News for today's 2018

Fascinating, One Meeelion Frames Per Second, Bullet impacts In Slow Motion

4:55 PM Tukiyooo 0

Fascinating, One Meeelion Frames Per Second, Bullet impacts In Slow Motion

This is amazing. How in the world do you make a camera that can expose a million frames in one second?! It's fucking mind boggling to po...

Early morning reflections at Mabry Mill

2:42 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ynntl7IkyZpwanLakJlLdD-UJ1ErxpVKXhyBo9k2JuUxelq0K6AztO7Zk-mkVotYjdzG8LUlWlL32OfTQ81b4j_FADXLXC-xjG5_mXDFaoG2maWT-5bz7ouxqTcPTsHfGIJaKBkPKl5l/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ynntl7IkyZpwanLakJlLdD-UJ1ErxpVKXhyBo9k2JuUxelq0K6AztO7Zk-mkVotYjdzG8LUlWlL32OfTQ81b4j_FADXLXC-xjG5_mXDFaoG2maWT-5bz7ouxqTcPTsHfGIJaKBkPKl5l/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I was able to capture the early morning September sun as it shimmered on the tops of trees and was reflected in the mill pond at Mabry Mill on the Blue Ridge Parkway. From visiting as a child to visiting with our own children to visiting post-children, I never tire of this iconic reminder of life as it once was in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.</div> Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell

I was able to capture the early morning September sun as it shimmered on the tops of trees and was reflected in the mill pond at Mabry Mil...

HealthBoards Message Boards

2:34 PM Tukiyooo 0

HealthBoards Message Boards

Dealing with a medical condition is often difficult. Connecting with others who are going through the same thing can make a world of differe...

Labor board: Funeral giant SCI broke the law in dispute with Teamsters

2:21 PM Tukiyooo 0

Unscrupulous funeral giant SCI broke the law by bad faith bargaining with Teamster employees, threatening them, spying on them and trying to trick members into leaving the union, according to the Chicago region of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). The NLRB has also dismissed frivolous and potentially defamatory accusations made by the company against the union. <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/08/funeral-directors-locked-out.html" rel="nofollow">Service Corporation International (SCI) locked out 59 funeral directors and drivers</a> at 16 Chicago-area funeral homes last month. John T. Coli, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 727, said: <blockquote class="tr_bq">... the company has been merely grasping at straws, trying to shift the blame on the union with their false accusations. In reality, they are the ones violating the law and mistreating their dedicated employees. </blockquote>According to <a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/funeral-industry-giant-sci-committed-unfair-labor-practices-labor-board-says" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Local 727's press statement</a>, <blockquote class="tr_bq">SCI’s numerous unfair labor practices forced the union-represented funeral workers to strike on July 2. Despite an unconditional offer by the union to return to work, the company locked out workers on Aug. 19. Pickets have continued to protest SCI’s bad faith bargaining and other unfair labor practices. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Region of the NLRB now will attempt to reach a settlement with SCI on the charges. Absent settlement, the Region typically issues a complaint, and a hearing in front of an administrative law judge then takes place. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">“Our fight is not over, but this is a victory for working men and women,” Coli said. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Local 727 urges all Chicago-area residents to support community-owned funeral homes as labor actions continue. More than 60 recommended funeral home alternatives can be found online at <a href="http://www.integrityinillinois.com/">www.IntegrityInIllinois.com</a> to aid families in affected communities.</blockquote>We know you still have a ways to go, but congratulations on a hard-fought victory! <div> </div>

Chicago funeral directors SCI Labor board: Funeral giant SCI broke the law in dispute with Teamsters

Unscrupulous funeral giant SCI broke the law by bad faith bargaining with Teamster employees, threatening them, spying on them and trying to...

