Sci Guy: Swine Flu Antgenitic Shift, aka H1N1 (don't want to piss off the farmers)

I always liked the sciguy from the chron, who kept us all well-informed during Ike. Here is a good article on the Swine Flu. and what is a mutation. Someone tell me if I am taking your copyright information, I will just link if so...

Why swine flu scares public officials

One of the most common questions during today's live chat concerned the public health and media reaction to the swine flu outbreak. What, the readers asked, is the big deal with a virus that's infected just 40 Americans and made only one of them sick enough to require
hospitalization?

Annenberg Media See larger version.

It's a very good question.

The answer is a bit more complicated than one could address during a live chat so I thought I'd take a crack at it in a blog entry.

The influenza viruses we're most familiar with evolve from year to year and mutate all the time, a process known as antigenic drift. This drift, a gradual mutation in the genetics of a virus, causes the proteins on the surface of a virus to change, too. If these proteins change enough our immune systems may no longer recognize the flu virus. In years with enough antigenic drift a vaccine may no longer match its target.

However, there's another kind of change to viruses that concerns scientists even more: antigenic shift. During this process at least two different strains of a flu virus combine to form a new subtype. This can happen when two strains — say swine flu and predominantly human influenza — infect the same cell, replicate and assemble a brand new virus.

Here's a helpful graphic which shows how this process can occur.

The current virus in circulation has elements of human, swine, and avian viruses normally found in Europe or Asia, and it may have originated as a result of an antigenic shift. It is for this reason — we are dealing with an entirely new and unknown virus — that has elevated the level of concern for this outbreak.

It remains unclear how virulent the virus will ultimately be in humans, and the hope is that most people who become infected will not become terribly sick, and for those that do there remain ample supplies of antiviral drugs.

But those are far from certainties at this time, so rigorous vigilance and preparation are indeed warranted.

American Idol Final 5: Houston Edition Brat Pack Night: Feeling Good Muse

Wow we got so much rain in the last 24 hours. I left work yesterday at 430 because the red cells were coming, and Houston is known for two things: Hot Humidity and Flash Floods.

It rained almost all night long - The house literally rattled with the lightning and thunder. I looked out the window a couple of times to make sure the street was ok, but they don't call it the "Heights" for nothing.

West Houston (Katy, Cypress, I10-Beltway 8) got hammered hard, about a foot of water overnight. There is only one confirmed death - I don't understand the desire to drive to work at 6 in the morning when the news is saying stay home! I checked the tv, the internet and got to work ok around 0730 - it was a typical Houston drive in driving rain and stupid drivers. I say one guy drive right into another - he wasn't even looking. And why be on you cell phone, on your left ear reducing even more visibility? And no lights? Yes drivers are stupid stupid stupid, but they affect my life because I have to avoid them and get stuck in traffic because of them.

And the spoilers for tonight's AI, from mjblog:

Kris Allen - “The Way You Look Tonight” - Jamie said “I want to make an album with you now” a little disappointing, definitely overhyped by judges, I like my krissy.....
Allison Iraheta - “Someone to Watch Over Me” she's got chops. won't win, will succeed...
Matt Giraud - “My Funny Valentine” - Jamie suggested changes - Matt doesn’t play piano I don't care he is vote for the worst pic this week for a reason....

EDIT: They don't want Allison anywhere near the finals. Why tell Matt he was great? And tell her that she doesn't want to be in the finals? Look at the tween demographics - chicks sell, Demi, Seleni, Myley. I don't even know who they are but they sell. Allison is hispanic. Maybe they want to save her for a Daugherty like success, since we all know winning USUALLY gets you no where unless you are Kelly, Carrie or David? I don't get it


Danny Gokey - “Come Rain Come Shine” - Jamie suggested changes don't care TCO will lose.
Adam Lambert - “Feeling Good” (the muse version) -Jamie liked Adam I love Muse....lets see if he goes megaphone....

I love Muse, don't know this version (or song?):

Thanks St Lukes: Second follow up post

so after a 39K dollar bill, my responsibility is around $640. I love health insurance. I will be really sad when it gets nationalized, and I will never be able to get care like this no questions

asked again.

$0.00	$0.00	$633.55
				Your Responsibility: $633.55

Hospital Incidentals	$108.75	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$19.25	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$6,160.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$732.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$2,886.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$392.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$25.00	$25.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$149.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$120.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$147.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Lab Services	$164.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$3,718.00	$416.75	$333.40	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$83.35
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$7,360.00	$1,834.00	$1,467.20	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$366.80
03/25/2009 X-Ray or Lab Services	$17,527.00	$917.00	$733.60	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$183.40
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$3.75	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 Hospital Incidentals	$4.25	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
03/25/2009 X-Ray or Lab Services	$314.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	Y
Total	$39,830.00	$3,192.75	$2,534.20	$0.00	$0.00	$0.00	$633.55
				Your Responsibility: $633.55

Helen is liveblogging Final 7 American Idol

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

Lil Rounds: weakest of the group. still. How is I'm every women disco? She has a fan base, though. I actually feel sorry for her. what did that guy in the audience yell? Oh how awful, I think it was a black guy who yelled "American Idols don't sound like that". How rude. I mean I don't want someone to get booed or anything. They should kick him out, seriously.

Kris Allen: Gets the pimp interview on the stool and the dude who bangs the box. Whoever gets that treatment usually does very well. I like it, but not a challenge vocally. But interesting arrangement. Not going to rush to itunes to download it....

