MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'diversity'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:46:23 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159561&cid=t_91125_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2FRJt9FNJvEgs%2F Two advertisements for postdoc positions in great labs at Duke University working on pathogen genetics or community genomics of EM Fungi POSTDOCTORAL POSITION IN FUNGAL GENETICS Starting in the fall, 2011, a postdoctoral position is available on an NIH-supported project focused on Cryptococcus neoformans. This opportunistic yeast is often inhaled from the environment and capable of causing deadly meningitis in immunocompromised patients. Approximately one million new cases occur annually among HIV/AIDS patients in sub-Saharan Africa. The proposal employs next-gen sequencing of multiple, selected strains, comparative genomics, population genetics, and microarrays to identify the genes and pathways that are responsible for cryptococcal disease. This project would be ideal for a postdoc who i... Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159561 Fri, 19 Aug 2011 19:38:37 +0100 5159561 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5057949&cid=t_91125_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FClCpUncmHhg%2F The reality of today’s work environment in not only North America but in many places around the world is that diversity is here to stay. As a result of immigration over the years, we are finding many of our communities more and more diverse each year, which of course is directly related to local businesses. Whether it’s inside offices, factories or on the outside with retail or corporate customers, you will likely encounter more people from different cultures than ever before. Arming yourself with some skills in the form of diversity exposure and education will definitely help you function better in today’s working world. In fact, here are two major benefits you can realize as a result. Diversity Education Includes People Skills Development It is generally accepted in man... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5057949 Sat, 23 Jul 2011 06:48:20 +0100 5057949 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394442&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fclinical-guidelines-who-writes-them-anyway%2F2011.01.25 While DrRich is a conservative American, and has made plain the difficulties he has with the Progressive program in general and with Progressive healthcare reform in particular, at times he is forced to admit that, on occasion, the Progressive way of looking at the world has certain merits. And as DrRich contemplates a question that has been bothering him lately, a question that no doubt plagues many American physicians who (unlike DrRich) are still toiling away in the trenches, he finds that this is one such occasion. That question is: Just who are the people writing all those clinical guidelines — the  “guidelines” physicians are now expected to follow in every particular in every case, on pain of massive fines, loss of career, and/or incarceration? DrRich is quick to say that... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394442 Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:00:26 +0100 4394442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4394522&cid=t_91125_107_f&fid=36672&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sciencebase.com%2Fscience-blog%2Fscience-news-with-a-spectral-twist-3.html , first 2011 issue of my spectroscopyNOW.com now live Fast-track walking pneumonia test – A new approach to testing for a common form of pneumonia using nanorod arrays to boost SERS signals can cut the time to diagnosis from several days to a mere ten minutes, according to research published in the journal Plos One. Conservation conversation – Improving storage and exposure conditions in conservation of artefacts is crucial to suppressing the fading and degradation of dyes and other components of paintings. Researchers have now used several analytical techniques, including attenuated total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and optical microscopy, to investigate different conditions on common ... Sciencebase Science Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4394522 Thu, 06 Jan 2011 13:00:58 +0100 4394522 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4275327&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fthe-holidays-and-the-obese%2F2010.12.20 ‘Tis once again that time of year when we Americans gather together with our extended families and friends to celebrate the season. It is a time for catching up — renewing acquaintances and making new ones, sharing in good news and commiserating in bad, welcoming our new arrivals and mourning our losses. It is a time for giving thanks, counting our blessings, and putting our sundry individual problems into perspective. Indeed, it is perhaps most importantly a time for each of us to remind ourselves that — despite the trials and tribulations that may cause us to become relatively self-absorbed in our daily lives — we are all part of something much greater than ourselves. So, in a way, it’s a shame we must now cull out our obese relatives and friends, and disinvite them... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4275327 Mon, 20 Dec 2010 18:00:29 +0100 4275327 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4207342&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F28%2Fsam-sommers-on-empirical-perspectives-on-jury-diversity%2F Tufts Psychology Professor Sam Sommers speaks at Harvard Law School about his research on the interaction between the legal system and the psychology of race, stereotyping, and diversity. For a sample of related Situationist posts, see “Sam Sommers at Harvard Law School” or click here. (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4207342 Sun, 28 Nov 2010 16:06:50 +0100 4207342 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4139295&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2010%2F11%2F05%2Fsam-sommers-at-harvard-law-school%2F Today the HLS Student Association for Law and Mind Sciences (SALMS) is hosting a talk by Tufts psychology professor Sam Sommers entitled “Empirical Perspectives on Jury Diversity.” Professor Sommers has extensively studied the interaction between the legal system and the psychology of race, stereotyping, and diversity and has served as an expert witness on racial bias and eyewitness testimony in a number of trials. Professor Sommers will be speaking in Hauser 102. Free bagels will be provided!  For more information, e-mail salms@law.harvard.edu. You can review a list of Situationist posts discussing Professor Sommers’s work by clicking here. (Source: The Situationist) The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4139295 Fri, 05 Nov 2010 04:01:16 +0100 4139295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3648424&cid=t_91125_83_f&fid=34856&url=http%3A%2F%2Finsidesurgery.com%2F2010%2F06%2Fdr-hilda-hutcherson-discusses-reasons-lack-latino-doctors%2F Dr. Hilda Hutcherson, associate dean for the Office of Diversity Affairs at Columbia University School of Medicine and other educators and physicians detail the reasons why the number of Latinos choosing medicine as a career is falling. Cited factors include a lack of emphasis on higher education degrees that require many years of study and commitment, an unwillingness to take on substantial debt, language barriers, and lack of family contributions to help pay tuition. (Source: Inside Surgery) Inside Surgery blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3648424 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 01:18:24 +0100 3648424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3519440&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FpTnhFrfoYjA%2F By Indur GoklanyWhy does the Neo-Malthusians’ dystopian worldview — that human and environmental well-being will suffer with increases in population, affluence and technological change — fail the reality check? Why has human well-being improved in the Age of Industrialization despite order-of-magnitude increases in the consumption of materials, fossil fuel energy and chemicals? I offer some reasons in the last of a series of posts (1, 2, 3, 4) at MasterResource. I note that although population, affluence and technology can create some problems for humanity and the planet, they are also the agents for solving those problems. In particular, human capital and greater affluence have helped the development and adoption of new and improved technologies, which empirical data show have redu... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3519440 Fri, 30 Apr 2010 15:19:36 +0100 3519440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3436249&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhave-sex-to-save-animals-endangered-species-condoms%2F First rule of advertising? Sex sells. And the Center for Biological Diversity is using that to full advantage with their hilarious Endangered Species Condoms. They’re distributing 350,000 of the rubbers through volunteers in all 50 states in an effort to help spread the message that human population growth is driving species extinction. The slogans on these prophylactic wrappers are some of the funniest ways we’ve seen to communicate the contraceptive conceit: via geekosystem.com Post from: BlissTree Have Sex to Save Animals: Endangered Species Condoms (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3436249 Fri, 02 Apr 2010 19:20:09 +0100 3436249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3416015&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F1rtC166i9GI%2F By David BoazThe Washington Post’s ombudsman, Andrew Alexander, is very concerned that “journalists of color” make up only 24 percent of the Post’s reporters and editors. That might seem like a lot to some observers, but Alexander notes that minorities are 43 percent of the people in the Washington area, and it’s essential that the newsroom staff mirror the community the paper is serving. Well, maybe. As a longtime Post reader, I don’t really know which of the editors and reporters are nonwhite, and I don’t really care. I would hope that the Post would hire the best reporters and editors, in order to put out the best possible paper — with the best possible reporting, writing, copyediting, proofreading, and analysis. But if reflecting the comm... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3416015 Sun, 28 Mar 2010 19:06:53 +0100 3416015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3302681&cid=t_91125_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fhow-i-learned-racial-discrimination%2F5461%2F Footsteps pounded the sidewalk behind us.  We turned toward the sound and saw a young man careened around the corner and heading down the small, Boston side street. My wife and I stepped out of the way.  At 25 feet, I noticed he was clutching a woman’s purse to his chest.  His quick glances over his shoulder made it obvious that he was being pursued.  At 20 feet, I realized that everything I was seeing was telling me he had stolen the purse and someone was coming running after him.  At 15 feet, I sized him up to determine if I could stop him.  He didn’t seem to have a weapon, didn’t seem any bigger than me, and his haste would make him easy to delay.  At 10 feet, I decided I could easily stop him by tripping him to let who ever was chasing him catch up. At 5 feet, ... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3302681 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 17:40:25 +0100 3302681 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3212311&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fdy9WMtnbt-o%2F By Jim HarperBetcha didn’t know that January 28th is Data Privacy Day. That’s the day on which it’s customary to give gifts of cash and money to your favorite privacy advocate. No, not really. Though Hallmark hasn’t gotten a hold of it, it is a day on which some extra attention gets paid to privacy issues. I’ll be speaking at two events coinciding with Data Privacy Day. On Wednesday, I’ll be speaking at the 2010 Internet Data Privacy Colloquium put on by a group called Dialogue on Diversity. Register here. And on Thursday I’ll be speaking at an event put on by the Future of Privacy Forum called “Online Privacy: Your Reputation is ON the LINE.” (Get it? “ON the LINE”? Online? We’re talkin’ computers, folks.) You c... