Re: Brin: Existence has arrived...
On 8/22/2012 10:08 AM, Charlie Bell wrote: It's a shiny 3D hologram trade paperback. Very excited! Um. That's all. David wrote: It's interesting how books get published differently in different countries. I got the hardcover, which has a shiny dust jacket. I liked the book, although I do have some questions... This seems to cry out for a comment like I think the electrons making my ebook cover *may be shiny*. Good thing I am not young enough to have accessory envy. Dee :-) ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Books
Re: everyone's book recs.. Excelllent!!! The menu is certainly bigger than my tummy (hopefully not my reader), but you guys will get me over the hurdles just looking forward to it. Last Summer on vacation I uploaded some Hugos and Nebulas I could find (released asclassics). Things like the Exhibit Piece, Flowers for Algernon, etc. Need to go back and see if more are released. By the way, for those dog-lovers out there- The Art of Racing in the Rain is my rec. Thanks for the pick me up, Dee ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Is anybody home?
Finishing up a 3 year stint as profess association president (if Zim is still doing this, he has a heart of gold) Healthcare changes, legislatures without money threatening cuts even to folks with catastrophic injuries such as brain injuries/strokes, and a bit of embezzlement. feed my brain with science... Counting down, just a few weeks til I get a bit more breathing room and hope to get a new list of good books to read. Start me a list please. Got 2 of the newer Bears to read, but need about a few good sundiver/uplift type things... might just have to reread them. Dee In a message dated 10/5/2010 8:55:06 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, char...@culturelist.org writes: On 05/10/2010, at 11:43 PM, Julia wrote: The list did NOT drop you. Not from enough altitude to hurt, anyway... I'm home, but will need to leave in less than 90 minutes to pick up a friend at the dentist. That's an odd place to pick up... Bars and art galleries more traditional, no? ;-) So how is everyone? I've just had an odd week of ups and downs - Sunday I got to ride 3 laps of the UCI world championship course on fully closed roads, which was fun. (And bloody steep - 22% hurts) But last night came down with migraine, so been hiding in a dark quiet place. Only just getting over it and still fuzzy. Bleugh. C. ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: On Listmail
Shhh. C. ___ Be vewwy vewwy quiet, I'm hunting wabbits. Dee ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Shaking
Hi everyone, Just to stir things up, I have to admit I had a good chuckle and a WTG in your face religious moment reading about Boobquake and I figure it might be a in play topic with a bit of self moderated tongue in cheek. I am thinking I am having a IF moment- Ironic feminism- kinda like women who use the words broad or chick toward a purpose of trying to reclaim the power of the words. I am a poor spokesperson for feminism, but I sure do love a good bit of mockery and sarcasm. Dee For the non Mericans, here is an exerpt from CBS- ** CBS) A senior Iranian cleric's controversial theory that immodestly-dressed women can cause earthquakes is being put to the test, thanks to an Indiana student and 80,000 accomplices. _Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted in Iranian media last week_ (http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/19/world/main6411387.shtml) as saying that Many women who do not dress modestly ... lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes. Jennifer McCreight, a Purdue University senior majoring in genetics and evolution, told CBS Affiliate WLFI correspondent Niccole Caan she wanted to take a light-hearted approach to field testing the cleric's scientific theory. She's asking women to dress immodestly on Monday, April 26, so that any discernable effects upon the Earth's tectonic plates can be traced. I want to do good science to counter the bad science this cleric had performed, she told WLFI. I'm going to compare the frequency and severity of the earthquakes on the 26th to earthquakes previous to that, and see if there is a statistical difference. She admitted her experiment, dubbed Boobquake, was light-hearted mockery, but had no idea it would take off the way it has. Thinking the Boobquake guest list would be limited to a small circle of friends, McCreight soon found news of the event, _posted on a Facebook page devoted to Boobquake_ (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boobquake/115608248460905) , had gone viral, with many willing to participate in the experiment. By Friday, more than 80,000 women had signed up, adding even more heft to the scientific calculus. McCreight did not dictate what to wear - only that women should dress as immodestly as they feel comfortable doing. I'm not forcing people to dress differently than they would be, McCreight told WLFI. Even showing an ankle to some people would be immodest, so you can interpret that however you wish. For the record, on Monday _she wore a tank top_ (http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_-dxg8gReUqE/S9WAyIaInJI/AyM/lRH_4GbaSAk/s1600/Picture+002.jpg) . ___ http://box535.bluehost.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: The worst
Condolences and Hugs, Nick. Whoever the author was that talks about us all starting and becoming stardust, your family has been contributing too much to the beautiful heavens! Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
SG-U and Steve Sloan
OK, I think the character Eli/Ely on SG-U is a Steve Sloan wanna-be. Several of us have met Steve, but I swear the character is based on his skills and temperament. It has been some time, but I just kept thinking that's what he is doing now :-) Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: DeLong on health insurance reform and other stuff
Debbi wrote... We're Number 37! Maru and yes, I too am still alive in the real world... :) We XXs have just been sitting back proving we can have quiet moments and listen snort be scared when we start getting chatty again Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: What's to read?
Max wrote- Some Pratchett fans that particularly hate *Night Watch* would be amazed that you find *Night Watch* lighter reading, but perhaps you lucked out by skipping *Thief of Time*, first. You might find *Night Watch* to be a subtly different beast if you re-read it after *Thief of Time*. (Personally I'm a fan of *Thief of Time* and *Night Watch*.) However, you probably want to read a lot more Discworld books before you work your way back to *Thief of Time*... OK Max, you are going to chuckle, guess what one of the other 2 Pratchetts I downloaded was? Already a good chunk of the way through Thief of Time, not as good as Night Watch to me, but it is good enough to pass some flight time. My comments on lighter are from a naive perspective since this was my introduction to Pratchett in a lay persons terms Quaint village opening with some time of police force with cross bows and suddenly there is an interaction with a zombie what kind of story is this . oh well, take it in stride, I don't know what discworld *is*, and a zombie never really hurt a story too bad most of the time. moving along.. interaction with troll and timeline stuff.. well, after a zombie, what is a troll to bother about, I am a non discrimatory head shaker, but still don't know where it is going, time line stuff seems cool enough, lets see where it goes. rinse, repeat. Whenever I read Bear and Gibson, I have to prepare myself for the possibility of a major culture immersion, something where I have to work at to get a cultural anchor (but also can create a connection/commitment to the story *belief* for a time afterwards if it is successful). I don't know anything about literary stuff like that, but examples are reading Queen of Angels/Slant, etc. In Pratchett the story seem to ease you into thinking you know the culture and then makes you do a double take that is kinda fun. You are right, the tongue in cheek is helpful strategy/stories are good and the time monks are a wild card (and from a literary perspective I could see that would allow some incongruencies in story lines). I guess it is like reading Heinlein, I found the older stuff first and got hooked as a young adult, saving things like the Puppet Masters for later. If I had started with the Cat who walked through walls, I am not sure I would have had the same perspectives on Heinlein. arm chair critic mode off Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: DeLong on health insurance reform
Kevin inquired- Why is it that taking Cialis causes you to set up adjacent outdoor bathtubs? We could never figure that one out. Sounds uncomfortable to me. LOL, no real clue, but great question. I even own two of the tubs, but one is upstairs and one is downstairs in the 100 y.o. this old house. While I haven't seen the Cialis factor in action, those of you who have ever tried to move a radiator would know it takes a small army, never mind moving even a small claw foot tubs to a beach/platform, etc. Perhaps the image of the bathtubs is for her, although tub activities seem to have a lure for both genders. My old neighbor's (a southern genteel woman who grew up in old homes) used to occasionally tell stories that most people fantasize about clawfoots, yet the lure and reality often requires a vivid imagination and being rescued by the fire department. Wouldn't that be an ending to the commercials or for SNL? Sorry not more secret insights (except with a circular/2 shower curtain/s you don't have to clean wall tiles :-) Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: What's to read?
Pat wrote: I have a Sony 505. The books on my reader are on my reader and on my desktop, not on my account on someone else's server. If anyone wants to delete them [think 1984] or whatever, they have to physically steal my reader and then delete the book. I own them outright. Nobody else has any rights in the copies I own except, in this state, if I had a legally married spouse. (Community property state). No one gonna take my 505 away Doug wrote- That's nice, but if I was a best selling author I think I'd be pretty reluctant to sell my book that way for fear that someone would make copies and give them away a la mp3 file sharing. And unlike musicians, authors aren't likely to make a lot of money on tour so once their book is being distributed for free, they're SOL. Other than the ownership factor, how do you like your reader so far? * Hi all, Since this thread has been around the block twice, I figured I would finally get around to chiming in. My Sony 500 is 3+ years old and going strong. I still feel a bit like Chekov on the bridge reading it :-) Since I have been rather behind on scifi reading compared to many of you, I have had fun with some of the bundles (finally read Red/Blue/Green Mars) and have been pleased with the addition over the past year of having an option of selecting from a list of award winner options that have been broadening my author pool a bit. My pleasure reading time still isn't the best, but I do refuse to put my professional journals on it (.pdf) just on principle. It has held up well to a wide variety of stressors including quite a few long hot days at the beach, etc. I had concerns about the battery, but it is also holding up well and holding for days/thousand plus page sessions. Seeing the newer version with the light on the side was cool, and it looks like now there is an easy right hand page turning function which this one doesn't offer. I know some of you pointed me to free download sites, but it has proven a bit more challenging with the older model. Just saw the new large size Kindle in the airport security line today and it looks like the black on white print technology is getting crisper (or it could be that I am needing to start wearing glasses- true sign of approaching crone-ism) and am starting to use the medium size print option :-) I did find Bank's Matter on my recent set of downloads (saving it for a particularly blah time, since it is always a good read). Some of the older things like the day the earth stood still and flowers of Aulit Prison were good to find as they are re releasing some of those stories. One recent read question (blending threads)- finally tried my first Pratchett book- Night Watch. I found it to be lighter and a good brain break, but I am not sure if there is any particular order to things. Is there another book related to Vetinari? Jeez, I guess I missed you guys with all the blathering on. I am always around lurking, but guess it has been too long. Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: A Real Free Market in Health Care
(lost track of who wrote what) But if you repeal ALL government mandates, you'll wind up with lots of policies that appear to cover everything a consumer might want, but are actually full of loopholes so that the insurer need not pay for standard treatments. That seems the opposite of transparency. Comments? I don't see how your conclusion (2nd paragraph) follows from your stated assumptions. Are you making an unstated assumption that many consumers will purchase policies that are full of loopholes? If so, why would they? I think the assumption that consumers will purchase policies full of loopholes is a fair one. I see this every day in the world of physical therapy. Folks are offered 2-6 plans and don't look at the physical therapy benefit, the look at basic doctor visit/med copays as the most frequent cost basis and evaluate assuming much of the other plan will follow suit. It is not until folks need the other benefits that they find the loopholes, like visit maximums (most commonly something like 30 visits per year regardless of the type or number of problems- from catastrophic things like stroke or 2 knee surgeries, etc). I have heard in Florida that some plans have a 20 visit maximum per body part per lifetime. Some of the Medicare Advantage plans look attractive to folks since they have lower copays and contrary to 30 days of rehab under conventional Medicare and then paying more, the Advantage plans require copays of $150-200 per day for 30 days then picks up the tab. Most folks don't really want to read all the details or get presented with such a huge variety of things they don't know how to sort it all out. A standard set of options can be compared by consumers much easier. Since healthcare providers have to help folks live with the consequences of policies, we see how confusing it is to average people. My 2 cents only on this part of the dialog, Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: DeLong on health insurance reform
Personally, I think that a system that places an emphasis on boner drugs, reformulation of proven drugs and anti-depressants that don't work is in need of an overhaul in and of itself. Being the healthcare provider I can share this without cringing, but it will make some of you sit up with a bit of squirming. Just to share one of those stats to keep us all humble- 40% of men over age 40 will have some dealing with impotence. From a basic human intimacy element- those commercials wouldn't be still playing without an audience. 5-10 years ago, my sweetheart got notice of melanoma and prostate cancer within 24 hours, recovery was challenging, even without messing with a man's brain on the topic of intimacy. When we think of health, mental health parity, prosthetic parity, etc. seem a tough set of standards to set and decide if we will pay for in commercial or public options, they say things about us as a society (although exactly what I am not always sure). Do we mandate breast reconstruction but not continence surgeries depending on need? Do we only cover basic starter prostheses after someone loses a leg? There are extremes that we might agree on like not paying for $80,000 computerized prosthesis, but where is the line? Sorry not more logical, there is lots to these topics and we really haven't been able to fully debate, figured I would get some rambling out of my head in one fell swoop, Dee ___ http://mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l_mccmedia.com
Re: Single payer health care
Hi there, Behind on email, but resurfacing for a bit to see if we can perhaps accomplish in a few posts what we went through in a semester class on healthcare delivery. For quite a few of us, the Aussie system was a favorite/great compromise. The systems for many countries are often lumped together in a general way, but some of the nuances are lost to sound bytes. To start the discussion off and overly generalize (but I know I can count on everyone to keep me straight), the Aussie system has a fundamental level of care for everyone, and a spoke/wheel/catchment area philosophy for special tests (such as MRIs). Plans can be upgraded by paying a supplement. I don't recall the medication plan specifically, but do recall vision, non generics, dental could all be upgraded. back to catching up, Dee (yup, still posting from evil AOL formatting and hoping for the best) **Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/10075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav0001) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Health Care costs (same F-ing topic all damn week)
Jon wrote It will create a system devoid of the give and take of consumers shopping around trying to find the best supplier for what they need at the best price, and suppliers competing and innovating to provide the consumers what they need. Instead the government will oversee some bloated, generalized menu of products that does not meet the needs of many consumers and offers little incentive for the suppliers to innovate to meet the needs of the consumers. While I think innovation is lovely, there is another evolution you may not be aware of- Community based research networks. Instead of one group doing research over time with relatively slow advances, groups work collaboratively. The great example is the 6ish cancer research networks in this country- instead of taking years to research drugs/methodology, multiple hospitals gather info on large groups of diverse client populations in a short time and more rapid advances can be made. It is a pretty neat alternative to more competitive medicine that was trending proprietary. Dee **Plan your next getaway with AOL Travel. Check out Today's Hot 5 Travel Deals! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/10075x1212416248x1200771803/aol?redir=http://travel.aol.com/discount-travel?ncid=emlcntustrav0001) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Dog viciousness (was Re: Texas : Master's degree in creationism)
Nick wrote I relaxed a great deal about pits after reading an article citing statistics that made it clear that *owners* are far more responsible for their dogs' behavior than I had imagined before becoming a dog owner Nick, if you can remember where you read that, there's someone at my work who might be very grateful. Charlie. Hey Charlie, These sites may not answer all your questions, but hanging out with some folks doing obedience with AmStaffs (aka- pit bulls), they told me that they were bred to be protectors for children of wealthy, so the dog would change allegiance from the trainer to the children it spent time with and always be protective of them. (not sure that was the primary reason based on these sites). _http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/history.cfm_ (http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/history.cfm) _http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/did_you_know.cfm_ (http://www.akc.org/breeds/american_staffordshire_terrier/did_you_know.cfm) One of the articles I used to have the reference for, (but I can't find it now) was one that noted percentage wise there are most frequent bites per dog in toy dogs, most numerous bites in shepards/goldens/labs because of sheer numbers and fewest/most news in the big dogs. 10 years ago when I was more active, the Akita/Ridgeback folks were really tightening up on dog owners and monitoring breeding. I don't watch that much of the dog whisperer, but one common theme that permeates most responsible dog ownership is the concept of owners being the alpha dog in all cases. Glad I had puppy class and obedience training for my rotties since I certainly didn't learn alpha dog stuff from our childhood pomapoo. It was work through my male's adolescence :-) Dee **See AOL's top rated recipes (http://food.aol.com/top-rated-recipes?NCID=aoltop000304) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Woo was Re: blood type
What is woo? Not sure based on context, but here is my limited familiarity Woo People strong in the Woo theme love the challenge of meeting new people and winning them over. They derive satisfaction from breaking the ice and making a connection with another person From Strength Finders at _http://gmj.gallup.com/book_center/strengthsfinder/default.aspx_ (http://gmj.gallup.com/book_center/strengthsfinder/default.aspx) I work with someone who excels in woo, everyone loves talking to her and you would swear she knew everything about the hundreds of people she interacts with even intermittently. Dee ** See what's new at http://www.aol.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Some possible changes approaching in health care?
