In light of the new swine situation that is upon us and my impending travel, I thought I'd post these 1976 PSAs. These are honest to goodness Public Service Announcements from 1976 about the Swine Flu.
I have found these to be quite amusing. I guess there are more ways than one for the media to "scare" us into submission: The 2009 "this is a pandemic of epic proportions" type scare and the 1976 "and Dottie died...but before she died, she passed it on to...the dog" type scare. Please also be on the lookout for the lady smacking the paper kid on the hiney and "I'm too fast for the Swine Flu to catch up with me!" Oh, and apparently, if you are 55 (yet you look 75) and play golf every weekend, you're immune.
I also have found myself becoming very sad as of late. On Friday I will be leaving my old work group and joining the new one. Of course I'm excited to start the new job, but, I have some very good friends who I am not going to see on a daily basis anymore. When I start thinking about it, I become very sentimental and melancholy.
Having a good laugh always makes me feel better. Enter my co-worker (not friend) Jamie. One day she was singing a catchy little tune. I inquired as to what the little ditty was and a tradition was born. Any time we need a laugh we revert to this video. We also are quite fond of the Target Lady. But, I'll save that for another post. Though, if you're ever fortunate enough to be with me when I'm at Target, you'll get a little preview.
Either way, this little video always makes me laugh, so I thought I would share. From time to time, you may also hear (or read) me quote it. "I found a dead cat on the side of the road..." Gennifer and I, in fact, quote this to each other almost daily.
On a day when I'm feeling a bit more "witty", I'll post again. Today I'm just too sad. Hope you enjoy the videos!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Friday, April 24, 2009
Just the Facts Ma'am
For those of you who are wondering how much time you have left with your favorite Kristin, I am posting move dates etc. below. I also, per Laura's request, am including a section with a few facts about Panama.
Kristin's Panama Timeline
May 1, 2009: Official start date in new position of Regional Business Process Expert for E-business
May 17-23, 2009: Dad and I will be flying to Panama City to wrap up the work visa process and also to find me a place to live. I'm sure there will be plenty of posts about this adventure.
June 2-4, 2009: Movers are packing up the house and shipping my furniture to Panama. I will also be leaving the cute little house that has become my home over these last six years. At this time I will also be moving in with my cousins here in Tulsa. Thank goodness for them. (Thanks Carole and Dave!)
June 27, 2009: Fly, fly away for good. (And, hopefully my things will arrive just a week later.)
Panama Facts
Please note all facts are from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise stated. I did not write or create any of these facts myself. Map is also courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.
Why you know Panama: Well, the Panama Canal of course. If you would like to know more, check out the Panama Canal on Wikipedia. (What did we do before Wikipedia?) The long and storied history of the canal is too long for my meager blog.
Background: Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15. For more information, check out Lonely Planet's great Panama History information.
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombian and Costa Rica
Total Area: 78200 sq km (roughly 30,193 sq mi) which makes it slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, prolonged rainy season. Temperature is pretty steady at between 32-35ºC (89-95ºF) in the day and between 21-24ºC (70-75ºF) at night (in Panama City, at least. Climate varies by region and Panama has a very diverse topography. -Kristin) Humidity is always above 80%.
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Population: 3,360,474
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%; note-many Panamanians bilingual
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Panama (Only called Panama City by us gringos. -Kristin)
President: Martin Torrijos Espino (New elections coming in 2009)
Flag:
Economy overview: Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for 80% of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway, and should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. Strong economic performance has reduced the national poverty level to 29% in 2008; however, Panama has the second most unequal income distribution in Latin America. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth. For even more detailed economic information, check the CIA World Factbook: Panama
International Airport for when you come to visit me: Tocumen International Airport (Airport code: PTY) (source: Wikipedia)
Closing thoughts: If you would like more information about Panama, it's very easy to research yourself. You'll also be spared from reading all my endless babble. A couple of good places to look are The Lonely Planet for good travel info, photos, and interesting insights; The CIA World Factbook if you want just the facts: government style; and Wikipedia's collection of information all things Panama. Or, you know, you could just type "panama" into google and hit "search". That's what I did...
