Where Will The Next Pandemic Come From? And How Can We Stop It? | Popular Science

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; 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="">In June 2008, a Dutch woman named Astrid Joosten left the Netherlands with her husband for an adventure vacation in Uganda. It wasn't their first trip to Africa, but it would be more consequential than the others.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">At home in Noord-Brabant, Joosten, 41, worked as a business analyst for an electrical company. Both she and her spouse, a financial manager, enjoyed escaping Europe on annual getaways. In 2002, they had flown to Johannesburg and, stepping off the airplane, felt love for Africa at first sight. On later trips they visited Mozambique, Zambia, and Mali. The journey to Uganda in 2008, booked through an adventure-travel outfitter, would allow them to see mountain gorillas in the southwestern highlands of the country as well as some other wildlife and cultures. They worked their way south toward Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, where the gorillas reside. On one day, the operators offered a side trip, an option, to a place called the Maramagambo Forest, where the chief attraction was a site known as Python Cave. African rock pythons lived there, languid and content, grown large on a diet of bats.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">Joosten's husband, later her widower, is a fair-skinned man named Jaap Taal, a calm fellow with a shaved head and dark, roundish glasses. Most of the other travelers didn't fancy this Python Cave offering, he told me later. "But Astrid and I always said, 'Maybe you come here only once in your life, and you have to do everything you can.' " They rode to Maramagambo Forest and then walked a mile or so, gradually ascending, to a small pond. Nearby, half-concealed by moss and other greenery, like a crocodile's eye barely surfaced, was a low, dark opening. Joosten and Taal, with their guide and one other client, climbed down into the cave.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">The footing was bad: rocky, uneven, and slick. The smell was bad too: fruity and sour. Think of a dreary barroom, closed and empty, with beer on the floor at three a.m. The cave seemed to have been carved by a creek, or at least to have channeled its waters, and part of the overhead rock had collapsed, leaving a floor of boulders and coarse rubble, a moonscape, coated with guano like a heavy layer of vanilla icing. It served as a major roosting site for the Egyptian fruit bat (Rousettus aegyptiacus), a crow-size chiropteran that's widespread and relatively abundant in Africa and the Middle East. The cave's ceiling was thick with them—many thousands, agitated and chittering at the presence of human intruders, shifting position, some dropping free to fly and then settling again. Joosten and Taal kept their heads low and watched their step, trying not to slip, ready to put a hand down if needed. "I think that's how Astrid got infected," Taal told me. "I think she put her hand on a piece of rock, which contained droppings of a bat, which are infected. And so she had it on her hand." Maybe she touched her face an hour later, or put a piece of candy in her mouth, "and that's how I think the infection got in her."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); " class="">No one had warned Joosten and Taal about the potential hazards of an African bat cave. They knew nothing of a <a href="http://www.popsci.com/category/tags/virus" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(119, 119, 187); text-decoration: none; " class="">virus</a> called Marburg (though they had heard of <a href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-06/ebola-virus-cured-monkeys-hours-after-infection" style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; outline: 0px; font-weight: bold; font-style: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-family: inherit; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(119, 119, 187); text-decoration: none; " class="">Ebola</a>). They only stayed in the cave about 10 minutes. They saw a python, large and torpid. Then they left, continued their Uganda vacation, visited the mountain gorillas, took a boat trip, and flew back to Amsterdam. Thirteen days after the cave visit, home in Noord-Brabant, Joosten fell sick.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; 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="">At first it seemed no worse than the flu. Then her temperature climbed higher and higher. After a few days, she began suffering organ failure. Her doctors, knowing of her recent time in Africa, suspected Lassa virus or maybe Marburg. "Marburg," said Taal, "what's that?" Joosten's brother looked it up on Wikipedia and told him: "Marburg virus: It kills, could be big trouble." In fact, it's a filovirus, the closest relative to the ebolaviruses (of which there are five species, including the most infamous, Ebola). Marburg was first discovered in 1967, when a group of African monkeys, imported to Marburg an der Lahn, in western Germany, for medical research uses, passed a nasty new virus to laboratory workers. Five people died. In the decades since, it has also struck hundreds of Africans, with a case fatality rate of up to 90 percent.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; 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="">The doctors moved Joosten to a hospital in Leiden, where she could get better care and be isolated from other patients. There, she developed a rash and conjunctivitis; she hemorrhaged. She was put into an induced coma, a move dictated by the need to dose her more aggressively with antiviral medicine. Before she lost consciousness, though not long before, Taal went back into the isolation room, kissed his wife, and said to her, "Well, we'll see you in a few days." Blood samples, sent to a lab in Hamburg, confirmed the diagnosis: Marburg. She worsened. As her organs shut down, she lacked for oxygen to the brain, she suffered cerebral edema, and before long Joosten was declared brain-dead. "They kept her alive for a few more hours, until the family arrived," Taal told me. "Then they pulled the plug out, and she died within a few minutes."</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0.5em; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0.5em; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 12px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; 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="">More ...</div></div><a href="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/out-wild?single-page-view=true" class="">http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2012-08/out-wild?single-page-view=true</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; " class=""><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Where Will The Next Pandemic Come From? And How Can We Stop It? | Popular Science

In June 2008, a Dutch woman named Astrid Joosten left the Netherlands with her husband for an adventure vacation in Uganda. It wasn't th...

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You don't need another gadget to be a great teacher.

