Survey for Health Care Executives

There is hardly a more pressing concern today than improving the U.S. health care system. What once was the flagship health care system in the world has steadily been losing ground. Not only is it expensive and inefficient, but patient satisfaction is at an all time low. The mistakes that have been tolerated in the health care field would never be tolerated in any other industry, and it is time to change direction.

Luckily, there are health care executives out there who are interested in helping to fix the problem. They want to increase patient safety, decrease mistakes and costs, and provide better training and engagement for their staff--all going to the betterment of patient care and decreasing the attendant costs.

Development Dimensions International is offering a survey for health care executives to see what their concerns and priorites are for the coming months. DDI will randomly pick one of the survey participants to win an Ipod nano. Sounds like a great deal to me!
To take the survey, click here.

Blogging Too Many Intimate Details?

I love blogging. I have been a writer for years so it comes naturally to me. I love blogging about whatever occurs to me, and I love paid blogging, because as a professional writer, I love getting assignments and figuring out ways to be creative in fulfilling the assignment.

So, I was interested in reading the article in the New York Times Magazine last Sunday about Emily Gould and her blogging life. Apparently she is a professional gossip and worked at Gawker and some other places. She also blogged about her own life, as many of us do, but I guess she identified herself and her friends a little too clearly, and it backfired on her. The article referred to it as blogging about too many intimate details. She started getting too many rude comments and some such thing like that. I have to admit that I didn't think the excerpts from her blog that the Times published were all that bad. I am not sure what that says about me, but I really thought they were quite tame. Not sure what all the fuss was about. Of course I haven't read her actual blogs or other articles, and maybe that is were the problem lies. I do think you have to be careful with what you write on the Internet. Maybe it just got out of control for her.

Where to Go in the UK?

If I were heading out on a last minute trip to the United Kingdom, where would I want to go? If I were still dating Gerry, I guess I would go the Bath and Bristol area. That would have been so much fun.....but, that is not the case, so scratch those off the list.

I would definitely want to go back to London--see some plays, eat great food, soak it all up--but I would want to see the rest of the country too. London is the only place I have been in the U.K, so I would want to broaden my horizons. I probably would fly into London, however, and either rent a car, or more likely, take a train to other cities. To me, that is always fun.

On my list to see would be Birmingham and Manchester, Cambridge and Oxford, and definitely the some small towns and villages in the countryside. I wouldn't mind seeing Stonehenge.

And I wouldn't limit myself to England. I know Wales is lovely--some college friends of mine spent a semester there. That was the first time I had ever heard of someone doing that. I was so amazed at their ingenuity, and I was also so jealous! What a great experience they had there. And Scotland, of course. I am a Scot, so I would have to discover the old "homeland." I would like nothing better. I would go search for the town where our family is from and go see Edinburgh University, where an ancestor went to medical school. That would be so meaningful. And to cap off the trip, I would go to northern Ireland. I am also part Irish, so that would be fitting. I have heard the Irish make you feel very welcome. I thought I was going to be able to go to Scotland last summer, but the trip fell through. I know I will go soon though.

My Fun Weekend

I had my "breather" weekend between the end of school and the beginning of bar study. OK, that is not technically correct. We don't graduate until Saturday, and bar review has already started. But the bulk of it hasn't started yet. So this weekend was it. I got my stimulus check on Friday so I treated myself to a manicure and pedicure. I went to the country for a girls night out in a beautiful farm house. And I actually had time to clean up my condo some. Mama Mia!

Paint Warfare

Call me nuts, but I have always wanted to play paintball. Now that wouldn't be wierd if I weren't a woman of my age. But I am, and I do want to play paintball. Talking my friends into playing it with me might be a trick though.

I did some research on paintball, and found out a few facts: that paintballs were created in the 1970s as a way to mark trees or cattle, and the first games were not played until two decades later. You must wear protective goggles.The game has been criticized by some as trivializing and promoting warfare, but it is actually a safe sport, and supporters say it promotes teamwork, sportsmanship, professionalism, and camaraderie.

In a game of paintball, you eliminate players by hitting them with a paintball that leaves them visibly marked with paint. What would happen if the players wore tie-dye outfits, and no one knew when someone was hit by a paintball?

Human Rights Day

I am glad bloggers are uniting today on this issue. Human rights is an area I want to get more involved in down the road. When I think of countries like China and it's negative involvement with Tibet, and all of the human rights problems in Africa, and the recent problem with the cyclone in Myanmar and their government not facilitating the aid, it makes me cringe. What people on this planet have had to put up with is beyond belief. I don't think we in America can comprehend it. But as much as we Americans complain about other countries' poor human rights policies, we are not great with human rights either. As long as we have the death penalty, we will be a human rights violator.

Safe Weight Loss

Weight today is such a problem. Seems like too many people are too thin or too heavy. In my bar review class the other day, the instructor told us to take care of ourselves. A person in her law class gained 40 pounds while studying for the bar. All he did was eat and study. He had to wear sweats to the test, because he couldn't fit into anything else. Ouch. I do not want to do that! For those who are extremely heavy, lap band surgery may be a safe alternative to other kinds of surgeries.

