Warren Christopher Benham Skidmore

Haiti Earthquake Recovery

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:41:00 +0000

I just posted a list of ways you can help the people of Haiti at http://www.kycouncilofchurches.org/HelpHaiti.html

Winter Safety

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 14:07:00 +0000

Because this is the time of year when ice and storm related power outages could occur, some homeowners will try to use portable generators to power small appliances and heaters in homes that may result in carbon monoxide poisoning.

The National Center for Environmental Health is very concerned about the potential for carbon monoxide linked to portable generators and wants to remind individuals:

Don't use a generator, charcoal grill, camp stove or other gasoline or charcoal-burning device inside your home, basement or garage or near a window.

Don't run a car or truck inside a garage attached to your house, even if you leave the door open.

Don't burn anything in a stove or fireplace that is not properly vented.

Don't heat your house with a gas oven.

Do seek prompt medical attention if you suspect carbon monoxide poisoning and are feeling dizzy, light-headed or nauseous.

Do install a battery-operated carbon monoxide detector in your home or replace the battery when you change the time on your clocks each spring and fall for daylight savings time. If the detector sounds, leave your home immediately and call 911.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has carbon monoxide materials available at:

General CO poisoning prevention guidelines:

http://www.cdc.gov/co/guidelines.htm in 17 languages.

To prevent hypothermia, DPH advises that you:

Wear appropriate clothing. Layer clothes made of synthetic and wool fabrics, which are best for keeping warm. Always remember to wear hats, coats, scarves and gloves.

Avoid consuming alcohol if outdoors. Alcohol can actually speed the loss of heat from the body.

Avoid overexertion from activities that cause excessive sweat. This can lead to damp clothing, which causes chills.

Stay as dry as possible.

Exposure to cold temperatures could also lead to hypothermia, which occurs when an individual's body temperature drops below what is necessary to achieve normal metabolism and other bodily functions. In severe cases or when the body is not properly warmed, death can result.

Individuals working outside during at this time of year should pay extra attention to these guidelines, particularly those susceptible to overexertion. Outdoor workers should make sure they are appropriately dressed and take frequent breaks to warm up and make sure their clothes are sufficient to keep them warm and dry.

Symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, altered speech pattern, abnormally slow rate of breathing, cold pale skin and lethargy. Seek medical attention if you or a loved one experiences the signs of hypothermia.

Who is Fiona Tankard?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 14:13:00 +0000

Fiona Tankard has been a full-time professional writer since 1999, having spent 20 years as an English language trainer of teachers, assessor, and trainer’s trainer. She is British and has lived since 1994 in Italy. She holds a degree in English and American Literature, as well as post graduate certificates in teaching, teacher training and publishing.

She is the author of numerous newspaper, magazine and web articles as well as over 25 academic books and a children’s non fiction book about Italy. She created the best selling UK glossy magazine italy, editing, writing and commissioning for the publication for five years from 2001 to 2006.

In addition to writing, Fiona also works as an internet marketing and SEO consultant and as a freelance naming and branding consultant for a company in the US.

She started ghost writing in 2008 under the mentorship of the UK’s top ghost writer Andrew Crofts, who recommended her to me. She is currently working on three novels and a non fiction book for clients in Australia, the UK, Germany and Italy.

I am very fortunate to have been able to work with her as a collaborator on the RHAINE OF TORMENT novel, and am lucky that she was willing to sit down for the following interview:

WBCS: What did you enjoy the most about the novel?

FT: I really liked the way the characters began to take on lives of their own and how the plot developed organically. There are actually two very complex plots in there.

WBCS: Which character in the book is your favorite, and why?

FT: I have to confess that I completely love Alex. She is feisty, very determined and strong willed yet also has a soft side. Plus she’s got wings – always handy!

WBCS: What other works are you doing currently?

FT: I have almost completed the first of a nine volume fantasy series for an Australian client. I am also writing a dramatized biography for a Zambian lady living in Italy and am just about to begin a non fiction book for a German client. As well as that I also look after two business websites in Italy and write web articles for several business clients. Oh, and I’m also a freelance naming consultant, which means I think up names for new products, which is kind of cool!

WBCS: Are there any special things you do when you write fiction to help you immerse yourself in the world of your characters?

FT: Yes. I try to relax, light some incense, put on my iPod and then re.-read a few pages from the day before to get back in the groove. Because of the number of projects I have on the go, I tend to allocate different times of the day to each one and I try and do a fixed word count per day. It helps me to work on the same project at the same time of day so I can focus on that.

WBCS: Who are some of your favorite fiction authors?

FT: As well as Michael Connolly and John Grisham, I love British writers Phil Rickman, Philip Pullman, Susan Howatch and Barbara Erskine. I have also just discovered Michel Faber and think his writing is astounding.

