Can a SmartPhone Do What Your Doctor Does? - ABC News

<div class="font-toggle" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">During our medical training, we're taught to gather and use information from three sources: a patient history, a physical exam and lab tests. By far the most difficult to master is the physical exam. A good exam requires knowledge of anatomy and physiology and awareness of normal variations that allow a doctor to recognize abnormalities.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Technology can help, and at TEDMED 2013, the SmartPhone Physical exhibit by MedGadget/Nurture showcased some of the latest advances. The goal was to bring complex tests that are pricey to perform with traditional equipment into primary care clinics.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">The result: accessible, affordable $200 phone accessories, most of them approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as "equivalency standards," or equal to the industry standard. This technology could improve access to these tests, cut down on referrals, and provide overall better care.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"It's great for primary care physicians, new doctors with less experience, teaching and even some patients," said Shiv Gaglani, a medical student at Johns Hopkins and curator of the exhibit. "Some physicians can go through their entire training without really learning to look into an eye."</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">But I was skeptical. In medicine, we learn to question everything. If my own mother came to me saying hugs were good for a cold, I would take the hug then ask to see the evidence. So I decided to try it out. Gaglani would be my "doctor" for this 10-minute exam using the following gadgets:</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Blood Pressure Monitor by Withings and Blood Oxygen Monitor by iSp02</strong></div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">We started off, like in all physical exams, by taking the vital signs: blood pressure; heart rate; and oxygenation. The screen buzzed with colorful readings and real-time measurement, and then uploaded my information into an iPad, where I could get it through an app.  It was a start, but I wasn't that impressed. The technology for "automated vital signs" had been around for a while, and a few years ago I taught my 7-year-old cousin how to use the machine on my grandmother.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">ECG Cellphone Case by AliveCor</strong></div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">By squeezing my thumbs onto the metal plates of this iPhone cover, I was able to get a partial ECG that was uploaded and emailed to me. Interesting! One of the problems physicians have is that patients with heart symptoms often improve and the ECG normalizes by the time they see the doctor. This device was simple enough that patients with symptoms could get this cell phone case and be taught how to use it. So the next time it happened, we could get an ECG from during the cardiac event. One of the women who tried it earlier had palpitations during her exam and was diagnosed with a rhythm abnormality.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">iExaminer by Welch Allyn</strong></div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">The eye exam, or "fundoscopy," is the only way we can look directly at blood vessels inside the body without having to cut anything open. It can tell us a lot about diseases such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of practice, so many of us end up referred to an ophthalmologist. The iExaminer was able to take an impressive visual photo of the inside of my eye and turn it into a .pdf.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; "><strong style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: bold; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">SpiroSmart</strong></div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">This SmartPhone looked at lung function, which usually is done at a special lab during an uncomfortable exam. Guidelines for chronic lung diseases such as asthma, cystic fibrosis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease  suggest these tests should be done regularly, but because it is often inconvenient to make a separate trip, they're  underused. It would be great if this was more accessible.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"Unlike the lab machine, which uses pressure, this device uses sound and has been shown to be almost as accurate," said SpiroSmart co-creator Mayank Goel. "This opens up so many doors; imagine even being able to do this test over the phone!"</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Other devices included ThinkLabs' ds32A digital stethoscope that records body sounds (like heart murmurs), the MobiUS SP1 handheld ultrasound machine that looked at the carotid arteries in the neck and was surprisingly accurate compared to the full ultrasound machines, and an otoscope that looked at my ear drum and took a picture.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Overall, I was grudgingly impressed. The devices seemed to combine the best parts of human experience and technology; using technology to gather reliable information, especially for those with less experience, and the physician to interpret the results.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">Studies looking at "inter-rater reliability," the concept of how likely is it that different people interpreting the same physical exam sign will get the same diagnosis, show that technology is often better for gathering consistently objective information.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">The long lineup at the SmartPhone Physical Booth at TedMed included the surgeon general and Dr. Daniel Kraft, faculty chair of medicine at Singularity University in San Diego, who was impressed by the  potential for improving access to care, whether in remote areas or overseas.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"It can enable primary care anywhere. And even though we need to do more testing to ensure accuracy, the potential is great," Kraft said.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">One of the problems, however, is that each device has to be attached to the phone in a separate way, and data is uploaded to different apps, creating a huge amount of information to sift through.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">"Our ability to gather data is overtaking our ability to pare it down and use it to improve our health," said TEDMED editor-in-chief John Benditt.</div><div style="padding-top: 15px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; ">And it's true. The creation of complex devices and technology is surpassing our ability to learn it and use it to its full potential before the "next big thing" comes out. What I'd really like to see is an ECG machine and BP machine that combines data with the lung machine and uploads it to the same profile. Arguably, the next big challenge in medicine may not be the creation of new technology, but finding a way to integrate existing ones.</div></div><div class="clr" style="padding: 0px; margin: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 20px; vertical-align: baseline; clear: both; height: 0px; overflow: hidden; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); letter-spacing: normal; orphans: auto; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: auto; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);"></div><br><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/04/27/can-a-smartphone-do-what-your-doctor-does/?">http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2013/04/27/can-a-smartphone-do-what-your-doctor-does/?</a>

Can a SmartPhone Do What Your Doctor Does? - ABC News

During our medical training, we're taught to gather and use information from three sources: a patient history, a physical exam and lab t...

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Ask Well: Coaxing Parents to Take Better Care of Themselves - NYTimes.com

