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	<title>CreativeHerb.com &#187; LifeHack</title>
	<atom:link href="http://creativeherb.com/category/lifehack/feed/" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://creativeherb.com</link>
	<description>Design and Marketing Made Easy</description>
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		<title>Realtime Swine Flu Outbreak Infection Map</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/realtime-swine-flu-outbreak-infection-map/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/realtime-swine-flu-outbreak-infection-map/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 01 May 2009 14:06:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News and Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flu]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[h1n1]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[infection]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[influenza]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[map]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[outbreak]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[realtime]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[swine flu]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Here&#8217;s a handy realtime map showing the latest Swine Flu Outbreaks. While it is not necessary to panic, staying away from Flu hotspots is probably a good idea. Click on any points on the map for more information.
Pink markers:  Suspected
Purple markers:  Confirmed
Yellow markers:  Negative
Markers with No Dot:  Death
View H1N1 Swine Flu in [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Here&#8217;s a handy realtime map showing the latest Swine Flu Outbreaks. While it is not necessary to panic, staying away from Flu hotspots is probably a good idea. Click on any points on the map for more information.</p>
<p><span style="color: #e661ac;">Pink markers</span>:  Suspected</p>
<p><span style="color: #8e67fd;">Purple markers</span>:  Confirmed</p>
<p><span style="color: #eae162;">Yellow markers</span>:  Negative</p>
<p>Markers with No Dot:  Death</p>
<p><iframe width="540" height="420" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" src="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;start=100&amp;num=200&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&amp;ll=26.74561,-43.945312&amp;spn=112.500291,189.84375&amp;z=2&amp;output=embed"></iframe><br /><small>View <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&amp;hl=en&amp;start=100&amp;num=200&amp;msa=0&amp;msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&amp;ll=26.74561,-43.945312&amp;spn=112.500291,189.84375&amp;z=2&amp;source=embed" style="color:#0000FF;text-align:left">H1N1 Swine Flu</a> in a larger map</small></p>
<p><strong>Here are also some handy facts you should know about the situation:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>This latest pandemic is a new virus strain of Influenza A H1N1.</li>
<li>Flu symptoms include fever, coughing, fatigue, lack of appetite and muscle aches.</li>
<li>Influenza spreads between humans by coughing or sneezing and people touching something with the virus on it, and then touching their own nose or mouth.</li>
<li>Most influenza strains can survive up to 8 hours on most surfaces. Think tables, mouse, keyboards, phones etc. So wash your hands with soap often, especially after going out and before meals. Those alcohol-based hand sanitizers will work too.</li>
<li>Swine flu cannot be spread by pork products, since the virus is not transmitted through food. However, don&#8217;t eat undercooked Pork!</li>
<li>Help prevent spread of the virus by staying away from public areas and also coughing/sneezing into a tissue or your sleeves. And avoid those people  who tend to spray like a fountain when they talk.</li>
<li>For treatment, antiviral drugs work best if started within 2 days of symptoms. So if you suspect that you have it, go see the doctor immediately.</li>
<li>Great idea to boost up your immune system through proper nutrition, enough sleep and a balanced amount of fluids.</li>
<li>Overdosing on sugar, excess alcohol, food allergens and obesity can lead to a suppressed immune system. Try to avoid these when you know you might get sick or if there&#8217;s a global pandemic occurring.</li>
</ol>
<p>Stay healthy everyone!</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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		<title>Save the World and Make a Profit</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/save-world-make-profit/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/save-world-make-profit/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:37:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[entrepreneurs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[humanity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[profit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[save the world]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=357</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Interweb has given us access to infinite amounts of information, ideas, social experiences and ways to make money. Big businesses are no longer exclusive to those with a large financial backing. For many, succeeding online just requires a good idea and proper timing. The tools are available and the stage is set. We are [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The Interweb has given us access to infinite amounts of information, ideas, social experiences and ways to make money. Big businesses are no longer exclusive to those with a large financial backing. For many, succeeding online just requires a good idea and proper timing. The tools are available and the stage is set. We are now positioned as a global community to explore and build whatever we want. Perhaps it is time to put some of those intellectual and informational resources to good use, and together think of ways to improve the whole world.</p>
<p>To be a successful online entrepreneur today, you have to be NetSmart. You have to understand how the masses communicate and be able to anticipate the ever changing needs that arises. These business people are generally very intelligent and perceptive, able to adapt to the high change frequency of the Interweb. And these are exactly the same people who can think of a way to improve the entire world, and pull a profit at the same time.</p>
<p>So to all the brilliant entrepreneurs out there trying to discover the next big thing, do spare a little bit of your brain processing time. Saving the world might not be something accomplished in one weekend, but with enough people going at it, it is something definitely achievable. And with the entire planet as a potential market, the profits might just be extremely lucrative. Why entrepreneurs and not scientists? Because <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126936.700-comment-turning-out-brilliant-scientists-isnt-enough.html">realistically</a>, nothing is going to happen without a profit being made. Now if there is an army of business-minded scientists, that would be quite exciting.</p>
<p>The term &#8220;Saving the world&#8221; is vague at best, but it can be defined as generally helping humanity. Here are some areas to start with: decreasing poverty, creating cheap and renewable energy, supporting human rights, ending conflicts, propagating education globally, increasing health care technologies etc etc.</p>
<p><strong>Making it Measurable</strong></p>
<p>Saving the world is not something easily marketable to the average person. It is something that seems impossible to reach, so why bother to even try? The first task would be to convince enough people that it is achievable, by setting a series of milestones to the end goal. A number perhaps, in how many people are helped.</p>
<p>Look at past examples such as distributed computing projects for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SETI@home">SETI</a> or <a href="http://folding.stanford.edu/">Protein Folding</a>. There are viewable progress measurements for your part in the calculations. Each milestone wasn&#8217;t quickly accomplished, but it makes it a lot easier to understand with a progress bar. Or even with website donation goals, having a milestone set visibly will allow donors to see the change that they have caused. It&#8217;s difficult to see the difference one person can make most of the time, but it is now possible with the level of tracking and communications made possible online.</p>
