In the last three weeks, influenza reports in Virginia have gone from scattered to regional and now to widespread. Though late, the 2012 flu season has arrived.
The Virginia Department of Health monitors hospital and emergency care facilities, lab reports and local departments for reports of flu-like illness. If three or more of Virginia's five health districts report high levels of flu-like illness, the flu is said to be widespread. Flu-like illness is high in Hampton Roads and the rest of Eastern region.
VDH spokesman Larry Hill tells me that people who got the flu shot as far back as October should still be protected. Anyone who has not had a flu shot can still benefit from getting one now. However, it takes about two weeks after the shot for the flu vaccine to become effective. The flu vaccine is 80% to 85% effective at preventing a flu infection.
For information about getting a flu shot, contact your doctor, local pharmacy, or local health department.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Slow Computer? Try Cleaning off the Desktop
All of those little icons on your desktop are using system memory, taking up space that otherwise could be used by the web browsers, word processor and email client you're trying to use. Too many things on the desktop, as in the photo above, may contribute to a memory shortage, causing your system to struggle with allocating memory space for the programs you want to run. That's when the hard disk starts grinding away.
Files on the desktop can be moved into the My Documents folder. Unused icons can be deleted. Or, if your computer is running Windows XP, you can try using the Desktop Cleanup Wizard.
Links:
Some additional system maintenance tips
More system maintenence tips from Microsoft
Free Food February
Nothing stimulates a marketing blitz like a highlight on the calendar, such as Groundhog Day, President's Day, or this week's Leap Day. Here in Hampton Roads, Leap Day means free food.
Today, February 28th, has been deemed National Pancake Day. Through 10pm, IHOP restaurants are giving customers free short stacks of pancakes. They are also collecting donations to the Children's Miracle Network. Details about the pancake giveaway can be found at www.IHOPPancakeDay.com
Leap Day, Feburary 29th, is Free Premium Roast Coffee Day at McDonald's locations in Hampton Roads and NE North Carolina. From their media release: "Participating McDonald’s restaurants across Southeastern Virginia and Northeast North Carolina will be serving free Premium Roast coffee of any size (no purchase necessary) all day."
Today, February 28th, has been deemed National Pancake Day. Through 10pm, IHOP restaurants are giving customers free short stacks of pancakes. They are also collecting donations to the Children's Miracle Network. Details about the pancake giveaway can be found at www.IHOPPancakeDay.com
Leap Day, Feburary 29th, is Free Premium Roast Coffee Day at McDonald's locations in Hampton Roads and NE North Carolina. From their media release: "Participating McDonald’s restaurants across Southeastern Virginia and Northeast North Carolina will be serving free Premium Roast coffee of any size (no purchase necessary) all day."
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Cox/WAVY Dispute Going Down the Wire
Another standoff is brewing between a local television station and a cable service provider. Cox Communications' agreement to rebroadcast the signal of WAVY-TV 10 and WVBT Fox 43 expires at midnight, February 29th. The disagreement is similar to a 2011 standoff between WAVY's parent company and Dish Network. That issue wasn't resolved until after Dish Network blacked out WAVY's programming for several days.
As I reported last October, such disputes stem from the 1994 Cable Television and Protection Act, which gave local TV stations the right to negotiate with the cable companies to re-transmit their signals. In this instance, WAVY's owners are demanding an increase in the fees Cox pays to carry WAVY's signal. Cox officials describe the increase as "huge."
Such impasses often lead to a TV channel blackout, but not always. In 2011, WVEC's parent company settled with DIRECTV just before their agreement expired.
Statement from Cox Communications
As I reported last October, such disputes stem from the 1994 Cable Television and Protection Act, which gave local TV stations the right to negotiate with the cable companies to re-transmit their signals. In this instance, WAVY's owners are demanding an increase in the fees Cox pays to carry WAVY's signal. Cox officials describe the increase as "huge."
Such impasses often lead to a TV channel blackout, but not always. In 2011, WVEC's parent company settled with DIRECTV just before their agreement expired.
Statement from Cox Communications
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Another Busy Tornado Season
Forecasters at the National Weather Service are predicting that 2012 could be every bit as busy for tornadoes as the 2011 season, which was one of the busiest on record. A meteorologist in Oklahoma said this week that weather patterns were becoming slightly more active. The advisory affects the Southeast and the Midwest.
Virginia is coming off a year in which 51 twisters hit the state, the second most ever recorded. Virginia reported ten tornado-related fatalities last year.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has scheduled the state's annual tornado drill for Tuesday, March 20th. State officials are asking public schools, businesses and civic groups to register to participate. For information about the upcoming Statewide Tornado Drill, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's website.