WBCS: Is there any advice you would give to aspiring writers?

FT: The hardest thing for a writer is to actually write! It is amazing how many things will keep you from getting started – web surfing, reading your emails, letting the dog out… My advice would be to set a word limit. It doesn’t matter if it just 100 words, but sit down and do your set number of words immediately and then reward yourself with a little surfing or reading your emails or a cup of coffee. It is amazing how the words mount up as long as you stick with it.

WBCS: Thank you, Fiona, for such an amazing job with the novel and thank you for taking the time for an interview!

To learn more about what Fiona Tankard is currently doing, check out her two websites-- she blogs on each of them. Her work site is www.spiderywriting.com and the other is a website www.petsinitaly.com where she works to find homes for abandoned animals in Italy.

To learn more about the 76,000-word novel that we worked together on, subscribe to my RSS feed at http://www.wcbskidmore.com/News.php and become at fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Warren-Christopher-Benham-Skidmore/140876736225

'Tis the Season

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 16:58:00 +0000

Rushing around for that last-minute gift?

Check out the gift ideas at http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com.

You can also give a donation in honor or in memory of a beloved friend or family member at https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/KentuckyCouncilofChurches/OnlineGiving.html

Giving States the Option to Eliminate the Five-Year Wait for Medicaid

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:23:00 +0000

"When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." [Leviticus 19:33-34]

Let's mobilize the faith community on this one...

Please visit http://capwiz.com/kychurches/issues/alert/?alertid=14443616
and sign-on to an important letter to our federal leaders, by sending your

National Organization Name:

State or Local org:

If state, which one:

Contact name:

Why?

On October 20, 2006-- the leaders and representatives of the dioceses, synods, regions, districts, and ecclesial areas with membership in-- the Kentucky Council of Churches unanimously adopted a policy statement (available at http://www.kycouncilofchurches.org/Policies/Immigration_Reform.pdf) calling us to work for "an immigration system that facilitates legal status and family unity in the interest of serving the God-given dignity and human rights of every individual." This policy statement called for wages and benefits for immigrants that are in compliance with US labor laws, and the development of a comprehensive network of social services and advocacy for migrant families.

On October 12, 1991 the KCC adopted a policy statement (available at http://www.kycouncilofchurches.org/Policies/Health_Care.pdf) calling us to work for "a state and national health care system that serves everyone living in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the United States; provides for the whole population of the state and the nation comprehensive benefits, including: preventative services and health promotion, primary and acute care, mental health care, and extended care, dental and vision care; guarantees access to care everywhere in this Commonwealth and the nation; and provides quality services and payment processes based on principles of equity and efficiency and cost effectiveness."

Under the health reform bill pending in the Senate, legally present immigrants remain barred from Medicaid for five years, even if they meet all other qualifications. This runs counter to our nation's traditions of fairness and excludes immigrants from the vital safety net their taxes help support. Health reform should provide states with the option to extend Medicaid to all qualified legal immigrants.

How did the five-year waiting period come about?

Congress imposed the waiting period as part of welfare reform legislation in 1996. Legal permanent residents -- immigrants with green cards -- are eligible for Medicaid only after five years in the United States. Earlier this year, Congress gave states the option of removing the waiting period for children and pregnant women to enter the Children's Health Insurance Program, but most recent immigrants remain excluded.

How many immigrants are affected and what do we know about them?

* As many as 600,000 legal immigrants may be eligible for Medicaid if the five-year waiting period is eliminated. <>

* Immigrants work in our communities, pay taxes and contribute richly to life in the United States. Most legal permanent residents are on a path to citizenship.

* Many legal immigrants are uninsured because they work in industries or small businesses that do not offer health care coverage.

Why should we give states the option to extend Medicaid to legal immigrants?

* The waiting period is unfair and unhealthy if people don't get other coverage.

* Immigrants faced with the five-year wait would likely be eligible for insurance subsidies under the health plans pending in Congress. Providing Medicaid, rather than subsidies, to those with lowest incomes would cost the government less

* States now using their own funds to provide insurance for legal immigrant adults would get federal matching money.

* The majority of Americans support eliminating the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants according to the National Immigration Law Center.

Please take a few moments today to sign a letter in support of Senator Menendez's amendment to provide states with the option to extend Medicaid to all qualified legal immigrants without a five-year wait.

The text of the letter that we are asking you to sign will be exactly what appears below:

The Honorable Harry Reid

Majority Leader of the United States Senate

522 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington, DC 20510

Re: Support for Menendez amendment to provide states with the option to remove the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants in Medicaid

Dear Majority Leader Reid,

Thank you for your leadership in advancing health care reform this year. We, the undersigned organizations, write in support of Senator Menendez's amendment to the "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act," co-sponsored by Senators Durbin, Rockefeller and Bingaman. The amendment would give states the option to remove the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants to obtain Medicaid. Allowing states to extend Medicaid coverage to low-income, legal immigrants will save lives and meet the President's health reform goals of expanding coverage and controlling costs.