<p><strong>Creating Momentum</strong></p>
<p>If there is one thing that social networks have taught people, it is the art of propagating information to your friends. Once progress is measurable, momentum can be quickly built through social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Dissemination of information on these networks are unparalleled in terms of speed, reach, targetability and cost.</p>
<p>Celebrity gossip and political warfare are spread, discussed and discarded in the span of hours. The level of empowerment is there but without a globally recognized goal in place. In the current time of the Obama, we can build upon the intentions for improvement. People are rallied from their place of complacency by economic turmoil, and are now open to <a href="http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20126945.300-how-to-control-a-herd-of-humans.html">suggestions</a>. Now is the perfect opportunity to create new dynamics and goals in society through online networks.</p>
<p><strong>What you can do</strong></p>
<p>One person can now make a massive difference. That is the key idea here. Think of a way to fill the immediate needs of people, yet will ultimately empower people to make further changes. Not many people will drop everything just to do a good deed, but if it is convenient for them and creates an extra sense of moral gratification, it will succeed. Some might think this is an overly optimistic belief, but I believe in the basic goodness in people. We just have to get the ball rolling towards a brighter future.</p>
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		<title>6 Tips to Win a Job Interview</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/6-tips-win-job-interview/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/6-tips-win-job-interview/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 03 Feb 2009 16:36:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Jobs and Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cover letter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[interviews]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[resumes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=346</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve read all the resume how-tos and even gone to a few seminars. The question is, how come you&#8217;re still not hired? The economy is a big factor, but the competition is going to be just as fierce for any good job openings. I have found a few factors just as important as your experience [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>You&#8217;ve read all the resume how-tos and even gone to a few seminars. The question is, how come you&#8217;re still not hired? The economy is a big factor, but the competition is going to be just as fierce for any good job openings. I have found a few factors just as important as your experience level in getting that job.  Nothing is set in stone, but keep these tips in mind, and you&#8217;ll be well on your way to getting that interview.</p>
<p>1. <strong>Be like a Wolf in  Sheepskin</strong>. If you&#8217;re going to spam out 800 copies of your resume, skip to tip #2. I would advise against that anyhow. Pick a place that you might actually like to be at, and with potential for job growth. You&#8217;ll be happy and live longer too. Once you have picked out a few potentially perfect places, learn about them. Pretend you&#8217;re going to go up on stage and talk about how awesome the company is for 5 minutes. Do you know enough? Dig through their history, their staff, and especially their company goals.</p>
<p>Look through the company&#8217;s website, their press releases, news updates and history section. It will most likely be sprinkled with a consistent message that their marketing team came up with. This is the message that they are proud of and want everyone to know about it. Now take this message and know it, believe it, live it. Now you can edit your cover letter accordingly and genuinely sound like one of their own people.</p>
<p>2. <strong>Making yourself Stand Out.</strong> Just put this into perspective and think from your employer&#8217;s point of view. As the boss, you decided your company is in need of extra help and asked your assistant to post a recruitment Ad on <a href="monster.com">Monster</a>, <a href="workapolis.com">Workapolis</a>. The next day, you get bombarded with 500 emails begging for the job, 30 love letters and 5 really funny yet scary offers. How are you going to find the perfect employee in all that mess?</p>
<p>You have to keep that in mind, and make the job easier for your future employer to find you. Open up your cover letter right now (yes you should have one) and see if it reads like everyone else&#8217;s. Does it sound like it came straight from a template? Does it sound robotic? Imagine you turned on the TV and a really boring TV Show intro comes on, you&#8217;ll want to change the channel in no time.</p>
<p>Bring up unique points that will make yourself stand out. Yes everyone else went to high school, loves to learn and can multitask. Think of a skill or experience that many others might not have. Maybe it&#8217;s a combination of them that makes it unique.</p>
<p>3. <strong>Stay Professional</strong>. Yes you have to get their attention, but even more importantly, you have to sound professional. You might have come up with an idea that&#8217;s so wacky it&#8217;ll get their attention for sure, but it might also make you seem gimmicky and without real substance to your skills and character. The key is to get their attention yet retaining good form. Sound enthusiastic yet thoughtful and intelligent. Use proper words and perfect grammar. Just ask yourself what James Bond would do in this situation.</p>
<p>4. <strong>Sound Confident</strong>. Nobody likes the unwanted, they would rather have what everyone else wants. If you sound desperate, it will raise serious doubts to your abilities. Sound like you&#8217;re confident. Talk like you&#8217;re full of experience and ideas, and just trying to find a new home to use your well-honed skills. Just remember to balance it out with some controlled humbleness, or you&#8217;ll sound annoying real fast.</p>
<p>5. <strong>Remove Fluff Words</strong>. Be concise and take out unnecessary words. Think of it this way: If you can sum up a paragraph into one short sentence, how would you write it? Make sure you get your main point across though. Now apply that same kind of summarization for your entire cover letter. Remember, after yours, there are another 10,000 resumes to read. Nothing annoys a prospective employer more than you wasting their valuable time.</p>
<p>6. <strong>Only mention Positive Points.</strong> You might think this is obvious but it&#8217;s often overlooked. I&#8217;ve read so many cover letters and resumes where they list out many of their strengths, but also potentially damaging weaknesses. Look at every single word and points in your writing. Is it irrelevant? Is it redundant? Does it make you look weak or stupid? Does it cast doubt on your abilities? Could it lead to other questions which you will not want to answer? Your employer will have plenty of time later to find out about your flaws, no need to help out in that area before you&#8217;re even hired.</p>
<p><strong>In summary:</strong> The economy is terrible and many jobs are being cut. But cheer up. That just means companies are looking for individuals who are energetic and full of new ideas to help pull them out of the slump. Good luck!</p>
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		<title>Teacher puts Ads on Exams and why I support it.</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/teacher-ad-exam-why-support/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/teacher-ad-exam-why-support/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Dec 2008 03:26:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News and Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advertisement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teacher]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A school teacher In California puts Ads on exams to make money. I think it&#8217;s a great idea. In fact, they should find more places to Advertise to the students! Yes, I do work in the evil Advertising industry. No, I don&#8217;t think it will corrupt the minds of the next generation. Here&#8217;s why.