How Not to Die - Jonathan Rauch - The Atlantic

2:14 PM Tukiyooo 0

Dr. Angelo Volandes is making a film that he believes will change the way you die. The studio is his living room in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston; the control panel is his laptop; the camera crew is a 24-year-old guy named Jake; the star is his wife, Aretha Delight Davis. Volandes, a thickening mesomorph with straight brown hair that is graying at his temples, is wearing a T-shirt and shorts and looks like he belongs at a football game. Davis, a beautiful woman of Guyanese extraction with richly braided hair, is dressed in a white lab coat over a black shirt and stands before a plain gray backdrop. "Remember: always slow," Volandes says. "Sure, hon," Davis says, annoyed. She has done this many times. Volandes claps to sync the sound. "Take one: Goals of Care, Dementia." You are seeing this video because you are making medical decisions for a person with advanced dementia. Davis intones the words in a calm, uninflected voice. I'll show you a video of a person with advanced dementia. Then you will see images to help you understand the three options for their medical care. Her narration will be woven into a 10-minute film. The words I'm hearing will accompany footage of an elderly woman in a wheelchair. The woman is coiffed and dressed in her Sunday finest, wearing pearls and makeup for her film appearance, but her face is vacant and her mouth is frozen in the rictus of a permanent O. This woman lives in a nursing home and has advanced dementia. She's seen here with her daughters. She has the typical features of advanced dementia … Young in affect and appearance, Volandes, 41, is an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School; Davis, also an M.D., is doing her residency in internal medicine, also at Harvard. When I heard about Volandes's work, I suspected he would be different from other doctors. I was not disappointed. He refuses to let me call him "Dr. Volandes," for example. Formality impedes communication, he tells me, and "there's nothing more essential to being a good doctor than your ability to communicate." More important, he believes that his videos can disrupt the way the medical system handles late-life care, and that the system urgently needs disrupting. "I think we're probably the most subversive two doctors to the health system that you will meet today," he says, a few hours before his shoot begins. "That has been told to me by other people." "You sound proud of that," I say. "I'm proud of that because it's being an agent of change, and the more I see poor health care, or health care being delivered that puts patients and families through—" "We torture people before they die," Davis interjects, quietly. Volandes chuckles at my surprise. "Remember, Jon is a reporter," he tells her, not at all unhappy with her comment. "My father, if he were sitting here, would be saying 'Right on,' " I tell him. Volandes nods. "Here's the sad reality," he says. "Physicians are good people. They want to do the right things. And yet all of us, behind closed doors, in the cafeteria, say, 'Do you believe what we did to that patient? Do you believe what we put that patient through?' Every single physician has stories. Not one. Lots of stories. "In the health-care debate, we've heard a lot about useless care, wasteful care, futile care. What we"—Volandes indicates himself and Davis—"have been struggling with is unwanted care. That's far more concerning. That's not avoidable care. That's wrongfulcare. I think that's the most urgent issue facing America today, is people getting medical interventions that, if they were more informed, they would not want. It happens all the time." Unwanted treatment is American medicine's dark continent. No one knows its extent, and few people want to talk about it. The U.S. medical system was built to treat anything that might be treatable, at any stage of life—even near the end, when there is no hope of a cure, and when the patient, if fully informed, might prefer quality time and relative normalcy to all-out intervention. In 2009, my father was suffering from an advanced and untreatable neurological condition that would soon kill him. (I wrote about his decline in an article for this magazine in April 2010.) Eating, drinking, and walking were all difficult and dangerous for him. He ate, drank, and walked anyway, because doing his best to lead a normal life sustained his morale and slowed his decline. "Use it or lose it," he often said. His strategy broke down calamitously when he agreed to be hospitalized for an MRI test. I can only liken his experience to an alien abduction. He was bundled into a bed, tied to tubes, and banned from walking without help or taking anything by mouth. No one asked him about what he wanted. After a few days, and a test that turned up nothing, he left the hospital no longer able to walk. Some weeks later, he managed to get back on his feet; unfortunately, by then he was only a few weeks from death. The episode had only one positive result. Disgusted and angry after his discharge from the hospital, my father turned to me and said, "I am never going back there." (He never did.) What should have taken place was what is known in the medical profession as The Conversation. The momentum of medical maximalism should have slowed long enough for a doctor or a social worker to sit down with him and me to explain, patiently and in plain English, his condition and his treatment options, to learn what his goals were for the time he had left, and to establish how much and what kind of treatment he really desired. Alas, evidence shows that The Conversation happens much less regularly than it should, and that, when it does happen, information is typically presented in a brisk, jargony way that patients and families don't really understand. Many doctors don't make time for The Conversation, or aren't good at conducting it (they're not trained or rewarded for doing so), or worry their patients can't handle it. This is a problem, because the assumption that doctors know what their patients want turns out to be wrong: when doctors try to predict the goals and preferences of their patients, they are "highly inaccurate," according to one summary of the research, published by Benjamin Moulton and Jaime S. King inThe Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics. Patients are "routinely asked to make decisions about treatment choices in the face of what can only be described as avoidable ignorance," Moulton and King write. "In the absence of complete information, individuals frequently opt for procedures they would not otherwise choose." Though no one knows for sure, unwanted treatment seems especially common near the end of life. A few years ago, at age 94, a friend of mine's father was hospitalized with internal bleeding and kidney failure. Instead of facing reality (he died within days), the hospital tried to get authorization to remove his colon and put him on dialysis. Even physicians tell me they have difficulty holding back the kind of mindlessly aggressive treatment that one doctor I spoke with calls "the war on death." Matt Handley, a doctor and an executive with Group Health Cooperative, a big health system in Washington state, described his father-in-law's experience as a "classic example of overmedicalization." There was no Conversation. "He went to the ICU for no medical reason," Handley says. "No one talked to him about the fact that he was going to die, even though outside the room, clinicians, when asked, would say 'Oh, yes, he's dying.' " "Sometimes you block the near exits, and all you've got left is a far exit, which is not a dignified and comfortable death," Albert Mulley, a physician and the director of the Dartmouth Center for Health Care Delivery Science, told me recently. As we talked, it emerged that he, too, had had to fend off the medical system when his father died at age 93. "Even though I spent my whole career doing this," he said, "when I was trying to assure as good a death as I could for my dad, I found it wasn't easy." If it is this hard for doctors to navigate their parents' final days, imagine what many ordinary patients and their families face. "It's almost impossible for patients really to be in charge," says Joanne Lynn, a physician and the director of the nonprofit Altarum Center for Elder Care and Advanced Illness in Washington, D.C. "We enforce a kind of learned helplessness, especially in hospitals." I asked her how much unwanted treatment gets administered. She couldn't come up with a figure—no one can—but she said, "It's huge, however you measure it. Especially when people get very, very sick." Unwanted treatment is a particularly confounding problem because it is not a product of malevolence but a by-product of two strengths of American medical culture: the system's determination to save lives, and its technological virtuosity. Change will need to be consonant with that culture. "You have to be comfortable working at the margins of the power structure within medicine, and particularly within academic medicine," Mulley told me. You need a disrupter, but one who can speak the language of medicine and meet the system on its own terms. More ... <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/05/how-not-to-die/309277/?single_page=true">http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2013/05/how-not-to-die/309277/?single_page=true</a>

How Not to Die - Jonathan Rauch - The Atlantic

Dr. Angelo Volandes is making a film that he believes will change the way you die. The studio is his living room in Newton, Massachusetts, a...