Immigrants contribute to this nation's workforce, pay their fair share of taxes, and pursue citizenship to its fullest potential. Yet, under existing law, many low-income legal immigrants must wait five years to obtain Medicaid coverage. The five-year waiting period prevents individuals from obtaining necessary services to prevent serious medical conditions from worsening. This type of restriction is also unfair and excludes immigrants from a critical safety net that their taxes help support. Providing states with the option to lift the bar helps ensure that legal immigrants have access to timely treatment and avoid more expensive emergency room care. It will also help promote a stronger national workforce and less reliance on emergency room visits, the costs of which would be shifted to all consumers.

The majority of Americans support eliminating the five-year waiting period for legal immigrants, and when Congress passed the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009, it voted overwhelmingly to provide states the option to end Medicaid barriers for lawfully residing children and pregnant women. The Senate should finish the job and allow states to extend Medicaid to all otherwise eligible immigrants.

Providing Medicaid coverage, rather than subsidies, would also save costs for the government. Extending Medicaid coverage would provide this vulnerable population access to preventive and critical health care services that may not be available to low-income legal immigrants if they were to purchase an insurance plan offered through the Exchange.

As the Senate continues its debate on health care reform legislation, we urge you to work with President Obama to include Senator Menendez's amendment into the final bill to restore equity for low-income legal immigrants. We stand ready to join you to push for enactment of such reform this year.

After you send your contact information to Amanda at Amanda at RJfellow@napawf.org to sign-on to this letter at http://capwiz.com/kychurches/issues/alert/?alertid=14443616
, be sure to also contact your own Senators by visiting http://capwiz.com/kychurches/issues/alert/?alertid=14417296. You could write asking them not to filibuster good health reform legislation, but the most important thing to focus on when we write to our leaders is the need to make the coverage affordable. All the bills have subsidies included, but they are not enough. Please ask them to make sure the legislation is equitable and affordable for those who need it the most.

Do you have additional questions about the current status of Health Care Reform legislation? Our friends at Faithful Reform in Health Care have answers-- and they're sharing! Visithttp://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/1973/t/9336/signUp.jsp?key=4711 to RSVP for a conference call that will be held today at 2pm.

Our good friends at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky have complied the additional following links. Thanks, Joan! Senate Majority leader, Harry Reid has promised his fellow senators that they will meet on weekends until the Christmas holidays in order to discuss and debate the health reform bill, and they did meet last weekend. Several amendments were proposed and at least one, from Senator Bennett from Colorado passed 100 to 0. It prohibits cuts to Medicare. Other proposals are described in the first two links below. This week's articles come from a variety of sources and feature writers offering their opinions and insights.

A Washington Post article from today's edition with updates: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/07/AR2009120703986.html?hpid=topnews

Monday update by Michael Miller of Community Catalyst: http://blog.communitycatalyst.org/index.php/2009/12/07/harry-reid%E2%80%99s-flying-circus/

7 things you didn't know were in the Senate bill: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Stories/2009/November/30/Senate-Health-Bill-Secrets.aspx

One person's proposed solution http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2009911290319

Very interesting articles from the New England Journal of Medicine via board member, Dr. Charlotte Beason: http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2475&query=home http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2473&query=home http://healthcarereform.nejm.org/?p=2461&query=home

How reform may affect rural communities: http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Quality-Matters/2009/November-December-2009/In-Focus.aspx

A discussion of whether or not reform will cut costs: http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2009/December/120309Capretta.aspx

Summaries of House and Senate bills regarding coverage; http://www.kff.org/healthreform/8023.cfm

An interview regarding the truthfulness of the television ads running in some markets. (if the video is slow, the transcript of interview is also linked.) http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/AdAudit/Ad-Audit.aspx

An issue brief from Commonwealth Fund showing that reform will bend the cost curve. http://www.commonwealthfund.org/~/media/Files/Publications/Issue%20Brief/2009/Dec/1351_Cutler_Davis_Health_Reform_12409.pdf

Hungry? Really?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:49:00 +0000

Although we are the richest nation in the world, 49 million people, including more than 16 million

children, were at risk of going hungry last year in America. To end hunger in our country, we must work together and address the problem in our own communities. The families, children and individuals that worry about where their next meal will come from, or have to skip a few meals, could live right next door to you. Everyone has a role to play.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is launching the United We Serve:

Feed a Neighbor initiative in collaboration with the White House and the U.S. Department of

Agriculture. The purpose of the initiative is to raise public awareness of hunger issues and ask

Americans to help ensure that their neighbors have access to nutritional food this winter and

throughout the year. A volunteer toolkit was created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and it is online at http://www.serve.gov/assets/documents/09_1124_hunger_toolkit.pdf .

