Swine Flu Q&A

A new strain of swine flu that has killed 149 and sickened nearly 2,000 in Mexico has spread to the United States and is raising fears of a possible pandemic. Learn more about the disease and why it is causing concern among health officials.

What is it?

Swine influenza is a respiratory disease of pigs first isolated in swine in 1930, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The illness is caused by four different type A influenza strains that can cause outbreaks in pigs, though subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 seem to be more common. The death rate among pigs is low, with most infections occurring in the late fall and winter.

Symptoms of infected pigs include fever, depression, coughing (barking), sneezing, difficulty breathing, red or inflamed eyes, lack of appetite and discharge from the nose or eyes.

How do people get infected?

Human infection happens intermittently, with most cases occurring when patients have direct contact with pigs. But cases of an infected person transmitting the swine flu to others have also been documented, says the CDC. (A 1988 outbreak in pigs in Wisconsin led to multiple human infections, and there was evidence that a patient transmitted the virus to health care workers.)

About one case of swine flu in humans is reported to the CDC every one to two years, but from December 2005 through February 2009, 12 cases were reported to the agency. According to WebMD.com, 11 of those people had direct or indirect contact with infected pigs.

Human-to-human infections do occur similar to the way the human seasonal flu virus is transmitted — through coughing, sneezing and coming in contact with a person or object with the virus.

People cannot become infected by eating pork or pork products. Cooking pork to an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit kills the virus as well as other bacteria, notes the CDC.

How is it diagnosed?

A respiratory specimen must be collected within the first four to five days of illness, when the infected person is most likely to be shedding the virus. However, some patients (such as children), may shed the virus for 10 days or longer, according to the CDC. Specimens must be sent to the CDC for laboratory testing in order to identify swine flu.


How is it treated?

Four antiviral drugs are licensed to treat the disease in the U.S.: amantadine, rimantadine, oseltamivir and zanamivir. Most of the viruses are susceptible to all four, but the CDC currently recommends oseltamivir or zanamivir to treat and prevent swine flu infections. The antivirals, which are prescription medicines, should be taken as soon as possible symptoms appear.

Tamiflu (the trade name for oseltamivir) and Relenza (the trade name for zanamivir) are effective against the new strain when taken early, says the CDC.

There is currently no human vaccine for swine flu, but the flu vaccine may provide some protection against the H3N2 strain, though not the H1N1 strain.
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Shaheen Jafargholi - Britain’s Got Talent - Show 2

A 12-YEAR-OLD boy who was almost kicked off a TV talent show is the best pop singer judge Simon Cowell has seen in years.

Auditioning on reality series Britain's Got Talent, schoolboy Shaheen Jafargholi upset Cowell with his version of Amy Winehouse's song Valerie.

After singing a few lines Cowell stopped him, saying, "You got this really wrong."

He asked angel-faced Jafargholi if he could sing anything else and he nominated Michael Jackson's Who's Loving You.

His rendition prompted a shocked response from the crowd and the judges, who all gave him a standing ovation.

Cowell said he was the best young pop singer he had seen in ten years, while fellow judge Amanda Hooton compared him to former contestant Paul Potts.

"Since the day I was born I have always wanted to sing," Jafargholi said, The Daily Mail reported.

"I would love to be a big recording artist. I would love to be as famous as Michael Jackson."

He said he "felt so special and blessed" when Cowell gave him a second chance.

Jafargholi, from Swansea in Wales, said he had to persuade his mother he wasn't too young to take part in the audition.

His performance drew 13 million viewers in Britain, making it the most watched TV show of the year.

It follows the headline-making appearance by 47-year-old Scottish virgin Susan Boyle on the show last week, who was such a sensation she has been invited onto The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Boyle's idol, singer Elaine Paige, has offered to do a duet with the Scot, The Sun reports.

See The Video Click Here

Because of the magical television production straight from the mind of Simon Cowell. Now, I am not out to take away from the talent of Susan or Shaheen. They both deserve the stage they've been given. But don't think for a second we'd be as behind each of them if they had simply auditioned, done well, and moved on. Without the unbeatable odds, the unlikely backstories, and the swelling music playing during the judges glowing reviews . . . it would be simply another audition on another television show.