<div class="module qaModule askWellQAModule" style="margin-bottom: 12px; clear: none; border-top-style: none; padding-top: 10px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; float: left; font-family: georgia, 'times new roman', times, serif; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: 10px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 15px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; "><div class="moduleHeader questionsHeader" style="font-family: nyt-franklin, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.4em; text-transform: uppercase; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); margin: 0px 0px 24px;"><h6 class="askWellQuestionHeading" style="margin: 0px 0px 6px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-family: nyt-karnak-display-130124, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; width: 22px; height: 15px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; background-color: rgb(135, 203, 134); text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">Q</h6><div class="question" data-question-id="9891" style="width: 466px; height: auto; margin: 0px; float: none; clear: left; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; text-transform: none;"><h2 class="moduleHeading" style="margin: 5px 0px 2px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.2307em; line-height: 1.125em; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; display: block; font-weight: bold;">How can I coax my parents to take better care of themselves?</h2><h4 class="moduleSubHeading" style="margin: 0px; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-size: 1.083em; line-height: 1.3846em; font-weight: normal; font-style: italic; padding: 5px 0px;">My parents are in their mid-60s and don't eat well or exercise. They are poorly informed about good nutrition and the benefits of moderate exercise, or even what constitutes moderate exercise. Is there a book that gives accurate, commonsense information without the patronizing tone that I would almost inevitably use? I'm trying to be patient, but it's hard to deal with aging parents who aren't taking care of themselves.</h4><div class="moduleMeta"><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font-size: 0.9167em; line-height: 1em; color: rgb(102, 102, 102); ">Reader Question • 349 votes</div></div></div></div><div class="moduleBody answer" style="width: 466px; height: auto; margin: 6px 12px 0px 0px; float: none; clear: left;"><h6 class="askWellAnswerHeading" style="margin: 0px 0px 4px; color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 1.3em; line-height: 1em; font-weight: normal; font-family: nyt-karnak-display-130124, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-transform: uppercase; width: 22px; height: 15px; padding: 6px 0px 0px; border-top-left-radius: 4px; border-top-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-right-radius: 4px; border-bottom-left-radius: 4px; background-color: rgb(135, 203, 134); text-align: center; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">A</h6><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Your dilemma of wanting to get your parents to change their ways to eat better and exercise reminds me of an old joke:<br></p><blockquote style="margin: 0px 0.5em; font-size: 1.6em; line-height: 1.4em; clear: left; text-indent: 0px; color: rgb(112, 112, 112); padding: 5px 0px;"><em>How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Only one, but the light bulb has to really want to change.</em><p style="margin: 0px; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1.4em;"></p></blockquote><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Sounds like your parents may be about as motivated as the light bulb right now. Still, there are things you can do to encourage them to move in a healthier direction. But the first step should not be to hand them a book. Unless you lay some prior groundwork, that gesture may seem almost as patronizing as an impatient tone of voice – and probably as likely to backfire.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Instead, start a conversation in a caring, nonjudgmental way. Ask, don't tell. "Say, 'You know, I might not know what I am talking about, but I am really concerned about you," suggested Kevin Leman, a psychologist in Tucson, Ariz., and author of 42 books on changing behavior in families and relationships. Ask simply if there is anything you can do to help.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Leading by example is also more effective than lecturing. "The son can role-model health by inviting his parents to dinner and serving healthful items that he is fairly certain they will find acceptable, or ask them if they are interested in going out dancing with him and his wife," suggested Ann Constance, director of the Upper Peninsula Diabetes Outreach Network in Michigan.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Pleasure is a better motivator for change than pain or threats. Use the grandchildren as bait. Ask if they want to take the grandchildren to the zoo or a park that would require a good bit of walking around for everyone. Or the grandchildren could ask them to come along on one of those 2K fund-raiser-walks that many schools hold. After all, a day with the grandchildren is always a pleasure in itself. (O.K., usually a pleasure.)</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Tempted to give them the gift of a health club membership? "Save your money," Dr. Leman said. Try a more indirect (and cheaper) approach. Create a mixed-tape of up-tempo music from their era. ("Songs they listened to from the ages of 12-to-17, which is what we all listen to for the rest of our lives," said Dr. Leman) They will enjoy it any time — maybe even while walking.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">If you really want someone you love to make a change, the key is to ask them to do something small and easy first because that increases the chances they will do something larger later. Psychologists call that "the foot in the door technique," said Adam Davey, associate professor of public health at Temple University in Philadelphia, referring to a classic 1966 experiment called <a href="http://psycnet.apa.org/index.cfm?fa=buy.optionToBuy&id=1966-10825-001" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline;">"Compliance Without Pressure."</a> In the study, which has been duplicated by others in many forms, researchers asked people to sign a petition or place a small card in a window in their home or car about keeping California beautiful or supporting safe driving. About two weeks later, the same people were asked to put a huge sign that practically covered their entire front lawn advocating the same cause.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">"A surprisingly large number of those who agreed to the small sign agreed to the billboard," because agreeing to the first small task built a bond between asker and askee "that increases the likelihood of complying with a subsequent larger request," Dr. Davey explained.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Any plan for behavioral change is most likely to succeed if it is very specific, measurable and achievable, according to Ms.Constance.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">And the new behavior should also be integrated into daily life — and repeated until it becomes a habit. For example, if you want to walk more, start with a 10-minute walk after dinner on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Ms. Constance suggested. The next week, bump it up to 12 minutes.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">Don't give up, even if you meet initial resistance — it is never too late for your parents or you or any of us to change. "Taking up an exercise program into one's 80s and 90s to build strength and flexibility can result in very tangible and enduring benefits in a surprisingly short time," insisted Dr Davey.</p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 1em; font-size: 1.4em; line-height: 1.5em;">As for instructive reading, Dr. Leman is partial to one of his own books,<a href="http://bakerpublishinggroup.com/books/have-a-new-you-by-friday/321071" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline;">"Have a New You by Friday,"</a> and Dr. Davey recommends "Biomarkers: The 10 Keys to Prolonging Vitality," by William Evans. Ms. Constance recommends the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Web site on<a href="http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/olderadults.html" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline;">physical activity and exercise tips for the elderly</a>, as well as the National Institute of Health's <a href="http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/dash/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline;">site on the DASH diet</a>.</p><div><br></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; line-height: normal; font-size: medium; "><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/ask-well-getting-your-parents-to-take-better-care-of-themselves/">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/19/ask-well-getting-your-parents-to-take-better-care-of-themselves/</a></span></div></div></div>

Ask Well: Coaxing Parents to Take Better Care of Themselves - NYTimes.com

Q How can I coax my parents to take better care of themselves? My parents are in their mid-60s and don't eat well or exercise. They are ...

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Therapy for the Elderly: Finally Getting a Load Off Their Minds - NYTimes.com

