the ability to concentrate. The optimal dose is 5,000 mg per day for children and up to 10,000 mg per day for adults.

These are natural and safe alternatives that I use in my medical practice every day. They aren’t harmful or addictive, and unlike all those ADHD drugs, they actually work. They are easy to find at health food stores.

1 Jensen et al, “3-Year Follow-up of the NIMH MTA Study.” Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 2007. 46(8):989-1002.
2 Gray et al, “Methylphenidate Administration to Juvenile Rats Alters Brain Areas Involved in Cognition, Motivated Behaviors, Appetite, and Stress,” Journal of Neuroscience, 2007, 27(27):7196-7207.
3 Trebatická et al, “Treatment of ADHD with French maritime pine bark extract, Pycnogenol.” European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. 2006. 15(6):329-35.

To learn more about Dr. Sears' Wellness Research and Consulting, call (866) 792-1035 or visit:

http://www.alsearsmd.com

Do you know that this makes me upset that some people just try to say that a child is a certain
way when they fail to communicate to that child.  We just need to learn to communicate better
and properly feed our children then the use of certain psychotropic drugs in children will go
down.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

TRIBOELECTRIFICATION-Static electric charge can pose flight risk — Ares I-X launch

Found the story Here

By William Neff, The Plain Dealer

October 25, 2009, 11:39AM

 

The Ares I-X is ready to fly.

 

 

. 

 

Lightning Strikes Apollo 12 as it lifts off from Launch Pad
39A on Nov.14,1969. Ares I-X will lift off from the pad 
next door, 39B.

The Ares I-X mission's launch weather officer, Kathy Winters, dropped a tongue-twister in Sunday's press briefing that had even some veteran aerospace reporters in the auditorium scratching their heads.
The word  -- remember this for future spelling bees -- was

triboelectrification.

Simply put,

triboelectrification

is a static electric charge that can build up on flying vehicles, aircraft as well as spacecraft, as they move through particles in the atmosphere. That usually means
precipitation, as in rain. But clouds, even light ones,
can contain enough particles to deliver the charge.              

And while

triboelectrification's

effects are not as dangerous to a spacecraft as a direct lightning strike -- a pair of which nearly caused the 1969 Apollo 12 moon mission to abort just after liftoff -- it can still cause enough static to garble telemetry between the rocket and ground contollers and threaten the Ares I-X flight.
This phenomenon affects some vehicles more than others, depending on the materials used to build them. Over nearly 30 years of space shuttle flights, NASA has seen that these bulky vehicles are not very susceptible to triboelectric effects. And indeed, it may develop that the tall, slender Ares rockets aren't either. But until they're tested to find out, NASA engineers will take any serious cloud cover as their signal to keep Ares I-X on the launch pad.

Whenever a word comes out that I haven't used. I always like to figure out what they mean.When I came across triboelectrification I thought that I must find out more.
Even though lightning isn't around static electicity can be generated.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Daylight Savings Time 2009 Fall Back Deadly for London Roads?

Story from Associated Content

The Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back has happened most everywhere. But the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back is still a week away here. But the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back is still a week away here. In the past, theDaylight Savings Time 2009 fall back would have already happened in America. However, since 2007, the U.S. has literally alerted time so that the Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back will happen a week later. The benefits of moving Daylight Savings Time back are still to be determined, but the idea may catch on in other countries.

In 2007, Congress moved the Daylight Savings Time fall back to the first Sunday of November, rather than the last Sunday of October. They also moved the "spring ahead" part of Daylight Savings Time to the beginning of March, not April. Energy concerns and conservation were factors in the decision, but another country may want to do it for other reasons.

The Daylight Savings Time 2009 fall back has already arrived in Britain, and in most other countries this morning. But as it arrives, some in London are calling for a review in when the clocks are moved back, according to the Metro. In their case, protestors want the Daylight Savings Time fall back reviewed because the extra hour of darkness is deadly.

According to the Metro, once the evenings have gotten longer and darker, under the current Daylight Savings Time format, more pedestrians have gotten run over or killed on the roads. With darker evenings, it is harder for people on the road to see pedestrians, many of which could be  playing children. 
 
Campaigners called "Living Streets" have been lobbying for changes in the Daylight Savings Time fall back time, to improve road safety. But they will not get their wish this year, at the least. Therefore, they will likely keep an eye on the road to see how many more people are struck and killed this time after Daylight Savings.



America and the European Union are clearly not shy about altering time, in regards to Daylight Savings - or "summer time" as Europe calls it. Still, in the United States, people have to wait an extra week to get an extra hour of sleep, and lose an hour of sleep a lot sooner in spring. Here, they would probably not be too eager to change that rule after just a few years, even if America had the same problems with road safety as Britain.



With the change of time coming later in the North America continent...I can see that problems
with time changing could make global trading more difficult..
Everyone should be on the same time.