Workers still really, really want unions

2:01 PM Tukiyooo 0

Many American workers are treated badly on the job, as we have pointed out in our never-ending <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/07/workers-want-unions.html">series of posts</a> about their desire to join our union. Here we bring you more anonymous requests from workers asking for help to become Teamsters. Our Organizing department is constantly deluged with requests from workers who are bullied by employers, forced to work long hours, treated unfairly and exposed to dangerous working conditions. <a href="http://www.sharedprosperity.org/bp182/bp182.pdf">Polls</a> show the number of workers who want to join unions is rising, even as corporations attack them for trying. But never mind the polls, just see for yourself what workers say about their jobs. <blockquote class="tr_bq">We have met a wage freeze, many mandatory hours, blatant favoritism, unresolved job hazards among a few of the struggles faced daily in our workplace. Many are good employees, and deserve better. Please help.</blockquote>Don't underestimate how hard it is to form a union: <blockquote class="tr_bq">We, the employees ...  have been trying to form a union for a long time now. We believe the teamsters would be the best choice. I could go on and on about the types of things the employees here are getting sick of, but I would much rather speak to someone directly about these issues.</blockquote>Fear of being fired for saying the word "union" is a constant theme: <blockquote class="tr_bq">Sorry if I seem a little apprehensive but the conditions we work under are that bad. We are constantly told we are replaceable. This company laid-off long time workers and replaced them with new hires... We were forced to lie to a workers comp hearing or lose our job. The owners ... are rude and liars, promising raises and when asked about the raise the layoff or fire the person who asks. Incompetence is covered up in favor of the group of employees who fall into a certain clique. We desparetely need a union but even talking to you will cost me my job with unemployment. </blockquote>Workers frequently cite bullying and unfairness on the job: <blockquote class="tr_bq">We have been talking about this a lot lately being truck drivers, merchandisers, and warehouse workers. We are the only plant of three in the area that is not union and tired of being bullied. Hoping to hear a response soon thank you.</blockquote>Here too: <blockquote class="tr_bq">They  are  paying  their  drivers way below  the  national  average, no  overtime after 8 hours, no  federal  pay  on  federal jobs and  just  basically being  unfair  with  their  workers.</blockquote>Long hours and low pay are typical complaints. Like this: <blockquote class="tr_bq">We are getting poor pay, about 15% less than other companies, and we are forced to work on Saturday and Sunday....I believe we need a union and have reason to believe that my co-workers feel the same way.</blockquote>We like the spirit of optimism at the end of this comment: <blockquote class="tr_bq">... long hours .. low pay.. unsafe vehicles...problems getting paid...no representation for worker issues .. labor board no help ...  they fire at will high turnover of employees because of conditions...need organization of workers to insure compant does not treat us unfairly.. I have been an employee for 4yrs now its time we fought back with your help we shall overcome.</blockquote>

organizing unions Workers still really, really want unions

Many American workers are treated badly on the job, as we have pointed out in our never-ending series of posts about their desire to join o...

Public Service Librarian - Western Connecticut State University, Danbury

12:39 PM Anonymous 0

Public Service Librarian - Western Connecticut State University, Danbury, is pleased to announce that applications are currently being accepted for a full-time, tenure-track position in the Ruth A. Haas Library. Responsibilities include providing bibliographic instruction; assistance with collection development, and other service to several academic departments including Education and Nursing; developing and maintaining the Curriculum and the Children's/Juvenile Collections; maintaining and developing Web content for the Library and liaison departments; providing reference service, including one evening per week; and participating in the Sunday reference desk rotation. For more information, please visit <a href="http://www.wcsu.edu/campustour/haas.asp">www.wcsu.edu/campustour/haas.asp</a> . Qualifications: Candidates must possess an MLS from an ALA accredited program. Preference will be given to candidates with post-MLS experience in general reference and collection development in an academic library. Experience in undergraduate and graduate bibliographic instruction (especially in Education and Nursing) and experience in developing and maintaining Web pages are also preferred as is experience with ILS and OPACS. Familiarity with metadata standards, metadata content standards and mark-up, including: RDA, RDF, MARC, MARCXML, HTML5, css, and js are also preferred. As Western is a dynamic, diverse workplace, the proven ability to work effectively with people from a variety of backgrounds and cultures is highly valued. Excellent written and oral communication skills are required. Salary and Benefits: Salary is dependent upon qualifications. WCSU offers competitive salary commensurate with the candidate’s experience and a comprehensive benefit package. Additional information can be found on our website at www.wcsu.edu/hr/benefits. Application Process: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 professional references to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:facultyvitae@wcsu.edu" href="mailto:facultyvitae@wcsu.edu">facultyvitae@wcsu.edu</a> by Thursday, October 31, 2013. All documents should be combined in a single PDF document. Late applications will not be accepted. Reference search #600-181 in the subject line.

Public Service Librarian - Western Connecticut State University, Danbury

Public Service Librarian - Western Connecticut State University , Danbury, is pleased to announce that applications are currently being ac...

Technical Services Specialist: Acquisitions - Stratford Library Association

12:31 PM Anonymous 0

Technical Services Specialist: Acquisitions - Stratford Library Association. Salary Range: $17.63 - $25.08/hour. Learn a wide range of library skills, including acquisitions related duties, technology help-desk services, public service desk duties, and basic cataloging functions. The Stratford Library Association will give you the opportunity to work and grow professionally in a team environment serving a variety of cultures and age groups. Strong communication skills, flexibility, a proficiency with computer applications and familiarity with mobile devices required. Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college and experience working in a library environment required. Spanish/English bilingual highly desireable. Approximately 14 hours per week, depending on funding, including evening and weekend hours. Send your resume and contact information for three references to Sheri Szymanski, Stratford Library Association, 2203 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06615 or email <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:sszymanski@stratfordlibrary.org" href="mailto:sszymanski@stratfordlibrary.org">sszymanski@stratfordlibrary.org</a>. Deadline: Applications will be accepted until position is filled. EOE.

Technical Services Specialist: Acquisitions - Stratford Library Association

Technical Services Specialist: Acquisitions - Stratford Library Association . Salary Range: $17.63 - $25.08/hour. Learn a wide range of l...

Reference Librarian, Part-Time, Substitute - Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe

12:27 PM Anonymous 0

Reference Librarian, Part-Time, Substitute - Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe, is seeking a part time reference librarian, substitute hours. Responsibilities include: providing reference help and reader’s advisory guidance to patrons, providing instruction in use of online catalog and the internet plus other related duties. Must be familiar with reference information in various formats. Strong customer service orientation and MLS required. Compentency with Microsoft Publisher a plus. Day, evening, and weekend hours. MLS candidates nearing graduation will be considered. Salary: $19.77 per hour, no benefits. Send letter of interest, resume, and completed Town application, <a _fcksavedurl="http://applications.monroeps.org/town.asp" href="http://applications.monroeps.org/town.asp" target="_blank">http://applications.monroeps.org/town.asp</a> to Library Director, 733 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468, or <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:mborchers@ewml.org" href="mailto:mborchers@ewml.org">mborchers@ewml.org</a>. Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position if filled. EO/AA.

Reference Librarian, Part-Time, Substitute - Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, Monroe

Reference Librarian, Part-Time, Substitute - Edith Wheeler Memorial Library , Monroe, is seeking a part time reference librarian, substitut...

