Are You Fully Vaccinated?

  

Vaccination provides protection against illnesses caused by bacteria and viruses. A vaccine works by introducing a piece of the germ or a dead or weakened germ. This causes your body to recognize the germ as harmful. You create antibodies against the germ and generate memory cells so that your body will continue to recognize and fight that germ in the future.

Vaccination is an important component of both individual healthcare and public health safety. It can prevent you from getting a disease, or from getting very ill or dying of the disease if you do get it. Vaccination also reduces other community members’ exposure to disease. This result is called herd immunity. This outcome of mass vaccination is important for the safety of those who can’t be vaccinated (e.g., people with certain medical conditions or taking certain medications) or who have less well-developed immune systems (e.g., babies, the elderly).

Several vaccines are commonly recommended for adults, in addition to the lifetime vaccines most of us got as children.

Some recommended adult vaccines are seasonal, reformulated to protect from the prevailing strains of germs present each year. Those include:

• COVID-19 vaccines are reformulated each year to match the latest germ variants. Get the new shot each year.

• Influenza (flu) vaccines are also reformulated annually to protect against the coming season’s flu variants. Get this update in September or October.

To combat germs that do not generally change annually, consider the following:

• Pneumococcal vaccine protects against three serious health threats: pneumonia, meningitis and bacteremia. Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes around the brain and spinal cord. Bacteremia is a blood infection that can cause sepsis. All three infections are caused by the same bacteria and can be life-threatening.

• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine protects against a seasonal viral disease that usually causes only mild, cold-like symptoms. However, this disease can be more severe in infants and the elderly. Adults over age 75 (over age 50 if at high risk) should get this vaccination. Pregnant women should get this vaccination at 32-36 weeks to protect their newborn child.

• The shingles (Zoster) vaccine protects against the exceedingly painful rash caused by the virus that caused chickenpox and re-emerged in your body. You will need two shots, 2-6 months apart.

• The tetanus booster (Td vaccine) protects against both tetanus and diphtheria. Adults need a booster every ten years.

Talk with your healthcare provider about which vaccinations are appropriate for you.

To get a personalized vaccination planner, answer the five questions on this short quiz: https://www.everydayhealth.com/general-health/vaccine-planner/

September is National Food Safety Education Month

Every year there are about 48 million cases of foodborne illness in the US. That’s about one in six Americans. These illnesses result in about 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.

 

Foodborne illnesses are colloquially called food poisoning. There have been several serious outbreaks of foodborne illnesses in the US this year, including cyclospora (in iceberg lettuce), salmonella (in jalapenos and eggs), E. coli (in alfalfa sprouts) and listeria (in soft cheeses).

Many of these foodborne illnesses could have been avoided by practicing the Core Food Safety Principles. These principles are:

• Clean: Personal and environmental hygiene is important. Wash hands, surfaces and kitchen utensils often. Rinse produce well.

• Cross-contamination: Raw foods can spread germs to cooked foods. Keep raw meat, poultry, seafood, and eggs separate, away from prepared foods. This prevents cross-contamination.

• Cook: Heat foods to the correct internal temperature, determined by a food thermometer. Many microbes and other parasites in raw foods are killed when heated to the correct temperature.

• Chill: Refrigerate all perishable items promptly. Cold slows bacterial activity.

Together, these four principles are called the Four C’s.

 

The month of September has been designated Food Safety Education Month. The 2026 theme is “Everyone’s Table.” The focus is on safe food practices in all eating environments, from home dining rooms and school cafeterias to  fast food drive-throughs and formal restaurant dining.

 

Food Safety Month is a great time to learn more about how to buy, store and prepare foods. You can find many educational resources here: https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/food-safety-education-month.

Small Habits, Stronger Mind

 

September is WorldAlzheimer’s Month. The purpose of this awareness month is to educate the public about Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia and combat stigma. Early detection, support for dementia caregivers and promotion of research about dementia are also goals.

Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, affecting over 6 million Americans. It damages cognition, including memory, thinking and behavior. Dementia impacts both patients and their families, who are often the primary caregivers.

Staying mentally and physically active as you age and getting good nutrition will help you lower your risk of dementia. You may not be able to prevent dementia, but lowering your risk of developing it is important.

A B12 vitamin, taken daily, can help you maintain cognitive health. It also boosts your energy so you can exercise regularly. Exercise doesn’t have to be strenuous to support brain health. Walking is easy, requires no special equipment or gym membership, and can be done indoors or outside.