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Meteor Shower part two

This story can be found @earthsky.org

The object in the picture isn’t a meteor. It’s the most famous of all comets, Comet Halley. This comet last visited Earth in 1986. As the comet moves through space, it leaves debris in its wake that strikes Earth’s atmosphere most fully around October 20-22, while Earth intersects the comet’s orbit, as it does every year at this time.
This cometary debris – bits of ice, dust and rubble – create a meteor shower.
This is the annual Orionid meteor shower. It’s expected to rain down the greatest number of meteors before dawn on Wednesday October 21, 2009. As usual, the best time to watch this shower will be between the hours of midnight and dawn. You can try watching Tuesday morning, but Wednesday and Thursday mornings are likely to offer more meteors.
This isn’t the year’s richest meteor shower, or even the second-richest, but try watching this shower from midnight to dawn, when the most meteors will be flying. So if you’re hankering to see some meteors, the total absence of moonlight makes 2009 an opportune year for the Orionids. Just be aware that this shower is expected to produce only about 15-20 meteors per hour, or one every few minutes.
If the meteors originate in Comet Halley, why are they called the Orionids? The answer is that meteors in annual showers are named for the point in our sky from which they appear to radiate. The radiant point for the Orionids is in the direction of the constellation Orion the Hunter. Hence the name Orionids.
For me … even one meteor can be a thrill. But you might want to observe for an hour or more, and in that case the trick is to find a place to observe in the country. Bring along a blanket or lawn chair – after midnight or before dawn – and lie back comfortably while gazing upward.

  I am always amazed a celestial bodies...In 1986 when Halley's Comet came through I was

a little over twenty years old...what memories...

I am fascinated by astronomy and other space item.

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Orionid Meteor Shower Tonight: Halley's Comet Debris

Read this story @onlykent

The Orionid Meteor Shower has already begun and observers from the International Meteor Organization have been counting 25 Orionids per hour, this rate is set to reach its peak in the early hours of Wednesday morning, October 21, 2009.

To see the Orionid Meteor Shower, which was left over by debris from Halley's Comet, you need to be up at 3 am, then watch the sky at dawn, only then will you be treated to a spectacular show. If you cannot manage to crawl out of bed, I am sure that a few videos will find their way on YouTube.

The Orionids happen each year, and is located near the constellation Orion, and are created by the debris left over from the orbit of Halley's Comet. The Comet can be seen from the naked eye as it passing by every 76 years.

According to National Geographic News, the most famous comet is made up of dirt and ice with a fifty-fifty combination; this was left over from when the planets were first formed 4.5 billion years ago.


Don't you just love seeing meteor showers LIKE I DO.

Yours Truly,
mediamerlin

Ayn Rand's celebration of Individuality

Ayn Rand's philosophy which she termed as 'objectivism' celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man's rational mind in existence. She says that man's highest moral duty is toward oneself.

Story found HERE

EVERY WRITER'S ideas, perspective and philosophy shapes up the thinking of an individual who reads his/her books and further influences the reader’s attitude and ideology in the long run, to eventually becoming a source for defining oneself , an individual’s identity and a driving force for restricting authority .

Ayn Rand, the author of books like the Anthem, We The Living, Fountainhead, Atlas Shrugged,brings out her philosophy of life in her writings. Almost all her works are fictional, where she introduces her philosophy, ideology which she neatly weaves with the fictional element.

 

Rand is very vocal when it comes to expressing her ideology and perspectives to the outside world. Her philosophy is very unique and different from the conventional thought or say - a mindset which most people in general has. And she is indeed very bold and courageous in penning down her thoughts on various subjects and strongly advocating her philosophy.

 

Many of her readers have picked up her cues on sometimes resisting authority. This philosophy and ideology gives an individual the power to challenge authority or any idea that is contradictory. Sometimes, it also helps to challenge conventional thought process or a collective thinking in favour of an individual’s mind.

 

Ayn Rand’s philosophy which she termed as ‘objectivism’ celebrates individualism and rational thinking, the role of man’s rational mind in existence. She says that man’s highest moral duty is toward oneself. One should pursue one’s own happiness and should never sacrifice one’s rational self interest for a greater good, as it doesn’t make sense to sacrifice one’s soul for others. An individual’s duty should be towards one’s own spirit and soul.

 

Her book Atlas shrugged talks about how producer’s (thinkers) of the world refused to be exploited by the state, the government and went on a strike where they eventually left their work, put their mind to an abrupt halt to prevent the state (parasite) from further exploitation.

 

In the book ‘Fountainhead’, she brings out how an individual had to struggle for what he believes in when he took non-compromised path. In general, people are usually conditioned to think or act in a particular manner, which is accepted by one and all. An individual is not allowed to think independently or stand by what he believes is right. One is supposed to follow a norm, be a conformist.

 

There are some people who couldn’t stand by their own thinking, believes and ideas because of fear of rejection by the society and hence abandon their original thinking, forcing themselves to think or act according to the norm which is accepted by the society.

 

The book also talks about how people in a position of power, try to suppress an individual with original ideas and great intellect because it threatens or challenges their position of power. The latter is condemned if he dares to go against collective thinking in favour of one’s own thinking.

