Tag Archives: swine flu

Answers.com 2009 Year in Review.

Break out the bubbly – it’s that time of year again.

It’s time to celebrate turning one year older and one year wiser (er, well, at least one year older). Let’s take some time to sit back and reflect on some of the most inspiring, outrageous, unfortunate and touching stories of 2009 through the eyes of Answers.com’s most curious contributors.

History was made as the first African American president of the United States was inaugurated into office. A record number of people watched President Barack Obama’s moment in person, as well as from their TV sets and computers around the world. But wouldn’t it have been even better to have been a fly on the White House wall that day? On second thought, maybe not…

Speaking of TV, the commercials of the year go to:

  1. Corona, for casting a mysterious hot babe in their beach-front ad…
  2. Geico, for vocals, animation and ingenuity…
  3. HTC, for getting us pumped with song…

…combine ‘em all and you have a jamming pothole in a white bikini!

If you’re not on Facebook, that means two things. First of all, you are a freak of nature. Second, you missed playing the top three hottest apps on the site: Mafia Wars, YoVille and Farmville. Lucky for you, the WikiAnswers community can answer that question you’ve been dying to know: How do you get the purple sheep in Farmville?

While on the topic of animals, it would be wise to note that our little oinker friend, however cute and tasty, is being held responsible for one of the worst virus scares in history. When the World Health Organization raised the warning level for H1N1 to a shocking level 6 (global pandemic), everyone wanted to know how to avoid the Swine Flu.

Although sickness is avoidable, death, unfortunately, is not. This year saw many fallen stars, such as: gossip columnist James Brady, Charlie’s Angel Farrah Fawcett, Dirty Dancer Patrick Swayze, U.S. Senate powerhouse Ted Kennedy, ‘most trusted man’ Walter Cronkite, all-around actress Natasha Richardson, ‘philosopher of adolescence’ John Hughes and globally-recognized pop music legend Michael Jackson. RIP.

Those stars passed away, while other stars killed their own reputations. Kanye West ripped the mic out of Taylor Swift’s hands faster than Chris Brown could throw a punch at Rihanna. ‘Jon and Kate Plus Eight’ was renamed ‘Kate Plus Eight’ after Jon supposedly strayed from his wife. Tiger Woods was also outed as an 18-hole ‘Cheetah.’

But fret not! Many other rising celebrities have proven their worth to the public in 2009. Underdog Susan Boyle was, at one point this year, the most YouTubed person in the world. She ‘dreamed a dream’ – and so did Justin Bieber, a 15-year-old singing prodigy who became famous after posting his work online.

Another irresistible YouTube sensation included the ‘Forever’ wedding dance.

The Yankees also performed well this year and won the World Series for the 27th time. Baseball was a great distraction from the economic recession, which started with the crash of the stock market in 2008 and led to a global scare – and stimulus plan – in 2009.

Almost as scary was your grandma trying to figure out the conversion box for the TV to HDTV switch.

Why not just ask for the directions on Twitter? Any computer-literate person knows that information is just a twitter – I mean, a tweet – away.

Tweeting was one of the ways many learned about Captain ‘Sully’ Sullenburger’s safe landing of US Airways Flight 1549 into the Hudson River, after both engines had been struck by birds. He even sparked a new phrase… Way to ‘land it in the Hudson,’ Sully!

What would Oprah have to say about all this? You have about one more year to ask. To the disappointment of millions, she announces this year is the last season of her show.

Avatar posterWipe those tears from your eyes and put on some 3D glasses. It’s time to go see Avatar! The 500 million dollar blockbuster is making history as the most expensive movie ever made. If the storyline of Avatar is a predecessor for the future, I’m all smiles. Who wouldn’t want to welcome in the New Year with an aesthetically-proportioned blue giant trying to save the universe?

Happy New Year, everyone! We hope 2010 proves to be another year of getting your questions answered… on Answers.com, of course.

Can’t See D4est for the Trees?

CleopatraPut those spectacles back on, ’cause she’s right here! We’re talking about one of WikiAnswers’ finest – D4est. Also known as Deb, D4est loves the call of the wild and freedom to roam that being a Floating Supervisor provides – although she does admit to having lots of fun (while learning something along the way) answering questions about the Swine Flu. With all the rapidly changing information, it has been a fun, rewarding challenge for this nurse extraordinaire who had this to say about the experience: “To be able to give education on prevention and be sure that questions are answered correctly without nonsense or panic on such a serious issue has been wonderful.”

Dying to know more about this modern-day Cleopatra? Keep those spectacles firmly attached to your nose ledge and read on!

What other positions do you hold on WikiAnswers.com?