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3212311 Tue, 26 Jan 2010 20:18:50 +0100 3212311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3175462&cid=t_91125_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2010%2F01%2Freview-of-book-environmental-molecular.html A review of the book Environmental Molecular Microbiology from Mercedes Berlanga, University of Barcelona, Spain: "Although measuring the reservoir of prokaryotic diversity is not a trivial task, fortunately, microbial ecology is currently benefiting from a technological boom with respect to the rapid development of molecular techniques, in general, and 'omics' technologies in particular (genomics-metagenomics, proteomics-metaproteomics, transcriptomes). These techniques and their applications are the subject of Environmental Molecular Microbiology, which provides a state-of-the- art molecular toolbox to study microbial ecology.Understanding the ecology of microorganisms is inarguably one of the most compelling intellectual challenges facing contemporary ecology. Environmental Molecular Mi... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3175462 Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:07:00 +0100 3175462 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3111363&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F12%2F22%2Funderstanding-liverpool-better-the-joint-director-of-public-health-annual-report-2008%25e2%2580%25932009%2F Title: Understanding Liverpool Better: The Joint Director of Public Health Annual Report 2008–2009 Skinny: This year’s public health annual report from Liverpool PCT focusing on: Improving Health 2010 Year of Wellbeing and Innovation Workplace Wellbeing Charter Impact of Recession on Mental Health Policies that impact on reducing Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Reducing smoking rates in Liverpool Obesity in Liverpool Dental public health Protecting Health Seasonal and swine flu Measles, mumps and rubella vaccination (MMR) Chlamydia Tuberculosis (TB) Understanding Liverpool Better Alcohol CVD Audit Cancer Inequalities Dementia Using Data to Improve Understanding Progress on Recommendations from 2008 Publisher: Liverpool PCT Size of Publication: 74p. Published: 21/12/2009 Pos... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3111363 Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:20:44 +0100 3111363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3048066&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2Fwhy-we-have-federal-antidiscrimiation.html The following stunning quote appeared in the Nov. 27, 2009 Newsweek article "The Hospital That Could Cure Health Care" about the Cleveland Clinic:[Cleveland Clinic president and CEO Dr. Delos M. Cosgrove, a former cardiac surgeon] has even taken on the most intractable driver of American health-care costs: Americans. Having already banned the hiring of smokers (a dictate enforced by urine tests for nicotine), Cosgrove declared this year that if it weren't illegal under federal law, he would refuse to hire fat people as well. The resulting outcry led him to apologize for "hurtful" comments. But he has not backed down from his belief that obesity is a failure of willpower, which can be attacked by the same weapons used to combat smoking: public education, economic incentives, and sheer exhor... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3048066 Wed, 02 Dec 2009 03:08:00 +0100 3048066 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2898884&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F16%2Fevidence-from-research-and-development-work-in-bradford%2F Title: Evidence from research and development work in Bradford Skinny: Summarises findings from eight research and community development projects in Bradford about Muslim women and young men, recent migrants to Bradford and life on former council estates. Part of a Joseph Rowntree Foundation ten-year programme to improve life in Bradford. Publisher: Joseph Rowntree Foundation Size of Publication: 12p Published: 06/10/2009 Posted in Culture, Diversity, Grey Literature, Social Policy Tagged: Community, Culture, Economics, Multimedia, Social Policy (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2898884 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 13:14:45 +0100 2898884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2839054&cid=t_91125_117_f&fid=34612&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thedoctorweighsin.com%2Fjournal%2F2009%2F9%2F27%2Fthe-wonderful-diversity-of-mankind.html   I think this is an article about health.  It is about mental health, anyway.  And even though health care professionals have done their best to separate mental from physical health, the last time I looked in the mirror, my head (where my brain resides) was attached to the rest of my body by a lot of flesh, bones, nerves and blood vessels.   Anyway, what I really want to write about today is how much fun it is to spend time with people who are different from me – in a variety of ways.  I started my day going to Dim Sum here in Houston.  Dim Sum, for those of you not familiar with it is a high-calorie, highly tasty communal Chinese-style brunch.   The restaurant staff wheel little carts around the diners’ tables offering such tasty morsels as... The Doctor Weighs In blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2839054 Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:51:53 +0100 2839054 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2827946&cid=t_91125_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F09%2Fmicrobial-ecology.html A new update on research in Microbial Ecology Microbial Diversity and PhylogenyGenomics and MetagenomicsMetaproteomicsNucleic-Acid-based CharacterizationMicroarrays in Microbial EcologyThe Soil EnvironmentPlant Microbial CommunitiesMarine Microbial EnvironmentsOcean microbial communitiesHuman Microbial EnvironmentWastewater TreatmentBacterial BiofilmsRead more at: Microbial EcologyFull range of books on microbiology at Microbiology Books (Source: Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists.) Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2827946 Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:58:00 +0100 2827946 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823674&cid=t_91125_77_f&fid=37259&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.horizonpress.com%2Fblogger%2F2009%2F09%2Fmicrobial-diversity-and-phylogeny.html The small subunit ribosomal RNA gene (SSU rRNA) has been the cornerstone of microbial ecology studies over the last 15 years, and has provided much of what we know about Bacterial and Archaeal diversity and community structure, and has greatly aided microbial taxonomy. Genomics is aiding our understanding of the relationships among closely related organisms, and ultimately of natural populations. In a recent study the available 16S rRNA genes from species type strains were examined. The most distant sequences in the median genus and family were about 4.4% and 14% different, respectively. The largest dissimilarity between a sequence and its closest relative in the same taxa (similar to single-linkage clustering distance) was 3.5% and 10% for the median genus and family. The ratio of the two... Microbiology Blog: The weblog for microbiologists. blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823674 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:17:00 +0100 2823674 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2770138&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F09%2F05%2Fwe-mutants%2F “Now remember — you’re special, just like everyone else!” It seems that classic punch line (for all the jokes on useless self-esteem boosters) was never truer.  At the ever-entertaining NeuroLogica Blog, Steven Novella explains recent findings that everyone is a mutant. Given my numerous neurological quirks, I had long assumed my mutant status to be true, and [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2770138 Sat, 05 Sep 2009 23:54:05 +0100 2770138 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2615380&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F07%2F18%2Fthe-don%2F Kiss the ring! Kiss the ring! Give allegiance to the power and position of its owner. The Godfather will treat you with respect and give you favors… but at a price… yet an offer you cannot refuse. Oh, but wait! Did you notice? This Godfather is wearing lipstick! As a Hispanic person and a mental health professional, I have observed that just as there are dysfunctions with one person there can also be dysfunctions with a large grouping of those persons, call it a “culture,” a “people,” a “cohort,” or other. In diversity classes we are taught to respect other cultures and not “judge’ them, yet never mind if they eat their own progeny or have sex with young little girls. Implicit in this intellectual doctrine is the rule is that we are to look the other way and not judge t... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2615380 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:23:01 +0100 2615380 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2602035&cid=t_91125_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphylogenomics.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F07%2Fdeep-subseafloor-microbiology-talk-at.html Wildly interesting talk here at Davis yesterday by Bo Barker Jorgensen Prof. Dr. Bo Barker JørgensenHe talked about deep subseafloor microbiology and how many/most of the microbes there grow VERY VERY slowly or not at all.His talk was part of a series here on "Major Issues in Modern Biology Seminar Series" funded by the Tracy and Ruth Storer Lectureship in the Life Sciences endowmentHe did a great job of presenting the evidence for and possibly against whether these organisms that live in the deep subseafloor are alive and whether or not they grow really slowly (with doubling times of hundreds of years). He refers to these organisms as the "starving majority" because their main challenge appears to be getting energy.The way they do much of their work is to take cores (from ships) of the d... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2602035 Tue, 14 Jul 2009 21:36:00 +0100 2602035 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2741102&cid=t_91125_139_f&fid=38879&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FVirologyBlog%2F%7E3%2FfC048IJzgv8%2F Mutation is an important source of RNA virus diversity that is made possible by the error-prone nature of RNA synthesis. Viruses with segmented genomes, such as influenza virus, have another mechanism for generating diversity: reassortment. When an influenza virus infects a cell, the individual RNA segments enter the nucleus. There they are copied many times to form RNA genomes for new infectious virions. The new RNA segments are exported to the cytoplasm, and then are incorporated into new virus particles which bud from the cell. If a cell is infected with two different influenza viruses, the RNAs of both viruses are copied in the nucleus. When new virus particles are assembled at the plasma membrane, each of the 8 RNA segments may originate from either infecting virus. The progeny that i... virology blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2741102 Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:00:11 +0100 2741102 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447510&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F05%2Fbritains-got-talent-bye-bye-susan-boyle.html So, Diversity won Britain's got Talent. The bookies will be delighted, Simon Cowell less so. It will be hard to make a fast buck out of Diversity. But power to the people. They rejected the mawk, and went for the one act that showed real talent. Actually, the saxophonist was pretty good too, but was never going to have the global appeal. Susan Boyle was extraordinarily gracious and will now be making her way to the land of the free where talent shows were invented. Hollie Steel will be returning to Accrington. Let us hope that those pushy parents will call a halt now and let her get back to a normal life. I would hate to find her popping up in church halls in Lancashire as a supporting act for The Searchers. Neeedles and Pins, uh!A grumpy commentator took me to task for suggesting that no ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447510 Sun, 31 May 2009 08:22:00 +0100 2447510 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2448061&cid=t_91125_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D3563 Yesterday was another booth day. And to find some sort of excitment, we pulled out the Snuggies again. Prior to last years AGM of CHAC, the board of my co-op sent a letter expressing concern over the budget cuts to the diveristy committe, it’s terms of reference, and a few other things. They basically told us to piss off in nice words. Last year, never have I heard the word diversity more in my life. This year they made a diversity booth, and with it a box of custume-y things in it to wear and have your photo taking the “I heart Diverstiy” sign. Angelica & Christina browning the joint up a bit. Go diveristy go! So of course I had to check it out, and nothing says diversity better than a Snuggie. I made them dress me and then take the photo. (Source: acidrefluxweb.com... acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2448061 Sat, 30 May 2009 16:33:06 +0100 2448061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2390183&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=37107&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Faspieweb%2F%7E3%2FfRH0APqUiv8%2F I have noticed a somewhat puzzling, and frankly disturbing fad:  those in one area of the spectrum tend to discredit others in the area of the spectrum.  