There is a group in Michigan doing some incredible research related to wellness and costs. The “Health Management Research Center” took quite a long view perspective in the are of wellness with 25 year longitudinal studies on some Fortune 500 companies (and some of the HERO studies- a related group have samples in the thousands or tens of thousands), and has the ability to get healthcare, morbidity and mortality data. While there are still access issues and a host of “other” things beyond the info below I figured it may help add to the dialog until I can get through this work project and jump in full tilt. (There is also some info on changing nutrition and community fitness if you guys are interested- and you wonder where I have been J Dee The savings gained from participation in health promotion programs for Medicare beneficiaries. _J Occup Environ Med._ (javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'J%20Occup%20Environ%20Med.');) 2006 Nov;48(11):1125-32. _Ozminkowski RJ_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Ozminkowski+RJ[Author]) , _Goetzel RZ_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Goetzel+RZ[Author]) , _Wang F_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=W ang+F[Author]) , _Gibson TB_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Gibson+TB[Author]) , _Shechter D_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Shechter+D[Author]) , _Musich S_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPl usterm=Musich+S[Author]) , _Bender J_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Bender+J[Autho r]) , _Edington DW_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Edington+DW[Author]) . OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to estimate savings to Medicare associated with participation in one or more health promotion programs offered to 59,324 retirees from a large employer and their aged dependents. METHODS: Propensity score and multiple regression techniques were used to estimate savings adjusted for demographic and health status differences between elderly retirees and dependents who used one or more health promotion services and nonparticipants. RESULTS: Participants who completed a health risk assessment saved from $101 to $648 per person per year. Savings were generally higher as more programs were used, but differences were not always statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Using the health risk assessment as a guide for health promotion programs can yield substantial savings for the elderly and the Medicare program. The federal government should test health promotion programs in randomized trials and pay for such programs if the results suggest cost savings and better health for Medicare beneficiaries. Association between wellness score from a health risk appraisal and prospective medical claims costs. _J Occup Environ Med._ (javascript:AL_get(this,%20'jour',%20'J%20Occup%20Environ%20Med.');) 2003 Oct;45(10):1049-57. _Yen L_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Yen+L[Author]) , _McDonald T_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlust erm=McDonald+T[Author]) , _Hirschland D_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Hirschland+D; [Author]) , _Edington DW_ (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=pubmedcmd=Searchitool=pubmed_AbstractPlusterm=Edington+DW[Author]) . This study examines how wellness scores generated from the Health Risk Appraisal are associated with prospective medical claims costs, controlling for age, gender, and disease status. The study was conducted among 19,861 active employees who participated in the Health Risk Appraisal and selected indemnity or PPO medical plans from 1996 to 1998. A multiple regression model based on group averages of age, gender, disease status, and wellness score levels was developed among a randomly selected screening subsample (n=10,172) from the study sample. Total medical claim costs of -$56, $88, and $3574 were estimated for one additional point on the wellness score, 1 year of additional age, and an existing major disease, respectively. No significant differences were found between the model predicted and actual medical claims costs for the individuals in both screening and calibration (n=9689) subsamples. The association between health risk status and health care costs among the membership of an Australian health plan. _Health Promot Int._
Re: Irregulars Question: Screws
There are screws which have a hexagonal-shaped depression in the head which require a tool which is variously called an Allen wrench or a hex key to turn them. Then there are some which have a hexagonal depression in the head but instead of being flat the bottom of the depression has a raised bump in the center, which means that a regular Allen wrench or hex key will not go far enough down into the depression to turn them. (Which I think is the point.) Any of you engineering types or handypersons know what the latter are properly called? I need to open something to [attempt to] repair it, and it is held together with that type of screws, and since all I have are regular hex keys (some plain, some with ball ends), I need to know what kind of tool to get in order to remove and replace those screws. I've tried searching on-line for things like hex key and bump together, with no luck so far . . . -- Ronn! :) A bit late, but may still be helpful info. One of my favorite professional websites is _http://www.thomasnet.com/_ (http://www.thomasnet.com/) Started as a clearing house of equipment/industry/manufacturers of stuff that many people used to find ergonomic tools/options, but has drastically morphed. Great for finding tools you have a concept for but don't know where to find (for me the first things I looked for were pneumatic chisel and pallet handling devices). It is a monster site now, but you can link to hundreds/thousands of catalogs from one site which helps when you are window shopping and costing things. Catching up, Dee ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Kurt Vonnegut
2-3 weeks to humanity.. but can't resist putting my nose in based on a recent bit of television from some airport I was in. New book out for women in business called Corporate Dominatrix- discussing 6 archetypes of women and how to get things accomplished. Kinda sounded fun. In addition to the roles we have discussed on the list- maiden, goddess, and crone this book discusses 6 roles- Goddess, Queen, Governess, Nurse, Amazon and Schoolgirl. The goddess discussion made me think of list women and Julia, you are a goddess. And every once in a while I like to see a good reminder of the wand and the smite button. Back and less punchy in a bit, Dee You could actually share your OWN experiences about Vonnegut and his writing, instead of tearing into someone who may only have had a minute to relay the news just then. Sharing your OWN experiences, here, and not just throwing a link at people is more likely to generate actual DISCUSSION. Which is what I think you were aiming for. Or do you just like to bitch about what people do and don't do on mailing lists they've been extremely active on for several years that you haven't made all that many posts to? If so, I can get you the info to subscribe to a mailing list that has that sort of flamewar a LOT, you might be happier there. (And they were talking about Vonnegut this morning, as well) Julia ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Irregulars- Research Symbol
Hi all, Coming up for air to ask if anyone knows of an international symbols related to research (health/rehab if there are more than one). Finishing up my doctoral project and one of my advisors wants more visual stimulation and such. Found a neat teeny tiny old symbol on the National Academy of Sciences website (About NAS) bit it is only about as big as a dime and gets fuzzy when I try and enlarge it. Thoughts? Also need to figure out how to turn a word doc into a links/web page (yes, remedial stuff for most of you) if anyone can point me to a tutorial. Back in about a month for real and looking forward to conversing without reading an article first. Hugs all, Dee ** See what's free at http://www.aol.com. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Quiet patch
Quiet for us, lively for you. enjoy time with friends, family and your sweetie, Dee Probably won't be about much for a bit as I get married in 8 hours Charlie ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Wealthy couples travel to U.S. to choose baby's sex
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Yes - I'd want abortion to be replaced with transfer of the foetus to the artificial womb. In fact, if technology progressed so far, I suspect many people would avoid the risk of pregnancy and childbirth altogether. This seems to be an entirely male perspective. I wonder how a woman would respond...I'm at work and there are no women that - could ask that wouldn't be creeped out (and some think I'm wierd enough for posting on DGs with my crackberry...) Julia wrote There's things about pregnancy that are good for the mother. Plus, pregnancy is how the body knows how to lactate. I'm all for lactation. Lactation is wonderful for everyone involved. I'm incredibly in favor of lactation. Speaking as a woman who hasn't felt the quickening and is currently experiencing misbehaving parts, I would conceptuallly opt for storks, cabbage patches or artificial wombs. but that being said, I would want to be able to watch things progress. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Sudoku beats Tabloids
Julia wrote I understand it's important. And I'm grateful that I'm not subjected to details of the French soccer player's live, unlike those of Angelina Jolie, Paris Hilton, J-Lo and Jennifer Anniston. Oh, and I am SICK of Tom Katie. And my favorite grocery store isn't putting very many Sudoku books at the checkout line for me to try to distract myself with. :( I wasn't going to get hooked, but found Sudoku is a great way to pass a few minutes without getting a long term project. I kept saying I would buy a book, but my mom sent me a hand held (made by Kid Galaxy) and I am pretty content in airport lines now :-) I understand in many places the demand for books is outstripping production. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: What is this flower?
