Contrary to widespread belief, only two very specific types of people flirt: those who are single and those who are married.
From this Time article.
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Everyone's familiar with Salmonella now that the Prima Deli contamination has come to pass. Did you know that this little bugger is as common to reptiles as E. coli is to humans? Stop kissing your shelled scaly friends, people!
Pet Turtles Cause Salmonella Outbreak
Small Pet Turtles Are a Health Risk, Especially to Young Kids, Says CDC
By Miranda Hitti
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD
Jan. 24, 2008 -- The CDC today blamed small pet turtles for infecting at least 44 people in five states with salmonella bacteria.
Salmonella infection usually causes diarrhea, which may be bloody. Serious complications and death can also occur but are rarer.
Those cases, which happened since May 2007, mostly affected young kids who played with or cared for the turtles. No deaths have been linked to the salmonella outbreak. Cases were reported in California, North Carolina, Ohio, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.
"These turtles are a risk to the public and especially to young children," states the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
This isn't the first time that the CDC has warned the public that turtles (and other reptiles) can carry salmonella bacteria. But 80% of the patients in the current outbreak didn't know that.
A baby girl in Florida died in March 2007 from salmonella infection from her family's small pet turtle. That case happened before the current outbreak began, according to the CDC.
People can catch salmonella by handling turtles or touching surfaces that have been tainted by salmonella in turtle feces.
Due to salmonella risk, the U.S. government bans the sale of pet turtles with shells less than 4 inches long except for scientific, educational, or exhibition purposes. That ban has been in place since 1975.
The CDC has published guidelines for avoiding salmonella from reptiles. But the CDC says that the ban on the sale and distribution of small pet turtles is still the best strategy, due to the "particular hazard" of salmonella infection from those turtles.
Here's the original article.
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And slightly disturbing news, J. Craig Venter has assembled an entirely new chromosome for an entirely new one-celled creature. It has already been shown that a genome transplanted from an existing cell to another will shut down the host's genetic programming and bring its own online. So if he inserts that artificially created chromosome into an existing cell, and the cell works - he could claim to have created life in this manner.
It is a big step forward in mankind's understanding of genetics if this works out. It also can open a whole new can of worms.
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If you actually survived the article onslaught, congratulations! You have proof that I desperately need a life beyond biology and medicine.
Proof that one (or rather I) should always stay carefree and cheerful and not sink into depression or stress up prior to ovulation- because I always have hell to pay at the end of the extended biological month. (jc bio dictates that the shedding of the endometrium always takes place 14 days after ovulation, so if its delayed, its because ovulation is delayed.) Will not divulge too much of the details: suffice it to say that I felt so terrible, I didn't want to get out of bed for the first time ever.
I don't have any pictures of the bazaar today despite bringing my camera =( All the same, we sold all the muffins/cupcakes! Its pretty amazing, because we were most worried about them. Now we have loads of rock buns left, and its all going to make a special appearance at tea time tomorrow. HAHA. Anyhow, I managed to approach several strangers and make some sales, so all is not lost! Geraldine shall emerge from her shell! Woohoo! I really admire nat's energy and ability to just approach anyone - what a stark contrast to morose me.
Its about 10 weeks left to the end of my term. I think I should start writing notes of little details regarding this co and events that took place and what to look out for etc that should be passed down, since most of the events that dot the academic year are over.
