Flu season is upon us

<span class="byline-author">Dr. Taraneh Ravazi, M.D., Staff Doctor</span><br /><br />It's official: flu season -- in the northern hemisphere, where flu hits between October to May -- has begun. (In the southern hemisphere, of course, it's the other half of the year, and in the tropics, one can catch the flu year-round.) Today I'll focus on the northern hemisphere, but the same ideas apply at different times in other locales.<br /><br />Please note that this is general information, and not a substitute for medical advice; contact your own doctor with questions about your health.<br /><br />The sources for the information below are: <a href="www.medicalletter.org">Medical Letter</a>, <a href="www.uptodate.com">Up To Date</a>, the <a href="www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/">NIH's MedLine Plus</a>, the <a href="www.cdc.gov/epi/mmwr/mmwr.html">Centers for Disease Control</a>, and <a href="www.lungusa.org">Lung USA</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Who should get a flu shot?</span><br />Generally, those wanting to reduce their chance of getting sick. It's especially recommended for the following high-risk groups:<br /><br />- People aged 50 and older<br />- Women who are or will be pregnant during the flu season<br />- Adults and children 6 months and older with chronic heart, or lung conditions including asthma, metabolic diseases such as diabetes, chronic kidney disease, or weakened immune system such as with HIV or with medications, and any kind of brain or spinal cord disorders<br />- Children 6 months to 18 years who are on long term aspirin therapy<br />- All children 6-23 months of age<br />- All the contacts of people in these high-risk groups<br /><br />Other than your doctor's office, try <a href="http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=aqKGLXOAIlH&b=1015035">Flu Clinic Locator</a> to see where you might be able to get a shot.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Who shouldn't get one?</span><br />- People with severe allergy to eggs<br />- People who currently have a fever<br />- Children less than 6 months old<br />- People who have had Guillane Barre syndrome (a paralytic condition) within 6 weeks of getting a flu shot in the past<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">When's best to get one?</span><br />It's optimal to get a shot in October or November (especially for the high-risk groups noted above), but you can also benefit in December or later.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Types of vaccines</span><br />- A flu shot, made from an inactivated vaccine, which contrary to popular belief cannot give you the flu.<br />- A flu nasal spray, an attenuated live vaccine. Because this can at least theoretically cause transmission, it should only be given to healthy people ages 5-49 who are not pregnant, not healthcare workers, or contacts of anyone who is immuno-suppressed.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />Effectiveness</span><br />Within about 2 weeks, the shot is fully effective, and usually the effect lasts for 6 months or longer. A protection rate of 50-80 percent is the norm.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">Recognizable flu symptoms</span><br />These are usually more severe than cold symptoms, and include sudden onset of high fever (101 or higher), severe muscle aches, headache, cough, sore throat, and a general miserable feeling. Symptoms may last 2-7 days, but if complications such as pnuemonia occur, the course may be longer.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">How to treat the flu</span><br />Treatment is mainly designed to reduce the symptoms with<br />- rest<br />- fluids<br />- acetominophen (like Tylenol) -- not aspirin, especially in those under 18, to avoid Reyes Syndrome, which is a serious neurological disease<br />- antiviral medications (most effective if started within the first 2 days of onset of symptoms)<br /><br />Unless there is a secondary complication (e.g. ear infection, sinusitis), antibiotics are not typically prescribed. And the jury is out on alternatives such as Vitamin C or herbal products. (Recently, echinacea was shown to be ineffective for cold treatment.)<br /><br />Here's hoping you can stay healthy this winter!

Flu season is upon us

Dr. Taraneh Ravazi, M.D., Staff Doctor It's official: flu season -- in the northern hemisphere, where flu hits between October to May --...