If we hadn't known what we knew about Susan going in, would we have cared quite as much? What if she'd said nothing about living at home with Pebbles or never having been kissed? What if we didn't know her mother had recently passed? Would we have felt quite so satisfied with ourselves for not judging her harshly or underestimating her for her looks?

What if Simon had never heard Shaheen sing before the audition and never given him a second shot? What if the producers hadn't told him to bring two backing tracks? What if he auditioned with 'Valerie' and did an okay job and that was that? There would be no magic moments perfectly packaged into six minute Internet-ready clips, and all we would have are two normal looking people who can sing really, really well.

What's so bad about that? Nothing. But, when thinking of the bottom line, the pounds in Simon's pockets, why not take the unlikely and make it look impossible - creating heroes in the process and a worldwide audience clamoring to purchase their cds, concert tickets, and memorabilia. After all, these new superstars slayed the horrible dragon, they "beat Simon Cowell" - the man the world loves to hate, and for that alone they deserve accolades, no?

I personally love the setup. It makes the delivery so much better to watch. Like a well-rehearsed play or a carefully layed out fireworks display, the right timing - the correct staging - can make a moment so much better. But, next time you watch the Susan Boyle clip or young Mr. Shaheen Jafargholi down below, take a moment to thank Simon Cowell and his production talents for the emotions you feel welling up inside.

But then remember he's a jerk and get back to loving Susan and Shaheen or whichever contestant it is on any of his many, many talent shows.
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Swine Flu, Israel Do Not Use Term "Flu Pigs"

Israel Do Not Use Term "Flu Pigs"

Jerusalem - The whole world called flu pigs (swine flu). But a senior Israeli officials is about to change these terms flu pigs. The goal, that does not mention the name of the animal that is declared off-limits for Jews.

"We will use the term Mexican flu that does not need to mention the word pig," said Vice Minister of Health of Israel Yakov Litz's ultra-religious party United Torah Judaism as mentioned by daily News.com.au, Tuesday (28/4/2009).

Eating pork forbidden in Judaism, religion of the majority of citizens of Israel. Similar restrictions apply in Islam.

Israel has not been confirmed cases of swine flu that has killed more than 100 people in Mexico and has spread to the U.S. and Europe. However, a man aged 26 years Israel is being treated in hospital after returning from Mexico. Israeli authorities are still awaiting test results to ascertain whether he was infected swine flu virus or not.

A man of Israel who recently returned from Mexico have been quarantined on Monday, 27 April local time. Quarantined after he examined himself to the hospital because of sore throat complain, one of the symptoms of swine flu.

From Detiknews
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Susan Boyle, Singer 'gobsmacked' by overnight stardom; YouTube video has 15 million views

"I'm gobsmacked, absolutely gobsmacked," she told CNN Friday morning.

Overnight singing sensation Susan Boyle says she's overwhelmed by the attention coming her way through millions of views on YouTube.

"I'm gobsmacked, absolutely gobsmacked," she told CNN Friday morning.

The 47-year-old shocked and inspired the audience, judges and Web watchers after she powered through "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables" on the TV show "Britain's Got Talent."

A clip of Boyle's performance had more than 15 million views on YouTube by Friday, and the world's media have beaten a path to her door in Blackburn, West Lothian, Scotland.

"I'm enjoying every second of it," she said of her sudden fame, but said it won't change her.

"I wouldn't want to change myself too much, because that would make things a bit false," she told CNN's "American Morning." "I want people to see the real me, the real person." Video Watch Boyle sing a cappella on "American Morning" »

In an earlier interview with CNN's Anderson Cooper, Boyle insisted she's still the same humble girl next door.

"I keep my feet firmly planted on the ground, because you have to," she said.

Her performance seems to have given "I Dreamed a Dream" a new life of its own. The song shot up to 39 on the iTunes chart of top downloaded songs by Thursday night.