It's an arum. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Araceae I'm actually a zoologist. I feel dirty now. Charlie Who would have figured something that such an outstanding flower was related to skunk weed (skunk cabbage) that we use to find during summer vacations although those plants had outstanding smells so perhaps it makes sense. Didn't take long to figure out not to break a leaf :-) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Non Destructive Team Members
As part of my work, I do some occasional environmental scanning of the gov't business opportunities. I don't usually even read all the NASA ones (although truth be told I do find them tempting to check out and have done so on occasion), but as I was scrolling, the following caught my eye. NASA Langley Research Center Office of Procurement A--NON-DESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION ASSESSMENT TEAM MEMBER Synopsis _http://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/NNL06NDEATM/listing.html_ (http://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/NNL06NDEATM/listing.html) It seemed clearer after scrolling back up one entry to read the following, but I still found it mildly amusing for some obscure reason NASA Langley Research Center Office of Procurement A--DEVELOPMENT OF AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR TESTING MATERIALS (ASTM) DOCUMENT STANDARDS FOR NONDESTRUCTIVE EVALUATION (NDE) OF AEROSPACE COMPOSITES Synopsis _http://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/LaRC/OPDC20220/NNL06ASTM/listing.html_ (https://owa.mse1.mailstreet.com/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.fbo.gov/spg/NASA/L aRC/OPDC20220/NNL06ASTM/listing.html) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Autism PSA
http://www.autismvox.com/autism-every-day-the-real-story/ Julia Sorry, should have added that you ought to read at least the first 6 comments, as well. Julia Thanks for the link Julia. Watching the clip I was hoping there would be more discussion of a point that was barely touched on- integration/expectations of society. I figured there was only so much that could be covered in one PSA. Having completed a year of my doctorate work (and delving once again into some of the developmental/ neurological/systemic conditions that individual may have I am happy to see some educational material coming out for parents and youth regarding various conditions. Educational material is getting (slowly) researched. Some examples that come to mind are the StarBright program for youths with cystic fibrosis and the Arthritis Self-Management Program (ASMP). I am not aware of much in there literature regarding Autism, but that doesn't mean it isn't being developed. Relating to the comment about the autistic child who bikes 5 miles with his dad... this is great to hear. Emerging awareness about sporting options for children with disabilities seems to be on the verge of becoming more mainstream (although I may be optimistic considering the budget rhetoric around the country about cutting back public rec programs). I was amazed that hippotherapy programs are commonly subsidized through donations for relatively decent priced participation (and in our area/state I thought there was one program and there are more like 8 to 12). _http://www.ncpad.org/index.php_ (http://www.ncpad.org/index.php) National Center on Physical Activity and Disability American Hippotherapy Association _www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org_ (http://www.americanhippotherapyassociation.org) Not a ton specific to Autism, but awareness and advocacy helps drive things. I look at people like you an my sister and know over time things will be better for kids with Autism. Dee In ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Autism PSA
(from my sister) Documentary Film on Autism Stuns Internet Viewers Autism Every Day produced for Autism Speaks. From the Autism Speaks Website: Autism Every Day is a new film produced by Lauren Thierry and Jim Watkins of October Group and Eric Solomon of Milestone Video. The film was screened at A New Decade for Autism, http://tinyurl.com/j7qsm , a fundraising event held May 9, 2006 in New York City, and subsequently broadcast by Don Imus on his show on MSNBC. http://www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/autism_every_day.php Just after the documentary Autism Every Day aired on the Don Imus show, early Wednesday, May 10, around 7 am eastern, stunned reactions from media tracking autism parents began to appear on support discussion lists on the internet. First reaction came from Bobbie Manning from A-CHAMP, who alerted the other EOHarm list members simply saying, The best PSA I have ever seen. Amazing!! Then D., another list member added I've just finished crying. I might jump on the Autism Speaks bandwagon. . . Now this was getting interesting! Another parent, an activist added, To feel the impact of this is unlike any other segment I have seen. . . so many examples in such a short time. . .so much was covered - behaviors, finances, dreams lost, worries of the future...and all from the parents and children living it, not from reporters. . .Is there a way we can get a copy of this to present to legislators, educators, therapists, etc? . . .it is a mirror reflecting our lives. I am a video guy and this is the best I have ever seen and the only thing that shows what we as parents are going though, added parent J. who had the good fortune of seeing it that day, too. From list member A.: I was in a puddle of tears and had real trouble getting myself together to get the kids off to school. I think it's excessively hard for those of us to watch our lives in that fashion but extremely necessary for the rest of the population to see. . . Shock and awe may take on a new meaning. Warning other parents who had not yet seen it, she said in a later post, You will probably break down crying hysterically. I was not expecting this reaction or I would not have watched it with my kids next to me. My girls came running to hug their incapacitated mother. My ASD son somehow realizing it was about him came to watch a small clip. Prepare yourself. By now the list was abuzz with questions, when will it air again?, will they put it on a website? Bits and pieces about the project started reaching the list. Katie Wright, the daughter of Autism Speaks Co-founder Bob Wright, was in the film (and it turns out, a lurking member of that list). Another list member, Michele Iallonardi, announced that her family too, was a part of the film. Autism Every Day was striking even closer to home than the regular members had imagined. Not until Sunday did a parent announce that the documentary was on the Autism Speaks website. http://www.autismspeaks.org/sponsoredevents/autism_every_day.php Positive reactions, an understatement, continued to pour in. OMG! . . . This is heart wrenching! I cried my eyes out. I have forwarded this to everyone in my e-mailbox. WOW, said R. Unbelievable. Someone has captured autism in 13 minutes. Someone has shown what autism is all about. I am so grateful. I am so thankful, remarked Lisa Ackerman of TACA, This is the best mothers day gift to me ever. . . Note: The SAR invites readers to send in their comments after viewing the film. [EMAIL PROTECTED] To join the Evidence of Harm list, see information listed below. -LS ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Blog entry with interesting comment
Pat Julia 3) Again in my observation, Aspies come in roughly two flavors: the organized, single-focused, linear mind; and the absent-minded professor/free-spirited idea mill. Inattentive ADD goes with the latter. If you have any use for the Myer-Briggs at all, these map very roughly onto INTJ and INTP respectively. I mention this because books on the Myer-Briggs (a system which is totally non-judgmental and IMO the only system that does NOT make judgments) has a lot of good tips for life, love, acreers, and living with your... in this case, I'd say INTP --- which are quite useful even though they're designed for the 'normal' end of the spectrum. Oh, and work on figuring out what her specific learning style is -- if you go with that way working on things at home, at least, it will make things a lot easier on her. It will probably be harder on her anyway with the ADHD, even if her easiest method is applied; don't make it harder for her than it has to be. (There was a post very recently on the Processing in Parts blog about this, and someone with ADD contributed some good stuff in a comment.) Combining both of the above, you may want to try Now, Discover Your Strengths: How to Develop Your Talents and Those of the People You Manage Marcus Buckingham, Donald O. Clifton Based on thousands of leaders from multiple backgrounds, this inventory looks at what your top 5 strengths out of 35 distilled categories. As opposed to Myers-Briggs that implies the opposite of your strengths is your weakness, this profile doesn't imply weaknesses- only things that impede what you want to do are even considered near weaknesses that need to be addressed only if they get in your way. Really neat- there is another earlier book that talks about how an individual Soars with strengths. There is a great beginning that relates strengths to kids in school, a bit unconventional from some of the schooling ideas that I grew up with, but I have to say it makes sense. I haven't looked in a while, but I recall finding some online references for 4MAT learning styles. Some schools are subcontracting special ed programs to Sylvan Learning so it might be worth investigating. Dee- handing in a final, then 2 weeks to catch up on the rest of life ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Charlie's News
Charlie! A Married Man Congratulations! Knowing the little I do about you, she must be some sort of woman =+)) Joy! Amities, Jo Anne Congrats Charlie and Claire Great news and good to know another goddess will be associated with the list.. who else could move heaven, earth and create a cold day in the down under to get the man to marry O:-) Now we need to sign her up to work on world peace. Good to know you are happy(er)! Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Hello (hello, hello)
Ronn!Blankenship wrote: Remember when you ran away and I got on my knees and begged you not to leave because I'd go berserk?? Well... You left me anyhow and then the days got worse and worse and now you see I've gone completely out of my mind.. And.. They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!! They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa To the funny farm. Where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa! You thought it was a joke and so you laughed, you laughed when I had said that loosing you would make me flip my lid.. RIGHT??? I know you laughed, I heard you laugh, you laughed you laughed and laughed and then you left, but now you know I'm utterly mad... And.. They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa, They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa. To the happy home. With trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!! I cooked your food, I cleaned your house, and this is how you pay me back for all my kind unselfish loving deeds.. Huh?? Well you just wait, they'll find you yet and when they do they'll put you in the ASPCA, you mangy mutt!!! And... They're coming to take me away, ha-haaa. They're coming to take me away, ho-ho, hee-hee, ha-haaa. To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time and I'll be happy to see those nice young men in their clean white coats and they're coming to take me away, ha-haaa!!! To the happy home, with trees and flowers and chirping birds and basket weavers who sit and smile and twiddle their thumbs and toes and they're coming to take me away, ha-haa!!! To the funny farm, where life is beautiful all the time... (fade out) I thought someone would bring up The Witchdoctor before we got as low as that one. Didn't think I could make you all cringe, but one category that shouldn't be forgotten.. camp songs... Suffocation, mental retardation Suffocation, a game we like to play First you take a plastic bag, then you put it on your head, Go to bed, wake up dead Suffocation, mental retardation Suffocation, a game we like to play Then you take a rubber hose, and you stick it up your nose, Turn it on, then your gone Suffocation, mental retardation Suffocation, a game we like to play It has to have been the shock factor more than the words that made it our favorite 30 year ago :-) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: New Goodall
Great news William! It is good to have the pitter patter of small feet around the house. I know you will enjoy having a little buddy to snack with at night and your levels of snacking would motivate most dogs into stair climbing in no time at all :-) I have to admit, I am hating life having to vacuum more- didn't realize how much I just pushed crumbs and bits of veggies/fruits on the floor for the 4 legged hoovers until they were all gone. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Back Up Web Development
Hi gang, I thought this group might know someone interested. We therapists can envision some neat programs, but we can't generally code worth a damn :-) WorkWell has an office in Aliso Viejo, CA. www.workwell.com Dee Position Title: Backup Web Developer General Function: Performs application development and testing as a backup to lead Developer on an as needed basis. Also responsible to monitor acceptance testing, and participate in implementation of applications into production. Education/Experience: 1-3 years development experience with: Java Tomcat Microsoft SQL server Source Safe Java Script HTML Standard Development Methodologies (Agile, SEI-CMM etc?) 1 year XML data binding experience Strengths Attributes Required: Excellent Communication, and People Skills Quick study Problem Solver Located in Orange County Flexible schedule and adaptable personality Can Start ASAP Achiever Logical Good organizer Judicious decision maker Bias for action Reliable ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Back Up Web Development
Helps if I put contact info- [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hi gang, I thought this group might know someone interested. We therapists can envision some neat programs, but we can't generally code worth a damn :-) WorkWell has an office in Aliso Viejo, CA. www.workwell.com Dee Position Title: Backup Web Developer ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: To my loyal fans
Hey Zim, I didn't get to see you on the tv, but did find the scan pic/article on ABC and it is way cool. Being buried back in school for a clinical doctorate, I can really see how exciting this is. During a unit last fall on brain injury, it seemed amazing to me that we generally can't tell the extent of brain injury (except at a gross level) in basic scans immediately post incident. My strengths have never been in neuro, but being able to see where problems may occur and the tracking the effects of meds to prevent/minimize damage (especially considering the meds being discussed to possibly stop the secondary tissue loss) actually gives me a glimmer of the excitement/possibility of working in that area. Since I am pretty much living with PubMed I looked up what you guys have been doing and I am amazed at all the research already done. Thanks scouting info on yourself :-) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: ABCnews: Pack of vicious dogs attack officer. :-)
I saw the smiley and this is an old topic near and dear to my heart that most of you have heard, but this is case in point. Vicious dogs often come from owners who don't teach them manners/discipline, etc. The difference between little and big dogs is the size of the bite- more people think a nippy lap dog is ok, but a nippy rottweiller brings a whole different image. I don't have the stats, but most bites come from small dogs (but aren't reported since they didn't really do any damage) or the family dogs (because by number dogs like shepards and retrievers outnumber other dogs). Glad the guy is detained, with bite laws in many places there should have been some consequences. Dee *(previous messages) Maybe these vicious dogs should go to the top of the list of dangerous animals, right alongside Pit Bulls. The Police Officer showed great restraint by not using his sidearm to defend himself against this violent, unprovoked attack. Maybe Fremont California is really, really short of true newsworthy material? Gary :-) PS - Happy New Year! Pack of Angry Chihuahuas Attack Officer Pack of Angry Chihuahuas Attack Police Officer After Escaping Their California Home The Associated Press FREMONT, Calif. - A pack of angry Chihuahuas attacked a police officer who was escorting a teenager home after a traffic stop, authorities said. The officer suffered minor injuries, including bites to his ankle, Detective Bill Veteran said. The five Chihuahuas escaped the 17-year-old boy's home and rushed the officer in the doorway Thursday, authorities said. The teenager had been detained after the traffic incident. The officer was treated at a hospital and returned to work less than two hours later. Copyright 2006 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Copyright C 2006 ABC News Internet Ventures http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1456272 ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Hearing Music - Not Lyrics
This seems to go against an idea I've heard over the years that holds that women's voices are better for such things as airport paging systems because they cut through the noise better. Seems like a bit of a Catch-22. Sure, they cut through the noise better, but men can't hear them. I smell a conspiracy. Dave Sounds like permission for us to use our command voices*O:-) *generic military term for lower assertive tone Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Corporate Transparency and Citizenship
Perhaps this will be a precursor toward Corporate IAAMOAC Awards for groups working toward transparency? GE releases first citizenship report [Sunday, May 29, 2005 8:47:00 am] GE released its first citizenship report highlighting its performance, progress and challenges in a variety of citizenship areas, including compliance and governance; globalization; community investment; the environment, health, and safety; products and research and development; and its commitment to employees and other stakeholders. The report, Our Actions, tells an integrated story of how GE conducts business, its impacts on communities, and its efforts to be a good and trusted world citizen. In an increasingly global and transparent world, we measure our performance in a context broader than financial results and stock price, GE Senior Vice President of Law and Public Affairs Ben Heineman said. Everyday, we strive to be a responsible citizen, to perform with integrity and to serve our customers, investors and other stakeholders responsibly. Strong corporate citizenship is about constant improvement and we continue to set high expectations for ourselves on how we address the challenges facing our businesses and our communities, Heineman said. GE's Vice President of Corporate Citizenship Bob Corcoran said, Our new citizenship web site provides an in-depth view of the policies, procedures and practices we employ to make our Citizenship commitments a reality. Links in the report allow readers to pursue topics in greater depth, and the web format allows the report to be a living document which can be supplemented and updated as developments occur. GE used the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) 2002 Sustainability Reporting Guidelines to inform the development of the report. The report features a GRI content index to help readers match GE programs and results with the recommended GRI guidelines. The report also covers other topics such as product-use issues, outsourcing and supplier requirements, policies in emerging economies and privacy issues. One section of the report is dedicated to GE's environmental performance and provides an update on the status of several PCB cleanup projects. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Baxter's Manifold: books
Bryon wrote- I just recently read Stephen Baxter's first two Manifold books (Manifold: Time and Manifold:Space). I'm wondering if anyone here read them and what they thought of them. For me, overall I was rather disappointed - enough so that I probably won't bother with Manifold: Origin. Fortunately, I can do that without missing how it ends, because these books seem to be alternate universe stories where some of the characters stay the same, but (very) different unrelated things happen. The book cover descriptions don't make that clear at all. I found the science and many of the ideas pretty compelling at times, particularly in the first book (Manifold: Time), making it hard to put down at points. But the first ending fell flat for me, and by the middle of the second book I was starting to get annoyed (and its ending also fell flat, IMHO). I finished the first one and generally liked it enough I bought the next two. It felt a bit like I was slogging through the second one with the old it will get better mantra. then I left it on a plane (freudian?) when I was about half way done. I may ask the library to locate a copy to finish it sometime when I can read a pleasure book but no burning rush at this point. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Welcome Re: more thread suggestions
Leonard wrote I'm a health care professional in North Carolina and MAN the demographics are monster! I tell all my grumbling redneck staff who say ,those people otter larn to speek 'merican that money talks and BS walks Cater to these folks, show them respect and they will spend their money with you Woohoo, another healthcare provider, if we keep adding a healthcare worker every few years we will have serious block leverage in a few hundred years. That is as much futuristic scifi as I can think at this point, but welcome aboard. Dee (up to my eyeballs back in PT school) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: trolling for trolls
Incidentally, this thread is still missing a few countries from the Axis of Eggheads. If you are waiting for me to chime in... my momma taught me not to go near wild things that are frothing at the mouth Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Desktop Search Question
Several people that I work with would like to begin sharing resources such as presentations, website resource info etc. We are geographically dispersed and tossed around the idea of adding a library to our intranet, but the organizational aspect is something we dread as this thing gets bigger. Someone suggested google/yahoo desktop which seems to be like gmail, constantly organizing. Anyone using either of these and want to give me feedback? I am not sure how we could all contribute to one location and then search it as needed. Thanks, Dee though still tech challenged, some of you will be surprised I am actually reading articles on BPM tools... and not near as lost as I still occasionally get on the quantum mechanics threads ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Bears in Space?