Brain games and puzzle solving may reduce inflammation and stress. This can help the overall health of your brain as well as strengthening particular skills. And they’re fun.

You may be tired of hearing these general health recommendations, but they also help reduce the risk of dementia. Don’t smoke. Get adequate sleep. Protect your heart health. Limit alcohol. Stay engaged socially.

Some organizations to check out:

Alzheimer’s Disease International - https://www.alzint.org/

Alzheimer’s Association (US) - https://www.alz.org/

Alzheimer’s Society (UK) - https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/

Alzheimer Society of Canada - https://alzheimer.ca/en

Alzheimer’s Association (Australia) - https://www.alz.org/au/dementia-alzheimers-australia.asp

Alzheimer Europe - https://www.alzheimer-europe.org/

September is an excellent time to prioritize your brain health. Start today!

Saturday, September 12, is Mindfulness Day

  

Mindfulness is an innate ability to be fully present and aware of your current experience without judging. It relies on a recognition of the mind-body connection.

Mindfulness Day is celebrated every September 12 to raise awareness of being present. It is intended as a reminder for us all to pause, become non-judgmentally aware of our thoughts and our surroundings, in order to reduce our stress. It’s a great time to practice mindfulness activities and learn their physical and mental benefits.

The many benefits of mindfulness may include:

• Compassion toward self and others

• Deeper self-insight

• Enhanced performance

• Improved sleep quality

• Improved working memory

• Reduced stress and burnout

• Satisfaction with relationships

• Sharper focus

Here are some mindfulness activities to try:

• Body scan – Check in with the various parts of your body from your head to your toes. If you find spots of tension, relax them.

• Mindful breathing – Sit quietly for a few minutes and focus on the different sensations while you inhale and fill your lungs, and exhale to empty your lungs.

• Mindful eating – Eat slower than you usually do. Pay attention to the flavors, smells and textures in each mouthful.

• Nature walk – Go outside and notice the world around you with all your senses.

Other suggested mindfulness activities may be found here: https://mindfulness.com/what-is-mindfulness-day.

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for September 2026

Do you know what causes pain like gout and arthritis? Are you aware of risk factors for reproductive cancers? Should you pull out nose hairs? How many medical myths do you believe? Find out more this month by clicking posters in the displays and exhibits.

You can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this post. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.
If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Medical Myths  & Misconceptions (Vol 1)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

 

Reproductive Cancer Awareness
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

 

 
Dealing with Arthritis Pain
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

 

 

Nose Hair
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

 

 

Blood Sugar Control After Eating
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

 

Pain Awareness Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

 

 

Gout
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

 

Stock Your Fridge and Pantry for Better Health
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32


Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Thank you to Mook for help with the posters this month.

Volunteer Opportunity if You Can Read Cursive Handwriting

In 2010, the US government removed cursive writing from the requirements of the K-12 Common Core Standards. Although over half of US states are returning to that requirement, many of today’s young people can’t read cursive handwriting. That’s a shame because many historically important documents are written in cursive.

The Newberry Library in Chicago has a collection of handwritten documents in cursive that it is trying to have transcribed. Volunteers have already transcribed their Civil War records, but that is only a small part of their collection. The US National Archives has a similar problem.

Do you remember the Palmer Method green strip with white cursive letters that hung above the chalkboard in your elementary school classrooms?  If so, here’s a volunteer opportunity for you. You can help the Newberry Library or the US National Archives decipher their documents written in cursive. This will make their digital archives much more accessible. You may even discover something important to our nation’s history.

To transcribe for the Newberry: https://nt.newberry.org/

To become a citizen archivist for the National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/citizen-archivist

Summer Safety

There are many ways to be unsafe in the summer such as failing to use sunscreen, using lawn mowers improperly, not wearing a life jacket while boating, not paying attention when the kids are in the pool, and not washing your hands.  Here are some other safety strategies for summertime fun.

• Learn the difference between heat exhaustion and heat stroke, as well as appropriate first aid for both heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
• Do everything you can to avoid tick bites. Remember to do a thorough tick check when you get back from being outdoors and remove any you find safely.
• Avoid food-borne illnesses by taking proper storage precautions.
• Use outdoor grills safely. Keep grills clean.

Have fun this summer by taking safety precautions. Heading to the emergency room is nobody’s definition of a fun summer activity.

