ohiomarc

We are all doomed!!!!! DIY Diagnosis: Swine Flu Hotline Launched

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 19:17:00 +0000

DIY Diagnosis: Swine Flu Hotline Launched

8:12am UK, Thursday July 23, 2009

Tessa Chapman, Sky News reporter
The National Pandemic Flu Service is due to be launched across England, allowing people who think they have the H1N1 virus to bypass the NHS to obtain antiviral drugs.

Call centre worker

People can ring the call centre for an over-the-phone assessment

Health Secretary Andy Burnham says the service will ease pressure on GPs who have been overwhelmed by the volume of queries about the virus.

"People can either answer questions online via the new website or ring the call centre to be assessed over the phone by trained staff," he said.

Some 31 people have now died after contracting swine flu, although that figure is expected to rise today as Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, announces an update.

Visitors to the Government website will fill in a detailed questionnaire before being given a positive or negative swine flu diagnosis.

Call centre staff manning the telephone hotline will use the same algorithm. They are expecting to field up to 200,000 queries a day.

If a caller is confirmed to have swine flu they will be given an authorisation number, which their designated "flu friend" can use to pick up antiviral drugs from the local collection point.

Over 2,000 staff have been recruited and given six-hour long training sessions before they start work. They are not required to have any previous medical experience.

Some critics claim the "worried well" will abuse the DIY diagnosis to apply for medication unnecessarily.

Others fear swine flu symptoms could mask other serious illnesses, like meningitis.

Seventeen-year-old Gemma Drury, from Chesterfield, was diagnosed with the H1N1 virus by two separate doctors.

She was in fact suffering from meningitis and is now recovering in hospital.

Her father Kevin told Sky News: "If two doctors could get it wrong with Gemma, what hope would someone on the end of the phone with no medical training have?

"It's not the right way to make a diagnosis."

The Department of Health insists the service is simply a way for people to get access to Tamiflu and other antiviral drugs quickly.

Anyone displaying unusual symptoms will still be advised to contact a medical professional.

Too Much Bling....Give Us A Ring!

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Sat, 16 May 2009 15:09:00 +0000

The rise of modern communism! Enjoy these posters from the UK.

Found on Craigslist

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:52:00 +0000

Found 3/23/2009: Category - Rants and Raves

This one is pretty gross! But funny as hell!!

Anyone on CL selling used dildos? (Baldwin Hills)

I enjoy the thrill of shoving a used dildo up my ass. Anybody out there selling theirs? I would prefer one that was used by a homosexual like myself. I can't stand the stench of dried pussy juice! But if you're a disgusting woman and you shoved your dildo up your ass, maybe that will do (but really, who am I kidding? Woman shit just doesn't smell as good as man shit!)

Found 3/15/2009: Category - Missed Connections

need a drunk dialing buddy so I stop having missed connections - w4m - 30 (Southbay)

So I have a horrible habit of drunk dialing the world and my friends are going to take my phone off me if I don't stop. I need a drunk dialing buddy who I can drunk dial whenever. He can also drunk dial me. So whenever you have the urge to drunk dial somebody you drunk dial me so you don't wake up in the morning and say "oh god, I should not have called that person last night." I would be able to do the same with you. If you are a drunk dialing offender then you will know that this add is not strange at all and you will say "heck yeah, that is what I have been missing, a drunk dialing buddy." Please be a normal person. I am actually a professional woman who only parties on the weekends.

Found 3/15/2009: Category - Rants & Raves

"Mexican Corndog" Versus "Mexican Pudding" (somthing like Dirty Sanchez?)

Mexican Corndog is When a man takes a dump on a womans chest, then slides his penis through her cleavage, smearing the fecal matter on his penis, lets it harden, and then the woman sucks it off. Like a corndog.

Jose contente enjoyed getting a mexican-corndog from his cousin maria last saturday.

Mexican Pudding is When a woman puts on a feces and cum filled sombrero after sexual intercourse.

Hey Juan, did you hear that Chavez gave Layla the Mexicana Pudding last night? You couldn't even see that bitch's eyes!