The great folks at Bread for the World are encouraging us to send holiday cards to our members of Congress. Why not wish your leaders a Merry Christmas and ask them to make hunger a top priority as they return to work in Washington in January 2010?

Points to make:

Hungry and poor people in our country have been hit hardest by the recession and rising unemployment. Currently, one in every nine Americans participates in our national nutrition safety net program, SNAP (formerly the Food Stamp Program).
Global hunger is on the increase, beginning to reverse decades of progress against hunger. The United States has the power to help restore progress.

Send the Christmas cards to:

Sen. _____
U.S. Senate
Washington, DC 20510

Rep. _____
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, DC 20515

Health Care Reform Updates

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:11:00 +0000

My friends at the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky have again compiled a series of helpful links about the current health care debate in the United States federal government:

The Senate voted on Saturday to bring the health care reform bill to the floor for discussion and debate:

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2009/Nov/November-23-2009/Unified-Democrats-Push-Giant-Overhaul-Bill-Onto-Senate-Floor.aspx

A message to policy makers about the role of states to health care reform changes

http://www.nashp.org/node/1609

One view of how to reform health delivery

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Columns/2009/November/112309Cohn.aspx

The Congressional Budget Office's prediction of cost savings

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Newsletters/Washington-Health-Policy-in-Review/2009/Nov/November-23-2009/CBO-Says-Senate-Bill-Would-Cut-Federal-Health-Care-Payments-500-Billion.aspx

An issue brief of health care costs and where Congress would like to see cost savings.
http://www.kaiseredu.org/topics_im.asp?imID=1&parentID=61&id=358

An interesting theory of why the president hasn't been more directive in the health reform discussion
http://www.kff.org/pullingittogether/113009altman.cfm

Although this was issued Friday before the Senate vote, it offers an interesting comparison of how two versions of legislation approach a high performing health system

http://www.commonwealthfund.org/Content/Publications/Fund-Reports/2009/Nov/Starting-on-the-Path-to-a-High-Performance-Health-System.aspx

dimdim, palbee, or vyew... oh my!

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:36:00 +0000

Yesterday I sent a message to about 20 of my top-tech-savvy friends to pick their brains about free (or cheap) and reliable webcam conferencing solutions. A couple of options look pretty good to me after a very cursory examination.

I know many folks haven’t had a chance to respond, but I wanted to respond with a big THANK YOU to everyone who did share info thus far!

I’d need to find people who have experience using either dimdim, palbee, or vyew with a high number of remote sites, all simultaneously using webcams-- so we could really learn, first-hand, how well these things actually work in real-life on various-speed connections before we go around installing software on our Executive Board members’ machines-- but right now, it looks like either dimdim or palbee could be EXACTLY what we need (and they’re free). I just wonder if they are ad-free.

I need to double-check to make sure the info that I have below is correct, so correct me if I have misunderstood at any point, and please chime in to the discussion if you’ve had any personal experiences with any good, reliable, ad-free, multi-user, web-cam video conferencing platforms.

Here’s what I think I have been able to glean so far:

http://www.dimdim.com/products/dimdim_editions_free.html provides more than 20 simultaneous sites in a meeting for a fee, but up to 20 are free.

http://www.palbee.com/ is totally web-based (no software downloads) people can video conference free for one hour (maybe more?) and use powerpoints, whiteboards, and chat. I need to learn more to see the top total number of people that can videochat simultaneously and what bitrate they use.

http://vyew.com/site/product/ is browser-based (no software downloads) desktop-sharing platform that allows up to five locations to video-conference using webcams.

http://www.wengo.fr/ is totally web-based (no software downloads) and up to five locations can video conference free.

http://www.oovoo.com/ is basically a VOIP video chat that lets you video conference with up to three locations free, and up to six locations for a fee.

http://www.sightspeed.com/ is basically a VOIP video chat that lets you video conference with another site free, and up to nine for a fee.

http://www.google.com/chat/video is still only one-to-one when it comes to video, but they are working on a multi-site platform and will be one to watch.

http://www.skype.com/ good for free conference calls, but video calls are only possible with two participants. Unfortunately, video conferences are not possible at the moment.

https://www.yugma.com/ free GoToMeeting type conferencing for up to 15 people (like GoToMeeting, not sure about webcam options).

http://www.apple.com/macosx/what-is-macosx/ichat.html Apple based, up to three can video chat simultaneously.

Another option that a good friend of mine is currently tinkering around with involves the Moodle CMS with a Sclipo plug-in. I will be watching his results with that combo very closely, especially since I work for a non-profit organization that seriously needs to overhaul its website anyway.