Why don’t people who are advocating for needs on the spectrum quit attacking each other - it discredits everyone involved, and is just frankly counter-productive.An example is a [...] (Source: AspieWeb.net) AspieWeb.net blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2390183 Tue, 05 May 2009 18:15:49 +0100 2390183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2206761&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35098&url=http%3A%2F%2Fclub166.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F02%2Fmaking-difference-10-minutes-at-time.html photo credit-Half Chinesecreative commons licenseI think the internet is great. It's a great way of connecting with people in your community and across the globe. It's big enough that there is space enough for every niche interest imaginable. I also believe that besides connecting with other people, the internet can assist minority groups in advocating for themselves, as happened with protesting the Ransom Notes campaign.But I also think that the internet has its limitations in effecting change in socieatal attitudes and laws. My personal feeling is that the internet is one tool in a big handbag of ways that can be utilized to change opinions. Should we utilize the internet? You betcha. But I also think that we should also pursue other avenues whenever they present themselves, as well as c... Club 166 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2206761 Sun, 22 Feb 2009 20:02:00 +0100 2206761 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039841&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F15%2Flessons-from-west-bowling-youth-initiative-then-now-and-the-future%2F This report in-depth exploration of the work of one grassroots organisation in West Bowling, Bradford. It highlights: the impact made in building social capital, developing active citizenship and encouraging participation in neighbourhood life; the need for sustainability and flexibility in effective engagement with young British Muslim Pakistani men; the importance of building trusting relationships with local communities; the effectiveness of capitalising on local talent and local networks for meeting community needs; and the potential of creative arts informed project work. Posted in Deprivation, Diversity, Equity, Grey Literature, Poverty, Social Capital   Tagged: Art, Deprivation, Equity, Ethnic Groups, Grey Literature, Poverty, Religion, Social Capital, Stakeholder E... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039841 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:01:09 +0100 2039841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2039842&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F15%2F1952%2F This report looks at levels of cohesion in a single housing estate with low numbers of minority ethnic groups. It examines the experience of new residents from minority backgrounds recently housed in the area, as well as service providers and long-term residents. The report covers: the priorities of local services; the perception of change in population measured through the changing nature of services; perception of levels of racism on the estate; specific nature of hostility to new communities, if any; and community cohesion, key local issues and future outlook. Posted in Deprivation, Diversity, Environment, Equity, Poverty, Social Capital, Social Exclusion   Tagged: Demographics, Deprivation, Equity, Ethics, Grey Literature, Poverty, Racism, Social Capital, Social Inclus... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2039842 Mon, 15 Dec 2008 12:01:29 +0100 2039842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1984953&cid=t_91125_107_f&fid=35026&url=http%3A%2F%2Fphylogenomics.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F11%2Fopen-microbial-diversity-plos-papers-on.html Two new papers that just came out in PLoS Journals are definitely worth checking out. They arePLoS Genetics: Exploring Microbial Diversity and Taxonomy Using SSU rRNA Hypervariable Tag SequencingPLoS Biology - The Pervasive Effects of an Antibiotic on the Human Gut Microbiota, as Revealed by Deep 16S rRNA SequencingOf course I am a bit biased I suppose as I am heavily involved in PLoS and also served as Academic Editor for these papers. But with that being said, I encourage people to check them out. In the PLoS Genetics paper from the labs of Mitch Sogin and David Relman labs discusses continued development of the use of 454-Roche pyrosequencing technology to carry out deep rRNA sampling. Anybody interested in characterizing a microbial community deeply in terms of what organisms are there... The Tree of Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1984953 Mon, 24 Nov 2008 19:29:00 +0100 1984953 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1955845&cid=t_91125_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2F449788110%2F Discussion Highlights. Below go some of my own still-jetlagged reflections. The financial crisis has made obvious the obvious: that we live in a truly new and global world. And that business as usual will lead to global disaster - we need new approaches to collectively adapt to and thrive in this new environment. The answer is not to go back to any old paradigm, which simply will not work in a new reality, but to imagine and build a better new way of doing things. Some of the attendants urged us to “reboot” the system. I don’t think that a "reboot" is enough - we need to upgrade to a new operating system. We can call it Planet Earth 2.0.Based on the group discussion we had on Sunday morning, let me propose some of the architectural principles that should underlie any emergi... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1955845 Tue, 11 Nov 2008 18:07:19 +0100 1955845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1947036&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F11%2F09%2Fdiversity-in-health-and-social-care-5-3%2F This study attempted further development of previously tested audio methods of questionnaire administration and data collection, in order to assess their usefulness among individuals with type 2 diabetes living in Bangladesh. A total of 50 individuals, who spoke Sylheti and were attending the diabetes outpatient department of two different hospitals (one urban and one suburban) in Bangladesh, were recruited. All of them had type 2 diabetes. The audio questionnaires were tested and each participant’s opinions with regard to the administration and completion of audio-assisted methods was evaluated.Overall, the study participants did not report any difficulties in understanding and completing the audio-recorded questionnaires. However, participants reported finding the self-efficacy que... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1947036 Sun, 09 Nov 2008 12:22:03 +0100 1947036 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1920970&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fbrain-damage%2F One of my favorite Pink Floyd songs is Brain Damage from the classic Dark Side of the Moon.  Roger Waters says he wrote it in response to the pressure he felt as a teenager to fit in, to not be so different. = = == === ===== The lunatic is on the grass. The lunatic is on the grass. Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs. Got to keep the loonies on the path. The lunatic is in the hall. The lunatics are in my hall. The paper holds their folded faces to the floor And every day the paper boy brings more. And if the dam breaks open many years too soon And if there is no room upon the hill And if your head explodes with dark forebodings too I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon. The lunatic is in my head. The lunatic is in my head You raise the blade, you make the change You re... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1920970 Wed, 29 Oct 2008 10:51:43 +0100 1920970 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1914628&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F10%2Fmonday-morning-lunatics%2F Another song that brought my experiences with autism to mind, Dream Theater’s Solitary Shell, from the Six Degrees of Separation CD. = = == === ===== He seemed no different from the rest Just a healthy normal boy His mama always did her best And he was daddy’s pride and joy He learned to walk and talk on time But never cared much to be held And steadily he would decline Into his solitary shell As a boy he was considered somewhat odd Kept to himself most of the time He would daydream in and out of his own world But in every other way he was fine He’s a monday morning lunatic Disturbed from time to time Lost withing himself In his solitary shell A temporary catatonic Madman on occasion When will he break out Of his solitary shell ===== === == = = I have no idea if this song... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1914628 Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:42:47 +0100 1914628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1886443&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F18%2Fwant%2F Check out this small meeting room (one of a number of diverse, really cool nooks) at the Google offices in Zurich. Unseen in the first shot is the firefighter’s pole to slide down from the floor above! It sure beats the hell outta the industrial-grey cube-farm where I did tech writing. But what’s [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1886443 Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:41:37 +0100 1886443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511043&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F9gXXu-HO8PE%2Fmen_are_logical_women_emotiona.html   Have you observed that men are logical and women are more emotional, where you work? If so you must also have examples to show how it is so.   Or do you see men and women as both logical and emotional at times? Check here for one humorist’s interpretation of  cognitive discoveries on this key matter.    My question is – What specific strategies would enable men and women to work together more for mutual benefits at work? How do you see collaboration between men and women winning more mutual benefits where you work? (Source: BrainBasedBusiness) BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511043 Mon, 13 Oct 2008 19:12:26 +0100 2511043 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1862929&cid=t_91125_122_f&fid=35372&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FSomatopsychic%2F%7E3%2F415330548%2Fdnde-est-la-biblioteca.html The above is one of the few Spanish phrases I remember from Spanish I. I took the class in 1998 from Senor Hall at Vincennes University. There were 7 students in the summer session and 5 of them were Asian.Anyway, thanks to DNLee over at Urban Science Adventures for pointing out this challenge:Can you name 5 (or more) Latin-American Scientist? Latin-American Heritage Month ends October 15th.Rules1. Be sure to name their discipline or field.2. You can't choose people from your own institution or company. (I may go soft on this one, this time)3. You can't Google or use the internet to aid in your search. (But if you know someone is a scientist, but not sure what disciple, you can look that up).4. You can consult textbooks, journals, and class notes.5. You can ask others to help you brainstor... Somatopsychic blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1862929 Thu, 09 Oct 2008 01:31:00 +0100 1862929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1829405&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F402941361%2Fquestion_of_greed_diversity_an.html  Do you think if Wall Street had more diversity in their ranks, that greed would have been less? My friend and highly respected leader, Jim Walton asked a great question that should get a straightforward yes response. Right? After all, we’d all agree that Wall Street lacks diverse leaders. Most would agree that financial market controls come from one pool of people that keep many others poor. Few would disagree that we have needed diversity at top financial tables. Concerns are fairly unanimous that a few top CEOs grab or control most profits unfairly. The list goes on and most agree to toxic financial flaws we’ve allowed to mushroom and corrupt Wall Street. To Jim’s question about diversity's ability to reduce greed on wall Street, I’d answer no, howeve... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1829405 Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:14:01 +0100 1829405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812903&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F399036912%2Fwhy_disagree_with_your_boss.html Lisa Haneberg calls for a time to simply stop disagreeing, and make a boss’ bad ideas work. Do you agree?  Lisa’s ideas always intrigue me, because they are well articulated and relate to interesting real life stories. Check out Lisa’ blog and you’ll find both. It also raised a few instances, though,  where it seems to me far better to disagree than to carry out even a boss’ best ideas. How so? 1. When a boss decides to fudge facts or pilfer a public purse - disagree. 2. If an employee’s slurred for race, gender, or beliefs – dispute it. 3. When any approach breeches your ethical code – beg to differ. 4. If new research or related facts appear – oppose older myths 5. When practices go against the well being of others &ndash... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812903 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 17:48:37 +0100 1812903 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809759&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fautism-and-the-tragedy-of-the-commons%2F Last summer, I put Cooperation and the tragedy of the commons, from the Anecdote blog,  in my “to blog” pile.  It seemed relevant, but I just couldn’t quite figure out how.  In his post about an Alliance for Autism, Mike Stanton raises the problem of reconciling the individual wishes and desires of parents and adults with autism with the long term goals of autism advocacy, which has helped me better understand the relevance. The problem Mike raises shows up in many different domains and is known as the tragedy of the commons.  Simply stated, tragedy of the commons is: a dilemma in which multiple individuals acting independently in their own self-interest can ultimately destroy a shared resource even where it is clear that it is not in anyone’s long term interest... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809759 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:09:08 +0100 1809759 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1794404&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F09%2Fdifferent-no-doubt-but-disabled%2F In a recent post suggesting the formation of an Alliance for Autism, Mike Stanton raised a few issues on which parents and adults with autism as a group may need to come to some sort of agreement.  One of those issues are the questions:  Is autism a disability or a difference? Can it be both? More than just an academic debate, the answers to these questions have very definite real world consequences.  Disabilities are covered by various laws, policies, etc. etc..  Differences, on the other hand, are not.  This was brought home to me when I read the aspie:talk post an adult trying to get accomodations. Although his issues were more related to not having an official diagnosis, the situation presents a good point of comparison. If treated as a disability, supported by the proper diagnosi... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1794404 Tue, 16 Sep 2008 02:01:40 +0100 1794404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764192&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F382921305%2Ftone_for_diversity.html Recall many times you have waited to hear from talented people at work, only to see their dynamic insights squelched by poor tone practices of another employee. You vow to help diminished peers to take the stage at times. But somewhere between the negative tone and pressures that mount in any job, your resolution disappears and you accept the silence of some because of skills lacking in others. Good news, the cognitive sciences are shedding light on the brain at work, and showing how tone skills can be learned.  Because of the brain's amazing plasticity – which contains capability to develop good tone practices - people can hard wire improvements into workplace interactions.Along with lessons from neuroscience, new tone approaches guide people to facilitate di... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764192 Thu, 04 Sep 2008 04:54:47 +0100 1764192 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1755185&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F381401200%2Fmining_gems_from_differences_f.html Does your firm mine more gems from cultural differences, by using parts of the brain rarely used in some organizations? How so?Create high performing cultural merges through riveting tactics such as: 1. Tone tactics go a long way to engage diversity and jumpstart solutions.2. Two-footed questions enable more people to address issues through  strengths.3. Brain based targeting creates mental synergy to move from where you stand now to where you expect to progress. 4. Rubrics for shared expectation offer opportunities to spot and help achieve mind-bending results.5. Multiple intelligences allow for solutions to problems from many intellectual angles often missed when too few people create business solutions.6. Interactive reflections allow people to ask together … &ldqu... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1755185 Tue, 02 Sep 2008 15:04:45 +0100 1755185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1750125&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fjust-the-way-it-is-but-dont-you-believe-them%2F Frequent readers of this blog know that in my attempt to understand autism better, I have a tendency to see connections in things that aren’t always directly related to autism.  A lot of times this will come in the form of a song, a TV show, or a main- or sub-theme in a movie (like the X-Men trilogy). My post yesterday brought to mind Bruce Hornsby’s (excellent) song, The Way It Is (from the album of the same name). They say, “Hey little boy you can’t go Where the others go ‘Cause you don’t look like they do” Said, “Hey old man How can you stand to think that way Did you really think about it Before you made the rules” He said, son That’s just the way it is Some things will never change That’s just the way it is Ah, but don... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1750125 Sun, 31 Aug 2008 14:53:08 +0100 1750125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1742745&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fdo-i-need-to-be-healed%2F This is the third of three posts of excerpts from Elizabeth Moon’s novel The Speed of Dark. (Part one - How normal are normal people?, and part two - What does it meant to be “me”?) In this excerpt, Lou is considering what it might mean to be “healed”: If my self definition is limited and rule-dictated, at least it is my self-definition, and not someone else’s. I like peppers on pizza and I do not like anchovies on pizza. If someone changes me, will I still like peppers and not anchovies on pizza? What if the someone who changes me wants me to want anchovies…can they change that? … Asking if I want to be healed is like asking if I want to like anchovies. I cannot imagine what liking anchovies would feel like, what taste they would have in my ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1742745 Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:37:50 +0100 1742745 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739129&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fwhy-are-we-so-intolerant-of-differences%2F One of the key sub-plots in Elizabeth Moon’s book The Speed of Dark involves some corporate intrigue and an almost stereotypical management vs. labor conflict.   At the heart of the issue is a question of the efficiency vs. effectiveness of the autistic workforce.   It’s probably because of my recent reading of the book that Jack Vinson’s post People still say these things? caught my attention.  (Attention, what attention?) In that post, Jack references a quote that “amazes me every time I see it used in real life”: Regrettably far too many executives remain firmly convinced that the only way to increase productivity is for their employees to work harder or faster. A chief executive in Northern Ireland was quoted in his company magazine as saying; “... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739129 Thu, 28 Aug 2008 23:46:46 +0100 1739129 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1739131&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F08%2Fhow-normal-are-normal-people%2F After seeing a reference to it in a comment to a blog somewhere last week, I picked up Elizabeth Moon’s novel The Speed of Dark and read it over the weekend. The novel, set in the near future (30 years or so), is the story of Lou Arrendale, an autistic man presented with the possibility of being cured, his contemplation of what his decision - either way - would mean, and the consequences of his eventual decision. I need to process it a bit more before writing a full review, but the short version of the review goes something like this: If you haven’t read this book yet, go out and buy it now and read it tonight. As I pull together my thoughts for the full review, I’d like to share some key passages that really stood out to me as relevant to my own contemplation of autism, ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1739131 Wed, 27 Aug 2008 11:35:05 +0100 1739131 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1640309&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F21%2Fmeet-the-zebras%2F In the field of medicine, there’s a saying that, “If you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras.” This means that although medical students will learn of a great many odd diseases, some of them are quite exotic (”zebras”), but that most patients’ complaints will resolve to common causes (”horses”). Which of course does not mean [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1640309 Mon, 21 Jul 2008 06:02:52 +0100 1640309 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1631045&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fcomparative-studies-in-autism%2F I have an irritating (according to some) tendency to play “devil’s advocate” in discussions about many things. I think this dates back to my junior year in high school when I learned the pleasures of debate in a philosophy class (gotta love the Jesuits!). More than anything, it was the admonition that some things were beyond debate - for example, abortion (remember: Jesuits) - that got me hooked. Nothing, as far as I’m concerned, is beyond discussion or debate. Which has led me into a life of “comparison.” Comparative religion. Comparative politics. (It was, in fact, in a comparative politics class that I met my wife of 21 years.) My reading list over the years reflects this believe, as I make it a point to read books that discuss different aspects of a... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1631045 Thu, 17 Jul 2008 05:03:03 +0100 1631045 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1603055&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F07%2Fpharma-vendor-and-ad-agency-diversity.html Craig DeLarge, Associate Director, eMarketing & Relationship Marketing at Novo Nordisk Inc., was a featured speaker at the 4th Annual Pharma Networking Dinner Reception that I hosted at the Princeton, NJ Marriott on June 4, 2008.DeLarge spoke on the Life Science Profiles of Color Project and blog (see here), the goals of which are to encourage and offer guidance to young people seeking to achieve success in the life sciences industry and to highlight the contribution of people of color in the life sciences.DeLarge's profile is the first one published on the LSPOC blog. He ended his LSPOC profile with these words:"The benefits of the industry’s diversity initiatives, racially and otherwise," says DeLarge, "have been greater reflection of our customers in our organizations with the cor... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1603055 Wed, 09 Jul 2008 13:38:00 +0100 1603055 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1602934&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F08%2Fmaking-the-difference-the-pacesetters-beginners-guide-to-service-improvement-for-equality-and-diversity-in-the-nhs%2F Making the difference: The Pacesetters beginner’s guide to service improvement for equality and diversity in the NHS considers service improvement approaches for those working within the Pacesetters programme. Service improvement is concerned with testing ideas, sustaining and sharing best practice to make a tangible difference in outcomes and experience for staff and service users. It is primarily intended for NHS organisations who are part of the Pacesetters programme; however, will also be useful for other organisations. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1602934 Tue, 08 Jul 2008 03:40:38 +0100 1602934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1526194&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F06%2Flife-science-profiles-of-color-response.html Back in October, 2007, Fard Johnmar over at HealthcareVOX blog, went "off topic" to comment on racist "gestures" like nooses hung on trees and doors and the brouhaha over a statement attributed to James Watson, winner of the Nobel Prize as co-discoverer of DNA's molecular structure. See Fard's comments here.According to Bloomberg.com, Watson was quoted Oct. 14 in the Times of London saying he was "inherently gloomy about the prospect of Africa" because "all our social policies are based on the fact that their intelligence is the same as ours -- whereas all the testing says not really."Ever since I read Watson's book, The Double Helix, I realized he was a pr*ck! His comment about Africans just confirms it. Let's put racism aside for a moment. May I ask, what do social policies have do with ... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1526194 Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:30:00 +0100 1526194 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1512063&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F12%2Fdesigning-citizen-centred-governance%2F Citizen-centred governance involves new ways of enabling local people, working with statutory and other agencies, to decide how public services can improve their quality of life. Designing citizen-centred governance from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation examines the relationship between new governance structures and the engagement of citizens, service users and the voluntary and community sectors, with the aim of identifying lessons for policy and practice. The report covers: the changing governance of communities; understanding the new governance; designing citizen-centred governance; learning from diversity; strengthening citizen-centred governance. (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1512063 Thu, 12 Jun 2008 10:44:07 +0100 1512063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1478026&cid=t_91125_131_f&fid=35005&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2Ffungalcompgenomics%2F%7E3%2F300567206%2F Science has a section dedicated to Microbial Ecology including a review describing microbial biogeography studying communities on the basis of trait rather than taxonomic diversity. Certainly this interlinks with metagenomic approaches well, something I've been thinking about more after visiting some of the folks at Montana State Thermal Biology Institute and all the increasingly massive datasets like what CAMERA provides. © Jason Stajich for Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics, 2008. | Permalink | No comment Add to del.icio.us Search blogs linking this post with Technorati Want more on these topics ? Browse the archive of posts filed under ecology, metagenomics. (Source: Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics) Fungal Genomes and Comparative Genomics blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1478026 Thu, 29 May 2008 14:01:03 +0100 1478026 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451959&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F293197115%2Frace_and_ethnicity_progress_or.html Discrimination often comes from flawed notions of race and ethnicity … and it’s recently been discovered that biases tend to be hardwired into the human brain  itself. Add to that the fact that race and ethnicity constantly evolve ... and sometimes come to work with confusing criteria. Not surprisingly then, attitudinal barriers can add emotional triggers … and even prevent us from identifying and engaging deeper value … within others who differ. That’s unless we confront our innate prejudices … and begin to develop skills ... such as good tone ... to overcome cultural biases at their core.Ethnicity refers to social groups which share similar roots … while at the same time may differ in  racial make-up. Despite color or facial f... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451959 Mon, 19 May 2008 03:54:32 +0100 1451959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1451960&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F293114629%2Finclusion_through_identificati.html If strength in a firm lies in its diverse population … then success comes to workers who suspend their own ideas at times …  in order to engage others’ perspectives. Have you seen people who identify with workers who differ from the group?When in the High Arctic for two years …  I learned to draw more on my own intrapersonal intelligence to identify with Inuit leaders. It’s much like reflection that rewards talented people … because of their talent not their race.An interesting benefit from identification with Inuit in the Arctic tundra … was that my own intrapersonal intelligence grew … just as productivity also  increased for our entire community. Would you agree that genuine inclusion … through identification &h... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1451960 Mon, 19 May 2008 00:40:37 +0100 1451960 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1426715&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F285431582%2Fwhy_men_and_women_hit_the_dust.html Some people use research and observation to point out that men are better at numbers while women excel more in language and communication. Do you agree?Others say it’s not that simple to quantify intelligence. What do you say?Here’s the skinny of what we know about brainpower differences in men and women. Men traditionally dominated fields of math, science and engineering… and that imbalance is changing.Women make up the lion’s share of US higher education students since 1982 and yet women do less well than men on standardized tests used for college entrance or graduate school requirements. The best universities are attracting more men to narrow their enrollment gaps. Have you seen it happen?Gender differences show up early in life.  School age children show d... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1426715 Wed, 07 May 2008 16:05:25 +0100 1426715 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1404115&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F279520281%2F I was interviewed in the May issue of Working Mother magazine in an article by Jennifer Owens entitled The Quiet Struggle: From heartbreak to hope: moms of kids with special needs. The mothers in the article have special needs kids of varying diagnoses (some with autism) and ages (3 years old; adults). One mother is a corporate executive, another is the editor of The Elephant in the Playroom: Ordinary Parents Write Intimately and Honestly About the Extraordinary Highs and Heartbreaking Lows of Raising Kids with Special Needs (what a title—says it all), another is a classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey (that would be me). There are suggestions about getting in “me-time,” nurturing your marriage, making connections with other women with special needs kids. It means... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1404115 Mon, 28 Apr 2008 19:00:18 +0100 1404115 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1383725&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fwhat-if-they-had-been-diagnosed-autistic%2F In his book Unstrange Minds: Remapping the World of Autism, author Roy Richard Grinker mentions chess legend Bobby Fischer (p. 63) as someone who may have been an undiagnosed autistic. I’ve just started reading David Edmonds’ book Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How A Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine (P.S.), and have to say that I was thinking the same thing. (For more discussion on the subject check out the Bobby Fischer talk page on Wikipedia.) Which got me thinking: If Fischer were indeed autistic, how would his life - and the history of chess, among other things - have been different if he had been diagnosed when he was young? If he had been provided the treatment and services that are typically demanded today for Asperger’s diagnoses, would he have had... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1383725 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 23:58:34 +0100 1383725 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1379398&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fmaybe-were-all-autistic-redux%2F While writing my most recent post, I found myself back 2 1/2 years to something I wrote on the subject of the genetic nature of autism. The following quote from the article I was discussing is quite likely the source of my opinion, expressed in The genetic basis of … everything (Or: Maybe we are all autistic), that the “autism spectrum” isn’t restricted to those with an autism diagnosis (emphasis is mine): Autism is not a “you have it or you don’t” disorder, Todd said. Instead, it is a highly inheritable continuum of traits, much like height or high blood pressure. The cutoff for being tall or short or having high or low blood pressure is somewhat arbitrary, he said. So is the diagnosis of autism. The measure of autism is usually the inability to cope in the r... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1379398 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 11:00:55 +0100 1379398 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1377969&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fgenetic-engineering-and-autism%2F As far as I know, all of the arguments about the increase in autism diagnoses being too rapid to be purely genetic are based on an assumption of randomness in the process. From that perspective I must admit that it seems unlikely that you could explain the increase in autism diagnoses purely to genetics. But is this really a random process? This thought occurred to me yesterday when I heard a teaser for yesterday’s Talk of the Nation on NPR, on which they had a segment titled Genetically Engineering a ‘Perfect’ Baby. In the teaser, they played a quote from one of the guests in which he said something along the lines of: We’ve been engaged in genetic engineering for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. It happens every night in bars and clubs and every where around ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1377969 Thu, 17 Apr 2008 03:29:50 +0100 1377969 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1368772&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fthe-genetic-basis-of-everything-or-maybe-were-all-autistic%2F Maybe it’s because I’ve been around autism for so long now, but I can’t understand why anyone would find it so surprising that a possible “cause” of autism is a complex interaction of genes. Several recent stories (such as those documented by Kristina Chew and Mike Stanton) have made this point as if it is some new discovery. Granted, it may have only recently been scientifically validated, but this one seems to me to be common sense. You might as well ask questions like, “What is the cause of introversion? Extroversion? Natural athletic ability?” I can hear many people saying something along the lines of, “But those ‘conditions’ are normal.” Are they? I mean, in a statistical sense, are they really ‘normal’? I w... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1368772 Sat, 12 Apr 2008 22:56:00 +0100 1368772 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1354195&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F265699019%2Fblack_leaders_fail_black_commu.html  Critics in the black community claim that successful black leaders fail to help their own communities suceed. The charge on an NBC program today? Accomplished Blacks tend to help themselves ... rather than support still struggling Black peers. Do you agree? Such claims may be as unrealistic as lumping all people together into any category … in ways that good people fall behind. Certainly greed may snare a few Black professionals ... just as  it traps any others who develop their talents and move forward. It’s also true that there could be better organizations ... and that we can support talented leaders who focus on issues in the American Black community. Check out a few Black self help programs that currently exist. But should all Black professionals turn... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1354195 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:26:28 +0100 1354195 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1349537&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fa-world-without-autism%2F On one side of the autism debate are those whose mission it is to eradicate autism, remove it from the face of the earth. Which got me thinking, and brought the following questions to mind that I would like to ask those who would see autism disappear: If autism could be cured, and if we, as a society, chose to cure it, what would the world be like? How would it impact our lives, and the lives of our children (and descendants many generations down the line)?  What would society look like 50 years from now?  100 years from now, when autism (or autism-like traits) had stopped influencing things? If you can, I’d also like to know what you think would actually be removed from individuals and society by curing autism, in terms of behaviors, (dis-)abilities, etc.  In other words, what do... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1349537 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:47:25 +0100 1349537 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1347372&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2Fautism.gbrettmiller.com%2F2008%2F04%2Fa-view-from-the-middle%2F I had lunch with an old friend recently, and the topic of conversation wound its way to autism. I, of course, am the parent of an autistic son. As it turns out, his nephew is also autistic. He wanted to understand autism, and I wanted to help him understand. But I didn’t know where to start. Sure, there are many angles from which to approach the question. I could start with: Vaccines cause autism, once they have it, it’s a long struggle to recover them. Or how about: Nothing “causes” autism, it is just another aspect of this neurodiverse world we live in. As far as treatment: Chelation, to get rid of the mercury and other metals. Or: A special diet that is almost impossible, and incredibly expensive, to adhere to. Or: ABA. Or: (add your favorite treatment here). To ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1347372 Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:15:00 +0100 1347372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1322364&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F03%2Fobama-and-pharma-more-perfect-union.html Sorry. This post is not about what will happen to the profits of the pharmaceutical industry should Barack Obama become president. It's about Obama's speech on race and how it relates to diversity and racial issues in the pharmaceutical industry.Obama spoke about discrimination:"But for all those who scratched and clawed their way to get a piece of the American Dream, there were many who didn't make it - those who were ultimately defeated, in one way or another, by discrimination."Is there discrimination in the pharmaceutical industry? Maybe no more than any other industry, but I see some troubling signs: "Are Some Drug Companies Promoting a Racist Workplace Culture?" and "Why are so many blacks leaving Centocor?" (a post on Cafe Pharma -- warning: racist and hateful remarks) and "Lily-Whi... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1322364 Mon, 24 Mar 2008 11:25:00 +0100 1322364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1314024&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F19%2Fdeafness-national-knowledge-week-sign-language%2F British Sign Language.com This site uses moving pictures to show the basic signs for British Sign Language. British-Sign.co.uk Learn BLS online Learnbsl.org The home of British Sign Language resources published by Stories in the Air. Seehear - BBC Link BBC’s BSL information page Deafsign.com The No.1 resource for deafness and sign language Sign Language E-learning for the teaching of sign language (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1314024 Wed, 19 Mar 2008 09:00:32 +0100 1314024 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1266615&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F242968612%2F Are people with autism trapped in their own world? Or are the rest of us just trapped in ours? asks Tara Parker-Pope on the New York Times, regarding the the Wired magazine article on autism featuring Amanda Baggs and Michelle Dawson. Parker-Pope asks a chicken and egg kind of question about autism: Is it a disease and a disability? Or is it a difference, a different way of being human? And who decides—autistic persons themselves, “experts” in autism, those who live with autistic persons—or who should decide? Tags: amanda baggs, asd, asperger, autism, disability, diversity, Intelligence, IQ, michelle dawson, Neuroscience, Parenting, pdd-nos, Technology, wiredShare This (Source: Autism Vox) Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1266615 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 22:27:04 +0100 1266615 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1263438&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F242453658%2F Writes Cory Doctorow on Boing Boing about the Wired magazine article on autism featuring Amanda Baggs and Michelle Dawson: The article looks into the long-held belief that autism and retardation are tied together and concludes that this just isn’t true — rather, that people with autism have been incorrectly classed as retarded for generations. Yes. It’s very obvious to me why people would think my son is mentally retarded; his academic performance and testing reveal this. But anyone who’s spent any time with Charlie knows that—-while he is very limited in his speech and while it often takes a long time (minutes, hours, days) for him to understand things that are said to him—-he doesn’t just look smart, but he is. Charlie’s very attuned to all... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1263438 Thu, 28 Feb 2008 02:29:48 +0100 1263438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1256291&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F241205979%2F Go here to read Wired’s article, The Truth About Autism: Scientists Reconsider What They Think They Know. The article closely profiles Amanda Baggs—-who notes that “‘I don’t fit the stereotype of autism. But who does?’”— and Michelle Dawson—-who says “‘There’s such a variety of human behavior. Why is my kind wrong?”‘. And some words by Mike Merzenich, a professor of neuroscience at UC San Francisco: Mike Merzenich…….says the notion that 75 percent of autistic people are mentally retarded is “incredibly wrong and destructive.” He has worked with a number of autistic children, many of whom are nonverbal and would have been plunked into the low-functioning category. “We label them... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1256291 Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:48:16 +0100 1256291 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1218208&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F231583594%2Fenemy_or_amity.html Over at Fearless Dreams I was intrigued by a post that asked …Do You Have Enemies?What a shocking reminder that … we’re consumed with the idea of wars and enemies.Unfortunately this toxic mental pattern triggers and sustains fears that follow. Have you seen it? No wonder it’s easy to believe the 2005 survey by the National Institute of Mental Health … that shows how 58 million people suffer from anxiety disorders.If you’ve detected people out to get you, you likely also see fellow workers as enemies. My question is … Do you consider folks who offer opposing views as combatants? Have you ever noticed subtle differences between well respected firms and combatant organizations? In fighter settings ... wars arise from mere differences in culture, b... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1218208 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:36:10 +0100 1218208 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1199849&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Findulge-your-kids-passion-and-build-on.html Consider this opening paragraph from the book Strengths Finder 2.0:At its fundamentally flawed core, the aim of almost any learning program is to help us become who we are not. If you don't have natural talent with numbers, you're still forced to spend time in that area to attain a degree. If you're not very empathic, you get sent to a course designed to infuse empathy into your personality. From the cradle to the cubicle, we devote more time to our shortcomings than to our strengths.Any autism parent - any parent, for that matter - will likely recognize that this is exactly what we tend to do with our autistic children. In fact, it is what is expected of us, to try to make our autistic children into someone they are not. But that doesn't mean that is what we should be doing.The following ... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1199849 Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:15:00 +0100 1199849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1194701&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F02%2F01%2Fnew-e-journals%2F New e-journals available via Ingenta Connect you’ll need an Athens password from Liverpool PCT to access them (You can register here if you work for the PCT and don’t have one) Clinician in Management 2001 – Diversity in Health and Social Care 2004 - Education for Primary Care 2001 - Primary Care Mental Health 2003 - If you need any training in the use of these or any other electronic resources and you work for Liverpool PCT you can contact us using the form below. [contact-form] (Source: Fade Library) Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1194701 Fri, 01 Feb 2008 10:43:35 +0100 1194701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1173266&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F222020986%2F ABC’s Nightline is airing a special on girls with autism tonight, on ABC News World News with Charles Gibson at 6:30pm (ET) and on Nightline, Wednesday, January 23, 2008 at 11:35pm (ET/PT). Aspie Dad posts a summary:   …in a surprising twist, correspondent John Donvan and producer Caren Zucker talk to several researchers and psychologists who believe there are actually more girls with autism in the U.S. than diagnosed. Not only may there be many under-diagnosed girls, according to these experts, but some girls with autism may be assigned some other diagnosis. In fact these girls are often being under-diagnosed or diagnosed with something else. The researchers believe that many of the symptoms are being missed, or that they are just more subtle in girls. Nightline takes an i... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1173266 Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:04:14 +0100 1173266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166426&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35088&url=http%3A%2F%2Fqw88nb88.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F21%2Fmy-own-dream%2F Here in the States, today is Martin Luther King Jr Day, a “bank holiday” honoring the civil rights leader. This means that as a school employee, I get the day off, which in turn means that I have the opportunity to not only contemplate civil rights, but also run errands to places I can’t [...] (Source: Andrea's Buzzing About:) Andrea's Buzzing About: blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166426 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 20:12:14 +0100 1166426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166477&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F220444146%2Fwhen_firms_value_workers.html  Here are 5 top comments that came from workers at firms where they are valued for their efforts and talents: 1. We speak and feel heard here at work … so that ideas shared often become improvements implemented.2. Pay is generally fair for most work we do here.3. Talents from many of us can be found in the firm’s esteemed talent pool in this workplace.4. People of all backgrounds …  find daily opportunities to add value to the firm’s vision… based on their unique offerings.5. Daily opportunities exist to grow…  and incentives for personal  and organizational advancement  are common … where we work. Can you claim all five comments about your place of employment? Which statement would you add to proves a firm values and ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166477 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 15:56:00 +0100 1166477 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1149697&cid=t_91125_129_f&fid=34885&url=http%3A%2F%2Fterriblepalsy.