While she said she's the same person -- the shy girl who has never been kissed -- it's clear that Boyle's life is already changing.

Sitting in her home, insisting her life remains the same normal life, with her same basic routine, one can't help but notice the piles of fan mail and cards from well-wishers.

And then comes a knock on the door. Throngs of fans shrieking at her doorstep are begging for her autograph. Watch Boyle sing for "AC360°"

Boyle says the experience has humbled her, but she's also still in shock and overwhelmed by her overnight stardom.

"The way everyone seems to have embraced me," Boyle responds, when asked what has been the most surprising change since her appearance. "The way they seem to have apparently fallen in love with me." Video Watch Boyle's singing wow the world »

The singer acknowledged she noticed the initial snickers when she got on stage for her performance. But she didn't let it get to her. If nothing else, it fueled her motivation.

"I just thought mentally I'll show them, so I did," she said. "If people are cynical, you try and win them 'round and it worked. It must have been a miracle, but it worked."

Boyle still has a long way to go, though -- having just won through to the second round after judge Simon Cowell described her first performance as "extraordinary."

If she can make her way through the show's final rounds, she will get to sing for Queen Elizabeth II at the Royal Variety Show.

Boyle has promised to be on her best behavior if she wins the right to sing for her.

"Whatever comes my way, I am ready. It would be lovely to sing for the queen. There would be less of the carry on from me, and more of the singing. Video Watch Boyle tell CNN 'it must have been a miracle' »

"She is a very regal lady, very nice, so I would be nice too, and just get up there and give it a bit of wellie [try]," Boyle told the show's Web site.

Boyle said she was trying to take her newfound fame in her stride.

"It's a challenge. Life is a challenge sometimes but this is different. And I like to test myself.

"If it all gets too much and they lock me up, I want a great big strait-jacket with spots on it. A pink one... and a big zip on the back so I can escape."

Cowell is reportedly already trying to piece together a record deal for Boyle, an unemployed charity worker, who lives with her cat, Pebbles. Buy Boyle says she's not focusing on any of that -- yet. She's spending her time focusing on the current competition.

But for Boyle's fans, the album cannot come quick enough.

CNN has been inundated with hundreds of messages of support for Boyle.

Simone said: "I've been so depressed all day but hearing this woman sing and reading her story gave me a pick-me-up... I look forward to hearing more of her and I hope to buy her CD as soon as it hits the shelves."

Cynthia wanted Cowell to move quickly.

"She brought tears to my eyes and a lump in my throat. I hope Simon does get her a record contract...I'll buy her CD. Never judge a book by its cover. Susan Boyle, you go, girl!"

Jim described Boyle's talent as "unbelievable" and "beautiful."

"I wish Susan the very best in her new life and hopefully someone has put her under contract. Thank you for such a beautiful song."

Larry wanted to offer Boyle a kiss.

"I have just heard you sing for the first time -- thanks to CNN -- and I must tell you this: You are a fabulous talent, simply amazing to me that no one took advantage of your voice and passion up until now. I am a happily married man, but if I were not, and if I was in the audience, I can guarantee you that I would ask for a kiss, and if you were gracious enough to indulge me, well that would have been one of the great highlights of my life. Looking forward to the first of many albums."
Related Post : Most Unlikely Reality TV Star
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Susan Boyle, the most unlikely reality TV star ever, shocks Simon Cowell

LONDON -- A middle-aged volunteer church worker with the voice of an angel is Britain's latest unlikely showbiz star.

Susan Boyle, 47, wowed judges and audience alike when she performed on television contest "Britain's Got Talent."

By Thursday, a video clip of Boyle's performance on Internet site YouTube has been watched more than 11.7 million times.

The unemployed Scot who said she'd "never been kissed" drew titters when she told the judges her ambition was to be a professional singer.

But her soaring rendition of "I Dreamed a Dream" from the musical "Les Miserables" astonished the show's hard-to-please judges.

They were captivated by the singer from Blackburn in western Scotland. Usually acerbic judge Simon Cowell dubbed her singing "extraordinary." Fellow judge Piers Morgan said her "stunning" performance was "the biggest surprise I've had in three years of this show."