<div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; " class="">Marvin Tolkin was 83 when he decided that the unexamined life wasn't worth living. Until then, it had never occurred to him that there might be emotional "issues" he wanted to explore with a counselor.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"I don't think I ever needed therapy," said Mr. Tolkin, a retired manufacturer of women's undergarments who lives in Manhattan and Hewlett Harbor, N.Y.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Though he wasn't clinically depressed, Mr. Tolkin did suffer from migraines and "struggled through a lot of things in my life" — the demise of a long-term business partnership, the sudden death of his first wife 18 years ago. He worried about his children and grandchildren, and his relationship with his current wife, Carole.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; " class="">"When I hit my 80s I thought, 'The hell with this.' I don't know how long I'm going to live, I want to make it easier," said Mr. Tolkin, now 86. "Everybody needs help, and everybody makes mistakes. I needed to reach outside my own capabilities."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">So Mr. Tolkin began seeing <a href="http://www.weillcornell.org/rcabrams/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Dr. Robert C. Abrams</a>, a professor of clinical psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medical College in Manhattan. They meet once a month for 45 minutes, exploring the problems that were weighing on Mr. Tolkin. "Dr. Abrams is giving me a perspective that I didn't think about," he said. "It's been making the transition of living at this age in relation to my family very doable and very livable."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Mr. Tolkin is one of many seniors who are seeking psychological help late in life. Most never set foot near an analyst's couch in their younger years. But now, as people are living longer, and the stigma of psychological counseling has diminished, they are recognizing that their golden years might be easier if they alleviate the problems they have been carrying around for decades. It also helps that <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/medicare/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Medicare</a> pays for psychiatric assessments and therapy.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"We've been seeing more people in their 80s and older over the past five years, many who have never done therapy before," said <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/profiles/Dolores_Thompson/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Dolores Gallagher-Thompson</a>, a professor of research in the department of psychiatry at Stanford. "Usually, they've tried other resources like their church, or talked to family. They're realizing that they're living longer, and if you've got another 10 or 15 years, why be miserable if there's something that can help you?"</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Some of these older patients are clinically depressed. The National Alliance on Mental Illness <a href="http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=7515" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">reports that more than 6.5 million Americans over age 65 suffer from depression</a>. But many are grappling with <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/mentalhealthanddisorders/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">mental health</a> issues unaddressed for decades, as well as contemporary concerns about new living arrangements, finances, chronic health problems, the loss of loved ones and their own mortality.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"It's never too late, if someone has never dealt with issues," said Judith Repetur, a clinical social worker in New York who works almost exclusively with older patients, many of whom are seeking help for the first time. "A combination of stresses late in life can bring up problems that weren't resolved."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">That members of the Greatest Generation would feel comfortable talking to a therapist, or acknowledging psychological distress, is a significant change. Many grew up in an era when only "crazy" people sought psychiatric help. They would never admit to themselves — and certainly not others — that anything might be wrong.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"For people in their 80s and 90s now, depression was considered almost a moral weakness," said Dr. Gallagher-Thompson. "Fifty years ago, when they were in their 20s and 30s, people were locked up and someone threw away the key. They had a terrible fear that if they said they were depressed, they were going to end up in an institution. So they learned to look good and cover their problems as best they could."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">But those attitudes have shifted over time, along with the medical community's understanding of mental illness among seniors. In the past, the assumption was that if older people were acting strangely or having problems, it was probably <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/dementia/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">dementia</a>. But now, "the awareness of depression, anxiety disorders and <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/drug-abuse/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">substance abuse</a> as possible problems has grown," said <a href="http://gero.usc.edu/faculty/knight/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Bob G. Knight</a>, a professor of gerontology and psychology at the University of Southern California, and the author of "Psychotherapy With Older Adults."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">A <a href="http://www.samhsa.gov/data/aging/chap1.htm" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">report by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration</a> found that about half of all Americans ages 50 to 70 will be at high risk for alcohol and marijuana abuse by 2020, compared with less than 9 percent in 1999.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">In years past, too, there was a sense among medical professionals that a patient often could not be helped after a certain age unless he had received treatment earlier in life. Freud noted that around age 50, "the elasticity of the mental process on which treatment depends is, as a rule, lacking," adding, "Old people are no longer educable." (Never mind that he continued working until he died at 83.)</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"That's been totally turned around by what we've learned about cognitive psychology and cognitive approach — changing the way you think about things, redirecting your emotions in more positive ways," said <a href="http://www.human.cornell.edu/bio.cfm?netid=kap6" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Karl Pillemer</a>, a gerontologist and professor of human development at Cornell, and author of "30 Lessons for Living."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Treatment regimens can be difficult in this population. Antidepressants, for instance, can have unpleasant side effects and only add to the pile of pills many elderly patients take daily. Older patients may feel that they don't have the time necessary to explore psychotherapy, or that it's too late to change.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">But many eagerly embrace talk therapy, particularly cognitive behavioral techniques that focus on altering thought patterns and behaviors affecting their quality of life now. Experts say that seniors generally have a higher satisfaction rate in therapy than younger people because they are usually more serious about it. Time is critical, and their goals usually are well defined.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"Older patients realize that time is limited and precious and not to be wasted," said Dr. Abrams. "They tend to be serious about the discussion and less tolerant of wasted time. They make great patients."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">After her husband died two years ago, Miriam Zatinsky, a retired social worker who is now 87, moved into an independent living facility at Miami Jewish Health Systems. It was a difficult transition to make late in life.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"It was really strange to me, and I couldn't seem to make any friends here," Ms. Zatinsky said. "I really couldn't find my way. I was having a terrible time."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">The medical director for mental health at the facility, <a href="http://www.marcagronin.com/" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">Dr. Marc E. Agronin</a>, a <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/01/us/01elderly.html" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 102); text-decoration: none;" class="">geriatric psychiatrist and the author of "How We Age,"</a> told her that her problems were not unusual for someone in her situation, and encouraged her to make some friends. He prescribed Xanax to help with anxiety, which she said she rarely takes, and he put her in touch with a social worker, Shyla Ford, whom Ms. Zatinsky saw once a week until Ms. Ford moved (Ms. Zatinsky now has a new social worker she talks to). They strategized on how she could reach out. And slowly, she did.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"Sitting at the table for dinner, you talk to people," said Ms. Zatinsky, who has become president of her building.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Typically, 15 to 20 sessions of talk therapy are enough to help an older patient, unless he or she is struggling with a lifetime's worth of significant problems. Still, even long-term issues can be overcome.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">After a debilitating depression in which she spent three months unable to get out of bed, Judita Grosz, 69, of Pembroke Pines, Fla., decided to see Dr. Agronin, who prescribed medication. (She also tried group therapy but didn't like it.) He also practiced some cognitive behavioral techniques with her — for instance, requiring her to get dressed every day for a minimum of 15 minutes.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Eventually, she began to feel better. "I learned to adjust my thinking, and I don't get as anxious as I used to," said Ms. Grosz, who has since begun making and selling jewelry. "I found out at this age that I am artistic and creative and innovative and smart. I just woke up to the fact that I have a mind of my own. Talk about a late bloomer."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Dr. Agronin, who still meets with Ms. Grosz monthly, said, "You might not be able to gain a magical insight and wrap up theirentire life in therapy, but you might be able to accomplish one or two small but meaningful goals."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Sometimes, what older patients really need is help putting a lifetime in perspective.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"Things can be seen differently from the perspective of old age that relieve some guilt and challenge assumptions that you've had for decades," Dr. Abrams said. " 'Maybe it wasn't too terrible after all; maybe I shouldn't blame myself.' Maybe some of your worst mistakes weren't so egregious, and maybe there were unavoidable circumstances you couldn't control."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Mr. Tolkin still stops by Dr. Abrams's office for a monthly checkup.</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">"Everybody has a certain amount of heartache in life — it's how you handle the heartache that is the essential core of your life," Mr. Tolkin said. "I found that my attitude was important, and I had to reinforce positive things all the time."</div><div style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-size: medium; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0.7em; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; line-height: 1.375em; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: -webkit-left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; " class="">He said he wishes he had tried therapy years ago. But he adds: "I can't go back. I can only go forward."</div><br class=""><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/how-therapy-can-help-in-the-golden-years/">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/22/how-therapy-can-help-in-the-golden-years/</a>

Therapy for the Elderly: Finally Getting a Load Off Their Minds - NYTimes.com

Marvin Tolkin was 83 when he decided that the unexamined life wasn't worth living. Until then, it had never occurred to him that there m...

