Friday, May 1, 2009

MORE "SWINE FLU" NEWS

ONE OF OBAMA'S STAFFERS GOT SWINE FLU DURING HIS TRIP TO MEXICO . . . AND BIDEN IS SCARED TO TAKE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION:

Yesterday, the White House announced that during PRESIDENT OBAMA'S trip to Mexico earlier this month, one of his staffers . . . an unidentified security aide for Energy Secretary Steven Chu . . . contracted SWINE FLU.

According to White House press secretary Robert Gibbs, the security aide didn't fly on Air Force One or work closely with Obama while in Mexico . . . and, quote, "The president has not experienced any symptoms [of swine flu]."

Interestingly, on Monday, Gibbs said that NO ONE traveling with Obama in Mexico, "in either governmental or press capacity has shown any symptoms that would denote cause for any concern." According to the White House, the aide's wife, son and nephew have all tested "probable" for swine flu as well.

Meanwhile, Gibbs pulled double duty yesterday covering for Vice President JOE BIDEN after he put his foot in his mouth . . . yet again . . . by telling MATT LAUER on the "Today" show: "I would tell members of my family, and I have, I wouldn't go anywhere in confined places now. It's not that it's going to Mexico. It's [that] you're in a confined aircraft. When one person sneezes, it goes all the way through the aircraft. That's me . . . "So, from my perspective, what it relates to is mitigation. If you're out in the middle of a field when someone sneezes, that's one thing. If you're in a closed aircraft or closed container or closed car or closed classroom, it's a different thing."

Translated into English, that means Biden wouldn't go ANYWHERE on a plane, train or subway right now . . . because of the risk of swine flu infection. --About an hour later, Biden released a statement backing down from what he said, explaining that all he really meant was that if people are SICK . . . they should avoid airplanes and trains (--even though that's clearly NOT what he said).

Gibbs says, "Obviously, if anybody was unduly alarmed for whatever reason, we would apologize for that. And I hope that my remarks . . . have appropriately cleared up what [Biden] meant to say." (Politico) (--Check out Biden's entire interview with Matt Lauer on the "Today" show below. The quote in question starts at 2:36 . . .)



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SWINE FLU HAS A NEW NAME . . . "H1N1":


Now it's time for your daily SWINE FLU update . . . Yesterday, the World Health Organization, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and several other government agencies announced that they'll stop using the term "swine flu" . . . and instead refer to it as "H1N1" or "H1N1 Influenza-A".

Why? -Because people are terrified they're going to get H1N1 if they eat tainted pig meat . . . and the pork industry is getting absolutely MURDERED right now. But listen to this . . .

#1.) Swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease that pigs get all the time. But this current strain is a NEW form of the H1N1 virus . . . which is a mix of both the swine and human versions. In other words, it's not really swine flu, so calling it "H1N1" is actually more accurate.

#2.) It hasn't even been determined that pigs caused this outbreak. --According to a professor who studies swine diseases at the University of Minnesota, the name "swine flu" was, quote, "an unfortunate name for everybody involved in swine production [for] implying that the pigs were the source of this current outbreak."--The truth is we just don't know.

#3.) And, just so we're clear, according to a statement from the WHO, H1N1, quote, "has NOT been shown to be transmissible to people through eating properly handled and prepared pork or other products derived from pigs."--I repeat: You CANNOT get H1N1 by eating pork. (CNN)

JYY HERO OF THE WEEK (5-1)

A GUY IN PAPUA NEW GUINEA CARRIED HIS INJURED NIECE FOR FOUR DAYS . . . TO GET HER TO A DOCTOR AND SAVE HER LIFE:

Like many Americans, I love to complain about how hard I have it. But then I hear something like THIS . . . and it puts everything into perspective . . .

