2014 Flu Information

As you probably know, the flu vaccine this year was not quite perfect as regards the many strains you can get.  Thus, one strain that is hitting schools in the South is probably one of those the vaccine didn't prevent.
After searching some websites, I put this information together in case you haven't read up on the Flu viruses lately.
 ==================  ===============  ==============

If you are healthy but exposed to a person with the flu, antiviral drugs can prevent you from getting sick. Antiviral medications are prescription pills, liquids, or inhalers used to prevent or treat flu viruses. They are approved for adults and children one year and older. There are four antiviral drugs approved for treating the flu in the United States—oseltamivir (Tamiflu), zanamivir (Relenza), amantadine (Symmetrel), and rimantadine (Flumadine). The sooner you are treated with an antiviral, the more likely it will prevent the flu. Antiviral drugs are 70% to 90% effective at preventing the flu. Talk to your health care provider if you think you need antiviral drugs.

If someone touches these surfaces, then touches his eyes, nose or mouth before washing his hands, the virus spreads. Another way the flu can spread is if an infected person coughs or sneezes into her hands, then touches a hard surface like a phone, keyboard, or toy before washing her hands.

People with flu can spread it to others up to about 6 feet away. Most experts think that flu viruses are spread mainly by droplets made when people with flu cough, sneeze or talk. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Less often, a person might also get flu by touching a surface or object that has flu virus on it and then touching their own mouth or nose.

To avoid this, people should stay away from sick people and stay home if sick. It also is important to wash hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub. Linens, eating utensils, and dishes belonging to those who are sick should not be shared without washing thoroughly first. Eating utensils can be washed either in a dishwasher or by hand with water and soap and do not need to be cleaned separately. Further, frequently touched surfaces should be cleaned and disinfected at home, work and school, especially if someone is ill.

The Flu Is Contagious

Most healthy adults may be able to infect other people beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick. Children may pass the virus for longer than 7 days. Symptoms start 1 to 4 days after the virus enters the body. That means that you may be able to pass on the flu to someone else before you know you are sick, as well as while you are sick. Some people can be infected with the flu virus but have no symptoms. During this time, those persons may still spread the virus to others.

Addressing an Envelope

I realize not many people mail letters anymore, but with Christmas approaching and Christmas cards you might wish to mail, rather than email, I thought I would refresh my memory on the USPS rules and regulations on addressing an envelope.  Yes, there is a specific way the USPS wants the addresses put on the envelope.   Their machine reads from the bottom up, so the line above city, state and zip should be the street address or PO Box, not something supplemental.  This is but one example of the rules.  STE means "Suite" they prefer you use that, no spell out Suite (I think).

Here is a link to a good reference page:

http://pe.usps.com/businessmail101/addressing/deliveryAddress.htm

SOME OF THE RULES

Delivery Address

	The delivery address is the most important information on your mailpiece. Use the following format for your delivery addresses: Name or attention line: JANE L MILLER Company: MILLER ASSOCIATES Delivery address: 1960 W CHELSEA AVE STE 2006 City, state, ZIP Code: ALLENTOWN PA 18104

Automated mail processing machines read addresses on mailpieces from the bottom up and will first look for a city, state, and ZIP Code. Then the machines look for a delivery address. If the machines can’t find either line, then your mailpiece could be delayed or misrouted. Any information below the delivery address line (a logo, a slogan, or an attention line) could confuse the machines and misdirect your mail. Use the following guidelines: Always put the address and the postage on the same side of your mailpiece. On a letter, the address should be parallel to the longest side. All capital letters. No punctuation. At least 10-point type. One space between city and state. Two spaces between state and ZIP Code. Simple type fonts. Left justified. Black ink on white or light paper. No reverse type (white printing on a black background). If your address appears inside a window, make sure there is at least 1/8-inch clearance around the address. Sometimes parts of the address slip out of view behind the window and mail processing machines can’t read the address. If you are using address labels, make sure you don’t cut off any important information. Also make sure your labels are on straight. Mail processing machines have trouble reading crooked or slanted information. TIPS --Always put the attention line on top -- never below the city and state or in the bottom corner of your mailpiece. --If you can’t fit the suite or apartment number on the same line as the delivery address, put it on the line ABOVE the delivery address, NOT on the line below. --Words like “east” and “west” are called directionals and they are VERY important. A missing or a bad directional can prevent your mail from being delivered correctly. --Use the free ZIP Code Lookup and the ZIP+4 code lookup on the Postal Explorer website (left frame) to find the correct ZIP Codes and ZIP+4 codes for your addresses. --Almost 25% of all mailpieces have something wrong with the address -- for instance, a missing apartment number or a wrong ZIP Code. Can some of those mailpieces get delivered, in spite of the incorrect address? Yes. But it costs the Postal Service time and money to do that. --When a First-Class Mail letter is square, rigid or meets one or more of the nonmachinable characteristics it will be subject to a nonmachinable surcharge. --Sometimes it’s not important that your mailpiece reaches a specific customer, just that it reaches an address. One way to do this is to use a generic title such as "Postal Customer" or "Occupant" or "Resident," rather than a name, plus the complete address. --Fancy type fonts such as those used on wedding invitations do not read well on mail processing equipment. Fancy fonts look great on your envelopes, but also may slow down your mail. --Use common sense. If you can’t read the address, then automated mail processing equipment can’t read the address. --Some types of paper interfere with the machines that read addresses. The paper on the address side should be white or light in color. No patterns or prominent flecks, please! Also, the envelope shouldn’t be too glossy -- avoid shiny, coated paper stock. Publication 28 - Postal Addressing Standards. Quick Service Guide 602 - Basic Addressing Standards. Return Address Special Addressing Services (Ancillary Service Endorsements) Additional Resources

