Pneumonia epidemic?

Jeremy Beadle has just died - of pneumonia. He was 59. My neighbour died of pneumonia recently. She was 40. Someone close to me has been in hospital recently with pneumonia. This blog documents some more cases. Now one swallow does not a summer make, and a few anecdotal cases do not make an epidemic, but I've never heard pneumonia being mentioned as many times as it has recently.
Please keep yourself safe. If you develop a persistant cough, go to your doctor and get it checked out, especially if your chest gets rattly. If there is an epidemic coming, and I stress the if, then you must take extra precautions. It can be treated with antibiotics if caught in time.
And see how long it takes for the mainstream media to pick up on this story.

Bebo boy

Oh how hip am I? I've just started up on Bebo. Here's the link: http://www.bebo.com/a/invite/5504886288a865337287b65
Here's a list of the things you can do
* Draw or write on my White Board (this is fun, I've just sent one to my sister-in-law who I've just discovered, is also on Bebo and is now my first friend)
* Upload, share and comment on unlimited photos (when I've got some uploaded that is)
* Read my bebo blog (And no deserting this blog!)
* And, er, other stuff.
My profile is still a work in process - I've uploaded my picture, and that's it. If you're on Bebo, I'd love to hear from you.

And now for a commercial break

If you're wanting a unique, handcrafted greetings card for a loved one, then you should look at this site: www.anjcraft.co.uk
Angela has just got the site up and running, but she's been making cards for ages. A lot of people at work have received some of her output on special occasions. She handed me the URL yesterday, so here it is.

Poet wanted

Gasp! The Eye Pavilion is looking for a poet, and they didn't ask me!
Midlothian Council regularly send me information about writing events. As I cast my eye over their latest missive, the words 'Eye Hospital' leapt out at me. Here's the letter.
Art in Healthcare - Poet for Eye Hospital Project
Area: Edinburgh
Deadline: Wednesday 6 February 2008
Art in Healthcare - a leading charity organisation that provides arts services to the healthcare community - requires a poet to create new poems for the Princess Alexandra Eye Pavilion in Edinburgh. Poems will be presented in Braille/text and will explore or engage with the issues surrounding visual impairment.
As well as a good portfolio of work and creative talent, it is desirable that poet has one of the following:
Direct experience of working on creative projects in a community, public or healthcare environment:
Awareness of all the issues facing individuals who have gone through, or are experiencing visual impairment.
The project is due to be completed by May 2008. For more information e-mail: rstrang@artinhealthcare.org.uk or tel: 0131 555 7638
I reckon that I qualify for this. I think I'll check it out.

Get the picture

This is simply shocking news from Texas. Apparently, they've been having a wheen of UFO sightings there, craft apparently a mile long, flying low and silently, pursued by military jets. But that's not the shocking bit. What I find unbelievable is that nobody has taken a picture of it. This is the twenty-first century, many cellphones have built in digital cameras. Anything unusual in the sky, and you'd expect the place to sound like a geiger counter in Chernobyl with all the electronic clicking.
But no. All we get is the usual wobbly video footage of an ambiguous light, that could be anything really - a weather balloon, an airliner, Dumbo...

Squashed tomatoes and stew

It's my birthday today. The second one I've had since starting this blog. I got some art books, one on drawing and painting fantasy landscapes and cities, one on fantasy beasts and one on fantasy vehicles. I'm feeling inspired just reading them.

Not so jammy now

Please return to panic mode. The sun is back in play. The first sunspot of the new cycle has been spotted (urgh, I typed that before I realised the pun). Global warming will proceed as scheduled, and, oh yes, we're all doomed.
Mind you, it's very late, which might indicate a less active sunspot cycle, or a more gradual winding down of solar activity. But no rushing out for a SUV gas guzzler just yet, It's still Lexuses and solar panels for the roof on the agenda. Those carbon emissions have to be reduced, and we ain't got all century folks.

Put rubber gloves over your glasses before reading this.

Ah'm no weel. The doctor says I've got a viral chest infection. That's the kind you don't get antibiotics for. I just have to cough my way to recovery, armed only with a bottle of Co-op Bronchial Mixture. Karaoke is out, unless it's Old Man River or Wandrin' Star - the only songs known where a croaky throat is an advantage.

Resurrection

It seems reports of the NHS Blogdoctor's demise may be premature. A troll has admitted to hoaxing the news of his death in order to provoke Dr John Crippen into a denial. Thanks to Julie for letting me know.
You've got to be very careful what you read on the internet, obviously. Everything should be corroborated before you publish. In the rush to be first with the news, you're likely to be burned.
He still hasn't spoken though, so we're none the wiser as to what's happened to him.