In the star studded upcoming movie Contagion, a highly adaptable virus that can jump from one species to another and then mutate rapidly in humans, making itself immune to all efforts to put a stop to it, sweeps rapidly around the globe killing millions of people in a short period of time. But how plausible is that scenario in real life? You might be surprised to know just how close we have come in recent years to situations that were potentially as deadly and horrific.-In 2003, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) began spreading from China into other parts of the world, mainly due to travelers going from country to country on routine business or family visits or vacations. The world has become smaller, in the sense that people now travel rather matter-of-factly, more quickly than in years past, and with little difficulty. While world travel has become commonplace for many of us who regard that as a good thing, the downside is that it makes it easier for the spread of potentially epidemic disease which, if not caught early, can reach all corners of the world before anyone has a chance to stop it.-Parts of the movie Contagion were actually filmed at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in Atlanta, where experts went on the record to say that the basic premise of the film is not at all far fetched. An eerily similar situation nearly unfolded in 2009 with the H1N1 influenza outbreak that could have been a lot worse than it was. “We got lucky with that one,” said one expert. “For one thing, it mutated quickly. The vaccines that were produced for that flu season couldn’t protect anyone from H1N1, and there was no warning ahead of time that it would spread so quickly. It turned out not to be as bad as it could have, and for that, we should all feel lucky.”-That doesn’t mean we are out of the woods yet, though. Everyday, new strains of viruses find their way from remote villages where humans contract them from animals, into the human population and then rapidly adjust to our physiology to make themselves more aggressive in jumping from person to person. Also, antibiotics have no effect on viruses; they only work against bacteria. Anti-viral medications are not very effective, since viruses mutate so quickly. So enjoy Contagion in theaters soon, but don’t forget how real it could be.
Does your business phone system need a virtual receptionist?
Posted by: admin / Category: Featured, UncategorizedMany small businesses, during their[u1] early days of operation, usually employ a secretary to answer and transfer calls. This secretary usually has other duties aside from answering phone calls. But, as a small business expands, it starts to need a call attendant or receptionist whose sole responsibility is to manage the high volume of incoming calls for the company.
With the advent of cloud-based services like cloud PBX, small business owners now have a choice to upgrade from a human to a virtual receptionist. A virtual receptionist and human receptionist can both answer and redirect calls for your business. However, they differ greatly in terms of benefits and weaknesses. How would you know if it’s time to upgrade your business telephone in order to have a virtual receptionist?
How big is my business?
Generally speaking , larger businesses need a virtual receptionist more than smaller companies. However, business size is not the only factor that you should consider. The nature of businesses today makes a virtual receptionist practical, even for small companies. do.
How heavy is my call traffic?
This factor may be more important than business size. It’s possible for a small office with to receive a high volume of calls per day, depending on the nature of its business. A business telephone network with higher traffic could better manage its calls through a virtual receptionist which doesn’t tire out and could handle calls consistently.
What impression do I want to give my callers?
A businesses phone is used for more than making and receiving calls; it could spell the difference between a customer gained or lost, depending on the impression your company gives. Even a small business can project the image of a Fortune 500 company if it has a professional-sounding auto attendant.
If you’d rather have a more personal approach in managing calls, you might be better off with a human receptionist. To get the best of both worlds, choose a business phone service PBX provider like RingCentral which allows you to create your customized receptionist greetings, giving your auto attendant a human touch.
Bunn coffee makers are one of the most popular coffee machine producers in the world, and although their appliances for the home are great, they are best known and the world’s undisputed leader in commercial and restaurant coffee makers. The chief difference between the commercial models and those for the home is that the former kind brews more coffee and has more controls, is more powerful and technologically sophisticated. (That said, the Bunn Corporation makes every effort to make all the commercial features of its products also available in the home models, so we have the best of both worlds here!)
Bunn’s commercial coffee machines come in three chief categories or types:
- Table Serve
- Self Serve
- Quick Serve
Look into the differences among these carefully (they are not so complicated!) in order to chose the machine that is ideal for your specific restaurant of café atmosphere and setting.
Bunn’s advantages are not purely functional and stylistic, though. There are other conveniences as well. One great thing about Bunn coffee makers that is an industry standard now is the warranty, and its outstanding terms. With Bunn machines, you get lifelong support and service and preferred access to Bunn spare parts, in the event that something or other might break down in your maker.
