Teal Toes for Lisette and Yoland

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

Last year my friend Lisette died of ovarian cancer.  This spring a classmate from medical school,Yoland Condrey-Tinker, died of ovarian cancer.  Last week I stumbled across this campaign “Teal Toes” to increase the awareness of ovarian cancer.  Both would have loved this. (photo credit)

The month of September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and to help bring attention to the fifth leading cause of cancer death in women, an organization called Teal Toes is asking women to wear teal polish on their piggies in September (and anytime, really!) to prompt conversations about ovarian cancer with other people who might see the color and compliment or question it.

I took a trip to Wal-Mart this past weekend and got my teal nail polish.  It is Nicole “Respect the World Nail” Lacquer by OPI.  Here’s the picture of my teal toes:

The Gynecologic Cancer Foundation, the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists and the American Cancer Society, with significant support from the Alliance formed a consensus statement on ovarian cancer. The Ovarian Cancer National Alliance has endorsed the consensus statement, which was announced in June 2007. The statement follows.

Historically ovarian cancer was called the “silent killer” because symptoms were not thought to develop until the chance of cure was poor. However, recent studies have shown this term is untrue and that the following symptoms are much more likely to occur in women with ovarian cancer than women in the general population. These symptoms include:

• Bloating
• Pelvic or abdominal pain
• Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
• Urinary symptoms (urgency or frequency)

Women with ovarian cancer report that symptoms are persistent and represent a change from normal for their bodies. The frequency and/or number of such symptoms are key factors in the diagnosis of ovarian cancer. Several studies show that even early stage ovarian cancer can produce these symptoms.

Women who have these symptoms almost daily for more than a few weeks should see their doctor, preferably a gynecologist. Prompt medical evaluation may lead to detection at the earliest possible stage of the disease. Early stage diagnosis is associated with an improved prognosis.

Please visit OCNA for more information.

2009 River City Restaurant Week

 Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

The restaurants in my community are raising money for Arkansas Hospice.   They call it Restaurant Week, but it is actually two weeks, August 9-22. (photo credit)

Over 40 restaurants are participating this year.  The event is modeled after the the highly-successful Dallas Restaurant Week.  This is the second year for River Cities Restaurant Week.   The restaurants will offer special lunch and dinner menus for just $35 per person or less (beverages, tax and gratuity not included).   A donation of $5 from each meal will be donated to Arkansas Hospice.

The participating restaurants are many of the best in the area. A complete list can be found here.

Give Blood -- It's the Gift of Life

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

The American Red Cross called the other night to ask me to come in and give blood.  They reserves are low. 

I have been remiss in giving this past year, but gave this past Wednesday.  I tend to have a problem with iron deficiency anemia if I give as often as they would like.   Over the years I have learned that I am better off if I only give a couple of times a year rather than every 56 days.

Full eligibility guidelines for donors are available here.  In general, a donor

* must be healthy (fell well and can perform normal activities)

* be at least 17 years old or 16 years old if allowed by state law

* weigh at least 110 pounds

* not have donated whole blood in the last 8 weeks (56 days)

Information on the ARC’s website states

Every minute of every day, someone needs blood. That blood can only come from a volunteer donor, a person like you who makes the choice to donate. There is no substitute for your donation.

When you make a blood donation, you join a very select group. Currently only 3 out of every 100 people in America donate blood.

Join me in giving blood.  You’ll be giving life to someone.

Related posts:
Iron Deficient Anemia (June 15, 2007)
The Gift of Life (November 18, 2007)

Lou Gehrig's Speech 70 Years Later

 Updated 3/2017-- photos/video and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

This is the 70th anniversary of Lou Gehrig’s famous farewell speech (http://baseballhall.org/discover/lou-gehrig-luckiest-man).   It is still very inspiring.

For more information on ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis):
Lou Gehrig:  the Official Website
ALS Association
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Shout Outs

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

Barbara Olsen, Florence Dot Com,  is this week's host of Grand Rounds. You can read it here (photo credit).  Great edition!