Haven't had time to do any research on this, but thought it was worth mentioning before a week goes by and I forget. One of the people I am working with this weekend has a son working on bear research. One of the things they are starting to look at is that mama bears do not lose bone mass (and I think he said muscle mass) during hibernation- just fat. Now finding out how *that* happens might help with bone mass problems in long term space projects. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Healthcare Quality Report
AHRQ releases state-by-state quality data online The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality posted state-level data on healthcare quality, based on the previously released 2004 National Healthcare Quality Report. The file:// http://qualitytools.ahrq.gov/qualityreport/browse/browse.aspxAHRQ Web site now shows how states rank against each other in their performance on roughly 100 quality measures used in the national report. The site also includes a snapshot of states' performances, for each state showing two areas in which the state is doing well and two areas in which it needs improvement Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
MSD research
Knowing how much discussion there has been about wrist/hand symptoms on list in the past I thought I would share my notes from a recent conference. I have edited to keep it rather on the lighter side, but this is stuff based in peer reviewed journals and is reinforcing some of the models that have been out there. Interestingly I think it will shape even more comprehensive treatment in the future (more in the next post) Dee Research in Rat Models- HRHF-High Rep High Freq Cycle Group HRLF-High Rep Low Freq Cycle Group In both groups at 3-6 weeks tissue changes were noted in nerves and muscles Changes were bilateral- even if the task was one handed. Increase changes with increased performance Research is now be beginning on what happens if repetition is decreased after 6-8 weeks LRNF- Low Rep Nominal Force- no decline in performance HRNF- Some Recovery of task performance by Week 6 HRHF- Decline at 3 weeks with ongoing decline Recovery is dose dependent MSD Risk Factors Physical Repetition- high= (hand) 30 sec cycle, low=30 sec cycle (Silverstein 1986) -for LB see NIOSH Force- High=4kg, Low=1kg (Silverstein) Posture- awkward or static Vibration Mechanical- pounding or leaning Environmental- temp or lighting PsychoSocial Work organizational Work structure flow Amount of decision making Supervision type Social support Stress Individual Predisposition Comorbidities (PMHx/leisure) Psychosocial MSD and Sickness Response In rats signs of withdrawal coincide with peak local/systemic inflammation Evidence for peripheral-central communication via peripheral stimulation shows unilat injury can cause bilateral symptoms ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Hands and Neural Plasticity
Part 2 of my notes- this section relates to sensory changes/neural plasticity that has been found in monkeys and some rehab principles being integrated into hand therapy. Pretty wild stuff (I would have only imagined in sci-fi novels 20 years ago) and hope for some of the worst sufferers that there is more out there to help with their problems. Dee Stressful repetitive hand use has negative effects on peripheral and central nervous structures Performance of highly repetitive tasks appears to lead to central spinal cord changes Some of the learning can be understood by looking at positive and negative learning principles Positive Learning Principles Attended Repetitive but variable Consistently performed Rewarded Spaced over time Progress from non-target task to functional target task Negative learning initially occurs as a consequence of behaviors that are Attended Repetitive Consistently performed over time Unvaried Very rapid, unusually fast Limits in neural plasticity CNS capacity is challenged when behaviors Become habitual Stereotypical Rapid enough to exceed set neural processing time-integration time Stereotypical behaviors that occur near simultaneously prevent CNS from being able to generate precise outputs and interfere with normal sensorimotor feedback. Neural structures compete for refractory periods, neurochemicals, etc. Outcomes of negative learning Cortical representations shrink Adjacent cortical areas expand and become dysfunctional Imbalance between sensory input and motor output Sensory system can become abnormally sensitive (decreased threshold for excitation/pain) Assumptions for Retraining If it is possible to drive positive changes, then negative neural adaptation can be reversed Positive learning Increases the area of representation of the body part on the cortex Increases myelination Facilitates dendritic complexity Enhances secretion of neurotransmitters which continue to enhance learning General goals for Retraining Educate to be the best therapist Commitment to positive health, fitness, posture Stress management Positive expectations for improvement Images pain free movement Apply normal hand biomechanics in all tasks Integrate graded stress free patterns of movement Restoring normal neurophysiological function Quiet the nervous system to decrease sensitivity Facilitate sensorimotor learning activities to Normalize functional and somatosensory representations Facilitate different pathways of activation Restore normal sensorimotor gating, activation thresholds Requires 6 months to 1 yr with daily program and 2-4x/mo Natural alignment/use- biofeedback Restore/focus on curves of hand Rougher textures- the more you can modify a grip the less demand Objects of same weight and size will be held more lightly if rough surface ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
I Love Lucy and the Chocolates
An ergonomist friend of mine is looking for a clip of Lucy and the chocolates as she tries to package them and winds up eating them/stuffing them in pockets, etc. Anyone know where that might be found? Thanks, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Healthcare + Economics
Heard this guy on the radio today and then found an email from my health policy list. Not all the answers... but sounds like a good start to combining prevention and healthcare which Debbie and I both tend to focus on in any overhaul. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/13/magazine/13HEALTH.html?ex=554000; en=61e528bee300650aei=5070 Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: more neocons
Dan wrote- I racked my brain to try to figure out any means by which this can be hyperbola for something that is actually happening. I do think there is evidence that senior officers who voice strong criticism of Rumsfeld's ideas do put their career at risk more than they would have under previous presidents. I think that is a mistake and sends the wrong message. But if that's it, calling it a political purge is way way over the top, to the point where it is basically disinformation. I can't speak to if/what is going on, and can't give you a cite, but living in a military area you tend to follow news about promotions and stop-loss and such. I recall several years ago hearing an article that about the number of generals being asked to retire. I seem to recall it was something like 40-80. Now I know there is always a certain amount of attrition in any rank, but the commentator was noting it was a huge amount beyond the normal. (Don't ask me what kind of generals, I don't recall). The reason I remember it is I found it interesting that no reason followed... there was minimal question/comment on it. Seemed like there would be more news on it later, but nothing I ever heard/found out. Not sure that was much help but that might support there have been some unusual patterns, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: more neocons
Warren wrote- But I do know that Other Posters on this list have asserted claims and then, asked for cites, said they couldn't reveal their sources. This behavior seems to havve been accepted from them. Is it possible we've got a mirror of that here? Dan wrote The pattern's wrong. Look at the word choices in the various cases. (snip) I give various weights to various types of information. I try to develop an objective criteriontypes of sources and what not...patterns of being accurate in the past...etc. Another approach is to look digitally, one either has absolute proof or one does not. From that perspective, there is no difference between pure conjecture, and my daughter memory of being at the relevant committee hearing. I will chime in with Dan on this one. We all evaluate information- based on sources, cites, etc. every day. I try and post info with pretty clear context... I think, appears, recall, etc when it is opinion or could be considered less factual. By the same token this group has some pretty diverse backgrounds and I assume some broad contacts. I have come to respect and ponder posts more through the years as a result. There are times when I have posted info whose authenticity I didn't feel was appropriate to fight with people about. For example, there was a time when there was a question of readiness of the troops in the Middle East. I posted with info from the officer in the desert in charge of ensuring the equipment was maintained and operating when it was issued to troops. While it was still pretty vague in nature, I would never feel it would be appropriate to share info that could jeopardize jobs/lives, etc. Some people know I have close friends in the military and they probably knew how much credibility to give info I put on list, (or they ask). It doesn't really bother me that my less rigorous posting patterns have been given limited credibility in the past- it doesn't phase me what people might think. The last time this topic came up I thought about posting that perhaps we should give each other a bit of critical acceptance in posts. Think about the possibility, but research more on our own. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: more neocons
Dan wrote- Well, what option would you have had him choose? I agree with Gautam that the options with N. Korea are bad and worse. (snip) Anyways, which choice would you have suggested for Clinton? Do you see a fourth choice? From my limited understanding of N. Korea, I don't think any president can make winning decisions alone. When I heard things were getting ugly again in Korea I contacted people that have been there on several occasions and the response was almost cavalier... it is winter, the N. Koreans need food and they will play whatever card they need to for food, then change their mind on their commitment later when it is warmer so they can threaten again next year. Behaviorally it is a model that has worked for years. I think the current model of multilateral talks is about the best we are could hope for- the countries that have been unavoidably caught up in this cycle can help prevent one group getting played off the other. I was pretty impressed with Bush and Co (and whatever may have gone on behind the scenes with China, etc)- N. Korea jumped up and down and had their tantrum and all the other countries seemed to hold together better than previously. Do I think we can put the nuclear cat back in the bag... no, but I think there has to be progress in the area and this winter was a start in making N. Korea stay at the multilateral table. Most of the neighboring countries have had as much incentive not to reunite N. and S. Korea but the stakes keep going up. China likes having a buffer to keep info contained, S. Korea is afraid of too many people flooding the economy if there is reunification, etc. I would be interested in George's opinion on this. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Songs You Cannot Expel
Julia wrote- I don't think I've been fully aware of any new REM since about 2000 or so. (I think the most recent album I have is Monster.) And anything after 1988 or 1989 is newer REM to me. I'm guessing that you probably don't want to hear about 15% of the CDs I have loaded into my big CD changer. (The one album of theirs I'm most desperate to acquire right now is Reckoning.) I'll refrain from babbling about older REM songs that I love. Up too late and on my way to sleep, but I saw greatest hits when I went by the R CDs the other day. I like best what others call their mumbling days . Murmur is my favorite now that I am off to sleep with Radio Free Europe in my head. drat, you guys got me after all. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: attn: wtg, MUD to Holocene Chat
Trent wrote- If you are interested please, reply to Brin-L. (Effectively this is a blank-check form of RSVP.) News from Wm. T. Goodall would be particularly apropos. I am not the most techno-savvy, but I am willing to try HC (especially if you give me training wheels). This might be a great test of how long it takes the novice to learn. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Special forces 'on the ground' in Iran