Harrie Carrie

I am really looking forward to the Sex and the City movie coming out later this month. I got a late start in watching it--didn't become a follower until about the 3rd season, but then lapped it up and even rented the prior seasons at Blockbuster. I was sad to see it go and can't wait to see the newest installment. I hope Carrie and Big are still together. One thing though I think is wierd is how people pick on Sarah Jessica Parker. First, that men's magazine voted her the unsexiest woman, or something like that. Then today, there was an article online about how veiny her hands are, with a picture and all. What is it about her that makes people pick on her like that? She's no different than a lot of other actresses. What gives?

111 Posts

I just noticed when I logged on that I had 111 posts. That is lucky, according to The Secret. (1111 may be luckier--I am not sure.) When you notice such numbers, it means the angels are looking at you. I am not saying this right, but I find it lovely. When you notice such numbers, it is as if a snapshot is being taken of your life. So what you are hoping for, you will get. Like attracts like. The Laws of Attraction.

Here is what I am attracting at this moment:

I and my family have great health.
My love is making his way towards me.
The love of my life is coming towards me and we will marry.
I have more money than I need.
My life is full of abundance.
I am going to pass the bar exam with flying colors.
The law profession will find me a valuable asset to its ranks.
I have more friends than I need and I am never lonely.
I continually attract interesting people into my life.
I have an interesting life.
People want to know me.

New Media Expo

I am so bummed that I won't be able to attend the 4th Annual New Media Expo 2008. I am really getting into this blogging, and I would love to meet other bloggers and online media experts. Not only would it be beneficial for me for my blogging, but it would also be beneficial for my company. Part of my job is marketing, and I might pick up some good ideas for that there as well. It is being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center on Aug. 14-16. Even though that is after my bar exam, I still won't be able to go because of lack of funds. Too much of a money drain to the bar review and bar exam. But I want to go next year. The Expo information says they will offer hands on, practical sessions on how to produce lively content, draw a loyal audience and monetize in creative ways. Not only can individuals benefit from the knowledge, but also corporate marketers, educators, and media buyers and PR and advertising firms. The cutting edge. Boy, could I benefit from that. But I will have to wait until next year.

Boosting Metabolism

Speaking of needing to lose weight, I also need to boost my metabolism. AOL had a neat article today about how to do that. I won't list all the ways, but have included the link below. Two of the easiest seem to be drink more cold water and also drink milk. Something about a reduction of calcium can reduce your metabolism. I really like to drink milk, so that is not an issue for me. Strange that an adult likes to drink milk so much, but I can down a couple of glasses quickly particularly with dinner. Also, it said that a second cocktail can reduce metabolism. More evidence as to why drinking only one drink is better for you!

http://body.aol.com/diet/weight-loss-program/metabolism-boosters

Cute Clothes for When You Are Pregnant or Just Look Like You Are!

I hope no one thinks I am pregnant. I have gained weight in law school, so I guess there is always that risk. I just finished off half a (small) jar of peanut butter while studying for my last test. That does not help with the weight. It is just easier to eat peanut butter than to fix some other kind of breakfast. If I can much more weight, I might need maternity clothes. All kidding aside, if I were pregnant, I would want to get some trendy, fashionable, cute maternity clothes. I see too many pregnant women wearing dreadful, outdated outfits. I am sure it is because of money, but it might also be because they don't know where to find cute maternity clothes.

Worst Dating Shows

MSN had an article today that they titled "Crock of Love." Guess which show they were aiming that at? The article was good, capsuling some of the dating shows past and present that they think were bad. Included of course were Rock of Love and The Bachelor, two that I really like. They also talked about The Newlywed Game and The Dating Game, calling the latter very tame by today's standards. I guess so. The man or woman asking the questions and picking the date didn't even get to see the person before choosing them. One show they left off was Love Connection. Does that mean they think that was a good one? I thought so.

http://tv.msn.com/tv/worst-dating-shows-ever?GT1=7703&silentchk=1&

More Writing Opportunities

I have to admit that after I left my long and wonderful writing and editing career to go into business, and to also go into law school, guess what still really jazzes me up? Writing! Even more than law. Or business. I guess it is my calling after all. But no matter what I do, I will always be a writer and an editor.

Blogging Life

I really love blogging and journaling my observations. I wish I had more time to read other blogs and participate in the blogging community. I will once I get out of school. I would even like to go to one of the blogging conferences! Bloggers definitely add to the world of information, as we can inform others and exchange info with people going through similar experiences. And some have gotten quite good at it and have received much deserved recognition.

I Won the Pot

I went to a Derby party today and won the pot! That was lucky, since I didn't even know who Big Brown was. And I can use the extra money. That was so sad about the horse that had to be put down. I don't know all the details yet. Sounds wierd. I really like the Derby and have been several times. I would like to go again sometime soon.