It is precisely the best value that Bunn offers, rather than any single technical advantage taken in isolation, that defines the power of Bunn’s coffee maker brand.
Achieve That Perfect Body With Help of NutraSlim
Posted by: admin / Category: Featured, Healthy Foods
Have you tried losing weight the natural way but it doesn’t seem to work? Not being able to lose those unwanted fats can be really frustrating, and due to our strong desire to look good some people even go as far as starving themselves just to get that perfect body. However, what they don’t realize is that they are causing detrimental damage to their body by not eating properly.
Meanwhile, manufacturers see this as an opportunity to make profit through selling weight loss products. Anyone who is desperate to lose weight will definitely try out any product available to help them achieve their goal. One of the weight loss treatments that is being raved about by many these days is a product called as NutraSlim. This is said to be an all-natural weight loss product made from a great combination of effective weight loss formula; in which HCA, from Garcinia Cambogia, is considered as its key ingredient.
By taking Nutra Slim with HCA regularly (or as prescribed by the manufacturer), you can now start melting away those unsightly belly fats while at the same time sculpting your body to perfection. Nutra Slim is formulated with a proprietary blend of fat burning ingredients that synergistically blend together to get maximum weight loss results. It basically encourages the safe removal of excess fats while also boosting one’s health. When used together with moderate exercise and a healthy diet, you can expect better and more effective results.
Performance is everything in sports; if you are low on energy, the sport is not only less enjoyable, but you are also more susceptible to injury. Whey protein, a milk-based powder used by many runners, bodybuilders, and power lifters, normally as protein shakes, helps increase performance in several ways, including building muscle without adding fat, aiding in muscle recovery, and boosting the immune system.
Whey protein helps you to build muscle without gaining fat at the same time. This is commonly a problem among those who are trying to lose weight; they load up on protein-rich foods, but those foods likely also contain so many carbohydrates and grams of fat that they end up either maintaining or even gaining weight.
Muscle recovery is another benefit of using whey protein. Protein is an essential nutrient in helping your muscles recover from a strenuous workout. Without protein, no matter how much exercise you do, you will not see the muscle mass that you are trying to build up.
Whey protein is very commonly used among bodybuilders because it helps to build bulk muscle. While it is often believed to simply be a supplement for helping to build bulk muscle, though, it is also ideal for helping endurance runners with muscle recovery after a long run.
A healthy immune system is yet another benefit of using whey protein. It contains antioxidants which naturally help to boost the body’s immunity; therefore, athletes are able to stay at optimum performance and recover quickly when ill.
With any sport, it is best to take whey protein right after the workout, when the body will use those nutrients most efficiently. Also, whey protein should only be used by those on a strict workout regimen; otherwise, the protein is simply converted to added weight rather than helping to build muscle.
Different Types of Lower Back Pain Treatment For Sciatica
Posted by: admin / Category: Featured, HealthSciatica is more of a symptom rather than a medical diagnosis. It is characterized by pain experienced on the lower back and the gluteal region. The pain may also radiate down the calf, ankle, foot, or one or both the legs. Sciatic nerve pain manifests itself when the sciatic nerve is compressed, inflamed or pinched.
This kind of pain is usually caused by spinal stenosis, herniated disc, and in some cases, tumor or infection. Treatments for sciatica will vary greatly depending on what the lab results will reveal. It is important that a concrete diagnosis is made before any treatment is prescribed. The doctor must first have a clear idea of what’s causing the sciatic nerve pain. Figuring out the underlying problem will significantly help in finding the most appropriate course of action.
The doctor can suggest patients to undergo physical therapy to treat sciatica pain, which can be carried out through exercises and manual manipulations (i.e chiropractic practices). Sufferers may also be prescribed with medications especially if inflammation is the major contributing factor for the pain. Others, meanwhile, will find better pain relief by undergoing surgery. This is especially true if a herniated disc puts too much pressure on the sciatic nerve. By performing a laminectomy, the pressure can be reduced by removing a part of the posterior arch that is pinching the nerve tissues. However, surgery is not for everyone. With this in mind, the doctor is the one who will determine the best sciatica treatment for a particular patient.
You would surely be happy to know that 80% to 90% of sciatica sufferers recover without needing surgery. Performing the right exercises can aid in alleviating pain brought about by sciatica.