The show, the first in a new series of "Britain's Got Talent," was watched by 11.4 million of Britain's 60 million people on Saturday night.

British bookmakers made Boyle the early favorite to win the series.

She is the latest in a proud tradition of underdogs who win the heart of the British public.

The program, sister show of "America's Got Talent," made a star of its first winner, an unassuming mobile phone salesman named Paul Potts. He wowed audiences with his rendition of the aria "Nessun Dorma" and has become a global recording star since winning the series - and signing to Cowell's record label - in 2007.

See The VIDEO on youtube : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY

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Popular Automotive

Tenerife, Canary Islands—Lamborghini injected some ferocity under the hood of the already brazen Gallardo with the refreshed LP560-4. The entry-level coupe from Sant'Agata, Italy, gained horsepower, shed unsprung mass and overall weight, and received a subtle sheet-metal makeover that gave it a contemporary edge in line with its more docile relative, the Audi R8. So, how does Lambo improve on that formula? Ditch the roof and create the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder. —Basem Wasef

The Specs
The Gallardo LP560-4 coupe starts at $201,000. The Spyder version commands a staggering $224,700—and that's not counting the $10,000 eGear transmission option that now equips over 99 percent of all Gallardos, or goodies like the $26,000 matte paint and $16,450 eight-piston carbon-ceramic brakes. When brakes cost more than a Honda Fit and a paint job runs around the price of Mustang GT, it's no surprise Lamborghini President and CEO Stephan Winkelmann admits the company "hasn't been immune from the economic climate."

But even the base, out-of-the-box Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder is hooked up with some pretty sweet stuff: 5.2-liter 552 hp direct-injected V10 powerplant? Check. Aluminum space frame chassis? Yes, sir. Zero to 62 mph in 4 seconds and a top speed of 201 mph? Bring it.

The underpinnings, at least compared to other electronically over-endowed sports cars (ahem, Nissan GT-R), are relatively straightforward. The double-wishbone aluminum suspension lacks automatic adaptability. A viscous-traction all-wheel-drive system biases torque up to 70 percent between front and rear axles for optimum traction. And the eGear transmission, while effective, is still a single-clutch unit.

The fabric roof Gallardo receives chassis reinforcements including front and rear firewall beams, beefed up rocker panel pieces, and several other additions for improved stiffness. It takes four hydraulic motors and 20 seconds for the rear bonnet to lift and the canvas roof to fold flush beneath the rear decklid, which is artfully detailed with scoops and vents.

The convertible version also receives a modified exhaust system, with tweaked resonance characteristics for the sole purpose of sounding, well, perfect to an enthusiast's ear. The setup was fine-tuned by a panel of Lamborghini executives that judged different setups by listening to test vehicles drive by—fitting, considering this drop-top comes from the country that invented opera.
The Drive
The new Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder's exhaust note practically hits you over the head with a sonic boom when you fire up its 10-cylinder powerplant. The flow of combusted exhaust gases manages an aural mashup that's both shrill and throaty. And when the top is down, those acoustics become just as intoxicating as the engine's incredible thrust.

Hold the brake, click into first, and the electronic clutch does all the work—feathering power to the wheels and easing the car forward relatively smoothly. The shift engagement points aren't as seamless as a traditional, torque-converter-equipped automatic. But then again you wouldn't expect a Lambo to drive like a Lexus, would you? Automatic mode offers innocuous shifts under light to medium throttle, but gets a bit jerky when you drive aggressively. Sport will rock your head back and forth under heavy throttle, and Corsa, or Race, mode slams violently into the next ascending gear for even quicker acceleration. If you absolutely must leave the stoplight with maximum alacrity, try selecting Corsa, switching ESP off, pushing both pedals to the floor simultaneously, and listening to the V10 hold its howl at 5400 rpm. When you lift the brake, revs drop instantly and the Spyder rockets forward in a wheelspin-free bounce that feels like Optimus Prime just punted the rear bumper. Lamborghini insists the system is robust enough for numerous launches. We gave it a go or 10 on our test drive, without repercussions.