Last Thursday, 6-year-old Dulcie Nakai of Papua New Guinea (--which is an island country north of Australia) fell out of a window at her school and landed on a hibiscus tree . . . which TORE OPEN her abdomen, exposing her INTESTINES. So Dulcie's uncle . . . 40-year-old Iambai Pisau . . . rushed to her rescue and CARRIED her on a FOUR-DAY journey, which included:

#1.) A canoe trip to the village's first aid station . . . where Iambai temporarily treated Dulcie's wounds
#2.) A five-hour ambulance ride to the town of Morehead, Papua New Guinea, on the other side of the country
#3.) An eight-hour trip on a motorized dinghy
#4.) An overnight stay in a bush . . . that was at the mouth of a CROCODILE-INFESTED river
#5.) Another four-hour trip by motorized dinghy to a place called Boigu Island, Australia
#6.) A helicopter ride to another Australian island called Thursday Island
#7.) And, finally, a plane ride to Cairns, Australia (--in the northeastern part of the country) . . . where Dulcie successfully underwent surgery on Monday

Iambai says, quote, "It was a long way and [Dulcie] was in pain the whole way. I did it because that's what I had to do. I was thinking I might lose her because the transport was becoming hard. But that's what I was trying to do, get her to Australia."

Dulcie and Iambai are expected to stay in Australia for at least the next two weeks while Dulcie's recovery is monitored. (--And that's why you . . . Iambai Pisau from the middle of nowhere, Papua New Guinea . . . are today's JYY Hero of the of the Week!. Personally, I might have called it quits at the crocodile-infested river. You didn't. Good for you.) (Cairns Post)

WORLDS YOUNGEST MENSA MEMBER

A 2-YEAR-OLD GIRL JUST BECAME THE YOUNGEST MENSA MEMBER EVER:

You know what Mensa is, right? It's that high-IQ society for really smart people which none of us will ever be able to join. Your IQ has to be in the top 2% to be eligible for acceptance.

Anyway, I've never felt too bad about the fact that . . . well . . . I'm not all that bright. But now I do. Why? Because, recently, 2-YEAR-OLD Elise Tan-Roberts of North London, England, became the YOUNGEST person ever admitted into Mensa . . . with an IQ of 156. (Daily Mail)

(So you know, the average person has an IQ of 100.)

You want to know which famous people are Mensa members, don't you? Well, GEENA DAVIS, JAMES WOODS and STEVE MARTIN are members

(--Check out a photo of this little genius, Elise . . .)

LIGHTS OUT

THERE WAS A 35-MINUTE POWER OUTAGE IN OREGON . . . BECAUSE A BIRD DROPPED A 14-INCH FISH ON SOME POWER LINES???

On Wednesday morning, people were without power for 35 minutes in West Salem, Oregon. That's because some utility lines were knocked out by . . . a 14-INCH FISH. That's right . . . a FISH.

So what happened? Well, no one really knows for sure, but the working theory is that an Osprey . . . the large birds that are sometimes called sea hawks . . . had plucked the fish out of the water. But on the way back to its nest, the bird accidentally dropped the fish . . . and it landed on the utility lines.

According to a spokesman for the Oregon Public Utility Commission, "This is the first instance we've heard of a fish causing a power outage [although] cooked squirrel is pretty common." (Statesman Journal)

(--Check out a photo of the charred fish . . .)

D'OH!

A DOG SWALLOWED A HOMER SIMPSON ACTION FIGURE (. . . AND WE HAVE THE X-RAYS):

Recently, 42-year-old Victoria Keir of Aberdeen, Scotland, noticed that her dog, Dixie, was acting strangely and quickly losing weight. -So she rushed Dixie to the veterinarian's office, where X-rays showed Dixie had eaten a small Homer Simpson action figure . . . which had gotten lodged in her intestines.

According to Dixie's vet, quote, "Dixie was very ill when she was brought in. She had lost a lot of weight and was extremely dehydrated . . . "The X-rays confirmed there was a foreign body, but it was a big surprise to discover a plastic egg shell with Homer Simpson inside. We see many objects that have been swallowed, but this has to be one of the most unusual."

Dixie was kept under observation for two days . . . but her vets expect her to make a full recovery. (Metro)

(--Take a look at Dixie's X-ray. . .)

THAT BIRD CAN DANCE

IT'S A SCIENTIFIC FACT . . . SOME ANIMALS ACTUALLY *CAN* DANCE:

Now it's time to answer the all-important question: Can animals DANCE?

Well, according to a new study from the Neurosciences Institute in San Diego . . . which involved analyzing more than 1,000 YouTube videos (--yes, very scientific) . . . some animals actually CAN feel a tempo and dance to it.