Rob sent- http://www.guardian.co.uk/iran/story/0,12858,1392078,00.html American special forces have been on the ground inside Iran scouting for US air strike targets for suspected nuclear weapons sites, according to the renowned US investigative journalist Seymour Hersh. In an article in the latest edition of the New Yorker, Hersh, who was the first to uncover US human rights abuses against Iraqi detainees at Abu Ghraib prison last year, reports that Pakistan, under a deal with Washington, has been supplying information on Iranian military sites and on its nuclear programme, enabling the US to conduct covert ground and air reconnaissance of Iranian targets, should the escalating row over Iran's nuclear ambitions come to a head. Acting on information from Pakistani scientists knowledgeable about Iran's nuclear programme, Hersh reported, US commandos have penetrated territory in eastern Iran seeking to pinpoint underground installations suspected of being nuclear weapons sites. Hersh told CNN yesterday: I think they really think there's a chance to do something in Iran, perhaps by summer, to get the intelligence on the sites. The last thing this government wants to do is to bomb or strafe, or missile attack, the wrong targets again. We don't want another WMD flap. We want to be sure we have the right information. The New Yorker report said the Americans have been conducting secret reconnaissance missions over and inside Iran since last summer with a view to identifying up to 40 possible targets for strikes should the dispute over Iran turn violent. I guess I am not sure of the point of this article. From a simple reality stand point there are SF guys in countries where we are militarily active and those that are not. The above paragraphs hype what these guys do everyday, building relationships with locals and scouting out things that are important. A simplistic explanation of the SF mission, but in a previous part of my life I had friends who went off to parts unknown for unknown duration several times a year in their area of responsibility. At it's basic level I recall someone telling me-partisans aren't built in a day. The writing is dramatic with secret reconnaissance, but I guess it is true that these guys don't publicize their presence. This is a war against terrorism and Iraq is just one campaign, Hersh quotes one former US intelligence official as saying. The Bush administration is looking at this as a huge war zone. Next we're going to have the Iranian campaign. Another unnamed source described as a consultant close to the Pentagon said: The civilians in the Pentagon want to go into Iran and destroy as much of the military infrastructure as possible. That appeared to be a reference to noted neocons in Washington, such as the defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, his deputy, Paul Wolfowitz, and others. Arguments about Iran's suspected nuclear programme have raged for 20 months since it was revealed that Tehran had been conducting secret nuclear activities for 18 years in violation of treaty obligations. Call me cynical, but as much as factions of the admin may consider Iran an area they want, it would be political suicide for this government to work on additional fronts. This article seems to me to be more like a misinformation/hype/implied threat article in some type of sabre-rattling for the Iranians or IAEA. Smacks more of a pissing contest being aired in public versus news. The International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna has had inspectors in the country throughout the period. While finding much that is suspect, the inspectors have not found any proof of a clandestine nuclear bomb programme. The IAEA chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, has infuriated the Bush administration over his even-handed dealings with Iran, while the Europeans have been pursuing a parallel diplomatic track that has won grudging agreement from Tehran to freeze its uranium enrichment activities. Hersh reported that the US campaign against Iran is being assisted by Pakistan under a deal that sees Islamabad provide information in return for reducing the pressure on Abdul Qadeer Khan, the disgraced metallurgist who is the father of Pakistan's nuclear bomb and who was revealed last year to be the head of the biggest international nuclear smuggling racket uncovered. (snip) Simple minded, but I don't see a whole lot here to get worked up about. Seems like a few things strung together for a bit of sensation... but I don't often get calls for political consultations. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Social Security
* Dan Minette ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) wrote: (taxes paid to government over one's lifetime- cash benefits received from government over ones lifetime)/total income over one's lifetime. I just realized the source of the difference. We are both writing out the formula for lifetime net tax rate, but the numbers in the chart, and the idea I have in mind, is MARGINAL lifetime net tax rate. OK, I can work with that. I'm glad we have the same formula...that's progress. I should have labeled that chart marginal, to be clear (by the way, I copied it from Kotlikoff's book, not the website -- in the book only the website is referenced, not a specific location) When people talk about being in the 37% tax bracket, they mean that their marginal tax rate is 37%, in other words, $0.37 of every additional dollar they earn (above their current income) goes to taxes. OK, that's fine. I'll explictly adress marginal tax rate when I revisit my example. With a non-working spouse considering working, the marginal lifetime net tax rate can be very high, since SS benefits increase very little until the newly working spouse begins to make quite a bit more money than the long-working spouse. But, I still don't see it getting above 40 %. Let's look at the last $1k of earnings of the spouse looking at a 20k/year job. She's in the 15% marginal income tax bracket, her SS tax is 7.65%, and she is working for too few years to qualify for SS on her own. That gives a marginal federal tax rate on that last $1k to 22.765%. We'll also assume her net tax is her gross tax, since she gets no extra SS from working. They will spend more money, and on some of that spending they'll have to pay sales tax. But, another 3%-4% should cover that. With taxes on the phone bill and what-not, I can see the marginal tax rate rise to 30%, but not much more unless they now buy a new house with higher real estate taxesbut that pretty problematic when one is just considering the last $1000. I think it is fair to consider only step ups in the same spending patterns for marginal rates, not major changes like buying a bigger house. Further, we keep pretty close tabs on our family budget, and we have often calculated when it would be worthwhile for Teri to work. The Continental job was worthwhile, because we were beyond the need for day care, mostly, and because the hours were not bad for part time work. But, our marginal return on Teri's pay was far more than 20%. It was over 60% by my calculations. When you get time, can you show me how they get to 80%+ in their example? Are they defining marginal taxes differently than I do? Dan M. Yummy, good talk, less angst, more to learn from this is getting better by the second. Thanks for persisting Erik, Dan, Doug et al. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Where is the Wand?
Can we try and start the new year without doofus, idiot, pathetic, insert other generally disparaging words I don't expect roses and sunshine all the time and I really enjoy a good cuss every now and again in RL, but one of the reasons I like to be here is good company, good discussion and and attempts to discuss the world/civilization being a better place. We all have our frustrated moments, it just seems like belittlement was becoming more common than posting to an argument the end of last year. We have better things to do than to tear each other down, even if it is in little bits/only part of an honest discussion. I don't have the wand of dinging, but Joanne gave me a bit of a nod to act like I was waving it at least, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Where is the Wand?
Can we try and pay attention and not act like a bunch of pathetic doofus's without a clue posting can't we all just get along drivel? *checks her stopwatch* I was wondering how long it was going to take. -k- LOL, and I am not usually a gambling woman Who had the right square in the pool? I guess this kind of contact sport can replace my lack of participation in the NFL posts Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Where is the Wand?
John wrote- As a primary culprit of the NFL posts, I certainly hope that you don't mind them! Don't mind them at all, just don't read them much. Although I do peek in every once in a while to see if there is any fun thread creep. I must say from my limited exposure they seem to have the least drift of any subject line I have seen around here in years. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Social Security
(from the article Gary posted) The end result is far lower benefits for every new generation of retirees. If this system had been in place since Social Security's inception, people today would be retiring with a benefit tied to the living standard of the 1930s, when 40 percent of households lacked indoor plumbing. THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET OF PRIVATIZATION: Bush's plan for private accounts is being sold as a plan for younger workers to benefit from the higher returns of the stock market. Don't believe the hype. The private accounts are actually a mechanism for younger workers to recover a small fraction of the money they lose from price indexing. For example, if price indexing is adopted a 20-year-old just entering the labor force would lose 34 percent of his or her expected benefits. This would amount to almost $134,000 over a lifetime of retirement. But the private accounts proposed by Bush would give that 20-year-old a chance to gain back, on average, about $47,000. That is assuming the market doesn't go south (as it just did from 2000-2002). So the question for younger workers is not whether they want private accounts. It's whether they want a huge cut in guaranteed benefits in exchange for a chance to gain back a fraction in the stock market. I understand Erik's (?) point that individuals who would sustain lower levels of SS would not be born yet, and shouldn't have the same expectations however I have a part of my brain saying this is similar to negotiating with unions. Union members don't want to give up their benefits, but the company sees fiscal problems with their wages/benefits. The universal answer seems to be to cut benefits/wages for employees that come on board at lower levels as a compromise. It just seems wrong (for lack of a better word when I am sleepy with a stuffy head) to sell out the next generation of workers to prevent dealing with a problem. I guess that indicates the level of political clout the seniors/senior workers have, and I guess this is just business. I did see an interesting documentary that noted something to the effect that Rumsfeld often helps the administration see things in terms of what do you come to the table with to make us listen- the older workers/senior vote more and toddlers can't? I guess any way you look at it, seems it is going to cost. If you choose to look at it as Bush needing to find money to go private, or money that has been borrowed from seniors that needs to be repaid- pick your perspective. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Sleepy, Stuffy Head Pun Challenge
Up too late, but I have been promising to do this for weeks- Something fun that anyone is welcome to alter and run with that started conceptually in the chat room as a challenge to Vilyehm. 3 words picked (by flipping pages and waving finger with eyes closed) from the trusty oversized ancient dictionary to be punned at your leisure extra points (of non specific/indeterminite value for getting all 3 in one pun) scab defective gregre (also listed as grigri) nighty night, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Asimo running (morphed)
Ronn wrote- Maybe instead of the orange juice I should have gotten V-8 juice and added some cayenne pepper to see if that would have burned it out of me any faster . . . In our house growing up it was hot mustard that came with the chinese food Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Tommy going home soon
WOOHOO! Good time to have the whole family together, Dee Julia says it looks like they'll be going home with Tommy in a couple of hours. Yay! Nick ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: God Is With Us L3
Warren wrote (?) Boldly proclaiming certainty? Oh really? I thought all I did was suggest that the current admin had to be fairly dim not to have learned from history. Dan wrote (?) To the earlier exchange, I think the question's pretty clear: How is it that so many people seem not to have learned from history? Before learning from history, it's worthwhile to understand just what the lessons of history are. Um, that *is* learning from history. What you basically just said is that in order to learn from history you have to learn from history. I won't disagree with the tautology, but as arguments go it's not the best. ;) The lessons we can learn from Viet Nam would be a facinating source of discussion. I think it is also a field where honest, reasonable people can still differ greatly. Later someone said Are you arguing that there is no such thing as scholarship in history, foreign affairs, and political science? A bit of stream of consciousness helped me to recall a bit of info, I don't know if it will help the discussion... The War College may be the best place to learn military lessons from Vietnam. I would tend to think the political lessons are more varied and discussed in academia throughout the country. While they are related historical lessons, they may not always be one in the same, as there is rarely a single question or goal, but a campaign. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: The Practice Effect
