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There’s one major flaw with Google Flu Trends, it doesn’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 generates location-based search-trends statistics based on “Flu” related words. It can help to predict outbreaks of Flu (Influenza), 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.

Of course you shouldn’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.

NOTE:

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.

Across Canada - Last 30 days *Auto Updated*
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This is the most comprehensive list of Melamine contaminated food currently available, make sure you’re not eating any of this stuff. Note: I’ve included everything in a global list, as the product ingredients may come from anywhere due to possible product mislabeling.

UPDATE: November 18, 2008

U.S./Canada: Apparently some non-dairy coffee mixes from Korea contained milk and it is not 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’s the full list:

Affected Products
Listed by brand, product, size, UPC

• Maxim Coffee Mix Original 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019476
  Maxim Coffee Mix 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019667
  Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 1200 g (12 g x 100) 8 801037 019667
  Maxim Coffee Mix 1800 g (12 g x 150) 8 801037 032581
  Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 1800 g (12 g x 150) 8 801037 032581
  Maxim Coffee Mix 240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 006391
  Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 006391
  Maxim Coffee Mix 186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134
  Maxim Mocha Gold Mild 186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134
  Maxim Well-Being 1/2 Calories 186 g (9.3 g x 20) 8 801037 034134
  Maxim Coffee Mix Ice 183 g (18.3 g x 10) 8 801037 038972
  Maxim Cappuccino Mocha 360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031300
  Maxim Cappuccino Hazelnut 360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031317
  Maxim Cappuccino Vanilla 360 g (18 g x 20) 8 801037 031324

• Maxwell House Coffee Mix Original 240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801037 035650
  Maxwell House Coffee Mix Original 600 g (12 g x 50) 8 801037 035667

• Taster’s Choice Coffee Mix 240 g (12 g x 20) 8 801055 126316
  Taster’s Choice Coffee Mix 1.2 kg (12 g x 100) 8 801055 126606
  Taster’s Choice Coffee Mix Mocha 1.2 kg (12 g x 100) 8 801055 126538
  Taster’s Choice Well-Being Milk 189 g (12.6 g x 15) 8 801055 028672

UPDATE: November 11, 2008

India: Will this never end? Apparently massive amounts of Melamine contaminated milk products entered India 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 banned milk product imports from China for 3 months back in September 2008, which was 2 months ago. Something doesn’t quite add up here… (more…)

Certain people surpass all odds to survive in a disaster ,where many others may die. Want to know the secret to survival beyond all odds? I have a few ideas. It’s usually not even based on skill or strength, it’s actually about being humble. CNN.com wrote an interesting article here about it, even saying that the Rambo type people tend to die first. So maybe the movie stereotypes are true after all. (more…)