How? Basically, certain animals have brains that are hardwired for something called "vocal mimicry" . . . which means they're able to mimic sounds they hear. Humans are wired for vocal mimicry and, according to the study . . . so are certain types of birds. And . . . get this . . . some elephants might be able to dance as well.

But the study found that dogs, cats and chimps . . . which are our closest relatives . . . cannot dance.

(--If you don't buy the results of this study, you need to check out this video of a cockatoo rocking out to QUEEN'S "Another One Bites the Dust". . .) (Yahoo News)

Thursday, April 30, 2009

KIM IS HAPPY WITH WHO SHE IS

KIM KARDASHIAN SHOWS OFF HER "IMPERFECT" BODY ON THE COVER OF "LIFE & STYLE":

KIM KARDASHIAN appears on the cover of this week's issue of "Life & Style" in a completely unretouched photo . . . because she wanted to show the world just how "UN-perfect" she is.

She says, quote, "If there's a picture [of me] that's not perfect, where I have cellulite, then people say I'm big. I'm built a certain way, and you just can't change the way you're built. "People attack my true size, but the reality is that I look bigger on TV. In Hollywood, people are used to stick-skinny women, and that's never going to be me."

Oh, and remember when Kim told us she was a Size 2. She's backing off that just a little bit. She tells "Life & Style", quote, "I'm 35-26-40. My dress size is a 4. Or a 2/4. I wear a size-4 skirt and size 27 jeans." (--Check out Kim's unretouched cover photo below. . .)

On a related note, Kim is a little tired of everyone fixating on her backside. She says, "On the red carpet, the paparazzi scream for me to turn around because they just want butt shots. People feel so free to talk about my butt, and it's not comfortable. "Girls come up to me and grab my butt, or if I'm doing a TV interview, people ask on camera to squeeze my butt. It's uncomfortable. I'm like, 'Let's move on. Everyone's got a butt, why do you care about mine?'"

MILEY & DAVID CALABO

MILEY CYRUS AND DAVID ARCHULETA HAVE RECORDED A DUET:

(Reigning "American Idol" runner-up) DAVID ARCHULETA will be guest-starring on this Sunday's episode of "Hannah Montana". We'd heard that David was going to be popping up on the show . . . but we didn't know that his appearance would include a DUET between David and MILEY CYRUS.

On the show, David (playing himself) and Miley record a song together. It's called "I Wanna Know You" . . . and yeah, it WILL be released for real.

(--Meanwhile . . . for no particular reason at all . . . here's a video clip of Miley acting incredibly GOOFY on some British talk show . . .) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Skvg2dnMW44

SLAP, CHOP & RAP

FUNNY VIDEO OF THE DAY:

Someone remixed the "Slap Chop" commercial into a hip hop music video called "Rap Chop".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWRyj5cHIQA
(Search Terms: "Rap Chop" featuring Vince Steve Porter remix video)

TWITTER QUITTER

THREE IN FIVE NEW TWITTER USERS QUIT WITHIN A MONTH:

Other than SWINE FLU, it seems like everybody's favorite topic of discussion these days . . . is TWITTER.

But if you take a look at the new numbers from (the tracking firm) Nielsen . . . it might not be that way for long. Why?

According to the report, THREE in FIVE new Twitter users . . . or 60% . . . quit using the social networking site within a MONTH.

And how's this for random? Before OPRAH got on Twitter earlier this month, only 30% of new Twitter users were still around after a month (--which means Oprah alone was worth a 10% boost to Twitter's retention rates). (Mashable)

(--In case you're wondering, Facebook and MySpace both have retention rates of about 70%.)

TIME TO GO TO THE DR!

***FIVE TIMES YOUR CHILD SHOULD SEE A DOCTOR IMMEDIATELY***

Parents worry a lot. It comes with the job. So it's hard to know if you're overreacting to your child's stomach ache or if it warrants a trip to the doctor. If in doubt, always see a doctor, but here are five times you should go to the ER right away . . .

#1.) NECK STIFFNESS OR RASH WITH FEVER. Your child should see a doctor immediately. A stiff neck, rash, and fever could equal MENINGITIS, which is extremely dangerous, especially in kids.