Allison: Nice entrance....don't know the song...wow, leather.staircase treatment, I think that is good. she hits all the notes. Now I know the song, Hot Stuff. I really like her voice - Allison and Adam go! absolutely one of the best singers in the competition....she has a better career coming then Jordin Sparks. she can take on Pink and Kelly Clarkson anyday....

Gokey: I don't care. I don't like him. Celebration, kareoke version. I guess he is celebrating his dead wife's time with him. ugh. I understood why people liked Archy, I just don't get the Gokey love. He is like Taylor Hicks to me. Remember that season - Daugherty anyone?

Adam Lambert: Nice suit. He looks great. Saturday Night Fever, If I can't Have You. Seriously, beautiful voice. If he can only not scream in this version....yes he screamed. But still interesting arranagement. To the finals we go........If I didn't hear the verse I wouldn't recognize this song. Are we at the point where they start playing their "best" hits? I mean, Adam could pick any one of them. Except funky music white boy. Mad World, the Elvis song, even this. I mean he is as close to a ringer as they come, but that's what they said about Carly and Michael Johns last season. Why hasn't Melinda Doolittle been invited back? Did she piss someone off? I think she waited out the contract for a year so she can do her own thing. Didn't Daugherty do that too, though?

Anoop: don't care, not going to lie. fail. going gone baby gone. Along with Matt.

Matt: see Anoop. Staying Alive. I think he thinks the hat is like his invisible cloak or something. ouch. This is kareoke.

Tonight's American Idol final 7: Born to be Wild / Falling Slowly

(Who knew Born to be Wild was from Easy Rider, a movie I have never seen)



Here's tonight playlist and observers comments of practice(Yay, Kris is singing from Once!!!!!!):

Helen's comment in this color. So they are trading off judges. Simon and Paula, then Her and Dog. I am pretty sure Simon made sure he got to comment on the ones he liked. Did you see him glare at Anoop? Not even a smile. In what world are Paula and Simon the best pair? If either Kris, Allison or Adam are out, they will be saved. They can only save until final four, which means this and next two weeks: Final Four should be Adam Allison Kris and I don't care but not Lil.

• Allison - “Don’t Want to Miss a Thing - Aerosmith - Really good on belty parts, not as good on lower register. Over all–good (I liked it, great they are finally trying to get her to the type three. I thought that was kinda rude to say she's the only female with a chance, we all know Lil is out soon but, oh snap)
  

• Anoop - “Everything I Do” by Bryan Adams - He roughed it up per Quentin’s request. Favorite Anoop performance so far. (who knew Tarantino could give good arrangement advice? liked it, not loved. out by top 4)
  

• Adam - “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf - OMG Electrifying, wnarling…headbanging…working the stage. (I think people who tuned in this week based on the buzz will think they just caught the remake of Starlight Express. Shreaky, but the guy is going places no matter what happens.)
  

• Matt - “To Really Love a Woman” by Bryan Adams - He was OK. Sat at the piano…soulded it up. Seemed a little nervous. Quentin told him to enunciate better (Why all these Bryan Adams songs? this is a boring song... and he sucked. over)(did you see Simon's jaw keep dropping the more Kara talked? he can't stand her. that was funny and will be talked about tomorrow)
  

• Danny - “Endless Love” by Diana Ross - Danny got contacts! Singing was what you would expect. Chair pimpage from Ryan (I'm going on a limb to say I will hate this before he even sings it. if I am wrong I will change. My god why does every song have to be about his dead wife) (yup, not only was it worth saying it was bad, but it was horrible. missed words, missed keys, bad, bad, bad. maybe first trip to bottom 3?)(can you love a Adam and Allison final? What?!!)
  

• Kris - “Falling Slowly” - Really pretty vocal. Did a nice job mixing him with one of the background singers. Quentin told him to play an intrument, but he didn’t do it. (yes I loved it, I love this song and his voice is great. I love this song it won the oscar for best song! I like Q saying he's the only one playing by the rules and picking a song from a movie that touched him. Hope the obscurity of song doesn't hurt)
  

• Lil - “The Rose” by Bette Midler - She started nice and soft…then she turned it gospelly and became shouty. Least favorite (who cares. she's out this week or next)

Donnie Darko: Mad World, the original

I love this song after seeing this movie, I love it even more. It really can make you cry if you follow the story:

American Idol Spoilers, 4/7 final 8: Donnie Darko FTW! Mad World / Gary Jules version indeed

Tonight is sing your birthyear song, which does nothing to remind me that I am still old. These are my comments before watching anything:

Danny - “Stand By Me” I'm getting tired of his shtichk.
Kris - “All She Wants to Do Is Dance” by Don Henley (played electric guitar in the crowd) I want Kris in final 2. This is an odd song.
Lil - “What’s Love Got to Do With It” by Tina Turner lil being lil I guess.
Anoop - “True Colors” by Cyndi Lauper ha ha. really? fail
Scott - “The Search Is Over” (played guitar) which one is he?oh, he's blind? poor baby.
Allison - “I Can’t Make You Love Me” by Bonnie Raitt could be pretty, she's my dark horse
Matt - “Part Time Lover” by Stevie Wonder epic fail. so done.
Adam - “Mad World” by Tears for Fears Awesome- hope it's the version from the Donnie Darko (Gary Jules version) movie. gosh that song and video are awesome. Allow me to post it:





Tonight is going to be epic. bring it on haters and lovers!

What's Allen Watching.

Helen is on haitus

Taking a break....digging facebook...