A daily series, Connect! Unite! Act! seeks to create face-to-face networks in each congressional district. Groups regularly socialize but also get out the vote, support candidates and engage in other local political actions that help our progressive movement grow and exert influence on the powers-that-be. Visit us at Daily Kos every morning at 7:30 A.M. Pacific Time to see how you can get involved. The comment thread is fun and light-hearted, but we're serious about moving the progressive political agenda forward.
|
The orange pinpoints are the location of each organized group of Daily Kos readers.
If you'd like to join a group, click on a point and a box will pop up showing contact links.
If you'd like to start a group, contact navajo for instructions.
View Interactive Map of Daily Kos Regional Communities in a full screen version.
|
Want to really know why we get more colds and flus in winter?
We all know flu season will soon be upon us. It happens in earnest once Thanksgiving and Christmas arrive and folks get together in close proximity inside. Throw in all the emotions and family dynamics causing stress and anxiety and we have the perfect recipe to get sick. We all know this recipe, but there's another reason colds and flus are more prevalent during the cold months.
H1N1 flu virus
Believe it or not, only in the past five years have scientists actually done research to really understand the facts about this instead of just going along with conventional wisdom. They've discovered something that might seem counter intuitive about getting sick. It has more to do with air than it does with indoor socializing. It actually has something to do with the air being colder.
Colder air doesn't hold as much humidity as hot air which turns out to be the main reason flus are more common in winter. Warm air with more humidity does two things to what comes out of your face when you sneeze. It keeps it more together in larger droplets and causes it to drop out of the air more quickly. Cold, dry air allows a sneeze to vaporize into much smaller droplets that stay in the air longer and disperse farther.
cover your mouth and nose for crying out loud
Everyone knows the best way to avoid colds is to wash your hands after touching anything someone else may have touched before you touch your face. Flus are a whole different deal. If someone has a flu and breathed and coughed in a room, you can catch that flu if you walk into that room even two or three hours later because flu viruses are still floating around in the air. In summertime, flu viruses don't stay airborne nearly as long because the air has more humidity causing them to drop out. In winter we are all walking around in air that is full of more viruses floating around for longer periods of time just waiting to attach to your mucous membranes when you breathe.
One more reason we are more likely to get sick in winter is we aren't out in the sun and so don't produce nearly as much Vitamin D which is vital for a strong functioning immune system. I'm an advocate of taking Vitamin D supplements especially in the darker, colder months. I typically take 5000 iu's a day 4-5 times a week during cold and flu season just to make sure my immune system doesn't experience a drop off when I need it to be the most vigilant. If I've had to be with someone who is sick, I'll take an extra 5000 iu's. Getting a flu vaccine isn't a bad idea either, IMO.
...the answer may have been lying invisible in the air that we breathe. Thanks to the laws of thermodynamics, cold air can carry less water vapour before it reaches the “dew point” and falls as rain. So while the weather outside may seem wetter, the air itself is drier as it loses the moisture. And a steady stream of research over the past few years has shown that these dry conditions seem to offer the perfect environment for the flu virus to flourish.
http://www.bbc.com/...
Latest Updates on Regional Meet-Up News Can Be Found Below the Orange Group Hug.
Let's Build Communities!
Our team is here to provide support and guidance to new and existing volunteer leaders of each regional and state group, helping them with recruiting, organizing and executing social and action events.
We invite you to join in this effort to build our community. There are many ways to pitch in.
If there isn't a group to join near you, please start one.
Instructions on HOW TO FORM A NEW DAILY KOS GROUP
List of All Existing Meatspace Groups
Where The Kogs Are: Links to the 160+ Geographic Groups by State & Beyond, 2011-2015
THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY
Colorado: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Mountain
Michigan: Wednesdays, 6:00 PM Eastern
North Carolina: Sundays, 1:00 PM Eastern
Washington: Sundays, 3:30 PM Pacific
Event Organizers! Please contact wink from Netrootsradio.com by KosMail to schedule airtime with them to live broadcast the date of your Event. Wink & Justice will then promote it on The After Show radio program!