Rob posted an article- NASA has a special interest in isometric exercises--i.e., non-moving exercises where an astronaut pushes hard against a fixed surface. Motionless exercises allow for simple lightweight equipment less expensive to launch and less prone to break during a mission. But are they effective? Just a few comments on this article... nothing that is new, but basic concepts learned as part of training in muscles and function in school a while ago. Isometric exercises have been shown to be effective... within the limited range of the work out. To put it in lay terms- if I hold my elbow bent to a 90 degree angle and do an isometric contraction, the strengthening is limited to the 90 degree range (+/- 10-15 degrees). In concept we use this in rehab where joint loading is not desired through the motion. The limitation is that you must work through a wide number of points in the range to accomplish strengthening through the full functional range and this does not account for timing and motor learning. To find out, Baldwin's group gave laboratory rats a workout by activating the rodents' leg muscles with painless electrical stimulation. They tested three types of exercise: muscle contraction, muscle lengthening, and isometric, where the muscle exerts a force while remaining the same length. (Just think of doing push-ups: muscle contraction occurs in the up part of a push-up, muscle lengthening during the down part, and isometric while holding a push-up midway.) Studies in electrical stim have largely not been maximal contractions since even 2/3 max tends to be very uncomfortable. The research in Russian Stim included some incredible things that just didn't pan out as originally thought. (Recall the days of gyms in the 80's where people laid on a table and the electrodes were placed on their muscles and they got a workout while relaxing?) There may have been some advances in this technology in some of the spinal cord rehab centers, but largely this was probably feasible with the lowered sensation of the tissue and there have been problems with tissue integrity. By looking at the link it appears they may have done this in space which I have not read details on. If the muscle is getting no workout it may tone a bit, but largely doesn't strengthen After the sessions, the scientists performed tests to see how the rats' muscles responded. What we found, says Baldwin, was that after 12 sessions, all three types of workout tended to provide about the same amount of muscle growth, even the isometric exercises that involved no motion. (snip hormones, growth factors, etc... not sure how this might relate to steroid related things, but Debbie might) Some people think that it's the mechanical stress that turns the gene (for IGF-1) on, but we really don't understand that process yet. What we do know is that IGF-1 triggers muscle growth, Baldwin explains. Might supplements of IGF-1 be used to ensure that construction of muscle proteins keeps pace with protein destruction in astronauts? Baldwin says they're entertaining the idea and are already discussing ways in which that might be done. If they're successful, it will be good news for more than just astronauts. After all, we're all owners of that incredible, self-adapting machine called the human body. One of the places that isometrics (same length), isotonics (same tension) and isokinetics (same speed) have fallen short are in regards to functional movements- much weight/workout equipment is free limb (the body is stationary and the limbs move). In RL the lower limbs tend to work more stable and the trunk moves over/ around/in relation. The motions for workouts also tend to be uniplanar which isn't how bodies generally function. The past15 years have seen movment in more functional rehab without machines in lieu of the equipment that can replicate function (overly simplistic). Some of this probably relates to the loading/unloading discussed in Dr Baldwin's profile, PTs generally relate loading to . the effects of gravity on the body :-) Enough on muscles and such unless you want more info, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Response to sorryeverybody
John wrote- You got me! I was thinking that a response would be something to the effect of www.sorelosers.com . Suffice to say that I was disappointed. :-( Anyhow, this stuff has got me thinking again there is a certain cadre of Kerry-supporters who get quite agitated about every perceived slight against the patriotism of their fellow Kerry-supporters. Yet, isn't there something slighlty unpatriotic about apologizing to the world for the results of the election?And for feeling ashamed about the political preferences of a majority of American voters?Wouldn't patriotism ordinarily suggest that as Americans we work out our differences in house (or in the family if you will)? Quick answer, not the wisest, but I am living dangerously today.. Oh good golly, where do I get stock in those soap boxes you stand on? Sorry is a personal word, it rests in individual hopes and dreams and letdowns of countrymen/women. I think ashamed is interpretive(?). I think you read way too much into this and should maybe revisit the site and read the FAQ without that chip on your shoulder. You don't feel the need to apologize to anyone and that is your perogative A gallery is art, art has personal meaning. Heck, I have never given much thought to it but there is quite a bit of election art as much as buttons, signs etc- this is just an extension of that to post election art (just because the signs are all out of the yards and the airwaves are not full of mud slinging, it doesn't mean there isn't a recovery period after an election.) Trying to keep it all in the family and not respond to the outsiders hopes and dreams is like ignoring an elephant in the room. Trying to recognize opinions around the globe is like recognizing feelings in a family- bury them, ignore them, etc and it doesn't help keep the family functional. A, the website says it probably better than I could. I am not a disciple, I do think the concept is neat. I saw F-9/11 with Canadian, Australian and a Netherlander (?), which led to great dialog that broadened my perspectives without changing my love of this country. Dialog is not about trashing and rehashing. The movie was a great way for us to talk and have a bit of fun, I was also glad it wasn't going to be entered for awards as a documentary. All this art keeps us talking about things that enrich me more than just election results. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Response to sorryeverybody
John wrote- Well, Dee, I read the FAQ, and here is what I found Here is the 'merican site, the sorry site (versus the apologies accepted site) http://www.sorryeverybody.com/faq/ Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Response to sorryeverybody
A response to sorryeverybody.com- www.apologiesaccepted.com ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Rx - Midixadroopin
Doug wrote- We hear so much about the free market being the paradigmatic system, but at least in my eyes, the pharmasutical industry is an example of laissez faire dysfunction. Take the ED stuff; Lavitra Cialis and Viagra for instance. We have competing drug firms - good because this keeps prices deflated, but bad not only because it stimulates duplication of effort, but also because they fail to vigourously persue more important problems. This isn't a problem that keeps me up all night, but it is a tough nut to crack. Is there a way to reinvigorate the industry without imposing rigid reform? I wouldn't want to send congress off half-cocked in an attempt to solidify the industry, but to keep limping along the way we are now seems a recipe for meltdown. I have to agree with Doug's premise. It would seem like drug companies could work on RD together for a product and split the profits. Perhaps what will drive this is that insurers tend to pick one of the products to put in a formulary which means there could be a loser. There also hasn't been a grand loser in a while (ie, something like Viagra came out and then 6 weeks later Cialis was released and it was so much better/with fewer side effects that the Viagra became obsolete before it made all the money it should). One nit-picky point, during my college days the statistic for impotence was that 40% of men over 40 are effected in some manner. Not an inconsequential number considering the population of men over 40 is increasing. That isn't to say I don't want more research on other conditions just thought it might put a bit of perspective on why ED drugs became an area that drug companies focused on. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Scouted: Neural Hopes?
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3608346thesection=news; thesubsection=world Australian breakthrough in spinal nerve regrowth 09.11.2004 Australian researchers have discovered how to regrow spinal cord nerves, enabling mice to walk within weeks of their cord being damaged. The University of Melbourne team says its findings are a major step forward in finding ways to mend spinal cord injuries in humans. They found that removing the molecule known as EphA4 resulted in significant regrowth of the spinal nerves following injury. Mice without EphA4 regained their full stride length within three weeks of injury and within a month had regained ankle and toe movement. Their ability to bear weight on the affected limbs and to walk and climb also continued to improve for at least three months after injury. Professor Mary Galea from the School of Physiotherapy said it would be some time before human tests could be conducted. But she said the breakthrough was the most promising in the area of spinal cord injury in years. Professor Galea said there was now scope for developing a drug that could block EphA4 in humans and stop a scar from forming on the spinal cord in the first place. She said it was likely new drugs would be tested on primates before humans. Professor Galea expected it to be between five and 10 years before human trials went ahead. http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/health/ny-hsstem154043000nov15,0,3286134.story?coll=ny-health-print A step closer to understanding Scientists hope success in mice study can be used as a model of cells' potential in fighting brain diseases BY JAMIE TALAN STAFF WRITER November 15, 2004 Recently, Harvard scientists discovered that, at least in mice, the brain can rally against an all-out attack on brain cells by summoning stem cells to help repopulate the hard-hit region. Now the researchers want to determine whether similar stem cell activity can be orchestrated in diseases like ALS or Parkinson's, in which a specific group of brain cells dies off. Such a finding would lead toward an understanding of how to achieve similar results in the human brain, said Jeffrey Macklis, director of the Massachusetts General Hospital-Harvard Medical School Center for Nervous System Repair. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: What's a legal order?
Gautam wanted all of the reservists hanging from the yardarm (he's a Marine, and I think really enjoys playing to the stereotypes), and the other four all thought that they should be spending a long, long, long time in Leavenworth. Four of them did express concerns over the way that the Reserves are treated, etc. but all felt that no matter the nature of those complaints, those Reservists engaged in mutiny, plain and simple. Talk in the Ft Bragg area about the 18 is pretty much in alignment with Damon- news clips may not give enough/all the info. Orders is orders is the first and most consistent feeling, however it is not always that simple was also a second part to several sentences. Evidently there are requirements that need to be met for orders. If the requirements are not met or if they are unjust or immoral then soldiers can refuse an order. (No, it was not a setting that I went into what the requirements are- Damon, can you help here?) Seems the equipment readiness and fuel status do have bearing in some opinions. The other thing that surprised me was that there was a discussion that some considered the action of refusing the order may not really be mutiny as they were not in the heat of battle. Overall, I think it is safe to assume some congressional inquires on this. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
TV for familiesautism
Dan Marino Foundation Launches First Web Channel for Autism www.childnett.tv 1 September 2004 The Dan Marino Foundation has recently launched Childnett.tv, the first 24-hour web channel dedicated to families living with autism and other neurological disorders. Our Mission The mission of Childnett.tv is to reach out globally to families, clinicians and educators, connecting them through the internet, to information related to autism and other neurological disorders Established in 2003, Childnett.tv is an internet access web channel that broadcasts interactive programming 24/7 via the internet. Our lineup includes streaming video related to autism and other neurological disorders. Families, clinicians and educators can witness the latest therapies and treatments, seminars, as well as personal storiesall for free. The Dan Marino Foundation is funding Childnett.tv, to improve the lives of families around the world. It is our hope the information you see will help ensure every child with developmental disabilities reaches his or her highest potential. Thought some people might like this info, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
LeGuin- Order to Read?