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Discovering hard-to-find books

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Adam Smith, Senior Business Product Manager, Google Print</span><br /><br />Tomorrow is the day we said we'd resume scanning in-copyright works with our library partners as part of our initiative to build a card catalog of books with <a href="http://print.google.com/">Google Print</a>. We are in the process of resuming scanning (it may take a little time), so you should soon be able to search across more books from our partner libraries at <a href="http://print.google.com/">print.google.com</a>. We've already had great success working with publishers directly to add their works to our index through our <a href="http://print.google.com/intl/en/googleprint/publisher.html">Publisher Program</a>, and when we add books with publisher permission, we can offer more information and a much richer user experience.<br /><br />As always, the focus of our library effort is on scanning books that are unique to libraries including many public domain books, orphaned works and out-of-print titles. We're starting with library stacks that mostly contain older and out-of-circulation books, but also some newer books. That said, we want to make all books easier to find, and as we get through the older parts of the libraries we'll start scanning the stacks that house newer books.<br /><br />These older books are the ones most inaccessible to users, and make up the vast majority of books – a conservative estimate would be 80 percent. Our digital card catalog will let people discover these books through Google search, see their bibliographic information, view <a href="http://print.google.com/print?q=pioneer&hl=en&ie=UTF-8&pgis=1&id=hjhu2OaXKw4C">short snippets</a> related to their queries (never the full text), and offer them links to places where they can buy the book or find it in a local library.<br /><br />We think that making books easier to find will be good for authors, publishers, and our users. We're excited to get back to work making a comprehensive, free, full-text card catalog of the world's books a reality. Happy searching!

Discovering hard-to-find books

Posted by Adam Smith, Senior Business Product Manager, Google Print Tomorrow is the day we said we'd resume scanning in-copyright works ...

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More video to watch!

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Eva Ho, Product Marketing Manager</span><br /><br />You may have seen <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6739710473912337648&q=bsb">this funny bit</a> on <a href="http://video.google.com/">Google Video</a>, or <a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4505462782975458603&q=football+dribble">this one</a>. But hey, we're not only about funny. We've just added a ton more work from sources you might already know, including the list below. (To join this prestigious roster, add your own video through our <a href="https://upload.video.google.com/">Upload Program</a>.)<br /><br />Also starting today, check out new work presented each week by theme on the <a href="http://googlevideo.blogspot.com/">Google Video Blog</a> - and remember to add the feed from this blog to your <a href="http://reader.google.com/">Google Reader</a>. Finally, special thanks to all those who provided their work to help make Google Video one of the largest archives of videos on the Web.<br /><br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Academy+of+Television%22+playable%3Atrue">The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences</a></li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22bikemag.com%22">Bikemag </a>- Published by Primedia, one of the leading media companies publishing over 120 consumer magazines</li><br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22hippy+gourmet%22">The Hippy Gourmet</a> - Bruce Brennan provides wholesome ingredients and earth-laden consciousness to meals<br /></li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=campus+movie+fest">Campus Movie Fest</a> - Maybe the best way to challenge our nation’s top college students is to arm them with cameras and laptops, and ask them to share their life stories</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=kqed+playable%3Atrue&page=1&lv=0">KQED</a> - Community-supported public broadcaster KQED provides Northern California with content that makes people think </li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=unicef+playable%3Atrue">UNICEF</a> - Since 1946, UNICEF has worked with over 157 countries around the world to secure children’s rights around the globe</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Metropole+Filmworx++playable%3Atrue">Metropole Filmworx </a>- A documentary film company aiming to record real voices of U.S. soldiers in Iraq</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22the+photography+channel%22++playable%3Atrue">The Photography Channel</a> - The inside story from some of the nation’s top photographers</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22witness.org%22++playable%3Atrue">Witness.org</a> - Explore human rights issues through moving pictures</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22insight+news%22++playable%3Atrue">Insight News TV</a>- Click through news features from around the globe affecting real people</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22altrec%22++playable%3Atrue">Altrec.com</a> - An online commerce site dedicated to the outdoors</li><br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22patagonia%22++playable%3Atrue">Patagonia</a> - Innovative design for outdoor adventure</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22petzl%22++playable%3Atrue">Petzl</a> - Feel secure as you climb the world’s highest peaks</li> <br /><br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22+Educational+Technology+Services%22++playable%3Atrue">UC Berkeley</a> - Webcasts from UC Berkeley’s Educational Technology Services</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2782778041292157362&q=%22national+science+foundation%22">National Science Foundation</a> - NSF helps promote scientific discoveries and technological advancements through rigorous research and development</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22howstuffworks%22++playable%3Atrue">howstuffwork</a><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22howstuffworks%22++playable%3Atrue">s</a> - Demystifies the questions of everyday life</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22fastfocus%22++playable%3Atrue">FastFocus</a> - Produces “short form” programming for more than 100 public television stations, from music, health, cooking, to sports, business, and travel</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22slp3d%22++playable%3Atrue">OR-live.com</a> - Get a bird's-eye view in the operating room through this new live surgery portal</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22blanktv%22++playable%3Atrue">BlankTV</a> - Mosh online with a large repertoire of punk rock videos</li><br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22K2+Communications%22++playable%3Atrue">K2 Communications</a> - Specializes in media programming for large-format and digital theaters</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22itu%22++playable%3Atrue">ITU</a> - The official international governing body for the Olympic sport of Triathlon</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22world+affairs+council%22+playable%3Atrue">World Affairs Council</a> - Bringing together the top leaders in business, politics, academics, and journalism</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=army+air+force+news+service">Army & Air Force News Service</a> - Highlighting Army and Air Force troops from the front lines</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=nyctv">NYCTV </a>- Familiarize yourself with the four corners of New York City</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=filmbaby.com">Filmbaby</a> - Puts money back into filmmakers' hands by contributing 80% of the purchase into their pockets </li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=asiamoviechannel">Asia Movie Channel</a> - Expand your film horizons with movies from across the globe</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=artisan+news+service">Artisan News Service</a> - Timely music news service keeping you “in” with what's in</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22computer+history+museum%22">Computer History Museum</a> - Celebrate tech history through the years</li> <br /><li><a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22moan.tv%22">MOAN.tv</a> - How do diehard fans of "The Daily Show” pay homage?</li>