As I'm heading to S<a href="http://www.sde.com/teacher-conferences/details.asp?id=1220" target="_blank">DE's PowerUP with Technology conference in Chicago</a>, I'm pondering the two kinds of teachers. There are two kinds of teachers: paper and pavement. Paper teachers know all the things to do on paper, but when it comes to hitting the pavement with action, they come up short. They can't quite get how to deal with an unruly class or respond to a child who doesn't want to be there. The kind of teachers I like are pavement people.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PTjDuJqTIE0_dSqFaa7W8Es9LuekIr6DOznhqUQudOVOvq88npdDHGVJgBl_a-jmitMSe1galAL3F1A-cutBDCwAeamUVMfejlIACJPwEfNdd1FNzayohdmaCGZgMoFa_cK0kGgYdVqS/s1600/bigstock-man-giving-his-hand-over-a-pil-37063444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3PTjDuJqTIE0_dSqFaa7W8Es9LuekIr6DOznhqUQudOVOvq88npdDHGVJgBl_a-jmitMSe1galAL3F1A-cutBDCwAeamUVMfejlIACJPwEfNdd1FNzayohdmaCGZgMoFa_cK0kGgYdVqS/s320/bigstock-man-giving-his-hand-over-a-pil-37063444.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If a teacher is only booksmart, it is tough to teach. These paper tigers<br />know all the words but can't quite find the words when facing a rebellious<br />teen or a misbehaving seventh grader.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2>Paper Tigers</h2>Paper people can write perfect words. They can speak them too. Well versed, well phrased, and sometimes well-oiled, it all sounds great. <br /><br /><h3>X marks the spot... or does it?</h3>We can also allow paper to convince us that we are sorely amiss and cannot be a good teacher without "x." Advertising has as an objective to arouse an eager want. The easiest way to do that is to think that you are lacking something. There is something gravely amiss in you, your school, and your classroom that you can only have if you get "x." You are fatally flawed without "x" and cannot make it. Then, we're going to prove to you why "x" will solve your problem. You must have "x" and raise money and sacrifice everything to get it. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xfTuvM06_F1H7yZ1EEpOAStl2TI1ltNWOdJNT9eQY4Mr6DMGP30Juodej5n-xIOMs0TNOaaevDhur889LG3Nz2GF9eJ4Y99Q8upcsbTgw9UEAuOFAsgLPZklzAFyMwL3tdMywHzXUe2b/s1600/bigstock-The-Word-Treasure-Written-In-T-1715905.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9xfTuvM06_F1H7yZ1EEpOAStl2TI1ltNWOdJNT9eQY4Mr6DMGP30Juodej5n-xIOMs0TNOaaevDhur889LG3Nz2GF9eJ4Y99Q8upcsbTgw9UEAuOFAsgLPZklzAFyMwL3tdMywHzXUe2b/s320/bigstock-The-Word-Treasure-Written-In-T-1715905.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can be fooled into thinking that if someone will just sign<br />that "x" on the bottom of a purchase order so you can have "x"<br />that you will be an ex-poor teachers. Good teachers can become greater<br />with an excellent use of technology, poor teachers will languish no matter<br />what "x" you give them. Be careful to remember that YOU are the greatest<br />asset your classroom has and that can't be found in something<br />that can be shipped from coast to coast.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />On paper, they convince you that you must have something -- not necessarily that you must DO something but have something.<br /><br />Then, the day comes, you buy "x" and you get it into your classroom. They send you the paper to understand how to use x, but that is just it -- it is paper, written by someone who has never used "x" and doesn't understand pedagogy of using anything in the classroom. It is all on paper. So, "x" gathers dust in the corner of your room, until you see it. As you are scanning the internet, you realize you have another problem that only "y" will solve. <br /><br />"Y" -- really? WHY?<br /><br />This is life and we need things to be able to teach. I'd really want a 1:1 ipad program in my school, but the fact is that until the teachers are ready to IMPLEMENT a 1:1 ipad and we have the infrastructure, it is a waste of money.<br /><br />The fact is that <b>100% of the people won't be satisfied until 100% of the kids are in the top 1% of students. </b>Our sheer method of measurement breeds discontent and dissatisfaction. Yes, we should always work to be more, but when I run, I don't measure myself against the speed of teenagers, but against myself to see if I'm improving consistently.<br /><br />There is a big difference between pavement and paper.<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKpydWKnsX-Uvrq4m1HOTYDFiqYRnTe5cr3I5sU6GO8axxeZBKNZMLbIiXUpnps61pf9z8vp1HVM_iXJ9zXeVaosxKcWBP4-TzQ6eQulfh0SgyW9fu2uDVwygQtxe0e2Off3gEBA31jql/s1600/bigstock_Teacher_Helping_Teen_Pupils_St_3916400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBKpydWKnsX-Uvrq4m1HOTYDFiqYRnTe5cr3I5sU6GO8axxeZBKNZMLbIiXUpnps61pf9z8vp1HVM_iXJ9zXeVaosxKcWBP4-TzQ6eQulfh0SgyW9fu2uDVwygQtxe0e2Off3gEBA31jql/s320/bigstock_Teacher_Helping_Teen_Pupils_St_3916400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What you do with what you have is more important than what you have.</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><h2>Pavement Pounders</h2>Pavement is what happens daily. It is what you do. The fact is that you could buy the shiniest, happiest "x" but in reality, the best thing you might could do is to spend time with each of your students daily. Or, to listen to them. Or, to customize the classroom. Or to put in a passion-based project where your students can explore and share their passions. Or, to look in the eyes of your students daily and call them by name.<br /><br />It is about what you DO in the classroom more than what you HAVE. It always has been.<br /><br /><h3>Teaching on the Pavement in Inner City Mumbai</h3>I was in Mumbai, India with my students several years a go for a Flat Classroom mini-conference at <a class="zem_slink" href="http://www.asbindia.info:8081/drupal/ASB_Un-plugged/" rel="homepage" target="_blank" title="ASB Unplugged">ASB Unplugged</a> and we were at a school for street children. They came here to learn english. The room was a recreation room that doubled as a school for a few hours a day and there were two large dry erase boards that the teachers took to two different parts of the room as the children sat on mats.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://api.ning.com/files/76vor3f2s5DbFUFW4xqGm8At0nLawmofQpP7zkvUue0Dq6NAfUKgX72dZKiOJ8XNrnzRfAMIjNytV*sDpSzsK0H5txEHNlzl/DSCN0900.JPG?width=737&height=552" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://api.ning.com/files/76vor3f2s5DbFUFW4xqGm8At0nLawmofQpP7zkvUue0Dq6NAfUKgX72dZKiOJ8XNrnzRfAMIjNytV*sDpSzsK0H5txEHNlzl/DSCN0900.JPG?width=737&height=552" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teacher Suzie Nesticos and one of my students at the Akansha school in Mumbai.<br />Our next <a href="http://www.flatclassroomconference.com/" target="_blank">Flat Classroom conference</a> is in Yokohama, Japan in March.</td></tr></tbody></table><br />The lucky kids had small notepads, barely the size of their palms, and pencils literally chewed down to the nub. When they ran out of paper, they started over at the beginning of the notebook again trying to get every spare speck of that piece of paper so they could remember. They were being taught how to have jobs requiring good customer service skills, how to write letters, and how to speak English. Those students on that dirty floor in Mumbai with traffic just outside the window spewing pollution in through the open windows knew more English than many educated here in the US. And they had less. But they had one BIG important thing.<br /><br />They had two highly motivated, hard working teachers. These teachers were pavement people because they had no books and had little, but they had their hearts and their determination to help these children whose only hope out of the slums was to learn what they were teaching. It was enough.<br /><br /><h2>You are enough.</h2>Beware of inferring that I'm saying we need bare-bones, dirty rec rooms to learn in. <b>But if you don't have an engaged, hard working teacher at the helm, you might as well have that.</b><br /><br />I just want you as the teacher to know that "x" or "y" or "z" or whatever the advertiser or magazine says you HAVE to have to be a great teacher is a lie. You have all you need to be a great teacher, right there inside of you.<br /><br /><h3>It is about your DO and your WHO.</h3>It is what you DO every day. It is WHO you are. It is your CHARACTER in doing the right thing when no one is looking. The best teachers teach like crazy whether admin is in the building or not. If you're there just for show and don't plan lessons the other days of the year (when not being reviewed), then get out of the profession of teaching. <br /><br /><b>This profession is for PROFESSIONALS.</b> We teach all day every day and work very hard. We work to reach every student and have a calling higher than a contract on a piece of paper. We have a lot in common with those dedicated women in the rec room in Mumbai because we are here with all we have, to use everything we have to reach all students we have been assigned to teach.<br /><br /><h3>You can't buy a fix for education with a Purchase Order</h3>I'm just tired of the advertising mumbo-jumbo trying to "sell" solutions to "fixing" education. I've been teaching 11 years at a school with half the funding of most local schools and twice the results. It is because I and most of the other teachers here don't need someone to look over our shoulder to do our jobs. We work hard and excel anyway. We are pavement people.<br /><br /><h3>Be the improvement</h3>You probably are too, you just need encouragement to do the right thing even when no one is looking. You have people whining and complaining everywhere you turn, don't be one of them.<br /><br /><br /><ul><li>Be the kind of teacher that this world needs. </li><li>Be excellent. </li><li>Pound the pavement every day as you habitually work hard to be the best teacher these students have ever had.</li></ul><br /><br />As for me, I believe that as long as I have the living God as my daily guide, and I show up with all I have to reach every student, that my classroom will be blessed beyond my wildest dreams no matter what we don't have. They have me. That is enough.<br /><br /><br />- Written on my iPad using Blog Press by Vicki Davis, author, Flattening Classrooms, Engaging Minds<br /><br />PhotoCredits Bigstock.com - photos not for reuse without relicensing from Bigstock - <a href="http://www.bigstockphoto.com/">http://www.bigstockphoto.com</a><br /> <div class="zemanta-pixie" style="height: 15px; margin-top: 10px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" href="http://www.zemanta.com/?px" title="Enhanced by Zemanta"><img alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" class="zemanta-pixie-img" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=c6537b97-df08-4aa4-a50d-6e7b78b26c19" style="border: none; float: right;" /></a></div>