I think they are like a Mexican Dirty Sanchez

laying it out there

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 02:21:00 +0000

Californians just fucking piss me off! If I have to listen to advice from one more know it all fucking dog whisperer about how I mistreat my dog because she wears a gentle leader when we walk I might just explode! Sometimes I feel like people have nothing better to do than critique me. And it's not even constructive criticism. You may think that I'm just some crazy who flies off the handle for no reason, but that's clearly not the case. I wish people would just keep their fucking mouths shut sometimes. And it's not just one person, it's probably 20% of the population....maybe more. I'm being a little conservative in that estimation of assholes in Long Beach. Ok, I feel better now. I think I'll print up some shirts just for dog walking that say "Think before you speak" or "It's none of your Goddamn business" or "It's not a muzzle, you ignorant fuck" or "I'll put a muzzle on your mom" . Ok, now I feel better. A momma joke.

The Compost Bin

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Here it is! The Wriggly Ranch Vermipost Bin. Purchased from the City of Long Beach Environmental Services. Here is a link to the page if you want to read more. Long Beach Recycles I'll keep you posted. It should be slick!

Waste Reduction Plan

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 20:04:00 +0000

Recently, I stumbled upon an interesting project to reduce personal waste. I'll explain it a little better later, but basically I'm keeping track of everything I dispose and take note of how much I throw away each day. It's amazing how many opportunities you have to use single serving containers. Just getting a cup of coffee in the morning offers up to three - coffee cup, sugar packet, creamer packet/small containter - it's just amazing. Briefly, here's what I've done to reduce my daily waste to almost zero. 1) washable & reuseable coffee & water cup at the office and home 2) composting all compostable items 3) continue recycling at home & work 4)making a more conscious effort to not buy or use single serving items (wrappers, small containers, ect..) If you are more interested in trying something like this, go to youtube and type in 365 days of trash. There are some pretty extreme videos illustrating a version of what I am doing.

Show Comp

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:33:00 +0000

Show Comp

2009 Shows

6/14/2009 - House of Blues - Anaheim
Strung Out w/ Death by Stereo & This is a Standoff

6/12/2009 - ? Piazzas - Long Beach
Pour Habit

3/14/2009 - El Rey Theatre - West LA
Millencolin w/ the Briggs
Local Opener: Black President (LA)

3/7/2009 - Brixton South Bay
Guttermouth w/ Chaser
Local Opener: the Darlings (Redondo Beach)

3/2/2009 - Marquee Theatre - Denver, CO
A Wilhelm Scream w/Guttermouth & Chaser
Local Opener: Frontside 5 (Denver)

2008 Shows

11/06/2008 - Hollywood House of Blues
Guttermouth w/Face to Face

10/25/2008 - Hollywood Palladium
the Grand Re-opening show
Flogging Molly w/Jackson United, the Briggs, & Anti-Flag

10/18/2008 - Hollywood CA House of Blues
Street Dogs w/ Time Again & Flatfoot 56
local opener - The Darlings, Redondo Beach CA

9/25/2008 - Marquis Theatre - Denver CO
Throw Rag, Lower Class Brats, Roger Miret & the Disasters, Viva Hate, Static Thought
local opener - Holly 750

9/9/2008 - Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Crime in Stereo w/ Fake Problems, the Flatliners
local opener - Boldtype

6/9/2008 - Rhinoceropolis Denver CO
Mute Era w/ Recession

6/19/2008 - Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Mustangs & Madras w/ Recession, The Pickup Artists, The Epilouges

6/21/2008 - Lion's Lair Denver CO
Holly 750 w/ Recession, Epidemik

7/24/2008 - Larimer Lounge Denver, CO
Recession w/special guests? (unknown metal band)

Fillmore Theatre Denver CO
Pennywise w/ Strung Out, Authority Zero

Fillmore Theatre Denver CO
NOFX w/ American Steel, No Use For a Name

4/13/2008 - Ogden Theatre Denver CO
Anti-Flag w/Street Dogs, the Briggs

Aggie Theatre Fort Collins CO
Dropkick Murphy's w/Cevet
local opener - Bill the Welder

Aggie Theatre Fort Collins CO
Against Me! w/local guests

Fillmore Theatre Denver CO
Dropkick Murphy's w/Big D & the Kids Table

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Whole Wheat Bread w/Big D & the Kids Table, Brain Failure

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
American Steel, Krum Bums, ?? w/ more
local opener - Boldtype

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Guttermouth w/Cevet

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Sick of it All w/Viva Hate, others??

