The following advice, given by Dr. Oz, makes a lot of sense and is important for all to know:
The only portals of entry are the nostrils and mouth/throat. In a global epidemic of this nature, it’s almost impossible to avoid coming into contact with H1N1 in spite of all precautions. Contact with H1N1 is not so much of a problem as proliferation is.
While you are still healthy and not showing any symptoms of H1N1 infection, in order to prevent proliferation, aggravation of symptoms and development of secondary infections, some very simple steps, not fully highlighted in most official communications, can be practiced (instead of focusing on how to stock N95 or Tamiflu):
1. Frequent hand-washing (well highlighted in all official communications).
2. “Hands-off-the-face” approach. Resist all temptations to touch any part of face (unless you want to eat or bathe.)
3. *Gargle twice a day with warm salt water (use Listerine or Hydrogen Peroxide if you don’t trust salt). *H1N1 takes 2-3 days after initial infection in the throat/ nasal cavity to proliferate and show characteristic symptoms. Simple gargling prevents proliferation. In a way, gargling with salt water has the same effect on a healthy individual that Tamiflu has on an infected one. Don’t underestimate this simple, inexpensive and powerful preventative method.
4. Similar to 3 above, *clean your nostrils at least once every day with warm salt water, or hydrogen peroxide. *Not everybody may be good at Jala Neti or Sutra Neti (very good Yoga asanas to clean nasal cavities), but *blowing the nose softly once a day and swabbing both nostrils with cotton buds dipped in warm salt water is very effective in bringing down viral population.*
5. *Boost your natural immunity with foods that are rich in Vitamin C (Amla and other citrus fruits). *If you have to supplement with Vitamin C tablets, make sure that it also has Zinc to boost absorption.
6. *Drink as much of warm liquids (tea, coffee, etc) as you can. *Drinking warm liquids has the same effect as gargling, but in the reverse direction. They wash off proliferating viruses from the throat into the stomach where they cannot survive, proliferate or do any harm.
I was so excited to be invited to be a Secret Shopper. What a great job for someone who is a usability expert and incredibly critical! I signed up right away then today my son-in-law said he signed up last week and they sent him a counterfeit check for $800 which he should cash at Western Union then send back only $300.
He had just told me this and I went in and posted some of my paintings of female serial killers for sale on Craigslist. Imaging my excitement to get a buyer in 5 minutes? I checked the email online only to find it listed on a scam site.
Watch this video to learn how to avoid Craigslist Scams
What is Phishing?
Phishing is an attempt by an individual or group to solicit personal information from unsuspecting users by employing social engineering techniques. Phishing emails are crafted to appear as if they have been sent from a legitimate organization or known individual. These emails often attempt to entice users to click on a link that will take the user to a fraudulent web site that appears legitimate. The user then may be asked to provide personal information such as account usernames and passwords that can further expose them to future compromises. Additionally, these fraudulent web sites may contain malicious code.
How do I know if an email is a scam?
If you are in anyway suspicious, an easy test is to take the web address (the info after the @ symbol) and put it into your browser and see if the site is real. Usually it is not. Even if it is, do not respond to the email or click on any links. Instead go to the site the email claims to be from (your bank, PayPal, your hosting service, etc) and login to see if there is a message or a problem. Contact them if necessary.
Here is a sample scam email:
From: yahoo-account-services-@cc.yahoo-inc.com
Date: May 25, 2009 10:37:50 PM EDT
To: xxx@xxxx.com
Subject: Your Yahoo! account information has changed
Reply-To: yahoo-account-services-@cc.yahoo-inc.com
The following was added to your account:
new secret questions
You can use the email address(es) in your Yahoo! account to reset your password. To ensure that your account information remains accurate and secure we notify you whenever this information changes.
Your email address was added to the Yahoo! ID: mi*********. If this Yahoo! ID does not belong to you, or you did not recently add your email address to this Yahoo! ID, you may permanently stop receiving messages for this Yahoo! ID at this email address. Please visit the following link:
https://edit.yahoo.com/commchannel/disavow?p=
PFQp9ozhZwt0.oUcIIE1QMRSkRY2r1XSBMjHFEcPOeiLsIpTPd7HgIde61HYeOgz
Forward the suspected email to the Department of Homeland Security at phishing-report@us-cert.gov or visit the Department of Homeland Security for more information.
The site “cc.yahoo-inc.com” does not exist.
How do I report phishing?
Learn how co-creating with customer personas can boost sales in eight and a half minutes!
Just relax and enjoy this great talk by Bryan Eisenberg from Future Now Inc. here in Brooklyn where I was trained in Persuasion Architecture and Copywriting for the Web.
In this interview from London’s Search Engine Strategies conference, Bryan tallks about how planning websites with personas will increase revenue and ROI because personas help you go deeper into the user experience and understand the the needs and decision making process of visitors and letting them choose their own online experience. See my own version of Persuasion Architecture called Co-Creative Design.
Millions of people search Google Maps every day. A free listing on Google Maps makes it easy for them to find you. you can use the Local Business Center to create your free listing. When potential customers search Maps for local information, they’ll find your business: your address, hours of operation, even photos of your storefront or products. It’s easy, free, and you don’t need even need a website of your own to get a listing.
New FREE Stats!
Now Google wants more small businesses to list or claim their listing profiles on Google Local. To entice them, starting tomorrow it will give local businesses in the real world with physical addresses a free dashboard akin to what Websites get for free with Google Analytics.
It will show stats such as how many times their business comes up as a search result and how often people click through.
Get your free Google listing now.
The East 86th Street Association had a big problem. The small non-profit had a big presentation on Friday and their Web site was missing in action, and so was the creator of the site. They needed to get online fast, cheap and easy. I set them up with my Web Site In A Day Program and on Tuesday, just 3 days before the presentation, their simple site was LIVE and LAUNCHED in just 2 hours!
Let their Outreach Coordinator Tamla tell you how happy she is with the program.