New Light In Time For The New Year

I have tried several brands of LED bulbs in the last 6 months in various fixtures around my home. I have used several brands, some brands were better than others. Phillips is my favorite now for interior flood lights. But there is something new on the horizon.  It new caught my eye on Saturday while walking through Home Depot. Cree is a major producer of the new LED light bulbs, and they certainly make a great product. But now they have a really new bulb as well:

 http://www.cree.com/news-and-events/cree-news/press-releases/2014/october/new-cree-led-bulb



It is the closest clone to a conventional light bulb that I have seen.  Called 4FLOW it was not only very conventional "incandescent light bulb" looking, it also was priced less than the normal Cree 60 watt bulb. A double victory for the consumer.

A warm 2700 K, it uses 82% less electricity and is all-around light source "just like an incandescent bulb".  It is also dimmable. But I have noticed that LED's don't always dim to the super low light of incandescent bulbs.  The new bulb has 815 lumens of brightness - which is 15 more than some 60 w equivalents.

Now the big news, price.   $7.97, which was less than the Cree regular 60 w equivalent.  While not the cheapest around, this bulb could be the best value if you like "conventional light" from a 22 year life bulb that uses only a tiny fraction of the electricity of an incandescent.

If you read my blog regularly you know that I find LED bulbs super useful for hard-to-re-lamp locations, and that continued this past week. I had to replaced a 75 watt incandescent bulb in a bathroom fan-light fixture that is a "bear" to change.  I put in a 75 watt Cree, and now have beautiful light and far less heat (a problem in that crammed up fixture).  The wave length of light bulb is just about perfect.  It will last my change for that fixture in my lifetime. No more ladder climbing and upside down contortions to unscrew the metal grill to replace that bulb.

As a long time fighter of the new light revolution, I am becoming a convert.  The bulbs are now better, a bit cheaper, and the power savings are great.  I am a convert. I can tell a difference in power bills now that I have started the slow conversion.  I have 72 incandescent bulbs in my home. Counting them up just now surprised me.  In addition I have 4 flouresent tube fixtures.  I was surprised there were so many, but with corner lights, back yard lights, and so on, it adds up. No wonder Home Depot and Lowes have huge light bulb departments. There could be 30 billion light bulbs in America (10 X 300 million people ?).  Cree seems set to sell everyone a few bulbs.  Once.  Replacement time will be 2034.  Cree will have merged or be out of business by then.  Or, the market will keep growing.

PS -- a few notes.  The new Cree has ventilation slots, something new, don't know how that would affect use in closed fixtures, but there is no warning on the packaging about that. There is the conventional warning not to mix LED and other types of bulbs "together" in a multi-bulb enclosed fixture.  I am presuming the heat from the other bulb could damage the LED bulb.  I have 4 enclosed fixtures in my home, and I have had to be careful to replace both bulbs at the same time.

My initial fascination with the CFL (spiral) bulbs is fading in all categories other than the outdoor flood lights, where they seem to work very well, and last a long time.  Some CFL bulbs are instant light and good color and brightness, and thus just great. But I forget which brands they are and so I am cautious to just buy CFL's on sale.  I will research my favorite brands of CFL's and Blog on them later.  But I know the GE brand is my favorite for CFL outdoor flood lights. the 75 Watt type is quite bright, I think close enough to the old 150 watt floods to get the job done.