The storm season is already off to an active start; there were 95 confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. The spring months of March and April are usually the most active for twister activity.
Virginia is coming off a year in which 51 twisters hit the state, the second most ever recorded. Virginia reported ten tornado-related fatalities last year.
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has scheduled the state's annual tornado drill for Tuesday, March 20th. State officials are asking public schools, businesses and civic groups to register to participate. For information about the upcoming Statewide Tornado Drill, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's website.
The storm season is already off to an active start; there were 95 confirmed tornadoes in the U.S. The spring months of March and April are usually the most active for twister activity.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Fin Whale...not a Sei Whale
Updating Tuesday's post about the sei whale that was found dead on the beach in Norfolk over the weekend...marine scientists have now correctly identified the animal as a young fin whale.
Both are classified as roquals, a family distinctive for their grooved throat pouches that expand when feeding. Their main difference is in size. While adult sei whales can top out at 45-55 feet, the fin whale can grow to over 80 feet, making it the second longest animal on earth, trailing only its cousin, the blue whale. They're also fast, capable of 23mph in short bursts. Fin whales, like sei whales and humpbacks, are usually seen off the Virginia coast in the winter months.
Scientists did a necropsy on the whale Tuesday. Norfolk city officials say they will bury the carcass in the beach where it was found.
On the web:
http://acsonline.org/fact-sheets/fin-whale/
Both are classified as roquals, a family distinctive for their grooved throat pouches that expand when feeding. Their main difference is in size. While adult sei whales can top out at 45-55 feet, the fin whale can grow to over 80 feet, making it the second longest animal on earth, trailing only its cousin, the blue whale. They're also fast, capable of 23mph in short bursts. Fin whales, like sei whales and humpbacks, are usually seen off the Virginia coast in the winter months.
Scientists did a necropsy on the whale Tuesday. Norfolk city officials say they will bury the carcass in the beach where it was found.
On the web:
http://acsonline.org/fact-sheets/fin-whale/
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Learning About the Sei Whale
I've been watching the reports about the dead sei whale that washed onto the beach in Norfolk's Ocean View neighborhood last weekend with great interest. As much as I know about local wildlife, there is a lot I don't know about this particular species of whale.
First, I wasn't even sure I was pronouncing the name correctly. I had to look it up on Dictionary.com before going on the air with the story. It rhymes with "day." According to the American Cetacean Society, the name is derived from the Norwegian word for pollock, a fish that appears off the coast of Norway at the same time of year as the sei whale. Incidentally, I would have been completely wrong in pronouncing the name of the sei's cousin, the Bryde's whale. It's pronounced "broodus."
Secondly, I wasn't aware that the sei whale was even seen off the Virginia coast that often. Humpback whales are regular visitors here during the winter; this year has been one of the best for whale watching, officials at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center say. Sei whales are apparently not as showy as the playful humpbacks, but they do frequent our coast, I've learned. A sei washed up on the beach at Sandbridge just last year, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
In both dead whale cases, the animal was likely killed by a collision with a ship. The 42-foot long beached whale in Norfolk has an obvious head wound. Marine scientists are conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Norfolk will bury the carcass.
It's too bad that a whale had to die in order for me and others to become educated about them. Still, the whale carcass was quite a tourist attraction Sunday and Monday, with hundreds heading to the beach to photograph it. Perhaps some science teachers changed their lesson plans this week, to include a few facts about the sei whale.
First, I wasn't even sure I was pronouncing the name correctly. I had to look it up on Dictionary.com before going on the air with the story. It rhymes with "day." According to the American Cetacean Society, the name is derived from the Norwegian word for pollock, a fish that appears off the coast of Norway at the same time of year as the sei whale. Incidentally, I would have been completely wrong in pronouncing the name of the sei's cousin, the Bryde's whale. It's pronounced "broodus."
Secondly, I wasn't aware that the sei whale was even seen off the Virginia coast that often. Humpback whales are regular visitors here during the winter; this year has been one of the best for whale watching, officials at the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center say. Sei whales are apparently not as showy as the playful humpbacks, but they do frequent our coast, I've learned. A sei washed up on the beach at Sandbridge just last year, the Virginian-Pilot reported.
In both dead whale cases, the animal was likely killed by a collision with a ship. The 42-foot long beached whale in Norfolk has an obvious head wound. Marine scientists are conducting a necropsy to determine the cause of death. Norfolk will bury the carcass.