You don't need another gadget to be a great teacher.

As I'm heading to S DE's PowerUP with Technology conference in Chicago , I'm pondering the two kinds of teachers. There are two ...

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guest posting at living savvy

I'm 'out of the office today' helping out my friend <a href="http://www.savvydesignwest.com/" target="_blank">Tiffany</a> while she moves into her fab new house. I'm talking about my 5 favorites of fall, and I'll give you a hint - they are good.<br /><div><br /></div><div>Head on over to <a href="http://www.savvydesignwest.com/2012/10/5-fall-favorites-little-black-door.html" target="_blank">Living Savvy and check it out</a>!</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ta-Oet2bezIasgdnJNWbSXcsewCHzlGSc23LLhVroVff_mKBrV7sZrhLXpLdDmbqKyxRbj6v8u5zEHm_I9C0QtETLFffYL-miHh-kX8vE84yX51-jhnbmAzOixsr9pvSlQ0tBlWrHCbp/s1600/5+favs+of+fall+Banner.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ta-Oet2bezIasgdnJNWbSXcsewCHzlGSc23LLhVroVff_mKBrV7sZrhLXpLdDmbqKyxRbj6v8u5zEHm_I9C0QtETLFffYL-miHh-kX8vE84yX51-jhnbmAzOixsr9pvSlQ0tBlWrHCbp/s640/5+favs+of+fall+Banner.jpeg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div>

guest posting at living savvy

I'm 'out of the office today' helping out my friend Tiffany while she moves into her fab new house. I'm talking about my 5 ...

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South Africa and Lesotho’s success at Microsoft’s Innovative Teacher Forum (PILF) in Morocco