Tips for Staying Adequately Hydrated

The human body is about 60% water. Chances are you’re not drinking enough. Even mild dehydration can increase fatigue and lower alertness and mood.

Here are some tips to help you stay hydrated.

• Drink a glass of water when you wake up and before each meal. End your day with a last glass 2 hours before bedtime.
• Set a goal and track your water consumption. There are several handy apps to help you meet your hydration goals.
• Experiment with water. Compare how you feel about drinking water with and without ice, refrigerated or room temperature. What could you add to water to jazz up the flavor? Consider pieces of vegetables (cucumber slices) or fruits (citrus slices or berries) or herbs and spices (sprigs of basil, slices of ginger root). Drink water the way you enjoy it the most.
• Eat your water! Chewing ice cubes isn’t really recommended. But many fruits and vegetables can contribute to your overall hydration. Watermelon isn’t the only fruit full of water; all melons and strawberries are good sources. Vegetables including cabbage, celery, cucumber, lettuce, spinach, and cooked squash are about 90% water. Cottage cheese, milk, and yogurt are dairy products high in water content.

For more information on getting more water into your diet, please visit the poster set “Hydration for Health” on Healthinfo Island for the month of August. You will find it here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

What is the US Department of Energy doing about accessibility?

It might surprise you to find out that the Department of Energy has anything at all to do with accessibility.

As background, we need to understand the focus of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This US federal legislation prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability in any program or activity that receives federal finances. This requirement applies to the Department of Energy, along with many other federal, state, and local entities / projects.

In May, 2025, the Department of Energy (DOE) has determined that accessibility standards for new construction projects are “unnecessary and too burdensome.” The DOE will be involved in the construction of the energy infrastructure necessary to support all the new planned AI data centers, including nuclear microreactors and other nuclear energy projects. Lack of accessibility at these upcoming projects will impact employees, customers, and visitors who have various disabilities.

Although including accessibility features in the design and construction of new facilities does add (minimally) to the cost, ignoring the need for such features incurs many hidden costs. There may be legal and compliance risks involved and missed revenue opportunities. Potential users can become frustrated and alienated, and place additional demands on customer support.

Universal design for accessibility helps everyone, not just those with disabilities. Perhaps the Department of Energy will rethink its decision to rescind accessibility standards for its planned new construction projects.

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for August 2026

In Second Life, you can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.  If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.



How Do We Change with Age?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22



Cataracts
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24



August is Water Quality Month
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22



Contact Lens Health
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24



Hearing Aids
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26



Hydration for Health
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

Health Habits to Start Today
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

Fiber and the Brain
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32


Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island

Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Thank you to Mook for help with the posters this month.

Wheelchair Development Contest!

Virtual Ability is pleased to present “Mobility Without Limits“, a contest for Second Life creators to build wheelchairs that improve accessibility, mobility, expression, and roleplay for Second Life residents.

The wheelchair development contest runs through September 30, 2026. Winners will be announced by October 10, 2026.

For more details, click the link below:

https://virtualability.org/contest/

Nutrition Tip – Healthy Meals for One

If you are a singleton cook, you’ve probably experienced the boredom of sandwich, ramen, canned soup, or nuked frozen burrito meals. Perhaps your menu rotation needs a refresh to make it more nutritious (and less expensive) than fast food or take-out.

Here are some good-tasting and healthy suggestions for future meals when cooking for one.

• https://recipes.heart.org/en/collections/courses/one-dish-meal
• https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/collection/healthy-meals-one-recipes
• https://www.everydayhealth.com/columns/everyday-dietitian/simple-meal-recipes-for-non-cooks/ 
• https://www.eatingwell.com/gallery/12892/healthy-recipes-for-one-serving/

 In case grocery shopping for one seems like a challenge, here are some suggestions for that task as well: 

• https://food52.com/story/24948-how-to-grocery-shop-for-one
• https://www.allrecipes.com/article/cooking-buying-food-for-one/
• https://outofmilk.com/ideas/single-guys/
• https://aweekendcook.com/how-to-grocery-shop-for-one-person-avoid-food-waste/

Here’s wishing you a happier, healthier time in your one-person kitchen. 

Tech Tip – You can now change your Gmail name!

Gmail recently turned 22 years old. Like many no-longer-teens, Gmail has now realized how immature some of us who’ve used it for a while were when we set up our email accounts that long ago.