It's too bad that a whale had to die in order for me and others to become educated about them. Still, the whale carcass was quite a tourist attraction Sunday and Monday, with hundreds heading to the beach to photograph it. Perhaps some science teachers changed their lesson plans this week, to include a few facts about the sei whale.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Chocolate Shortage?
This small item in today's Daily Press caught my eye: "...scientists are saying that thanks to climate change and plant diseases, a cocoa shortage for future holidays is a very real possibility." That's about the last thing I want to read, especially in proximity to Valentine's Day.
According to Scientific American magazine, a number of factors could negatively affect the world's supply of chocolate in the future. Primarily, the magazine reports, an expanding population living in a growing number of developing nations will increase worldwide demand for chocolate. Meanwhile, the cacao plant, which produces the seeds that are ground into cocoa powder, is under threat from new diseases, pests, and yes, climate change. The current yield of 3.7 million metric tons of the crop is not expected to meet demand for chocolate by 2020, the magazine reports.
Chocolate is often seen as a holiday gift (we Americans spend an estimated $700 million on chocolate on Valentine's Day alone), but it has other uses. In my household, dark chocolate is an effective remedy for a scratchy throat. *cough* I think I feel the need for some chocolate therapy right now...;)
Links:
Summary of the Scientific American report
News report from the Chicago Tribune
According to Scientific American magazine, a number of factors could negatively affect the world's supply of chocolate in the future. Primarily, the magazine reports, an expanding population living in a growing number of developing nations will increase worldwide demand for chocolate. Meanwhile, the cacao plant, which produces the seeds that are ground into cocoa powder, is under threat from new diseases, pests, and yes, climate change. The current yield of 3.7 million metric tons of the crop is not expected to meet demand for chocolate by 2020, the magazine reports.
Chocolate is often seen as a holiday gift (we Americans spend an estimated $700 million on chocolate on Valentine's Day alone), but it has other uses. In my household, dark chocolate is an effective remedy for a scratchy throat. *cough* I think I feel the need for some chocolate therapy right now...;)
Links:
Summary of the Scientific American report
News report from the Chicago Tribune
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Screen Saver Quirk
I have finally figured out how to fix a quirk with my computer's screen saver. From what I've read, the problem is endemic to Gateway computers running Windows Vista. I'm not sure how many people are affected by the glitch, but I'll post the solution here just in case someone can use it.
Here is the problem: every time I reboot the computer, the screen saver wait time resets to one minute and the screen saver fails to activate. The glitch also affects the computer's power settings, meaning the computer never goes to sleep.
After much digging online, I have finally found the solution. Windows Management Instrumentation, which provides some hard to define but apparently non-essential background in the Windows environment, needs to be turned off. The process is as follows.
Here is the problem: every time I reboot the computer, the screen saver wait time resets to one minute and the screen saver fails to activate. The glitch also affects the computer's power settings, meaning the computer never goes to sleep.
After much digging online, I have finally found the solution. Windows Management Instrumentation, which provides some hard to define but apparently non-essential background in the Windows environment, needs to be turned off. The process is as follows.
- Click the Start button and in the "start search" field, type MSCONFIG. This brings up the Systems Configuration dialogue.
- Click the tab marked "Services."
- In the left column, click "Service" so the display will be sorted alphabetically.
- Scroll down until you find "Windows Management Instrumentation."
- Click the check box so that it is now blank.
- Click "apply."
- Reboot the computer.
Statewide Tornado Drill: March 20th
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management has announced that Tuesday, March 20th, will be the date for the annual Statewide Tornado Drill. The agency is encouraging schools, colleges, businesses and civic groups to register to participate. Virginia is coming off a year in which 51 twisters, the second highest number recorded, hit the state. The storms killed ten people, including two in Gloucester County, where a twister on April 17th caused more than 7 million dollars in damage.
The drill is meant to make people aware of what to do and where to go in the event a tornado is seen or a tornado warning is sounded. According to the emergency management website, everyone should go to the lowest interior location possible away from windows, and crouch against the wall with their hands covering their heads.
The description brings to mind the tornado drills we did when I was an elementary school student in Tennessee. I can remember crouching down against the hallway wall during the so-called "blue alert" drills.
Public schools will be among the most active participants in the tornado drill in March, and with good reason. Gloucester's Page Middle School was wrecked by last April's twister. Luckily, the storm hit on a Saturday and the school was vacant.
Colleges, too, can participate. Last April 27th, a large twister hit Farmville, just outside the campus of Longwood University.
For information about the upcoming Statewide Tornado Drill, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's website.
The drill is meant to make people aware of what to do and where to go in the event a tornado is seen or a tornado warning is sounded. According to the emergency management website, everyone should go to the lowest interior location possible away from windows, and crouch against the wall with their hands covering their heads.