VOIP-Sol notes that if you are looking for tools that let you chat with a ton of users, whiteboard, annotate, collaboratively edit, and share specific applications then it’s probably worth thinking about a paid option. At a quick glance, WebEx and GoToMeeting seem to be similarly priced. Another good friend of mine has heard good things about GoToMeeting, but VOIP-Sol recommends WebEx. WebEx only supports video for 6 cams and I can’t find any information about videoconferencing on GoToMeeting’s site.

I wonder… if a platform allowed you to share your desktop, like GoToMeeting apparently does for up to fifteen people, would it not also show what a webcam was viewing, if the remote desktop was viewing looking at what the webcam was viewing?

Federal Health Care Reform Updates and Insights

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:13:00 +0000

The staff of the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky have compiled the following links about the current status of health care reform efforts:

Senator Reid's task in the Senate:

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=5&docID=cqmidday-000003247038

Five areas of dissension/discussion in the health care reform debate:

http://features.csmonitor.com/politics/2009/11/09/five-flash-points-as-healthcare-reform-moves-to-the-senate/

An interview with Dr. Don Berwick

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Checking-In-With/checking-in-with-berwick.aspx

An article about Bill Clinton's comments to the Senate:

http://recp.rm02.net/ctt?m=2525555&r=Mjk5Njk5MTU1MgS2&b=0&j=MTYyODc2NzM2S0&k=Link4&kt=1&kd=http%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fs%2Fap%2F20091110%2Fap_on_bi_ge%2Fus_health_care_overhaul

An article on Kaiser's website about rural Kentucky:

http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/Daily-Reports/2009/November/13/1khnstory.aspx

And the Kaiser comparison site is updated with the version of the House bill that passed last week.

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/sidebyside.cfm

An explanation of the lone Republican's "Aye" vote in the House

http://thehill.com/homenews/house/66857-the-gop-vote-why-cao-said-yes

NYTimes article questioning whether bill will cut costs

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/10/health/policy/10cost.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Senator Reid's possible proposal to lower the cost of reform through taxes:

http://recp.rm02.net/ctt?m=2525555&r=Mjk5Njk5MTU1MgS2&b=0&j=MTYyODc2NzM2S0&k=Link2&kt=1&kd=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fhostednews%2Fap%2Farticle%2FALeqM5jlMpJGn28kqCcgU-aGcYE_ZHW-ywD9BTML5O0

A comparison of the reduction of uninsured population through proposed changes:

http://recp.rm02.net/ctt?m=2525555&r=Mjk5Njk5MTU1MgS2&b=0&j=MTYyODc2NzM2S0&k=Link1&kt=1&kd=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB125806953422346201.html%3Fmod%3DWSJ_hps_MIDDLEThirdNews

KY-Specific Swine FLu Info

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 17:53:00 +0000

Kentucky-specific swine flu information:

http://healthalerts.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx

H1N1 Resources

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 13:50:00 +0000

The situation is changing daily and latest information is always being upadated (so these links may not be valid forever, but check out these swine flu links:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/sick.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/guidance_homecare.htm

The symptoms of H1N1 (swine) flu in people are similar to the symptoms of regular human flu and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 (swine) flu. In the past, severe illness (pneumonia and respiratory failure) and deaths have been reported with H1N1 (swine) flu infection in people. Like seasonal flu, H1N1 (swine) flu may cause a worsening of underlying chronic medical conditions.

In children emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Fast breathing or trouble breathing
Bluish or gray skin color
Not drinking enough fluids
Severe or persistent vomiting
Not waking up or not interacting
Being so irritable that the child does not want to be held
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

In adults, emergency warning signs that need urgent medical attention include:

Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen
Sudden dizziness
Confusion
Severe or persistent vomiting
Flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worse cough

Making a Difference-- Using You Tube

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 14:26:00 +0000

Some nice YouTube videos for social justice:

http://mashable.com/2009/08/19/youtube-social-good/

1. Because we’re all connected

Who: WWF

What: A global environmental charity organization with the goal of building a future in which “humans live in harmony with nature.”

Why it Rocks: WWF regularly puts out awesome videos on YouTube. Their production values are always high and they almost always find a clever way to impart information; the “Because we’re all connected” video is a perfect example. It uses impressive animations to tell the story of how everything on earth is connected and how the actions of humans ultimately effect the environment and quality of life of everything on the planet.

2. The World Sucks: Help it Suck Less

Who: The Nerdfighters

What: Two brothers who communicate via video blogs and campaign to “decrease worldsuck” by getting people to donate to worthy causes. Known for engineering YouTube Takeovers for charity.