Making Your Own Bread Has Got to Be Healthier
Posted by: admin / Category: Favorite Foods, Featured
I’m not one that likes to complain too much, but coming from someone who’s read plenty of food labels, I must admit it’s not one of my favorite things to do. While I’m sure it’s resulted in a happier and healthier me, at times it can be a little depressing when you learn what you been putting in your body for all these years. So, any opportunity I get to make some of my own food or I know exactly what goes into it, I’m going to dive right into. And I don’t know what it is, but it seems as I get older I have much more of an interest in cooking and making stuff. Must be an age thing. I just have to be careful that my wife doesn’t catch on.
My latest passion these days is taking up the fine art of making bread. And as much as I like making and baking, I’m also no Luddite. I love technology and embrace it at every opportunity I get. So with apologies to my wonderful bread baking grandmother, I think I’m going to be looking into a breadmaker for the house. My father-in-law was doing it a few years ago when he was a little more active, and I figure if he could do it and so can I.
Well, I’ve been around the Internet for quite a long time and I was pretty sure I’d seen just about everything. However, I really do like surprises, and the wonder and power of the Internet is that it never ceases to stop surprising me. Just the other day, I came across this website that was solely dedicated to the power and glory of what we affectionately know as white noise. What really surprised me most about it, is that there are so many different types of white noises out there. And, I suppose I never thought about it, but white noise is incredibly soothing to people.
The site lets you download white noise of all different types. There are of course the usual suspects for soothing noises like waterfalls, running streams and rain showers. But there’s also a few that never would have occurred to me. Sounds like jet engines and air conditioners for instance. You really have to give them a listen, and to appreciate how they make you feel. There are sample sounds on the site you can listen to to find your favorite. One of the more unusual sounds, had to be the one from a cryostasis chamber. That would have been are one of my favorites, probably because I’m a bit of a sci-fi nut. If you’re feeling all stressed out, or your kids are telling you to take a chill pill, then you should give a few of the sounds a shot. It could just be the thing you need.
Transport Point Beta Glucan: The Most Effective Immune Booster Supplement
Posted by: admin / Category: Featured, HealthIf you are in search for an effective immune booster supplement, then you have probably heard about Transport Point Beta-1, 3D Glucan. Transport Point is a privately owned dietary supplement company that is offering consumers with tried and tested products. Unlike their competitors, Transport Point pays more attention to quality than quantity hence the reason why they offer a limited product line up. The products they sell go through extensive research studies headed by credible institutes and universities.
For those looking for the most effective, purest and scientifically proven immune system supplement, Transport Point Beta Glucan is worth considering. The main ingredient of this supplement is the Glucan 300, which is known to be the greatest immunomodulator. Glucan 300 stimulates the immune system to provide the body with balance and support. It is very different from other supplements that modulate immune response in unnatural ways.
Beta Glucan manufactured by Transport Point has been tested by three government agencies as well as ten major universities and found to be really effective. Based on independent research and studies conducted in the University of Louisville along with the research published by JANA in 2007, Transport Point Beta-1, 3D Glucan is the most effective immune support supplement sold in the market today. The company offers a 100% money back guarantee if the supplement fails to deliver what it claims.
As with many health related topics, I always say, the best thing you can do is first of all consult with your own personal doctor. They understand your healths strengths and weakness better than anyone and have (or should have) your best interests at heart. That being said, if your thinking of spending some time lying in a tanning bed, there is plenty of interesting information you can read online and in the media about the topic. There seems to be some division amongst the experts out there, with the expected set of warnings from the medical community, the equally expected reassurances from the tanning bed industry in general.
The important factor to consider here, is your own particular case. Reading as much information will of course help you in making an informed decision, but it doesn’t hurt to get a third parties opinion as well. Your doctor being an obvious one. Once you have this info and advice, then you personally need to weigh the risks and benefits that are of importance to you. I’ve read that there are some benefits, and that’s to be expected with anything. Certain rays from the sun are actually important to our bodies function. Without the UVB rays from the sun for instance, it’s pretty difficult for our bodies to generate vitamin D. And, vitamin D has been documented to be a proven cancer fighter. The key here as with many things is moderation. Too much of a good thing, is not always in your best interest..