I have been reading some LeGuin books over the past 6 months or so and have really enjoyed the ones I have read. Left Hand of Darkness The Telling Dispossed (in the middle) The order I have read them is purely accidental, but seems to flow. Does anyone have any suggested order for reading her other books? Dee who sometimes benefits from not reading some authors years ago and knowing those who have ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Alcohol and Kids Brains
Debbie wrote- From a modern medical standpoint, children drinking alcohol is detrimental, as alcohol is a neurotoxin; developing brains are more vulnerable than adult brains (and since our brains are still remodeling quite a bit through age ~21yr, college kids binge-drinking is harmful). But from a survival standpoint, it was sensible to for all to drink (watered) wine, as decent drinking water was not often available to our ancestors, and cholera/typhoid/polio etc. etc. were frequently fatal. shrug After all, how many brain cells do you need to do near-subsistance agricultural labor? (As opposed to more skilled labor, or reading/writing.) Well out of my league on the effects of alcohol on kids, but this reminded me of something I read last week. Work has me reading/working through the book- Now, Discover Your Strengths which has a section on why people should develop and excel in their strengths (versus offsetting their weaknesses- unless they interfere with your strengths). There is a part of the book that talks about how the brain of a 2ish month old infant grows synapses at an incredible rate until about 6 months. Until age 3 synapses learn to communicate, but then neglected synapses start to fall into disrepair- such that half are gone by age 16. I wonder how alcohol in small sips, or even with meals would effect this? Might be hard to sort it all out Zim are you out there? Don't feel like a Medline search. Dee btw, the book is good and the online test is part of the price of the book, pretty cool. more in depth and not opposites based like the Myers-Briggs ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Medical Info
Some health related info/sites that I thought people might be interested in. Under-the-skin ID chips move toward U.S. hospitals, CNet News, July 27, 2004, http://news.com.com/Under-the-skin+ID+chips+move+toward+U.S.+hospitals/2100-7337_3-5285815.html Report release: FTC and DOJ Issue Report on Competition and Health Care // Report Reviews the Role of Competition, Provides Recommendations to Improve the Balance Between Competition and Regulation in Health Care, Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Department of Justice, July 27, 2004, http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2004/07/healthcarerpt.htm. Links to the executive summary and full report text are available from this page. Hospital expansion system is in dispute // States approval system for hospital expansion, equipment purchases in dispute, Raleigh News Observer (N.C.), July 28, 2004, http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1473227p-7618360c.html (this relates to some of the rec's in the report above- it isn't common in every state, but if you want more info on the hoopla over certificates of need for medical facilities/equipment it will help) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Unidentified creature stumps experts
Gary wrote- Wait! It's a ... : Unidentified creature stumps experts What in the world? Bill Kurdian asked himself when he saw the animal for the first time. About the size of a fox, but with short brown hair and a long cat-like tail, it looked more like an animal in a National Geographic spread out of Africa than any critter native to the woods of central North Carolina. Complete article http://tinyurl.com/2vod5 Can't say it surprises me at all, NC has some interesting varmits. Mom and I saw something at the resevoir last spring that at first glance we thought was a squirrel- with lemur type face coloring and a really long thick snout and a long tail. Seemed to stay more to the ground than the trees. Took me a while to track it down, and only wound up finding it shown in a museum. None of the locals knew what I was talking about. I cannot recall what it was- wrote it on a program somewhere- but it is native to the same area as the critter above- maybe some kind of mutation black hole in the bible belt :-) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: More on the environmental movement
Julia wrote- wondering how much each trip up the stairs carrying a baby counts on the exercise bit There are some people who structure their activities so they do stay aerobic with their ADLs (Activities of Daily Living) for a minimum of 20-30 min daily. We have talked in the past about heart rate monitors and they are really coming down in price (at work we see prices about 50% what they used to be for no frills models). The other way to generally measure your heart rate (we use especially with elderly on heart rate limiting drugs) is perceived exertion, or the talk-sing test. Perceived exertion is 0-20 range with research showing people are pretty aware of their exertion (20= highest exertion, 13=130 beats per minute roughly)**. The talk-sing test is that you are aerobic if you can talk, but can't sing (discounting if you couldn't sing in the first place). I would tend to think that your aerobic activity with your ADLs is way more than mine (trick might not be going into the anaerobic range above .80-.85 chasing youngsters Dee ** generally (220-age) X .65 (or up to .80ish) is considered aerobic ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: This time I won't blame Bush
Mike Lee wrote: What about workers who put profit over their own lives? Huh? Your assumption is that employers are adults and employees are stupid children unable or unwilling to look out for their own best interests. There may be cases where hidden hazards cannot be perceived by employees, but these are the exception, not the rule. Employees have a responsibility to refuse to work in conditions they deem too dangerous. When they ignore dangers, then they are putting their own profit over their own lives. -Mike That's a great laissez-faire argument, which I might even accept if unemployment were sufficiently low that it was clear that employees had some other options. The present situation is like musical chairs, with jobs as the chairs. Some poor sap is going to get stuck with a job that is more dangerous than it needs to be. When the market messes up, and people start dying from risks they did not have a chance to freely accept, then Government SHOULD intervene. ---David Overly simplistic economic theory, Maru? I think the safety people on the list will speak to this better than I will, but there are abuses and checks/balances well between some of the extremes. The government does intervene when someone dies (in a big way from what I remember hearing years ago). Part of the industry monitoring I do relates to the OSHA website. I wish I could find the announcement (might be from Jan/Feb time frame) where OSHA sends out warnings to thousands of industries with problematic rates, etc. but instead- base website is www.osha.gove more at- http://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadisp.show_document?p_table=NEWS_RELEASES; p_id=10786 In all fairness I do see people effectively trade in their bodies for hard/heavy jobs that pay well and then accustom their lifestyle to the overtime pay, etc... as well as those that live frugally trying to balance life and family (barely). My personal bias is that ergonomic changes to make jobs easier/less prone to injuries is a gimmie on cost recovery in many jobs, but many companies don't make the same decisions. In some ways, with an aging work force, some of the companies who will survive the next several decades may be those that best navigate profits without losing them to injuries/fines. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Sprouts
I usually don't like sprouts , I really never thought much about them in general Recently had a chance to try some home grown sunflower sprouts, radish sprouts and broccoli sprouts. Big difference- alfalfa always tasted like dirt to me, but the sunflowers are sweet, the radishes are tart enough they would be real refreshing on sandwiches, and the broccoli are ok (actually in some ways I like them as much as broccoli since they taste the same and you have to eat a minuscule amount in comparison to get the nutrients/ antioxidants, etc. So off I went to the Fresh Market- as close as you can get to healthy around here, and all they had was some bedraggled broccoli and clover bummer. Anyone have any other lesser known sprout suggestions? I guess I could do some self sprouting (with a planting sprouter, but if anyone can find a way to make me taller I'll take that too), but that might not work with my lifestyle of the moment... another thing for the to do list. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Red Hat Society
Several months ago I was in Quincy IL at a diner and saw a group of women (ok, there was a man or two), who all had large red hats and occasional feathery boas, and various loud red and purple outfits. They appeared to be having a grand old time, enough that I asked them what kind of a group they were- one woman told me we are the red hats. I thought it was just a local woman's group until the bookstore today. I saw a book today on the Society of the Red Hats... a group started by a woman buying large red hats for her friends who were turning 50 and should be enjoying life. This sounds like a great way to symbolically celebrate small wonderful parts of life. Anyone else run into one of these groups? Anyone got a story of similar groups that get together for the fun of it? (ok, maybe it is just the updated version of the bowling league theme, but I thought it was cool.) Dee Still gotta actually buy and read the book :-) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Century City
David wrote- Did Brin cover whether or not dittoes could be jurors? On the one hand, it seems as if jury duty would not be something that actual people would want to do. On the other, there could well be legal issues involved. I don't specifically recall, however it would seem that if there was a download every 24 hours that they could be performing jury duty. Might be some rule on deliberating in person or something so a decision could be reached quicker (or it could be scheduled etc). Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Fed up and Stone throwing
JD wrote- I'm getting really fed up with Mike's endless hatemongering against Muslims here. Would this be a good time to ask the list admins to remove him? Look, we all have hot buttons and things that we tirade on about in our own way. One thing this list has learned to do is somehow have good conversations on just about any topic with anyone at least once. At some point we learn when a topic has been beaten close to it's last breath, then we give it a break/or watch attempted pulverization of the participants like a gory coliseum event, and then sometimes it slinks off and recovers in an alien nutrient vat to come back when we least expect it. (Or in the case of John's annual pro-life email... we expect and try and not get sucked into something that is just a redredge.) There isn't much that gets past this group- things rarely die we just get better at discussing them and learning with time (or ignoring and not getting sucked in). I can't say I am particularly thrilled by a number of current threads, or the dripping disdain that requires a sump pump, but it is kind of the inverse haircut principle- it (whatever it is) will grow away given time. Try some variety of approaches before asking for admin interventions, give 'em what they least expect. Creative civility is a goal we can all strive for. Survival around here involves a bit of thick skin, flak gear, a copious sense of humor, a whole lot of reflection and tolerance, and an occasional IIAMOAC mantra/group hug. In more than 7ish years, I have rarely (think less than once a year) seen any calls for action merely more creativity of handling things/growth. I am not someone that can remember lines in a movie, etc but you should see some of the great warped poetry that comes out during our most stressed times. Anyone got copies of what I recall as Marvin's donut posting, or the Poe/IHOP poems? (I think Poe was pre Vilyehm, betcha he would like the tutti frutti challenge :-) Hmmm, maybe we talk about comfort food under stress. Dee Flip on a Friday night ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Need help: Hearing aids
Not sure how much help it will be, but this might be a starting place www.asha.org (American Speech and Hearing Assoc) http://www.asha.org/public/hearing/treatment/(seems to have lots of info on hearing aids) Hope it helps, Dee Does anyone have any experience or knowledge of hearings aids: makes, styles, reasonable prices, anything else I should know? George A ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Irregulars: Space/Flight Video/DVD Info
I am looking a (few?) videos/DVDs for my nephews- specifically things related to space and planes. I would really like at least one that combines music and flight like in the old Van Halen/Blue Angels video, and another that may have some of the history of the space program. They are not quite 4, but love to watch just about anything related to flight/planes/rockets/space/etc. Figured y'all were the group to ask instead of wading through brief descriptions online (no bombing/blowing up things please). Thanks, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Mileposts to Go
With the number of posts to read in the last couple of days, I'm surprised anyone finds the time to post. I can't... Make that couldn't. Regards, Ray. 253 to go. LOL, 363 Race ya :-) Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Race to the Bottom
Kevin wrote- The American developers here are probably the most unsocial people in IT. Jan wrote- This may be the case, but I do not believe you are correct when you say unsocial, maybe just social in a different way than many who studied Business instead of Computer Science. But do you believe that these people should not be able to make a good living? Is it your opinion that only ~Social~ people should be allowed into the middle, or upper middle class? It's true, many of the Computer Scientists I know who grew up in the US, and who enjoy Software Engineering, have an alternative social ability. Does that mean that they should only be allowed to work for McDonalds wages? This group of people have found a carrier that affords them the ability to participate in the American Dream, but form the sound of it, you would have them all unemployed, and their jobs all sent over seas to people who will treat you as if you are their master, and work for slave wages. This is wrong on so many levels, I do not even know where to begin. There is a total skill set in any job. How/what social skills someone has may only be limiting when they are contrary to what needs to be done to complete the job (frex within the corporate customer service requirements). In some ways the type of living you want to make is dictated by a match between what you want to do (or do) and the expectations of those you work for. Frex, if you like animals, but don't have great (define as you want, merely for illustrative purposes) social skills, then working with the animals behind the scenes may be a better match than that of an intake person/vet in a local practice. No one is forcing anyone to work at McDonalds, there are many other professions that have suffered cycles of change. Perhaps it is simplistic (since computer stuff is waay slow to stick in my brain), but I seem to recall alot of previous posts on how computer people can never stop learning, it is a trap in many professions to rest on your laurels. Many in health professions have transferred their skills to non-patient care as conditions changed, jobs were cut back, etc. I like the example of toy makers who saw their business go overseas, probably for many of us it is one of the first concrete examples of outsourcing we can practically remember. No one is saying others in other countries to work for slave wages, saving money is a corporate strategy that happens probably more than it doesn't (examples in the next post). Re: not knowing where to start- sometimes we all are too close to something, it may be easier for me to see since in my profession, the changes, fear, cut backs and job losses, were at their worst more than 5 years ago and things are slowly turning around. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Race to the Bottom
Jan wrote- I wonder what would happen if we started outsourcing the project management, the accounting and the administration, Indian doctors are cheaper, Indian Drugs, Indian lawyers I bet there would be quite a number laws made quite quickly to keep this from happeningoh wait, there already are. This is happening all over, maybe not the way you think, but variations that take money away from people who were trained in a certain career/profession. In medicine there was/is ongoing movement to train someone cheaper to do tasks (I will forgo the debate of skilled interventions vs tasks). Physician extenders are one example, job enrichment for OJT personnel is another, (hiring foreign trained providers was quite the rage for a while, but comparable training/ competency/english speaking quality made this more difficult once quality measures were instituted at state levels.) Probably the most classic example of cycles of highs and lows are nurses. Over my lifetime I have seen approx 3 cycles where nurses were treated to cutbacks, excessive hours, demands and delegation of tasks to others- to the point where many left the profession. Eventually their value was identified again, prices when up and nurses returned to the fray. In therapy professions there has been mounting pressure to delegate tasks to lower wage workers for years. Then, as icing on the cake, the gov't cut back in Medicare several years ago, and workers went to work to find 30% pay cuts, 24 hour decisions to sign modified working contracts, on call shifts, mandatory changes in working hours without negotiation, loss of jobs (I think in some settings/parts of the country there were 20-30% losses). There was major geographical relocation of therapists and assistants, and previously unappealing jobs were filled. Quite a big change from our time in the 80's/90's where PT/OT were one of the most promising vocations in the country, to years with salary cuts (and if you were lucky no salary increases. We are starting to see some return of salaries with cutbacks in those entering the profession and regulations, but granted public safety is probably seen as a bit less negotiable than code (in no way placing value on either, btw). Various professionals see similarities and differences in their paths. We can't stop people from trying to make money, I guess we need to survive professional evolution. I think it sucks if our taxes are paying to help locals lose jobs though. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Stranger in a Strange Land :-) Re: Tyranny
John wrote- Fine then. Like Tom said, I am just going to have to accept that Brin-L is what it is. I will accept the fact that in the minds of plenty of the Left-Wingers around here it is impossible to be right-wing and have respectability and credibility. That's just how it is then, and I am just going to deal with it. I realize that certain things are hot buttons for all of us, recognizing your own hot buttons is helpful. I am glad you want to accept differences, and sorry others occasionally jab at you. I think you need to trust that people do respect your right to have your positions without ongoing validation. My mom used to say... give people the response they least expect, which may be a variant on don't let others control your reactions/push your buttons. That being said, this must be the 23rd email that people pick on you (ok, I haven't really counted), and it would take a dense brain not to know how you feel. I am not sure how much more change you are going to effect with the same style emails. Dee who could use a button pushing moratorium overall, but heck I have been quiet and not as active a member as I could be ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Thoughts on gay marriage?