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God and Doctor - NYTimes.com

When he came to the hospital, he did not look well.<br /><br><br /><br>You might think that everyone with a recent leukemia diagnosis appears ill, but that isn't true. Some go to their primary care doctor with vague complaints of feeling tired or of having a cold, and a few hours after having their blood drawn are stunned to receive a phone call that they must get to the hospital immediately. Some get "stuck" in the Kübler-Ross stage of denial, refusing to believe they have leukemia even after they've received chemotherapy for it, or in the bargaining stage, negotiating for just one more bone marrow biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.<br /><br><br /><br>Others look like my new patient.<br /><br><br /><br>"His hemoglobin is 2.7," my leukemia fellow told me. A normal hemoglobin for a man should be closer to 15. "When we drew his blood, it came out almost clear."<br /><br><br /><br>"How many bags of blood are you going to give him?" I asked.<br /><br><br /><br>She hesitated. "He's refusing any blood product transfusions. He's a Jehovah's Witness."<br /><br><br /><br>The Jehovah's Witnesses are a religious group that believe, among other things, that only a minority of people reach heaven. They also believe that it is wrong to receive the tissue of another human being, and that doing so violates God's law, even if it is potentially lifesaving.<br /><br><br /><br>This presented quite an ethical quandary. To treat our patient's cancer adequately, we would need to give him chemotherapy at doses high enough to obliterate his entire bone marrow, at least for a while. During this time, he would not be able to manufacture his own red blood cells or platelets, so we would have to support him with transfusions — sometimes as frequently as daily. Supportive measures like blood product transfusions and antibiotics have led to a marked drop in mortality from the actual leukemia treatment over the past half century, to less than 5 percent. Without such supportive measures, death is almost guaranteed. Without chemotherapy, though, death is certain, at the hands of the leukemia itself.<br /><br><br /><br>My fellow and I walked into our patient's room to talk with him. He was lying in bed and surrounded by his relatives, who were sitting in chairs or on his bed. He smiled weakly at us, pale but handsome. We introduced ourselves to everyone and then started talking about how to treat his leukemia.<br /><br><br /><br>"So, you understand that the therapy we recommend has the potential to cure you, but it is unlikely you'll be able to survive the chemotherapy without receiving blood transfusions?" I summarized.<br /><br><br /><br>"I understand," he said.<br /><br><br /><br>"But if we don't treat your leukemia, you will die from it." I looked him in the eyes, at the crow's-feet that told me he had laughed a lot of times in his life, and down to his hands, holding those of his niece, sitting by his side. Tears were streaming down her cheeks.<br /><br><br /><br>"I know."<br /><br><br /><br>"I heard that you're a Jehovah's Witness. I come from a different background — I'm Jewish."<br /><br><br /><br>"Well, nobody's perfect!" his brother piped up. Everyone laughed, easing the tension in the room.<br /><br><br /><br>"I have different beliefs from you, so I can't say I totally understand where you're coming from, but I respect your faith, and we'll follow your lead on what you want to do," I told the patient. "You're the boss."<br /><br><br /><br>"No, he's the boss," he said, pointing toward the ceiling, and beyond. Others in the room nodded in agreement.<br /><br><br /><br>He declined transfusions, but he did want to receive chemotherapy, so we compromised on a lower-dose treatment, and minimized our lab draws to one per week, to preserve what blood he had. After two weeks his hemoglobin dropped to 2.1; after three weeks, it fell to 1.8. One month into his hospitalization, he became too dizzy to stand, and his heart, starved for the oxygen his missing red blood cells would have carried, just stopped beating. He went into cardiac arrest and died.<br /><br><br /><br>The staff on the leukemia floor took his death hard, all plagued by the same question: Had we done enough for him?<br /><br><br /><br>We enter our chosen profession to kill that malignant golem, leukemia. But our patient approached his leukemia focusing more on eternity than his time on earth. While many felt his belief had tied our hands so that we couldn't treat his leukemia optimally, ultimately our responsibility must be to our patient's goals more than to our own: in this case, his relationship to God, and his desire to reach heaven. I hope he made it.<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/god-and-doctor/?src=recg">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/god-and-doctor/?src=recg</a>

God and Doctor - NYTimes.com

When he came to the hospital, he did not look well. You might think that everyone with a recent leukemia diagnosis appears ill, but that isn...

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Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 04/27/2013

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2013/education">The Australian - Top 50 2013 education | The Australian</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">The top 50 people to watch in education in Australia. I enjoy looking at these lists and also following those who are thought leaders / educators. (I don't really follow politicians in the movements.) We have a lot to learn from each other.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/australia.">australia.</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_news">edu_news</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://pandodaily.com/2013/04/25/why-online-education-is-mostly-a-fantasy/">Why online education is mostly a fantasy</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">NOTE: The linked article is NSFW - it has a word of profanity where the author quotes Good Will Hunting. But the points are right. Some teachers worry they will be outdated or not needed with the online education movement. This article has some great points that I agree with. I do think online learning is part of our future but perhaps not the savior some make it out to be. "The online education utopians ignore the fact that free learning has existed for decades in the form of the public library and despite that availability, every kid within bicycling distance to his local branch didn’t turn into a self taught entrepreneur. Suggesting that online courses are the cure-all for our educational needs is like saying all you have to do to teach kids in the ghetto is give away textbooks on the corner. Recent studies have shown there is a significant gap between the completion rates of online students compared to classroom based students. When you consider that online learning is often promoted as a cost effective solution for at-risk learners who don’t have the financial resources for face-to-face instruction, it becomes clear that the online movement is offering a product that makes it easier to drop out to students who are already more prone to quitting in the first place."</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/mooc">mooc</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/onlinelearning">onlinelearning</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edu_news">edu_news</a></p> </li> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/04/26/the-real-problem-in-education-the-opportunity-gap/">The real problem in education: the ‘opportunity gap’</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">"But even by reasonable standards, the nation’s educational outcomes are not in much better shape than they were in 1983. Whether we’re looking at overall scores or at achievement gaps, the trend lines for NAEP, the so-called Nation’s Report Card, generally show a post-reform picture that looks pretty much like the pre-reform picture – with positive trend lines but apparent slowing after 1990. There is no way to tease those data into showing that test-based accountability reform is accomplishing its key learning goals."</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/edreform">edreform</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/testing">testing</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/all_teachers">all_teachers</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 04/27/2013

The Australian - Top 50 2013 education | The Australian The top 50 people to watch in education in A...

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Matt Said, Jay Said...74>24 Degrees