Look beyond [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A school teacher In California puts Ads on exams to make money. I think it&#8217;s a great idea. In fact, they should find more places to Advertise to the students! Yes, I do work in the evil Advertising industry. No, I don&#8217;t think it will corrupt the minds of the next generation. Here&#8217;s why.</p>
<p>Look beyond the obvious and see the potential. The teacher, Tom Farber, only started <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/12/03/teacher.ads.on.tests/index.html">doing this</a> because of the major financial crisis that the school system faces. His semester budget doesn&#8217;t even fully cover the cost of printing out the tests and exams. Without additional funding, the amount of testing will have to be reduced, lowering the quality of the education.</p>
<p>Of course that&#8217;s no excuse. No excuse to bombard students with powerfully crafted persuasions that will shape their future goals and desires. Wait a minute, isn&#8217;t that what schools wanted to inspire in the first place? I don&#8217;t mean aspiring to party in a limo every night, but to have other goals that will contribute positively to society.</p>
<p>Advertising is a tool used by rich people to get even richer. It works because the rich people wouldn&#8217;t waste their time and money doing something that doesn&#8217;t work. So let&#8217;s take that powerful system and use it to positively influence the next generation. Create an optimal level of Advertisement saturation in the school, while fine-filtering the Ads that are allowed to be placed. Advertisers such as respectable publishers, University programme recruitment, music instrument vendors, nutritional foods producers etc.</p>
<p>Students spend most of their off-school time exposed to irresponsible advertising, so let&#8217;s even the playing field by exposing a counter-message. While they&#8217;re at it, update the school system and create social media based learning through <a href="http://twitter.com/creativeherb">Twitter</a>. <strong>What do <em>you</em> think about this? Am I totally out of my mind?<br />
</strong></p>
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		<title>How to Look Within for Design Inspiration</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/within-design-inspiration/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/within-design-inspiration/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 03 Dec 2008 02:51:09 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Easy Design Tips]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[inspiration]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=269</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Aside from looking at other people&#8217;s work for inspiration, there are other ways to bring out that creativity within yourself. When the creative juice is running low, the natural instinct would be to reach for those expensive design books you bought just for this occasion. In them, you will see from the eyes of the [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Aside from looking at other people&#8217;s work for inspiration, there are other ways to bring out that creativity within yourself. When the creative juice is running low, the natural instinct would be to reach for those expensive design books you bought just for this occasion. In them, you will see from the eyes of the designers, a transcript of their experience.</p>
<p>While it is good to absorb as much creative output as you can, there comes a time when you must venture within yourself for the answer. Forget the technology, forget your habitual styles, forget the conditioning.</p>
<p>Sometimes you may feel stressful at trying to find the design solution. Please picture this: The designs we try to create are merely solutions to problems that we created in the first place. Without us first creating the problems, there would have been no need to find a solution now. So look back to before the problem occured and see what was working naturally already. There&#8217;s the solution.</p>
<p>Try to feel what would be most natural in the design, try to feel your own hints of discomfort. We have become so desensitized to media and sensory bombardment that we don&#8217;t even realize the stress on ourselves. Look around and see what makes you happy, and study it. Why does it give you pleasure or peace of mind? Then try to replicate that harmony, strength and comfort into your designs.</p>
<p>Look around you again, caress the textures with your eyes, feel the flow of the air circulating around the room. Go back to the basics, don&#8217;t add complication to an uncomplicated matter. Nurturing the pureness of your creativity will unlock many new insights and approaches to design.</p>
<p>Computers are a tool through which our creativity can express all the colors of our imagination. Avoid the pitfall of letting the computer tell us what we can make, but instead, look inside to see what you want to create. It is a <a href="http://creativeherb.com/stop-creative-genocide/">fast-paced world</a> we live in, don&#8217;t forget to slow down sometimes to enjoy it.</p>
<p><strong>How do <em>you</em> get your design inspirations?</strong></p>
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		<title>3 Reasons why you need Wordpress 2.7 Right Now.</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/3-reasons-need-wordpress-27/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/3-reasons-need-wordpress-27/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Nov 2008 06:02:19 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[2.7]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Design]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wordpress]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=132</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Your blog still using that super old version of Wordpress? Now is the perfect time to upgrade. It is the biggest upgrade in years and here are 3 reasons why:
1. New Built-in Automatic Wordpress Upgrade.
It&#8217;s about time. There are various automatic methods for upgrading your Wordpress installation, but they weren&#8217;t perfect. Once you have installed [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Your blog still using that super old version of Wordpress? Now is the perfect time to upgrade. It is the biggest upgrade in years and here are 3 reasons why:</p>
<h2>1. New Built-in Automatic Wordpress Upgrade.</h2>
<p>It&#8217;s about time. There are various automatic methods for upgrading your Wordpress installation, but they weren&#8217;t perfect. Once you have installed Wordpress 2.7, you can upgrade to future versions with a single click. It&#8217;s officially supported, so no need to worry about it breaking on you halfway through. No more headaches or wasted time doing it manually.</p>
<p><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-141" title="wordpress27-features2" src="http://creativeherb.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/wordpress27-features2.jpg" alt="wordpress27-features2 3 Reasons why you need Wordpress 2.7 Right Now." width="500" height="496" /></p>
<h2>2. Completely Re-Designed Admin Interface</h2>
<p>With all the awesome Wordpress themes that&#8217;s been designed, the admin interface was sorely lacking. Instead of clicking through 2-3 menus to get where you&#8217;re going, everything can be accessed easily now. User-friendly Icon Menubar on the left, large stretchable typing area in the middle, and publish/ tags/categories boxes on the right.</p>
<p>The Dashboard was also redesigned to show your post/comments stats at a glance. You can even blog a post directly from the Dashboard through the QuickPress function. Once you try it, you won&#8217;t want to go back.</p>
<p><a href="http://creativeherb.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/wordpress27-features1.jpg"><img class="alignnone size-full wp-image-139" title="wordpress27-features1" src="http://creativeherb.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/11/wordpress27-features1.jpg" alt="wordpress27-features1 3 Reasons why you need Wordpress 2.7 Right Now." width="500" height="337" /><br />
</a></p>
<h2>3. New Comment System</h2>
<p>The coding for the comment system was completely redone. Without having to use plugins or custom php code, an updated theme will have Alternating colored comments, Author styling, Threaded comments that allow you to reply, AJAX editing, and multiple paged comments.</p>
<p>With all the new features in 2.7, I was able to remove 3-5 plugins and reduce a ton of custom coding. You can see many of the new Wordpress 2.7 implementations on Creativeherb.com as well. What are you waiting for? Get <a href="http://wordpress.org/development/2008/11/wordpress-27-beta-3/">2.7 Beta 3</a> here, or future latest releases <a href="http://wordpress.org/development/">here</a>.</p>
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		<title>Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/google-flu-trends-canadian-edition/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/google-flu-trends-canadian-edition/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Nov 2008 02:49:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News and Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[canadian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cold]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[doctor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[google flu trends]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[influenza]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[trends]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=65</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There&#8217;s one major flaw with Google Flu Trends, it doesn&#8217;t come in a Canadian version. So I went ahead and put one together here, daily updated charts and all. They are auto generated, so you will always get the most recent data.