 

The book centred on Howard Roark, an individualistic, architecture student, unusually bright with a unique and different architectural sense of design who comes up with his own original and unique style for which he was ultimately thrown out of the college. His great mind became his worst enemy when it came to his profession. He was not allowed to work according to his architectural sense and was instead pressurized to follow the normal rules. As a result, he was always out of work, jobless as he was not ready to compromise.

 

At the end, Roark’s great mind broke all barriers after challenging the collective thinkers and men who existed on the ideas of others whom Ayn Ryan termed as ‘Parasite’ and ‘Second Handers’.

 

The novels talks about the triumph of original ideas and of men who dare to think and stand by their thoughts and ideology no matter what. The book is a celebration of courage and guts to go through difficult period in life just to uphold one’s own spirit , ideas and thinking (which is the highest moral duty toward oneself ) without compromising on integrity, individuality and in the process, fighting and challenging authority.

 

 

We should all strive to think on our own...society tries to dictate

how we should act, feel, think...but compliance is just an nice

way of saying manipulated.

 

We should treat each other with respect though when thinking

for ourselves and not take individuality to the extreme.

We can't act violently to each other...that is a fear  based action.

 

We should act out of love for ourselves and others.

 

Yours Truly,

 

mediamerlin 

McDonald's Monopoly Game Board 2009: free codes and links to rare Monopoly pieces

October 12, 2:25 PM Haight-Ashbury Budget Living Examiner Carol Hilker

Story from    EXAMINER

Free code for the Monopoly McDonald's Board Game.

Every year like clockwork, we supersize, hoping for Park Place or Monopoly.  Most of us are happy enough with a free quarter pounder with cheese.  So if you are into the yearly Monopoly Game Piece extravaganze, read on and find out how to get free codes.

To win, you either need to find an instant win piece, or collect all of one group of streets or railroads. There's one piece in each group that's hard to find. If you get that piece, finding the other two will be easy. The hard to find pieces are on this page.
http://www.amazing-bargains.com/mcdonald…

You can also go online to http://playatmcd.com and play there using that little code at the bottom of the piece for an extra chance to win.

How to Enter Online: Visit monopoly.promotions.com/monopoly09/front.do and setup an account. Then input your codes.

Free McDonald's Monopoly Codes:

• I6L6V4N4T09 (From Rules)
• UONLYRICHER (From Facebook)
• ONLYPLYRSWN

How to use the McDonald's Facebook code:

1. You must have a Facebook account. Sign up free or login.
2. Go here to access the McDonald's page on Facebook.
3. Click Go.
4. Click Allow.
5. Click Let's Play.
6. Click Publish or Okay (pick one).
7. Click Okay.
8. You will be taken to the McDonald's Monopoly page.
9. Click Let's Play.
10. Sign in.
11. Click to Roll.

The FREE Code can be used only once per person and/or email address or mobile phone and will not count against your daily play limit of ten (10) Codes per day. FREE Codes can be used by multiple participants.

Rare Online Collect and Win Properties:

• Short Line
• Pennsylvania Ave
• Mediterranean Ave

Rare Code List:

• Mediterranean (#101) for $50
• Vermont (#104) for $1,000
• Tennessee (#110) for $5,000
• Boardwalk (#122) for $1,000,000

$100,000 Online Jackpot Sweepstakes: Each valid Game Stamp Code entry (limit 10 per day) during the Online Game Period (October 6, 2009 through November 16, 2009) will earn the participant one (1) entry into the random Drawing for the chance to win $100,000. FREE Codes are not eligible for Sweepstakes entry. On or about November 17, 2009, one (1) winner will be randomly selected to receive the $100,000 prize, subject to verification and compliance with the Official Rules.

Daily and quarter hourly prizes may be available at any time during the applicable Day, or quarter hour and, once won, will not be available again until the next Day (for Daily prizes) or Quarter hour (for Quarter Hourly prizes).


Before you move on, make sure that you read a summary of the  official rules for prize list and further details.  The Monopoly game board is available online and on the side of the bags.

• Online Pre-Promotion Sweepstakes: Obtain an entry by using a FREE Code to register for the Online Game taking place in the U.S. and Canada
•  
• Collect & Win: Win by collecting Game Stamps to form "Winning Combinations" as part of the In-Store Game
•  
• Instant Win: Win instantly with "Instant Win Game Stamps" as part of the In-Store Game
• Online Game: Use the 11-digit Code found on MONOPOLY Game Stamps to play MONOPOLY Online for more chances to win instantly and/or by collecting "Online Winning Combinations" as part of the Online Game taking place in the U.S. (See Canadian Rules for Online Game in Canada.)
•  

Eligibility: You will need Internet access and a valid email address to participate in the Online Game. Open to residents of U.S., Guam, Saipan & Canada. Void in Puerto Rico, Am. Samoa & where prohibited. Must be 13 or older (ME residents must be 18 or older) to play Online. Online Game not available in Guam & Saipan; text play not available in Canada.

Twenty-eight (28) $1 Million daily opportunities, one per day (U.S. & Canada combined) Online 10/6/09 - 11/2/09 (12:00:00 midnight ET to 11:59:59 pm ET). Each day, one player will land on Chance Online and receive as a prize a next-day Monopoly Dice Roll. A roll of two (2) sixes (6&6) results in $1 Million prize, payable $50,000/year for 20 years w/o interest. Other rolls receive $10,000. See roll results at PlayatMcD.com.