More video to watch!

Posted by Eva Ho, Product Marketing Manager You may have seen this funny bit on Google Video , or this one . But hey, we're not only ab...

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Saying thank you with pictures

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Beth Campbell, Product Marketing Manager</span><br /><br />I recently got married and wanted to send out thank-you notes together with hundreds of photos our guests took using the cameras we put on the tables. <a href="http://picasa.google.com/">Picasa</a> made the process super easy.<br /><br />In Picasa, select the folder with your pictures. Click the "Gift CD" button and follow the instructions to set your picture size and CD name. To add a nice effect, check the "Include Slideshow" box -- this adds a slideshow presentation that plays when the CD is launched (way more fun than a boring list of files). For recipients who might enjoy saving the photos and viewing them later, check the box to include a copy of Picasa on the CD (it's only 3.9MB). Click "Burn Disc" and Picasa creates the CD.<br /><br />The finishing touch: a customized photo CD cover. Select a picture and click the "Print" button. Here's what it looks like: <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/cdcover-712292.GIF"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/uploaded_images/cdcover-771317.GIF" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" /></a><br />In the top menu, go to to Tools > Options > Printing, select CD Label Size and click OK. Set CD Label as your layout size and print. <br /><br />You're done -- and now I'm done with my thank-you "work." I'm happy to report the photo CDs were a big hit.

Saying thank you with pictures

Posted by Beth Campbell, Product Marketing Manager I recently got married and wanted to send out thank-you notes together with hundreds of p...