The description brings to mind the tornado drills we did when I was an elementary school student in Tennessee. I can remember crouching down against the hallway wall during the so-called "blue alert" drills.
Public schools will be among the most active participants in the tornado drill in March, and with good reason. Gloucester's Page Middle School was wrecked by last April's twister. Luckily, the storm hit on a Saturday and the school was vacant.
Colleges, too, can participate. Last April 27th, a large twister hit Farmville, just outside the campus of Longwood University.
For information about the upcoming Statewide Tornado Drill, visit the Virginia Department of Emergency Management's website.
Saturday, February 4, 2012
How to Return a Defective Netflix DVD
Netflix customers...if you get a defective DVD, don't send the bad disc back to them until they've sent you a replacement disc. I write this from personal experience.
About a year ago, I had a Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD that stopped playing in the middle of one episode. It was one of the episodes in which Ashley Judd guest starred, as I recall. I tried it in two DVD players with no luck. So I dropped the DVD in the mail and went to the Netflix website, where I clicked the "report a problem" link.
Three days later, the replacement Star Trek DVD arrived. Looking at it, I realized this DVD had the exact same blemish on the surface as the DVD I had just sent back. Putting the DVD in the player confirmed it: Netflix had sent me the same DVD I had just sent them.
I imagine the whole process took almost no time at all. The defective DVD arrives at the Netflix processing center, is pulled from its envelope, whisked down a conveyor belt, stuck in a new envelope with my address on it, and rolled out to a waiting mail truck, all in about five minutes. Did anyone consider that the arriving DVD had been reported as faulty? Apparently not.
So, the return process for a bad DVD, in order:
About a year ago, I had a Star Trek: The Next Generation DVD that stopped playing in the middle of one episode. It was one of the episodes in which Ashley Judd guest starred, as I recall. I tried it in two DVD players with no luck. So I dropped the DVD in the mail and went to the Netflix website, where I clicked the "report a problem" link.
Three days later, the replacement Star Trek DVD arrived. Looking at it, I realized this DVD had the exact same blemish on the surface as the DVD I had just sent back. Putting the DVD in the player confirmed it: Netflix had sent me the same DVD I had just sent them.
I imagine the whole process took almost no time at all. The defective DVD arrives at the Netflix processing center, is pulled from its envelope, whisked down a conveyor belt, stuck in a new envelope with my address on it, and rolled out to a waiting mail truck, all in about five minutes. Did anyone consider that the arriving DVD had been reported as faulty? Apparently not.
So, the return process for a bad DVD, in order:
- Go to the Netflix website and click "report a problem."
- Receive the replacement DVD in the mail.
- Send the defective DVD back to Netflix.
I'm writing this today because the Tom Hanks comedy, Larry Crowne, is defective. Well, some critics have said it's defective, but from my point of view the movie itself is okay. But last night, the Netflix DVD of Larry Crowne stopped working about halfway through, at the point where Julia Roberts was about to tell her husband to take a hike. To be continued, if you will.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Recycling Button Batteries
It's important to get rid of old button batteries, especially in households with small children. Doctors say the batteries can cause internal burns if they are swallowed. The National Capital Poison Center reports there are more than 3,000 cases of button battery swallowing every year in the United States.
I found out about the Batteries Plus recycling program through this website, www.Earth911.org. You can search a database for places to recycle a variety of items, including batteries, fluorescent lights, and aluminum.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Warm Winter Expected to Continue
Around Hampton Roads, January felt almost nothing like winter. The average high temperature at Norfolk International Airport was 56 degrees, eight degrees above normal. Fourteen days had high temperatures in the 60's.
And the warm trend is expected to continue through February. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 40% chance of above normal temperatures for our region for the next month. There is also a 33% chance of below normal precipitation during February.
Update: I'm told by people at the National Weather Service in Wakefield that January 2011 was not exceptionally warm, ranking as the 14th warmest January on record. The warmest January recorded happened in 1950.
Links:
The one month outlook from the Climate Prediction Center
Norfolk's weather almanac for January
And the warm trend is expected to continue through February. The Climate Prediction Center is forecasting a 40% chance of above normal temperatures for our region for the next month. There is also a 33% chance of below normal precipitation during February.
Update: I'm told by people at the National Weather Service in Wakefield that January 2011 was not exceptionally warm, ranking as the 14th warmest January on record. The warmest January recorded happened in 1950.
Links:
The one month outlook from the Climate Prediction Center
Norfolk's weather almanac for January
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)