For those who were wondering, Google Flu Trends is a search data tool that [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There&#8217;s one major flaw with Google Flu Trends, it doesn&#8217;t come in a Canadian version. So I went ahead and put one together here, daily updated charts and all. They are auto generated, so you will always get the most recent data.</p>
<p>For those who were wondering, <a href="http://www.google.org/flutrends/">Google Flu Trends</a> is a search data tool that generates location-based search-trends statistics based on &#8220;Flu&#8221; related words. It can help to predict outbreaks of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Influenza">Flu (Influenza)</a>, giving everyone an early warning system that even precedes health agencies. Hundreds of thousands of people die each year from the Flu, so stay informed and be one step ahead.</p>
<p>Of course you shouldn&#8217;t rely on data alone, keeping good personal health and hygiene habits are helpful in avoiding infection too. And of course a vaccine flu shot certainly helps. However, these preventive measures are far from 100% reliable. If you get Influenza, you will be the most infective between the 2nd and 3rd days after infection, and your infectivity will last for around ten days. So try to cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing, and carefully dispose of  tissues etc.</p>
<h2>NOTE:</h2>
<p>The charts below are grouped by Canadian provinces. If an upper chart line is not visible, that means the search volume is lower than the minimum requirement for chart display. If you see a sudden spike in the chart for your area though, you should be extra careful around your classmates or coworkers.</p>
<p><code><strong>Across Canada - Last 30 days   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=mtd&amp;geo=CA&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code><span id="more-65"></span></p>
<p><code><strong>Across Canada - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=CA&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Ontario - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.on&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Quebec - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.qc&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>British Columbia  - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.bc&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Alberta  - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.ab&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Manitoba  - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.mb&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Saskatchewan  - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.sk&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Nova Scotia - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.ns&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>New Brunswick - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.nb&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Newfoundland - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.nf&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Prince Edward Island - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.pe&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Northwest Territories - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.nt&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Yukon - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.yt&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p><code><strong>Nunavut - Past 12 Months   *Auto Updated*</strong><br />
<img src="http://www.google.com/trends/viz?q=flu&amp;date=ytd&amp;geo=can.nu&amp;graph=weekly_img&amp;sort=0&amp;sa=N" width=524 height=237 alt=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition"  title=" Google Flu Trends Canadian Edition" /></code></p>
<p>There are many types of medicine, herbs, home-remedies and everything inbetween. But I believe the best way to avoid getting sick, is simply living life as happy as possible. *Bless you!*</p>
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		<title>Picking the right Company Size for your Next Job</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/picking-company-size-next-job/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/picking-company-size-next-job/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:45:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Jobs and Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[career]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[job openings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[jobs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[opportunities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[size of company]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=64</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Fresh Grad or just doing a job search? Picking the right company size is going to save you lots of headache. This is a guide on finding the best match for you.
One of the most overlooked criteria is the size of company. At times of lowered job employment, finding a job opening is going to [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Fresh Grad or just doing a job search? Picking the right company size is going to save you lots of headache. This is a guide on finding the best match for you.</p>
<p>One of the most overlooked criteria is the size of company. At times of lowered job employment, finding a job opening is going to be more difficult. You may be tempted to just grab any job opportunities that may pop up, but think of the long term impact of such a rushed decision. You certainly don&#8217;t want to look for a job again from scratch if you rushed the decision and it didn&#8217;t work out for you.</p>
<p><a href="http://career.ucsb.edu/students/job_search/faqs.htm">According</a> to the University of California, it takes an average of 3 to 6 months to find a job. If you don&#8217;t do your research before jumping into that company, it can mean slowing down your career significantly if you don&#8217;t like the work environment.<span id="more-64"></span></p>
<p>I&#8217;ve worked at small (5-30) companies, medium firms (30-200), and large corporations (200-100,000+). Since I was a fresh graduate a long time ago, I decided to give each company size a try to see what I would like best. Nothing beats first hand experience really. However, to help you with your decision though, here is a list of attributes for each company size:</p>
<table style="height: 52px;" border="2" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="3" width="99%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td width="50%" align="center" valign="middle"><strong>Small Size<br />
</strong></td>
<td width="50%" align="center" valign="middle"><strong>Large Size </strong></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td align="center" valign="top">Less PayLess or Zero Benefits</p>
