Difference between a cold and H1N1 flu symptoms

H1N1症状同普通感冒症状的比较。

H1N1 flu is about to be upon us and we need to be on top of information regarding it. Here is a comparison to the normal cold symptoms .

Know the Difference between a Cold and H1N1 Flu Symptoms

Symptom Cold H1N1 Flu
Fever Fever is rare with a cold. Fever is usually present with the flu in up to 80% of all flu cases. A temperature of 100°F or higher for 3 to 4 days is associated with the H1N1 flu.
Coughing A hacking, productive (mucus- producing) cough is often present with a cold. A non-productive (non-mucus producing) cough is usually present with the H1N1 flu (sometimes referred to as dry cough).
Aches Slight body aches and pains can be part of a cold. Severe aches and pains are common with the H1N1 flu.
Stuffy Nose Stuffy nose is commonly present with a cold and typically resolves spontaneously within a week. Stuffy nose is not commonly present with the H1N1 flu.
Chills Chills are uncommon with a cold. 60% of people who have the H1N1 flu experience chills.
Tiredness Tiredness is fairly mild with a cold. Tiredness is moderate to severe with the H1N1 flu.
Sneezing Sneezing is commonly present with a cold. Sneezing is not common with the H1N1 flu.
Sudden Symptoms Cold symptoms tend to develop over a few days. The H1N1 flu has a rapid onset within 3-6 hours. The flu hits hard and includes sudden symptoms like high fever, aches and pains.
Headache A headache is fairly uncommon with a cold. A headache is very common with the H1N1 flu, present in 80% of flu cases.
Sore Throat Sore throat is commonly present with a cold. Sore throat is not commonly present with the  H1N1 flu.
Chest Discomfort Chest discomfort is mild to moderate with a cold. Chest discomfort is often severe with the H1N1 flu.

B2 赴美旅游探亲签证流程总结篇

(重要提示:所有表格和费用请按照美国大使馆网站上的信息为准,以下信息仅作参考。)

邀请父母来美步骤(超级详细)

邀请人的材料

1. 邀请信 (中英文各一,上班的可以让单位写,当然这些信主要是说明你的身份收入等情况的, 来参加毕业典礼的就说毕业,没的就说你忙的回不去,又很想念父母,还有其它的结婚 什么的就因人而易。)

2. 邀请人在美身份证明。 I-20 (or I-797 for H1B), passport, visa, I94, and social security card photocopies.

3. 亲属关系证明,比如出生公证,亲属关系公证,说明你跟被邀请人的关系。

4. 财力证明。I-134 表(我觉得最好还是有,反正是个容易的小表表):

http://www.uscis.gov/portal/site/uscis/menuitem.5af9bb95919f35e66f614176543f6d1a/?vgnextoid=fe3647a55773d010VgnVCM10000048f3d6a1RCRD&vgnextchannel=7d316c0b4c3bf110VgnVCM1000004718190aRCRD

填完以后找个公证员 (notary)公证一下,很多象秘书一类的人都有个公证员的小本本, 找找你们学校(单位)的directory就好了。一份10块钱,给父母分别作一份 (遇上好人应该只收你一份钱)。

有了I-134, 还要加一些supporting material. 一般来说,付上3个月左右的银行statement, 或者让银行给个reference letter (要等2周左右,有的银行,比如wellsfargo,这个服务是收钱的,而且checking and saving开在两封信上,收20块,Citibank 是免费的)最后再附上你近期的工资单。W-2也可以附上。

5. 其它的材料根具个人情况而定:来参加毕业典礼的,可以附成绩单,学位证明,还没答辩的找研究生院写信(他们也可以写邀请信),结婚还可以附配偶的材料(同上2,4)。