Kristin's Panama Timeline
May 1, 2009: Official start date in new position of Regional Business Process Expert for E-business
May 17-23, 2009: Dad and I will be flying to Panama City to wrap up the work visa process and also to find me a place to live. I'm sure there will be plenty of posts about this adventure.
June 2-4, 2009: Movers are packing up the house and shipping my furniture to Panama. I will also be leaving the cute little house that has become my home over these last six years. At this time I will also be moving in with my cousins here in Tulsa. Thank goodness for them. (Thanks Carole and Dave!)
June 27, 2009: Fly, fly away for good. (And, hopefully my things will arrive just a week later.)
Panama Facts
Please note all facts are from the CIA World Factbook unless otherwise stated. I did not write or create any of these facts myself. Map is also courtesy of the CIA World Factbook.
Why you know Panama: Well, the Panama Canal of course. If you would like to know more, check out the Panama Canal on Wikipedia. (What did we do before Wikipedia?) The long and storied history of the canal is too long for my meager blog.
Background: Explored and settled by the Spanish in the 16th century, Panama broke with Spain in 1821 and joined a union of Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela - named the Republic of Gran Colombia. When the latter dissolved in 1830, Panama remained part of Colombia. With US backing, Panama seceded from Colombia in 1903 and promptly signed a treaty with the US allowing for the construction of a canal and US sovereignty over a strip of land on either side of the structure (the Panama Canal Zone). The Panama Canal was built by the US Army Corps of Engineers between 1904 and 1914. In 1977, an agreement was signed for the complete transfer of the Canal from the US to Panama by the end of the century. Certain portions of the Zone and increasing responsibility over the Canal were turned over in the subsequent decades. With US help, dictator Manuel NORIEGA was deposed in 1989. The entire Panama Canal, the area supporting the Canal, and remaining US military bases were transferred to Panama by the end of 1999. In October 2006, Panamanians approved an ambitious plan to expand the Canal. The project, which began in 2007 and could double the Canal's capacity, is expected to be completed in 2014-15. For more information, check out Lonely Planet's great Panama History information.
Location: Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Colombian and Costa Rica
Total Area: 78200 sq km (roughly 30,193 sq mi) which makes it slightly smaller than South Carolina
Climate: Tropical maritime; hot, humid, prolonged rainy season. Temperature is pretty steady at between 32-35ºC (89-95ºF) in the day and between 21-24ºC (70-75ºF) at night (in Panama City, at least. Climate varies by region and Panama has a very diverse topography. -Kristin) Humidity is always above 80%.
Terrain: interior mostly steep, rugged mountains and dissected, upland plains; coastal areas largely plains and rolling hills
Natural resources: copper, mahogany forests, shrimp, hydropower
Population: 3,360,474
Languages: Spanish (official), English 14%; note-many Panamanians bilingual
Government type: constitutional democracy
Capital: Panama (Only called Panama City by us gringos. -Kristin)
President: Martin Torrijos Espino (New elections coming in 2009)
Flag:
Economy overview: Panama's dollarized economy rests primarily on a well-developed services sector that accounts for 80% of GDP. Services include operating the Panama Canal, banking, the Colon Free Zone, insurance, container ports, flagship registry, and tourism. Economic growth will be bolstered by the Panama Canal expansion project that began in 2007 and is scheduled to be completed by 2014 at a cost of $5.3 billion - about 25% of current GDP. The expansion project will more than double the Canal's capacity, enabling it to accommodate ships that are now too large to transverse the transoceanic crossway, and should help to reduce the high unemployment rate. Strong economic performance has reduced the national poverty level to 29% in 2008; however, Panama has the second most unequal income distribution in Latin America. The government has implemented tax reforms, as well as social security reforms, and backs regional trade agreements and development of tourism. Not a CAFTA signatory, Panama in December 2006 independently negotiated a free trade agreement with the US, which, when implemented, will help promote the country's economic growth. For even more detailed economic information, check the CIA World Factbook: Panama
International Airport for when you come to visit me: Tocumen International Airport (Airport code: PTY) (source: Wikipedia)
Closing thoughts: If you would like more information about Panama, it's very easy to research yourself. You'll also be spared from reading all my endless babble. A couple of good places to look are The Lonely Planet for good travel info, photos, and interesting insights; The CIA World Factbook if you want just the facts: government style; and Wikipedia's collection of information all things Panama. Or, you know, you could just type "panama" into google and hit "search". That's what I did...