Entry Dates: Game begins 10/6/09. In-Store Game ends 11/2/09, or while supplies last; Online Game ends 11/16/09 at 11:59:59 pm ET.

To participate without making a purchase, mail a legibly handwritten, self-addressed, stamped envelope ("SASE") with sufficient postage and a return address (first and last name, street address, city, state, and zip or postal code) to:

2009 MONOPOLY at McDonald's Free Game Piece Request
P.O. Box 49189
Strongsville, OH 44149-0189

DO NOT SEND POTENTIAL WINNING GAME STAMPS, COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS TO THIS ADDRESS. Two (2) Game Pieces will be mailed in response to each request that complies with the requirements of the Official Rules, while supplies last. Mail-in requests, including both outer envelope and SASE, must be handwritten and must be postmarked no sooner than September 22, 2009 and must be postmarked by November 2, 2009 and received by Sponsor no later than November 6, 2009. If the In-Store Game runs long, these dates are subject to a corresponding extension. Requests from Vermont residents that are postmarked in VT may omit return postage.

I always enjoy the thrill of seeing if I can win anything here.

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Underlining 'Free' in 'Free Credit Report'

Story from Washington Post.

By Michelle Singletary

Sunday, October 11, 2009

I've been meaning to pull my credit reports for some time.
I, like so many others, am concerned about identity theft or uncorrected errors in my credit files that might ding my credit scores.
When I finally got around to it, I knew to go to AnnualCreditReport.com or call 877-322-8228. I haven't been fooled by those ubiquitous commercials for FreeCreditReport.com with the goofy guy playing a guitar and complaining about how his life is messed up because he didn't check his credit report.
But the Federal Trade Commission has received many complaints from consumers who were misdirected from the official centralized site. Every person is entitled to a free credit report every 12 months from each of the three nationwide consumer reporting agencies -- Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.
In an effort to help keep people from ending up on impostor sites or falling for promotions for free credit reports that aren't really free, the FTC is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to the free-report rule. The credit card legislation passed this spring requires the agency to create amendments to the law by Feb. 22, 2010, to prevent deceptive marketing of these reports.

Over the next two months, you'll have a chance to weigh in on the FTC's rulemaking effort. Do take the time to comment, especially if you feel you've been deceived. This isn't a trivial matter. These rules will dictate how you get your credit reports. Most of what the FTC is proposing will make things better, but the agency needs to be tougher.
"We are encouraging consumers and anybody else to comment," said Katherine Armstrong, an FTC lawyer. "We want to know if we got it right."
On one important rule, the FTC has it only partly right.
The agency wants to prevent the credit bureaus from offering any product or service until after consumers get their free reports. The law currently permits the credit reporting agencies to advertise their proprietary products and services through the centralized source, in this case AnnualCreditReport.com.
Once you've followed directions and entered personal information intended to make sure you are who you say you are, you will encounter advertising for credit scores and credit monitoring services. Then you have to decline the offers before obtaining your truly free credit report. I had to click through two Web pages of such marketing before getting to my report for one bureau.
Although the FTC said it recognized the potential for confusion from such marketing, it initially chose not to restrict it. Now the agency is trying to rectify that mistake.

The FTC is proposing that any advertising or marketing for products or services through the centralized source be delayed until after consumers have obtained their reports through telephone, mail or Internet requests.

The agency is also proposing that the credit bureaus remove the hyperlinks to their specific Web sites from AnnualCreditReport.com.


On the official site, there is bold red lettering that says "Start Here to view and print your credit report now." But some people assume they should click on the credit bureau links below that wording. If they do, they are navigated away from the free site. Consumers who mistakenly click on the links then see a page with products and services offered by the bureaus.

Another proposed rule would require that companies prominently inform consumers they haven't landed on the official free-report site. For example, the FTC says that if a Web site advertises a free credit report, the other site must send the consumer to a separate landing page with the required disclosure: "This is not the free credit report provided for by federal law."

One amendment would require audio disclosures about the official free reports to be delivered in a slow and deliberate manner.

To read the text of the Federal Register notice with all the proposed changes, go to http://www.ftc.gov. Comments must be received by Nov. 30.

To submit your comments electronically, go to http://public.commentworks.com/ftc/FreeCreditReportNPRM. Comments on paper should be mailed or delivered to Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex T), 600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.

The FTC should remove all advertising and marketing by the credit bureaus before, during and even after the process of getting a free credit report. It's a pain to have to worry about identity theft or mistakes when checking your credit report. People should be able to get their reports and exit the Web site without having to go through a gantlet of sales pitches. Why give the bureaus a commercial crack at all?

If the FTC really wants to end consumer confusion, AnnualCreditReport.com should be commercial-free. Right?
If you're with me, let the FTC know.
-- By mail: Readers can write to Michelle Singletary at The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20071.
-- By e-mail: singletarym@washpost.com.