<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/AVvXsEi72uo6EaOLUOAp1TeqnsneG54k7HAtPyBE_uCItayVhFkos-o1oAARpJiBYYtn8658PpEnCZW1MCK4eW75i-7prHuKeR94chf36L1SsPGjIOh9GUPsK-1yOCViUXyAkPMXxrqZBV2f0qk/s1600-h/image%25255B2%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzIxjJVff73FAYh9odG-_Dz2_PYlFU1fuo-ANSn-lgO2EesfniV1Rh8Wb8mIpTNXHmfQYbbzlGUnbA8RZLNw5TKHmrK35s2qpmIsnwuatNqF69zvN3mrZ04DeGoy-SNa9D03mpNLb7WE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="200" /></a></div><br /><i>Submitted by Megan Rademeyer of School<span style="font-size: small;"><b>N</b></span>et</i><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">From 27 – 29 September 2012 more than 200 participants from 25 countries participated in the Middle East and Africa Partners in Learning Forum held in Marrakesh, Morocco. Included in the group were seven winning teachers from the South African and Lesotho Partners in Learning Forums who presented their projects to other innovative teachers from the region. </span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVKigaNoQsDS3txvKF9B2CQiX9xD8dfHJv1ZsANz2YTAcD_7_D-v2VO-PK-u89DPc9Sfua6JJYCjeElmaqZXKPKOF473VWfKPLo4di2nvEKzK21dzpDllGTp9VlvvNjCm318qowotNMc0/s1600-h/image%25255B5%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIuRAW_hH8jJXJyNVGfJbPtgV_SAfPH5lCTGK3u2dS_TR7su2TF1zEpySaU3nO8p9MX2ko7nNPE7FfQ_9_B-KQVzwJQYB0Cn0AZ8uohtVFp-M17s3OhgoId81AymB-shllq9np0hbA_dw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We are proud of our two winners from SA and Lesotho</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Charli Wiggill (from Eden College in Durban, South Africa) and Kabelo Lucille Mahlatsi (from Leqele High School in Maseru, Lesotho) were among the winners selected to represent their region at the Global Partners in Learning Forum which will be held in Prague in November, 2012.</span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh5oHN2kqVznHO_sGdLqctaAm7dv-5BdXiMigYO32Zb95uOv5ZIJ6duE503_hd1EvqatrjOSAADkXKAwfZughMpbZOIzp2QAliUftbvSr1oorTgkTJVRlzthTzE_nQbRA7r4tmeB51npk/s1600-h/image%25255B8%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIv88-oDXkUjeA2iZzNnGMPqz5_GhwVTWFjwha3jD41A2uC5ZKCMt9gTba3vzMg1jMpSN3YpZtXSVilZ8gbMuDeEssR2A14Z5mZogdH0Q8wcExy53WDTD2upY1JRUTQUKTHBO3Lu6t15k/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="298" /></a></div><br /><u></u><u></u> <br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Charli Wiggil’s project ‘Pay it Forward for the Blind’</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Charli Wiggill’s project, “Pay it Forward for the Blind” involved learners identifying with the blind and manufacturing memory game cards in Braille. As an extension project, they adapted existing educational games and designed and created new educational games and toys for the blind. As a Pass it Forward-type exercise, they communicated with and collaborated with other learners in their class and around the world to collect stories recorded as MP3 files which blind children can access and listen to.To read more about this project and to see a short video about it see: <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/LearningActivities/Details/e3f3b4c6-5d17-4c6d-a939-02f5ef60bdae">http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/LearningActivities/Details/e3f3b4c6-5d17-4c6d-a939-02f5ef60bdae</a></span></span><br />  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLx7T1KbgF9lJnMrvKKUk96aLdbsfKJ2qtIEavmpxne29TlZij-IhigVc44B3lQPbik0q7SpSiPQ0FeVni0pvwZeDnZGxGKVGSn79aI6gmT28n_yRhQxiy-OX7MAuykBveTGgasXrYUk/s1600-h/image%25255B11%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilqVXr8k7xI40CltYkx_AVLoyh27VEsqdhPNQSQvHGkBWqotJMdgycLjGgPR0iBzVC0L44zw1LrCz5jy5F7OtwP9-IwCfGYuUZ7YtWpFepgZhMOQ3YMwUWJwjKAwvfm1c1AG-8xQiyEyo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lucille Mahlatsi’d project ‘Literature at our fingertips’</b></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />Lucille Kabelo Mahlatsi’s project entitled “Literature at our fingertips” involved learners becoming familiar with the language and background of Shakespearian play “Julius Caesar” through a number of activities. One group of artists created portraits of complex scenes from the play. The researcher group compared Julius Caesar and Moshoeshoe. The third group conducted a debate and the fourth group modernized and simplified the play whilst the actor group performed the play.<span style="color: #0000ee;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span>This project can be viewed as a Learning Activity on the Partners in Learning Network at: <a href="http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/LearningActivities/Details/512e34b3-98f4-4c73-8311-e3767408fd21">http://www.pil-network.com/Resources/LearningActivities/Details/512e34b3-98f4-4c73-8311-e3767408fd21</a></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span> <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Qm21HCkxo09AQ_0yFqOBnR5iWj6wJF_QvrivWA4h1EiMJeyFDaBF2qL3EcuE0L_QVboYqQHy_PMf4OAnrtiH674LBXFMOSExuXrNptyS34w6TzWt34tPtAcPghoRDJbGmv1asG_7sjs/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicYJs1b819MpWPwjuIDiiO6Dlt-4Q7-XC9QvFQ1nNrXRWeUiol16AhErfbt8xie_niraoipu3vQQIfVsxwt-cIPDQeo23TU4b9C0o82UPRMq3UXxPQxQTG6omVHd6qyc4SQ4yzMqXI99E/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="300" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />The Innovative School’s track at the Forum</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Middle East and Africa Partners in Learning Forum included a track for Innovative Schools and representatives from a number of schools in the region enjoyed sharing their experiences and learning from one another. The South African delegation included a representative from St Cyprians School, which has been asked to be a Mentor school, and two representatives from St Marys School – Waverly, which has been selected as an Innovative Pilot School. </span></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuA8v_M4YgSFRyBpfOrEabVJJ1WAi0qFO_2SSL0cKtzhIpIvE58DEu53PQY54iwmp1pLQeU58xPqJVxQM0QCwqIKREErjxiian-g47-qxKavLcus2xOT9GwQoHw5inXwcIoUAi7Ewiw-Q/s1600-h/image%25255B20%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIF_WAci-pIPrUbHOOOC4sYYtdBljCd3SQfDAYZVKFQvvUJuXlyFauy1pukf_k-ztDANpB9rGiR0V_WF3JwFhs04Mf-0Of7eECk6rCtWCsus621P_MAke9TTc7Ck7t47cj5l5Dv4qAy7Y/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The<span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>Partners in Learning </span>Prague Gobal Forum is coming up in November</b></span></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During the Forum the South African and Lesotho teachers were grouped with teachers from other countries and asked to develop a new project that they can work on in their respective countries. The best project that is produced will be selected to be showcased at the Global Partners in Learning Forum in Prague. </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFTNKZeTDBQeRZISf9McX-pOczpQc2dkW3Ae85Jm74Yin1TibfAXYMRuuU3SVjqCIAlrAQNfqwgL3VCOCkleBoP0QjvkD_kQP5PJujkPwDUPoSUXBp9HlsRS0iPMHjefZoZSDCwwHvzV4/s1600-h/image%25255B23%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="73" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8cjJ10XJS4ZfkaHvoyyUq1E17fWkL7Iv8oiEDRiMe291eWRgnwJ8bm-f2J5N64buJE_cjYMGNDDtnRlytF7AUzBuR2veUJ0LTfaI1nxpgqUODoyFlaW75XNt968jZfiXcAsqm-K3BUU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Morocco was<span style="font-size: large;"> a </span>great experience!</b></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />In addition to the workshops, presentations and networking opportunities, the group was treated to a Moroccan cultural dinner which showcased traditional foods, dancing and entertainment; as well as an outing to the Medina which included shopping in the souk (traditional market).</span></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj08uOL1B9QkITRlXvwCWwdSVOcB_pJyVsROj8q8XvDwXcYrpXz-5RWiEflTRKUtbP1qeC1LX4Ptx1Xc4WU3p7UVy6U3NJ-g1KZP6Lym9xmFAZIrFAsY_af_bbS_fru0USH71wJCLnaDgM/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSAlNI_Ptqm2CuXVyBB-KxGZWxqz4wjNZP6vI-KdUmmElsDm-5asSzk4NQpOKTkYBCxFzWlGum0oNDEQb8YOlFvdaBSl898BrBI40xwIQFCtDp301T8FtZMg9mHM2ZaETIE2bT5rE2D_M/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-color: -moz-use-text-color; border-style: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Teachers - why not think about entering this Forum in 2013?</span></span></b> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">SchoolNet encourages teachers in South Africa and Lesotho to consider entering an innovative project in this great competition in 2013.<span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: small;">Keep watching our website for more details<span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.schoolnet.org.za/">http://www.schoolnet.org.za/</a> . </span></span></span></span><br /><br /></div>

Competitions Microsoft news South Africa and Lesotho’s success at Microsoft’s Innovative Teacher Forum (PILF) in Morocco

Submitted by Megan Rademeyer of School N et   From 27 – 29 September 2012 more than 200 participants from 25 countries participated in the M...

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Wild weather

<span style="font-size: large;">Last night in Dublin there was a high tide combined with heavy rainfall.  Met Eireann had issued flood warnings all day and boy did it get wild last night.  I could hear heavy rain all night pelting against the windows and also against the glass studio roof.  This morning when I got up there were leaves everywhere.  Luckily I am off work today so I don't have to drive through flooded streets.</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I have 3 days leave from work so I am not back in until Monday.  Today I have plans to buy some large kilner jars.  I want to make some chocolate dipped strawberries to bring to dinner tomorrow.    </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">On Saturday, my twin sister and I are going to a play called "<a href="http://projectartscentre.ie/programme/whats-on/1617-the-talk-of-the-town">The talk of the town</a>" on Saturday evening along with our cousin. It is written by Emma Donoghue who wrote the award winning "Room"  The play is set in the 1950's and is about an Irish woman, Maeve Brennan, who moves from Ranelagh to New York City and writes for the New Yorker for The talk of the town under the byline the "Long winded woman".  We plan to dress in the style of the 1950's and go for a cocktail beforehand!  Should be fun......</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I should also mention that plans are afoot to finish the final things that need to be done in the house.  <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Dean-Cooper-Furniture-Design-Ltd/68624570948?fref=ts">Dean Cooper</a>, who made our kitchen is also making the wardrobes in the master bedroom, the bar and also a screen to cover the TV in the living room.  He called to the house yesterday to go over a few details with the builder who needs to do some remedial works.  Can't wait for these to be all finished!!  </span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">Next job then is to to something with the kitchen table.  I'm really not happy with it.  We brought it from our old house and it is not the right colour for our new kitchen - not to mention the scratches on it from the bold Bones jumping up onto it when he was a puppy.  What a naughty boy!  I might go chat to someone in the hardware shop up the road and see if they can recommend something to cover up the scratches for the moment.  I have a nice Ralph Lauren floral tablecloth on the table at the moment but it is not complimentary to the kitchen.  I'll have to sort something out.....</span><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>

