Swine flu has killed at least a dozen people in Mexico City on Friday and the authorities have closed schools, museums, libraries and theaters in the capital of Mexico.

The new virus which combines genetic material from pigs, birds and humans in a way researchers have not seen before. The flu has also sickened at least eight people in Texas and California, though there have been no fatalities in the U.S. yet.

“We are very, very concerned,” World Health Organization spokesman Thomas Abraham said. “We have what appears to be a novel virus and it has spread from human to human … It’s all hands on deck at the moment.”

Reading resources:

• Mexico swine flu deaths spur global epidemic fears on Yahoo
• Swine flu on Wikipedia

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What’s the sound of downloading a free track while helping African health care?

An exclusive remix of Nas’s track, "Wake Up" is available to those want to participate in the IntraHealth campaign. You can download the track for free, but you’ll also have a chance to make a donation to the cause as you’re acquiring the track.

Download Nas track from Rhapsody for free

Donate to the cause at IntraHealth

(Via VH1 Blog)

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Most people knows there is second-hand smoke, but what about third-hand smoke? Most people haven’t heard of the term "third-hand smoke". According to the medical experts, there is such a thing, and it’s particularly hazardous for children.

Third-hand smoke is defined as the residual contamination from tobacco smoke that remains after a cigarette is extinguished—toxic dust that settles onto surfaces and harmful volatile compounds that disperse in the air.

A study finds toxins from tobacco smoke can linger in the air and on hair and clothing long after a cigarette is put out, and can transfer to a baby or small child easily.

(Source: msnbc.com)

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Did you know computer keyboards are way filthier than toilets?

The British consumer-advocacy group, Which? Computing had a microbiologist test the bacteria levels on the 30-plus computer keyboards in its office and then compare the results with those found on a toilet seat and a toilet door handle.

The tests found that one keyboard had to be removed from the office as it had 150 times the pass-limit of bacteria and was five times filthier than the toilet seat.

Which? urges computer users to find time to clean their keyboards — unplug the keyboards from the computers, turn keyboards upside down and shake them so crumbs and whatever else has accumulated there to be removed. Then, they should use alcohol wipes to get rid of the germs.

Alternatively, you can always invest in a Computer Keyboard Vacuum.

(Via Which? )

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Supermarket shelf-stacker Alfredo Duran, 40, suffered a fatal heart attack which may have been caused by drinking too many cans of the energy drink Red Bull. He is thought to have consumed as many as four cans of the caffeinated drink each night.

He died from a cardiac arrest after collapsing at the Asda store, his workplace.

Each 250ml can of Red Bull is said to contain 80mg of caffeine — the same amount as a cup of filter coffee — and sales of the drink have been banned in some countries.

A postmortem examination showed that Mr Duran had an enlarged heart, a disorder which impairs its ability to pump blood around the body.

Studies have suggested those with high blood pressure or heart disease should avoid the drink.

Red Bull is Britain’s best-selling “energy drink”, with 213 million cans consumed each year. Last year, 3.5 billion cans and bottles of Red Bull were sold in 140 countries. It is often mixed with vodka.

Well, everything has a limit, as I always say, taking everything moderately is the best practice. Do you agree?

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Demi Moore has revealed her secret to her beauty and youth and no, it is not Ashton Kucher but blood sucking leeches. She shared the news during an appearance Monday on “The Late Show With David Letterman.”

“I’ve always been somebody looking for the cutting edge of things that are for optimizing your health and healing, so just a week ago I was in Austria doing a cleanse and part of the treatment was leech therapy,” she told Letterman.

“These aren’t just swamp leeches, these are highly trained medical leeches,” she laughed. “These are not just some low level scavengers; we’re talking high level blood suckers.”

Moore also revealed that leeches prefer bare skin. “Leeches don’t like hair, they much prefer a Brazilian.”

What’s the benefits?

“It detoxifies your blood,” she told Letterman. “And they have a little enzyme that when they’re biting down on you, gets released into your blood and generally you bleed for quite a bit. And your health is optimized. It detoxified the blood and I’m feeling detoxified right now.”

What’s your say? Do you generally think leeches contribute to Moore’s youth rather than botox and Asthon Kucher?

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Feeling depress? Don’t fret. Feeling sad can be good for you as it promotes good health. Don’t get panic nor get medications right away, instead, try to focus and overcome the depression.

According to some experts, sadness actually helps us learn from our mistakes. It also invites sympathy and therefore help from others. So, it’s not the end of the world. In fact, there are many ways to handle depressions. That, is another topic altogether.

What do you think? Is feeling sad good for you?

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Nobody can live forever but we can live longer by practicing the followings.

1. Sleep 6-7 hours per day, not more, not less
2. Be optimistic
3. Have more sex
4. Have a massage
5. Exercise
6. Meditate
7. Do sit-ups
8. Take yoga
9. Floss your teeth
10. Visit the dentist regularly
11. Watch your weight
12. Quit smoking
13. Manage stress
14. Look after your breasts
15. Check your blood pressure
16. Have regular smear tests
17. Have a glaucoma test
18. Chill out
19. Be rich
20. Get a dog
21. Laugh a little
22. Live in the country
23. Have lots of children
24. Learn to play piano
25. Play sudoku
26. Play crossword puzzles
27. Learn a new language
28. Keep taking exams
29. Keep on working, even after retired
30. Be close to your mother
31. Don’t BBQ
32. Do gardening
33. Eat more chocolate
34. Eat pumpkins
35. Eat beans and blueberries
36. Eat gazpacho
37. Eat spicy foods
38. Eat salmon, sardines, mackerel or herring
39. Eat the Mediterranean way
40. Drink miso soup
41. Drink red wine moderately
42. Drink tea moderately
43. Drink coffee moderately
44. Drink more water
45. Play brain games
46. Move to Japan, France, Spain, Switzerland or Australia
47. Don’t take work home
48. Maintain your social life
49. Volunteer
50. Get married happily

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I want that song when I go potty. Odd, but funny. LoL!

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Speed Fit Print Ad

A very creative print ad for Speed Fit, a gym in Germany. If you look properly, you can see a very unhappy face.

There is a female version too, but since it’s NSFW, I’ll not put it here.

(Via Advert-Eyes)

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