<p>On Avg No Dress Code</p>
<p>Pick up greater variety of skills</p>
<p>More chance to show off skills</p>
<p>Less Job Security</p>
<p>Fluctuating Career Path</td>
<td align="center" valign="top">More PayMost Benefits</p>
<p>Higher chance of Dress Code</p>
<p>Restrictive boundaries of work</p>
<p>Less chance to get noticed</p>
<p>Higher Job Security</p>
<p>Steady Career Path</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p>There are many pros and cons for each company size, but it really comes down to your career preferences.</p>
<p><strong>Here is a list of questions you have to ask yourself:</strong></p>
<ol>
<li>Are you looking for a higher pay right away or would you like to learn more now to build up momentum for later on?</li>
<li>Are you planning to use many of the medical, optical and dental benefits associated with larger corporations?</li>
<li>Are you someone who have a problem with dressing up everyday or keeping a corporate image in front of your fellow coworkers?</li>
<li>Do you mind repetitive corporate work? Or would you prefer to have something different to do every day?</li>
<li>Are you someone who would be more willing to gamble on getting noticed in a small company? Or would you rather do your job and stay in the background?</li>
<li>Do you need a higher job security immediately? Or would you settle for less job security as well?</li>
<li>Do you see yourself as someone who will climb steadily up the corporate job ladder? Or are you a daredevil who prefers to sprint your way up in a small team?</li>
</ol>
<p>Don&#8217;t settle for a crappy job environment if you can help it, you&#8217;ll regret it down the road. Find something suitable for you, because you will feel happier everyday and be more healthy in the long run. That&#8217;s one of the main reasons for making money in the first place right?</p>
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		<title>New Macbook VS hybrid tablet PC Notebook</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/macbook-hybrid-tablet-pc-notebook/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/macbook-hybrid-tablet-pc-notebook/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 05:42:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[apple macbook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[HP]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hp pavilion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[hybrid tablet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[notebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tablet pc]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[TX2623CA]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[The new Apple Macbooks are great, but Hybrid Tablet PC Notebooks have way more features. Which should you choose as a designer? Here&#8217;s my take on it: I use a Mac tower at work but I use PCs at home (Running Windows XP instead of Vista of course). I followed all the latest news on [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The new Apple Macbooks are great, but Hybrid Tablet PC Notebooks have way more features. Which should you choose as a designer? Here&#8217;s my take on it: I use a Mac tower at work but I use PCs at home (Running Windows XP instead of Vista of course). I followed all the latest news on the Macbook and Macbook Pro revamps on <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/">Mac Rumors</a> up till the day they were released, then went to see them in person.</p>
<p>The design of the new Macbooks are obviously years ahead of PC notebooks. The Macbooks are smoothly built, great heat dispersion, and OSX is great for design work. Upon asking if they had a Macbook available, I was going to purchase one right there and then. No stranger to my impulsive purchase decisions, my girlfriend stopped me by pointing out that I should check on PC notebooks as well. I thought that it was only fair I do a proper pre-purchase research.<span id="more-60"></span></p>
<p>I went to Costco to roundout my research when I saw a cool little 12.1&#8243; HP Pavilion TX2623CA notebook for $300 cheaper than the Apple Macbook. At this point I was still leaning towards the Macbook because I didn&#8217;t have a computer with OSX at home and I wanted to fill in that void. But check out this list of Pros and Cons:</p>
<p><code><strong>Apple Macbook:</strong><br />
Faster CPU @ 2.0 Core 2 Duo, 2 GB Ram.</code></p>
<p><code><strong>HP Pavilion TX2623CA:</strong><br />
AMD Athlon X2 QL-62 Dual-Core (equals to around 1.6 to 1.8 Core 2 Duo), 4 GB Ram.</code></p>
<p><code><strong>Apple Macbook:</strong><br />
Great heat dispersion, more advanced track pad, looks very sleek, runs OSX.</code></p>
<p><code><strong>HP Pavilion TX2623CA:</strong><br />
Heats up very quickly and needs a cooling pad or laptop fan, not as sleek looking by far, runs Windows.</code><br />
At this point the Macbook is slightly ahead even with the $300 difference. Then I read on and saw the awesome features the HP has:</p>
<p><code><strong>Features:</strong><br />
Fingerprint reader, memory card reader, Altec Lansing Speakers, touch screen, rotatable/convertible tablet screen(can flip the screen to collapse into a tablet configuration), built-in wacom tablet on screen, 2 headphone jacks, standard remote control.</code><br />
<strong>Screw the Macbook.</strong> The HP costs less, has more ram, a cool finger print reader that I can show off to friends, a rotatable screen that I can use for adhoc presentations Tablet style, and a built-in screen wacom. The Wacom Cintiq 12WX (12&#8243; Wacom tablet with a built in screen) costs $1,000 by itself. And now if I buy this HP I get it built-in already? Now that&#8217;s a great deal.</p>
<p>With a built-in Cintiq Wacom, I can use Photoshop or Painter to sketch out a few masterpieces or take notes during presentations. I was going to hook up a regular Wacom tablet to the Macbook anyways, but now this makes it infinitely more convenient.</p>
<p>Needless to say, I fell in love with the <a href="http://h10010.www1.hp.com/wwpc/ca/en/ho/WF06b/321957-321957-3329744-64354-64354-3795112-3810257.html">HP TX2623CA</a> and been using it since. But what do you think of my decision to sacrifice OSX in exchange for additional features? Am I nuts?</p>
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		<title>Melamine Contaminated Food List</title>
		<link>http://creativeherb.com/unofficial-melamine-contaminated-food-list/</link>