Welcome to Grand Rounds! It's officially summertime, and Flo & Bo are taking you out to the ballgame! At Florence dot com, Bo, a seasoned nurse with an engineer's mind, channels Florence Nightingale, a systems thinker whose interest in public health and service gave rise to modern nursing. (Flo favors cricket, but this is Bo's gig.)

From Better Health comes “A Medical Transgender Primer”  written by DrJonLaPook.   Very nice article.

Step one in reaching the public is defining terms. The terminology surrounding gender issues can be confusing. “Transgender man,”, “transmale,” and “affirmed male” have all been used to refer to a biological female who transitions to a male. I found a glossary of transgender terminology offered by the NCTE to be extremely helpful……….

See DermDoc for the Proper Way to Pop a Pimple

As a dermatologist, I am obligated to tell you: “Do not attempt to pop your pimples.” But I know you are going to do it anyway, so here’s how to do it properly:

1. Pick only pimples that are ready to be popped………..

If you deal with head injury patients, you’ll find this list of resources by VP Medical useful

We here at VP Medical Consulting are currently working on a life care plan for a young lady with a traumatic brain injury. In developing the plan we consult many resources and thought I would share them here. If you have a resource I have missed, please let me know and I will be sure to add it…….

VP Medical has also put together a list of resources for care givers.

From @drval (on twitter):  For those interested in what was discussed at the HC reform meeting at BIO today (June 17): check out the blog: http://tinyurl.com/nqowbm #hcrmtg

TBTAM brings to our attention “Folic Acid Supplementation – Too Much of a Good Thing?”     I must admit, folic acid is one of those vitamins (water soluble) that I never thought of as ever having a problem of too much.  I associate the water soluble ones which our bodies don’t store as having the problem of deficiency.  I stand corrected.  I hope you will read her entire post.

Folic acid supplementation of breads and cereals has led to a decline in the incidence of neural tube defects like spina bifida and anencephaly in the United States and other nations that have implemented similar measures.
But too much folic acid may lead to an increased risk for colon cancer……………….

If you are already taking a multivitamin with folate in it, you might want to avoid high folate cereals and breads. And vice-versa.

This week Dr Anonymous will be  doing a “summer vacation” show.  I hope you will join us. The show begins at 9 pm EST.

Stamp Out Hunger 2009

Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

For the 17th year, the National Association of Letter Carriers will be collecting non-perishable food items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice in their yearly drive to “stamp out hunger.”  This year the date is Saturday, May 9th. 

You and I can help by placing food donations at the mailbox on May 9th before the letter carrier arrives. The food donations will then be taken to the Post Office. Later it will be delivered to local food banks or pantries. Please make sure the food items do not have expired use dates. They also ask that there be no glass containers.

For more information check out these sites:
Help Stamp Out Hunger
National Association of Letter Carriers Community Service

Local Hospital Discontinues Eye Surgery Service

 Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

I received my April issue of the St Vincent Health System Communiqué in Monday’s mail.  I was surprised to see this:

Eye Surgery to Close

Effective April 1, 2009 St Vincent will no longer offer surgical eye services at either Doctors or the Infirmary.  This difficult decision came after a long discernment process weighing the pros and cons of closing a service St Vincent has had for decades.  Unfortunately, shutting down the service is a sign of the times as volume has slowly decreased and many other more cost effective alternatives exist for patients and physicians alike.  Patients presenting to the hospital needing surgical intervention will need to be transferred to UAMS or Baptist Medical Center, the two remaining hospitals to offer surgical eye services.

I had missed this story earlier in March in the Arkansas Business News.  

St. Vincent will cut open positions first and then layoff workers who aren't tied to patient care, said Peter Banko, the CEO of St. Vincent.

St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center also announced it will close its psychiatric unit for older patients, its Medicare-exempt psychiatric program and eye-surgery program by April 1.

Banko said he tries to keep up the morale of the system's 3,000 workers by keeping them informed through e-mail updates and his blog.