#2.) HEAD INJURY. Kids bump their heads all the time, but if your child seems confused, loses consciousness, develops a headache, or starts vomiting, the American Academy of Pediatrics suggests a trip to the emergency room.

#3.) BURNS. A burn should receive emergency care if it's larger than your child's palm, if it's deep or discolored, or if it was caused by a chemical. First-degree burns are red, and second-degree burns produce blisters. A third-degree burn looks waxy white, brown, or . . . if it's really bad . . . black.

#4.) FEVER IN A NEWBORN. Any child three months old or younger who has a temperature over 100.4 needs to be seen by a doctor. The fever can be a sign of an infection . . . or meningitis.

#5.) SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN. Most stomach aches are minor, but if your child's stomach is swollen and tender to the touch, see a doctor immediately. Pain in the lower right side of the stomach could also be a sign of appendicitis. (CNN.com)

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

LORD OF THE LOHAN?

LINDSAY LOHAN OR GOLLUM??? YOU MAKE THE CALL:

We've put two pictures side-by-side. One is LINDSAY LOHAN, and the other is Gollum from "Lord of the Rings". Can you tell which is which??? It's not as easy as you think . . .


YOU THOUGHT YOUR BEST MAN WAS AN ANIMAL?

GUY IN MONTANA HAD AN 800-POUND GRIZZLY BEAR SERVE AS THE BEST MAN AT HIS WEDDING???

Seven years ago, a guy named Casey Anderson from Bozeman, Montana rescued a grizzly bear cub named Brutus from a wildlife preserve. The park was overpopulated, and Brutus would probably have spent his life in captivity, or been euthanized. So Casey built his OWN wildlife sanctuary, raised Brutus from a cub, and now SHARES HIS HOME with an 800-POUND Grizzly.

Casey says, quote, "It's the biggest misconception. When you hear about a grizzly bear, it's because they've done something wrong. We're trying to cure the myths, educate the public. There's a way to coexist with these animals as long as you play by the rules."

And how's THIS for insanity: Last summer, when Casey married an actress named Missi Pyle (--who was in "Harold and Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay" and "Dodgeball") . . . Brutus was Casey's BEST MAN. (ABC News / Daily Mail)

(--Check out some unbelievable photos of Casey, Missi and Brutus. . .)

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING??

TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE WORST TATTOOS YOU'LL EVER SEE:

Sometimes I'll see a person sporting a RIDICULOUS TATTOO, and I'll think to myself, "What in the world were they thinking when they decided to get THAT nonsense permanently inked on their body???"

Anyway, if you feel the same way, you'll want to check out this photo gallery we found . . . of some of the DUMBEST tattoos you'll ever see.
(--Enjoy a slideshow of tattoos at this link. . .)

HOW TO LIVE LONGER

***NINE WAYS TO LIVE 100 YEARS ***

Researchers have discovered that people who live to be 100 years old share certain traits in how they eat, sleep, exercise, and deal with stress. Here are nine things they do to stay healthy that can help you make it to the century mark too . . .

#1.) DON'T RETIRE. People tend to gain weight after they retire, which makes the risk of chronic disease skyrocket. People who live to be 100 retire later in life and stay active afterward by volunteering and working outdoors.

#2.) FLOSS EVERY DAY. A 2008 study showed that daily flossing reduces the amount of bacteria in your mouth. This bacteria is thought to enter the bloodstream and trigger inflammation in the arteries, which is a major risk factor for heart disease.

#3.) KEEP MOVING. Exercise is the only real fountain of youth that exists. It's like maintaining your car: You don't have to do it, but your car will definitely run better if you do. You don't need to be a body builder to see the effects. In fact, people who see the biggest payoffs from exercise are the ones who go from doing nothing to taking a 30-minute walk once a day.

#4.) EAT A FIBER-RICH CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST. Getting a serving of whole-grains each morning helps maintain stable blood sugar levels throughout the day. And that can drastically lower your chances of developing diabetes.

#5.) GET AT LEAST SIX HOURS OF SLEEP. Instead of skimping on sleep to add more hours to your day, get enough sleep and add years to your life. Six hours a night is the bare minimum. And people who reach the century mark make sleep a top priority.