		<comments>http://creativeherb.com/unofficial-melamine-contaminated-food-list/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 03:20:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>CreativeHerb</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[News and Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[contaminated food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kidney stones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Melamine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[milk products]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pet food recall]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://creativeherb.com/?p=54</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For all items on this page: Please do NOT be alarmed if a familiar brand of food is on this list, because it is unlikely to be still contaminated at this point. I am keeping this list up for references and because there is no guarantee all retail outlets will have cleared 100% of their [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span class="newsbody"><strong>For all items on this page:</strong> Please do NOT be alarmed if a familiar brand of food is on this list, because it is unlikely to be still contaminated at this point. I am keeping this list up for references and </span><span class="newsbody">because there is no guarantee all retail outlets will have cleared <strong>100%</strong> of their old contaminated supplies. Just watch out for some of the products with lengthy expiration dates, or if it is sitting in a dusty corner of an old convenience store.</span></p>
<p>This is the most comprehensive list of Melamine contaminated food currently available, make sure you&#8217;re not eating any of this stuff.  Note: I&#8217;ve included everything in a global list, as the product ingredients may come from anywhere due to possible product mislabeling.</p>
<h3>UPDATE: January 22, 2009</h3>
<p><span class="newsbody"> The verdict is in, death penalties for the 2 men responsible for the Melamine scandal, and life imprisonment for others. I&#8217;ve always been unsure about the death penalty because nothing good is accomplished through vengeance. I&#8217;d rather they be put on 100,000 hours of public service or something. Here&#8217;s an excerpt of the news from <a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/4315627/Two-sentenced-to-death-over-China-melamine-milk-scandal.html">Telegraph</a>: </span></p>
<blockquote><p>China yesterday handed down death sentences to two men accused of responsibility for the tainted milk scandal which killed at least six babies and sickened hundreds of thousands of others.The head of the country&#8217;s biggest milk powder company, Sanlu, was spared the death penalty but was sentenced to life in prison and fined more than £2 million.</p>
<p>The sentences are an indication of the embarrassment felt by the Communist Party&#8217;s senior leadership over the scandal, in which a poisonous chemical was added to milk supplies for months, if not years, without being detected.</p></blockquote>
<h3>UPDATE: November 27, 2008</h3>
<p><span class="newsbody">In the United States, a single sample of infant formula<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/11/25/infant.formula.melamine/index.html"> tested positive</a> for Melamine. The dosage is safely below the safety threshold at less than 250 parts per billion. Last month the FDA has set the threshold to be 2500 parts per billion for non-infant-formula foods. The source of this particular case of Melamine is not from China, but possibly from the local manufacturing process or can liners. </span></p>
<p><span class="newsbody">It is believed that low traces of Melamine can be found in many of the processed foods we consume. That can&#8217;t be too good for your health after a while right? Time to start up my own garden.<br />
</span></p>
<h3>UPDATE: November 21, 2008</h3>
<p><strong>World/Sri Lanka:</strong> Fans of <a href="http://www.ednagroup.com/">Edna Chocolates</a> (company based in Columbo, Sri Lanka, with exports to China and the world), informed me of a recent high court decision to release all restrictions on Edna Chocolates. I did a little investigation and found that Edna Chocolates <a href="http://bandaragama.wordpress.com/2008/10/22/lab-report-confirms-melamine-in-edna-chocolates/">previously</a> held media conferences in October, to proclaim their chocolates free of Melamine, even when lab tests showed <strong>otherwise</strong>. How typical to instantly deny all wrongdoings and sacrificing safety to preserve their public image and profits.</p>
<p>I have investigated several <a href="http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=32905">seemingly</a> trustworthy <a href="http://www.lankapuvath.lk/index.php?option=com_content&amp;task=view&amp;id=4295&amp;Itemid=76">sources</a> regarding this recent claim, but I also contacted the Sri Lanka <a href="http://www.slmfa.gov.lk">Ministry</a> of Foreign Affairs directly to confirm it. Can&#8217;t blame me for being extra cautious with this, based on Edna Chocolate&#8217;s previous bogus media announcements. Will update as soon as I get a response. Here&#8217;s an excerpt from <a href="http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/November21141215RA.html">Columbo Page</a> talking about the Nov 21 High Court decision:</p>
<blockquote>
<p align="justify">Nov 21, Colombo: Consumer Affairs ministry in Sri Lanka says that the milk products gone for laboratory tests in Singapore are clear of melamine.</p>
<p align="justify">Officials of Ministry of Trade, Marketing Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Services today announced that they have tested 30 milk food products in Singapore after the Chinese tragedy few months ago.</p>
<p align="justify">All the 30 products tested are now being confirmed free of melamine in its content, the Ministry said.</p>
<p align="justify">Meanwhile Colombo High Court today ruled that Edna Chocolates do not contain Melamine following a report submitted to the Courts by the Health Ministry.</p>
<p align="justify">The Court lifted all restrictions imposed earlier on the production, distribution, and sale of Edna products.</p>
</blockquote>
<h3>UPDATE: November 18, 2008</h3>
<p><strong>U.S./Canada: </strong>Apparently some <strong>non-dairy</strong> coffee mixes from Korea <a href="http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_29252.aspx">contained milk</a> and it is <strong>not</strong> listed as part of the ingredients. This is bad news for vegans or people with milk allergies, so be on the alert. And since the milk came from the Asia area, not sure if Melamine could be involved at this point, since it is not officially an ingredient of the product. What else sneaked by with milk as an unlisted ingredient? Here&#8217;s the full list:</p>
<p><strong>Affected Products<br />
</strong><em>Listed by brand, product, size, UPC</em></p>
<ul>
<li>Maxim Coffee Mix Original 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019476<br />
Maxim Coffee Mix 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019667<br />
Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019667<br />
Maxim Coffee Mix 1800 g (12 g x 150) 8 801037 032581<br />
Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 1800 g (12 g x 150) 8 801037 032581<br />
Maxim Coffee Mix   240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 006391<br />
Maxim Mocha Gold Mild   240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 006391<br />