Why it Rocks: Brothers John and Hank got together earlier this year to help announce YouTube’s Video Volunteers program, which on its own is a pretty awesome program. (It encourages YouTubers to record videos for charity.) But the reason the Nerdfighters video is so great is because it draws on their already established fan base by including inside jokes and the familiar back-and-forth set up that the pair have been using for two years.

3. Harry Potter and the Dark Lord Waldemart

Who: The Harry Potter Alliance

What: A collection of Harry Potter fans who, by following the examples of the characters in the books, do good by “fighting the dark arts” in the real world.

Why it Rocks: This video, which has had over 2 million views, casts Harry Potter against the evil Lord Waldemart (the Wal-Mart Corporation) in order to benefit Wal-Mart Watch, a group that fights for worker’s rights. The video is clever because it plays off of pop culture icons to make its point in an interesting and entertaining way.

4. Breathe in, Breathe out

Who: Greenpeace

What: An international organization that “acts to change attitudes and behavior, to protect and conserve the environment and to promote peace.”

Why it Rocks: As part of their “Campaign for a World We Can Breathe In,” this video gets an important message across about how ocean health affects the quality of our breathable air. The piece leaves such an impression because of its masterful and haunting use of ocean imagery set to the soundtrack of someone breathing in and out. It won Best Public Service Announcement in the 2008 DoGooder.tv Non-Profit Video Awards.

5. Into Darfur: A Young American’s Journey

Who: Oxfam America

What: An organization that works around the world to correct social injustice and give people the skills and resources necessary to build a more positive future.

Why it Rocks: This five-minute video recounts 18-year old Nick Anderson’s visit to Darfur in 2007. It’s compelling because it’s real. Even though it’s low budget and was shot using a cheap, handheld camera, it works because Anderson is instantly relatable as an average American. Authenticity can go a long way, as this video from Oxfam America proves.

6. Save the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium!

Who: The Wildlife Conservation Society

What: Founded in 1895, the WCS aims to protect wildlife and wild spaces around the globe. They operate the Bronx, Prospect Park, Central Park, and Queens Zoos as well as the New York Aquarium.

Why it Rocks: In January of 2009, when the New York State legislature voted to cut funding for the Bronx Zoo and New York Aquarium, the WCS launched a petition drive to get them to change their minds. To promote the petition, they created this clever video of zoo animals getting the bad news broken to them. It works because it’s clever, it’s funny, it’s informative, and the animals are absolutely adorable.

7. World Water Day Video from charity: water

Who: charity: water

What: Best known on the web as the benefactor of the first global Twestival, charity: water helps bring access to clean drinking water to those who lack the vital resource.

Why it Rocks: Their video for 2009’s World Water Day in March combined striking video images and gorgeous motion graphics with a meaningful song to create a compelling and informative presentation. The video ran with a “call to action” overlay advertisement asking people to donate, and helped raise $10,000 in one day for the charity.

8. A New Sound: Green For All

Who: Green For All

What: An organization with the goal of lifting people out of poverty by creating a new green economy.

Why it Rocks: Green For All’s music video puts pollution to a beat. The video is catchy and more than a bit frightening in the way that it uses sounds we all know — the wheezes of an asthma sufferer, the industrial noise of a factory, the sounds of traffic — to create a song that builds to a crescendo before dissolving into a friendlier tune and narration about the promise of a green economy.

9. The Bay vs. The Bag

Who: Save the Bay San Francisco

What: Save the Bay attempts to do just what the name implies: protect and clean up the San Francisco bay area.

Why it Rocks: Created as part of their The Bay vs. The Bag campaign, the video was intended to educate people about the over 1 million plastic bags that end up polluting the San Francisco Bay every year. Using amazing stop-motion graphics, the Save the Bay was able to create a memorable image of what that many bags actually looks like and just how gross that really is.

10. Choose a Different Ending

Who: droptheweapons.org

What: An organization run by the Metropolitan Police Service of London that aims to raise awareness of knife and gun violence and encourage people to reconsider carrying a weapon.

Why it Rocks: This video, which is a narrative about a young person deciding which group of friends to hang out with, is one of the most clever on YouTube. The reason it’s so engaging is because it’s presented in “choose your own adventure” style. That’s right — it’s an interactive video, and you determine the ending based on which choices you make. It is very well done and extremely powerful.

Get your free MTR roadshow DVD

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:32:00 +0000

I am pleased to pass along the following information from Dave Cooper:

After 6 years of work I am excited to announce that my new Mountaintop Removal Road Show DVD is complete - and I now have 1000 copies for distribution sitting out in my garage.