Wild weather

Last night in Dublin there was a high tide combined with heavy rainfall.  Met Eireann had issued flood warnings all day and boy did it get w...

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Obama Romney Town Hall Debate...Cheetos Eatin' Americans Probably Missed Their Points

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Last night, I didn't watch the Presidential Town Hall style debate live.  Well, not on TV anyway.  I never watch debates live on TV any longer.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_9mDs5vE0j34Qrvrux6nxDUeOaxo5x_RIcllfKij4BgCriRs5hoeE9Lhn_kO9Va6kt3xMPSqcAQ7CH5XAygMZ_DCcBNURdLndfZAQDEmI0kKOwsUBqm1iaSBai7as_eUDg9QXZm7loc/s1600/Romney+Obama+Town+Hall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY_9mDs5vE0j34Qrvrux6nxDUeOaxo5x_RIcllfKij4BgCriRs5hoeE9Lhn_kO9Va6kt3xMPSqcAQ7CH5XAygMZ_DCcBNURdLndfZAQDEmI0kKOwsUBqm1iaSBai7as_eUDg9QXZm7loc/s400/Romney+Obama+Town+Hall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Sure, I go back and watch the replay on TV, sometimes more than once, but the only way to most enjoyably and in real time, “watch” a Presidential debate, is on Twitter and Facebook.<br /><br />I tell ya, people.  It’s more exciting than it would be to watch a strap-on wearing Scarlett Johansson doing Eva Longoria doggie style in my living room.<br /><br />Okay, okay…that may be a bit of an exaggeration, but Lordy, Lordy…<br /><br />Folks on Twitter and Facebook, be they celebrity or average American, certainly know how to oscillate statements made by their candidate of choice and turn a boring diatribe of duality into an overly-frothed milkshake of cyber stupidity and uber-rollicking entertainment.<br /><br />I swear people.  Americans are some of the stupidest, most intellectually rigid, non-thinking for themselves motherfuckers in the world.<br /><br />Yeah I said, that, and I am even throwing Americans in with stupid, fanatical Muslims who blow people up because they might get laid because of it.<br /><br />I know, I know…You’re saying:<br /><br /><i>“Matt-Man, you really believe that overly excitable Americans who are blinded to a political party are just as bad as over-zealous, misinterpreting Muslims who bastardize the Quran?”</i><br /><br />Well, minus the killing and murderous tendencies that some of the aforementioned Muslims do, yes, as far as intellect and self-determination goes, yes I am saying just that.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi4QfRH0xTp8J5gOlGjVRhYeLPfPZl1aZxdpen45n8KfAuZMV9qH1bRCYBPSz53wL9rVy1HElHJ9zibZ8-8C2dLFYI26qADkavStMLuBIpxY0RqVZ63yrxOjhx-9VxnZfvNwbOkHTakU/s1600/facebook-twitter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKi4QfRH0xTp8J5gOlGjVRhYeLPfPZl1aZxdpen45n8KfAuZMV9qH1bRCYBPSz53wL9rVy1HElHJ9zibZ8-8C2dLFYI26qADkavStMLuBIpxY0RqVZ63yrxOjhx-9VxnZfvNwbOkHTakU/s320/facebook-twitter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />After watching the past two Presidential debates through the virtual eyes of Twitter and Facebook I have but one thing to say…<br /><br />America?  As a people we in general, are fucking stupid, short-sighted, myopic, incurious, and most of all, intellectually lazy.<br /><br />I was avidly reading all the tweets and Facebook entries during the debate last night, and well…As I was laughing, I was also getting a dry mouth and sore throat due to me sitting here with mouth agape being stupefied by the comments from people over the debate performances.<br /><br />Sean Hannity was tweeting that this was the greatest debate performance ever by Romney…Ha, Romney got his ass kicked.<br /><br />Ed Schultz was excitedly jacking off over Obama’s performance during this debate, yet never acknowledged that during the first debate, Obama got his ass kicked by Romney.<br /><br />Both guys have their heads up their asses, and well, I wish their heads would stay there, so they’d shut the fuck up.<br /><br />Gregt Gutfeld was adoringly screaming like a schoolgirl on Twitter in hopes that Romney would notice his no-talent ass, and Michael Moore was cheering on Obama while being to the world of journalism what Bartolo Colon is to the world of professional athletes.<br /><br />And you?  The simple, every day voter, tweeter, and Facebook poster?<br /><br />Oy…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEefBqK47OzMJWetzpJd4OsMfYWeVXzIIEta564fl9w8ytZhovjGoGmg1-WP42law7q7uOLXbx5zpAE90VqFHhyHRB5SnlJL57c2J_c5EYRkGtu5tWshkozwSeS-BAX5MSdHNB9doFxFg/s1600/Stupid+Voter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEefBqK47OzMJWetzpJd4OsMfYWeVXzIIEta564fl9w8ytZhovjGoGmg1-WP42law7q7uOLXbx5zpAE90VqFHhyHRB5SnlJL57c2J_c5EYRkGtu5tWshkozwSeS-BAX5MSdHNB9doFxFg/s320/Stupid+Voter.jpg" width="309" /></a>Forty to Fifty percent of you are no different than the vapid, talking heads that I mentioned.<br /><br />You, like them…You have preconceived notions, a head full of what others have told you, and no concept of personal thought, of personal reasoning as to who or what is best for this country.<br /><br />This election like all elections in recent memory, has become merely a sport…a game…a chance to be on the winning side.<br /><br />I think President Obama, summed this up well, and has caught hell for saying it, but he was right…<br /><br /><i>“You can’t change Washington from the inside.”</i><br /><br />No, no you can’t.  Not when the citizens of this country keep electing representatives based upon party rather than the ability to govern.<br /><br />It’s sad, and knowing how bad it has gotten, we should change the motto on our coins.<br /><br />We should change the motto from E Pulribus Unum to E Pluribus Stupid.<br /><br />And Jayman and I will discuss that, and many other things today LIVE at 11 AM ET on IWS Radio which you can catch by clicking<i><span style="color: blue;"> <a href="http://www.blogtalkradio.com/im-with-stupid/2012/10/17/listen-or-not-were-number-one" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">HERE</span></a></span></i><span style="color: blue;">.</span><br /><br />Cheers!!<br />Matt-Man<br /><i><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a></i><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;"><i>@MattMan_IWS</i></span></a></div>

Obama Romney Town Hall Debate...Cheetos Eatin' Americans Probably Missed Their Points

Last night, I didn't watch the Presidential Town Hall style debate live.  Well, not on TV anyway.  I never watch debates live on TV any ...