Maxim Coffee Mix  186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134<br />
Maxim Mocha Gold Mild  186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134<br />
Maxim Well-Being 1/2 Calories  186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134<br />
Maxim Coffee Mix Ice 183 g (18.3 g x 10) 8 801037 038972<br />
Maxim Cappuccino Mocha   360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031300<br />
Maxim Cappuccino Hazelnut   360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031317<br />
Maxim Cappuccino Vanilla   360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031324</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Maxwell House Coffee Mix Original   240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 035650<br />
Maxwell House Coffee Mix Original   600 g (12 g x 50) 8 801037 035667</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Taster&#8217;s Choice Coffee Mix   240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801055 126316<br />
Taster&#8217;s Choice Coffee Mix 1.2 kg (12 g x 100) 8 801055 126606<br />
Taster&#8217;s Choice Coffee Mix Mocha 1.2 kg (12 g x 100) 8 801055 126538<br />
Taster&#8217;s Choice Well-Being Milk 189 g (12.6 g x 15) 8 801055 028672</li>
</ul>
<h3>UPDATE: November 11, 2008</h3>
<p><strong>India: </strong>Will this never end? Apparently massive amounts of Melamine contaminated milk products <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Toxic_Chinese_milk_products_may_have_entered_India/articleshow/3692859.cms">entered India</a> recently, due to the demand for cheaper milk products from China. I guess you get what you pay for. And this is right after India <a href="http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/India_bans_milk_products_from_China_for_three_months/articleshow/3525993.cms">banned</a> milk product imports from China for 3 months back in September 2008, which was 2 months ago. Something doesn&#8217;t quite add up here&#8230;<span id="more-54"></span></p>
<p><strong>Thailand:</strong> Apparently Thailand <a href="http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/omnivore/2008/11/11/thai-fire-crackers/">burned</a> 33,000 melamine contaminated food items to show how serious they are with culling the problematic products. The problem is, since Melamine has <a href="http://sundaytimes.lk/081102/Plus/sundaytimesplus_14.html">66% nitrogen</a> in mass, and it releases Nitrogen when burned, it will also displace oxygen in the same place. I hope they weren&#8217;t just throwing all that stuff into the bonfire, because it&#8217;s going to kill more than a few brain cells.</p>
<p><strong>Pet Food Scandal Reminder: </strong>Claim <a href="http://www.petfoodsettlement.com/">deadline</a>: November 24th, 2008.</p>
<h3>UPDATE: November 6, 2008</h3>
<blockquote><p>After a <a href="http://english.ntdtv.com/?c=145&amp;a=5781">massive inspection</a> of animal feed manufacturers, China’s Agricultural Ministry has confiscated and destroyed over 36 hundred tons of melamine-contaminated feed.</p></blockquote>
<p>&lt;sarcasm&gt;Good thing everyone learned their lesson from the <a href="http://www.macleans.ca/business/companies/article.jsp?content=20070430_104326_104326">big pet food scandal</a> before. &lt;/sarcasm&gt;</p>
<p>Here&#8217;s another new recall <a href="http://visitbulgaria.info/vietnam-finds-melamine-imported-milk-cookies">headline</a> or <a href="http://blogs.customhouseguide.com/news/?p=1918">two</a>.  &#8220;Vietnam finds melamine in imported milk, cookies&#8221;. More items to add to the kill list.</p>
<p>It has already sickened more than 50,000 babies and even caused multiple deaths. Be aware of what you and your children are eating, especially with all those Halloween candies around. Officials are discovering more and more melamine contaminated foods on the international market. Whether you live near the majorly affected areas or not is irrelevant because of the global exports of many of the products.</p>
<p>Some products found in your local stores may not even be officially sanctioned to be imported, just to bypass local distribution restrictions and fees.Here&#8217;s a list of all the melamine recalled or alerted items I compiled from various sources on the internet.</p>
<h2>What is Melamine?</h2>
<p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melamine">Melamine</a> is a chemical used in plastics and fertilizer production and is dangerous to humans. It can cause<br />
kidney stones, death, and other ailments, this is the same industrial contaminant from China that poisoned and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2007_pet_food_recalls">killed thousands</a> of U.S. dogs and cats last year.</p>
<p>Dishonest suppliers in China used melamine to trick milk product protein testers after watering down the milk products. Because it mimics the effects of protein, melamine disguises the watering down of the product.</p>
<p>More than <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/09/got-melamine-china-contamination-milk.php">53,000 babies</a> became ill and even caused death for some.</p>
<p><strong>Symptoms of Melamine Poisoning:</strong><br />
Irritability, blood in urine, little or no urine, signs of kidney infection, high blood pressure.</p>
<p><strong>Detecting Melamine:<br />
</strong>And in case you want to do a little scientific confirmation, here&#8217;s how to <a href="http://irmm.jrc.ec.europa.eu/html/activities/melamine/index.htm">detect Melamine</a> contamination in food and feed.</p>
<p><strong>If you have more items to add, please leave a comment to let everyone know!</strong></p>
<h2>The Global Melamine Contaminated Food List:</h2>
<p><strong><em>Eggs from the following companies:</em></strong></p>
<ul>
<li> Hanovo Foods Co Ltd.</li>
<li> Green Living Beings</li>
</ul>
<p><em><strong>Recalled or Contaminated Brands and Products in and around Asia:</strong><br />
</em>(some are exported to North America and Europe)</p>
<p><strong>BOLDED Items are recent additions:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Ann Summers sex shops: &#8220;I Love You&#8221; Chocolate Body Spreads</strong></li>
<li><strong>Aomeiduo</strong> <strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>BAIRONG GRAPE CREAM CRACKERS<br />
Bairong Taro Biscuits</li>
<li>Beijing Shuangwa Daily Co</li>
<li>Bright Dairy &amp; Food Co. (caution on all products)</li>
<li>Cadbury chocolate blueberry flavor and coffee flavor<br />
Cadbury Dark Chocette, 45g and 80g<br />
Cadbury Eclairs, 180g<br />
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate, 150g<br />
Cadbury Pumpkin and 300g Chinese New Year 2008<br />
Cadbury Dark Chocolate, 40g<br />
Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate Bulk Pack, 5kg<br />
Cadbury Dark Chocolate Bulk Pack, 5kg<br />
Cadbury Dairy Milk Hazelnut Chocolate Bulk Pack, 5kg<br />
Cadbury Dairy Milk Cookies Chocolate Bulk Pack, and 5kg<br />
Cadbury Hazelnut Praline Chocolate, 312g (2008 Chinese New Year).</li>