#6.) CONSUME WHOLE FOODS, NOT SUPPLEMENTS. People who eat fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain breads age more slowly. There's no evidence that vitamins and supplements have the same anti-aging effect.

#7.) BE LESS NEUROTIC. People who live to be 100 years old don't internalize stress or dwell on things. They're great at rolling with the punches. It's hard to change the way you react to stress, but things like yoga, exercise, meditation and deep breathing can help.

#8.) BE A CREATURE OF HABIT. Centenarians tend to live by strict routines. They maintain a healthy diet and take part in the same kinds of activities their whole lives. Going to bed and waking up at the same time each day is a good start.

#9.) STAY CONNECTED. Being social helps people avoid depression, which can lead to premature death. In fact, some experts think that the biggest benefit elderly people get from exercise is the social interaction that often comes with it.

Whether that's going for a walk with a friend or taking a group exercise class, staying connected to other people will keep you around longer . . . maybe even a hundred years. (U.S. News & World Report)

CHECK OUT THIS AMAZING VIDEO OF A MAN WHO IS 100!


(He's in better shape than most 30 year olds!!)

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

THE WHITE HOUSE

FOX WILL *NOT* AIR PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NEWS CONFERENCE TOMORROW NIGHT:

Yesterday, Fox announced that it will NOT be granting PRESIDENT OBAMA'S request for primetime coverage of his news conference tomorrow night. Instead, Fox will stick with its previously scheduled programming, which is an episode of (the TIM ROTH detective drama) "Lie to Me". (--The other three broadcast networks . . . ABC, CBS and NBC . . . will be carrying Obama's address.)

In a statement, Fox said, "Fox will be alerting viewers, with an onscreen graphic, at the top of the 8:00 P.M. hour that the press conference is available on [our sister cable networks] Fox News Channel and the Fox Business Network."

On the surface, Fox's Obama snub may seem political . . . but their decision probably had more to do with timing and economic implications. Every time there's a live news event, networks lose millions in advertising revenue. Plus, if you didn't know, one of the all-important "sweeps" periods . . . (--when networks use ratings numbers to set advertising prices) . . . began last Thursday. "Lie to Me" won its timeslot last week . . . and the show may even get a bump this week from viewers not interested in watching more Obama TV. (--For what it's worth, this is also Obama's THIRD primetime address in the past three months.)

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COMMEMORATE OBAMA'S FIRST 100 DAYS IN OFFICE . . . WITH A PAINTING OF HIM AS JESUS???

Tomorrow will be PRESIDENT OBAMA'S 100th day in office. And to commemorate the event, an artist named Michael D'Antuono will unveil a new painting of Obama in New York City that depicts the president standing in front of the presidential seal . . . . . . with his arms outstretched and wearing a CROWN OF THORNS.

According to Michael, the portrait . . . titled "The Truth" . . . quote, "depicts President Obama appearing much like Jesus Christ on the Cross. Atop his head, a crown of thorns, behind him, the dark veil being lifted or lowered on the Presidential Seal. But is [Obama] revealing or concealing, and is he being crucified or glorified? "More than a presidential portrait, 'The Truth' is a politically, religiously and socially-charged statement on our nation's current political climate and deep partisan divide that is sure to create a dialogue." (Politico / World Net Daily)

Meanwhile, even if you think Obama is the best thing since sliced bread, you have to admit that the man is NOT infallible. Here's a case in point . . . On Monday, Obama was speaking at the National Academy of Sciences to introduce the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology . . . when he screwed up by getting ahead of his teleprompter.

(Take a look: at that here . . .)

GREY'S ANATOMY ON THE KNOT?

GREY'S ANATOMY IS REGISTERED ON THE KNOT.COM

If you're a hardcore "Grey's Anatomy" fan who's TOTALLY FREAKING OUT about Meredith Grey's impending wedding to Derek Shepherd . . . ABC has your fix.

ABC's marketing geniuses have thrown together a profile for their wedding on TheKnot.com.
(--Here's the link . . .)http://weddings.theknot.com/pwp/pwp2/view/MemberPage.aspx?coupleId=5204748318589928&MsdVisit=1

As you can tell from the introductory message, the page was "created" by KATHERINE HEIGL'S character, Izzie Stevens. On the show, Izzie is planning the wedding . . . despite the fact that she's currently undergoing CHEMO.