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Matt Fertilizes…Jay Fertilizes…You Grow.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RE7sFxl1QfGvCGVVAsLE0W7UvpeDR_tZ6O1uokON1GB8Ih4bGuQekSyBIHBQGIgznagW0e4JXwZOKAzhvwPGKICcQGZ6D2sEM7z4WADoNbLhZWdK9fAGOJHPnZQFNogz6MfjJoD1Ps/s1600/cherry+blossom+spring+has+sprung.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO4RE7sFxl1QfGvCGVVAsLE0W7UvpeDR_tZ6O1uokON1GB8Ih4bGuQekSyBIHBQGIgznagW0e4JXwZOKAzhvwPGKICcQGZ6D2sEM7z4WADoNbLhZWdK9fAGOJHPnZQFNogz6MfjJoD1Ps/s400/cherry+blossom+spring+has+sprung.jpg" width="400" /></a>Matt:  Hiya Chuckles!!<br />Jay:  What‘s Up?<br />Matt:  My blood alcohol concentration. I’m on my third Steel Reserve.<br />Jay:  Well make sure you take notes then, or we’ll be having this discussion again tomorrow.<br />Matt:  Okay hold on… writing down, <i>“Take Notes.”</i>  Got it.<br />Jay:  Oh this will be good.<br /><br />Matt:  Hey!!<br />Jay:  What?<br />Matt:  It is so cool that Dana is going to be on <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/04/28/at-long-last-spring" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: blue;">our show Sunday</span></i></a> to discuss her surgery.<br />Jay:  I know right?  After all the fun we have had, and continue to have at her expense, she’s coming on.<br />Matt:  Such a trooper.<br />Jay:  Man…as much shit as we have given her, she is a Super Trooper!!<br />Matt:  And she is getting healthy…getting in shape…good spring time thing to do.<br />Jay:  Oh Hell yeah.<br /><br />Matt:  Hey…We could call this Sunday’s show…Spring Cleaning!!<br />Jay:  We could but that doesn’t really relate to Dana’s surgery.<br />Matt:  Yeah, okay.  Hmmmmm?<br />Jay:  We could however, incorporate the vernal rebirth of life and other things that come along with Spring.<br /><br />Matt:  Damn right...Window opening.  Plant planting.  Gutter cleaning.<br />Jay:  Car tune-ups.  Becoming one with Nature.  Allergy sneezing.<br />Matt:  Cooking out.<br />Jay:  Drinking beer.<br />Matt and Jay:  Women wearing access-friendly, low-cut shirts, and high, tight shorts.  Sahhhhlute!!<br /><br />Jay:  Oh shit dude!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE5O3dYehCL65vNN0xEI5pv8xNyADCCrnl215Ukd-HlF7L6SrcpowmuWp_paFe0GHbkiPqfaTmV34Zwh4ju8waNqLUex05FzHe7VkNl1E97yE9spmGO2Kr5kY3tX_jn2pjKy9uI9sk-I/s1600/spring-break-sexy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE5O3dYehCL65vNN0xEI5pv8xNyADCCrnl215Ukd-HlF7L6SrcpowmuWp_paFe0GHbkiPqfaTmV34Zwh4ju8waNqLUex05FzHe7VkNl1E97yE9spmGO2Kr5kY3tX_jn2pjKy9uI9sk-I/s400/spring-break-sexy.jpg" width="375" /></a>Matt:  Oh No!!  What?<br />Jay:  Dana has had some complications, and will be going back into the hospital, and can’t be on Sunday.<br />Matt:  Oh Holy Hell!!  That’s awful.<br />Jay:  I know…I hope she’s going to be okay.<br />Matt:  Well yeah…I mean, that too, but now we need a new guest on short notice.<br /><br />Jay:  See?  That’s why some people just don’t like you.  Simply thinking about yourself.<br />Matt: I’m sorry.  I’ll put a shout out for prayers for Dana on Facebook.<br />Jay:  And you think that makes your cold and callous selfishness okay?<br />Matt:  Well, I mean…I cou---<br />Jay:  But…That <i>was</i> pretty rude of her to say she’d come on the show and then have complications.<br />Matt:  I know right!?<br /><br />Jay:  I guess now <i>WE</i> have to get a hold of Martin, Jim Ed Dobbs, and Dixie Ozark so they can help out.<br />Matt:  Yep.  And Paul Piatt, Stubby Stonehenge, and perhaps that new Nursery down the road.<br />Jay:  Jesus Christ…When people get sick or have an operation, they never realize how it affects others.<br />Matt:  Tell me about it.  Schmoop still has this phantom tube sticking out of her gut.<br /><br />Jay:  Well…in spite of Dana’s ill-timed remittance to Haughtier Than You Hospital, we’ll make it work.<br />Matt:  Because we are professionals.<br />Jay:  At least we have that.<br />Matt:  We’ll talk Spring and have a good time.<br />Jay:  Damn right, because at long last, Spring has sprung.<br /><br />Matt:  Word, and maybe…people will call-in and tell us how much they love lack of winter.<br />Jay:  If they don’t, we can always blame it on Dana.<br />Matt:  And we will.<br />Jay:  Later Dude, guess I HAVE TO GET TO WORK NOW; THANKS DANA.<br />Matt:  Yeah…ME TOO, THANKS DANA!!<br /><br />Jay and Matt:  But everyone…Join us LIVE this Sunday from Noon-2 PM ET for the <i><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/04/28/at-long-last-spring" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">IWS Radio Show</span></a></i> on Blog Talk Radio by clicking, <i><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2013/04/28/at-long-last-spring" target="_blank">HERE!! </a></span></i><br /><i><br /></i> <i><br /></i> <i><br /></i></div>Be sure to check out the I’m With Stupid podcast! The #1 Comedy show on Blog Talk Radio! <br /><br /><br /><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.adobe.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,0,0" height="270" id="143577" name="143577" width="210"><param name="movie" value="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf?file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2Fim-with-stupid%2Fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=true&bufferlength=5&volume=80&corner=rounded&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/flashplayercallback.aspx" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/btrplayer.swf" flashvars="file=http://www.blogtalkradio.com%2fim-with-stupid%2fplay_list.xml%3Fitemcount%3D5&autostart=true&shuffle=false&callback=http://www.blogtalkradio.com/FlashPlayerCallback.aspx&width=210&height=270&volume=80&corner=rounded" width="210" height="270" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" quality="high" wmode="transparent" menu="false" name="143577" id="143577" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><div style="font-size: 10px; text-align: center; width: 220px;">Listen to <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/">internet radio</a> with <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid">Im With Stupid</a> on Blog Talk Radio</div><br /></div>

Matt Said, Jay Said...74>24 Degrees

Matt Fertilizes…Jay Fertilizes…You Grow. Matt:  Hiya Chuckles!! Jay:  What‘s Up? Matt:  My blood alcohol concentration. I’m on my third Stee...