Some Of The Pluses Of Natural Bodybuilding

11:31 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Samuel Gilbert</div> <div class='uawarticle'>For many people, a desire to have a more attractive body leads to an interest in natural bodybuilding. A lean and fit body requires hard work and determination. An undesirable short cut measure is to take drugs for bulk, but this is not recommended. For those individuals who want to take the route of natural body sculpting, it means they will never consume substances that are not included in a healthy diet. The definition of "natural" has changed somewhat by those pushing the limits. A more strict interpretation leads to better management of the weight and a healthier lifestyle both in the immediate and long-term future. Focusing on alternatives to drug implementation is very much preferred. Bodybuilding in the drug-free way is generally for the purpose of weight management and better health. Men and women may begin with a goal of looking better on the beach. They soon find that they feel better when they look better. It boosts self-confidence to know you are trim and fit. Under the strict definition of non-assisted bodybuilding, it is understood that even a short period of using anabolic steroids in the past permanently alters the body chemistry. These items should not be part of the routine of a person who wants to follow the drug-free regimen. Items that are typically found in common medications or products while they may not be healthy are still considered okay on a regimen that does not include drugs. Some of the specific advantages to taking the natural approach to body sculpting include financial and legal. You will not be running the risk of purchasing or ingesting substances that are illegal. You avoid long-term health risks, choosing rather to improve your health. Purchasing questionable substances can be expensive. You would be better served by spending the money on top quality foods. Using no banned substances means you do not have to lie about your improved physique. You will know the look is due to your own hard work. Not recommended for body builders are substances such as insulin, IGF, growth hormones, anabolic steroids, and testosterone. Generally, they are of questionable legality. It is much preferred that you utilize health alternatives such as exercise, a sound diet, and weightlifting. When you use only beneficial substances, and techniques, you will not have any side effects and there will not be joint injuries. Joints can be damaged by muscle development going at a faster rate than the joints. Naturally paced growth in muscle development is long lasting. When you do the work, you get a sense of satisfaction because you know you are responsible for the positive results. Using the drug and hormone-free approach is not as easy as swallowing a pill. You will need to maintain a spirit of determination to reach your goals. The benefits you gain when you are lean and fit will include justly earned self-confidence and self-esteem. All of the results are due to your own actions, not to a temporary muscle size surge, which can have negative, even dangerous side effects. Natural bodybuilding is to be recommended over a drug-induced state of artificially bulked up muscles. Your physical, mental and emotional state will be more healthy, whether you are competing in formal events or working out for your own benefit. The look is natural, and the results are healthy. </div> <div class='uawresource'> 	<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'> 		About the Author: 	</div> 	<div class='uawlinks'>If you would like to check out <a href="http://www.physicalmentalstrength.com/muscle/welcome-to-webstite/">muscle building workouts</a> with natural bodybuilding programs, click this link here. The Physical Mental Strength website offers you a wide range of <a href="http://www.physicalmentalstrength.com/146-2/">muscle building diet</a> and workout plans to help you enjoy life to the max.</div> </div>

Some Of The Pluses Of Natural Bodybuilding

By Samuel Gilbert For many people, a desire to have a more attractive body leads to an interest in natural bodybuilding. A lean and fit ...

Today's archidose #708

10:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

Here are some photos of the Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing (2011) in Copenhagen, Denmark, by <a href="http://www.jjw.dk/">JJW Arckitekter</a>, photographed by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/">Asli Aydin</a>. <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/9928417376/" title="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing" height="421" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3704/9928417376_f73cbd94bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/9928470804/" title="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing" height="427" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5323/9928470804_06e77c1804_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/9928438145/" title="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing" height="423" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7309/9928438145_d3d4bcffd1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/asli_aydin/9928442475/" title="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing by asli aydin, on Flickr"><img alt="Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing" height="485" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3698/9928442475_333432cf83_z.jpg" width="640" /></a> To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just: <blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or :: Tag your photos <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></blockquote>

Today's archidose #708

Here are some photos of the Ørestad Plejecenter / Senior Housing (2011) in Copenhagen, Denmark, by JJW Arckitekter , photographed by Asli Ay...

Fay Vincent: Where the Disabled Aren't Welcome - WSJ.com

10:24 AM Tukiyooo 0

<base href="data:">Recently I met with the speakers committee of a prominent Manhattan men's club to discuss giving a talk to the members. As we concluded a pleasant lunch, I raised the delicate subject of whether the club had a bathroom I could use in my wheelchair. I explained that I would need a toilet with bars to permit me to lift myself and a water closet that would permit access in a wheelchair. My hosts looked at one another and then, with some embarrassment, told me there was no such bathroom in their building. The Americans with Disabilities Act exempts private clubs. They asked for time to consider how to solve the problem. After a few days the club leadership graciously agreed to alter a bathroom to suit the disabled. I hope my little talk proves worthy of their efforts. I am sure others will be grateful for the redone bathroom. When I arrived at a Florida medical facility for some X-rays, I discovered that my wheelchair was too wide for the office front door. There were some awkward minutes while the poor receptionist scurried about to get me and my chair inside. I had to wonder how a medical office could have been designed to preclude easy entry by a person using a wheelchair. When I went to see a surgeon at a major orthopedic hospital in New York, I discovered how difficult it is to get into and out of even a proud and caring institution. The turning axis of a wheelchair is quite large and the transition from the waiting room to the X-ray room was replete with tight 90-degree turns. Even well-intentioned legislation cannot specify what is needed to accommodate those of us who are made to feel subhuman by unintentional failures to provide suitable facilities. I know all the excuses. In one major New York hotel, the bathroom had a tub with a built-in shower. There were bars around the rim of the tub, but it would have been impossible for me to climb into or out of it. The manager told me the hotel had only one true handicap room but the person using it had overstayed one night. The hotel assigned me to what they hoped would be a satisfactory alternative. It wasn't. I once asked the CEO of one of the major hotel chains why there wasn't more attention paid to the handicapped traveler. His candid reply was instructive. "There are not many people like you visiting the top-level hotels," he explained, "so it does not make business sense to cater to the handicapped." That surely explains some of what I have experienced. Yet there are small adjustments that would not require either great expense or major alterations. Enlarge Image Getty Images I begin by urging the wide acceptance of toilet facilities with suitable bars and seats about four inches higher than normal. I know the cost of such a bathroom isn't great and the comfort and security such equipment offers the handicapped is enormous. I'm stunned by the number of doors in offices and other public places that aren't wide enough for my wheelchair—and by the number of door sills that make wheelchair use difficult. If the doorways were constructed to make it easy for the wheels of my chair to slide over the sills, the awkward occasions when the chair is unable to cross the sill would be avoided. I'm not looking for sympathy, only better understanding. Modern medicine is keeping us all older for longer. It makes sense to try to ease the way for those of us who cannot walk. Riding in a wheelchair can permit me new vistas but I need some help in some small ways. The big stuff, including ramps and elevators, is done and welcome. I think the little things require little more than some good people paying attention. Mr. Vincent is a former CEO of Columbia Pictures Industries and commissioner of Major League Baseball. <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303343404577514931697914496.html">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303343404577514931697914496.html</a><div> </div><div>Related:</div><div> </div><div>http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/09/19/what-if-hospitals-thought-us-as-customers-not-patients/ </div>