We should all be aware of where we end up when we sign up for these "FREE" services.
So many times...scammers end up with a similiar likeness..site to the original..I always 
make sure that the https is there with the secure sites.

Yours Truly,


mediamerlin

Degos Disease

Original story Speak Easy

'House' Season 6, Episode 4: TV Recap

By Melinda Beck

Fox

Omar Epps as Foreman

In many ways, it was back to the same old “House” this week, with a mysterious illness, tangled interpersonal relationships, even a fleeting diagnosis of lupus–before House’s brilliance saved the day.
The medical mystery involved a billionaire dad with the Midas touch – everything he encountered turned to gold, except his family. “It’s karma,” he said. “First my wife, then my son.” We never did learn what happened to his wife, but it must have been bad. Now his son had a life-threatening illness, and he insisted that House figure out what’s wrong.
Cuddy told him House was unavailable, but ended up conceding that House could advise (read: continue to drive Foreman crazy.) There was the usual merry-go-round of possible diagnoses: impacted bowel due to weakened colon nerves (does that really mean constipation?) . . . no, brain cancer…  no, abdominal cancer … no, abdominal epilepsy, with severe malnutrition.. . no, wait, what are all those spots appearing right before the commercial?
Meanwhile, Chase and Foreman were preoccupied trying to figure out how to present President Dibala’s case at the upcoming M&M conference (that stands for Morbidity and Mortality, when the highly suspicious deaths are discussed).
You’ll recall from last week that the visiting African dictator, who was planning to murder half a million of his people once he was discharged from Princeton-Plainsboro, died of a rare misdiagnosis, which occurred after blood from a corpse in the morgue was – oddly enough – misplaced for his, leading the usually infallible doctors to think he had scleroderma, and give him the wrong treatment, which is what really killed him. That was Chase’s moralistic handiwork, but Foreman helped cover it up, and that put Foreman on the hot seat. They had covered their tracks …  except for a telltale 20% discrepancy between the corpse’s cholesterol and the dictator’s, and Cameron’s growing suspicions that her new husband is keeping something from her…
The third plot involved Thirteen’s departure –  from Princeton-Plainsboro and the U.S.  She was heading to Thailand, only to find her plane reservation cancelled. Was it Foreman desperately wanting her back, after firing her last week? Was it House, desperately needing her on the team? She decided it was Wilson, who conceded, “you’re the only one House hasn’t been able to suck into his crazy vortex.”
Back to the sick kid, whom the doctors decided had Degos’ disease (good thing I have a medical dictionary handy). It causes the micro blood vessels in the brain, skin and GI tract to break down, and causes papules on the penis. There’s no treatment. It’s incurable.
House: “I’m sorry. I wish there was something we could do.”
Dad:  “How long?”
House: “Not much longer.. a day at the most.”
The billionaire then took matters into his own hands and summoned his lawyers to get rid of his assets, reasoning that God will treat him better, and cure his son, if he’s broke. The suits told him he was insane, irrational, and will destroy his company and all those who depend on him. But he signed the papers and his son promptly flatlined, with the long beeeeeep of impending death, prompting the doctors to work furiously to bring him back..
Apparently Wilson hadn’t cancelled Thirteen’s plane reservation after all.  “Why don’t you just admit you like having her around?” he asked House.
“Because I was born with a heart three sizes too small,” House said.
Wait – that’s it! With five minutes left, House, as usual, got the inspiration he needed all along.
It was primary antiphospholipid syndrome – (an autoimmune disorder that causes blood clots in arteries and veins, according to Merck.)  Start the boy on heparin and prednisone and he’ll be fine, House said.
And so will Chase and Foreman, thanks to the mysterious appearance of lab reports showing that President Dibala’s former doctors were prescribing high doses of a drug to boost his HDL cholesterol, which could easily explain some unusual blood test results. Chase hadn’t requested the lab reports. Foreman hadn’t either, which means it could only have been…. ..
Chase confronted House and asked him how he’d thought of it. “He was an old black guy… I knew he had to be taking something for his cholesterol,” House said.
Chase: “You don’t think I should be fired?”
House: “Better a murderer than a misdiagnosis.”
Chase: “Whether you want to be in charge or not, you are, and you always will be.”


Viewers: Have we seen the last of Thirteen? Can Chase and Cameron’s marriage be saved? And can the fascinating House-is-crazy plot detour really be over so fast?


These are all good questions but my main one would be can Foreman really be  a leader?

Yours Truly,

mediamerlin

Mystery Google: Surprise Yourself With Someone Else's Search Engine

Story found HERE!

Mystery Google is a bit spooky, a bit social, and all in all a strange search engine full of surprises.
What does it do? Type in a search term on Mystery Google, and you get back "what the people before you searched for."
For example, we tried typing in "Huff Post" and got back the search results for a different user's query for "thank you."
It's a nifty way to know what other people are exploring on the web, and a cool spin of the online roulette.
We also learned a thing or two that we wouldn't have gone looking for otherwise (did you know "barak llahu fik" means thank you in Moroccan Arabic? We didn't).
Give it a try, let us know what you think.

  

I think it might be interesting to see how this looks....