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The Doctor Can See You Now. Really, Right Now. - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="color: black; text-align: left; "><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Often the worst part of a visit to the doctor isn't the awkward hospital gown, needle sticks or embarrassing physical exams — it's the drawn-out wait, camped out in the reception room in the company of sick patients and old magazines.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">During a particularly long wait to see his dermatologist, Parker Oks, 18, thought there had to be a better way.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"They know approximately how long an appointment will take," said Mr. Oks, a freshman at Boston University. "But the problem is that they don't know how long it will actually take."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">That realization led Mr. Oks to create <a title="Web site" href="https://www.appointmentstatus.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">Appointment Status</a>, a Web site devoted to improving appointment efficiency and providing patients with information to avoid long waits. Working with three teenagers from Staten Island Technical High School, where he had gone, Mr. Oks aims to make it easier for patients to schedule appointments — and to find out how far behind the doctor may be before settling into a waiting room chair.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">It's one of several innovations meant to help patients. While many digital developments — electronic medical records and mobile medical encyclopedias — have streamlined doctors' work, new tools for patients are starting to hit cellphones and the Internet offering help in keeping track of medications, recording <a title="In-depth reference and news articles about Pulse." href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/test/pulse/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">heart rate</a> and glucose levels and managing personal and family medical history, among other tasks.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Appointment Status is designed to assist patients before they even take a seat in a waiting room — a sore point for many patients, as doctors well know. In a survey conducted by the doctor-review Web site <a href="http://www.vitals.com/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">Vitals</a>, patients reported an average wait time of 21 minutes to see a doctor. Mississippi had the longest reported wait time, at just over 25 minutes.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Some patients say that's about as long a wait as they will tolerate.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"I'm willing to wait to see a doctor for about 20 minutes before I go talk to the receptionist, and after a 45-minute wait, I always leave and reschedule," said Maureen Green, a journalist from Syracuse. "Everybody's time is valuable, not just the doctor's time."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Developers and entrepreneurs are starting to tap into this frustration, as well as other rifts in doctor-patient relations. Mr. Oks said his next step is a mobile app to inform patients about delays.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Another service, <a title="Web site" href="http://www.zocdoc.com/" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: underline; ">ZocDoc</a>, is also meant to help patients save time with doctor visits. Created by Cyrus Massoumi, Dr. Oliver Kharraz and Nick Ganju, ZocDoc allows patients to peer into a doctor's appointment book and schedule a visit through the Web.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">ZocDoc has already been expanded with a new tool, ZocDoc Check-In, made available last month to help eliminate another cause of waiting room tedium: filling out a clipboard of forms.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"You're always handed a stack of forms to fill out when you enter a doctor's office," said Mr. Massoumi, the chief executive of ZocDoc. "And all the information is 80 percent the same as the last time you filled it out."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">ZocDoc Check-In also enters patient's personal information in other doctors' forms, so there is no need to fill out a name and date of birth multiple times.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">While these kinds of tools are becoming more common — ZocDoc is now being used in more than a thousand cities by doctors in more than 40 specialties — Mr. Oks is facing some resistance to his Appointment Status app.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"A lot of the doctors I've approached are set in their ways and skeptical," Mr. Oks said. "We've found some offices don't even have an Internet connection for their receptionists."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">ZocDoc may have caught on because it helps doctors as well as patients.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"It's a win-win," Mr. Massoumi said. "Patients need convenience in scheduling a doctor's appointment, and from a doctor's standpoint, ZocDoc brings them patients and helps office staff manage their time."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Nevertheless, Mr. Massoumi said it took him a while to reach the point that doctors contact him about obtaining the technology.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Dr. Kamal Ramani, a general practitioner in Manhattan, said he adopted ZocDoc three years ago, when he moved his office and was looking for a way to save time and money.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"My staff doesn't have to be on the phone with patients suggesting time slots," Dr. Ramani said. "It streamlines the appointment-making process on both ends."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">At the same time, some new technology that was developed for more efficient medical care delivery has some benefits for patients as well. For instance, despite widespread concerns about security and the potential for errors, electronic medical records can save patients time and improve communication.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Dr. Steven K. Magid, a rheumatologist whose office is at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan, said that initially he was worried about the time commitment needed to enter all of a patient's information digitally, but now he sees the benefits.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"It's faster for me to write a list of medications on a piece of paper than to do it on the computer," Dr. Magid said. "But on the back end I save time because everything is legible and everyone is working off the same list."</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Patients' treatment instructions are clearly typed out, generating fewer calls to his office — and to him. And when patients still are confused or a new matter arises, his staff can address the problem without him by looking up the information in the digital record.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">Eventually, say some, patients will expect their doctors to adopt these kinds of timesaving tools.</p><p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px; line-height: 1.5em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); position: static; z-index: auto; ">"There's a tipping point," Dr. Magid said. "There is going to be a shift."</p></div><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; "><font class="Apple-style-span" size="3"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLG6Sni5MjsbC7KYvOrP4n59p2LKU0WXr1WD41iiPXIjZEcD6QQS7pfv8kiO6SDcRjVNY6SlZMwoOMGc7iTtcGhg9R3LR_mcdDfjA9m47lsZehWQ4ZEqy7MENAZCgKABE_89I1mlPRqw/s1600/16APPO-articleInline-745596.jpg"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5800089821569849378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguLG6Sni5MjsbC7KYvOrP4n59p2LKU0WXr1WD41iiPXIjZEcD6QQS7pfv8kiO6SDcRjVNY6SlZMwoOMGc7iTtcGhg9R3LR_mcdDfjA9m47lsZehWQ4ZEqy7MENAZCgKABE_89I1mlPRqw/s320/16APPO-articleInline-745596.jpg" /></a></font></div></div><div><br></div><a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/the-doctor-can-see-you-now-really-right-now/?">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/15/the-doctor-can-see-you-now-really-right-now/?</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

The Doctor Can See You Now. Really, Right Now. - NYTimes.com

Often the worst part of a visit to the doctor isn't the awkward hospital gown, needle sticks or embarrassing physical exams — it's t...