Continue reading B2 赴美旅游探亲签证流程总结篇

芦笋尿

车里总是备着一本闲书,孩子们睡着,我陪着的时候消遣用的。目前放着的是《怎么把仓鼠做成化石》,NewScientist 出的科普书之一,更出名的一本叫《企鹅为什么不冻脚》。前一阵子,悠悠睡着了,我打开翻到一篇“Aromatic pee”,芳香的尿。讲的是吃芦笋后,尿尿会有股浓重的怪味的现象。这篇让我觉得特别有趣,因为它印证了个人经验。

到德国后,我多次发觉尿尿有点怪味。说怪,因为它不寻常,其实我觉得是股香味。刚开始以为泌尿系统出了问题。出现数次之后,才把这股尿香与芦笋联系起来。德国人喜欢吃芦笋,每年到了那个季节,市场上到处都是芦笋,我们也比较爱吃。

按照书上的说法,芦笋含有的某些物质,在人体内会被分解出一些硫化物来,人体不需要,肾脏就把它们迅速排出体外。有意思的是,有研究结果说,虽然所有人都会排出这种气味,但不是所有人都能闻到,和基因有关。英语里有个词 Asparapee,如果闻不到,理解起来就比较难。

转自桑林志

夏令时开始和结束的时间

2009到2015年,美国,加拿大夏令时起始时间表。

2 a.m. on the Second Sunday in March(三月第二个周日的凌晨2点开始夏令时)
to
2 a.m. on the First Sunday of November. (十一月第一个周日的凌晨2点结束夏令时)

Year DST Begins 2 a.m.
(Second Sunday in March)
DST Ends 2 a.m.
(First Sunday in November)
2009 March 8 November 1
2010 March 14 November 7
2011 March 13 November 6
2012 March 11 November 4
2013 March 10 November 3
2014 March 9 November 2
2015 March 8 November 1

美元未来可能再下跌超过一成

用來衡量美元對6種主要貨幣價值的美元指數,在上周跌至75.48點的14個月低點,距該指數在2008年4月所創的71.33點歷史低點,只有咫尺之距。美元指數自3月9日以來已跌15%。

大摩亞洲主席羅奇預言美元還要跌一成以上

美元下跌的趋势已维持了超过7年,相比2002年2月的前高点,美元相对于广泛贸易伙伴货币的实际汇率迄今下跌了逾22%。不过,在2008年3月到 2009年3月期间,美元的长期跌势因为金融危机的爆发而被中断,这一年间美元反弹了15%。随着金融危机和经济衰退趋于终结,美元又重拾跌势,在过去7 个月间,美元跌了10%。危机之后的复苏,尽管现在还只是暂时现象,但却打击了避险美元买盘的兴趣,使得外汇市场将关注目光重新放到自2002年初以来导 致美元持续走低的疲软基本面上。