Doug wrote I have a few questions that I wonder if anyone here has the answers to. What is the substantive difference between marriage and civil union? If they are for all intents and purposes synonymous other than the same/opposite sex angle, will the effect of an amendment prohibiting same sex marriage be that it in fact outlaws civil unions as well because they _are_ synonymous. If you do outlaw same sex marriage but allow same sex civil unions, what keeps people from calling a civil union a marriage? Are we going to have marriage police arresting people for using improper terminology? Quick response since no one took a stab at this one. I heard some great questions like this on an NPR segment last week with some lawyers answering unusual questions people wanted to ask. IIRC a marriage recognizes legal rights mentioned previously (grossly simplified- healthcare decisions, access to put on insurance, ability to coparent, will/death stuff, etc ). While a state may recognize and write these laws, the Defense of Marriage Act (?) is a federal level law (?) that mandates that one state need not recognize anything but a man and woman as married. And this governs federal things such as dependents for tax filing, etc (can't think of more this moment). States can set up civil unions, but apparently there is no language which is generally accepted on what this would entail on a federal level, and may only give a few basic rights (for lack of a better word for one in a rush) to those involved. Defense of Marriage Act (?) also says that states/fed gov need not recognize any definition of marriage from another country as well. The two specialists gave some great examples and such. Dee on the fly ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Darwin's Children
Top posting cause the citing is getting plain ugly, I am an ignant AOL poster, and it is considered good form at work, and it really doesn't follow the material below but is a consequence of it OK you guys, you forced me to go to the bookstore hoping Darwins Children is in paperback... but I have to wait til June :-( Dee Grammar Aint So Good Either Maru (who prefers to pack paperbacks on plane trips) Julia wrote Miller, Jeffrey wrote: -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Chad Cooper Sent: Wednesday, February 18, 2004 10:56 AM To: 'Killer Bs Discussion' Subject: RE: Darwin's Children Read it some time ago. What's your mail system, Pony Express? :-) jabNo, he ordered it from Amazon!/jab Doh! No free shipping for you, one year! . -shipping nazi- Dang. Remind me not to annoy Jeffrey too badly ;) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Darwin's Children
Top posting cause the citing is getting plain ugly, I am an ignant AOL poster, and it is considered good form at work, and it really doesn't follow the material below but is a consequence of it OK you guys, you forced me to go to the bookstore hoping Darwins Children is in paperback... but I have to wait til June :-( Dee Grammar Aint So Good Either Maru (who prefers to pack paperbacks on plane trips) and now laughing at myself for responding to myself, I will respond in better form.. and I had to buy 3 books :-) they jumped into my hand Dee not always brilliant enough too get it all together at once, but glad I don't have enough testosterone to get into a tiff with myself over it ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Peer Review
kneem posted- Peer Review Plan Draws Criticism Under Bush Proposal, OMB Would Evaluate Science Before New Rules Take Effect (snip) At issue this time is a proposed rule -- technically a bulletin, an OMB term for legally binding language meant to guide federal agency actions -- that would require a new layer of OMB-approved peer review of any scientific or technical study that is relevant to regulatory policy. John Graham, OMB chief of regulatory affairs and a prime architect of the administration proposal, said: Peer review in its many forms can be used to increase the technical quality and credibility of regulatory science . . . [and] protects science-based rulemakings from political criticism and litigation. Scientists across the board say they agree with that. But because peer review can also be subject to peer pressure, the question is who will do it, and under whose control. Under the current system, individual agencies typically invite outside experts to review the accuracy of their science and the scientific information they offer -- whether it is the health effects of diesel exhaust, industry injury rates, or details about the dangers of eating beef that has been mechanically scraped from the spinal cords of mad cows. The proposed change would usurp much of that independence. It lays out specific rules regarding who can sit on peer review panels -- rules that, to critics' dismay, explicitly discourage the participation of academic experts who have received agency grants but offer no equivalent warnings against experts with connections to industry. And it grants the executive branch final say as to whether the peer review process was acceptable. The proposal demands an even higher level of OMB-approved scrutiny for especially significant regulatory information, a term defined in part as any information relevant to an administration policy priority -- a concept that William Schlesinger finds alarming. The agencies implementing the plan -- the OMB and the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) -- are fundamentally political entities, Schlesinger, president of the Ecological Society of America, which represents 8,000 scientists in academia, government and industry, wrote in a recent letter to the OMB. It is critical that barriers between federal science and politics remain in place. These guidelines appear to weaken that vital divide. A separate concern is that the proposed process would create long delays. After all, experts said, for all its elegant capacity to discern fact from fiction, science rarely provides definitive answers. And regulations in search of certainty may wait forever. This is an attempt at paralysis by analysis, said Joan Claybrook, president of Public Citizen, a government watchdog group that has also questioned the legal basis of the OMB proposal. Much of the budget agency's claim to authority over peer review comes from the Information Quality Law -- a few lines of text slipped into the 2001 Treasury appropriations bill that was never subject to congressional debate. This is a huge attack on the health and safety regulatory process, Claybrook said. Regulatory delays could prove deadly in the event of a public health emergency, some doctors and scientists said. In recent years, for example, the Food and Drug Administration and the Agriculture Department have had to act quickly to stop clinical trials in which medicines were found to be causing harm or to announce that certain foods such as green onions or tainted beef should be avoided or recalled. I can see the pros and cons of moving to a peer review system. So many groups are moving to evidence based programming/decision making- that in some idealized ways this makes sense. I still have nightmarish thoughts that things like open heart surgery will be eliminated from insurance plans because there is no proof of extending the lifespan (just quality of life). It takes a long time to even begin to formulate data in some areas that are clearly large effect things. I recall the uproar that research was stopped midstream on some medical study about women and medicine (Debbie might recall-maybe related to cancer effects/tamoxifen??). Even thought it broke scientific study protocol the results were too clear to warrant not immediately informing the public, IIRC. I also see some of the struggling by various sides to use this strategy when it is relevant to their cause. I think this is a new kind of playing field and information control/what makes it into public record for decision makers. There is a fight going on now even about the National Advisory Committee on Ergonomics (NACE). Seems some groups think it is too pro ergonomic changes and others see it as too restrictive (is anybody happy?). Both sides threaten boycott... due to submissions with data not examined by peers or too much discussion of physical factors, or disabuse of things already known about ergonomics. I guess we have
Re: did I break it?
Kevin wrote Not about list e-mail, but general work e-mail. I got chastised by a boss because I was contacting a user using e-mail instead of calling directly. The text of the e-mail was about, drumroll, setting up a face to face meeting. I really felt like telling the boss to take a hike. His way mattered 20 years ago when you had to use a phone, but 70% of the time e-mail is appropriate. How do others feel? I know not all situations warrant it but if you have established that the receiver regularly checks e-mail and will respond, isn't e-mail okay? Outside of the thought that some people consider phone to just be quicker sometimes, I thought this info might give some help to the potential differences in perspective. Note I am not advocating stereotypes, or that there are clean lines of generations. Got this info during a recent meeting from a facilitator on how to motivate people in volunteer organizations. Matures (Born 1909-1945) Most driven by sense of duty and obligation Your experience is respected here Tell us how you dealt with the problem Baby Boomers (1946-1963) Need to understand how they contribute to the team (greatest team focus) Volunteer out of a sense of duty Most interested in developing leadership skills You are important to our success, we need you Your contribution is unique and important Gen X-ers (1964-1983) Demand personal connection with leaders Want well developed and informative orientation Desire opportunity to use entrepreneurial skills Try it our way We're open to all ideas We'll take whatever time you can give us Gen Y-ers (1984-) It has to be FUN Want mentoring from leadership Most focused on immediate rewards and incentives You'll be working with other bright, fun people You can make a difference We talked at length about how our organization has people that are techno-savvy (X and Y) and technophobes (matures, who we generally really do revere). We recently wanted meeting notices to go electronic and the diversity of opinions was phenomenal. Made us structure our thinking a bit differently if we wanted to truly pull together a diverse group. Finally caught back up, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: EPA Works Out Secret Deal with Factory Farms
Kevin wrote- Wasn't the problem in NC highlighted when there were floods down there a few years ago? Lots of the lagoons were overflowed, some washed away completely, spreading waste down stream. I know a few cases locally where the feds gave plans, money and contracted the jobs to build holding pools and they failed within years from poor design and construction. Most of the concerns were in the eastern part of the state and I recall flooding was part of it, along with some general lagoon seepage. The level of growth was pretty high and the lagoons were being overburdened by demand. The waste took/takes so long to process that they were having difficulty finding new sites that could be improved. It might have had something to do with the general lowness of the grounds as well, rarely do you find a basement in eastern NC. This isn't an area I recall well, but I think the lagoons had to be a certain distance from a water supply, but they did overflow. I don't remember a lot of talk of construction failure, but I there wasn't much on the news about how they were supposed to be built. One thing that amazes me about NC is that we don't have a lot of gentle rain in the summer, we have what they affectionately call gutter cleaners/gutter washers for how quick and fast the rain can come down (but I would have assumed this was taken into consideration with the planning). Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: EPA Works Out Secret Deal with Factory Farms
kneem posted EPA Works Out Secret Deal with Factory Farms Perhaps taking its cue from the Cheney Energy Task Force, the EPA has been holding secret meetings with the agribusiness industry this year, putting together a sweetheart deal with lobbyists to exempt factory farms from Clean Air Act and Superfund regulations I don't know much about secret meetings, etc, but there has been a moratorium on hog farming in NC for several years due to some of this type of stuff. (Lots of hogs 'round here) There has been concerns about hog lagoons, etc. I know that NC State has been doing joint research with the hog farms to try and clean things up. There has been a 4-5 year goal on the project. I am not sure if it is related, but I heard there has been some promising research that Ash (IIRC) trees are a natural filter (for lack of a better word) when planted in proximity to lagoons, processing the nitrates in groves of trees. With all the different things they were trying I think there could be lots of options outside of just plain old deal making. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
For those who can't get enough JRR/Free telescope(?)Viewing
Was looking for something else and figured somebody might be interested Combining a few loose thread ends :-) Dee ** Saturday, December 27, 5:30-7pm A Star Shines on the Hour of Our Meeting- Celestial Sights in the World of J.R.R. Tolkien: Monthly Star Lecture National Air and Space Museum Location: Einstein Planetarium Free Staff astronomer Sean O'Brien uses the planetarium to simulate some of the celestial phenomena used in the mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Lord of the Rings. Passages and poetry by Tolkien will be read. Public telescope observing follows, weather and time of sunset permitting. ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Black Market Body Parts
Several of us had the beginnings of a talk in chat last week on black market body parts and the upswing in people selling off parts of their bodies. There is going to be a Talk of the Nation/afternoon NPR discussion on this today. I think I might be glad I am working through that time. It might be a reality, but oh g, there is enough heart ache in families that help relatives never mind those that feel it is the only thing they have to sell. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Normal
Debbi wrote- shrug There's a lot of 'warehousing' that's occurred since 'mainstreaming' became all the rage, and special programs were dismantled. While there are benefits to both the mentally handicapped and the 'normal' child in many cases of mainstreaming, I have 2 friends in Special Education, and what isn't in their job description but what they do includes: tube feedings, diaper-changing, tracheostomy-tube suctioning, dressing changes...etc. Even though there are supposed to be paras to do that, there aren't enough to go 'round and do the labor-intensive work. I don't know if the term is only used in families where one child has special needs, or is an exceptional family member, but the normal child is now more commonly being referred to as the typical child. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Fair testing?
--- Kevin Tarr [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This sounds like one of the stupidest things I've ever heard, and one of my CO collegues with 20 years in speech therapy/special education commented (when I asked if this was true): It is not only true, it is actually worse than this. Students who are in a persistant vegetative state have been required to take the test from time to time, students who do not yet speak English, students with severe emotional disorders, physical problems, etc. It is absolutely absurd. I might have missed the post that started this, but will try and pitch in on some of this. I know of some individuals who are regularly assessed for their status/learning ability. Most of these people are institutionalized and often were assumed to lack intellectual ability since traditional test methods did not meet their needs (ie if someone had spastic hands and could not control a pencil they could not take conventional IQ tests and were labeled as severely retarded when in reality less standardized testing revealed functioning intellect). As new test methods are understood they are better utilized. I have seen some assistive technology used to help test students (under 21), but this was part of specialized IEP (individual education plan, IIRC). Early in the move for end of grade testing, many special needs students were exempted from testing by the schools (to raise apparent test scores) and improve financial rewards to the schools. This led the pendulum to swing the other way where all students must be tested so schools don't label kids to artificially cull results. This situation would be my guess why some bizarre test situations might exist. Some group has good intentions in leveling the playing field, but there are ludicrous applications. Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Re: Scouted: Fair testing?
Wait, wait wait. How is a student in a persistent vegetative state? I not joking about this. If there are more than one percent of students who have zero improvement, then maybe the students need physical therapists, not teachers. Kevin T. - VRWC Students usually/always (?it has been a while since I have worked in this type of setting) have goals and measurement when involved in special needs under 18 (or 21). The plans are revised every year, but progress must be made for the plan to be extended. In general if there is no progress the individual is in a maintenance program where physical therapists are not utilized in general (more technicians- such as habilitation techs, aides, etc). I can't imagine people in a true vegetative state even getting to conventional schools (school goals are only required to relate to school functions- a soapbox for another day), but I have heard others generalize terms that could refer to individuals with low level IQ and athetoid presentation (lack of motor control of the bodies- floppy type body presentation). Enough for now, Dee ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
Sick Six Sigma?
As Of This Month I've Been Waiting 22 Years For A Cure Or At Least An Effective Treatment Maru -- Ronn! :) For? Dee (shortest post ever for me :-) ___ http://www.mccmedia.com/mailman/listinfo/brin-l
