Appearing Too "Social" on the Social Network

It's no secret that college admissions officials sometimes check out the Facebook accounts of prospective students.  It's likely that more than a few would-be students have been turned away based on what they posted on the social network.  Now that trend is in reverse.

College prospects are seeking out the admissions people.  A survey by college admissions test-prep company Kaplan found four out of five have received a friend request from at least one college applicant.

The Internet today allows us to broadcast a single thought to EVERYONE in just a couple of keystrokes, but what is often lost in the message is the tone.  The recipient may not see the jest in your "WTF" posting.  Texting, Facebook...it's still a form of writing, and writing requires craft.

So before you hit "send" or "post", take a second look at what you've just written, especially if your comment or email could be read by a boss.  Or by a college admissions director.

Health News

Peak Flu Season Not Here Yet -- Spring is only three weeks away, but flu season has not peaked in Virginia yet, says an official with the Virginia Department of Health.  Flu activity is widespread in Virginia and 43 other states.  More from the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

A Fever Can Be a Good Thing -- A children's doctors group says parents are over treating their kids' fevers.  More...

Greener, QUIETER Snacking on the Way

Frito-Lay is giving its biodegradable chip bag a second chance with a new, quieter version.  Complaints that the first compostable Sun-Chips bags were too noisy got so numerous that the company switched back to the old bag last fall.  The percentage of complaints involving people waking up their house mates while sneaking a midnight snack was unclear.  Forbes Magazine has the story

Free Tax Help

As we all sit down to begin wading through federal and state tax forms, it's important to point out that some of us can file both sets of taxes for free.  If you had an adjusted gross income of less than $58,000, are active duty military, or qualified for the Earned Income Tax Credit, you may qualify to use Virginia Free File.  Visit www.VirginiaFreeFile.org.

The First Sign of Summer...

Summer can't be too far away when Virginia Beach advertises it is hiring eight supervisors and 40 lifeguards...

More information available here...

Around the Wire

No Tax Break for Boat Owners -- A bill that could have led the way to tax breaks for Virginia's boat owners was voted down Tuesday in the House of Delegates.  State Senator Richard Stuart said he introduced the bill because boat owners are keeping their boats in other states that have lower property tax rates.  But House Minority Leader Ward Armstrong said giving a tax break to yacht owners was just a dumb idea.  More...

Cell Phones on the Brain -- Researchers at the National Institutes of Health have found that using a cell phone for less than one hour per day can alter brain activity near the antenna.  But scientists don't yet know if the effects are detrimental to a person's health.  More...

Woman Survives, Car Doesn't, in Train Collision -- In Suffolk yesterday, a woman walked away unhurt after her car was hit by a frieght train.  It happened at the railroad crossing on East Washington Street.  The front of Veda Mercer's red Suzuki sedan was mangled but she was okay.  The case is still under investigation.  WVEC.com has photos from the scene.

Finally, if you're gonna sell yourself as a defensive stud, you might not want to use a photograph that makes you look bug-eyed scared.  That's free-agent safety O.J. Atogwe's official bio photo from NFL.com.  He paid a visit to the Washington Redskins this week.

Help for Another Local Family

First it was Extreme Makeover: Home Edition helping out Beverly Hill and family in Virginia Beach.  And for the second time this month, a national TV show has helped a family with Hampton Roads ties.

Last May, Virginia Beach native Rachelle Friedman was paralyzed when she was pushed into a swimming pool at her bachelorette party and hit her head.  This week, NBC's Today Show unveiled a home makeover for Friedman and her fiancée that will make her home wheelchair accessible.  More from the Virginian-Pilot