U.S. and Canadian Holidays 2010-2015

2010到2015美国及加拿大的法定节假日

Name Date
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
New Year’s Day, U.S & Canada Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1 Jan. 1
Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, U.S (Observed) Jan. 18 Jan. 17 Jan. 16 Jan. 21 Jan. 20 Jan. 19
Chinese/Lunar New Year Feb. 14
(Year 4708)
Tiger
Feb. 3
(Year 4709)
Rabbit
Jan. 23
(Year 4710)
Dragon
Feb. 10
(Year 4711)
Snake
Jan. 31
(Year 4712)
Horse
Feb. 19
(Year 4713)
Ram
Lincoln’s Birthday, U.S Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12 Feb. 12
Valentine’s Day Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14 Feb. 14
President’s Day, U.S (Observed) Feb. 15 Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Feb. 18 Feb. 17 Feb. 16
Family Day, Canada (Alberta) Feb. 15 Feb. 21 Feb. 20 Feb. 18 Feb. 17 Feb. 16
Ash Wednesday Feb. 17 Mar. 9 Feb. 22 Feb. 13 Mar. 5 Feb. 18
Orthodox Lent Begins Feb. 15
Washington’s Birthday, U.S Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22 Feb. 22
St. Patrick’s Day Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17 Mar. 17
Spring Equinox Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20 Mar. 20
Palm Sunday Mar. 28 Apr. 17 Apr. 1 Mar. 24 Apr. 13 Mar. 29
Daylight Savings Time Begins, U.S & Canada Mar. 14 Mar. 13 Mar. 11 Mar. 10 Mar. 9 Mar. 8
Jewish Passover
Pesach
Mar. 30 Apr. 19 Apr. 7 Mar. 26 Apr. 15 Apr. 4
Good Friday (Holiday in Canada) Apr. 2 Apr. 22 Apr. 6 Mar. 29 Apr. 18 Apr. 3
Easter Sunday Apr. 4 Apr. 24 Apr. 8 Mar. 31 Apr. 20 Apr. 5
Easter Monday (Holiday in Canada) Apr. 5 Apr. 25 Apr. 9 Apr. 1 Apr. 21 Apr. 6
Orthodox Easter Sunday May 1 Apr. 24 Apr. 15 May 5 Apr. 20 Apr. 12
Cinco de Mayo May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5 May 5
Mother’s Day May 9 May 8 May 13 May 12 May 11 May 10
Victoria Day, Canada May 24 May 23 May 21 May 20 May 19 May 18
Memorial Day, U.S May 31 May 30 May 28 May 27 May 26 May 25
Flag Day, U.S. June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14 June 14
Father’s Day June 20 June 19 June 17 June 16 June 15 June 21
Summer Solstice June 21 June 21 June 20 June 21 June 21 June 21
St. Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec) June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24 June 24
Canada Day, Canada July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1 July 1
Independence Day, U.S July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4 July 4
Civic Holiday, Canada Aug. 2 Aug. 1 Aug. 6 Aug. 5 Aug. 4 Aug. 3
Labor Day, U.S Sep. 6 Sep. 5 Sep. 3 Sep. 2 Sep. 1 Sep. 7
Labour Day, Canada Sep. 6 Sep. 5 Sep. 3 Sep. 2 Sep. 1 Sep. 7
Grandparent’s Day Sep. 12 Sep. 11 Sep. 9 Sep. 8 Sep. 7 Sep. 13
Fall Equinox Sep. 23 Sep. 23 Sep. 22 Sep. 22 Sep. 23 Sep. 23
Jewish New YearRosh Hashanah Sep. 9 Sep. 29 Sep. 17 Sep. 5 Sep. 25 Sep. 14
Yom Kippur Sep. 18 Oct. 8 Sep. 26 Sep. 14 Oct. 4 Sep. 23
Columbus Day, U.S Oct. 11 Oct. 10 Oct. 8 Oct. 14 Oct. 13 Oct. 12
Thanksgiving Day, Canada Oct. 11 Oct. 10 Oct. 8 Oct. 14 Oct. 13 Oct. 12
Halloween Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31 Oct. 31
Daylight Savings Time Ends, U.S & Canada Nov. 7 Nov. 6 Nov. 4 Nov. 3 Nov. 2 Nov. 1
Election Day, U.S Nov. 2 <NONE> Nov. 6 <NONE> Nov. 4 <NONE>
Veteran’s Day, U.S Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11
Remembrance Day, Canada (Alberta) Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11 Nov. 11
Canada’s National Child Day Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20 Nov. 20
Thanksgiving Day, U.S Nov. 25 Nov. 24 Nov. 22 Nov. 28 Nov. 27 Nov. 26
Hanukkah Dec. 2 – Dec. 9 Dec. 21 – Dec. 28 Dec. 9 – Dec. 16 Nov. 28 – Dec. 5 Dec. 17 – Dec. 24 Dec. 7 – Dec. 14
Winter Solstice Dec. 21 Dec. 22 Dec. 21 Dec. 21 Dec. 21 Dec. 22
Christmas Eve, U.S & Canada Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24 Dec. 24
Christmas Day, U.S & Canada Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25 Dec. 25
Boxing Day, Canada Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26 Dec. 26
New Year’s Eve Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31 Dec. 31
Name 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
Date