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F14%2Fan-invitation%2F Dear friends, I continue to be astounded by the number of people who visit this site each day. Your support has been amazing during my travels thus far. Some of you are other mums, traveling a similar road. Others occasionally stop by to say hello and see another view. And others come here by googling terms such as “blurry vision”, “birthday wishes” and “man marries sister” and leave very disappointed. I’ve been thinking about the direction that this blog will take for some time. Whilst the journey is not close to being over, I am getting to the stage where I am repeating myself (a lot). The recent series of The Story of the Other Moo, has made me realise that there are a variety of experiences to be told. Some similar to my own. Some very differen... Terrible Palsy blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1149697 Mon, 14 Jan 2008 09:57:13 +0100 1149697 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1131743&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F211679860%2F10_tips_to_disagree_and_win.html Political leaders tend to jump in with poor tone, or diminish another person as a way to make their points.  Too often great discussions slip into oblivion as a result ... and we miss the best exchanges out there. Thoughtful people fall silent in response. It’s a pity too … because in seeing the opposite of a thing … we usually see that thing in wonderful new lights and textures. It doesn't have to be that way. Here are 10 openers to disagree … without trashing the topic or taking out people who hold the opposite of your idea: 1.  I liked what you said about … and especially value … Have you thought about the opposite side? 2. Thanks for your ideas here and I’d like to think about these even more. In my o... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1131743 Sat, 05 Jan 2008 16:17:31 +0100 1131743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1097696&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F201264530%2F The December 14th Guardian reports on a study that has found that geography, race, class and gender play a greater role in determining a child’s chances for getting help, over and above “the nature of the learning difficulty.” The study was done by Harry Daniels and Jill Porter of the University of Bath; their report states that: “There is a pervasive gender bias, with not only higher incidence amongst boys than girls, but earlier recognition of boys’ difficulties. Children from certain ethnic minority groups are more likely to be identified as having social emotional behavioural disorders than others…..Children with dyslexia and autism have powerful lobby groups and are over-represented within the system…children from more affluent backgrounds re... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1097696 Sun, 16 Dec 2007 18:15:20 +0100 1097696 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1084386&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F198263501%2Flessons_from_opposites.html Don’t you love to see differences come together in ways that respect the similarities and learn from the opposite sides.  In addition,  I admire the life-changing lessons from people who value colleagues and friends who differ in views and backgrounds.Without a doubt,  it’s easier for some than others … to tolerate specific differences they may not understand completely.  We don’t have to agree with people’s perspectives in order to learn from what they offer though.Not surprisingly, learning from opposite viewpoints is far more possible for those who rewire their brains to regularly:  1. Engage opposite points of view2. Grow dendrite brain cells for a competitive edge3. Problem-solve with the brain in mind4. Rewire against Hebbian le... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1084386 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 21:37:46 +0100 1084386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1055602&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=36669&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffadelibrary.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F28%2Fsociology-of-health-and-illness-296-ethnicity-health-and-heath-care-understanding-diversity-tackling-disadvantage%2F Just into the library this special issue of Sociology of Health and Illness focus’ on Diversity, Inequalities and Ethnicity. You’ll need your NHS Athens password to access the full text articles. If you haven’t got one and wou work for Liverpool PCT you can apply for one can register here to access them. Locating ethnicity and health: exploring concepts and contexts Waqar I. U. Ahmad and Hannah Bradby pages 795–810 Abstract References Full Text PDF (116 KB) The Black diaspora and health inequalities in the US and England: does where you go and how you get there make a difference? James Nazroo, James Jackson, Saffron Karlsen and Myriam Torres pages 811–830 Abstract References Full Text PDF (197 KB) Race and nutrition: an investigation of Black-White differenc... Fade Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1055602 Wed, 28 Nov 2007 10:02:19 +0100 1055602 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1034915&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=35777&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FPharmalot%2F%7E3%2F186787012%2F Many studies document health care disparities - the lamentable failures of the medical establishment to deliver the best available care to women, minorities and other groups, writes The Baltimore Sun. But there is a flip side: When it comes to brand-new drugs and devices, it’s sometimes good to be left out. That’s because therapies that perform well in clinical trials often prove less effective - and sometimes more dangerous - when put to widespread use. The Sun goes on to cite implantable cardiac defibrillators, Vioxx, OTC meds for kids and drug-eluting stents as examples. “When a problem occurs rarely, and you do the study in a couple of hundred people, you’re not going to see the problems until later,” Richard Lange, a professor of cardiology at the Johns ... Pharmalot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1034915 Sun, 18 Nov 2007 19:23:19 +0100 1034915 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1030247&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F185335057%2Fdiversitys_more_about_brains_t.html How do you draw from richer diversity in those around you? Today I’m especially excited about a roundtable I’m facilitating with very diverse leaders. If you look in on us at any moment … you’d likely ask … What does an engineer and an architect or health professional  have to do with one another? Good question … and I’m glad you asked. In my group … we have a common vision to explore. With others I clarified one vision --  to create entrepreneurial directions for leaders.  Would you agree that shared goal gives us common ground? It also compels us to look for talent in each person at the table. Why so? 1. We don’t speak the other person’s jargon – so people at our roundtable try to communicate with m... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1030247 Thu, 15 Nov 2007 17:58:30 +0100 1030247 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1013353&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Flily-white-lilly-homophobic-and-sexist.html According to a recent Indy Star story, "dozens of current and former workers at Eli Lilly and Co. are stepping forward to accuse the Indianapolis drug maker of racial discrimination, adding heft to an ongoing lawsuit that paints the company as hostile to black employees."Another recent AP story noted that the NAACP "joined an expanded racial discrimination case in which more than 50 plaintiffs now allege Eli Lilly & Co. created a hostile workplace and paid them less than their white peers."The story went on to mention that Lilly's highest ranking black employee is Derica Rice, the company's chief financial officer and a senior vice president.Perhaps its highest ranking Puerto Rican employee is Dierdre Connelly, president of U.S. Operations. NOTE: Where I come from -- NYC -- Puerto Rica... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1013353 Thu, 08 Nov 2007 11:09:00 +0100 1013353 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1012350&cid=t_91125_150_f&fid=34889&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpharmamkting.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F11%2Flillys-connelly-diversity-issue.html Some heat in the Pharma BlogosphereTM is being generated by Dierdre Connelly's keynote presentation at the recent Marketing & Sales Summit hosted by Pharmaceutical Executive Magazine. Mostly the "news" is about her dissing reps that speak out on Cafe Pharma.It started with the article "Lilly's Connelly blasts reps mouthing off online" posted by MM&M's Editor-in-Chief James Chase, in which Chase quoted Connelly:"Lilly USA president Deirdre Connelly yesterday took a swipe at online forums that attract disgruntled, venting sales reps, describing sites like CafePharma.com as 'outlets for people who don't have the courage to speak out with their ideas' for improving their roles and the performance of their companies."Ed Silverman at Pharmalot also pointed out that a doc once belittled C... Pharma Marketing Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1012350 Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:51:00 +0100 1012350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1009546&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F180670669%2Fdebunk_5_myths_and_intelligenc.html If diversity’s benefits seem missing where you work… why not debunk the following 5 myths, and give differences a chance to ratchet up your bottom line:Myth 1: Business IQ is fixed and a few have more.  Reality: One key condition for more intelligent solutions is tone we foster at work so that the brain’s plasticity can rejuvenate. People’s tone IQ… as well as business IQs, influence how others develop and use more mental acumen on the job.Myth 2: It’s all about gender inabilities. Reality: Rich offerings from gender differences come from the fact that human brains biologically differ in structure and function. Ability attributed to one over the other gender … assumes false hierarchies, and misses huge talents waiting in the wings of b... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1009546 Tue, 06 Nov 2007 18:09:45 +0100 1009546 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=976487&cid=t_91125_109_f&fid=35677&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.feedburner.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainBasedBusiness%2F%7E3%2F174400668%2F10_tips_to_talent_from_gender.html    While you likely spot significant differences between guys and gals at work … you may be surprised … to see research that shows strengths most miss in each. No question … firms that welcome differences – also tend to value strengths in both genders more.  That why it’s no surprise that people tend to offer their best within inclusive circles. Here are 10 clues that could inspire more talent from both men and women:1. Toss in stories or doable applications to engage more women in math and science.2.  Check out current research on the brain’s corpus callosum to benefit more from both male and female leadership.3. Avoid falling for rumors out there … but instead ask different people what they think instead.4. ... BrainBasedBusiness blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=976487 Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:34:30 +0100 976487 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=959831&cid=t_91125_140_f&fid=35438&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwrithesafely.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F18%2Fhow-to-kill-empathy%2F This was especially useful tonight, but his speeches are often a thing of beauty, both intellectually and emotionally, and there are a ton of them at youtube. I’ll save my own impressions for later so as not to mar the experience of the viewer, but just offer thanks for Dr. John Breeding, who has taken [...] (Source: Writhe Safely) Writhe Safely blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=959831 Thu, 18 Oct 2007 05:56:38 +0100 959831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=845769&cid=t_91125_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fksdescartin.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F09%2F05%2Fgrand-rounds-volume-3-number-50%2F Parallel Universes hosts this week’s virtual Grand Rounds. My post on Diversity was mentioned under Health News, Policies, Advice, & Products. Thanks, Dr. Emer! (Source: the story of healing) the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=845769 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 05:04:56 +0100 845769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=828154&cid=t_91125_145_f&fid=35710&url=http%3A%2F%2Fksdescartin.