I’m currently in the Silver Contributor level but will reach 50K soon… I’m looking forward to that. I’m not officially on Vandal Patrol but I bust as many as I find *big smile*. I’m an unofficial cheerleader for the Mentoring Program, too. I think that it is great that we have such a large and good group of Mentors for new Supervisors to work with and learn from. I just got a coveted “Bug Catcher” badge; I’ve wanted one of those ever since the new design came out. I think it is the butterflies that got me. You may have seen my Oscar-like “Acceptance Speech” on the Supervisor’s Forum when I got it, it was all big fun, but there was an element of truth underlying it, since it really is special to me. I unofficially help Star Wanderer with the Endangered Species category but otherwise, I’ve kept pretty footloose and fancy free, and, well… unofficial.

What is your age?

Lordy lordy lordy – it is scary but I just turned older than dirt in May. I am fast approaching the Sexagenarian milestone… or maybe I should say millstone… but it does have a nice ring to it (blush).

Are you the parent of any four-legged, winged, furry or otherwise non-human children?

Missy and Tony, my Airedales. Missy is a certified Therapy Assistance Dog. Tony is a snuggler who loves people and makes a fantastic visiting companion dog. Both are smart as can be and comedians like all Airedale Terrierists.

Where do you live?

We live in the US in the Houston, Texas area… where I don’t love the summer weather when the heat and humidity are so extreme, but most of the year is actually very good weather here. We live on two wooded acres. I have had it certified as a wildlife habitat. I currently have lots of deer in and out, but also two families of deer resident in the yard (literally) – one with twin fawns and another with a single fawn all around the same speckled age. They are so fun to watch run and buck and play together. We have all types of other wildlife and birds, hummingbirds and butterflies galore. There is always what I call a “Disney Scene” out the windows with fawns lying in the grass, birds singing, baby bunnies munching nearby in the shade and a squirrel or two.

Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the US Midwest, where my love of animals and wildlife began on our 250-acre horse breeding farm.

What are some of your past and present occupation(s)?

I’m an RN, have been since the “glass age,” when IV bottles were glass, not plastic bags, syringes were glass, medicines were in glass ampules, etc. Today, of course, all those are plastic disposables. I now work at home part-time reviewing medical records for quality and appropriate billing. And I care for my 91-year-old mom who is confined to bed and requires all my knowledge of nursing care to allow me to keep her at home instead of a facility. It is a blessing for us both. My bio page has a lot of detail on my past occupations, so I’ll not go into that… too many years to cover.

Do you have any special interests or hobbies?

The list is long. I groom my Airedales and am a fan of the breed, paint watercolors, etc.  When time allows, I volunteer at the therapeutic riding stable nearby, grow hot chiles and am a fire-eating chilehead.  I also love to listen to music of any type, but especially jazz and blues and new age.

What do you like to do for recreation?

Not a lot of time for it, but it usually involves my dogs, animals and the woods. I love to play Texas Hold’em poker and other things that currently take a back seat to WikiAnswers.

Do you own any collections?

Antiques, coffee tins, grinders and other antique and collectible coffee related items.  We had a fresh roasted coffee shop back in the ’70s – too many decades ahead of our time for the Starbuck’s money. *snap*

Do you have any special talents?

I can juggle *smile*, gourmet cooking, flower designs, art, textiles and soft sculpture.

What are some accomplishments that you are proud of?

Designed our home and had it custom constructed. Pretty good poker player.

What brought you to WikiAnswers.com?

I forget now, but I believe I was looking up something and saw tempting questions to answer and got hooked.

What keeps you coming back to WikiAnswers.com?

Addiction at first. Now it is mostly the people, but the addiction is still a big part.

What is your favorite WikiAnswers.com activity?

Right now it is keeping up with the Swine Flu questions and updates. But one of my favorite things to do is work on alts… splitting and merging and moving.

How would you describe yourself or your personality?

I don’t take myself too seriously and love to laugh. I appreciate friends. I can’t help nurturing. I’m an activist on health care reform, nature, environmental issues and climate, green energy jobs and reduction of our use of fossil fuels. I’m Cleopatra, Queen of Denial, when it comes to thinking about my age. I have equally good friends from age 14 to 94. Age is just a number.

Pandemic pandemonium

Answers.com’s top 1-click search term this week is pandemic (if you don’t know what 1-click is, check here; it’s incredibly handy for looking things up without leaving the web page you’re looking at). And no wonder: the WHO set the influenza pandemic alert at 5 out of a possible 6.

Pandemic is from pan, meaning all, and demos, meaning people (both from ancient Greek). So a pandemic is something (well, not just something; it’s a disease) that affects all (well, not all, but lots of) people. It differs from an epidemic (a widespread outbreak of a contagious disease) in that it is, well, more widespread. Demos gives us democracy, government by the people; demographics, characteristics of populations; and demagogue, a leader who appeals to popular prejudice. Pan gives us words like panorama, a view of an entire area, and pantheism, the belief that God is in everything.

So, pandemic is clearly word of the week. The Pandora’s box has been opened and it will take plenty of time and effort till we can declare it closed again. We can’t be Panglossian about this crisis, but on the other hand panic won’t help matters. Let’s just be prepared.