HORSE WITH A MUSTACHE?

AND NOW . . . A PICTURE OF A HORSE WITH A MUSTACHE:

I'm what you might call a mustache enthusiast. That's right . . . I love mustaches. In fact, I love big, bushy mustaches . . . I love handlebar mustaches . . . and I even love HORSE MUSTACHES.
What's that you say? You've never seen a horse with a mustache? My friends . . . you are in for a treat. (Daily Telegraph)


(--Take a look at a horse with a mustache. . .)

HEALTHY FOODS TO AVOID

***FIVE "HEALTHY" FOODS TO AVOID***

If you're trying to live a healthy lifestyle, then you probably know you should avoid fatty foods like bacon, sugary sweets, and fried ANYTHING.

But there are a lot of friendly-looking foods that should be avoided too. Here are five that seem healthy, but aren't . . .

#1.) TWO PERCENT MILK. The FDA allows two percent milk to be labeled "reduced-fat," but it's not THAT much better for you than whole milk. Whole milk weighs in with 150 calories, two percent has 120 calories . . . and skim milk has only 80 calories.

#2.) WHOLE WHEAT BAGELS. They have just as many calories as bagels made with white flour. Eating whole grains is definitely better for you, but you'd be better off eating a whole grain English muffin, which has less than half the calories of a bagel.

#3.) CHICKEN CAESAR SALAD. Just because a meal includes the word "salad" DOESN'T mean it's good for you. An average chicken Caesar salad at a restaurant packs around 1,100 calories and 100 grams of fat.

A Caesar salad with grilled chicken at McDonald's has 410 calories . . . the same number of calories as a Quarter Pounder. But the Quarter Pounder actually has LESS fat.

#4.) GRANOLA. It was invented in 1863 and then reinvented 100 years later. It used to be a simple mixture of rolled oats, nuts, and honey, but now "all natural" granola can contain all sorts of ingredients that make it MUCH less healthy than it used to be.

#5.) FRUIT SMOOTHIES. All that fruit makes smoothies healthier than a milk shake, but when it comes to counting calories, your waistline doesn't know the difference. A Peanut Butter Moo'd smoothie from Jamba Juice has an astounding 840 calories. That's 160 more than a medium chocolate shake at Burger King. (Yahoo.com)

Monday, April 27, 2009

***SWINE FLU INFO***

THE SIX THINGS YOU *ACTUALLY* NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SWINE FLU:

Yesterday, the federal government declared a public health emergency to deal with SWINE FLU . . . which begs the question: Just what is swine flu? With that in mind, here are the six things you REALLY need to know about the swine flu outbreak.

#1.) What is swine flu and how do you get it? --Swine flu is a respiratory disease caused by the Influenza virus . . . also known as the flu . . . that's common in pigs. People can become infected with swine flu by interacting with infected pigs or with other people who are infected . . . but it's pretty rare.

-- You CANNOT contract swine flu by eating infected pork.

#2.) How many people are infected with swine flu? --As of last night, 20 cases of swine flu had been detected in five U.S. states . . . California, Texas, New York, Ohio and Kansas. Only one of those people required hospitalization. In Mexico, where the outbreak started, more than 1,600 swine flu cases have been detected . . . and 103 people have died. Swine flu infections have also been reported in Canada, Israel, Spain, France, Colombia and New Zealand . . . but not yet confirmed.

#3.) What happens when you get swine flu?--The symptoms of swine flu are similar to regular flu symptoms . . . including fever, coughing, loss of energy and lack of appetite. Some people also get a runny nose, sore throat, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

#4.) How likely is it that swine flu will turn into a pandemic?--According to the World Health Organization, swine flu is NOT a pandemic . . . meaning a worldwide epidemic . . . because there haven't been that many cases, relatively speaking. And the cases that have been detected have been pretty isolated. That said, viruses can be unpredictable . . . and officials still don't know all that much about this particular strain. It could become a pandemic . . . or it could go away in a matter of days. They just don't know.

