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 'ideas'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 01:55:56 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5159012&cid=t_122950_88_f&fid=38129&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifeinthefastlane%2FWZHV%2F%7E3%2FsWIbxRAFvBw%2F Where do good ideas come from? Ideas need to mingle and swap, and create new forms. May all this social media stuff isn't a waste of time after all? (Source: Life in the Fast Lane) Life in the Fast Lane blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5159012 Sat, 20 Aug 2011 07:23:44 +0100 5159012 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5118658&cid=t_122950_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1789 In following the stories out of the UK, I am saddened by the violence and senseless destruction in the nation that so many of us look to as kindred.  Many of us have a deep, almost genetic, reverence for the land of so many of our ancestors.  I certainly wish we could once again unite and rise up, standing for freedom and the greatness of the West.  Alas, not yet. http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/08/11/london-police-raiding-houses-over-uk-riots/?test=latestnews It is, of course, like all such violence in places where a perfect storm of ideology brews. Closing the trough First, young poor people, told for decades it was the duty of the government and taxpayers to care for them, become animal-like when their feed-trough is threatened.  And, animal-like, brutal in nature, ‘red in t... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5118658 Thu, 11 Aug 2011 13:54:36 +0100 5118658 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5103350&cid=t_122950_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1773 The American College of Graduate Medical Education has enacted further restrictions on resident work hours.  No more than 80 hours per week of work for resident physicians, averaged over one month.  And no more than 16 hours of continuous work for first year residents (24 after that), which includes patient care, academic lectures, etc. Whenever they do this sort of thing, everyone seems excited that it will make everyone safer.  After all, residents won’t be working as much, so they’ll be more rested and make much better decisions.  It’s all ‘win-win,’ as physicians in training and patients alike are safer. I guess.  The problem of course is that after training, work hours aren’t restricted.  There is no set limit on the amount of work physician c... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5103350 Sat, 06 Aug 2011 03:31:30 +0100 5103350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5062255&cid=t_122950_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1745 Good news on disability:  or should I say ‘disability.’ Anyone working in social services or medicine (well, anyone with half a cerebrum and some rational thinking capacity mixed in with their compassion) knows that the disability system in the US is completely out of control.  We routinely see patients who say, when queried about their disability, ‘well doc, honestly, I don’t know why I’m on disability!’  Which is fine if you’ve had a serious head injury or stroke, but if your complaint is ‘injured back while using chain-saw,’ maybe disability is a little generous. So, here’s some light in the darkness: http://lsolum.typepad.com/legaltheory/2011/07/pierce-on-administrative-law-judge-disability-decisionmaking.html Hallelujah! ... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5062255 Mon, 25 Jul 2011 17:03:37 +0100 5062255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5050607&cid=t_122950_88_f&fid=39185&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedwinleap.com%2Fblog%2F%3Fp%3D1728 For years now, we’ve all heard the drum-beat.  Bill-boards in cities have proclaimed it.  Various medical associations have touted it’s importance.  Stroke symptoms have to be treated immediately!  Give clot-busting drugs, also known as ‘thrombolytics!’ Until, of course, those in favor of giving the drugs (namely neurologists)  realized that a)  Not everyone with a stroke, aka ‘brain attack’ has insurance and b) people have a very inconsiderate habit of having said strokes at the most inconvenient of hours.  For instance, after 5PM, on the weekend, on holidays.  The nerve! So across the country, physicians in emergency departments like mine are finding themselves expected by the court of public opinion to give a potentially dangerous drug (albeit... edwinleap.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5050607 Tue, 19 Jul 2011 01:27:57 +0100 5050607 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5036325&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FJHKNVK0SLcI%2Fdrug-facts-boxes-featured-in-new-york-times.html Last week, the New York Times published an op-ed by the Dartmouth Institute’s Steven Woloshin and Lisa M. Schwartz that discussed the critical need for a redesign of something that can empower consumers to make informed decisions about their health care – the information that accompanies prescription drugs. As stated in their own words: “Bombarded with pharmaceutical ads listing what seems like every conceivable side effect, American consumers might think they are already getting too much information. But they — and their doctors — are not getting what arguably matters most: independent, plain-English facts about the medication.” Prescription medication labels are hard to read, confusing and often leave out crucial information contained in Food and Drug Administration (FDA) rev... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5036325 Thu, 14 Jul 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5036325 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4968694&cid=t_122950_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2FXjSCPI9gHS0%2Fwhy-neuroscience-matters.html On May 11, 2011 Ginger Campbell, MD gave a talk entitled "Why Neuroscience Matters" at the London Skeptics in the Pub. Episode 42 of Books and Ideas is an edited version of that talk, including the lively Q and A with the audience. Listen to Episode 42 of Books and Ideas Free Episode Transcript (Download PDF)     Subscribe to Books and Ideas Podcast:   References  Bayes, A., Grant, S., et al. "Characterization of the proteome, diseases and evolution of the human postsynaptic density." Nature Neuroscience 14, 19–21 (2011) (Published online 12/23/2010). Libet, B. "Do We Have Free Will?" Journal of Consciousness Studies, 6. No. 8-9, 1999, pp. 47-57. On Being Certain: Believing You Are Right Even When You're Not (2008) by Robert Burton; p 127. Philosophy in t... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4968694 Sat, 25 Jun 2011 12:00:30 +0100 4968694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4952802&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F7P-Tmi7yAsU%2F By David BoazSomeone called Stephen Metcalf writes at Slate of his horror at finding in “an otherwise quite groovy loft” in New York’s SoHo “not one but two copies of something called The Libertarian Reader.” Given that he manages to lump not just Paul Ryan and South Park but Sarah Palin into the libertarian basket, you can appreciate his dismay. Metcalf puts Robert Nozick at the center of his argument, understandably enough. My colleague Tom Palmer says that academic critics almost always cite one chapter of one book, Nozick’s Anarchy, State, and Utopia, and declare that they have grappled with libertarian ideas. Still, it’s a good book and worth grappling with, and it did have an impact, as Metcalf notes: I like to think that when Nozick publishe... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4952802 Mon, 20 Jun 2011 16:01:22 +0100 4952802 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4872094&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fwhy-medical-blogs-may-be-more-reliable%2F2011.05.26 Last week Aaron Sorkin wrote for The Atlantic a piece in which he details his daily news feed, in What I Read. He’s not into blogs: When I read the Times or The Wall Street Journal, I know those reporters had to have cleared a very high bar to get the jobs they have. When I read a blog piece from “BobsThoughts.com,” Bob could be the most qualified guy in the world but I have no way of knowing that because all he had to do to get his job was set up a website–something my 10-year-old daughter has been doing for 3 years. When The Times or The Journal get it wrong they have a lot of people to answer to. When Bob gets it wrong there are no immediate consequences for Bob except his wrong information is in the water supply now so there are consequences for us. PZ Meyers, whose tagline f... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4872094 Thu, 26 May 2011 21:00:02 +0100 4872094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4862628&cid=t_122950_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2011%2F05%2F25%2Fpoliticians-and-sex-the-type-t-personality%2F Colleague and psychologist Dr. Frank Farley has an interesting op-ed over at the LA Times the other day about some of the underlying psychological motivations that may explain why politicians stray from their marriages. In the article, Dr. Farley refers to the “Type T Personality” — the T stands for Thrill. He makes the argument that we elect the politicians we do because we’re drawn to their bold ideas, their intensity, their charisma. But those same qualities that may make them a good politician (we don’t really know, because there hasn’t been a lot of research done in this area yet), also may put them at greater risk for engaging in unethical relationship behavior, such as cheating on their spouse. Politicians, like Hollywood celebrities, are also con... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4862628 Wed, 25 May 2011 15:45:32 +0100 4862628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4723806&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fonline-health-information-can-be-more-trustworthy-than-printed-texts%2F2011.04.17 Recently Ed Silverman of Pharmalot considers the case of a ghost-written medical text’s mysterious disappearance. The 1999 book, “Recognition and Treatment of Psychiatric Disorders: A Psychopharmacology Handbook for Primary Care,” (reviewed in a psychiatry journal here) came under scrutiny last fall when it became evident that the physician “authors” didn’t just receive money from a relevant drug maker, SmithKline Beecham; they received an outline and text for the book from pharmaceutical company-hired writers. poster for the X-Files Now the book’s listing is gone from the website of STI (Scientific Therapeutic Information), the company that provided the authorship “help.” I tried to get a copy of the handbook on Amazon.com, where it’s currently out-of-stock. The book ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4723806 Sun, 17 Apr 2011 16:00:58 +0100 4723806 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4704989&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FhI-OYKnp4ZI%2Fif-youre-not-kind-of-totally-freaked-out-you-havent-been-paying-attention.html A brief selection of images from the bookshelves of my children: "Wait, wait, Ben, why are you crying? I thought you liked dogs."   "Shhh. Shhhhhhh. Don't cry, bunny. Does this one make you feel better?"   Criteria to consider when selecting a children's book:Does it make me think of cat nipples?   ...or that?  (Still, it could be worse. It could be scratch 'n' sniff.)   Can you look at that picture without thinking of Boogie Nights?...Bet you can't now.   To exorcise that vision, please enjoy...a piglet...hungrily eyeing...the meat case. Yes. That's much, much better. (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4704989 Mon, 11 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4704989 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4664180&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcrowd-sourcing-for-medical-diagnoses%2F2011.03.31 The Times ran an intriguing experiment on its Well blog yesterday: a medical problem-solving contest. The challenge, based on the story of a real girl who lives near Philadelphia, drew 1379 posted comments and closed this morning with publication of the answer. Dr. Lisa Sanders, who moderated the piece, says today that the first submitted correct response came from a California physician; the second came from a Minnesota woman who is not a physician. Evidently she recognized the condition’s manifestations from her experience working with people who have it. The public contest – and even the concept of using the word “contest” – to solve a real person’s medical condition interests me a lot. This kind of puzzle is, as far as I know, unprecedented apart from the somewhat removed d... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4664180 Thu, 31 Mar 2011 14:00:56 +0100 4664180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4592723&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FjP3rg-ydIws%2F This article was written by Tony Henderson of Term Papers Lab, a site that provides example term papers and essays to help students research topics and get ideas for their own research papers. (Source: PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement) PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4592723 Mon, 14 Mar 2011 18:00:42 +0100 4592723 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4575067&cid=t_122950_99_f&fid=35344&url=http%3A%2F%2Fzackarysholemberger.blogspot.com%2F2011%2F03%2Frobust-god-talk-and-wimpy-moral.html In his essay on Jewish identity in Jewish Ideas Daily, Yehuda Mirsky makes the following comment:the language of "Jewish identity" is at best a pale substitute for the robust God-talk whose place it tries to fillTo be fair, he does conclude that the yearning for Jewish identity is better than nothing. (He doesn't go out of his way to ground his assertions in anything more than anecdote, but I won't go into that here.) What does "robust God-talk" mean, though? This is reminiscent of similar terms, like "maximalist," "heteronomous," and "rigorous," which are thrown around by some to show how Strong and Committed they are. Religious Jews are Robust, while Jews that care about Jewish identity (as if that issue has not preoccupied Jews for thousands of years!) are decaffeinated.Unfortunately, a... Zackary Sholem Berger blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4575067 Fri, 11 Mar 2011 14:01:00 +0100 4575067 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4571420&cid=t_122950_4_f&fid=38622&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffdatransparencyblog.fda.gov%2F2011%2F03%2F10%2Fnew-spanish-language-website-increases-access-to-fda-tobacco-information%2F I am pleased to announce that many portions of FDA’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP) website are now available in Spanish. This new resource for the Spanish-speaking community will provide key information to our stakeholders in our common goal of reducing the tremendous toll of illness and death from tobacco use through FDA’s new role in tobacco product regulation. By increasing access to our content to the Spanish-speaking public we not only increase the reach of our message, but also make further in-roads into communities that play a key role in tackling this important public health issue. Over the last several months, I’ve heard from many stakeholders in a number of ways about the overall need for CTP to provide key tobacco product information in different languages. This was e... FDA Transparency Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4571420 Thu, 10 Mar 2011 19:49:03 +0100 4571420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4560439&cid=t_122950_122_f&fid=36506&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBrainSciencePodcastBlog%2F%7E3%2F-tVjGRzuAko%2Fdr-paul-offit-returns-to-books-and-ideas-podcast.html In his new book Deadly Choices: How the Anti-Vaccine Movement Threatens Us All pediatrican Dr Paul A. Offit traces the history of the anti-vaccine movement from opposition to the small pox vaccine in the 19th century up through recent events. Unfortunately, the results are predictable. Reducing vaccination rates lead to reemergence of dangerous preventable infectious diseases. That is why the decision not to vaccinate is not a personal decision. It is one that involves the whole community. This is the focus of the conversation I had with Dr. Offit in Episode 40 of Books and Ideas. This is a follow-up to Dr. Offit's first interview here in Episode 25. Because I think this issue is literally a matter of life and death, I encourage you to share this podcast with others. Listen to Dr. Offit's ... the Brain Science Podcast and Blog with Dr. Ginger Campbell blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4560439 Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:01:18 +0100 4560439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4266092&cid=t_122950_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2Fo5pkCOjou68%2F Six presents you should give your significant other during the rest of the year – not just at Christmastime. (via YourTango) Post from: BlissTree (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4266092 Wed, 15 Dec 2010 17:30:51 +0100 4266092 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4230263&cid=t_122950_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FOKsFHm0GQ6M%2F photo: Thinkstock Check out this post about all-natural stress relievers by Tess Whitehurst on Lemondrop. If the holidays make you feel a bit like Anne Hathaway’s character in “Rachel Getting Married” — or if it always seems to propel you directly into the middle of your own unique brand of family-related hellishness — at least take comfort in the fact that you’re far from alone. Holiday stress and family drama (like Thanksgiving itself) seem to have become part of our cultural legacy. And don’t give up! Any or all of these secret holistic strategies may very well (at least slightly) ease your pain. Four Drops of Rescue Remedy Under the Tongue Have you heard of this miracle stress-relieving drug? Dubbed “yoga in a bottle,” it’s a ... Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4230263 Sat, 04 Dec 2010 16:00:58 +0100 4230263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4225524&cid=t_122950_131_f&fid=34989&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FGeneticsHealth%2F%7E3%2FEJG1pzV6Gso%2F We’re as jealous as the next person of the altruistic audience members who recieved iPads, $500 Nordstrom gift cards, and expensive Nikon cameras. (Though we’re perfectly happy not to be stuck with those glittery UGG boots.) But we also think Oprah betrayed her audience a little with these gifts: From beauty products full of chemicals that disrupt the human endocrine system to household items that aren’t the equally elegant and eco-friendly functional alternatives, we think the Queen of Talk could have done better. – Blisstree Deputy Editor Briana Rognlin questions Oprah’s recent gift-giving choices in her post: Oprah’s Ultimate Audience Betrayal: 5 “Favorite Things” We Wish She’d Stop Promoting Post from: BlissTree (Source: Genetics and Health) Genetics and Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4225524 Fri, 03 Dec 2010 13:00:53 +0100 4225524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4214214&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FHgyvzcYwUGw%2F Dear Victor: Christmas is coming, which for me means major stress about a particular family-related issue. I have a huge immediate family, and everyone has their own ideas about how we should handle Christmas gift-giving. These differences cause major arguments, underlying resentments, and even serious rifts. Some family members think that everyone should buy a gift for everyone else (despite the fact that there are dozens of us, and as many different budgets). Others think they should only have to buy Christmas presents for those family members to whom they’re really close. Still others are adamant that each gift be incredibly special and personalized, even if you only see the recipient once a year. (No iPods or coffee grinders allowed.) And, get this: Some of my adult family member... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4214214 Mon, 29 Nov 2010 18:40:21 +0100 4214214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4203196&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FxH2dAhT8ZKk%2F photo: Stephen Chernin/Getty Images We’re not going to pretend to understand people who camp out in front of big box stores days before Thanksgiving (and completely miss Thanksgiving dinner) in advance of all the Black Friday sales. But we’re very glad Black Friday’s almost here, because we’re really tired of seeing all those commercials telling us to leave our warm, cozy beds in the middle of the night in order to embrace the true meaning of the holidays and buy a bunch of crap no one really needs. The folks over at The Daily Beast were kind enough to put together a handy slideshow of some of the major Black Friday sales and opening hours. And we’re giving you our honest take on them: Some Sam’s Club stores will open on Friday at 5 a.m. Why so late? Low... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4203196 Fri, 26 Nov 2010 01:00:09 +0100 4203196 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190558&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2FvGIcN1-FTRY%2F Whatever your career, and whatever your goals in life, ideas are going to matter to you. One great idea could give you that million-dollar business you’ve dreamt of. One great idea could raise thousands of dollars for a charity that you support One great idea could be the perfect present for someone you love. One great idea could change your life. The thing is, you probably don’t have as many great ideas as you’d like. Perhaps you feel unimaginative and unoriginal. You keep hoping that a really good idea will just pop into your head, but that never seems to happen. The good news? Ideas aren’t magic dust sprinkled by the Muses. There’s an awful lot you can do to generate ideas any time you want. Set Aside Quality Time to Think This is the most crucial step. You... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190558 Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:19:52 +0100 4190558 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4190249&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F4TlnoRh217s%2F Post from: BlissTree (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4190249 Sat, 20 Nov 2010 23:22:31 +0100 4190249 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4183355&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2Fv_uuyFWjOPw%2F Michelle Obama serving lunch at a Washington, D.C. soup kitchen in 2009 Last year on the day before Thanksgiving, I spent about 20 minutes researching food banks in New York where my small donation could be put to good use. I settled on one that seemed particularly effective, submitted my Mastercard details, then grabbed my suitcase full of wine and sweaters and caught a cab to the airport. I boarded a flight to Detroit, where one of my best friends picked me up and drove me to Ann Arbor, after which a weekend full of friends, turkey, pies, great wine (and gin and port), and driving tours of Michigan ensued. Since then, I’ve donated something like $20 in the form of coins and occasional dollar bills to agreeable buskers on subway platforms. (I’m especially partial to accordion players.... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4183355 Fri, 19 Nov 2010 17:08:58 +0100 4183355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172130&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2F01xhL5DwEXE%2F Long solitary walks, turkey trot races, iPods, iPads, pretending to have swine flu, baking for hours, saying you have to go upstairs to do some “work,” generous amounts of alcohol, pretending to watch football, anti-anxiety meds: All are perfectly valid ways to get through Thanksgiving weekend when you have a house full of challenging relatives and guests who overstay their welcome. (Or perhaps you’re being held hostage at Aunt Polly’s house for the weekend.) Either way, you can combine one or two of these excuses (I highly recommend alcohol) with my gallery of ten classic movies I watch over Thanksgiving to escape all the family melodrama — albeit temporarily. But if you’re unluckly enough to have an annoying relative who plops down next to you on the ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172130 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 22:32:51 +0100 4172130 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172350&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FVhLWDiGuIVA%2F With a rebel yell, he cried “more, more, more!” In Jim Collins’ book How the Mighty Fall (affiliate link), Collins gives the five steps that most companies go through on their way from success to failure. The second stage is the “undisciplined pursuit of more”. This is the stage of decline where the company becomes successful and starts to believe that anything they do will turn to gold. No idea is a bad one! Expand, expand, expand! These companies spread themselves too thin across too many (unproven) ideas, while not tending to the thing that brought them their initial success. They effectively kill the Golden Goose. Ideas are hard. They’re easy to generate, but hard to filter and even harder to finish. I try to swing for the “sweet spot” ... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172350 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:33:50 +0100 4172350 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4151908&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FA0ogiPyIoRI%2F – Blisstree contributor Patrick Sauer on the big Christmas traditions that he and his wife of ten years celebrate – separately and in different states – from his post: My Wife and I Always Spend the Holidays Apart (And We Like It That Way) Post from: BlissTree My Uncle John always cooks up a nice prime rib on Christmas Day, and the night before, Mom and I go out to eat. One year, the only place we could find open was a Shula’s Steakhouse. Their menu comes on a football, an actual leather football. God bless us, everyone! Kim’s experience is a little more Bedford Falls to my Pottersville, which suits us both just fine. Her upside is the Christmas-y feel of hot cocoa in her pajamas; mine is that Mom no longer has the desire to attend Christmas mass. The most important part is that ... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4151908 Wed, 10 Nov 2010 13:00:43 +0100 4151908 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4142829&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FnFN5Y0QxD8A%2F – Blisstree contributor Patrick Sauer on the unusual holiday tradition that he and his wife have practiced for a decade, from his post: My Wife and I Always Spend the Holidays Apart (And We Like It That Way) Post from: BlissTree Last Christmas Eve, my wife Kim and I performed our annual holiday ritual. No stockings were hung, no champagne was toasted, no duet of “There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays was sung,” no gifts were exchanged. Just a couple of simple ‘I love yous” before drifting off to sleep. 270 miles apart. For ten years running, we’ve spent the holidays apart. And it’s not just Christmas. We usually go our separate ways for Thanksgiving, too. (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4142829 Sat, 06 Nov 2010 14:00:40 +0100 4142829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133870&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FWWshtIuqWME%2F Post from: BlissTree (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133870 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 20:15:46 +0100 4133870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4133871&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FL2Phpfbum5s%2F The Thanksgiving holiday is a time for family, food — and fighting. Our dining room tables certainly have had their fair share of turkey day blowouts over the years. So what better way to make yourself feel all warm and cozy about your own eff-ed up family than by watching the hi-jinks of even screwier relatives on film? These ten Thanksgiving movies may just make you grateful for the crazy relatives you have. Let us know your favorite Thanksgiving flicks in the comments section, and then go call your mother. Post from: BlissTree Gallery: 10 Thanksgiving Movies That May Make You Appreciate Your Crazy Family (Source: A Hearty Life) A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4133871 Wed, 03 Nov 2010 18:10:44 +0100 4133871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4119776&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2F-bsaQ4L2CFE%2Fbaby-face.html There was a good article on the Washington Post web site earlier this week about being infertile on Facebook.  "Now, when more than a half-billion people use Facebook, couples yearning for children say they are trapped," writes Ian Shapira. "They are unwilling to detach from the social network, but unable to avoid its frequent reminders — fetal sonograms are seemingly ubiquitous — of what might elude them forever." Now, I was never on Facebook during vulnerable times, so I don't know quite how it feels.  I can vividly imagine it, though.  Here is how I think it might be, seen from the point of view and the news feed of one totally fictitious Anita Child.  (To help me out I've called on some old friends.  