Driving from sea level to the top of the Pico de Teide volcano, the highest elevation in Spain, we encountered a multitude of hairpin turns that challenged the Spyder's chassis. Though the Lamborghini's steering is a shade less transparent and communicative than the Ferrari F430's, there's still plenty of feel throughout the cornering process. Once the front tires bite and the suspension settles, the Spyder is in its element; grip from all fours is extreme, and it takes a seriously jerky maneuver to upset the car's balance. The stability control system does a seamless job making the driver appear more talented than he might be. And that sonorous exhaust note spills onto the landscape and makes any public road sound like the Le Mans circuit.

However, the Spyder model does offer a shade less precision carving up road compared to the hardtop version. The difference is subtle. And we noticed a few phantom squeaks coming from behind the cockpit, a condition that seemed more noticeable as speeds climbed. We adjusted our seat backs, checked for loose seatbelt straps and looked for any other noise-creating gremlins, but simply couldn't find the culprit. One big tradeoff for the open-air experience is that the convertible top assembly covers up quite a bit of that beautiful amidships-mounted engine. If you're hoping to show off the powerplant's attractive topside, you'll have to settle for a small section of those long, black cylinder heads.

It's a tough time to be selling a flashy, high-dollar supercar. But even in today's disastrous global economic climate, the Gallardo LP560-4 Spyder still manages to make people smile as you drive by and rev that wonderful V10. Does Lamborghini's magic transcend our glum financial realities? Perhaps.

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7 Steps To Exterminate The Conficker.DV Virus

Conficker.DV Virus using the distribution method that is different from preceding. With its sophisticated, the virus tried to access the network using a slit windows 'Default Share'(ADMIN $\system32) with the administrator password.

In addition 'Conficker.DV' also create a file on removable media such as flash, hard drive and card reader to save the file hidden on the root drive.

While the action the same as preceding, that is trying to exploitate MS08-067 or Windows security cleft , Windows Server Service or SVCHOST.exe. Many users are infected because they are not activate the Automatic Updates feature and does not do windows patch MS08-067.

If you are like this, see 7 short steps of the virus analyst from Adi Saputra Vaksincom to eradicate the virus' Conficker.DV '

1. Disconnect the computer that will be cleared from the network / internet.
2. Turn off system restore (Windows XP / Vista).
3. Turn off the active virus process in the services. Use the removal tool from Norman to clean the active virus. If you do not have, can be downloaded at the site norman.
4. Delete the fake service svchost.exe on registry. You can search manually in the registry.
5. Delete Task Schedule which was created by the virus. (C: \ WINDOWS \ Tasks)
6. Remove the registry string which was created by the virus. To facilitate the registry , you can use the script below:


[Version]
Signature="$Chicago$"
Provider=Vaksincom Oyee

[DefaultInstall]
AddReg=UnhookRegKey
DelReg=del

[UnhookRegKey]
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced,
Hidden, 0x00000001,1
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced,
SuperHidden, 0x00000001,1
HKLM,
SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Hidden\SHOWALL,
CheckedValue, 0x00000001,1
HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\BITS, Start, 0x00000002,2
HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\ERSvc, Start, 0x00000002,2
HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wscsvc, Start, 0x00000002,2
HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\wuauserv, Start, 0x00000002,2

[del]
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets, dl
HKCU, Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets, ds
HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets, dl
HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Applets, ds
HKLM, SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters, TcpNumConnections



Use the notepad, then save with the name 'repair.inf', then 'Save As Type' to 'All Files' so that the error does not occur. Repair.inf run with the right click, then select install.

Meanwhile, for the active file on startup, you can disable it through 'msconfig' atau can manually delete the string: 'HKLM, SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run


7. For cleaning the virus W32/Conficker.DV optimally and prevent re-infection, you should use and update anti-virus that is able to detect this virus with both your computer and the patch with the official patch from Microsoft to prevent re-infection.

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