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
Smoke or Fire w/Sundowner

Marquis Theatre Denver CO
The Lawrence Arms w/Sundowner, The Falcon

Cervantes Denver CO
the Alkaline Trio w/American Steel

Ogden Theatre Denver CO
Tiger Army w/Street Dogs

Gothic Theatre Denver CO
Hot Water Music w/Mustangs and Madras

2007 Shows

Ogden Theater Denver CO
Strung Out w/ A Wilhelm Scream

Ogden Theater Denver CO
Rancid

Ogden Theater Denver CO
Anti-Flag w/Big D & the Kids Table

Fillmore Theater Denver CO
Rise Against w/ Thursday, others?

9/13/2007Red Rocks Ampitheater Morrison CO
Rise Against w/ Comeback Kid, Silverstein, Sum 41

Fillmore Theater Denver CO
Bouncing Souls

Crawlathon 2008

noreply@blogger.com (ohiomarc) — Thu, 31 Jan 2008 05:16:00 +0000

Thursday, 1/24/2008 - Day 1

Today turned out to be a very long day for me. I left work at 2:00pm, came home and finished gathering my gear. My flight took off at 7:05pm from DIA. I had to take care of Penny before I could take off to the airport. I had arranged for Sandra to take Penny overnight, Jess to pick Penny up from Sandra's apartment, and Jess to take Penny to the PetHotel south of downtown. With my gear and dog in the truck, I picked up Sandra from work at about 5:05pm. Quickly, I drove her home and left her with Penny. I hustled to DIA to catch my flight. Luckily, I had checked in while still at the office and the security line was practically non-existent. I made it in plenty of time. With my Jimmy John's sandwich in my pocket, I sat and waited to board. For those of you who know me, you know the sandwich didn't make the plane. It's always a long flight when you are excited to see a friend you haven't seen in a long time, and sure enough, it was a long flight. I tried reading, watching the plane tracking on the little screen in front of me and sleeping. Nothing was making this flight go faster. I finally landed just before midnight, EST, and like clockwork, Hector called me and told me he was tired of waiting on me and was just leaving the airport and heading back to Oxford. This was not good news for me. Thankfully, he was joking around. He had just arrived at DAY and was waiting for me. To make a long drive story short, we did some catching up on the ride home.

Friday, 1/25/2008 - Day 2 - Oxford, OH

I've forgotton how cold it is in Southern Ohio in January. As Hector & I walked from his apartment down to the Geological Sciences Building, my face was approaching glaciation. Today was the day I had planned to wake up and head down to Carter Caves, however; Hector had class all day. We didn't make it out of Oxford until the early evening, so I decided to fill my day by taking in Miami University. The Science Library was spectacular. I caught an article in Geophysics and surfed the web for a while. I also made a visit to the Karl E. Limper Geology Museum in the basement of the Geology Building. It was spectacular. Check out the link I've posted for more details. The day was not moving very fast at all and I still needed to find some fuel for my backpacking stove. I strolled over to the muOhio Rec Center's Outdoor Pursuits office in hopes of finding it. Nada. In fact, I'm not sure they actually sell anything there. So it was back to the Geology Building for a quick nap while waiting for Hector to finish class. After a few stops in town, we finally made it out of Oxford. Luckily, in Hamilton, OH (just north of Cincy) we came across a Dick's Sporting Goods. They had the fuel and a few other miscellaneous items we needed. After a three hour drive, a sub of the day (tuna) at subway, the purchase of three bundles of wet wood, and a stop at Kroger, we made it to Carter Cave State Park. Registration was pretty straightforward--Sign in, check our trip status for the weekend, and picked up or Crawlathon T's (white of course). I'm still trying to figure out why they insist on making Crawlathon T's white year after year. Giving a caver a white t-shirt just doesn't make any sense. The rest of the night was quite eventful. First of all, it was really cold. Probably down around 0-5 deg F. We had two things to do. 1) Set up camp and 2) build a fire. Two things that sound pretty simple. The fire was our first challenge. Everything was wet, even the "dry" wood we picked up on the way down there. We spent so much time trying to produce a flame. By the time we got it started, it was pretty late and we were freezing cold. Somehow the tent got set up before the fire was actually started. All in all, it was a good night.