Facebook's just grea... a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4119776 Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4119776 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4065630&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FLBq53C_96qw%2F I used to run from competition like a schoolboy runs from the playground bully. I’ve had plenty of ideas for sites and products that I never developed because I was scared stiff of the competition. In fact, a couple of years ago I abandoned a project that was 95% completed because a huge company entered the space and was touted as the “total solution”. (It turns out that the service was mildly successful, but never gained market share or lived up to the hype.) But instead of just finishing the 5% that was left with development, trusting in what I had built, and releasing the product anyway, I threw up the white flag. Hindsight tells me that had I actually released the website, it probably would have been pretty profitable. Needless to say, it was a valuable lesson for me.... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4065630 Wed, 13 Oct 2010 14:51:19 +0100 4065630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4040810&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Falittlepregnant%2F%7E3%2FC0s7yE9FtWE%2Fnight-of-hope-speech-the-directors-cut.html (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4040810 Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:00:00 +0100 4040810 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3976729&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FYDH9aKy5bOA%2F It turns out I can be a little spacey. My wife often asks “what’s on your mind?” as I’m staring blankly at the ceiling. (I’ve gotten so bad lately that I can be in mid-sentence and just trail off. She’s learned to love accept the fact that I will never be normal this way.) But the hardest part… But the hardest part about ideas is articulating them. When my wife asks me what I’m thinking, the hardest part is being able to explain what just popped into my head. I’ll try and explain to her in blubbery fragments the idea I’ve just had, and most times it just confuses her. (This is clearly my weakness.) Yet she knows that me trying to articulate the idea is important. She knows it’s her job to ask so that I can try and explain ... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3976729 Thu, 16 Sep 2010 16:00:45 +0100 3976729 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3965730&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FdzOkNXaxwY8%2F Chipotle’s famous simple menu. It’s often our nature to want to be the best at everything. If we can do many things well, we should be able to see profits. “Diversify, diversify, diversify”. Yet for whatever reason, sprawling out into multiple markets doesn’t necessarily mean success. It’s only being the best at one thing and refining it daily that wins in the long run. Chipotle has centered around the the simple premise that they were going to serve a very limited menu, without extra things like plates, appetizers, or deserts. Just burritos, tacos and salads with all the same (limited) ingredients. Experts believed that the limited selection would turn customers away. Oops. Ever seen Instapaper? This simple application does one thing: saves online pa... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3965730 Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:22:48 +0100 3965730 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862209&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FrMUQ0BoslZo%2F Scott leads us fearlessly into the Promised Land of idea completion. So, if you’ve been reading for a while, you already know that I’m a big fan of Scott Belsky. For starters, he wrote a book that I constantly reference. He also has a fantastic network for creatives, and he’s a pretty nice guy to boot. What I really love about Scott is that he’s truly a student of the creative process. He knows what makes creative people tick, and more importantly, he knows what it takes to actually be successful as “a creative”. Scott has graciously allowed me to pick his brain on various topics, like how he organizes himself and some of examples of how creative people finish ideas. 1. Making Ideas Happen has a lot to do about being selective with ideas. A massive par... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862209 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 16:08:42 +0100 3862209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3862001&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FTymTSt3LUaY%2F By David BoazPeter Wallsten of the Wall Street Journal writes, “Libertarianism is enjoying a recent renaissance in the Republican Party.” He cites Ron Paul’s winning the presidential straw poll earlier this year at the Conservative Political Action Conference, Rand Paul’s upset victory in the Kentucky senatorial primary, and former governor Gary Johnson’s evident interest in a libertarian-leaning presidential campaign. Johnson tells Wallsten in an interview that he’ll campaign on spending cuts — including military spending, on entitlements reform, and on a rational approach to drug policy. Meanwhile, on the same day, Rand Paul had a major op-ed in USA Today discussing whether he’s a libertarian. Not quite, he says. But sort of: In my mind, th... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3862001 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 13:53:11 +0100 3862001 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3827367&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FrF5FDmUJm3k%2F At the last SXSW Jonathan amazed me with the sheer number of blog posts that he throws away. According to Mr. Fields, a healthy portion of his post ideas never get published, for one reason or another. I’d bet that most of the really good writers you find online are the same way. It’s amazing how we think that every time a great writer sits down at the keyboard, magic prints out. What we don’t know is how many times those writers have read, re-read, edited and cut bits of their writing before they publish. Heck, many articles might not even see the light of day even after they’ve been written. When I write posts for this blog, I’ll often let them marinate for a while in the semi-finished stage. I currently have a folder full of post ideas, ranging from a coupl... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3827367 Thu, 05 Aug 2010 13:49:51 +0100 3827367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3802603&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FmL9EbnDOb1I%2F I love watching shows like VH1′s “Behind the Music” and reading about how bands developed their original sound. Usually it’s nothing more than a band member being exposed to a certain type of music at an early age. Other times it’s an event, like being at a concert and something striking a chord. (Wow. Awful pun.) It turns out that what influences a band is incredibly important to the sound they develop on their own. Masters” that create amazing work almost always quote their inspirations. Other writers, musicians, pieces of art… something is always inspiring their output. The Web has created a massive platform for finding inspiration. There is no shortage of creativity that can be gleaned from different online sources. In fact, if you’re go... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3802603 Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:20:09 +0100 3802603 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3761399&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fif-you-have-a-dumb-idea-for-book-go-for-it%2F With all the many crappy books being published that are based on blogs and Twitter accounts, it seems like any subject – however moronic – is fair game. And after we saw this clip about Glamourpuss: The Enchanting World of Kitty Wigs, we knew it was time to think of a dumb idea for a book and make it happen. This photographer seems to get that the book is ridiculous, but she seems suspiciously into the feline photo shoots. So: Convenience Stores of West Virginia? Bathroom toothbrush vs. travel toothbrush? Pitch us your stupidest coffee table book idea in the comments section, below. View more news videos at: http://www.nbcdfw.com/video. via The Frisky Post from: BlissTree If You Have a Dumb Idea for Book, Go for It (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3761399 Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:47:34 +0100 3761399 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3743514&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feleanor-roosevelt-on-gossip%2F Great minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, small minds discuss people. – Eleanor Roosevelt Post from: BlissTree Eleanor Roosevelt on Gossip (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3743514 Sun, 11 Jul 2010 13:00:08 +0100 3743514 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3724439&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhow-to-make-fireworks-with-marshmallows%2F It’s July 4th (woot), so by now you’ve probably stocked up on marshmallows for some summertime S’mores. And while you’ve got those white puffball confections, you may as well make some fireworks, too. Let GrassRootsDIY show you how. Post from: BlissTree How to Make Fireworks With Marshmallows: Video of the Day (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3724439 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 16:00:58 +0100 3724439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3724566&cid=t_122950_140_f&fid=35433&url=http%3A%2F%2F4thavenueblues.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F07%2Fwho-let-out-crazies.html My recent forays into writing honestly about my life have really shown me what my readership can be like at times and what blogging can be like when things go terribly, horribly wrong when you are honest.  Most people don’t reveal much on their blogs except the feel good stuff – the kind of stuff you only reveal in polite company. I guess I should as well.  I’ve always had suspicions that 95% of my readership are just gawking at my unorthodox life that I blather on about like an idiot – laughing at me and marveling that a 38 year old man can live this way. Navel gazing.  Only one person who reads the blog calls me regularly and attempts to reach out to me beyond the blog and it is Kirs.  She has been very supportive about the anxiety attacks giving me tons of su... The 4th Avenue Blues blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3724566 Sun, 04 Jul 2010 09:15:00 +0100 3724566 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3721743&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fmobile-gardens-working-with-what-youve-got%2F Want to garden but don’t have a backyard? No problem – there are lots of ways to rig up “mobile gardens.” You can go big or small with your garden-on-the-go, and below you’ll see examples of both in our favorite mobile garden photos. Check out the full set at The Daily Green. photo via The Daily Green photo via The Daily Green photo via The Daily Green via The Daily Green Post from: BlissTree Mobile Urban Gardens: No Yard Required (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3721743 Fri, 02 Jul 2010 17:37:50 +0100 3721743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652384&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Ffunny-and-free-fathers-day-e-cards-that-will-make-dad-proud%2F Father’s Day is fast approaching (Sunday, June 20). If you’re a fan of e-cards because they’re eco-friendly, cheap (read: free), and pitch-perfect for procrastinators, you should at least pick the right one for dear ol’ Dad. Avoid the risk of sentimentality by sending the Daddy (or Sugar Daddy) in your life an e-missive from Someecards. We think they’re hilarious, and we’re pretty sure Pops will agree. Post from: BlissTree Funny (and Free) Father's Day E-Cards That Will Make Dad Proud (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652384 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:17:03 +0100 3652384 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652385&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-shopping-10-fathers-day-gifts-under-10%2F It’s hard to shop for Father’s Day, but finding a gift for Dad doesn’t have to be a bust on your wallet – or the environment. Check out our 10 Father’s Day gift ideas, all under $10. (You might think you’re being cheap, but Dad will appreciate your thrift.) Post from: BlissTree Eco-Friendly Shopping: 10 Father's Day Gifts Under $10 (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652385 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:15:49 +0100 3652385 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3652386&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhappy-fathers-day-disney-channel-style-119%2F Hey, Blisstree reader! Check out these two brand-new photo gallery posts we just published: 10 Eco-Friendly Father’s Day Gifts Under $10 and Funny (and Free) Father’s Day E-Cards That Will Make Dad Proud Note: Disney Channel’s website has been updated since this post was originally published, so there’s a lot of cool new stuff on offer. If your kids are looking for some fun, last-minute ideas for Dad, check out the Disney Channel’s Father’s Day activities. Pick a project – a card, stationery, bookmark, or certificate. Then customize it with your own background, favorite character, extras, and personalized text. Projects can feature Disney Channel TV show characters including Kim Possible, Hannah Montana, Jackson, the cast of the Suite Life of Zack &a... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3652386 Thu, 10 Jun 2010 21:13:00 +0100 3652386 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644750&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2F9-SXdHb4rZc%2F By Roger PilonWhen taxpayers underwrite the campaign expenses of candidates for public office, serious questions arise: Not least, why should taxpayers subsidize candidates or ideas they oppose? But when taxpayers subsidize only one side in a campaign, there should be outrage. Perhaps there was at the Supreme Court this morning, when the Court blocked an appalling opinion out of, not surprisingly, the oft-overturned Ninth Circuit. In McComish v. Bennett the Goldwater Institute is challenging Arizona’s Clean Elections Act, under which “candidates who run with public campaign subsidies receive an almost dollar-for-dollar match each time a privately funded opponent raises money above a certain amount,” the Goldwater press release states, “and additional matches when independent expend... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644750 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 21:12:45 +0100 3644750 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3644756&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2Fg05BfzWMZi4%2F By Tom G. PalmerThe professionally ignorant (and I’m thinking here of Lou Dobbs, among others) never “get it” about trade. They think it’s some complex swindle, in which we deny ourselves “jobs,” or that it should be about being “fair” or “balanced.” They don’t see how free trade creates prosperity and peace. I was inspired by the outstanding trade economist Doug Irwin of Dartmouth to explain what goes on when people trade. The challenge was to explain international trade in under 3 minutes. So here’s the result in 2:57: The Great Prosperity Machine. Share it with your favorite protectionist, or with professors and teachers. (There’s more information at AtlasNetwork.org/BastiatLegacy.) Watch and share: (Source: C... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3644756 Tue, 08 Jun 2010 15:41:56 +0100 3644756 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3607638&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2Fkzs-GLvkUA0%2Fintroducing-data.html Next Wednesday at the IOM, HHS will do a big unveiling of its Community Health Data Initiative.  It will be a pretty big deal – HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, White House CTO Aneesh Chopra and HHS CTO Todd Park will all be on hand and the expectation is that major tech companies will unveil prototype apps built off of some of the data sets that HHS will be making public.The HHS/IOM event will be web cast, so check it out.  Either of these links should work: 1.    http://www.hhs.gov/open/ 2.    http://videocast.nih.gov/summary.asp?live=9347It’s an interesting headline when you step back and think about it.  HHS is making a major announcement – not about a new research breakthrough, a new vaccine, a new Medicare benefit or even a... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3607638 Thu, 27 May 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3607638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687389&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FcfuBN_Q9KdE%2F My wife absolutely loves Planet Earth. We were watching a segment the other day that featured dolphins who managed to figure out how to hydroplane into water only a few inches deep, catching fish in the shallow water. Large fish had taken refuge from the dolphins in the shallow water, knowing that dolphins need deeper water to swim. The really interesting thing was that the Planet Earth cameramen actually managed to capture footage of the dolphins figuring out how to hydroplane. There was footage of the dolphins learning how to pick up speed and zoom on top of the water. During a tense moment, it seemed that one of the ballsier dolphins had built up a bit too much speed and had actually hydroplaned onto shore. Just when it looked like the dolphin was going to be stranded, the narrator (Dav... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687389 Wed, 26 May 2010 16:55:46 +0100 3687389 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3556053&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Feco-friendly-living-we-dig-composting%2F photo: Thinkstock Composting is something every good eco-conscious woman knows she should do, but somehow finds a reason not to. It’s gross, you say. I live in a city, you sigh. The time for excuses is over. Thanks to Planet Green, there’s the City Girl’s Guide to Composting – but don’t worry, it works for non-urban types, too. First you need to decide what kind of composting you want to do. Worm composting is good if you’re short on space (and don’t mind worms, obviously); hot composting is good if you’re a real go-getter and are willing to put a little more work into composting while reaping a more satisfying reward; and cold composting is good if you’d like a low-maintenance approach. You just dump the scraps into a bucket and let them s... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3556053 Wed, 12 May 2010 13:36:09 +0100 3556053 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3538061&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fblisstree.com%2Flive%2Fhappy-cinco-de-mayo-90s-indie-rock-version%2F Courtesy of Liz Phair and 120 Minutes, circa 1994. Post from: BlissTree Happy Cinco de Mayo! (90s Indie Rock Video Version) (Source: Breastfeeding 1-2-3) Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3538061 Wed, 05 May 2010 17:10:50 +0100 3538061 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3449205&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2010%2F04%2Fthe-creepiest-thing-about-this-is-that-itunes-calls-it-alternative-punk.html It's tough adjusting to parenthood. Most of us find spend the first months stupid with sleeplessness, rocked with doubt, and terrified by how abruptly we have to confront everything we don't know. Eventually the shock begins to abate, and we... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3449205 Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3449205 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3433015&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FEBJIXvFv2A8%2Fwhat-is-the-role-of-the-physician-in-a-data-rich-world.html Last week’s Project HealthDesign workshop, held at the Vanderbilt Center for Better Health in Nashville, focused on how clinicians could use “observations of daily living,” or ODLs – data associated everyday experiences such as diet, exercise, sleep and pain – to provide better care to people with chronic diseases.  The five Project HealthDesign teams are refining their plans to integrate ODLS into the treatment of premature infants and their parents, obese teens at risk for depression, adults with Crohn’s disease and its complications, adults with asthma and depression or anxiety disorder, and elders with mild cognitive impairment. A presentation by Kevin Johnson, vice chair of the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Department of Biomedical informatics and the project ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3433015 Wed, 31 Mar 2010 23:00:00 +0100 3433015 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3354440&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FKzZpXoxMWV0%2Fthe-government-wants-you-to-play-with-your-food.html In a move that underscores the potential for digital games to improve health and healthcare, the US Department of Agriculture together with Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move initiative announced yesterday a competition for apps and games “that encourage children directly or through their parents to make more nutritious food choices and be more physically active.” The Apps for Healthy Kids competition will award $40,000 in prizes in two categories: Tools and Games.  All entries will be judged on their Potential impact on target audience; Quality, accuracy, and content of message; Creativity and originality; Potential for further development and use; and Potential to engage and motivate target audience.  Judges include Aneesh Chopra, U.S. Chief Technology Officer, ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3354440 Thu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3354440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3307131&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Fpickthebrain%2FLYVv%2F%7E3%2Fn9XbHydvI3g%2F Let me be clear: I don’t believe in instant confidence as a permanent cure for confidence issues. I think what works in the long run is changing the thinking patterns and belief system which feed insecurities. And this cannot be done in an instant. It take times and persistent action. I do however believe there are often situations when you don’t have the time to build confidence by addressing the roots and you need an instant boost for your confidence. There are strategies for this, which work a lot like a patch over a wound, with a temporary but also positive effect. This is why from my perspective, this discussion makes sense. Do a simple search on this topic and you will actually find dozens of tips and tricks for instant confidence. Which always leads me to one simple question: wh... PickTheBrain | Motivation and Self Improvement blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3307131 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:56:45 +0100 3307131 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3306950&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FFo7FGt7ZcUI%2Fsimplifying-the-legal-system-philip-k-howard-at-ted-2010.html Philip K. Howard, Founder & Chair of Common Good – a Pioneer Grantee – gave an engaging talk at TED 2010 on four ways to simplify the legal system. We encourage you to listen to the talk and then pop back over here and let us know what you think about his ideas. You can also read more from Howard on RWJF’s Health Reform Galaxy Blog. (Source: Pioneering Ideas) Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3306950 Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3306950 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3294694&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FV3rOXswwVcE%2Ftis-a-gift-to-be-simple.html George Whitesides, a chemist and the Flowers University Professor at Harvard, gave an elegant talk on simplicity at TED.  Whitesides asserted that simple things have four qualities: They are predictable and reliable; They are cheap; They have a high value-to-cost ratio; and They are stackable, that is you can combine them to build more complicated things. The lowly transistor is a simple thing.  It’s also the building block of modern electronic devices.  Transistors enabled computers which enabled the internet which enabled, well, you get the picture. The point here is that simple things have emergent properties, that is, they enable complex systems to arise out of simple interactions. The next point is that you can never predict what results or com... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3294694 Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3294694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283470&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2FpVPM4pF8XWk%2Fhaste-makes-waste-sometimes.html There is one thing admirable with state ran health training institution- the constant struggle to an ideal, efficient, low cost, health care program. Residents in training are constantly hammered to provide the best health care at the least  possible cost both for the patient and the institution. This is typically a result of maximizing an undermanned and under budgeted, capacity filled government hospital. On the plus side, innovative care do evolve from these type of health training institutions. On the downside, devastating results sometimes happen because of shortcuts (treatment protocols outside of the accepted standards of care) that we were push to vis a vis the dwindling financial support and logistical problems. One of the more common dilemma we face is the timing of surgery... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283470 Thu, 18 Feb 2010 04:26:00 +0100 3283470 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283686&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2Fmb4mmdQXUng%2Fthe-need-for-more-randomized-controlled-trials-in-us-social-policy-interventions.html Esther Duflo, a development economist at MIT, gave a thought-provoking talk at TED on using randomized controlled trials to study the impact of anti-poverty interventions in developing countries. Instead of trying to answer the big, controversial question, “Does (international monetary) aid work?” Duflo tries to answer smaller, local questions that provide insight to the big question.  For example, mosquito nets are highly cost-effective for preventing malaria, but they’re not being used widely.  Duflo wanted to know why and whether cost had something to do with it.  Are poor villagers more likely to use mosquito nets if they have to buy them (at a low, subsidized price) versus getting them for free?  Her research showed it’s more effective to give the nets ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283686 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3283686 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3283685&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FvLvcXZcPp1c%2Fbenchmarking-progress-in-health-it.html Being at TED last week led to some interesting conversations about data, health and the progress of health IT.  One conversation in particular stuck with me – a computer industry executive pointed out that the pace of innovation in the computer industry is orders of magnitude faster than in the health IT industry.  Orders of magnitude.  As in 10, 100, 1000 times faster.  A bold claim.  But then think about some of the advancements shown at TED:   - Microsoft’s integration of Photosynth and Sea Dragon technologies to create a Virtual Earth experience where you can now do a street level fly through of a city neighborhood and see the facades of the buildings around you.  And where there are web cams, seamlessly integrate live video into th... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3283685 Wed, 17 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3283685 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280064&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FaNLAUCyySLQ%2Fthe-90minute-ted.html Much is has been written about TED 2010, so I thought I’d just chip in with a quick list of my five favorite TED talks that I urge people to watch online once they’re posted. (We’ll let you know via Twitter  — @pioneerrwjf —  when they are.) Before I get to the top 5, though, I do want to plug the talks by two of our Pioneer grantees – Nicholas Christakis and Philip Howard. If you haven’t had a chance to hear Christakis take you through the discoveries he made about the role of social networks in obesity and happiness or Howard put forth his ideas on how to change the legal system (and with it the way we approach malpractice in health care), please check them out on TED.com.   In no particular order, my five faves were as follows:   Michael Sand... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280064 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3280064 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3280063&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FwopahScGBKA%2Fbehavioral-economics-and-public-health-at-ted2010.html I particularly enjoyed the TED talk by Elizabeth Pisani, author of the book, The Wisdom of Whores. A former journalist whose work now focuses on drug users and sex workers, Pisani has a PhD in infectious disease epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and spoke on the second morning, one day after Princeton’s Daniel Kahneman, the father of behavioral economics. Pisani voiced frustration during her talk about the mismatch between government policies and public health approaches and what influences the choices sex workers and drug users make. Her argument drew on the analytical framework behavioral economists like Kahneman have used so effectively to describe and understand the choices people make. Pisani dismissed the field of public health as being limited by... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3280063 Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3280063 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3687392&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FTL2GXrnoLcY%2F People are awfully protective of their ideas (myself definitely included). There are plenty of reasons for not sharing ideas: we’re afraid people won’t like them, or worse, won’t understand them. someone might steal them they might, in reality, be total crap they’re hard to explain, especially when the proverbial ink is still dry in the mind etc., etc., etc. But the biggest fear I have of sharing ideas is losing control. There is an awful lot of ego that gets attached to our ideas, (see: the God Complex), and the thought of losing that grip is crippling. One of the most intoxicating aspects of having an idea is having control over the idea. We thrive on building, planning, analyzing, almost anything but actually doing. It’s not just little companies or am... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3687392 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 13:48:44 +0100 3687392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259082&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2F2E06MBpCy2M%2Fjoin-pioneer-at-ted-2010-healths-future-powered-by-you-and-your-data.html TED2010 – the Technology, Entertainment and Design conference – kicks off today and runs through the 13th in Long Beach, CA, with the Pioneer Portfolio resuming its role as an event sponsor.  There’s an amazing lineup of speakers, and we’re especially excited that two Pioneer grantees will take the main stage.  Nicholas Christakis of Harvard Medical School will be speaking on Thursday about the power of our social networks to influence the spread of health and social phenomena, including obesity, happiness and smoking cessation.  And Phil Howard, chair of Common Good and leading spokesperson for the work we have supported to test administrative health courts to overhaul our broken system of medical justice, will address the TED audience on Saturday.&#0... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259082 Tue, 09 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3259082 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243892&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FY6wQIf5f758%2Fwhat-does-your-health-care-have-to-do-with-your-mouthwash.html I wrote last year about consumer product, service and retail companies moving more aggressively into the health and wellness space and how their customer-focused approach could be a real challenge to the more traditional medical model which is still struggling to understand and operationalize patient-centered care.  According to recent news reports in the Cincinnati Enquirer, consumer product giant Proctor & Gamble recently purchased MDVIP, the nation’s largest concierge care company.  P&G reportedly purchased a small stake in the company a couple years ago.   "‘We see this as a learning venture as well as a business,’ said Nathan Estruth, vice president of P&G's FutureWorks unit,” the Enquirer reported.  Here’s a link to their ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243892 Fri, 05 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3243892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3243728&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2FIcvjO4TqjMI%2Fironic-absurdities-for-bonedoc.html Last night when I was reading Bongi's blog (Other Things Amanzi), I came across his brutally hilarious (but freakishly realistic) post on (his sort of) "surgical principles". Bongi is a general surgeon based in South Africa and though I see striking similarities between our "surgical worlds", I found the guy's witty and humorous ways of narrating his surgically bugged life, intriguingly interesting. Anyhow I'm particularly inspired (nah, copycat) by his post on how he came up with "his principles". Not that I subscribe to all of  these but most went straight out of his operating theater making it egoistically fascinating for us surgeons and surgeons neck peckers. The one thing that strike me most was this "flat" referral to his bloody (or organically graphic) reality and how he finds ... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3243728 Thu, 04 Feb 2010 01:13:00 +0100 3243728 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3164106&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38616&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifelearningtoday%2Fwlyf%2F%7E3%2FFYqAye306OI%2F The way to stop being frustrated by politics? Get involved! (And before you stop reading because you have no spare time, please know that there are small ways to get involved that don’t take a lot of time!) Think about a sports game. It can be frustrating watching a game when your team is losing. But when you are in the game, you can be affecting the outcome and at least know you did your best even if you don’t win. It is the same with politics! So, get on the field of play and use your energy, resources, and your right to contribute to our government. It won’t just make you feel better, it will make your community and country a better place! Whether you are on the right, the left, in the center, or out in left field, you CAN make a difference in the world. “Somebod... Life Learning Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3164106 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 18:50:00 +0100 3164106 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3153424&cid=t_122950_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F08%2Fa-psychologist-pioneer-clay-tucker-ladd-phd-78%2F Most of you have never heard of Dr. Clay Tucker-Ladd, and yet in many ways, he was just as influential as any psychologist because he did something revolutionary in his day. In 1970 — 40 years ago — he taught a class on how to apply psychology to personal life. Yes, that’s right — Dr. Tucker-Ladd pre-dated all of those positive psychology folks and self-help gurus who talk about how you can apply basic psychological principles to help improve our own happiness and well-being. But I met Clay many, many years later — in 1996 — when we began discussing and working on how to publish his self-help book online, the first online self-help book. The self-help book is called fittingly enough Psychological Self-Help, a book he began writing back in 1973. No publ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3153424 Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:48:01 +0100 3153424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3133830&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FA03RNgv7vbk%2F Photo by jared I can’t even begin to count how many posts I jot down that I never finish. Some sit and rot in an ideas file for the rest of their life, and that’s as far as they get. Others get as far as a few paragraphs, even up to a nearly finished post before it’s crumpled and thrown in the digital trash. I typically end up writing only about 20% of the posts I start. Yet if I published every single idea I’ve had for an article, then there’s no way you’d still be reading my drivel. (Thanks for sticking around, by the way!) There would be much, much more unfocused, sporadic and unfinished content lying around this place. You’d spend your time trying not to step in the really stanky posts while trying to find the good ones. Yuck. So, in order to s... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3133830 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 14:55:31 +0100 3133830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3118958&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FyGrYaJb6Jk8%2Farchimedes-arches-platform-and-its-potential-for-health-decision-makers.html Dr. David Eddy, founder of Archimedes, recently visited the Foundation to present ARCHeS, a Web-based delivery platform that enables policy-makers and health leaders to use the Archimedes model to run their own virtual trials. Dr. Eddy demonstrated a prototype version of what users can expect to access via ARCHeS and previewed new functionality that will allow providers and decision makers to use the model to tailor care decisions for individual patients. Pioneer is supporting Archimedes to build ARCHeS.   What struck me about ARCHeS was the opportunity it presented to make evidence-based policy decisions about nurse practitioners’ scope of practice that could potentially result in significant savings. Currently, those who advocate for nurse practitioners playing an expanded, auton... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3118958 Wed, 23 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3118958 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115318&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FLifeDev%2F%7E3%2FNa7ug-TmxnI%2F Image by MacQ As I’ve written before, I love sharing ideas, and think it’s a crucial aspect of developing a project. Yet oftentimes the people I share ideas with don’t like or understand them. They’ll let me know quickly if the idea is a stinker. But there are a few occasions when my friends won’t like my idea, and I’ll still think it’s great. But instead of listening to my gut and working on the idea anyway, I dropped it. I can think of three specific and recent examples where if I had just stuck to my guns and developed the idea, it would have done really well. Yet I chickened out. Odds are your convictions are what will differentiate your ideas from the competitors. Think about Steve Jobs at Apple. His strong convictions of how an MP3 player sho... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115318 Mon, 21 Dec 2009 17:12:37 +0100 3115318 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3056751&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FSJki9iqt_gg%2Ftalking-about-philanthropic-failure.html In a new Communications Network diavlog (no, that isn't a misprint, it is an awkward attempt to combine dialog, video, and blog), Pittsburgh Foundation President Grant Oliphant talks about failure. It is good to see more attention to this topic. Paul Brest of the Hewlett Foundation and Jim Canales of the Irvine Foundation have been outspoken about the need to be more forthcoming about programs that don't work, and Robert Giloth and Susan Gewirtz from Annie E. Casey Foundation document the potential value of foundation mistakes in the Winter 2009 issue of Foundation Review. So the issue is beginning to get traction. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's recently released Anthology (Volume XIII) adds to the mix with four chapters on foundation failures. In his remarks... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3056751 Thu, 03 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3056751 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3036936&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Ffive-non-traditional-breastfeeding-gifts%2F If you are crafty you can hand-make any number of breastfeeding-related gifts, but if you are not so inclined, I have five ideas for non-traditional gifts for the new mother that range from under $10 all the way up to $169. 1. Klean Kanteen Water Bottles. Staying hydrated is important for the breastfeeding mother but remembering to drink enough water can be difficult for the busy new mom. It helps to keep water beside the nursing chair and by the bed. Make it easier for the new mother with one or more of these Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Colored Water Bottles. I like Klean Kanteen because the bottles are made from food grade stainless steel that is non-leaching, toxin-free and BPA-free. It’s an environmentally-friendly choice both because it eliminates the waste of plastic water bo... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3036936 Sun, 29 Nov 2009 12:36:03 +0100 3036936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3037105&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38608&url=%2F%3Fp%3D1007 Photo by zanzibar This is the first in a series of posts that showcase things I’ve learned during my recent honeymoon travels. My new wife and I decided to go on a Caribbean cruise for our honeymoon, and with the help of the most knowledgeable traveler I know, we booked an amazing week-long cruise. Lynn made me promise to leave my laptop at home, and we decided both of our phones were going to remain off for the entire trip. (Little did we know that it costs a ton to have wifi connection and even phone service on a cruise.) We wanted to spend time with each other, without worrying about the outside world. And then a funny thing happened. I had an absolute deluge of creativity. Aside from hanging out with the most beautiful woman in the world for a week, I managed to: write 5 posts ... LifeDev blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3037105 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:42:24 +0100 3037105 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3012331&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2FjEZgL7kt8QI%2Fgoing-under-knife-to-mold-surgeon.html I must admit, I'm a bit compulsive and sometimes painstakingly freaked whenever one of my closest person get sick or is undergoing a surgical procedure. In our family, I'm the only medically inclined person. Being a go to medical guy in a family felt like a whooping responsibility. Yes it is. The three or four surgeries my mom and sis went through plus the numerous getting sick moments of other family members exact a heavy toll on my stress scale. Not even my MD could ever down play such effect. On the other hand, being an MD tips the balance towards near compulsion and attention to details. Why? Frankly, I don't know. Of course our training helps, especially in the part where you plaster an emotionless face to keep cool. I've mastered that art I can even harbor the burden of my patients... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3012331 Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:25:00 +0100 3012331 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2995716&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fpumpkin-pie-scented-play-dough-recipe%2F Becoming a mother made me more frugal and brought me back to basics. Fortunately, play dough is surprisingly easy to make from scratch! I love knowing what’s in it and that it is truly non-toxic, and I love experimenting with different colors and scents! I find homemade dough to be superior to store-bought. It’s smoother, smells better, and can be made in large quantities. The recipe below can be halved if you want to make a small amount of a variety of colors, or it can be doubled to make a gallon-sized bag worth. It takes about 15 minutes to make, and I recommend cleaning the pot before the dough dries in it! This recipe makes a quart-sized bag. To celebrate fall, this time I made pumpkin-pie scented orange play dough. Basic Play Dough Recipe 2 cups flour 2 cups warm water 1... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2995716 Sun, 15 Nov 2009 14:28:00 +0100 2995716 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943749&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2F2010-breastfeeding-calendars%2F When doing your holiday gift shopping, consider one of these beautiful calendars featuring breastfeeding pictures from various non-profit organizations. You can have your 2010 calendar shopping make a difference for mothers and babies around the world by purchasing one of the following calendars: ~ Check out the 12 full-color pictures from the IBFAN Breastfeeding Calendar 2010. The calendar is available from Baby Milk Action for £7, £6 if ordering 10 or more. Add £2 per calendar for shipping and handling outside the United Kingdom (although you might be able to order a calendar from your national International Baby Food Action Netork group). ~ The 2010 Australian Breastfeeding Association Calendar features 14 breastfeeding pictures selected from thousands of submissions. It sells for A... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943749 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:18:37 +0100 2943749 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2943722&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2F4CDbnIItaiY%2Fchallenging-teaching-methods-in.html In just about a year and half of teaching orthopedic residents, I became interested in finding out which of the more familiar teaching styles works best for our crop of trainees. Honestly, I'm still continually experimenting. The unique set up with which medical-surgical training programs thrive is continually changing. With the influx of medical information everyday, a program has to adapt to the call of time and for greater efficiency in preparing this 'padawans" into full pledged surgeons.It is not simple as it seems however since in this unique set up and unlike the usual academic, lab rat experimentation, a mistake might cost someone else life. The "Master-Apprentice" method ( probably the more popular and is what I'm familiar with) involves  the "master" (attendings) showing t... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2943722 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:46:00 +0100 2943722 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2920326&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FZa7NE9C7hJA%2Fthere-is-no-such-thing-as-a-blank-check-particularly-in-this-economic-climate-resources-are-not-endless-parameters-exis.html There is no such thing as a blank check — particularly in this economic climate. Resources are not endless; parameters exist. But the Pioneer Portfolio is dedicated to powering ideas that have the ability to truly transform health and health care and — to do so — we need to encourage people to THINK BIG.From October 27-30, members of the Pioneer team will be in San Diego to participate in TEDMED2009. While we are there, we will ask other participants — if someone was to hand them a blank check — what they would do to transform the future of health and health care? What kind of problems do they see as being “stuck” and that, if solved, could bring about significant improvements 5, 10, 15 or more years down the road?  Where are the breakthrough opportunities?But we ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2920326 Thu, 22 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2920326 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912123&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2Fc36mQUPlsjw%2Fsocial-networks-and-physician.html In the recent years we've seen the rise of physician bloggers and physicians in social networks like Facebook, Tweeter, Multiply, online medical community like Recomed , Linked In or such online conferencing tools like Skype. While what constitute "sociable" data (those that can be shared or not shared on these networks) remains gray and debatable, this rising trend will continue for quite sometime at least in the first world countries I believe. Still, some physicians (especially in developing countries) isn't taking advantage of these social networks and online health care tools to develop their practice and improve patient care. Obviously there are distinct advantage and disadvantages for physicians getting involve on these social networks. The recent suggestion of charging patients ... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912123 Wed, 21 Oct 2009 04:30:00 +0100 2912123 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2916223&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FWRq5MCM-HVc%2Fbetter-informed-managers-of-our-health.html Most of what I read and almost all of what I believe is that we, as individuals, must assume primary responsibility for managing our health. I'm also told that I need to become a more informed consumer when making health and health care decisions. As a person who's spent a good part of my career doing research I think that I'm more ready than most to investigate, consider and make informed decision. However, no matter how ready I am, no matter how skilled I am at analytic reasoning, I can not make an informed decision if the information is not available to me. I know that some of the data is hard to acquire and may be harder to analyze. It is difficult even for hospitals to predict the total cost to the patient of a hospital stay. For drugs used to treat many conditions it can ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2916223 Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2916223 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2912311&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2F1lOyng_C4DM%2Ffun-behavior.html Earlier this month, Volkswagen launched a competition for ideas to help change people's behavior. The premise is that the best way to change behavior is to make things fun. They call it The Fun Theory: http://thefuntheory.com/.  One example: get people to switch from the escalator to the stairs by changing the steps into a working piano. There are three videos that will make you smile. The competition closes Nov. 15; first prize is 2,500 euros. (Source: Pioneering Ideas) Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2912311 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2912311 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2908847&cid=t_122950_135_f&fid=35274&url=http%3A%2F%2Facidrefluxweb.com%2F%3Fp%3D4114 F. I’m having such a hard time these days. Now I have to figure out content for four, soon to be five venues: Acid Reflux, GayGuideToronto.Com, fab magazine, and my new video blog, “No You Can’t Stay For Coffee.” and Project X – not yet officially announced. Today’s Acid Reflux post, I decided to put up on GayGuideToronto.Com instead, leaving the original post in the can for another time. I’m trying to differentiate them by a few ways. Acid Reflux is more like a diary and where I can post my silly shit that I may not want to put on GayGuideToronto.Com. On GayGuideToronto.Com I’m trying to be more topical, and will also air my video blog, along with Project X. I view life now as a constant flow of potential content eliciting constant note taki... acidrefluxweb.com blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2908847 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:58:29 +0100 2908847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2905148&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38616&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifelearningtoday%2Fwlyf%2F%7E3%2Fr14cm2QOSEI%2F Too much stuff is not only bad, it’s worse than you think. And it’s not just about the environment. It’s about people too and the quality of their lives. Check out this preview video of “The Story of Stuff.” If you are interested, you can view the full version which is just below the first video. And before you become depressed or start feeling hopeless, know that there are things YOU can do to actually make a difference. Identifying a problem is the first step in a brighter future. Check out the top 10 things you can do to make a difference here. Preview of “Story of Stuff” Full version of “Story of Stuff” (only 20 minutes) What You Can Do to Change the “Story of Stuff” There are many ways to get involved. The Story of St... Life Learning Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2905148 Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:45:07 +0100 2905148 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2902971&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F10%2Ftruing-up.html I just want you to know that at no time has any agent affiliated with the TSA relieved me of either of my children during an airport security screening. This is kind of odd when you consider that until recently... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2902971 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2902971 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2899229&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38616&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifelearningtoday%2Fwlyf%2F%7E3%2FEYEdhEBvaNA%2F photo credit: felipesp You don’t have to save the world single handed. It’s not an all or nothing proposition for each individual. It’s simply about doing the best you can in any given day. What I’m doing today is spreading the word for Blog Action Day 2009: Climate Change. As Monika Baurlein states today in MotherJones.com, “Fix the Climate or the Kid Gets It.” (Clever title!) We need to convince “Americans that something we care about is actually at risk here. And of course something is is. Climate change poses the greatest danger not to polar bears, not to glaciers or beaches, but to our kids.” So what’s a busy person to do? Here are some ideas that are easy: 10 Simple Ways to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint and Save the Earth for Your ... Life Learning Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2899229 Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:41:09 +0100 2899229 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2894453&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2FGN3MqC6us9A%2Ftownhouse-blogging-will-it-be-for-real.html Here's a spin of my epic reawakening.When I started blogging about health care issues a year ago, I restricted my so called "online journal" to personal nuances that rarely touch anything substantial beyond my own epidermis. It was easier back then, having to simply blurt out personal experiences in order to keep the curiosity of my readers. It was this curiosity that enabled some readers a window into the often chaotic and enigmatic life of medical students, physicians, residents and the tears and glitter that came with our job. Grey's anatomy, Scrubbs and House MD entertained more viewers rather than offering realistic solutions to health care debacles. But they did succeed in bringing health care personnel into some different form of popularity.When I stumbled on foreign medical blogs t... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2894453 Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:42:00 +0100 2894453 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2881239&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FwiVV4IJbR9I%2Fthis-post-comes-to-us-from-patricia-geli-rolfhamre-over-at-extending-the-cure-more-in-depth-conversation-about-antibiotic-re.html This post comes to us from Patricia Geli Rolfhamre over at Extending the Cure.  More in-depth conversation about antibiotic resistance and the future of our nation's supply of antibiotics is happening on the ETC blog. Are there ways in which we can reduce the spread of antibiotic resistance by treating patients more strategically? The dosing and duration of antibiotic treatment have been shown to be critical determinants of the likelihood of curing an infection and of the emergence of resistance.   Adjusting these factors to a patient’s individual condition instead of treating every patient with the same antibiotic regimen may be an easy step toward fighting resistance. Research reports from the American College of Emergency Physicians annual meeting in Boston earli... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2881239 Sat, 10 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2881239 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4300235&cid=t_122950_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2Ffinancing-aesthetic-services%2F Patients can have bigger dreams when you break costs into smaller pieces. When the economy is down, people tend to cut cosmetic procedures from their budgets, as they see it as a “want” instead of a “need.” For doctors this can mean fewer procedures in their practices. There are many credit card based financial products [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersFinancing Aesthetic Services (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4300235 Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:14:17 +0100 4300235 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2859170&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F10%2Fits-probably-a-good-thing-i-dont-do-book-reviews.html If you're my friend on Facebook, which is sort of like being my bricks-and-mortar friend except that I seldom send anyone a pancreas in real life, or if you follow me on Twitter, which is sort of like being stabbed... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2859170 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2859170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2855863&cid=t_122950_158_f&fid=36018&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcaregiversbeacon.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F10%2Fgroup-activities-for-active-seniors.html Retirement years can become times of depression and isolation unless new activities and personal growth are still a part of life. Health issues, handicaps, and a tight limited budget can make previous interests no longer an option. But life can still be rewarding and interesting. Below is a list of ideas.* Join a health club. Even if you have health issues such as arthritis or joint replacements, there are exercise options. Aquatherapy, for instance, provides gentle exercise for sore joints. Chair exercise to music in a group is a way to do a variety of arm lifts with or without weights, leg lifts, twists and stretches. Some exercise groups I attend also go out to lunch together afterward so it's part of a social life too.* Join your local Seniors' Center for affordable group activities, p... The Caregiver's Beacon - Resources, Links, Ideas, News blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2855863 Thu, 01 Oct 2009 19:30:00 +0100 2855863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2757900&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FRZIFfDcTLHA%2Fthe-h1n1-flu-prediction-market.html As kids across the country are starting to go back to school this month, parents, health officials and school administrators are wondering whether or not we will see a resurgence of H1N1. While no one can forecast the future, we asked Phil Polgreen and Forrest Nelson, the directors of the Iowa Electronic Health Markets, to explain what they’ve learned so far from their H1N1 market, a pilot prediction tool, and discuss what their expert traders believe will happen in the fall. The Iowa team has been running prediction markets for avian influenza (bird flu) and for seasonal influenza for several years. On Friday, April 24, some of the first news reports about a frightening new influenza virus surfaced here in the United States. That news prompted us to re-tool our prediction market for the... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2757900 Mon, 31 Aug 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2757900 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2727083&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FH4kgQqimzAs%2F At last week’s Mont Pelerin Society meeting in Stockholm, Deirdre McCloskey argued that it was important for society to affirm entrepreneurship.  How right she is. The economic benefits of the new technologies and processes constantly created by people with new economic ideas is obvious.  But the social benefits of such inventions also are enormous. Consider James C. Marsters, who helped end the isolation of the deaf around the world.  The Wall Street Journal reported on his death: As an orthodontist, a licensed pilot and a sometime-professional magician, James C. Marsters mastered fields challenging for anyone, even more so for a profoundly deaf person such as himself. His greatest feat was to conjure the text telephone, or TTY, which for the first time gave deaf people independ... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2727083 Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:26:38 +0100 2727083 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2726885&cid=t_122950_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwho-is-the-most-important-marketer-in-your-aesthetic-practice%2F The aesthetic physician or the head of the group if several doctors work together. The financial shock we are trying to cope with has made us sharper. The star of the practice is what can make a difference for a cash paying consumer comparing several aesthetic practices during the online research. What can help you look more [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersWho Is The Most Important Marketer In Your Aesthetic Practice (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2726885 Mon, 10 Aug 2009 14:58:22 +0100 2726885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2726889&cid=t_122950_72_f&fid=38877&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.laseroffers.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fwebsite-the-hub-of-aesthetic-clinic-marketing-and-advertising%2F Medical marketing is a problem for many doctors, but flaws in marketing strategies for aesthetic and cosmetic clinics make the difference between financial success and bankruptcy. As a doctor, you may work a few hours a week but the virtual doors of your aesthetic practice should always be open 24/7. Using a variety of available web [...]Post from: Aesthetic Laser OffersWebsite as the Hub of Aesthetic Clinic Marketing and Advertising (Source: Aesthetic Lasers) Aesthetic Lasers blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2726889 Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:38:48 +0100 2726889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2634699&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Ftaking-the-time-to-read%2F160%2F There are few people who wouldn’t benefit from spending a little more time each day reading a good book.  If you want to keep yourself at maximum creative capacity, you have to make sure you are taking in new ideas and thoughts.  If you aren’t continually feeding your mind, you’ll eventually find your creative reserves starting to run dry.  Continually producing output without taking any input is a good way to burn out. Here are eight tips that I’ve found help me in my personal reading habits: Read books. There is a lot of material available on blogs and other internet sites, but make sure you are taking time to read actual published books.  The quality of published materials tends to be much higher and topics are more developed. If you can set aside a specifi... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2634699 Thu, 23 Jul 2009 16:00:00 +0100 2634699 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626308&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38616&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Flifelearningtoday%2Fwlyf%2F%7E3%2FqcLXjjF2yU4%2F photo credit: Ana_Cotta I love the song, “Maybe God is Trying to Tell You Somethin’,'” from the Color Purple soundtrack.  It is a very passionate and moving gospel song. Every once in a while, something happens in my life where I can hear a message from God. It’s not always earth shattering, but even when it is a simple message it is still a delightful intermission from my usual mundane thought patterns. Hopefully this story will spark your interest to  adjust the dial on your “tuner” in order to hear the messages you may be receiving right now. I got a cold recently. The worst part was that it made me so tired. So tired, in fact, that I had to take a nap nearly each day. I never take naps so this means my body was really tired. After 5 days I though... Life Learning Today blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626308 Wed, 22 Jul 2009 00:56:49 +0100 2626308 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2626125&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2Fhwr4qOL0U1U%2Fis-there-a-greenier-way-to-prevent-hais-and-be-green.html We’ve written several times on Pioneering Ideas about the impact of hospital acquired infections (HAIs) on lives and hospitals as well as the costly drain HAIs have on the health care system.  Simply increasing the use of cleaning and disinfecting products to tackle HAIs can create a host of other health hazards for both health care facility workers and patients – not to mention significant harm to the environment. This conundrum has led to the development of wide range of green cleaning methods, but at this point there remains a need for more evidence of about the extent to which these programs meet infection control and prevention goals. In a recent white paper, Health Care Without Harm(HCWH), in collaboration with the Global Health and Safety Initiative(GHSI), explores ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2626125 Sun, 19 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2626125 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2616884&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38609&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FDavidSeah-BetterLivingThroughNewMedia%2F%7E3%2FpEZFhev6F9A%2F SUMMARY: I know that the path to happiness goes straight through the Mountains of Productivity, a craggy place where discipline and steadiness of action are required to maintain one’s footing. Nevertheless, I have difficulty mustering the energy to even get on the path, as much as I want to. In this post, I identify myself as a procrastinator-perfectionist, and detail some factors that I believe are barriers to action: a lack of immediacy, a need to be convinced, and a look at “happiness” not as a question to be answered, but as an indicator of pre-existing conditions. After coming up with some ways to trick myself past these barriers, I postulate that video game design may offer an analogous methodology, to be explored in future posts. Work-life balance has been on my ... David Seah - Design, Development, Inspiration, Empowerment blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2616884 Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:07:04 +0100 2616884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2584254&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FlNjfp_fkSJM%2Fnow-thats-progress.html 1899   2009   My family dog, Chance, testing the latest prototype.  Credit to my wife, Naomi, for the idea. The back story: Chance is about seven months old. He learned to swim in a local creek the other day. Then, in his excitement, he jumped off a bridge and landed on ground 10 feet below. I think he figured if he could swim, then he could also fly. We spent a good five hours at the emergency room, most of it waiting. The vet on call wanted a specialist to see him. The specialist, a doggie ortho surgeon, thought they would need to operate—to the tune of $4,000.  Additional x-rays showed no broken bones, but some torn tendons. It was just like a visit to a human ER, only with a lot more fur. Chance should be ok in three or four weeks... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2584254 Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2584254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2580333&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2ForQzboxgZm4%2Fcan-a-reduction-in-hospital-acquired-infections-cut-health-care-costs.html There is no denying that hospital acquired infections (HAIs) are an expensive drain on the system and impact the lives of an estimated 1.7 million hospital patients a year – killing nearly 99,000 annually. Is it possible that simply instituting best practices in infection control can substantially reduce these infections and save the nation’s healthcare system billions of dollars a year?  Yes, according to an article in last week’s Roll Call by Ramanan Laxminarayan of the Extending the Cure initiative, a Pioneer grantee, and Ed Septimus from HCA Healthcare System.  Laxminarayan and Septimus propose several ideas and incentives, which they believe will reduce the rate of resistant HAIs and control the rise of antibiotic resistance.  Are hospital acquired infections... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2580333 Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2580333 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2571198&cid=t_122950_149_f&fid=35784&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FTheChemBlog%2F%7E3%2F8mc5oJabmg8%2F Since starting my postdoc no less than 45 days or so I haven’t really commented on the subject, though I think I can now comment on, at the very least, the first 3 days (what with having all this time to reflect upon them and all). The position of a post doc is a confusing one, to say the least.  You’re really not that much better than a 4th or 5th year graduate student, despite having additional initials after your name and, if you didn’t f. up, you’re probably at a bit more of a competitive lab or a more impressive school (or it was, at the least. a lateral promotion to something equivalent.)  Either way, the people around you are f.ing smart and ready to take you and everyone else on intellectually.  Now is not the time, of course, to retreat into your shell&#... The Chem Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2571198 Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:59:47 +0100 2571198 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2556210&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FWWxVLGO8FfA%2Fusing-games-to-support-childrens-healthy-development-opportunities-challenges.html We welcome Ann My Thai to our guest blogger series. Ann My Thai is the Assistant Director of the Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop and the co-author of Game Changer: Investing in Digital Play to Advance Children’s Learning and Health. Ann leads the Center's strategic partnership efforts with high tech and gaming industries, and oversees organizational growth and strategy. Before joining the Center, she served as a consultant for Education for Development, Vietnam, a nonprofit organization that develops informal educational programming for disadvantaged children in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Thai received her bachelor's degree in Political Science from Yale University and a master's degree in Business Administration from the Ross School of Business at the Univer... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2556210 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2556210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2553126&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FG1P-BnJRH44%2Fmarketing-the-concept-of-games-for-health.html We continue our guest blogger series with Nedra Weinreich.  Nedra Weinreich is a social marketing consultant who helps nonprofits and government agencies strategically promote health and social issues through her company Weinreich Communications. She is the author of Hands-On Social Marketing: A Step-by-Step Guide, writes on social marketing issues at the Spare Change blog and is the director of Social Marketing University. Nedra has an MS degree in Health & Social Behavior from the Harvard School of Public Health. Games for health intrigue me because they have such potential for achieving the behavior change-related objectives we in public health often struggle to reach - changing awareness and attitudes about an issue, educating people with key facts, building... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2553126 Sun, 28 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2553126 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2517295&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FLAy_izHUqPY%2Ffun-kids-evidencebased-rd-games-for-health-success.html We continue our guest blogger series with Richard Tate of HopeLab. Richard Tate is the Director of Communications and Marketing at HopeLab and a blogger on Sticky Notes, HopeLab’s official blog.  HopeLab, maker of the groundbreaking Re-Mission videogame for teens with cancer, is an innovative nonprofit harnessing the power and appeal of technology to improve the health of young people. Their evidence-based, customer-focused development process delivers fun, effective products that measurably improve the health and quality of life of adolescents and young adults. More than 30 years ago, Joan Ganz Cooney began to build the evidence base for entertainment technology as a tool for good in the lives of young people. From Cooney’s work, the groundbreaki... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2517295 Wed, 24 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2517295 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511588&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2F4Dxa5ZilQyM%2Fwe-started-june-off-with-a-look-at-games-for-health-in--preparation-for-the-2009-games-for--health-conference-we-attended-w.html We started June off with a look at games for health in preparation for the 2009 Games for Health Conference. We attended, we tweeted, and we shared updates on some of the incredible developments that took place this year. Now we’d like to end the month by looking at the opportunities that games have in creating positive health outcomes among children. Yesterday, the Sesame Workshop’s Joan Ganz Cooney Center released a new report on the power that video games can have in addressing some of the most pressing health challenges facing America’s children. The report outlines some strong evidence that games can make a positive impact on the health of our children – a great step. However, we also recognize that there is still work that needs to be done to increase the use of digit... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511588 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2511588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2511587&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FBMcDxT91_NU%2Fdeveloping-and-sustaining-health-gamesa-losing-battle.html We welcome Melanie Lazarus as part of our guest blogger series.  Melanie M. Lazarus, MPH is the Director of Marketing for Archimage, a serious game developer with titles including Escape From Diab and Nanoswarm: Invasion from Inner Space. She is also editor of healthGAMERS, a blog designed to educate the public about the games for health field, and author of Monster’s Blog, the corporate blog for Playnormous Health Games. Melanie has a B.S. degree in Microbiology from UT-Austin and an MPH in Health Promotion and Behavioral Science from The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. The video game industry is an influential one -- $13.5 billion influential. Improving the health of children through a messaging medium this big seems like an obvious idea. Unfortunatel... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2511587 Tue, 23 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2511587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2458403&cid=t_122950_134_f&fid=36012&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FBattleDiabetes%2F%7E3%2FVAgfQEHHE4o%2F The perfect Christmas gift for a Diabetic would be one that is both useful to the Diabetic and raises money for diabetes research and awareness. Don’t have any diabetic friendly gift ideas? No worries. I have put together some Christmas Gift Ideas for Diabetics that should make any Diabetic on your list happy. What’s great is that not all the gifts are diabetes themed but all are included in the American Diabetes Gift of Hope program meaning partial proceeds go towards Diabetes research and awareness. What better Christmas gift could a diabetic receive than support for finding a cure for diabetes? Pocket Page Recipe Book $15.99 We all know that diet is one of the most important elements in living a diabetes friendly lifestyle. A great gift for the diabetic in your life would b... Battle Diabetes Blog blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2458403 Sun, 07 Jun 2009 09:45:04 +0100 2458403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2457988&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2F5uNKZFih384%2Fhow-much-weight-should-kids-carry-on.html I overheard this conversation over one radio/tv show that made me gulp in disbelief. Probably pressured by parent's questions regarding how much weight should kids carry on their bags going to school, the lady anchor asked one orthopedic surgeon from a known celebrity hospital in Manila. Frankly, I found the good surgeon's answer a bit complicated and technical. The simple answer should have been within 10-15% of the kids body weight, assuming that kid use a backpack to carry his/her school stuff. Beyond this carrying weight "cap" the kid will probably experience back strains and muscle strains NOT a slipped disc or arthritis as the anchors are trying to insinuate. Of course if you let this kids carry tables or chairs regularly, then probably! In choosing backpacks for your school kid... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2457988 Sat, 06 Jun 2009 06:07:00 +0100 2457988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2463456&cid=t_122950_180_f&fid=38610&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.productivity501.com%2Fdo-you-read-enough%2F4271%2F Imagine you are interviewing someone for a job and one of the questions you are going to ask them is “How much time do you spend reading and what do you read?”  Now imagine the answer you get back exactly describes your own reading habits.  What would your opinion be of the person you are interviewing based solely on that answer? In other words, are you impressed with your own reading habits?  Most people aren’t.  With the Internet, the average person reads a much wider range of content with much less depth than  20 years ago. And while there are some definite advantages to knowing a little about a lot of things, much of the content adds very little value to people’s lives. Making a conscious effort to read well-written books on a regular basis can go a long w... Productivity501 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2463456 Wed, 03 Jun 2009 18:00:19 +0100 2463456 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447780&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2Fy7hGaXxEtuI%2Fcatalyzing-the-app-store-for-ehrs.html Posted by Steve Downs and John Lumpkin, Senior Vice President, Health Care Group Recently, Steve posted about the idea, floated by Ken Mandl and Zak Kohane, that EHRs (or health IT more broadly) could move to a model of competitive, substitutable applications running off a platform that would provide secure medical record storage.  In other words, the iPhone app model, but, for example, you could have an e-prescribing app that runs over an EHR instead of the Yelp restaurant review app on your iPhone.  We’re thinking about the provider side of the market here, as Google Health and Microsoft HealthVault are already doing this on the consumer side. It’s nice to ponder these “what ifs,” but we’re a bit more action-oriented here and we’ve turned our attention to asking w... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447780 Mon, 01 Jun 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2447780 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2447403&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2F_PKE5gwai9Y%2Fits-all-about-taking-care-of-my-readers.html That what's this infrequent blog layout evolution is.Better blog readability, faster page loading, clutter free navigation and a strip down menus for ease of browsing- all of these were from readers who clamored for an appealing and better Orthopedic Logbook.So that all you have to do, my dear readers, is READ MY POSTS.And I've got to concentrate more on my BLOG CONTENT.Thanks to Kranthi of Bloggertricks, who bloggerized this original wordpress theme Falkner Press.If you have any suggestions to this Logbook, feel free to leave a comment here. (Source: The Orthopedic Logbook) The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2447403 Sat, 30 May 2009 15:34:00 +0100 2447403 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398612&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2Fmothers-day-gifts-of-time-and-service%2F What do mothers want this Mother’s Day? With the recession, I am guessing that gifts of time and service top the list! Such gifts often mean more than those that cost a lot of money anyway! Photo courtesy of A.D.A. Ana Duncan Art and J.G. WhitnerPersonally (and I will be forwarding this post to my husband!) I want a hot bath and time to myself to read a book. Alone time is at a premium for me with three kids including a 9-month-old, and a hot bath and a good book would go a long way to restoring my spirit! I do not like to be away from my baby — that’s not relaxing to me — so a bubble bath provides the perfect escape for an hour or more! Other ideas for gifts of time or service: ~ home-cooked dinner for two after the kids have gone to bed ~ freezer meals — mak... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398612 Sat, 09 May 2009 16:29:15 +0100 2398612 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389578&cid=t_122950_83_f&fid=38215&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Forthologbook%2F%7E3%2FVQliclrgqSc%2Fh1n1-swine-flu-infects-philippines-web.html Discussion Map according to Facebook Perhaps the busiest site would be U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)H1N1 Flu site detailing all possible topics related to this pandemic. The site provides virtually things you need to know about the outbreak in the language even a fifth grader would understand.Our very own Department of Health didn't escape the online viral fever. It did published an online guide to Influenza A (H1N1) in the Philippines and is coming up with a workable preparedness plan for a possible Swine Flu infection in the Philippines.The online counterparts of media moguls ABS-CBN and GMA (the major harbinger of news in a nation whose internet usage is below half its population) publishes frequent updates about Swine Flu cases here and abroad. Online newspapers ... The Orthopedic Logbook blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389578 Wed, 06 May 2009 03:50:00 +0100 2389578 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2389977&cid=t_122950_111_f&fid=36048&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAHeartyLife%2F%7E3%2FXfGBrj9l4qY%2F If you’re looking for a great Mother’s Day gift, consider giving money to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). The ADA offers several different types of giving initiatives, including honor gifts, stocks, and accessories. If your mom or someone close to her has diabetes, what better way to show them you care than by giving money toward a cure. It’s better than flowers! (But it’s always a good idea to get them anyway!) If giving a gift in honor of your mom, don’t forget to write out your reasons for doing so in a card. When your mom is able to understand why it was important for you to do that, she’ll appreciate the gift all the more. Image: sxc.hu Share and Enjoy: Post from: Blisstree Make a Diabetes Donation in Honor of M... A Hearty Life blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2389977 Mon, 04 May 2009 23:14:14 +0100 2389977 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2380937&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2F367RrFs0vw0%2Fengineering-errors-out-of-health-care.html In my first month as a new communications associate with the Foundation’s Pioneer team, one of the many glaring items on my task list has been to gain a solid working understanding of the power of disruptive innovation and what it takes to achieve it. While this may take a while, thankfully Susan Promislo has given me a stack of project briefs and proposals that illustrate different aspects of this equation in a pretty straightforward way.   In one intriguing new effort, a team led by Peter Pronovost– professor of anesthesiology and critical care medicine at Johns Hopkins and renowned patient safety expert – is looking to a collaborative model that has yielded huge improvements in commercial aviation safety, and testing whether the application of a similar method could do the ... Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2380937 Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2380937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2367527&cid=t_122950_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F04%2F25%2F90210%25e2%2580%2599s-portrayal-of-bipolar-disorder%2F Whenever TV and movies portray a person with mental illness, it’s usually a “crazy schizophrenic,” an ax-wielding sociopath, a violent, drug-addicted mental patient or an insane asylum escapee — or a combo of all four. Either way, that person is almost always hopeless, dangerous and deranged. When the news media tries to tackle mental illness, it’s typically after a horrific tragedy has occurred. A writer for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Daily Cardinal explains: “The script usually goes as follows: tragic event occurs, media pounces, the feeding frenzy begins, the public is inundated with endless graphic and heart-wrenching details, pundits and analysts play the blame game until the next media firestorm occurs.” Stigma in mainstream media is nothing new, and ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2367527 Sat, 25 Apr 2009 16:32:46 +0100 2367527 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2365177&cid=t_122950_113_f&fid=38494&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcuretogether.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2F01%2Fpresentation-crowd-vs-experts%2F Here are my slides from the Quantified Self meetup last night. Generated some good discussion on patients conducting their own clinical trials and the possibility of statistics replacing the need for experts. Crowd Vs. Experts - who to trust for health information? View more presentations from Alexandra Carmichael. (Source: The Collective Well) The Collective Well blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2365177 Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:49:01 +0100 2365177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2347828&cid=t_122950_87_f&fid=36050&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.blisstree.com%2Fbreastfeeding123%2F14-easy-fundraising-ideas-for-non-profits%2F Looking for fun and easy fundraising ideas for a non-profit organization? These ideas move beyond the tedious sales of wrapping paper, cookies, and pies, but stop short of extensive grant writing. They have been tested and approved by my local schools and nonprofit breastfeeding support groups and just might work for your organization too! Photo by Dani SimmondsIn these tough economic times, nonprofits must get creative in raising funds. This list of ideas offers a variety of options for non-profits to employ based on their particular resources: people, time, community support, computer access, and storage space. 1. Grocery stores’ loyalty cards. Many grocery stores and food warehouses allow you to register your store savings or rewards cards to benefit local non-profits. The non-pr... Breastfeeding 1-2-3 blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2347828 Sun, 12 Apr 2009 05:01:01 +0100 2347828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2342099&cid=t_122950_177_f&fid=38135&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alittlepregnant.com%2Falittlepregnant%2F2009%2F04%2Fmake-bunny-fast.html Urgent! Urgent! I must know immediately: What the hell does the Easter Bunny do these days? To millions of people — billions? — worldwide, Easter is about the joyful resurrection of Jesus Christ. I'm not a Christian, but we do... (Source: a little pregnant) a little pregnant blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2342099 Fri, 10 Apr 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2342099 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2317382&cid=t_122950_114_f&fid=35708&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2Ftypepad%2Frwjfblogs%2Fpioneer%2F%7E3%2FhMjD1wpztEI%2Fupdate-positive-deviance-mrsa-reductions-on-nyt-lede-blog.html Kevin Sack interviewed the CDC's John Jernigan about the effects of the Plexus Institute's positive deviance MRSA prevention partnership and wrote a post on the New York Times "Lede" blog.  Check it out and comment away, either there or on Pioneering Ideas.    (Source: Pioneering Ideas) Pioneering Ideas blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2317382 Fri, 27 Mar 2009 04:00:00 +0100 2317382