Saturday, Nov 14th
Florida Georgia Line Kos Meet-up in Valdosta, Georgia
Join us for a day of inspiration and encouragement aimed at registering voters ahead of the 2016 elections
Would love to have you participate and share your knowledge and energy.
Florida Georgia Line Kos:
This group will serve as a gathering place for North Florida and South Georgia Daily Kos members and all others who are interested. Our focus, both online and with real life meet-ups, is sharing and organizing political activism; disseminating social, political and progressive issues; community building; and support and encouragement for our red state brothers and sisters. We will organize meet-ups in both the panhandle and eastern seaboard of our states as well as share information on events of interest in our areas in order to build a strong coalition dedicated to turning our states a more pleasant shade of blue.
TIME: 10:30-3:00 PM
LOCATION: Ole Times Country Buffet
1193 N St Augustine Rd • Valdosta, GA
ORGANIZER: Send JaxDem a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. JaxDem
2. Vetwife
3. Vet
4. kay3295
5. Lily O Lady
6. PHScott
7. Nannyberry
8. nancyjones
9. susanala |
Maybees:
soaglow
pajoly
Josiah Bartlett
foresterbob
|
Latest diary: FL/GA Line Kossacks Scheduling a Meet Up -- Decisions, Decisions
Saturday, Nov 14th
Baja Arizona Kossacks Meet-up
TIME: 5:00 PM
LOCATION: Zayna Mediterranean
4122 East Speedway Blvd • Tucson
ORGANIZER: Send Azazello a kosmail to attend
RSVPs:
1. Azazello
2. Mrs. Z
3. rasbobbo
4. elk18
5. DaNang65
6. ItsaMathJoke
7. Dave in AZ
8. cosmic debris
9. ramara
10. buddabelly
|
Maybees:
AZ Sphinx Moth
Bisbonian
sneakers563
pineapple pow
|
by Lenny Flank ♥ for Nashville KosKats
The Nashville KosKats welcomed Lenny Flank with his own personal pizza and T-shirt! You can read about it here and there's still time to recommend his diary!
L-R:ZenTrainer, Mr. Marykk, Marykk, JonSitzman and Lenny Flank
You can join Nashville KosKats by sending a Kosmail to ZenTrainer.
by John Crapper ♥ for Seattle & Puget Sound Kos
The Seattle & Puget Sound Kos group keeps their regular meeting schedule to continue bonding and keeping each other apprised of what they're working on locally.
L-R: doingbusinessas, Momomia and bleeding blue
L-R: TB Apollo, Mrs. Crapper and John Crapper
Please visit John Crapper's diary for many MORE photos! Enjoy! You can still REC it. You can join Seattle & Puget Sound Kos by sending a Kosmail to John Crapper.
Dallas Kossacks Round Up and Meet Up!
byAndyT ♥ for Dallas Kos
Andy T held another meet-up in Dallas and also listed some Bernie and Hillary events. Check his diary for deets. Also the next event has been announced for Oct. 24. See above in the roster of CUA events.
L-R: ?, Andy T, ?, ?, ?
Identities welcome by kosmail to navajo.
Please visit AndyT's diary. You can still REC it. You can join Dallas Kos by sending a Kosmail to AndyT.
by Chrislove ♥ for Houston Area Kossacks
Another Houston event! Great job, Chris. Photos below:
L-R: Chrislove, Delilah, scott5js, cosette & suesue
L-R: htowngenie, her son, Blood, JJR1971 and PIZZA!
You can join Houston Area Kossacks by sending a Kosmail to Chrislove.
navajo maintains the above event list. Kosmail her if you have any diaries
about your event or if you have changes or additions.
EVERYONE is welcome, tell us what you're working on,
share your show and tell, vent, whatever you want.
This is an open thread. Nothing is off topic.