Yours Truly

mediamerlin

Some Analysts Warn Obama's Nobel Peace Prize

President Barack Obama speaks about winning the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize, Friday, Oct. 9, 2009, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington.

(AP)

This story I read at Fox News.


It remains to be seen what impact President Obama's stunning capture of the Nobel Peace Prize, with a citation praising him for promoting diplomacy, will have on foreign policy matters, though some of Obama's critics are warning that it presents a new challenge to his war deliberations and other issues.
In particular, some foreign policy analysts say the prize announced Friday may complicate his efforts to wind down the war in Iraq and his decision on whether to ramp up the war in Afghanistan.
John Bolton, a U.N. ambassador in the Bush administration, told FOX News that the award will give leverage to Obama advisers opposed to sending more troops Afghanistan at the request of commanders.
"I think those who don't want a massive increase in troops will now be saying, 'But Mr. President, you just won the Nobel Peace Prize, how can you agree to 40,000 more troops on the ground,'" he said.
For others, the award reinforces conservative criticism that Obama's hesitation to wield the threat of greater military force in Afghanistan demonstrates weakness, said John Wobenstein, a senior fellow for international diplomacy at the American Foreign Policy Council and a national security official in the Reagan and first Bush administrations.
"I think that when there is weakness, that encourages war and encourages operations that the Iranians are doing," he said, referring to Iran's nuclear program and perceived meddling in Iraq. "I think it will embolden them to do more. It's going to embolden lots of other terrorists."
The Taliban, which is waging a fierce battle with U.S. troops in Afghanistan as part of its mission to regain power,immediately condemned the selection of Obama, saying the president had only escalated the war by sending more troops.
"Why are they giving this prize to Obama, who has sent more troops to Afghanistan, who is bombing and killing innocent people?" Taliban spokesman Qari Yousef Ahmadi said from an undisclosed location in a telephone interview Friday with the Associated Press.
He accused Obama "of having the blood of the Afghan people on his hands."
Others say Obama simply has yet to produce a record worthy of the prize.
"Barack Obama's campaign may have changed the tone in international diplomacy, and that might have been a good thing," said John Tate, president of the Campaign for Liberty, a conservative group. "However, his actions fail to match his campaign rhetoric."
"He is ramping up Afghanistan, expanding the war in Pakistan and his administration is making plans to bomb Iran," he said in a written statement. "At the same time, he has failed to make major troop withdrawals in Iraq, or anywhere else in the world."
But some analysts don't believe the award will make much difference.
"I don't expect that we'll see any major changes in the negotiations over how to deal with the Afghanistan war," said Kristin Lord, an expert on international diplomacy at the Center for a New American Security, a left-leaning think tank.
She added that difficulties on the ground, not America's reputation, are preventing the U.S. from achieving its solution.
"Domestically, it's not going to help him because people are beginning to form strong opinions about him," she said. "Internationally, it's hard to see how the president could have a higher profile."
The award, she added, is a "validation of his approach" by the Nobel committee, "but I'm not sure we'll see any tangible changes" in his ability to carry out foreign policy.
Aaron David Miller, a former Clinton administration official involved in U.S. peacemaking efforts, told FOXNews.com that the award shows "the international community is in love with this man" and is a "collective sigh of relief that George Bush is gone."
But he added that the award, like Obama's failure last week to get the Olympics sent to Chicago, "will have absolutely no impact" on U.S. foreign policy.


It is interesting how some people win the Nobel Peace Prize....Should a president actually
have a chance to win this...shouldn't all leaders strive to make the whole earth more peaceful
something to think about.....hmmmmmmmmmmmm.

Yours Truly
"mediamerlin"

 

Another Love Boat

Story about another type of love boat.
Found Here.

Meet the man who is really running the ship!

Mitchell Smyth, North Shore News

Published: Sunday, September 20, 2009

It's 10 minutes to midnight in the Crow's Nest lounge of the MV Ryndam, somewhere between Puerto Vallarta and Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific coast.

Michael Rowland takes the microphone and announces that Chuck and Eloise, on their third Holland America cruise, are celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary that day.

He calls them forward, hands them a gift and tells them that they're being treated to lunch next day in the Pinnacle Grill, the ship's upscale restaurant, which passengers usually pay a premium to eat in.


Then Rowland moves around the room, greeting people here and there, often remembering names and hometowns. He's such a bundle of energy it's hard to believe that he has been on the job since 7:30 this morning, without a break.

Rowland is the cruise director, the person who, probably more than any other, is the public face of a cruise ship. Before the end of the voyage pretty well everyone aboard -- in this case more than 1,200 passengers -- will recognize him.

Many of them "know" the job from the TV series The Love Boat (1977-86), in which actress Lauren Tewes played perky Julie McCoy, cruise director on the fictional Pacific Princess. Julie always greeted guests, and before the cruise was over you could be sure she'd have kindled at least one romance and maybe solved some minor mystery or family drama along the way.

"That's not what it's really like," says Rowland. "No, I don't get involved in people's lives and loves."

For one thing, he doesn't have time to. On a typical day he'll be in his office before 8 a.m., going through the day's activities with his staff. By 8:30 he'll be on the PA, telling the early risers what to expect.