<li>Dalian Hanovo Foods<br />
Dalilan Greensnow Eggproducts Development</li>
<li>Danyang Day &#8211; Rice Crackers</li>
<li>DOVE H/NUT ALM &amp; RAISIN CHOC<br />
DOVE HAZELNUT CHOC<br />
DOVE MILK CHOCOLATE</li>
<li>DREYERS CAKE MIX<br />
DREYERS CHOC CAKE ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS COOKIE &amp; CREAM ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS MINT CHIP ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS ROCKY ROAD ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS STRAWBERRY ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS TOAST ALMOND ICE CREAM<br />
DREYERS VANILLA ICE CREAM</li>
<li>DUTCH LADY &#8211; caution on all products</li>
<li><strong>Edna Chocolate  (Now possibly cleared by Sri Lanka High Courts)</strong></li>
<li>EDO Pack Almond Cacao Biscuit Sticks</li>
<li>FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM S ONION CRACKERS<br />
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SALTINE CRACKERS<br />
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SEAWEED CRACKERS<br />
FIRST CHOICE CALCIUM SESAME CRACKERS</li>
<li>Four Seas Cake</li>
<li>GINBIS ANIMAL BISCUIT<br />
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL BUTTER BISC<br />
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL CNUT<br />
GINBIS PARTY ANIMAL SEAWEED BIS</li>
<li><strong>Glico Pocky Men&#8217;s Coffee Cream Coated Biscuit Stick</strong></li>
<li>Gold Nutritionals Master Gaine powdered milk</li>
<li><strong>Gold 1-10 milk powder</strong></li>
<li>Gosohan ssalgwaja&#8221; (tasty rice snack)</li>
<li>GREEN FOOD YILI PURE MILK</li>
<li><strong>Gucheng</strong> <strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>Heinz Intelligence Man Many Vegetable Cereal</li>
<li><strong>Huimin</strong> <strong> Infant Milk Formulas<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>JACOBINA &#8211; Fresh and Crispy Jacobina Biscuits<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>Jinbishi </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas<br />
</strong></li>
<li><strong>Jinding </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>Jolly Cow Slender Milk</li>
<li>Kaiser Dressing Pretzel (Chocolate and Strawberry)</li>
<li><strong>Keqi </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>KIRIN MILK TEA</li>
<li>KOALA COCOA BISCUIT</li>
<li>KRAFT OREO W/STICK WH CHOC<br />
KRAFT OREO WAFER STICKS</li>
<li><strong>Leilei</strong> <strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>Lemon Puff Munchee</li>
<li><strong>Lexus Cheese Cream<br />
Lexus Chocolate Cream<br />
Lexus Peanut Cream</strong></li>
<li>LIPTON GREEN MILK TEA (UNILEVER)</li>
<li>LOTTE KOALA COOKIES (all)<br />
LOTTE CREAM CHEESE CAKE</li>
<li>M&amp;M CHOC CANDIES PEANUT<br />
M&amp;M CHOC CANDIES PLAIN<br />
M&amp;M FUNSIZE MILK<br />
M&amp;M FUNSIZE PEANUT</li>
<li>Magnum ice cream</li>
<li>MALI Condensed Milk</li>
<li>**Thanks to <em>Robbie Sheik</em> for this one:<br />
Masters Choice Milk Whitener *Possible Contamination*<br />
&#8220;Product of USA” but the barcode number is 69200 24500,which means made in China, 692),please beware.&#8221;</li>
<li>MEIJI CHESTNUT &amp; REDBEAN<br />
MEIJI FAMILY PACK-GREEN TEA<br />
MEIJI UJIKINTOKI<br />
MEIJI UMAKABO CHOCOLATE</li>
<li>MENGNIU ORIGINAL DRINK MILK<br />
Mengniu Strawberry Flavour Sour Milk Beverage<br />
Mengniu &#8211; caution on all products</li>
<li>MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT<br />
MENTOS BOTTLE YOGHURT PROMO PK</li>
<li>Misarang Coconut<br />
Misarang Custard</li>
<li>Milk Rusk from J&amp;J International</li>
<li>MONMILK &#8211; caution on all products</li>
<li>Moosandwich ice cream</li>
<li>Mr. Brown Mandheling Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown Arabica Instant Coffee (3-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown Blue Mountain Blend Instant Coffee (3-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown Caramel Macchiato Instant Coffee (3-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown French Vanilla Instant Coffee (3-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown Mandhling Blend instant Coffee (2-in-1)<br />
Mr. Brown Milk Tea (3-in-1)</li>
<li>Munchee Lemon Puff biscuits</li>
<li>NABISCO IN A BISKIT CHICKEN<br />
Nabisco &#8211; Ritz cracker cheese</li>
<li>Natural Choice Yogurt Flavoured Ice Bar with Real Fruit</li>
<li><strong>Nanshan </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>NESTLE MILK &amp; BERRY STARS CRL<br />
NESTLE NES D/STICK MINI VANILLA<br />
NESTLE NES DISTICK MINI CHOCO<br />
Nestle Dairy Farm UHT Pure Milk 1L</li>
<li>Nissin Cha Cha Dessert</li>
<li>NO FRILLS WAFER BLUEBERRY<br />
NO FRILLS WAFER CHOCOLATE<br />
NO FRILLS WAFER PEANUT</li>
<li>OK OK Kaiser Strawberry Dressing Pretzels<br />
OK OK Kaiser Chocolate Dressing Pretzels</li>
<li>Oreo Wafer Sticks</li>
<li>ORION FRESH PIE<br />
ORION TIRAMISU</li>
<li>Panda Dairy Whole Milk Powder<br />
<strong>Panda Kabao Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>PEI TIAN CREAM BISCUIT</li>
<li>Pokka Melon Milk<br />
Pokka Cappuccino Coffee<br />
Pokka Milk Coffee Europe</li>
<li>RABBIT MILK SWEET</li>
<li>Ritz Bits Cracker Sandwiches Cheese</li>
<li>S &amp; P Milk Cookies</li>
<li>Silang House of Steamed Potato Wasabi Crackers</li>
<li>Sherwood Pirate&#8217;s Gold milk chocolate coins</li>
<li><strong>Shien</strong> <strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>SILANG NATURAL OAT CRACKER</li>
<li>SNICKERS CANDIES FUNSIZE<br />
SNICKERS PEANUT CHOCOLATE<br />
SNICKERS SNACKSIZE BARS PNUT<br />
SNICKERS FUNSIZE</li>
<li>TAKE ONE BABY BITE CARROT<br />
TAKE ONE BABY BITE CK VG<br />
TAKE ONE BABY BITES</li>
<li><strong>Tong Wang Yang Coconut Cakes, Walnut Cakes</strong></li>
<li>VITASOY CHOCOLATE MILK<br />
VITASOY MELON SOYA MILK<br />
VITASOY Q SOYA MILK</li>
<li>WANT WANT MILK CANDY<br />
WANT WANT FLAVOURED MILK</li>
<li>WHITE RABBIT CREAMY CANDY</li>
<li>Wuzhou BingQuan Soy Milk</li>
<li><strong>Yashili </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>YILI HI CAL LO FAT MILK<br />
YILI HI CAL MILK<br />
YILI PURE MILK<br />
Yili Bean Club Matcha red bean ice bar<br />
Yili Bean Club- Red bean milk bar<br />
Yili Prestige Chocliz &#8211; Dark Chocolate Bar<br />
Yili Super Bean Red Bean Chestnut Ice Bar<br />
Yili &#8211; caution on all products</li>
<li><strong>Yingxiong </strong><strong> Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
<li>YOUCAN MASTERBEAN MULTIPACK<br />
YOUCAN PASSION MULTIPACK<br />
YOUCAN SILK SLICED AND PASSION STRAWBERRY<br />
YOUCAN STRAWBERRY MULTIPACK<br />
YOUCAN TRADITIONAL SESAME MULTIPACK<br />
YOUCAN UNUSUAL MULTIPACK</li>
<li>Yuchang F.C. Coffee Creamer</li>
<li><strong>Yubao  Infant Milk Formulas</strong></li>
</ul>
<p><strong>If you have more items to add, please leave a comment to let everyone know. And please feel free to share this article through Digg, Buzz or other link luving. Thanks!<br />
</strong></p>
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