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Blog Shmog
I was thinking about how wonderful modern technology can be the other day. Thanks to modern technology we can get across the country in a matter or hours (by plane) or days (by car) instead of months with a horse and wagon. We can pick up a mobile telephone and communicate with anyone anywhere in the world at any time while we're walking down the street as opposed to sending a messenger on foot who we hope makes it to the next town alive, never mind the next country. We send information zooming across fiber optic lines to someone half the world away and they receive it before we can even ask them if they've received over the telephone. We would never have had the flow-be for perfect at home hair cuts (That's for you, Tim). We wouldn't have TV or the movies. And blah blah blah...philosophical propaganda...blah blah blah
My point is this: Thanks to modern technology, you dear friends, family, and strangers, will be able to track my progress (Or lack there of) as I move to another country without my having to send five bazillion emails and attach photos and then reply to seventy-five different replies to my one email. Nor will I have to keep answering the same exact question day after day after long, long day. All you have to do now is come visit my very entertaining blog and read all my fascinating and profound... oh who am I kidding... All you have to do is come visit myvery entertaining blog and read all my fascinating and profound thoughts.
Many are already aware of my impending move to Panama City, Panama with my employer. And, in all seriousness, I know that the only reason I get lots of questions is because so many people care. Everybody wants to know what's going on and how the process is going. Hopefully this blog will be where you can catch up on all of my fun tidbits of information, mishaps (and anybody who has known me for long knows that my travels and lengthy stays in other countries always involve several mishaps), fun photos, and just altogether snarky thoughts and comments (Yes, I know I'm sarcastic. No, I do not intend to change.). I also hope to give a little fun information about this tropical paradise that is Panama.
I look forward to (hopefully) keeping this blog as updated as possible. Leave me lots of comments and sarcasm. I always love a good fight via the interweb (that one's for you Richard). I'll post dates and destinations in the next post. This one is already far too wordy. Nobody will ever read my blog again if I just keep writing long winded drivel.
Add this to your favorites
Kristin's Blog URL: http://kristinthetravelingjayhawk.blogspot.com
My point is this: Thanks to modern technology, you dear friends, family, and strangers, will be able to track my progress (Or lack there of) as I move to another country without my having to send five bazillion emails and attach photos and then reply to seventy-five different replies to my one email. Nor will I have to keep answering the same exact question day after day after long, long day. All you have to do now is come visit my very entertaining blog and read all my fascinating and profound... oh who am I kidding... All you have to do is come visit my
Many are already aware of my impending move to Panama City, Panama with my employer. And, in all seriousness, I know that the only reason I get lots of questions is because so many people care. Everybody wants to know what's going on and how the process is going. Hopefully this blog will be where you can catch up on all of my fun tidbits of information, mishaps (and anybody who has known me for long knows that my travels and lengthy stays in other countries always involve several mishaps), fun photos, and just altogether snarky thoughts and comments (Yes, I know I'm sarcastic. No, I do not intend to change.). I also hope to give a little fun information about this tropical paradise that is Panama.
I look forward to (hopefully) keeping this blog as updated as possible. Leave me lots of comments and sarcasm. I always love a good fight via the interweb (that one's for you Richard). I'll post dates and destinations in the next post. This one is already far too wordy. Nobody will ever read my blog again if I just keep writing long winded drivel.
Add this to your favorites
Kristin's Blog URL: http://kristinthetravelingjayhawk.blogspot.com
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