After grabbing a coffee and chatting to breakfast patrons in the Lido Restaurant it's off to the atrium to introduce, and putt the first ball, in an indoor golf contest.

At this time he's wearing a sports shirt and chinos. Before the day's out he'll probably have half-a-dozen costume changes.

"I have three full suitcases," he says. "I need tuxes, sportswear, chinos, pumps, ducks. The right clothes for every occasion."

On an average day Rowland will probably be supervising or moderating such diverse events as wine tasting, bingo, basketball, pool games, bocce and cake decorating, plus a dozen more.

Sea days -- that is, days on which the ship doesn't make a port call -- are busiest, for everyone is aboard all day, meaning more activities are expected.

"Stamina. That's what's needed," he says, glancing at his watch before bounding upstairs to host the afternoon trivia competition, one event he looks after personally. "It's my favourite of the day."

Rowland, a native Californian, began his career as a writer and animator for the Hanna-Barbera studios. When animation work began to be sent overseas, he joined Holland America, working his way up to head the cruise-activities team. He works a seven-day week for up to two months at a time, then takes a month's break at home in Laguna Hills, Calif.

IF YOU GO:

For information on major cruise lines visit the Cruise Lines International Association website, www.cruising.org.

For more information on Holland America visit  www.hollandamerica.com.


© North Shore News 2009


I always loved the show when it first came out....I was a hopeless romantic and wanted
to see Lauren Tewes in person...but I loved all of the characters of the show....Doc, captain stubing,
Isaac the bartender, and all of the wacky guest stars...
It was a great series.

Yours Truly,

"mediamerlin"

Make your own barcode, just like Google

Story found on Christian Science Monitor.

Google devoted its home page to the humble barcode today – and now you can too.
By Andrew Heining | 10.07.09

What’s black and white and read all over? Barcodes. And boy do you people like them.

The Web was buzzing about barcodes today because Google decided to commemorate the 57th anniversary of the first ever patent on them with one of their popular doodles.

Many commenters on Amy Farnsworth’s post talked of trying to scan the Google logo rendered in “Code 128″ with limited degrees of success – using everything from commercial barcode scanners to cellphone cameras. Others jumped in with conspiracy theories – that barcodes are somehow related to the devil, or would in some future time be used to catalog a society overrun by machines. It’s all pretty fantastic.

That got us thinking – how do you make your own barcode? A quick search (it doesn’t even have to be done on Google) brought us to this free online barcode generator. It’s running a bit slow after today’s miniature barcode renaissance, but visitors can use it to create barcodes in any of five formats to share with friends, post on a cubicle wall, or just generally geek-out with.

Told of the barcode’s humble origin – and that the original design was composed of concentric circles – many have asked about the more complex versions of barcodes now in use. You may have seen them on mail, retail packaging, or, more recently, in the pages of Golf Digest magazine.

UPS uses a two-dimensional barcode called MaxiCode. They include “offset rows of hexagonal modules arranged around a unique finder pattern,” and are capable of storing not only shipping class information, but the package’s intended address as well. The square codes even include error-detection technologies, so they may be read even when the bumps of a long journey obscure the image.

Those who pick up the November issue of Golf Digest magazine will see similar two-dimensional barcodes accompanying certain articles. These, when scanned with a smartphone equipped with the Microsoft Tag app, take readers to video tutorials related to the article they accompany. Some might say it’s surprising to see such innovation from a golf magazine, but the move makes sense – golf is one sport dominated by ever-changing technology. Why wouldn’t a publication committed to following it be the same?

–

What are your thoughts on barcodes? What other oft-overlooked technology are you fascinated by? Leave a comment or drop us a line on Twitter – we’re @CSMHorizonsBlog.

Oh, and for those readers with access to a scanner (some mobile phones work, too) take a crack at decoding the image above!
<< Google bar code logo latest in ‘doodle’ line | Main


This is just one more way for us to really make us like machines....
Now we just have to have that barcode on our necks like that tv show
Jessica Alba was in years ago....maybe with a GPS locator in it too.

Yours Truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

People unsure if H1N1 vaccine risk worth it to prevent Swine Flu symptoms

As More and More Come Down with H1N1 Symptoms, People are
Still Unsure About the Swine Flu Vaccine

Story brought to you from the examiner.