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BATTERED

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Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Emphasis"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Subtle Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Intense Reference"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" SemiHidden="false" UnhideWhenUsed="false" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" Name="Bibliography"/> <w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/> </w:LatentStyles></xml><![endif]--> <!--[if gte mso 10]><style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:Calibri;} </style><![endif]--> <!--StartFragment--> <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today, I was at one of our Neon City hospitals attempting to visit a hospitalized deacon. I failed. She had already been discharged. But there may yet have been a reason for me to be there.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">As I left through the ER doors, a woman outside the ER called me. “Sir, are you a priest? Could you help me? The hospital says the police should take me home but the police said the hospital would do it and left me here.”<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In a jumbled way, she told me her story. She had been raped, beaten, and robbed by her ex-husband in a parking lot. Now here she was. The word “battered” is so apt for battered women. Bruises, swollen face, scrapes on her face, arms, and knee. She needed a ride. She stood as if her back was in spasm. She needed help just stepping down from the sidewalk to the asphalt. Yes, “battered” was a good word. “Broken” would have worked as well. Her mind seemed dazed. She couldn’t focus. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I took her to the pharmacy to get her muscle relaxants and anxiety medication, then helped her find her car. The doors had been kicked in on both sides, the side view mirrors were smashed and dangled like broken wings, one window was broken out. But she drove it away.</span> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">She had no family in Nevada other than her 7-year-old daughter. Most of her income from working as a cosmetologist was gone. No she did not ask me for money. She just wanted a ride. I wondered whether, if she had been more of a princess, the police would have had time to take her back to her home or her car at least. But she wasn’t. So she was stranded.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am glad I was there. It didn’t cost me much to do her a little good after others had done her so much harm. But what if I hadn’t been there by the providential grace of God? <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This is the level of care we provide to battered women while the Violence Against Women Act is still in force. But its survival beyond the current fiscal year is a tough battle in Washington, See, <a href="http://www.peoplesworld.org/gop-stalls-violence-against-women-act-renewal/">http://www.peoplesworld.org/gop-stalls-violence-against-women-act-renewal/</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nevada leads the nation in per capital cases of women killed in domestic violence. How that issue has failed to make headlines in the current political season is a wonder and an amazement to me. Protecting women from brutal assaults, prosecuting the perpetrators, and providing some modicum of support to the victims – at least a ride home from the hospital – strikes me as the bottom line for civil society.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><!--EndFragment-->

BATTERED

Today, I was at one of our Neon City hospitals attempting to visit a hospitalized deacon. I failed. She had already been discha...

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Hospitals Ditch Formula Samples to Promote Breast-Feeding - NYTimes.com

<base href="data:"><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><nyt_text style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div id="articleBody"><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">For years, virtually every new mother has been sent home from the hospital with a gift bag full of free product samples, including infant formula.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Now health authorities and <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/nutrition/breast-feeding-mothers-self-care/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast-feeding mothers - self-care." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">breast-feeding</a> advocates are leading a nationwide effort to ban formula samples, which often come in stylish bags with formula company logos. Health experts say they can sway women away from breast-feeding.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">As of 2011, nearly half of about 2,600 hospitals in a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had stopped giving formula samples to breast-feeding mothers, up from a quarter in 2007. The survey did not ask about distributing samples to non-nursing mothers.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Recently, 24 hospitals in Oklahoma agreed to a ban, and Massachusetts became the second state, after Rhode Island, in which all hospitals halted free samples. In New York City, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg started the "<a title="Web site" href="http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/html/ms/latchonnyc.shtml" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Latch On NYC</a>" campaign, urging hospitals to stop giveaways and monitor formula like other medical supplies, stored in locked cabinets and accounted for when mothers have medical needs or request it; 28 of 40 hospitals have agreed.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The debate over formula samples isn't about whether breast-feeding is healthier. Even formula companies acknowledge that "<a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/nutrition/breast-milk/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Breast milk." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">breast milk</a> is the gold standard; it's the best for babies," said Christopher Perille, a spokesman for Mead Johnson, which makes Enfamil formula.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Breast-feeding decreases babies' risk of ear infections, <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/diarrhea/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Diarrhea." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">diarrhea</a>, <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/asthma/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Asthma." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">asthma</a> and other diseases, and may reduce risk of <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/symptoms/morbid-obesity/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Obesity." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">obesity</a> and slightly improve I.Q., experts say. The question is whether samples tempt mothers who could breast-feed exclusively for the recommended six months to use formula when they're exhausted or discouraged if nursing proves difficult. The C.D.C., the World Health Organization and breast-feeding advocates say samples turn hospitals into formula sales agents and imply that hospitals think formula is as healthy as breast-feeding. Health experts warn that even small amounts of formula dilute breast-feeding's benefits by altering intestinal micro-organisms and decreasing breast milk supply, since women produce less when babies nurse less. They say that while some women face serious breast-feeding challenges, more could nurse longer with greater support, and that formula samples can weaken that support system.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">"We're not anti-formula," said Dr. Melissa Bartick, a founder of <a title="Web site" href="http://banthebags.org/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">Ban the Bags</a>, a breast-feeding advocacy group, which reports that one-fifth of the country's nearly 3,300 birthing programs have taken more comprehensive steps of banning samples and logo-emblazoned bags for all mothers. "If a woman makes an informed choice to formula-feed, the hospital should provide that formula. But hospitals shouldn't be marketing it."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The industry and some mothers say samples provide a healthy alternative and offer relief if nursing causes pain, fatigue or frustration. They disagree that samples can shake the resolve to breast-feed exclusively.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">"Babies grow fine on it," said Mardi Mountford, executive vice president of the <a title="Web site" href="http://www.infantformula.org/" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">International Formula Council</a>, who breast-fed her baby exclusively. "And moms tell us they like getting the samples."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Ann Roberts, 32, a book buyer in Atlanta, said she had wanted to breast-feed exclusively, but found it painful and her daughter was underweight. The sample "gave me peace of mind," she said. "It would have added stress to have to send my husband to the grocery store to buy formula." She continued supplementing with formula, and like many women who formula-feed, bought the brand the hospital gave out. "We are using that brand because we got the sample," she said.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Do samples sway women to use formula in the first place? Some studies have found that women who receive samples do not breast-feed as long as those who don't; others found no significant connection. People on either side of the sample issue agree that hospitals should support breast-feeding in many ways.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The campaign to ban samples stirs strong feelings among mothers, including those who are health care providers.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Megan Caron, 27, a nurse in Massachusetts, felt a sample coaxed her to capitulate when breast-feeding her daughter became challenging. "If it wasn't there, I think I would have tried a little bit more to get breast-feeding down," she said. "And once they get formula, it's hard to get them back."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Dr. Rachel Freedman, 34, an oncologist, had a different experience after giving birth this year at her hospital, Brigham and Women's in Boston. It long ago banned formula samples. But Dr. Freedman, who said she intended to breast-feed but had difficulty, concluded that samples could be "nice when you're a mother and you get into a pinch in the middle of the night and you're exhausted." When her milk did not come in, nurses encouraged her not to give up. But after hours of trying, "we broke down" and gave formula, she said. Her milk came in two weeks later, but not enough to nurse exclusively. "Maybe I wasn't patient enough, but at the time I thought he was starving," Dr. Freedman said of her son.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Dr. Nicole Leopardi, 30, a pediatrician, said the sample she got after giving birth at Virtua Hospital in Voorhees, N.J., in 2006, helped influence her to supplement with formula when she became worried she wasn't producing enough milk. "Since it was available, I think I probably kept doing it those early days," she said. "I was under the misconception that that would help the baby be more satisfied." This year, Dr. Leopardi gave birth at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, where she is affiliated. Cooper recently banned formula samples, and she said its unequivocal breast-feeding support helped her keep nursing.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">At Cooper, where 70 percent of mothers were formula-feeding, the ban improved breast-feeding rates significantly. In a study, Dr. Lori Winter, a <a href="http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/health/diseasesconditionsandhealthtopics/pediatrics/index.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="Recent and archival health news about pediatrics." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">pediatrics</a> professor at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, introduced hospital bags without formula logos or samples. At first, she was stunned to find that mothers were receiving formula samples anyway. Nurses were slipping them in, she said, because "they didn't believe these babies weren't going to starve. Cooper began storing formula in locked cabinets and having nurses document when mothers had medical needs or requested it. Now, 70 percent breast-feed in the hospital.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Other hospitals say they do not believe samples discourage breast-feeding. At Virtua, which runs two maternity hospitals in suburban New Jersey, Dr. Alka Kohli, vice president of medical affairs, said officials would re-evaluate formula giveaways. But she said that because of Virtua's breast-feeding programs, "despite the fact that formula sits around, our breast-feeding rates climb every year."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">"Ban the Bags" campaigns have seeped into politics. Mayor Bloomberg's critics call "Latch On NYC" another nanny-state initiative. Breast-feeding advocates are criticizing Mitt Romney's 2006 decisions as Massachusetts governor to pressure the state's Public Health Council to reverse a ban on formula giveaways, and replace three council members who objected.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">When UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester eliminated samples in 2005, people complained, said Dr. Ellen Delpapa, chief of maternal-fetal medicine. UMass partly retrenched, giving coupons for free formula to women not exclusively breast-feeding. Only when more Massachusetts hospitals stopped samples did UMass reimpose its ban.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Some hospitals say manufacturers make banning giveaways harder. Dr. Winter called it "a big production to disengage companies from flooding us with these bags," adding, "I was reported to the chief of neonatology because the companies said I refused to meet with them."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">At Beverly Hospital, the last Massachusetts hospital to ban samples, companies "were very infiltrated," said Rebecca Gadon, director of maternal, newborn and <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/cancer/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Cancer." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">cancer</a> care. She arrived in 2008 to find formula companies giving the staff gifts and paying for continuing education classes.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Hospitals often also receive all formula supplies free from manufacturers, providing incentives to cooperate. Many hospitals continue to accept supplies after banning samples, although the C.D.C. and other agencies discourage this. UMass Memorial still accepts Similac and Enfamil, and while it is considering buying formula, "when they tell us how much we're getting for free, that's worth a lot," Dr. Delpapa said.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">The chief of the C.D.C.'s <a href="http://health.nytimes.com/health/guides/specialtopic/food-guide-pyramid/overview.html?inline=nyt-classifier" title="In-depth reference and news articles about Diet and Nutrition." class="meta-classifier" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 153); text-decoration: none; ">nutrition</a> branch, Laurence Grummer-Strawn, said he was concerned enough that he had "spoken to people at formula companies suggesting they change their marketing practices."</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">He also tells hospitals to buy formula, with competitive bidding like for other supplies. "We shouldn't be receiving free giveaways from pharmaceutical companies, we shouldn't be receiving free giveaways from formula companies," Dr. Grummer-Strawn said.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Neither the Formula Council nor Mead Johnson would discuss marketing specifically. Abbott Nutrition, which makes Similac, deferred questions to the Formula Council. Mr. Perille of Mead Johnson said factors like birthrate and efficiency were more important to business success than sending samples to hospitals or pediatricians' offices.</p><p itemprop="articleBody" style="color: black; font-size: 1.2em; margin: 0px 0px 1em; line-height: 24px; ">Still, hospitals are "the ideal setting for new mothers to get information about feeding options," Mr. Perille said. And "if they're going to formula-feed, we would like them to choose our brand."</p><nyt_correction_bottom><div class="articleCorrection" style="margin-bottom: 2.8em; "></div></nyt_correction_bottom><nyt_update_bottom></nyt_update_bottom></div></nyt_text><span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); display: inline !important; float: none; "></span></div><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/health/hospitals-ditch-formula-samples-to-promote-breast-feeding.html?src=recg&pagewanted=all">http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/16/health/hospitals-ditch-formula-samples-to-promote-breast-feeding.html?src=recg&pagewanted=all</a><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 14px; color: black; text-align: left; "><br class="webkit-block-placeholder"></div>