Silly email names that were cute and fun back then now look unprofessional and can sometimes be downright embarrassing.

It’s time to fix that. US users can now change their Google account and email name, the part in front of @gmail.com.

The good news is that your old emails will remain accessible, users can still send to your previous name, and you will be able to login under either old or new name. The even better news is that you can make your resumé look a lot more adult.

Note that you can only change your Google account name once every 12 months. But hey, it’s past time to ditch FluffyTeddyBear@gmail.com and switch up to TedJones@gmail.com.

Here are the instructions: https://blog.google/products-and-platforms/products/workspace/google-account-username-change/

Warning to Chromebook users: you will need to back up your local files, then relog after initiating the name change. You will also need to delete machines connected via Chrome Remote Desktop and add them back under your new address.

Make this name change now, if you need to. Looking at you, 44-year-old SexiBarbiBabi.

The ABA is Not the Same as the ADA

Most people with disabilities in the US are familiar with the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act). The ADA is a civil rights law. It ensures that people with disabilities are not discriminated against in accessing schools, jobs, transportation, and facilities that are open to the public. These protected rights are similar to those provided to persons on the basis of their age, gender, national origin, race, or religion.

But few have heard of the ABA (Architectural Barriers Act).

The ABA is another civil rights law that applies to buildings or facilities used by federal agencies. These include federal office buildings, federal prisons, national parks, post offices, Social Security offices, veterans’ medical facilities, and US courthouses. The ABA also applies to some non-government facilities that use federal funding, such as mass transit systems, public housing, and some schools.

The technical requirements of the ABA are similar to those of the ADA. An accessibility barrier under the ADA is most like an ABA violation if it appears at a federal facility.

The major difference between the ADA and the ABA is in enforcement. The ADA is enforced by several different agencies. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) enforces Title 1 of the ADA. The Department of Justice (DOJ) enforces Titles 2 and 3. The Department of Transportation (DOT) enforces ADA regulations relating to transit. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces telecommunication accessibility.

The ABA is the responsibility of the U.S. Access Board. They handle accessibility complaints related to federal or federally-funded institutions. Reports of violations can be made anonymously.

The accessibility standards that must be met are listed here: https://www.access-board.gov/aba/

The process for filing a complaint is explained here: https://www.access-board.gov/enforcement/

You can also learn what must be reported elsewhere at the above link. 

Tip - Just get started!

It’s easy to procrastinate. Just wait for motivation to kick in before you start on some difficult or dreaded task.

But that’s not really how things work. Action can actually initiate motivation.

This process is called behavioral activation (BA). It’s a therapy often used to deal with depression. Depression leads to inactivity, which causes or deepens depression’s viscous cycle. The purpose of behavioral activation is to break this cycle. 

First you identify patterns in your behavior and list activities you find positive. Then schedule a short, small, enjoyable activity and do it. Often that little serotonin boost will provide enough positivity to allow you to begin what you have been avoiding.

It also helps to consciously break overwhelming tasks into smaller pieces that can be accomplished in a short time frame. Once you have accomplished that first small step, even without motivation, you will often find yourself moving forward to the next step, and then one more.

Although behavioral activation is viewed as a therapeutic treatment for depression, the strategy works just fine for getting things done. You don’t need to be motivated to achieve your goals. You just need to take one small initial action, and often the motivation to complete the project will follow.

Some useful resources:

https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/behavioral-activation#ideas

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapy-types/behavioral-activation

 

Healthinfo Island Displays and Exhibits for July 2026

In Second Life, you can teleport to any of the eight displays and exhibits using the SLURLs in this posting. Click on the poster with the same name as the title of the poster set, and you will get a notecard that contains all the text of the posters plus descriptions of the images.  If you click each poster, you will get a private message with additional information and live links.

Men, Women and GLP-1
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/195/158/22

Safe Water Fun
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/188/181/24

Lawn Mowing Safety
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/172/155/22

Use Sunscreen Properly
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/114/79/24

The 5 C's of Migraine Headaches
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/98/40/26

Norovirus ("Stomach Flu")
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/50/28/28

Myths About Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/24/23/30

Is Obesity a Chronic Disease?
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/21/63/32

Central Pavilion of Healthinfo Island
Check out the calming breathing exercise on the back wall!
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Healthinfo%20Island/128/126/24

Thank you to Mook for help with the posters this month.