#5.) How likely are you to DIE if you get swine flu?--Not that likely. But just to be safe, the federal government has released roughly 12 MILLION doses of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

#6.) Why is everyone so worried about swine flu? --Because people worry about EVERYTHING they don't understand. Since we don't know that much about swine flu, people are losing their ever-loving minds over it. You should know this by now. (Yahoo News / ABC News / London Times / Sky News)

-- So what can you take from this? Well, you probably don't need to lose sleep worrying about swine flu. But just in case it's something we need to worry about, the government is keeping a close eye on it. In other words, we may be overreacting about swine flu . . . and we may not be. But since we just don't know . . . we're playing it safe.

By the way, 103 swine flu deaths in Mexico might sound like a lot . . . but let's put it in perspective . . . According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 36,000 Americans die EVERY YEAR of flu-related causes. That's just the regular flu.

RUNNING BRIDE & GROOM

MARATHON WEDDING

A British couple got married by exchanging vows while running the London marathon. Rachel Pitt and Garry Keates took a detour 24 miles into the race to jog down the aisle. Mr Keates, 44, and his bride, 37, exchanged vows and chatted to friends and family before completing the final 2.2 miles hand-in-hand as man and wife.

The pair slogged it out in the heat wearing modified wedding outfits - a top hat and tails for the groom, and a short dress and floral headpiece for the bride.

Mr Keates, a fireman and father of four, had already run the marathon five times but it was his fiancée's first attempt. Miss Pitt, a dental nurse, said she struggled hard in the heat, but added: "Garry really spurred me, I needed lots of encouragement. It was really tough. "There were moments when I just wanted to go home and wondered why we'd put ourselves through this. But I hadn't given myself any choice. I had to do it."

Mr Keates had enough strength left to carry his bride over the finishing line as she flung her bouquet into the crowd. She added: "It's been the best day of my life, but I'll never do it again."

JYY HERO OF THE WEEK (4-27)

A 9-YEAR-OLD GIRL SAVED HER DAD'S LIFE BY BECOMING THE YOUNGEST BONE MARROW DONOR EVER:

Now it's time to recognize our JYY Hero of the Day . . . 9-year-old Gabbie Glick of Westminster, Maryland. Last July, Gabbie's dad, Larry, learned he had a rare form of leukemia and that if he didn't get a bone marrow transplant soon . . . he was going to DIE.

Unfortunately, out of seven million possible donors . . . not a single one was a match for Larry. But Gabbie . . . who shares half her DNA with Larry . . . was. So, in order to save her dad's life, Gabbie stepped up and became the youngest person EVER to donate bone marrow . . . in the history of Johns Hopkins Medical Center.

Gabbie has made a full recovery from the surgery. And, according to his doctors, Larry is making good progress on his recovery as well. (WJZ-TV News 13 - Baltimore)

(Check out a photo of Larry and Gabbie. . .)

DRIVING WITH THE KIDS

***FOUR SAFETY TIPS FOR DRIVING WITH KIDS***

Kids need a lot of attention, and driving with one in the backseat can actually be really dangerous. According to a recent survey by www.MotherProof.com, the cities with the safest mom drivers are Dallas, New York, Philadelphia, Houston, and Los Angeles.

Here are four ways to make sure you're being safe when the baby's on board . . .

#1.) DISTRACT THE KIDS. 32 PERCENT of moms admitted that kids horsing around in the backseat has caused them to drift between lanes, miss a turn, or get in an accident. So make sure your kids have something to do. Bring books for them to read, play music, or buy some hand-held video games for them to play. For longer road trips, you might want to invest in a DVD player for the backseat.

#2.) TURN OFF YOUR PHONE. 54 PERCENT of moms text or make calls while driving. And cell phones are involved in almost one out of every four accidents. So turn off your phone while you're in the car. And if you DO have to make a call, pull over.

#3.) EAT BEFORE YOU LEAVE THE HOUSE. 54 PERCENT of moms also admit to eating on the road. But eating while driving is a common reason for accidents. If you can't eat before you leave the house, then stop at a restaurant and eat there. You might lose some time, but you'll be more likely to arrive at your destination safely.

#4.) PREPARE FOR EMERGENCIES. 41 PERCENT of moms say they don't know how to change a tire. It's probably a lot higher than that. Most MEN can't do it either. But when a kid's in the car, you should be ready for anything, even if it includes lug nuts. (AskMen.com)