Saturday, 1/26/2008 - Day 3

The alarm was set for 6:30. Our trips started at 8:00am. We were so exhausted from the previous day's travel and camp setup that we didn't actually get out of our bags until almost 7:30am. Our bags were all packed for caving, with exception to a few minor items, but we were ready to go for the most part. The big thing was eating breakfast before venturing out all day on a trip. This is where things go interesting. Hector started the truck and I lit the stove to boil water for instant oatmeal. By the time the water was boiling, it was 7:45am and we needed to go or we were going to miss our trips. We shared the pot of oatmeal, which was a five packet combination of apple/cinnamon & maple with brown sugar, as we drove down the road to the lodge. I'm sure from an outsiders perspective, we looked pretty funny eating oatmeal out of a steaming hot pot while driving down the road, but it was hot and we were cold and hungry...and late. Thankfully, we both made our trips. I can't speak for Hector because we did not cave together Saturday, but I had a great day.

Trip 1-Vertical 101

My only for the day was not in a cave, but in the cliffs directly behind the lodge. Unbeknow to me at time, my trip didn't start until 9:00am, even though the schedule said 8:30am. At 8:45am, I became concerned when there was no announcement for Vertical 101. I thought I had missed it. It turns out it was meeting downstairs in a large room at 9:00am. Vert 101 was taught by a few members ofDayton Underground Grotto, Dayton, OH. I showed up in full cave gear because I didn't know if we were going to be in a cave, classroom, or cliff. All I knew was that wherever I was, it was either going to 52 deg F or colder. After about an hour of classroom instruction regarding to critical rigging angles and general gear setup and safety, we made our way out to the cliffs. The instructors had rigged four ropes over the 100 foot cliff earlier that morning. We didn't get a lot accomplished in the morning session because, as it turned out, four of the group students had never been on rope. This was to be their first repel. These cliffs are not necessarily the ideal place for someones first repel. It's not the height, but there was a severe lip at the top of the cliff that you had to manuever over before making your way down the rope. A combination of manuevering over the lip then soft-tying yourself off to reset the ropepad that was displaced when you began your repel is what made this a difficult first for about half of the students. By the time everyone repelled over the lip and to the canyon bottom once, it was practically lunch time. I ran into Hector at lunch. He was hanging out in the lodge waiting for his next trip to take off. I decided I needed more weather-proof gear so I traded my cave suite for my mountaineering clothes and gave Hector my cave suit for his afternoon trip. The afternoon portion of Vert 101 was a lot more enlightening than the morning session. We repelled over the lip and practiced getting out of jam using a prusik. We also practiced changing over from ascention to repel and passing knots or rebelaying around a bolt hanger. I learned from the instructors and they learned from me as well. I do things a little differently than Dayton Underground or the Cincy Grotto teach, so we had a mutual learning experience. To stay warm, we would jump on rope and ascend out of the canyon the drop back in for more rope work. I met up with Hector again around 5:00pm and instead of going to the squeezebox competition, we went on a beer run. We were both tired and in need of a cold one. Again, a simple task that sounds really easy turned into a forty mile extravaganza of bluegrass music and fun. The nearest gas station, and as it turn out the entire county, was dry. We quickly found this out as we walked into the station and the attendant pulled the largest grin of satisfaction I've seen in a while as he muttered the words "Dry County, Drink Pepsi". Well, back to Kroger we both thought and hoped that the next county wasn't dry as well. Good news, it wasn't. The next obsticle was making the purchase. Both of us have an out-of-state drivers license; mine from Colorado and his from Arizona. To top that, Hector's liscense expires in 2044, which automatically causes red flags to fly. I think the attendant thought we were from the future or maybe from outer space. I'm not really sure. Either way, she was througholy comfused, but we got the beer anyways and headed back to camp, rocking out to bluegrass the whole way.

That night was just about as eventful as the first night. All of our wood was wet and again, it was pretty cold. I cut my thumb with my pocket knife while slicing bark slivers off a semi-dry log. My hands were so cold though, I didn't realize I had cut myself and had been cutting myself over and over every time I made a slice. Not a good situation. Fortunately, they were very shallow cuts. To make a long story short, we got the fire going and it was wonderful. We boiled some water on the camp stove for our freeze dried dinners and made some hot coffee. The picture below will give you an idea of how cold Hector was even after the fire was started.