With only days left before the arrival of the first shipments of H1N1 Swine Flu vaccine, Americans are divided about whether or not they will receive the vaccinations, not to mention whether they will allow their children to receive it.  But how many will or won't seems to vary widely depending on who's asking.
Different H1N1 Vaccine Surveys Receiving Vastly Different Results
There have been at least four major surveys conducted on the matter in the last few days, and each of them found widely different results.  One, released on October 2nd, conducted by Harvard School of Public Health, indicated that as many as half of adults intend to get the vaccine, and nearly three quarters of parents will get it for their children.
This is a sharp contrast to a survey released earlier in the week, which showed only about a third of people intending to get the vaccine themselves, and about the same number intending to have their children have it.  Yet a third survey's results fell squarely between the two.  Another said that some 87 percent of people thought healthcare workers should be required to take the vaccine, while among those same healthcare workers, only a little over a third intend to do so.
Why do So Many Intend to Avoid the H1N1 Swine Flu Vaccinations?
The top reason people intend to not get the vaccine themselves appears to be worries about side effects from the vaccine itself.  This is most likely due to how quickly the vaccines have been rushed through development and testing.  Close behind that worry, is the belief they would be unlikely to come down with a serious illness from swine flu, and finally because they feel they would be able to treat the H1N1 virus with medication if they did become ill.
Among parents, worries were slightly different.  Although the top concern – side effects of the H1N1 vaccine – is the same, it is followed instead by a fear their children might get some other illness because of it, and then by a distrust of health officials to provide accurate information about the risks involved.
Should People be Getting the Vaccine?
Although only a doctor can say for sure how high each individuals' risk is of catching the Swine Flu, or how severe the illness might be if they do catch it, statements from the CDC have indicated that "it is expected that most people will recover without needing medical care."  Each person must decide for themselves; but, save for those who are at high risk for complications, there is little, despite urgings to the contrary, that gives any really compelling reason to get it — or, for that matter, not to get it.


For more on the possible risks and side effects of the swine flu vaccine, be sure to read What are the possible side effects of the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccinations?

Life has enough problems as it is. They don't need to be complicated because
of the treatment of disease. Optimal health can be reached I think through
the proper diet and exercise.

Yours Truly,
Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge

P.S.
The natural ways to prevent swine flu:HERE.

Upstart Wireless Charger Breaks Big With $15 Million Push

News from ADAGE.



NEW YORK (AdAge.com) -- If you're sick of all those messy cords to your electronic devices and having to remember your cellphone charger everywhere you go, there's a new marketer in town who's after your heart: Powermat, a self-proclaimed pioneer in wireless charging.
 

Tech geeks have been buzzing about the wireless charging concept for a few years, but it's been largely foreign to mainstream consumers.
That's likely to change next month when Powermat,

OPENING THE DOORS: Device is the first wireless charger to market to mainstream.

 
 a privately held marketer in the Detroit suburbs, unveils a global campaign -- just in time for the holiday season


-- to promote its namesake product, a sleek black mat that works via a technology called magnetic induction.

Powermat was created via a joint venture with Homedics (a company known for foot spas, pillows and massagers) and received a lot of attention when it showed off its mats at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Soon after, Beth Harrison Meyer, Powermat's director of product development and the lead on all marketing efforts, set about finding agencies to handle a broad launch for the device, choosing WPP's Maxus to handle media duties after a review and New York indie shop Woods Witt Dealy & Sons for creative.
Broad push
The push breaks in the U.S., U.K. and Italy on Oct. 5, with an integrated campaign that includes everything from airport signage and installations to a four-page insert in Wired magazine and full-page print ads in other publications, and a series of humorous 15- and 30-second commercials intended to show people's reactions to the new technology.
Ms. Meyer declined to discuss spending for the launch, but industry executives estimate it at $10 million to $15 million for the first phase.
The campaign will coincide with Powermat hitting shelves next month at two mega retailers, Best Buy and Target, which will also provide significant in-store marketing support. "You will not be able to walk into these retailers and miss Powermat," said Ms. Meyer, noting it bypassed specialty shops such as Brookstone, as the device aims to have broad appeal among consumers. It will also sell on Amazon.
Powermat is a two-part system made up of an ultra-thin mat and a receiver. Both a portable and folding home version are launching at the same price point, $99.99. The Powermat's "powercube" receiver charges hundreds of devices, including iPhones, iPods, BlackBerrys, e-readers and a host of other electronics. Powermat also offers custom receivers for $29.99 to $39.99, such as a built-in iPod case and specially made battery doors that let consumers drop their devices directly on the mat to begin charging. It charges up to six devices at a time.
"If you think about how much money we spend on accessories for phones and other devices, it is a small amount," Ms. Meyer said. "We expect to see it on a lot of wish lists."
Simplicity
One feature that's sure to be a hit among greenies is that Powermat is energy-efficient, halting charging once a battery is full. "So many of the smartphones are battery hogs, so you can charge them at a useable level for you, " Ms. Meyer said.
The concept behind the work, said Harry Woods of Woods Witt Dealy & Sons, is to show there's no need to fight that big bunch of cords sitting in your kitchen or crawling under your desk to plug something in. "A simple statement is key, especially with technology," said Mr. Woods.
The Powermat launch is the first global campaign for Woods Witt, a shop of only a dozen full-time staffers. Mr. Woods and his partner in the agency, Gill Witt, worked together for 12 years at BBDO, New York, before hanging their own shingle in 2005. In addition to Powermat, clients include Hickory Farms, CNBC and Butternuts Beer & Ale.
Messrs. Wood and Witt are also known in ad circles for being outspoken critics of industry award shows and are the creators of the anti-award show the "Wrath of Cannes."


Technology keeps changing we need better ways to keep things simple.
We should strive to make life more simple not more complicated.

Yours Truly,

Brian
"mediamerlin"
Woodbridge