West Nile Virus Prevention

Last year Texas set a record for the number of West Nile virus cases with over 600 cases and more than 20 confirmed deaths. Nothing has been reported yet in Travis County, but the risk still remains.

Prevention 

• Dusk and Dawn: Try to stay indoors at dusk and dawn. That is the time when mosquitoes likely to carry the infection are most active.
• Dress: Wear pants and long sleeves when you are outside.
• DEET: Apply insect repellent that contains DEET. Read and follow label instructions. Spray both exposed skin and clothing with repellent.
• Drain: Get rid of standing water in your yard and neighborhood. Old tires, flowerpots, clogged rain gutters, birdbaths and wading pools can be breeding sites for mosquitoes.  

To report a mosquito problem, 

call (512)978-0370

What Are the Symptoms of WNV?

• Serious Symptoms in a Few People. About one in 150 people infected with WNV will develop severe illness. The severe symptoms can include high fever, headache, neck stiffness, stupor, disorientation, coma, tremors, convulsions, muscle weakness, vision loss, numbness and paralysis. These symptoms may last several weeks, and neurological effects may be permanent.

• Milder Symptoms in Some People. Up to 20 percent of the people who become infected have symptoms such as fever, headache, and body aches, nausea, vomiting, and sometimes swollen lymph glands or a skin rash on the chest, stomach and back. Symptoms can last for as short as a few days, though even healthy people have become sick for several weeks.

• No Symptoms in Most People. Approximately 80 percent of people (about 4 out of 5) who are infected with WNV will not show any symptoms at all.
  
  
  
  
  How Does West Nile Virus Spread
  
  
  Infected Mosquitoes. Most often, WNV is spread by the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes become infected when they feed on infected birds. Infected mosquitoes can then spread WNV to humans and other animals when they bite.
  
  
  Transfusions, Transplants, and Mother-to-Child. In a very small number of cases, WNV also has been spread through blood transfusions, organ transplants, breastfeeding and even during pregnancy from mother to baby.
  
  
  Not through touching. WNV is not spread through casual contact such as touching or kissing a person with the virus.

FunFunFunFest: Update

Austin’s Fun Fun Fun Fest has expanded its 2013 lineup. Set to take place November 8th – 10th at Auditorium Shores, the lineup already included The lineup includes M.I.A., Slayer, MGMT, Jurassic 5, Snoop Dogg, Descendents, Ice-T, Television, FLAG, The Dismemberment Plan, Death Grips, Cut Copy, Quicksand, Simian Mobile Disco, Deerhunter, Johnny Marr, Lupe Fiasco, Bill Callahan, Kurt Vile and the Violators, and Cloud Nothings, among others.

Today’s batch of additions include Deltron 3030, Flatbush Zombies, and Tenacious D, who’ll headline the comedy lineup. Other comedians set to appear include Patton Oswalt, Craig Robinson, Jenny Slate, and Doug Benson.

Finally, the festival has revealed the lineup for Ride and Skate portion of the festival, where professional BMX’ers and skate boarders perform. Headliners include Mat Hoffman, Christian Hosi, and Pierce Luc Gagnon.

Check out the updated lineup poster below. Tickets remain available through the festival’s website.

Via: consequenceofsound

Phonolux: Feathered Fortress EP

I was recently given the CD of a band form San Antonio called Phonolux. I was immediately drawn to there unique sound. The band is made up of Buddy Calvo, Armando Mora, Miguel Romero Jr. and Dave Novak.

The band recently released an EP entitled Feathered Fortress. The CD consist of 5 songs. 

1. Hurricane Favorite Line:

2. Goodbye

3. She Don't Know

4. And Then He's Gone

I really enjoyed all of the songs. My favorite song being Hurricane with heavy guitar and some amazing lyrics  One of my favorite lines from the entire album comes on this track "Told them stories of the glory to come now you leading armies yet your fearful of one." They have also released a music video for this track which you can check out HERE. The group has a really awesome sound similar to Radiohead, Spoon and Smashing Pumpkins. Grab there album and give it a listen. Let me know what you think in the comments below.

The whole album can be found on there website here:

http://www.phonoluxmusic.com/Phonolux/Phonolux.html

Or on there SoundCloud here: 

http://www.reverbnation.com/phonolux