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By Michelle on To Get a Flu Shot or Not (Some Reasons)
@josefinastrummer Someday maybe you will have someone in your life or family who could die from the flu (in my case, a parent who received an organ transplant) and then you will maybe get it for the sake of other people. If I got the flu it would be NBD, but if I gave the flu to my mom and she died- well, I would feel pretty shitty forever. Especially since (thanks Canada) it's free for me as someone who has regular contact with a vulnerable person. Also, your immune system is good for lots of things, but the ability of your body to fight off a virus it's never encountered- say, if you got dengue fever- has very little to do with how healthy your immune system is. The immune system develops an immune response- creating antibodies to fight things off- by experience. So a vaccine creates an immune response without causing the disease, so when your body encounters measles, your immune system remembers and is able to protect you. If you had a bad immune system, conversely, it wouldn't make a proper response to the first encounter (the vaccine), and you would get sick. And you could get very sick, and even die- perfectly healthy people have died from chickenpox, and measles, and the flu, because their immune system couldn't handle a brand new, very aggressive virus. Also, herd immunity is very important, because some people have weak immune systems (from being treated for cancer, being very old or very young, having an autoimmune disease) and so vaccines can't protect them. Healthy people getting immunized protects vulnerable people who can't or for whom vaccines don't work as well. So even though you're not afraid of getting the flu, don't think that healthy people don't need vaccines- healthy people are the ones who do, for everyone's sake.
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By Stina on To Get a Flu Shot or Not (Some Reasons)
@josefinastrummer 1. Tons of people say they have "the flu" when in fact they have a bad cold. The flu shot may actually have helped the people you know. Having the flu shot doesn't mean that you don't get sick. 2.The reason that people who have flu shots get the flu is that a) In some people the shot won't "take" so it's even more important that other people get them to lessen the spread. b)The shots take time to make. When they come up with the "blend" as it were the flu mix is at a certain state. Then they have to incubate the flus they have in chicken eggs for a while so that when the vaccine is finally produced the flu may have mutated or changed in that time. Year to year it varies how accurately the vaccine matches the current flu.
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By highjump on The Extended Trip
How did you not mention the cheap drinks? Dear god the cheap drinks! I never ever had a three digit bar tab in Minneapolis. Even when I hosted a bachelorette party for 6 people at a karaoke bar. Everything is cheaper and cleaner in Minnesota.
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By Andrew Freeman@twitter on On Leaving Too Much
I don't follow the 20% tipping rule when a bill is under $10-- I always round up and tip more. Obviously you've never spent a day working in the service industry. I think every adult that goes to restaurants or bars should be required to work for a period of time as a waiter, busser, bartender... If you did you would never ever fret about leaving 48 cents too much or suggest that other people follow your lead.
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By Sincerely, Jane on A Swedish Lunch Controversy
This story sounds suspiciously like everything my dad has ever told me about why socialism is evil. Dad, is that you?
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By emilies on Crushing Debt Drove Me to Kosovo — And Then to Iraq
Thank you for publishing this and the timing for me could not have been better. The author's pre-Kosovo situation mirrors mine exactly: crushing wanderlust, dissatisfaction with all jobs (because despite not knowing what I want to do, I know it's not this), being generally unhappy with my situation, etc. I've been holding out for an opportunity like this and that's kind of been my career plan since graduating (was reminded yesterday by my mom that I need to figure out what I want to do with my life) but have ultimately come to the realization that one needs actual skills to get these jobs. Not "non-profit admin assistant" like I've been using as a placeholder for the past few years... Nevertheless, good to know that there are many paths to NGO work. Very inspiring and well-written read!
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By rimy on Crushing Debt Drove Me to Kosovo — And Then to Iraq
All-consuming wanderlust after reading this. Amazing article, fascinating story, I think it takes The Billfold up another notch! I love the parallel storylines of debt repayment, career progression, danger/excitement, and your relationship. Also I am quite jealous/will be investigating that organization now. Thank you!
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By EvanDeSimone on Welcome to College, Kids
I'm pretty sure mine occupies the center of the weird shrine to my achievements that my parents constructed while simultaneously being really disappointed in me.
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By Amanda@twitter on My Cookie Scam Secret
I worked at Subway in high school. We weren't supposed to sell the broken cookies to customers, and the broken pieces were left in a bag for whoever wanted to take them home. During slow times I would "accidentally" break the cookies with the tongs we used to take them out of the case if I needed a snack.
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By highjump on Let's All Throw Some Money at Our Problems: March 2013 Check-In
@terrific Moving is the worst, I am not surprised you spent some money on alcohol. You probably deserved it.