flu

The 404 191: Where we're finally on time

Jeff almost doesn't make it into the show today due to this 24 flu bug, but I think his daily dose of Vitamin Backayutang was enough to pull him out of the trenches. After a false start, Wilson gives us a a lengthy review of yesterday's Google Android debut, and I'll let you in on a secret: he's disappointed. I don't think any of us will be trading in our iPhones for this little guy, especially not for something that looks like the T-Mobile Sidekick 1.0.

This is the show where we're finally on time. In case you didn't grasp that subtle sarcasm, we actually start the show a half an hour late only to be interrupted halfway through the show by Jeff messing up the recording...so we start again! This time around, it's better than ever; we've got Wilson' initial review of the T-Mobile G1 with the Google Android OS, Prank VoIP calls, Dark Knight DVD details, and a tasty new Ben and Jerry's ice cream flavor. Also, we uncover another huge helping of East Cost/West Coast beef! YUM!

EPISODE 191 Download today's podcast … Read more

Disaster preparedness: Time is always running out

In the late 1970s, while attending the University of Miami in Florida, I became involved in the survivalist movement. I had been a Boy Scout--"Be Prepared," you know--so the survivalist attitude of "prepare for the worst" was an easy transition.

The members of the local survivalist community (at least the ones I knew) were good people: a high proportion of police officers and business professionals along with students like myself. What they had in common was a belief that something bad could happen to the United States.

The possible disasters included full-scale wars (nuclear, biological … Read more

Virus spreads across Google Earth, virtually

Biomedical researchers wanted to get a good look at the avian flu virus. And they did not turn to a super microscope. They used Google Earth instead. With Keyhole Markup Language on Google Earth scientists were able to trace the course of the disease over the past decade.

The Google Earth project animates the spread of avian flu virus. In addition the data contains information on all known strains of the evolving flu virus plus all its host organisms. So far avian flu has not proven highly contagious among humans with fewer than 300 known cases worldwide. However, medical research … Read more

Curing the common cold, online

Flu season is here and getting sick is the pits. The endless mountains of tissues, cough drop breath, and a runny red nose are no one's cup of tea. Although there is no cure for seasonal sickness, many Web sites promise to help. WebMD, FamilyDoctor.org, and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's site are the most sought-after health sites. Each site contains an expanse of knowledge, but how can you find out the most information on your condition? Which site can you trust with your diagnosis? See our video reviews.

Avian flu catches the cat

Cats can become sick with Avian flu by being fed virus-infected chickens or just by having contact with domestic or wild birds with the illness. Once infected, cats then excrete the virus from the respiratory and digestive tract, sometimes transmitting the flu to other cats, according to scientific commentary in this week's Nature magazine.

The commentary examines mounting reports of cats dying from Avian flu, or H5N1, and why cats are vulnerable. The first reported feline death was in Thailand in 2004, but since then 147 captive tigers had to be euthanized after being fed virus-infected chicken carcasses.

In … Read more