And here it is again on Arkansas Blog (March 24, 2009) – St Vincent Plans Job Cuts.  I have been aware of the job cuts, but had missed the surgical services cut.  And for the life of me, I have been unable to find Mr. Banko’s blog.

Other relates blog posts
Update on the Economy and its effect on BIDMC – Paul Levy, March 6, 2009
Final Budget Decisions  -- Paul Levy, March 24, 2009
How Bad is it for Hospitals?  -- Dr Wes, March 26, 2009
Desperate Hospitals Update – Medical Quack, April 12, 2009

April is National Donor Month

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

I was reminded that April is National Donor Month by a post over at Donorcycle.  I am a strong organ donation advocate.  My driver’s license is signed.  My family has been informed of my wishes. 

It is a point of a contention in my family, hopefully a small one that will be resolved (or never come up for real).  My niece, K, who is in nursing school has signed her driver’s license to be an organ donor.  Her mother, my sister, J, will not give her permission if asked – not readily anyway.  “I don’t want my baby cut up.”  That is her reason. 

My niece, K, is a giving soul.  Her wishes should be honored.  She should be allowed to make that last gift if the time ever arises.

I need to find a way to reassure my sister that we don’t “butcher” the body when donor organs are harvested.  I need to get her to read Dr Cris’ blog post “Organ Donation from the Inside”

Transplant surgeons care about donors. Staff respect them, and the decision they have made. Their job in this case is to implement the wishes of the donor and not waste their sacrifice. …... I have assisted at an organ retrieval for transplant, and that is why I am on the Organ Donor Register

Another of my sisters recently was widowed when her husband died of heart failure.  He had had many heart attacks over the last several years.  In the end, he was told he needed a heart transplant.  He didn’t live long enough, but I use this to show that the need it there.  The need is great.  If we would be receivers of the organs, then we need to be givers when able.

Organ Donation (October 22, 2008)

OrganDonor.gov

Shout Outs

 Updated 3/2017-- photos and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one.

Leslie, Getting Closer to Myself,  is this week's host of Grand Rounds.  It is “the way life used to be” edition.  Read it here.   

As I suggested in the call for submissions, the theme for this week’s Grand Rounds was loosely reflections on the way life used to be. For me, this theme was prompted by the fact that I have been a patient blogger for almost a year now, was diagnosed with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis almost a year ago to the day, and am finishing my second year of graduate school in a few weeks.

When I think about the way life used to be, I automatically think about change, and the myriad ways in which my life has changed over the past few years. Based on all of the submissions I received, this theme seemed to strike a chord.

Here is what medical bloggers (you!) had to say… Happy reading!

The latest edition of Change of Shift (Vol 3, No 20)  is hosted by none other than Kim, Emergiblog!    I hope you will check it out.  You can find the schedule and the COS archives at Emergiblog. 

Wow, it’s hard to believe it’s already been two weeks since the last edition of Change of Shift!
We not only had an increase in submissions, but we have some brand new bloggers to meet this week!
Of course, the big news is the upcoming MedBlogger MeetUp in Las Vegas in October, under the auspices of BlogWorld/New Media Expo.  I’m excited, so expect to see a lot of enthusiasm emanating from this space!
Interested in hosting a future Change of Shift? Just check the schedule and let me know what date you would like!

Dr Bruce Campbell, Reflections in a Head Mirror, is back from a blogging hiatus.  Check out this recent post, “The Choices We Make.”

"They want to operate on your grandmother."
Dad was shook.  I shuddered. This was one of those dreaded moments when my family looked to me for medical advice.

H/T to Johann, an agility dog, April is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month.  The post includes some good advice as well as links to some great resources.

This month is National Pet First Aid Awareness Month!

And we encourage every pup owner to learn what to do in an emergency!

A request for quilt blocks for the Quilts of Valor.   You can find the pattern and information for mailing the finished block(s) here (photo credit).

Thank you for participating in this Quilts of Valor Project.  We are attempting to help comfort all the war wounded from the War on Terror.  Your Autographed Star Block will be joined with other blocks that are sent to us to make a Quilt of Valor for a wounded serviceperson

As the season of Lent comes to an end with Easter Sunday, check out this post by KeaGirl (UroStream) called “Redemption.”