Fay Vincent: Where the Disabled Aren't Welcome - WSJ.com

Recently I met with the speakers committee of a prominent Manhattan men's club to discuss giving a talk to the members. As we concluded ...

Teamsters say feds ignore dangerous Mexican trucks

10:04 AM Tukiyooo 0

The federal government is looking the other way at Mexican trucks that are serial violators of U.S. safety laws, but the <a href="http://teamster.org/" rel="nofollow">Teamsters</a> aren't. The Teamsters have long fought hard against opening the border to dangerous Mexican trucks. Today in the press the Teamsters blasted the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Motor_Carrier_Safety_Administration" rel="nofollow">Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration</a> for its lax oversight of the pilot program to let Mexican trucks travel beyond the border zone. <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-27/regulator-said-to-look-other-way-on-unsafe-mexican-trucks.html" rel="nofollow">Bloomberg</a> today reported on the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/05/dangerous-mexican-trucks-allowed-in.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters complaint</a> that the federal government broke its own rules by letting one company keep operating over the border after its safety rating was lowered. FMCSA also ignored other Mexican carriers' ties to dangerous operators. Here's why: The FMCSA needs enough participants in the pilot program to arrive at statistically valid conclusions about the impact of Mexican trucks on U.S. highway safety. Since regulators can't find enough safe Mexican carriers -- as the <a href="http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamsters-respond-to-government-on-mexican-truck-program-141912703.html" rel="nofollow">Teamsters predicted</a> -- they're ignoring egregious safety violations. Bloomberg reported: <ul><li>Mexican companies allowed into the U.S. under the latest agreement have been cited for thousands of violations, records <a href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/intl-programs/trucking/Trucking-Program.aspx">show</a>.</li><li>One truck belonging to GCC Transporte SA de CV, the company that’s crossed the border most often, was stopped for violations 18 times between August 2012 and August 2013. It was found to have defective or missing axle parts, brake defects, a cracked frame, inoperative signals, oil and grease leaks, non-working lights, windshield-wiper defects and a tire-tread separation.</li><li>Servicio de Transporte Internacional y Local SA de CV, the Mexican company that’s been<a href="http://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/documents/intl-programs/trucking/Aggregate_Data_thru_September-08-2013.pdf">inspected the most</a>, was cited for 44 violations on a single day -- July 31, 2013. Citations included tire separations and leaks, oil and grease leaks, inoperative signals and a brake-compressor violation. Its driver-fitness score of 99.2 percent indicates fewer than 1 percent of U.S. carriers have worse records. Almost all of the violations are for drivers who aren’t fluent in English, according to government records.</li></ul>Read the whole horrifying story <a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-27/regulator-said-to-look-other-way-on-unsafe-mexican-trucks.html" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

Mexican trucks Teamsters say feds ignore dangerous Mexican trucks

The federal government is looking the other way at Mexican trucks that are serial violators of U.S. safety laws, but the Teamsters aren'...

Happy Friday......

9:55 AM Tukiyooo 0

Hello everyone, I know, I know - where is the weigh in video?  First, I couldn't go today because we have a film production crew at our office doing a promo for a technology conference in November.  But, I am at the same spot on my scale - Plateau here ha! But, to be frankly honest, I have had to cut down on my Belviq to once a day to stretch it out.  I am not able to go get my RX until October 16th because my money runeth over (or under ha).  The good news is - BELVIQ works because I do notice a "slight" difference.  The even better news is - I have not gained anything even though I eat just a little bit more (not much more, but I have notice I do eat a little more).  So, it's not the end of the world.  I am just HAPPY that I am not gaining weight and I completely stay away from the wrong foods to help with that.  I didn't want to really say anything but I have had many ask when is the next weigh in and I keep coming up with excuses haha.  So, I just will put it out there.  I still take Belviq once a day and it STILL HELPS.  So no haters out there thinking it's not.  If I was taking 2 a day as directed, I am CONFIDENT that I would lose some!  I am TOTALLY OK with this but note, on the 16th when I pick up my RX, it's all on!!!! I hope you all have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!   I will - I won a $100 gift certificate to Urban Retreats on Sunny 99.1 radio station.  That means I can finally pamper myself on a manicure without paying a dime!  I like that!!! (Hey, my priority is my Belivq and if I can't afford the belviq for 2 weeks, then I can't afford a manicure). XOXOX Ellie

Happy Friday......

Hello everyone, I know, I know - where is the weigh in video? First, I couldn't go today because we have a film production crew at our ...

