plus 4, Q&A: Tips for Traveling Safely During Flu Season - ABC News

Q&A: Tips for Traveling Safely During Flu Season - ABC News
Rear derailleur won't move to small sprocket - BikeRadar.com
Cycling MUST haves - BikeRadar.com
UN vote condemns US embargo on Cuba - WATE
Field Tech - 2 Positions - Mediabistro.com

Q&A: Tips for Traveling Safely During Flu Season - ABC News

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 09:59 AM PDT

Last spring thousands of travelers canceled trips to Mexico after a swine flu outbreak there emptied beaches and resorts.

Staying home won't protect you from swine flu now: Forty-six states have reported widespread flu activity.

"The thought that the virus was just a Mexico problem is gone," said Sondra Wilson, owner of several Travel Leaders travel agency locations in Washington State. "We know it's here and all around us." She said her clients are booking travel to Mexico, but trips there and elsewhere are being booked closer to departure dates than in the past.

Here are some questions and answers about travel insurance, basic hygiene, and other aspects of traveling during the swine flu outbreak.

Q. Is it OK to travel during the swine flu outbreak?

A: The CDC says "some travelers at increased risk of complications from flu may want to consider postponing travel." The agency identifies those in the high-risk categories as pregnant women, adults older than 65, babies and children under 5, and those with chronic illnesses. If you are in a high-risk category and must travel, the CDC recommends that you talk to a doctor about whether to take flu medications with you in case you can't get medical care right away. If you are sick, stay home.

For more information from the CDC, visit http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/.

Q. Will I face a health screening if I fly?

A. The U.S. is not screening either inbound or outbound air travelers, according to the CDC. But you may face screening in other countries, including having your temperature taken by a walk-by thermal scanner or with an oral or ear thermometer. Last spring and summer, the U.S. State Department received many reports of U.S. citizens who were quarantined in China during the swine flu outbreak. In some cases, they had no symptoms, but had merely been on flights that stopped in Mexico en route to Asia. For more information from the State Department, visit http://travel.state.gov/.

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Rear derailleur won't move to small sprocket - BikeRadar.com

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 10:49 AM PDT

Hey Nick, thanks for the speedy response!
I've tired taking the cable off and moving the mech freely, when it springs back it doesn't travel all the way to the smallest sprocket, if i nudge it with my hand it does. The H screw is uncrewed just about all the way out at the moment.

When I shift up to the largest sproket, and then back down, the mech fails to move outboard on thew way back down, unless I move it with my hand, then it works.

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Cycling MUST haves - BikeRadar.com

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 10:49 AM PDT

No, you're overequipped!

My must-haves:

1) Pump
2) Tube+patchkit (combined package)
3) Spanner-cum-tyre-lever.

Lights stay on the bike at this time of year (so does the pump, for that matter), I use a Hump hi-vis cover on my daysack, though, and carry a spare set of (lightweight!) batteries.

I cheat slightly because I always carry a Swiss Army knife, it's not cycle-specific but may come in handy.

Additionally, I often carry a couple of allen keys, sometimes a spoke key, maybe an adjustable spanner, if I think I might need it (eg been fettling, not sure it's bedded in) but wouldn't regard them as essential.

Saddlepack? Nope. SPDs? Nope. Shades, computer, helmet, drink, chaintool, buff, cake? Nope.....

Not sure where clean underwear/shirt come in, though... I carry it on the inward commute, but could leave a stack at work, if I chose to- so not Must-Have?

It's all too easy to accumulate stuff in your bags that might be needed.... I prefer to travel as light as I can.

Cheers,
W.

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UN vote condemns US embargo on Cuba - WATE

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 10:35 AM PDT

By PAUL HAVEN
Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly condemned the 47-year U.S. trade embargo on Cuba, an annual ritual that serves to highlight near unanimous global opposition to America's hard-line policy toward the communist island, but which has done little to change Washington's stance, even with a new administration.

This year's vote was 187-3 in opposition to the embargo, with only Israel and the tiny Pacific island nation of Palau supporting the United States - just as they did last year. It was the 19th year in a row that the General Assembly has taken up the symbolic measure, with Washington steadily losing what little support it once had.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez ticked off a long list of grievances in his speech before the world body, saying the embargo - which the Cubans refer to as a blockade - had cost the island's fragile economy tens of billions of dollars over the years and prevented Cuban children from getting needed medical care.

"The blockade is an uncultured act of arrogance," Rodriguez said. He likened the policy to "an act of genocide" that is "ethically unacceptable."

It was the first time the world body has taken the vote since U.S. President Barack Obama took office in January, promising to extend a hand of friendship to Washington's traditional enemies.

The administration has loosened financial and travel restrictions on Americans with relatives in Cuba, and started talks aimed at restoring direct mail links. It sent a senior diplomat to Havana in September for unannounced meetings with Cuban officials that were believed to be the highest-level talks between the two countries in decades.

Still, Washington has made clear it is not prepared to lift the embargo until Cuba accepts some political, economic and financial changes.

Rodriguez said the question of the embargo represented a "test of character" for the U.S. and its new president.

"President Obama has a historical opportunity to lead a change of policy toward Cuba and the lifting of the blockade," he said, but lamented that "since the election" of the new U.S. leader "there has not been any change in the implementation of the economic, commercial and financial blockade against Cuba."

U.S. Ambassador Susan Rice reacted strongly, calling Rodriguez' statements "hostile" and "straight out of the Cold War era."

Still, she said the Obama administration was committed to writing "a new chapter to this old story" by engaging with the Cuban government. Rice used her speech to highlight the steps the Obama administration had taken to improve ties.

"We hope they can be the starting point for further changes in the relationship," she said. "The United States has demonstrated that we are prepared to engage the government of Cuba on issues that effect the security and well being of both our peoples."

One after another, global representatives stood to speak in opposition to the embargo, calling it a cruel anachronism that ran counter to international law and which had only succeeded in hurting ordinary Cubans, particularly women and children.

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Field Tech - 2 Positions - Mediabistro.com

Posted: 28 Oct 2009 09:23 AM PDT