……………And then just yesterday, I had a patient come into the ER with testicular torsion. He was one of the rare patients who presented in enough time for me to swiftly whisk him to the OR and save his testicle! (there is a window of 6 to 8 hours before the testis undergoes permanent damage for lack of blood flow and oxygen, at which point I have to do an orchiectomy). I felt some degree of redemption, and all was right in the world again....

In anticipation of  Easter Sunday, I’d like to plug the sunrise service I will be attending with my husband.  Each year we attend the Annual Community Easter Service held at the Riverfront Park.  It is always a nice service even if not always nice weather.  This link has some photos of past services and more information (photo credit). 

This week Dr Anonymous’ guest will be Kim,  Emergiblog, promoting the Medblogger Meet-up at BWE/NME.    The show begins at  9 pm EST. 

Alzheimer Donation Quilt

 Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one.

I learned about this initiative from two places:  the Quilting Gallery and Jude (Spirit Cloth).  

The Alzheimer’s Art Quilt Initiative (AAQI) is an Internet-driven, grassroots, totally volunteer effort to raise awareness and fund research through art.

It has taken me quite a while to get around to doing one for them.   The requirements for one of the donation quilts

mini art quilts in any theme

with a maximum size of just 9" x 12" (so that it fits a USPS Priority Mailer without folding)

Auctions are held during the first 10 days of each month.  All profit is used to fund Alzheimer's research.
This project is ongoing.

We welcome your quilt at any time.

In the later part of February I got one finished, registered, and mailed.   Here it is.  It is a whole cloth quilt that I hand quilted.  It is 8 in X 11.5 in.  If you want to bid on it, it is quilt #3528.

I used the “quick triangle” method for the “sleeve” to allow hanging.  I will use this method again on small quilts.

This link gives you the instructions and some good tips on binding and making a sleeve for the small quilt.

I made a second one and mailed it to my friend Herbie Krisle.  She runs an adult day care for people with Alzheimer’s (Page Robbins Adult Day Care).  I learned recently that part of her responsibility is raising several hundred thousand of dollars each year to keep it running.  She has several quilters in her community that might help her get their own up and running as a way to raise money.  If not, then she’ll have it for her own wall.

Be a Potential Hero – Learn CPR

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many are no longer active and it's easier than checking each one. 

Earlier this month the Arkansas Legislators passed a bill to put AED devices in all public schools in our state. The bill was sponsored by Senator Tracy Steele. It is estimated that about $1 million dollars will be needed to pay for the devices. The money is expected to come from the recently passed increased tobacco tax (an extra 56 cents per pack).

The Antony Hobbs III Act was named in honor of 17 yr Parkview High School basketball player who died after collapsing at a game. He died of complications from an undiagnosed heart defect.

I renewed my ACLS this past Thursday evening. Some of my nurse friends ask me to go with them as a way of getting together. They needed to recertify and assumed I might. We meet for dinner before the class and enjoyed the time together.

During the evening, the EMT who reviewed the AED devices with us mentioned having responded to the collapse of Antony Hobbs. He wanted to stress the importance of knowing basic CPR and BLS as most arrthymias are not shockable. He ask if we wanted to guess how many people at the basketball game attempted to help.

Can you guess?

When the crowd was asked if there were any medical folks there, one nurse stood up and responded. None of the teachers, coaches, parents responded “I know CPR. Can I help?”

I found that sad. CPR is much more important in most life situations than ACLS. I would like to encourage all to learn CPR. Even if the AED finds a shockable rhythm, the recommendation is a minimum of 2 minutes of good quality CPR immediately after the shock even if a normal rhythm is seen.

So having the AEDs in airports, in schools, at your work place does not replace the need for CPR. We all need to know how to do good quality CPR. It is the CPR that is most likely to save some one.