The DVD includes 8 chapters:

1. "The Hidden Destruction of the Appalachian Mountains" is a 20-minute overview of the mountaintop removal (MTR) issue

2. Retired underground coal miner Jim Foster talks about the mountaintop removal mine near his home in Boone County WV (an excerpt from the film "Rise up! West Virginia) courtesy of BJ Gudmundsson at Patchwork Films, www.patchworkfilms.com (9:36)

3. "A Harlan County Fish Pond - Elmer Lloyd's Story" is the sad and very moving story of Elmer Lloyd, a retired coal miner whose prized fish pond was destroyed after a coal company started mining above his home in Kentucky. Heartbreaking. (6:14)

4. "McRoberts, Kentucky Residents Speak Out About TECO" looks at the blasting and flooding problems caused by mining above a small eastern Kentucky community (9:57)

5. "Mountaintop Removal in Kentucky" is a short montage of amazing MTR images (2:45)

6. "The Martin County Coal Slurry Disaster" looks at the October, 2000 Massey coal slurry disaster in Kentucky that was 25 times larger than the Exxon Valdez spill, featuring photos taken by me and UK student Suzanne Webb (2:28)

7. "Mountain Justice" - a music video about the awesome young people fighting MTR (4:08)

8. "Wake Up Freak Out" is one of the most powerful short animated films I have ever seen in my life. Made in Britain by Leo Murray, this piece pulls no punches about the serious issue of global warming and the possible consequences if we dont act now to stop it. It focuses on the "tipping points" of global warming, and ends with a call to action for all of us that cannot be ignored. This is a MUST SEE, highly recommended. (11:35)

Dave is making these DVDs available at no charge - but folks, he could really use your donations, so at least help him with with the postage. It costs $2 for him to buy the envelope and pay postage to mail one DVD - so if you would like a copy, please email me back with your USPS address or send a donation via Paypal on his website at http://www.mountainroadshow.com. Please help me distribute these DVDs! If you have never seen the roadshow before, be sure to check out http://www.vimeo.com/5914497 too.

Health Reform Info

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 19:50:00 +0000

8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage

1. Ends Discrimination for Pre-Existing Conditions: Insurance companies will be prohibited from refusing you coverage because of your medical history.

2. Ends Exorbitant Out-of-Pocket Expenses, Deductibles or Co-Pays: Insurance companies will have to abide by yearly caps on how much they can charge for out-of-pocket expenses.

3. Ends Cost-Sharing for Preventive Care: Insurance companies must fully cover, without charge, regular checkups and tests that help you prevent illness, such as mammograms or eye and foot exams for diabetics.

4. Ends Dropping of Coverage for Seriously Ill: Insurance companies will be prohibited from dropping or watering down insurance coverage for those who become seriously ill.

5. Ends Gender Discrimination: Insurance companies will be prohibited from charging you more because of your gender.

6. Ends Annual or Lifetime Caps on Coverage: Insurance companies will be prevented from placing annual or lifetime caps on the coverage you receive.

7. Extends Coverage for Young Adults: Children would continue to be eligible for family coverage through the age of 26.

8. Guarantees Insurance Renewal: Insurance companies will be required to renew any policy as long as the policyholder pays their premium in full. Insurance companies won't be allowed to refuse renewal because someone became sick.

Learn more and get details: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/health-insurance-consumer-protections/

8 common misconceptions about health insurance reform

1. Reform will stop "rationing" - not increase it: It's a myth that reform will mean a "government takeover" of health care or lead to "rationing." To the contrary, reform will forbid many forms of rationing that are currently being used by insurance companies.

2. We can't afford reform: It's the status quo we can't afford. It's a myth that reform will bust the budget. To the contrary, the President has identified ways to pay for the vast majority of the up-front costs by cutting waste, fraud, and abuse within existing government health programs; ending big subsidies to insurance companies; and increasing efficiency with such steps as coordinating care and streamlining paperwork. In the long term, reform can help bring down costs that will otherwise lead to a fiscal crisis.

3. Reform would encourage "euthanasia": It does not. It's a malicious myth that reform would encourage or even require euthanasia for seniors. For seniors who want to consult with their family and physicians about end-of life decisions, reform will help to cover these voluntary, private consultations for those who want help with these personal and difficult family decisions.

4. Vets' health care is safe and sound: It's a myth that health insurance reform will affect veterans' access to the care they get now. To the contrary, the President's budget significantly expands coverage under the VA, extending care to 500,000 more veterans who were previously excluded. The VA Healthcare system will continue to be available for all eligible veterans.

5. Reform will benefit small business - not burden it: It's a myth that health insurance reform will hurt small businesses. To the contrary, reform will ease the burdens on small businesses, provide tax credits to help them pay for employee coverage and help level the playing field with big firms who pay much less to cover their employees on average.

6. Your Medicare is safe, and stronger with reform: It's myth that Health Insurance Reform would be financed by cutting Medicare benefits. To the contrary, reform will improve the long-term financial health of Medicare, ensure better coordination, eliminate waste and unnecessary subsidies to insurance companies, and help to close the Medicare "doughnut" hole to make prescription drugs more affordable for seniors.