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IDEAS CITY

<img alt="ideas-city2013.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/ideas-city2013.jpg" title="IDEAS CITY" /><br />The second biannual <a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/">IDEAS CITY</a> takes place May 1-4 on and around the Bowery. What is IDEAS CITY? Here's the official description:<br /><blockquote>IDEAS CITY explores the future of cities around the globe with the belief that arts and culture are essential to the vitality of urban centers, making them better places to live, work, and play. Founded by the New Museum in 2011, IDEAS CITY is a major collaborative initiative between hundreds of arts, education, and civic organizations. This year’s theme is "Untapped Capital," with participants focused on resources that are under-recognized or underutilized in our cities.<br /><br />IDEAS CITY is a four-day Festival of conferences, workshops, an innovative StreetFest around the Bowery, and more than one hundred independent projects and public events that are forums for exchanging ideas, proposing solutions, and accelerating creativity. </blockquote><img alt="streetfest2013-1.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/streetfest2013-1.jpg" title="Streetfest rendering" /><br />["MirrorMirror" by Davidson Rafailidis | Image courtesy Storefront for Art and Architecture]<br /><br />The winner of the <a href="http://www.storefrontnews.org/programming/projects?c=&p=&e=533">2013 StreetFest Competition</a> is "MirrorMirror" by <a href="http://www.davidsonrafailidis.net/">Davidson Rafailidis</a>. Their installation will be built and installed for the May 4 StreetFest. Here is some information on the winning design from the Storefront for Art and Architecture announcement:<br /><blockquote>“MirrorMirror” is a base unit covering twelve feet by sixteen feet. The design includes a simple forty-five-degree-angled gable roof made from miorroring panels. A single unit will house small programs. When combined, the units create a large barn-like structure that will can be host to larger gatherings. The design utilizes aluminum frames with Mylar mirror foil that are often used as glassless mirrors in dance studios.</blockquote><img alt="streetfest2013-2.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/streetfest2013-2.jpg" title="Streetfest rendering" /><br />["MirrorMirror" by Davidson Rafailidis | Image courtesy Storefront for Art and Architecture]<br /><br />Visit the IDEAS CITY website to <a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/index">plan your visit</a>, purchase a <a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/festival-conference-pass">conference pass</a>, and <a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/files/IDEASCITYFestivalGuidePRESS.3.28.pdf">download a guide</a> (PDF link) to the many events happening in downtown Manhattan over the course of four days next week.<br /><br />My recommendations:<br /><blockquote><b>Wednesday, May 1:</b><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/joi-ito">Joi Ito</a><br />Keynote address at 7:30pm at The Cooper Union<br /><br /><b>Thursday, May 2:</b><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/ad-hoc-strategies">Ad Hoc Strategies</a><br />Panel discussion at 9:15am at The Cooper Union<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/play">Play</a><br />Panel discussion at 2:30pm at The Cooper Union<br /><br /><i><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/film-projection-a-road-not-taken">A Road Not Taken</a></i><br />Film screening at 7pm at the Swiss Institute<br /><br /><b>Friday, May 3:</b><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/the-future-of-the-city-exhibition">The Future of the City</a><br />Conversation at 5pm at Center for Architecture<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/hack-city">Hack City</a><br />Workshop at 6pm at the Old School<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/pitching-the-city">Pitching the City: New Ideas for New York</a><br />Presentation at 7pm at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral<br /><br /><b>Saturday, May 4:</b><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/index/type:streetFest">StreetFest</a><br />Numerous booths, events, and projects from 11am to 6pm on and around the Bowery<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/film-screening-of-godfrey-reggio-s-naqoyqatsi">Godfrey Reggio’s <i>Naqoyqatsi</i></a><br />Film screening at 11am at NYPL Mulberry Branch<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/delancey-plaza-an-afternoon-above-the-lowline">Delancey Plaza: An Afternoon Above the Lowline</a><br />Workshop from 11am to 6pm at Delancey Plaza<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/no-shame-storefront-for-sale">No Shame: Storefront For Sale</a><br />Exhibition performance from 11am to 6pm at the Storefront for Art and Architecture<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/adhocracy">Adhocracy</a><br />Exhibition from 11am to 6pm at the New Museum<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/softwalks-the-pilot-project">Softwalks</a><br />Installations from 6pm to Midnight in various locations<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/change-of-state-2013">Change of State</a><br />Installation from 8pm to Midnight on the facade of the New Museum<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ideas-city.org/view/snarkitecture">Snarkitecture</a><br />Installation from 8:30pm to Midnight at Mulberry and Prince Streets</blockquote>

IDEAS CITY

The second biannual IDEAS CITY takes place May 1-4 on and around the Bowery. What is IDEAS CITY? Here's the official description: IDEAS...

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The Spire

Can you see the Spire? This is the view of it from Henry Street.<br /><br />Dublin wags call it the Stiletto in the Ghetto! <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL4fQEZpjyNyqFlaHceAg4f47-zWFPhouVyfk49KMwdnsMQqjsODQ2AvetPkP5b278CJU5-M4-wDFOn8y6-Oqc-3PvTeTVjQNRRzUff7l5FJoIaTS5ZdL1Bkc-6Ljumhn8BXTmNEHThNZ/s640/blogger-image--821745228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSL4fQEZpjyNyqFlaHceAg4f47-zWFPhouVyfk49KMwdnsMQqjsODQ2AvetPkP5b278CJU5-M4-wDFOn8y6-Oqc-3PvTeTVjQNRRzUff7l5FJoIaTS5ZdL1Bkc-6Ljumhn8BXTmNEHThNZ/s640/blogger-image--821745228.jpg" /></a></div>

The Spire

Can you see the Spire? This is the view of it from Henry Street. Dublin wags call it the Stiletto in the Ghetto!

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Done!

I got my quilt finished. It's ok. I'm not entirely happy with the colours. I'll have to be more careful with the next one I do. <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwn0hSrkro8vY32NftaXzw-NUo831D2eTCcC61nIDdREZDMa8sT9JpUAOxT7hW6qY5PWTA1HgfzUQnn81TV5ZE1r8U9oeW3XR7mp1ctr4pP72gY6J49KlXmZ-hmoQPRiaIe28tMlRlOrv/s640/blogger-image--183874889.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTwn0hSrkro8vY32NftaXzw-NUo831D2eTCcC61nIDdREZDMa8sT9JpUAOxT7hW6qY5PWTA1HgfzUQnn81TV5ZE1r8U9oeW3XR7mp1ctr4pP72gY6J49KlXmZ-hmoQPRiaIe28tMlRlOrv/s640/blogger-image--183874889.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK_hj7Th6nHqcdPEpafkm4k3ce9GAX9HFKx853_eaaSKFnRRxsi5uCDL-Nl_ZfHcBU5u5tA5rBjhCjpfMoGR_xbTbBJMZEIloc_JOzZpYJ1a38Yp6zKsMLl-23RU3TL6FJG0qgLyIpjF-/s640/blogger-image--1158152147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQK_hj7Th6nHqcdPEpafkm4k3ce9GAX9HFKx853_eaaSKFnRRxsi5uCDL-Nl_ZfHcBU5u5tA5rBjhCjpfMoGR_xbTbBJMZEIloc_JOzZpYJ1a38Yp6zKsMLl-23RU3TL6FJG0qgLyIpjF-/s640/blogger-image--1158152147.jpg" /></a></div> <br/><br/><div class="separator"style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw3XunMcvfunKltezdZmn9bN3EXF5MU0k8dY8AFZ4zJzeoTcR08azMwOFUhgDStvHUy4d1VaO-tm51JH6SZezY14ABEs_QkhiiiC6CVQxfthg_-vxDW4WZpm1q1VMbBkq3HEEkOfnhHva/s640/blogger-image-753581666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBw3XunMcvfunKltezdZmn9bN3EXF5MU0k8dY8AFZ4zJzeoTcR08azMwOFUhgDStvHUy4d1VaO-tm51JH6SZezY14ABEs_QkhiiiC6CVQxfthg_-vxDW4WZpm1q1VMbBkq3HEEkOfnhHva/s640/blogger-image-753581666.jpg" /></a></div>

Done!

I got my quilt finished. It's ok. I'm not entirely happy with the colours. I'll have to be more careful with the next one I d...

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Part-Time Children’s Programming Assistant - Easton Public Library

<strong>Part-Time Children’s Programming Assistant - </strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Easton Public Library</span></strong> seeks a highly motivated, enthusiastic, friendly individual with strong interpersonal skills to help with library programming. Candidate must be creative, artistic, flexible and able to juggle multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment. Duties include: planning and implementing age appropriate story times and craft programs for children in preschool through grade 12 as well as assisting children, young adults and parents with library use. 10-15 hours per week. Salary: $15.00 per hour (no benefits). Qualifications: Associate Degree, extensive experience working with children is required, familiarity with online research procedures and basic computer applications is preferred. Send cover letter and resume to Lisa Forman, Assistant Director, Easton Public Library, PO Box 2, Easton, CT 06612 or by email to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:lbforman@eastonlibrary.org" href="mailto:lbforman@eastonlibrary.org">lbforman@eastonlibrary.org</a> by <span style="color: red;">May 15, 2013</span>.