It is easy to find classes. Look to your local Red Cross chapter. They have classes on a regular basis to teach basic CPR and AED use. Or contact a group like America First Response.

Get your entire family to take the class. Learn CPR --you might end up being a hero.

Sources

Arkansas Online

Red Cross CPR Classes

American First Response

Wonky Star Blocks

Updated 3/2017-- photos (except mine) and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

As you know, Australia has had horrible bushfires recently with loss of entire communities, businesses, homes, and lives.  Knowing I quilt, Dr Cris sent this tweet out. 

  DrCris  Just found this:  People piecing quilts to send to Victorians in wake of bushfires http://flickr.com/groups/bu...

Here are three  Wonky Star Blocks that I have made and sent.

There are two addresses to mail finished blocks:
US APO address - "local" to those mailing from the US, so postage will be much less expensive:
Tia Curtis
PSC 276 BOX 89
APO AP 96548 USA
Australian street address:
Tia Curtis
18 Forrest Crescent
Gillen Suburb
Alice Springs, NT 0870

Field Triage Guidelines for Trauma Patients

Updated 3/2017-- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active. and it was easier than checking each one. 

Getting the trauma patient to the right place at the right time has been shown to save lives.  Arkansas is working to get a trauma system going.  Gov Mike Beebe has proposed a 56 cents sales tax on cigarettes to pay for it.  There are others who feel that the money should come from the ones who cause the trauma.  In their view that includes the folks who speed or drink and drive.  Their proposal is to increase the fines on speeding and DUIs. 

I personally think that burn traumas often come from those who smoke.  How many homes burn due to smoking in bed each year?   Also, there is an increase in motor vehicle accidents due to “trying to light a cigarette” while driving. 

So I would agree with either or a combination of the proposed ways to fund the trauma system.  I just want them to get it in place and working.   The risk of death of a severely injured person is 25 percent lower if the patient receives care at a Level 1 trauma center, which has additional resources  and specifically designed for care of severe trauma.

Last week, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published the MMWR Reports and Recommendations for field triage.  These guidelines are aimed at ensuring that trauma patients with more severe injuries are taken to trauma centers designed to handle such injuries.  These guidelines were developed by CDC and key experts in trauma care.

The recommendations are designed to standardize decision-making at the scene of injury.  They also offer guidance on new technologies such as vehicle crash notification systems, which alert emergency services that a crash has occurred and automatically summon assistance. 

Key revisions include:

• Recommendations for the right place and right time to best use crucial emergency care resources
• Vehicle crash damage criteria which can help determine which patients may require care at a trauma center

The Decision Scheme was developed in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons-Committee on Trauma with support from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). It was reviewed by the 36-member National Expert Panel on Field Triage, which included representatives from EMS, emergency medicine, trauma surgery, the automotive industry, public health, and several federal agencies.

The revised guidelines are in line with the 2006 Institute of Medicine report on the state of emergency care. The report envisioned a highly coordinated emergency services system that assures that each patient receives the most appropriate care, at the optimal location, with the minimum delay.

With additional funding from NHTSA, CDC is developing a companion educational initiative for local EMS medical directors, state EMS directors, public health officials, and EMS providers.   This toolkit also will be available at no charge from CDC at http://www.cdc.gov/FieldTriage.

For a complete copy of the MMWR report, please visit here.

SOURCE
Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Medical Reserve Corps

Updated 3/2017 -- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

I have volunteered to be a member of a local medical reserve corps (Pulaski County MRC Team 1).  It is still in the forming stage as we recruit members, etc.  There are many on-line courses that can be taken to ready yourself or to take as a review every few years.  A-Train allows me (and other members of my team) to access these courses and to keep a transcript log of the courses we take (and add those not taken through this site).  It also allows our leader to suggest courses for us, to contact us for periodic meetings, etc.  Through this site, I can link to others such as the federal site "Office of the Civilian Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps". 

