Don’t you just love the Olympics? The Summer Olympics present an opportunity to see the youth of the world competing at the highest levels of athleticism and sportsmanship. This summer, it also presents an opportunity to contract some really world-class diseases if you go to the Beijing for the competitions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is there to help, though. They have a Web site dedicated to helping you prepare physically for your trip to China. Here are 10 health risks and preventative measures the CDC suggests you take before heading out to Beijing (we hope you’re not needle-shy):

Hepatitis A — Get vaccinated (2 shots), eat foods that are fully cooked and served hot, drink beverages that have been bottled and sealed (water, carbonated drinks, or sports drinks).

Hepatitis B — get vaccinated (3 shots), use condoms if you have sex, avoid sharing needles or getting tattoos.

Typhoid Fever — Get vaccinated with one shot or take pills (4 doses), eat foods that are fully cooked and served hot, drink beverages that have been bottled and sealed (water, carbonated drinks, or sports drinks).

Japanese Encephalitis — Get vaccinated (3 shots) if you are going to be in China more than 30 days or are planning to spend time outside in rural areas, prevent mosquito bites by using an insect repellent containing DEET and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants, if you are sleeping outdoors or in a room with no window screens, use an insecticide-treated bed net.

Malaria — If you are going to a malaria risk area, take medicine to prevent malaria. There are several medicines available; talk to your doctor about which one is right for you. You will start the medicine before you go to a malaria risk area, take it while you are there, and continue taking it after you leave the risk area. Prevent mosquito bites: Use an insect repellent containing DEET and wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. If you are sleeping outdoors or in a room with no window screens, use an insecticide-treated bed net.

Influenza (Bird & Seasonal) — Do not touch birds (alive or dead), do not go to poultry farms or live bird markets, only eat poultry that has been fully cooked, wash your hands and utensils after handling raw poultry, get a flu vaccine to avoid seasonal flu.

Rabies — Do not touch animals, even pets, as they might not be vaccinated as they are in the United States. If you get an animal bite or scratch, go to a hospital or doctor’s office immediately. If you are going to spend a lot of time outside or in rural areas, consider getting rabies vaccine (3 shots). Important: Even if you get the vaccine, you will still need to see a doctor right away if you are bitten or scratched.

Schistosomiasis — Swim only in chlorinated pools, avoid swimming, wading or participating in activities in fresh water; get tested if you do go in fresh water — even if you do not feel sick. Once you come home, see an infectious disease doctor or tropical medicine doctor to find out if you were infected. If you were infected, take medicine to stop the infection.

Traveler’s Diarrhea — Eat only fully cooked food that is served hot or fruits and vegetables you can wash and peel yourself, drink beverages that have been bottled and sealed (water, carbonated drinks, or sports drinks), wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand gel before you eat or prepare a meal.

Breathing Problems — If you have asthma or another lung problem, see your doctor before you go to China. You may need to take extra medicine to control your symptoms. If you have coughing, wheezing, or trouble breathing while you are in China, see a health-care provider right away. If possible, plan outdoor activities early in the day in areas with no traffic.

Florida’s legislative session this year was one for the record books. The House, led by Miami Republican wonder boy Marco Rubio, devolved into deadlock and strife, including an all-nighter on the eve of Passover weekend. The Senate mired down over such important legislation as the outlawing of “truck nutz.” Meanwhile, neither produced real progress on insurance reform but did pass a budget that cut out kids, oldsters, the sick, the dying, the handicapped, the college-bound, and most folks in between.

It got so bad that, after not getting their way over slots gaming, a few South Florida legislators suggested the region take its tax money and set up its own state. The line, they said, would be drawn just north of the Broward County, which if you’re not familiar, is where Fort Lauderdale is.

North Florida, which would retain both the Gators and the Seminoles, was fine with South Florida going away.

If this had been done earlier, the good people of North Florida wouldn’t have had to suffer through eight years of Gov. Jeb Bush, a Miami resident.

We also wouldn’t have had to put up with the damage done to North Florida by House Speaker Marco Rubio, another Miami resident.

And think about it. Where do hurricanes strike most often?

That’s right. South Florida.

If North Florida became a separate state, maybe we wouldn’t have to subsidize rebuilding oceanfront mansions in South Florida and our property insurance rates would go down.

Hanging chads? Another state’s problem.

Yes, sir, this idea has real appeal.

The problem is that no one wants Central Florida, with its uncontrolled growth and traffic gridlock. Northeast Florida is now fighting efforts by Orlando to siphon water from the St. Johns River, a move which would dry up tributaries and wetlands across the region just to water Central Florida lawns and keep Lake Buena Vista blue for the tourists. Those fighting the water grab have nicknamed it, “The Big Suck.” Who wants to be on that team?

If South Florida won’t take Central Florida and Walt Disney World, perhaps it would be better to divide Florida into three states – North Florida, Central Florida and South Florida.

With that, Rubio could be governor of South Florida, Charlie Crist could be governor of Central Florida and we could elect someone with sense to be governor of North Florida.

That would be a refreshing change.

Buck and I could no longer commiserate about our shared state’s Democratic party, but we could compare notes on the two new states’ organizations, which are bound to be just as disappointing.

We’ll keep you posted on whether Florida joins the Dakotas and the Carolinas in civic divorce.