Give a kid a cookie, end up fired

9:33 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div class="MsoNormal">Carlos Hernandez was fired after he led a walkout of Subway workers in Seattle over the summer. The owner of  the Subway franchise, Hasan Zeer, claims he fired Carlos Hernandez for giving a kid a 66-cent cookie. Legally, most workers can be fired on an employer's whim, but they can't -- at least legally -- be fired for trying to join a union. Hence the cookie excuse. <a href="http://www.workingwa.org/">Working Washington</a>organizers say that Hernandez was fired in retaliation for speaking to press and organizing his coworkers during last month’s fast food strike. Federal charges have been filed against the fast-food restaurant, but in the meantime, Seattle citizens are letting the owners know how wrong their actions are through Yelp, a popular user-review-based website for businesses. Dozens of locals have stood up for Carlos and the other workers <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/subway-seattle-47">by writing reviews on the Subway franchise’s Yelp page</a>. Amy H. from Seattle says: <blockquote class="tr_bq">My sandwiches would taste a lot better if they weren't salted with the tears of mistreated employees. One of the hardest working employees in this franchise was illegally fired for going on strike under the pretense of giving away a $0.66 cookie to a 3 year old. Other employees at this location have also suffered unsafe working conditions, wage theft, and have been denied breaks. Doesn't taste so fresh to me.</blockquote>Alex M. yelped that: <blockquote class="tr_bq">I used to work at Subway.  The worst part of the job was wringing the extra blood out of the roast beef before serving it.  Now this subway is trying to wring the blood and some extra dough from its workers.</blockquote>If you think workers should not be fired for speaking out, <a href="http://action.workingwa.org/page/s/fastfoodsupport">sign the Working Washington petition</a> or <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/subway-seattle-47">submit a review to their Yelp</a>.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></div>

low-wage workers strike Give a kid a cookie, end up fired

Carlos Hernandez was fired after he led a walkout of Subway workers in Seattle over the summer. The owner of the Subway franchise, Hasan Ze...

American Idols slip on Album Charts, But Help Is On the Way... We Think...

7:54 AM Tukiyooo 0

<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/AVvXsEjR7lQLXqgd1fCnSfPC_GnjDTMPTh5L4HiQ0GbisKyV-4OYitKPvMzyRhP9lycg0fhsNNO_8d0AAvviMYNT63pvSzAPGJ2rtJRQljiGyGjGZ-5AgTTpajxIBnc6yGXSecQz2OS8F2CqGUyC/s1600/bb200-20130927.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR7lQLXqgd1fCnSfPC_GnjDTMPTh5L4HiQ0GbisKyV-4OYitKPvMzyRhP9lycg0fhsNNO_8d0AAvviMYNT63pvSzAPGJ2rtJRQljiGyGjGZ-5AgTTpajxIBnc6yGXSecQz2OS8F2CqGUyC/s400/bb200-20130927.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">green = Mandisa, maroon = Phillip, lt blue = Carrie, dk green = Kelly (orange = Fantasia, lt green = Jessica, med blue = Colton)</td></tr></tbody></table>Now that both Phillip Phillips' "The World From the Side of the Moon" and Kelly Clarkson's "Greatest Hits - Chapter One" have been out for 44 weeks (8 weeks shy of a full year), they are starting to slip on the <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/billboard-chart-date-200513.htm" target="_blank">BillBoard 200</a> album chart. They have both held on incredibly well (as well as Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" which has sold over 1.5 million since its release in May 2012) especially when you consider Kelly's was primarily a greatest hits collection released before Christmas 2012. The leader on the album chart for the fourth week in a row, however, is none of those winners, but instead the #9 finisher from Season 5, Mandisa. Her "Overcomer" album slips from #72 to #60 but she still has the #1 Christian song on the radio with the title track. Phillip's album is next at #87 (from #74 last week), followed by Carrie at #97 (from #93) and Kelly who is barely holding in the Top 200 at #164 (falling form #119.) So they are all slipping a little, but there should still be American Idols on the charts for a few weeks before the new Idol releases in October. But now I am wondering if the next American Idol winner with an album release is actually going to happen. No, I do not mean Scotty McCreery whose "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/See-Tonight-Deluxe-Scotty-McCreery/dp/B00EUUJICM/" target="_blank">See You Tonight</a>" album is pretty much a guaranteed success, nor Kelly Clarkson's "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Wrapped-Red-Kelly-Clarkson/dp/B00ENSHA62/" target="_blank">Wrapped in Red</a>" Christmas album which will not be out until October 29. I am still looking for news from Candice Glover whose "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Music-Speaks-Candice-Glover/dp/B00CTX6EUG/" target="_blank">Music Speaks</a>" album was supposedly going to be released on October 8, just a week from Tuesday. There has been nothing from Candice since the tour ended except for a <a href="http://beachprophhi.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/american-idol-winner-candice-glover-in-concert/" target="_blank">free concert on September 12</a> in Hilton Head. They already have track listings for both Scotty and Kelly's albums, but nothing for Candice, and they even have <a href="http://www.mjsbigblog.com/audio-snippets-scotty-mccreerys-see-tonight-16-new-album-clips.htm" target="_blank">music snippets for Scotty at Amazon.fr</a> (why the French Amazon and not the US one?) How can they not have a track listing and samples for an album barely a week from release? Something is very fishy with Candice's album, but if they are not going to release it on October 8, why not announce it by now? I am sure thousands of people (3,000? 5,000?) have already pre-ordered "Music Speaks", and they will not be happy October 8 if it does not appear. One telling statistic is entering her name in quotes on Google News to see how many news articles there are about her recently. Here is today's results for all the past winners: 1. Kelly Clarkson - 35,100 results 2. Ruben Studdard - 6,910 results 3. Fantasia - 30,000 results (it helps that it is only 1 word, but "Fantasia Barrino" only gave 1,800 and many of the lone "fantasia" results were about her) 4. Carrie Underwood - 24,700 results 5. Taylor Hicks - 1,800 results 6. Jordin Sparks - 13,700 results 7. David Cook - 4,750 results 8. Kris Allen - 998 results 9. Lee DeWyze - 788 results 10. Scotty McCreery - 4,830 results 11. Phillip Phillips - 6,930 results 12. Candice Glover - 457 results As you might expect Lee DeWyze and Kris Allen have their names appearing in the least number of Google News results, except for... the most recent winner who recently finished her summer tour! Yikes, that is not much buzz for a recent American Idol winner. I can understand her having less buzz than recent successful winners like Phillip and Scotty, but having less than Lee and Kris is not a very good sign. What are they going to do in Season 13 when they bring her out? "Here is last year's winner, Candice Glover, carrying a framed platinum selling record.. which she is going to present to Phillip Phillips or Scotty McCreery." The signs are not looking good for her album.