I am told that most MRC’s have difficulty getting physicians to sign up.  We need to train along with the EMT’s, fire departments, city planners, hospitals, etc so that when disasters (be it California’s fires or earthquakes, Arkansas’ tornados and this year floods, the Gulf’s hurricanes, school shootings, etc) happen we are ready.  We need to be ready as well as willing.  I would encourage you to volunteer.  You can specify that you are not willing (or able) to be deployed great distances or for extended periods of time.  By being educated in the lingo, organization, and vouched for (they can check your degree, etc) ahead of time it will be easier for you to be “used” when the time comes.

You can search for an MRC in your area here.

I began this course a few years ago and have been slowly learning more about disaster response (man and nature made).  Arkansas recently set up a website for registering as a volunteer, so they could “vet” us prior to being called out.

The Arkansas ESAR-VHP System is an electronic database of healthcare personnel who volunteer to provide aid in an emergency or major disaster. Our System is ultimately designed to register health volunteers, apply emergency credentialing standards to registered volunteers, and allow for the verification of the identity, credentials, and qualifications of registered volunteers in an emergency.

Registered healthcare volunteers will be contacted to determine availability when there is a need for emergency personnel. If available for deployment the volunteer will be provided with the appropriate contact and reporting information.

I would like to encourage you to volunteer or at least on a personal level learn what you need to do as an individual to keep yourself and family safe.  That will lessen the need of responders to do rescue.

IS-22 Are You Ready? An In-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness

Humane Society Calendar Debute

 Updated 3/2017 -- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

Our local humane society (Pulaski County Humane Society) began publishing a Day Planner in 2005. It has turned into a very good fund raiser for them. This past Thursday night was the debute of the 2009 seen here. I ordered several that first year to give as Christmas presents. They were such a big hit the first year, I've had to keep doing it.  You can read my post from last year on these day planners here.

As per the Humane Society’s website:

The planner makes an excellent holiday or birthday gift and will be available at outlets soon to be listed below for ONLY $25.00! This year there are over 200 heartwarming photos of pets and their owners in a highly stylized, sturdily bound planning calendar. Help the Humane Society of Pulaski County and get yours in time for Christmas and stay up to date in 2009!
But why wait? You can place your order now to receive your books in November, using this MAIL ORDER FORM. (Depending on your browser, you may need to right-click on ORDER FORM and select 'download' or 'save'). Please print the form, complete it, and mail it to the address included in it.

This year Rusty has his picture in the day planner.

I Hope You Will Vote

 Updated 3/2017 -- all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

My husband and I are going to vote today. We plan to take advantage of the “early voting”. I find it much easier than trying to get out and vote on the first Tuesday of November. It is less crowded and I don’t have to worry about going to the “correct” location. You are allowed to go to any of the available locations in your county during the “early voting” period.

I will not tell you who to vote for, nor will I tell you whom I plan to vote for. I would like to encourage you to VOTE.

If you live in Arkansas and wish to vote early:

To check for a polling site in your area, visit the Secretary of State's website (click here) to contact your county clerk.

If you live in Pulaski County, Arkansas, then here are the locations and hours:

Pulaski County Regional Building 501 W. Markham Street, Little Rock
Mon-Fri Oct. 20-24
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat. Oct. 25
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mon-Fri Oct. 27-31
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat. Nov. 1
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mon. Nov. 3 Last day
8:00 am - 5:00 pm

Other Early Voting Locations:
Early voting will be available at the following locations on the dates and times indicated:

Sue Cowan Williams Library
1800 S. Chester, Little Rock
Dee Brown Library
6325 Baseline Road, Little Rock
Roosevelt Thompson Library
38 Rahling Circle, Little Rock
William F. Laman Library
2801 Orange Street , North Little Rock
Jacksonville City Hall
#1 Industrial Drive, Jacksonville
Jess Odom Community Center
1100 Edgewood Drive, Maumelle
Jack Evans Senior Citizen Ctr
2301 Thornhill Dr, Sherwood
McMath Branch Library
2100 John Barrow Road, Little Rock
Mon-Fri Oct. 20-24
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat. Oct. 25
10:00 am – 4:00 pm
Mon-Fri Oct. 27-31
10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Sat. Nov. 1 Last day :
10:00 am - 4:00 pm

Blog Action Day 2008 – Poverty

Updated 3/2017 -- video and all links (except to my own posts) removed as many no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

There are many major systematic reasons for poverty. The Global Fund combats AIDS, Tuberculosis, and malaria which have a crippling effect on the fight against poverty. In 2008 The Global Fund is the official Blog Action Day charity. You are encourage bloggers to donate to this organization.