Part-Time Children’s Programming Assistant - Easton Public Library

Part-Time Children’s Programming Assistant - Easton Public Library seeks a highly motivated, enthusiastic, friendly individual with strong ...

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Librarian - Hoffman Family Library, Goodwin College, East Hartford

<strong>Librarian - </strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Hoffman Family Library, Goodwin College</span></strong>, East Hartford, seeks an experienced librarian whose primary responsibility is the library web page. This librarian will: be responsible for the management of library information technology services including the web page, serve as senior advisor to the director of library services regarding relevant information technology developments, policies, security and management issues, and resource needs, share in other library functions, such as reference and information literacy instruction, and represent the library in meetings, campus committees, and professional organizations. Qualifications include: ALA accredited MLS or MLIS and additional degree in an academic subject, Demonstrated experience administering and working with library automated systems software and operations, knowledge of academic library operations and service requirements, Some Website design experience formatting with HTML or XHTML, Some advanced programming languages such as JavaScript, Ability to use CSS, insert images and tables and post and edit sites through the Dreamweaver framework, Familiarity with open source software, Experience in teaching and/or library instruction, Minimum of two years in an academic library, Excellent oral, written, and interpersonal communication skills, A record of professional accomplishments, active participation in professional organizations, scholarly activities, and a commitment to fostering the growth and development of others, A demonstrated commitment and sensitivity to diversity in the workplace. Salary is competitive and commensurate with experience and qualifications. Consideration of applications begins immediately and continues until the position is filled. Please send cover letter, resume, and the names, addresses, telephone numbers and email addresses of three references electronically to: Jean McGill. Title: Director of Human Resources. Email: <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:Jobs@goodwin.edu" href="mailto:Jobs@goodwin.edu">Jobs@goodwin.edu</a>. Goodwin College is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and invites applications from all who meet the stated qualifications.

Librarian - Hoffman Family Library, Goodwin College, East Hartford

Librarian - Hoffman Family Library, Goodwin College , East Hartford, seeks an experienced librarian whose primary responsibility is the li...

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Social Justice and the City, 1973-2013

On Saturday, May 4, the Graduate Program in Design and Urban Ecologies is presenting <a href="http://urban.parsons.edu/due/"><i>Social Justice and the City 1973-2013</i></a>, commemorating the 40th anniversary of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0820334030/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0820334030&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20">David Harvey's seminal book</a> of the same name. See below for an event poster and bottom for a description of the free one-day symposium. <a href="http://socialjusticeandthecity.eventbrite.com/">RSVP here</a> for the event.<br /><br /><a href="http://urban.parsons.edu/due/"><img alt="harvey40.jpg" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/harvey40.jpg" title="Poster for Social Justice and the City, 1973-2013" /></a><br /><blockquote><b>Date:</b> Saturday, May 4, 2013 <br /><b>Time:</b> 10am-6pm <br /><b>Location:</b> Parsons the New School for Design, 66 West 12th Street (A404, A407), NYC<br /><br />In April 1970, an essay titled “Social Processes and Spatial Form: An Analysis of the Conceptual Problems of Urban Planning,” was published in volume 25 of the journal Papers of the Regional Science Association. For this first time, this essay constructed an unexplored critique of urban disciplines vis-á-vis capitalism. The result created a dialectical theoretical framework, and forever changed the way many urban practitioners viewed their disciplinary tools and formal training. Ultimately, this heralded an ongoing formation of radically new and unseen forms of urban practice. In 1973, this essay became the first chapter of <i>Social Justice and the City</i>. David Harvey’s seminal second book split the way our cities are read, and created entirely new research paths for his contemporaries and younger practitioners.<br /><br />Forty years after its publication, <i>Social Justice and the City</i> is as relevant as when it was first conceived. As the processes of urbanization fall faster than ever at the control of the elites, an unprecedented wave of enforced spatial segregation radically alters our urban realities. Today, <i>Social Justice and the City</i> provokes views and directions that remain at the core of any imaginary for resistance, and an action towards the belief that socially just forms of urbanization are possible.<br /><br />The 40 year commemoration of <i>Social Justice and the City</i> will pay tribute to the lasting work and influence of David Harvey. The day will be introduced by Harvey, who will share his views on the book and its 40 year trajectory. Harvey will then be joined by a diverse array of urban practitioners, from artists to academics and designers, whose practice has been transformed by <i>Social Justice and the City</i>.<br /><br />Participants Include: Sharon Zukin, Don Mitchell, Andy Merrifield, Margit Mayer, Peter Marcuse, Ayreen Anastas, Martha Rosler, Miguel Robels-Durán, Rene Gabri, William Morrish, Andrew Ross, Jeanne van Heeswijk, William Tabb, John Krinsky, Teddy Cruz, Erik Swyngedouw, Nik Heynen, Neil Brenner, Melissa Wright, Tom Angotti, Linda McDowell, Miriam Greenberg, Richard Walker and others. </blockquote>

Social Justice and the City, 1973-2013

On Saturday, May 4, the Graduate Program in Design and Urban Ecologies is presenting Social Justice and the City 1973-2013 , commemorating t...

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Advanced Referencing Services Specialist - Infotrieve, Wilton

<strong>Advanced Referencing Services Specialist - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Infotrieve</span></strong></strong> (Wilton) is a global leader in information services and content management technology for businesses. For more than 20 years we have been providing corporate information centers, R&D facilities, and legal, business affairs and product professionals in more than half the Fortune 500 with a broad array of software solutions and services. Position Overview: We are seeking a talented Advanced Referencing Services Specialist with the desire to provide top-notch service to our blue chip clients. In this role you will utilize your strong on-line search skills to conduct advanced reference work, citation verification and copyright clearance for hard-to-find documents utilizing specialized in-house and commercial databases. This is a great opportunity for an exceptional recent MLS graduate with a strong desire to work with both leading edge software and some of the most highly respected companies from a variety of industries. This position will be located in Wilton, CT and will report to our Client Services Supervisor. Responsibilities: Ensure document orders are accurately matched to bibliographic records in internal databases by consulting multiple online library catalogs. Perform searches across specialized databases to verify citations and update internal database information. Locate source publications containing hard-to-find documents including journal articles, theses and dissertations, periodicals, conference proceedings and patents. Obtain copyright permissions for hard-to-clear documents. Initiate contact with publishers and vendors to fill document requests. Communicate order status updates to clients. Requirements: MS degree in library and information science. 2 years experience in a corporate or academic research position. Proficiency using citation databases such as PubMed. Knowledge of university and library catalogues. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Proven customer service orientation. Aptitude for learning new software. Strong technical background desired. How to Apply: Please send resume, as well as undergraduate and graduate transcripts, to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:careers@infotrieve.com" href="mailto:careers@infotrieve.com">careers@infotrieve.com</a> and reference the position title in the subject line.

Advanced Referencing Services Specialist - Infotrieve, Wilton

Advanced Referencing Services Specialist - Infotrieve (Wilton) is a global leader in information services and content management technolog...