Hospitals Ditch Formula Samples to Promote Breast-Feeding - NYTimes.com

For years, virtually every new mother has been sent home from the hospital with a gift bag full of free product samples, including infant fo...

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Bookkeeper - New Britain Public Library

<strong>Bookkeeper - </strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">New Britain Public Library</span></strong>. Part-time position – morning hours. Coordinates accounts payable and receivable, including internal accounts, material budget, monthly reports, etc. Requires accuracy, dependability, and good communication skills. Prefer an AA Degree in accounting studies or a high school graduate with considerable bookkeeping experience. Send letter of interest, resume, and 3 work references to Business Manager, New Britain Public Library, 20 High Street, New Britain, CT 06051 or <a href="mailto:limberger@nbpl.info">limberger@nbpl.info</a>. Applications will be reviewed as received. EOE. No telephone calls.

Bookkeeper - New Britain Public Library

Bookkeeper - New Britain Public Library . Part-time position – morning hours. Coordinates accounts payable and receivable, including in...

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ADFF NY 2012

Thursday is the opening night of the 2012 New York <a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/ny2012"><b>Architecture and Design Film Festival</b></a> at Tribeca Cinemas Theater, with a special screening at Time Warner Center.<br /><br /><img alt="archtober2012-adff.jpg" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/Blog/archtober2012-adff.jpg" title="Architecture and Design Film Festival" /><br /><br />For a schedule of films being screened in the four-day festival, <a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/view_by_title">visit the ADFF website</a>. Some of the highlights include <a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=347"><i>16 Acres</i></a> (opening night at Time Warner), <a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=594"><i>Coast Modern</i></a>, <a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=267"><i>Design Is One: Lella and Massimo Vignelli</i></a> (opening night at Tribeca Cinemas), <i><a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=283">Diller Scofidio + Renfro: Reimagining Lincoln Center and the High Line</a></i>, <i><a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=426">Mendelsohn’s Incessant Visions</a></i>, and <i><a href="http://adfilmfest.com/portal/index.php?mid=films_ny2012&document_srl=314">Modern Tide: Midcentury Architecture on Long Island</a></i>.

ADFF NY 2012

Thursday is the opening night of the 2012 New York Architecture and Design Film Festival at Tribeca Cinemas Theater, with a special screeni...

Read more »