In order to track Blog Action Day fundraising, you are asked to make your donation via Change.org (Read their FAQ for details of how your donation will be processed)

Please, Donate Now.

Volunteer Firefighters

Updated 3/2017--photos and all links removed as many are no longer active.

This evening our local volunteer fire department, West Pulaski Fire Department, is holding its annual catfish dinner to raise money. We always go. We feel it is important to support them, as well feel fortunate to have them available. We live just (less than 3 miles by the road, even closer as the crow flies) outside the city limits. The money raised helps them buy new equipment or replace worn out equipment/gear.   Last year the money raised was used for thermal cameras.  This year they are going to use the money raised for protective gear. 

A volunteer fire department (VFD) is an organization of men and women who have joined forces to perform fire suppression and other related emergency services for a local jurisdiction. According to the National Volunteer Fire Council, "There are just over a million active firefighters in the US, of which just over three-fourths are volunteer firefighters. Nearly half the volunteers serve in communities with less than 2,500 population."

The term "volunteer" refers to a group of part-time or on-call firefighters who have other occupations when not engaged in occasional firefighting or response to other emergencies. Although they may have "volunteered" to become members, and to respond to the call for help, they are compensated as employees during the time they are responding to or attending an emergency scene, and possibly even for training drills. An on-call firefighter would probably be expected to volunteer time for other non-emergency duties as well (training, fundraising, equipment maintenance, etc).

As last year, we'll be there this evening to support our local "volunteer" firefighters. They serve very good catfish.

Remembering 9-11-2001

Updated 3/2017--photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

I found this list, via Martha Rankin (Adult Education Matters Blog). She credits Larry Ferlazzo. Larry compiled a list of helpful sites for remembering 9/11 in the ESL (English as second language) classroom. Check out these excellent resources:

Inside 9/11 is from the National Geographic. It has short video interviews, along with transcripts, of key people connected to the event, including survivors.

America’s Day Of Terror from the BBC has a lot of excellent information. In fact, it might have too much for English Language Learners, so you might want to point students to particular sections of the site.

The Cable News Network has a special page of video and audio clips related to the attack.
New York Magazine has a Photo Gallery of that day’s events.
Voice of America has a series of audio broadcasts, with text, about the 9/11 Anniversary and its effects years later.
The Biography Channel has a Profiles of 9/11 Photo Gallery.

Here are some other sites:
The White House Remembering 9-11
Remember September 11 on Seventh Anniversary of 9/11; New York City Memorial Events By Pamela Skillings, About.com
Patriot Day, Remembering September 11, 2001; US Army Website
National September 11 Memorial & Museum at the World Trade Center (photo from this website--"Reflecting Absence")

Restaurant Week(s)

 Updated 3/2017--photos and all links removed as many are no longer active and it was easier than checking each one.

The restaurants in my community are raising money for Arkansas Hospice. They call it Restaurant Week, but the time frame is August 15-30.

During River Cities Restaurant Week, Little Rock and North Little Rock’s finest spectacular restaurants will offer three, special fixed-price, three course dinner menus for just $35 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Some restaurants will also be offering three course lunch specials for $20 per person! Some restaurants prices may vary, so be sure to check out the menus for exact pricing per restaurant.

Modeled after the highly-successful Dallas Restaurant Week, River Cities Restaurant Week will be an annual culinary celebration that spotlights the diverse array of dining establishments. At $35 per meal for dinner and $20 per meal for restaurants offering lunch as well, this is your opportunity to try as many as you can.

The participating restaurants are many of the best in the area. A complete list can be found here.