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30 days of writing #5: What is Creative Commons Licensing?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUXtijLe2fCyoOwWQAlCJlyoojFtkJtKvMQS6UDF2E0yJOTd8GTULzVaOBCDjgyn1FPOCqtVDxnljy8feNPfZqWoEPQ35n8zAVB1A7G-pxjJFb7iZrKuQhVICqFrxLniMROw3Sx-UM20eu/s1600-h/image%25255B10%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikDJvlxB8uBJG202A7Q4-0scleqIkddgDLOd_WxjXTlOBOeKfGzj4dNqQTT3Z6xczNx4p9wOo2lXKdNkB-rCtzcVcWGF0ncfkzuuVEJohtF9mC-uBJ1ENdT44jgZ7MhgVihQQqZNZWdneY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="240" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How much do you know about the ins and outs of posting something you have created on the Internet? Can anyone use it and share it? Can you use and share anything someone else has posted?</span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Introducing Copyright on the web</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The African Storybook team felt that it was important to learn about free licensing on the web right at the beginning of this course. Licensing tells others what they can and can't do with anything you put on the web. Basically, when you put something on the web it is copyright and officially no-one should use it. But if you want people to use your work in any way it you need to say something to give permission.  This applies to the stories we'll be donating to the African Storybook Project. We need to put a specific free license on them (very simple to do) to give other teachers and Grades 1-3 children in Africa permission to create a new story from them, translate them, make them easier or more difficult etc. But the original story will still be there on the web in its entirety. You will be the only one who can actually sell your story if you should want to. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Creative Commons Licensing</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The licensing we are talking about is called Creative Commons licensing.  This video gives a great introduction to licensing on the web and shows six Creative Commons licenses one could choose from.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/mAk9H1N8beU" width="420"></iframe><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAk9H1N8beU">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAk9H1N8beU</a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">These are the six licenses. . </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRRcP4N2mpwyK041kGgzR9swaOMNA6DciZzIIg6qaSoZQ-eSkFRrWma0Zn7iUD_sMMhhpNhdgk8Nvrw24iq0Pn6Obvb8csFURc8vY56jJdkcVIsMTd8qgvw40145LxSrw4N0lNsw9OZoG2/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is how they look in their official form – the license choice can just be copied and pasted on to something one creates and it’s done. It is as simple as that. </span><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTw9ArsIprPKziyAYxQ4lenN2-t9sn5L-DZUKlWvqPtXSkXqDRapHjySAtH3i-c2jWlSUwFc2Ru77VFFGJWai0iobCmsm8YK6gSk4Z3n4TETr8JyRDOpARSQ83qo4TKWBdGA7TrQd3Wx9/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></span></div><br /><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></strong><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An example - Using images on the web</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let’s take the example of using images on the web. Can we simply just find a picture in Google and use it as if it was our own on the web? </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Generally, permission to use images ranges from pictures that are in the public domain (anyone can use them) to images that are copyright and require permission to use. Creative Commons licenses grant permission in advance. All Creative Commons licenses require 'attribution' (meaning you have to credit the person who created the item). Most images copyright online are covered by Creative Commons licensing. This means that some sites allow you to use their images but you need to give attribution to them. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <br /><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How do you find out which creative works are covered by this licensing?</span></b><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This website shows you how to use Creative Commons to find free images, audio and video for your website etc</span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">: </b><a href="http://search.creativecommons.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://search.creativecommons.org/</a></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take a look at the video below – it explains really well how to go about searching for something with a Creative Commons license. This video explains the website mentioned above - </span><a href="http://search.creativecommons.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://search.creativecommons.org/</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span></li></ul><br /><div><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YvsbJaJeFGY" width="420"></iframe></div><div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvsbJaJeFGY" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvsbJaJeFGY</a></div><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlNM1Ak95oU"><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How do you add a license to your own work?</b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you open <a href="http://creativecommons.org/">http://creativecommons.org/ </a>you will see a link to start the process of putting one of the licenses on to your work. As the website says, "<i>There is no registration to use the Creative Commons licenses. Licensing a work is as simple as selecting which of the six licenses best meets your goals, and then marking your work in some way so that others know that you have chosen to release the work under the terms of that license. Our license-choosing tool can help you select the right license</i>." </span><br /><br /><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">What is the public domain?</span></b><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes people wish for a piece of their own work to be freely available to everyone to use with no strings attached, and put the work in the public domain. This isn't very hard to do — the copyright holder merely has to make a statement that they release all rights to the work. Once this irrevocable act is complete they no longer have any power over how the work is used since it is then owned by the public as a whole. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Granting_work_into_the_public_domain">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Granting_work_into_the_public_domain</a> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><u></u> </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When it comes to the public domain, there is no catch. If a book, song, movie, or artwork is in the public domain, then it is not protected by intellectual property laws (copyright, trademark, or patent laws)—which means it’s free for you to use without permission. This would include works and inventions whose copyright has expired due to age or lack of renewal. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span> <span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Saide’s guide to using copyright</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saide (South African Institute of Distance Education) who is adminstering this project has a very good guide to licensing which they call ‘The OER Africa Copyright and licensing toolkit’. It can be found here":</span><br /><a href="http://www.oerafrica.org/copyright/CopyrightandLicencingToolkit/tabid/1781/Default.aspx"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.oerafrica.org/copyright/CopyrightandLicencingToolkit/tabid/1781/Default.aspx</span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong>Explore royalty free resources</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fortunately for us there are loads of resources that are freely available to us. Here are just a few. </span><br /><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><a href="http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/12/08/the-best-places-to-get-royalty-free-music-sound-effects/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Larry Ferlazzo</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> - The Best Places To Get Royalty-Free Music & Sound Effects from Larry Ferlazzo</span><a href="http://www.photl.com/en/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photl.com</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> has 160,000 copyright-free images available.</span><a href="http://larryferlazzo.edublogs.org/2008/10/11/the-best-online-sources-for-images/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Larry Ferlazzo</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Best online sources for images</span><a href="http://www.phillipmartin.info/clipart/homepage.htm" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free clipart</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Phil Martin’s collection</span></li><li><a href="http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wikimedia Commons</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (4 million images in the public domain)</span></li><li><a href="http://www.freeimages.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Free Images</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (6000 stock photos, and they require you to credit them as the source)</span></li><li><a href="http://worldimages.sjsu.edu/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">World Images</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (80,000 photos from the California State University IMAGE project, under a non-commercial  CC license)</span></li><li><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/eltpics/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ELT Pics</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (Images taken by teachers for teachers, collected via Twitter and stored on Flickr, under a non-commercial CC license)</span></li><li><a href="http://photopin.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PhotoPin</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> (a search engine that finds Creative Commons images)</span></li><li><a href="http://www.wylio.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wylio</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Search engine for CC images for bloggers</span></li><li><a href="http://www.photoxpress.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PhotoeXpress</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- lengthy registration process but you get 10 free quality stock images a day with a search engine and you don't have to attribute.</span></li><li><a href="http://ccmixter.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CCMixter.org</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Great songs, music that is Creative Commons! Just give attribution</span></li><li><a href="http://www.freesound.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">FreeSound</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Free sound files and clips for use!</span></li><li><a href="http://www.soundzabound.com/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Soundzabound</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- royalty free music library</span></li></ul></div></div>

30 Days of Writing 30 days of writing #5: What is Creative Commons Licensing?

How much do you know about the ins and outs of posting something you have created on the Internet? Can anyone use it and share it? Can you u...

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