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F08%2F28%2Fdiversity-a-happenstance-in-populations-an-evolution-in-means-of-providing-health%2F America’s ethnic composition is constantly changing. How does the health care delivery system adjust? The achievement of diversity is not purely a random event. Concerns exist and solutions are being developed. Can the challenge of caring for a diverse population be met by ensuring that the health care providers reflect the diversity of the population as a whole? Here’s Tamara E. Holmes’ eye-opening piece, Diversity in the workplace: Healthcare Industry Dives Deep Into Diversity: Diversity is an issue that all businesses must grapple with, but for healthcare companies, maintaining a diverse workforce takes on a whole new urgency. Today’s global society means patients that vary in gender, race, and creed are likely to pass through any healthcare organization’s... the story of healing blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=828154 Wed, 29 Aug 2007 05:35:52 +0100 828154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=783950&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2F141421193%2F The August 7th Guardian has a long article about autistic persons, families with autistic children, Autscape, and the “autism rights movement.” The title gives away the perspective: It’s not a disease, it’s a way of life. Yes, neurodiversity is mentioned, a lot, and many friends and bloggers from and not from the Autism Hub are quoted. I await the usual round of critique from mentioning the ND word, along with clipped remarks from the usual suspects, inveighing against the notion of autism as a “lifestyle choice” rather than denouncing it as a devastating train wreck of a disorder. Such responses are par for the course when mentioning neurodiversity and questioning the notion of curing autism. I also await remarks “aut“-ing me as a (gasp) ne... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=783950 Tue, 07 Aug 2007 01:44:40 +0100 783950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=750252&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F07%2Fengland-my-england-one.html I find that I am so used to the political correctness of my adopted country that I completely forget that it is otherwise elsewhere. [translation = senility advances] I am reminded of what I take for granted, by visiting home. [translation = England for a fortnight]We’re on a tight schedule [translation = timetable] and visit friends for lunch. Because we are on a tight schedule, our friends also have other friends for lunch at the same time. [translation = three couples plus our children] This is a fortunate turn of events because we all know that our friends’ friends, will be our friends too.After lunch, I help my friends clear the table. The kitchen is awash with the dirties. I excuse myself for a moment and nip to the loo. [translation = restroom] The window is open as I wash my ha... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=750252 Sun, 22 Jul 2007 22:05:00 +0100 750252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=638215&cid=t_91125_87_f&fid=35052&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwomensbioethics.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F05%2Fvirgin-birth-desperate-measure.html Scientists confirmed that female sharks can fertilize their own eggs and give birth without sperm from males ; a DNA analysis was performed on a shark was born in a tank with three potential mothers, none of whom had contact with a male hammerhead for at least three years. This was the first confirmed case of shark parthenogenesis (a word derived from Greek meaning 'virgin birth'). This is not a good sign, though, scientists explained -- parthenogenesis is a last resort; it undermines genetic diversity and adaptability and represents "an evolutionary dead end that compromises the survival of the species." The complete article can be found on CNN's website. (Editor's note: Hat tip to R. Alta Charo, who quipped "Hmm-- next it will be lawyers reproducing by parthenogenesis" -- I don't know th... Women's Bioethics Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=638215 Thu, 24 May 2007 13:44:00 +0100 638215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=478516&cid=t_91125_10_f&fid=34463&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmblog.lib.umich.edu%2Fdentlib%2Farchives%2F2007%2F03%2Flets_face_it_ab.html Many thanks to Marita Inglehart for inviting us to speak as part of the Multicultural Affairs Committee series on disabilities and dentistry. The presentation slides are available on SlideShare. Let's Face It Comes to Michigan: Lessons Learned about Web Sites for Persons with Facial Difference: http://www.slideshare.net/umhealthscienceslibraries/lets-face-it-comes-to-michigan-lessons-learned-about-web-sites-for-persons-with-facial-difference/ In SlideShare, there are other presentations about persons with facial difference and how to support them. Highlighted here are those from AboutFace USA, in particular a presentation to the UNLV School of Dentistry that includes information about clinician-patient communication with persons with facial difference. AboutFace USA: http://www.aboutfac... Dentistry Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=478516 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:17:21 +0100 478516 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=488343&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35129&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwhitterer-autism.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F03%2Fst-patricks-day.html What my children, don’t know about making Leprechaun Traps isn’t worth knowing. Their knowledge of other Irish trappings, or symbols has reached it’s zenith. The subject has been fully covered in each of their classrooms, interwoven into every lesson including occupational and speech therapy. Yup, around here, the subject has been licked. Since St. Patrick’s Day is not a school day this year I am saved the pain of trying to dress three children from head to foot in green. We have always failed in the green shoe department, so that is yet another couple of meltdowns that we have managed to skirt. I must admit to being ignorant about the 'mint' lure, but there always seems to be something new every year that I've missed.Yes, 'Green' Day has arrived. Senior is o.k. with 'green' just a... Whitterer on Autism blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=488343 Sat, 17 Mar 2007 00:22:00 +0100 488343 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486988&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F02%2Fin-my-language-video-that-caught-cnns.html The spark that caught CNN's eye about Amanda Baggs (see my last post if you don't know what I'm talking about) was her video "In My Language" posted on YouTube. While it is easy enough to just go to YouTube to watch it, I would like to share it here as well.tagged as: Autism, Amanda Baggs, Anderson Cooper, Sanjay Gupta, Intelligence, Neurodiversity, Autism Advocacy (c) by Brett Miller 2005-2007 Except where otherwise noted, this work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License . (Source: 29 Marbles) 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486988 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 17:50:00 +0100 486988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=407389&cid=t_91125_10_f&fid=34463&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmblog.lib.umich.edu%2Fdentlib%2Farchives%2F2007%2F02%2Fconsumer_health_1.html A new entry at the Health Sciences Libraries blog highlights a number of excellent resources for finding high quality patient information in many languages. Check it out! HSL Blog: Consumer Health Information in Many Languages: http://mblog.lib.umich.edu/hsl/archives/2007/02/consumer_health.html (Source: Dentistry Library) Dentistry Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=407389 Fri, 09 Feb 2007 21:10:36 +0100 407389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=395926&cid=t_91125_10_f&fid=34463&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmblog.lib.umich.edu%2Fdentlib%2Farchives%2F2007%2F01%2Fdiversity_in_de_1.html In honor of Martin Luther King Day, you might want to be aware of these innovations in dental education and leadership in the area of diversity and multicultural awareness. * FROM ADEA ADEA strategies to enhance diversity 2005-2006: www.adea.org/ced/Docs/Strategies_ADEA.pdf * FROM ACHIEVING DIVERSITY IN DENTISTRY AND MEDICINE (ADDM): ADDM: ETHNOGERIATRICS CURRICULUM ADDM is currently pilot testing an ethnogeriatrics curriculum in five medical schools and one dental school. AMSA is providing technical assistance and limited funding to the schools and is working with each school on program development and evaluation. Note that UMMS is one of the schools! The schools are Midwestern University; East Carolina University; University of Iowa College of Dentistry; Stanford University School o... Dentistry Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=395926 Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:37:05 +0100 395926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=395929&cid=t_91125_10_f&fid=34463&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmblog.lib.umich.edu%2Fdentlib%2Farchives%2F2007%2F01%2Fafrican-america.html I just discovered this marvelous free online book documenting just a few of the challenges and achievements of early efforts to promote diversity in the US Dental Corps. Along with this, please also note recent news articles highlighting the achievements of specific African American dentists in their local communities. (1) Hyson, John M. African-American Dental Surgeons and the U.S. Army Dental Corps, a Struggle for Acceptance, 1901-1919 http://history.amedd.army.mil/ameddcorp/African-AmericanDentalSurgeons/default.html "The author began collecting any data he found on African-American dental officers as a matter of policy. The material sat dormant until 1992 when a planning grant proposal for a museum exhibition on African-American dentistry was under consideration at the University of ... Dentistry Library blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=395929 Thu, 11 Jan 2007 20:34:43 +0100 395929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=486997&cid=t_91125_133_f&fid=35082&url=http%3A%2F%2F29marbles.blogspot.com%2F2007%2F01%2Fwonderful-adventure-of-life.html In her post Everyday People, abfh has the following to say about her "abnormal" behavior as a child:When I was a child, I often wandered away, climbed tall trees, played in traffic, and didn't pay much attention to adults who told me that I was not behaving properly. That didn't mean I had some sort of tragic and mysterious mental defect that made me incapable of social interaction, understanding danger, etc., and what's more, I certainly wasn't suffering or trying to escape from life. Quite the contrary—being alive seemed like a wonderful adventure, too precious and fascinating to be wasted sitting obediently in dull classrooms. I got kicked out of several primary schools for wandering away when the teacher wasn't looking, but I never thought that made me abnormal, either; I just though... 29 Marbles blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=486997 Fri, 05 Jan 2007 22:51:00 +0100 486997 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=397006&cid=t_91125_86_f&fid=34456&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmarginalspace.livejournal.com%2F689.html Today we had a steering committee meeting for designing our new consumer health website. We have the original version up at the moment. The original site was the concept of a truly passionate and committed woman who has decided to pass the torch along. We are lucky and grateful that she has allowed us to be the ones to carry on. Astonishingly, she has given us free rein in developing the site.We have a truly amazing great team from all across campus -- pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, surgery, hospital dentistry, psychology, neuropsych, public health, library, and informatics. The whole project is just amazing to me. With very short notice, the team came together and has made things happen. Despite the implied institutional boundaries, there has been no sign of political games or power s... Marginal Space blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=397006 Fri, 01 Sep 2006 23:33:59 +0100 397006