American Idols slip on Album Charts, But Help Is On the Way... We Think...

green = Mandisa, maroon = Phillip, lt blue = Carrie, dk green = Kelly (orange = Fantasia, lt green = Jessica, med blue = Colton) Now that bo...

Apply to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert–closing date 30 September 2013

6:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<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/AVvXsEjl-TQWqbOznS_0Sohm7aArYeXGBVwsXjrdRAqkscEEQeqJqFAOOoJGbcFV4ixKh7AikMbn0OZT43aJ6Wclw0WdCKfMl4wLm30Y8vDUpBQh-lhitaRwL0LUo-qNtKCygOV35HpYbAz3PIY/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-HIm9l2nEynWrva_ZvE1riElzAD81KwbyRH-DtkL5ltErL5y7yz_uDnqqbP0OIvxrlODNiWiOsk5jVWie5617u7fQII_7IGfa3V6N0g6dc-joJVmk4iYBa5nxjdFUYqg5_auASCoprIU/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div> To apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert (MIE-E) you are required to upload a Learning Activity to the Partners in Learning Network and to complete the online MIE-E form. Step by step instructions Below is a link to the step by step instructions for uploading your Learning Activity along with some tips and notes about the different information you are expected to provide. It is a good idea to read through all of these instructions BEFORE you start uploading your Learning Activity so that you will know what information and files you will need before you start. <a href="https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld" title="https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld">https://app.box.com/s/pygjscb2bbvnwt8f6dld</a> Don't forget to upload your learning activity to the Partners in Learning Network (<a href="http://www.pil-network.com/">http://www.pil-network.com</a>) by 30th September 2013. </div>

Microsoft Apply to become a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert–closing date 30 September 2013

To apply to be a Microsoft Innovative Educator: Expert (MIE-E) you are required to upload a Learning Activity to the Partners in Learning Ne...

Seamans' apple orchards ... pick your own in Nelson County

5:55 AM Tukiyooo 0

Seamans' apple orchards ... pick your own in Nelson County

Seamans' Orchard in Roseland, Virginia, offers pick your own apples. The three big ones in this picture are from Seamans and the small ...

Friday Morning Musings

5:44 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Cheeeeeeeeers Chuckleheads!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDKhR_V8Wjo_BJhQr6C9kUS6KRo9YyozXJqaoZwTJ8id4JY06H1cNBRtVXfUEZT0EIkUh3BItuKSq6odpGmqQ4tNhqGvJSs_u66cRETDEMazjcJKnrKvv-b7nWnxJxdJcIRxES6DMTJXq/s1600/Monster+Energy+Absolute+Zero.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXDKhR_V8Wjo_BJhQr6C9kUS6KRo9YyozXJqaoZwTJ8id4JY06H1cNBRtVXfUEZT0EIkUh3BItuKSq6odpGmqQ4tNhqGvJSs_u66cRETDEMazjcJKnrKvv-b7nWnxJxdJcIRxES6DMTJXq/s400/Monster+Energy+Absolute+Zero.jpg" width="171" /></a>What a glorious morning it is here in Bagwine, Ohio.  Today is going to be sunny with a high of 80.  Perhaps the nice weather will lessen the stupid and rude levels when I go to work later. Lately I have been seriously thinking about quitting smoking.  I am tired of listening to my chest sound like a phlegm filled percolator. I got a nice sleep last night.  I think I got around nine hours sleep.  That rarely happens. I don’t even know if I had any dreams.  That’s good, because the last dream I had, involved being chased around by a knife wielding midget all the while I was being mocked by a naked Florence Henderson.  What the fuck!? I am enjoying an ice cold Monster Absolute Zero as I type this.  Schmoop picked some up 4/$5.  What a bargain.  That’s some well-priced caffeination right there.  Boy Howdy!! My finger hurts. I jammed my left pinkie right before our IWS Radio show on the 15th of this month.  It still hurts, damn it.  I don’t think I broke it, but great googly moogly it’s a wicked pisser…or something. I have to record a couple of funny bits for Sunday’s show this morning.  It’s a good thing that I got up at 7:30 this morning.  Oh the pressure of being an international internet radio star.  Lesser people would spin out of control if they were in my shoes. Can you imagine Ted Cruz, Harry Reid, John Boehner, and Nancy Pelosi going out for pizza?  They’d be unable to decide on which toppings to get, and just say fuck it and go home hungry. Write it down folks…October 12th is a Saturday and Ima going to be off ALL day!!  That’s right bitches.  A day full of nothing but food, beer, and college football.  I will feel like a piece of shit come Sunday morning, but by golly…it’s worth it. Ha.  I just heard that O.J. Simpson was caught stealing cookies from the prison commissary.  O.J. Simpson:  Running Back, Murderer, Cookie Monster.  Sounds like a great movie for the Lifetime Network. Okay…I’m outta here.  I need to get recording and on top of that, my pinkie is beginning to hurt again. Have a great weekend and I’ll see you Sunday on the radio. Cheers!! Matt-Man <a href="mailto:mattmaniws@ymail.com">mattmaniws@ymail.com</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank">@MattMan_IWS</a> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mattmaniws" target="_blank">My Facebook Page</a></div>

Friday Morning Musings

Cheeeeeeeeers Chuckleheads!! What a glorious morning it is here in Bagwine, Ohio. Today is going to be sunny with a high of 80. Perhaps th...

Have you tried Obami - an internationally recognised, award-winning, social learning management system?

5:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This is a guest post from Ennis Jones from Obami. Obami is a local social learning management system and has won several international awards. Recently Obami digitized the Anas for teachers. Obami is free and well worth trying out in your classroom - with good local support available. What is Obami? <div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; text-align: left;">Obami is an internationally recognised, award-winning, social learning management system. It is local, contextual, customisable and free.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">What does Obami do?</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Obami helps people to create or join learning communities. It is available on web and mobile and brings everyonewithin the education space together... learners, teachers and parents; as well as governing bodies, NGO's, small businesses, corporates-doing-good, and other passionate people. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ4-Dhhxw7s9TyLJTBVPiM10BgpQ2dOVCx5VophxEtZlRn4AYMWtE31QEO0g6RjGyktZ7bow5EPwx52rx8HW3jmapa_6mwShN0_u8n3yGreHbIAW-cYciIHbxtnFhifmPM7m-33lFd14/s1600/Obami.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSQ4-Dhhxw7s9TyLJTBVPiM10BgpQ2dOVCx5VophxEtZlRn4AYMWtE31QEO0g6RjGyktZ7bow5EPwx52rx8HW3jmapa_6mwShN0_u8n3yGreHbIAW-cYciIHbxtnFhifmPM7m-33lFd14/s400/Obami.png" width="400" /></a></div>By applying social media technologies to the virtual learning environment, Obami provides a powerful solution for individuals or schools to tap into or support existing learning communities. This gives everyone the opportunity to connect, create, share and learn.  Obami is free for primary and secondary schools. General Overview <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/obami/about_obami">http://www.obami.com/portals/obami/about_obami</a> Obami supports and enhances all aspects of the teaching and learning experience. It provides a platform that...<o:p></o:p> - Facilitates the sharing of great educational resources - Encourages social engagement between educators and learners - Offers academic and personal development through assessment<o:p></o:p> Obami ensures the most appropriate experience for everyone. Schools can manage the safety, privacy and sharing settings - relevant to different ages, grades and social circles - within the context of their own school, the wider Obami community and the world-wide-web. <o:p></o:p> Obami also provides school and other learning community administrators with cyber-bully and profanity monitoring tools, ensuring that the environment is kept enjoyable for all.<o:p></o:p> <div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Demo:  <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Demo">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Demo</a> <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Obami in Action</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Content:  </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Content">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Content</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Communications: <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Communications">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Communications</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Projects: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Projects">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Projects</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">Assessment: </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;"><a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Assessment">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Obami_in_Action/Assessment</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">More about ObamiObami is a web and mobile based platform that allows anyone to create, manage & access digital content, share resources, create mini-websites and even undertake exams - it brings social learning into the classroom.</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Because some schools have been slow to manage change and adopt new technologies, Obami accommodates requests from independent learners (individuals under and over 13 years of age) via the “Obami School”. The platform doesn’t aim to replicate Facebook but rather to focus on developing and nurturing creative skills - as a result, the learning platform has been recognised for these efforts: <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vT2Darc2mg&feature=c4-overview&list=UUM91plbqCLGj1RqqeKDrm8w">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8vT2Darc2mg&feature=c4-overview&list=UUM91plbqCLGj1RqqeKDrm8w</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Obami supports learning beyond the classroom involving peers, parents, on the street and even on the bus.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Slideshare intro: <a href="http://www.slideshare.net/barbsmall/powering-social-learning-25630491?from_search=3">http://www.slideshare.net/barbsmall/powering-social-learning-25630491?from_search=3</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Obami features - Obami Portals can be created by anyone. By focusing on learning by ‘doing’, portals allow for communities to be created around user generated content. Portals are easy to set up with simple “add item” and “drag & drop” functionality. </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">The add item tool accommodates anything from formatted text and extended math symbols and equations, to embeddable widgets, images, RSS feeds and even entire websites. Obami automatically resizes elements to fit within a number of pre-defined page templates but also offers tools which allow for tooltips, external hyperlinks and the bespoke resizing of images. All this allows for educator facilitated, as well as self organised, learning.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">- Obami has an assignments application which can be used for pop-quizzes, tests, surveys or as feedback forms, questionnaires and permissions slips. Obami recently crowd-sourced 168 NSC past papers through UCT students, across 33 different subject areas and made them Obami style ‘sit & submit’ revision papers for Matrics: <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/NSC_past_papers/">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/NSC_past_papers/</a>   ... They also digitised the ANAs across Grade 4/5/6 & 9 themselves:  <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/Welcome_to_Obami/ANAs">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/Welcome_to_Obami/ANAs</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">- Obami has resource and media applications to facilitate the storage of items in the cloud (docs, spreadsheets, PDFs, audio, video...). Alongside offering free cloud hosting, it can also facilitate the embedding of widgets, YouTube videos, OER, Slideshare presentations and other web based technologies throughout the platform and within its other applications.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">- Obami has a blogging application. It can be used across different subjects and organised into specific subject folders.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">- Obami has powerful communication tools including a messagingsystem, online chat and a calendar for event tracking (which automatically sync with parental accounts so that upcoming school work, impending tests and homework is easily communicated to parents). <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">It is worth noting that every application on Obami allows for commentingso that discussion can be facilitated. Pages can be printed for easy reading and any page can be set as one’s homepage. This allows for easy and rapid access to one’s most used application.  <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Using Obami in the classroom, support and feedback Obami FAQs, Tutorials etc: <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/obami/faqs">http://www.obami.com/portals/obami/faqs</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Obami prides itself on offering full site page specific helper text along with unlimited access to online support which is offered via the platform’s feedback tab (responses are usually made within 2 hours)</div><div class="MsoNormal">Summary</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Obami has focused on the South African market, even though it is being increasingly adopted in the US, Europe and other African countries like Ghana, Namibia, Botswana and Kenya.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Accolades and achievements: <a href="http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Latest_News">http://www.obami.com/portals/Obami/About_Obami/Latest_News</a><o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt;">Most recent unpublicized successesObami supports the DBE and will be working together to bring quality educational resources and support the cloud</div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">        Obami has been asked to consult the Nigerian Government<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">        Obami was selected as one of Africa’s Top 40 Start-up companies, and will be presenting at DEMO Africa in Nairobi <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">        Obami has partnered with the University of Cape Town, and is part of the curricula for its Teaching with Technology moduleA<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="background: white; margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -18.0pt;">        Obami has partnered with Creative Commons and will be delivering a digital course on licensing creative works across Africa The Obami Team Story  Watch the Obami Team story on YouTube<o:p></o:p></div>The Obami Team story...  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/ObamiSocialLearning">http://www.youtube.com/user/ObamiSocialLearning</a> <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/jVtfUIRW_YE" width="420"></iframe></div>

Learning Management Systems Obami Have you tried Obami - an internationally recognised, award-winning, social learning management system?

This is a guest post from Ennis Jones from Obami. Obami is a local social learning management system and has won several international award...