7. You can keep your own insurance: It's myth that reform will force you out of your current insurance plan or force you to change doctors. To the contrary, reform will expand your choices, not eliminate them.

8. No, government will not do anything with your bank account: It is an absurd myth that government will be in charge of your bank accounts. Health insurance reform will simplify administration, making it easier and more convenient for you to pay bills in a method that you choose. Just like paying a phone bill or a utility bill, you can pay by traditional check, or by a direct electronic payment. And forms will be standardized so they will be easier to understand. The choice is up to you - and the same rules of privacy will apply as they do for all other electronic payments that people make.
Learn more and get details:

http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck
http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

8 Reasons We Need Health Insurance Reform Now

1. Coverage Denied to Millions: A recent national survey estimated that 12.6 million non-elderly adults - 36 percent of those who tried to purchase health insurance directly from an insurance company in the individual insurance market - were in fact discriminated against because of a pre-existing condition in the previous three years or dropped from coverage when they became seriously ill. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/denied_coverage/index.html

2. Less Care for More Costs: With each passing year, Americans are paying more for health care coverage. Employer-sponsored health insurance premiums have nearly doubled since 2000, a rate three times faster than wages. In 2008, the average premium for a family plan purchased through an employer was $12,680, nearly the annual earnings of a full-time minimum wage job. Americans pay more than ever for health insurance, but get less coverage. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hiddencosts/index.html

3. Roadblocks to Care for Women: Women's reproductive health requires more regular contact with health care providers, including yearly pap smears, mammograms, and obstetric care. Women are also more likely to report fair or poor health than men (9.5% versus 9.0%). While rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure are similar to men, women are twice as likely to suffer from headaches and are more likely to experience joint, back or neck pain. These chronic conditions often require regular and frequent treatment and follow-up care. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/women/index.html

4. Hard Times in the Heartland: Throughout rural America, there are nearly 50 million people who face challenges in accessing health care. The past several decades have consistently shown higher rates of poverty, mortality, uninsurance, and limited access to a primary health care provider in rural areas. With the recent economic downturn, there is potential for an increase in many of the health disparities and access concerns that are already elevated in rural communities. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/hardtimes

5. Small Businesses Struggle to Provide Health Coverage: Nearly one-third of the uninsured - 13 million people - are employees of firms with less than 100 workers. From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. Much of this decline stems from small business. The percentage of small businesses offering coverage dropped from 68% to 59%, while large firms held stable at 99%. About a third of such workers in firms with fewer than 50 employees obtain insurance through a spouse. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/helpbottomline

6. The Tragedies are Personal: Half of all personal bankruptcies are at least partly the result of medical expenses. The typical elderly couple may have to save nearly $300,000 to pay for health costs not covered by Medicare alone. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction

7. Diminishing Access to Care: From 2000 to 2007, the proportion of non-elderly Americans covered by employer-based health insurance fell from 66% to 61%. An estimated 87 million people - one in every three Americans under the age of 65 - were uninsured at some point in 2007 and 2008. More than 80% of the uninsured are in working families. Learn more: http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/inaction/diminishing/index.html

8. The Trends are Troubling: Without reform, health care costs will continue to skyrocket unabated, putting unbearable strain on families, businesses, and state and federal government budgets. Perhaps the most visible sign of the need for health care reform is the 46 million Americans currently without health insurance - projections suggest that this number will rise to about 72 million in 2040 in the absence of reform. Learn more: http://www.WhiteHouse.gov/assets/documents/CEA_Health_Care_Report.pdf

Healthcare Reform Debate

noreply@blogger.com (W. Christopher Benham Skidmore) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 14:06:00 +0000

As the debate about healtcare reform debate gets uglier and uglier in the U.S. every day, I hate to see misinformation trump accuate information. Here are just a few links that have helped me as I have thought more and more about this important issue:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/faq

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090802/ap_on_go_co/us_health_care_fact_check/print

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/site/apps/nlnet/content.aspx?c=frLJK2PKLqF&b=5353171&ct=7269317&tr=y&auid=5143407

http://www.whitehouse.gov/realitycheck/

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2009/jul/30/e-mail-analysis-health-bill-needs-check-/

http://www.sojo.net/action/alerts/health_care_toolkit.pdf

http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/07/lost-in-the-shuffle-the-overarching-goals-of-health-reform/

http://www.sojo.net/action/alerts/Health_Care_Toolkit_2-page.pdf

http://www.kff.org/healthreform/upload/healthreform_tri_full.pdf

http://www.sojo.net/index.cfm?action=action.display&item=HC09-main

http://www.healthreform.gov/reports/statehealthreform/kentucky.html