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A must-see TV archive

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Steve Mosko, President of Sony Pictures Television</span><br /><br />One of the things that absolutely blew me away when I came on board last year as chairman of the Television Academy Foundation was the <a href="http://www.emmys.org/foundation/archive/">Archive of American Television</a>, which is an unequaled collection of videotaped interviews with TV legends.<br /><br />It's a fantastic resource, and so it drove me crazy that the Archive had over 450 interviews -- but no one could view them if they weren’t actually in Southern California. If a student at a school in Cincinnati or Bangkok wanted to learn more about the history of creative or business aspects of the American television industry, these interviews were just not accessible. So I made it a personal goal to find a way to get the Archive online.<br /><br />And starting today, anyone in the world can go to <a href="http://video.google.com/">Google Video</a> and watch <a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Academy+of+Television%22+playable%3Atrue">complete and uncut Archive interviews</a> and learn directly from the legends and pioneers on how it all happened. How cool is that?<br /><br />It’s been 30 years since I was in college, but I can honestly say that if I were just starting out in this business, I would be all over the Archive. I’m such a fan of television that I can’t wait to be able to watch some of the interviews on Google Video – with the men and women who inspired me, and continue to inspire me. One of the Archive legends now online is former NBC head <a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Archive+of+American+Television+Interview+with+Grant+Tinker%22+playable%3Atrue&page=1&lv=1">Grant Tinker</a>. Grant helped create “Must See TV” on Thursday nights! There’s also <a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Archive+of+American+Television+Interview+with+Norman+Lear%22+playable%3Atrue&page=1&lv=1">Norman Lear</a>, <a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Archive+of+American+Television+Interview+with+Ted+Turner%22+playable%3Atrue&page=1&lv=1">Ted Turner</a>, <a href="http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22Archive+of+American+Television+Interview+with+Steven+Bochco%22+playable%3Atrue&page=1&lv=1">Steven Bochco</a>, and so many more. The Archive was created to educate, entertain, and inspire future generations. I challenge you to look up your favorite TV show, learn about a favorite star, or discover more about some of the most important news events of the 20th century. I’m thrilled that the Foundation is finally able to introduce some of these interviews to the world, using the world’s most powerful delivery system – Google. Enjoy!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Update: added URL</span>

A must-see TV archive

Posted by Steve Mosko, President of Sony Pictures Television One of the things that absolutely blew me away when I came on board last year a...

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Rumor of the day

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Tom Oliveri, Product Marketing Manager</span><br /><br />You may have seen stories today reporting on a new product that we're testing, and speculating about our plans. Here's what's really going on. We are testing a new way for content owners to submit their content to Google, which we hope will complement existing methods such as our web crawl and Google Sitemaps. We think it's an exciting product, and we'll let you know when there's more news.

Rumor of the day

Posted by Tom Oliveri, Product Marketing Manager You may have seen stories today reporting on a new product that we're testing, and spec...

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Supporting open source

<span class="byline-author">Posted by Chris DiBona, Open Source Program Manager </span><br /><br />School is a fantastic place to learn, but what if you could introduce students to open source projects, with real problems to solve, and fantastic developers to work with? We thought that would be a pretty terrific way of spending the summer, and with the help of 40 open source, free software and technology-related groups, that is exactly what we did. We call this project the <a href="http://code.google.com/summerofcode.html">Summer of Code</a>.<br /><br />Organizations like <a href="http://www.apache.org">Apache</a> and <a href="http://www.samba.org">Samba</a> and projects such as <a href="http://www.insecure.org/nmap/">Nmap</a>, <a href="http://gaim.sourceforge.net/">Gaim</a> and <a href="http://www.internet2.edu/">Internet2</a> took part in this program.<br /><br />Together with these partners, we chose 400 students from 49 countries to take part - and this from a pool of 8,744 applicants, so clearly there's no shortage of talent. We contributed nearly $2 million to this effort via $4,500 grants to each of the participants (and a $500 donation per student to the participating organizations).<br /><br />Nmap's lead developer, Fyodor Vaskovich, told us that Summer of Code developers "made major improvements to the Nmap Security Scanner, including a more powerful graphical interface and a next-generation remote operating system detection framework." To that we say: excellent. Here's a <a href="http://code.google.com/soc-results.html">partial list of participants and projects</a>, and we even threw together a <a href="http://code.google.com/soc-map.html">map</a> so people can see how global this program was.<br /><br />Now that summer is over, we've got a new thing going. Today at the Oregon Governor's office in Salem, we're announcing our support of an open source initiative which two men, Bart Massey and Scott Kveton, at two schools, Oregon State University and Portland State University, have worked very hard to create. Over the last few years, they have collaborated to encourage open source software and hardware development, develop academic curricula and provide computing infrastructure to open source projects worldwide. We're pleased to be able to support their efforts with a donation of $350,000. Here's the <a href="http://governor.oregon.gov/Gov/press_102505.shtml">official press release</a> about this fantastic project.

Supporting open source

Posted by Chris DiBona, Open Source Program Manager School is a fantastic place to learn, but what if you could introduce students to open s...

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