Just Noticing: “Observations Of A Blogger”
Posted by Michelle Moquin on June 16th, 2013
Good morning!
A reader sent this to me and wanting me to post it. This one is for you Quinn.
“Just noticing….”
81-year-old sweethearts reunite after 62 years
♥♥♥♥♥♥
Readers: Did you like it? Comments? Blog me. Happy Sunday! Thanks for being here with me.
Sophie: Great visual comment. Unfortunately very true too.
Christine: Good question. Again, unfortunately true.
George: Nice to see that I am not the only one who feels such things. If you read my write from yesterday, you can see I feel the same same way about people who inflict such horrific acts.
James: Ooh I like that. Men like that usually end up being the biggest cowards. The weakling had such huge balls to kill kittens but when the table is turned, he will be begging and pissing in his pants for mercy. If it were my decision it would be way too late.
Brad: I agree. Notice how adult animals will take on baby animals that need caring, as if it were their own. Humans kill humans with little care of human life. So, as sick as it is, killing a few kittens is no big deal to some humans.
There are many comments from that post that I read this morning that echo my feelings as well.
Anonymous: Yes, thanks for the horrible reminder. Every time I hear about this, I give my Lucy a big hug. Unfortunately so many animals that are murdered for their fur aren’t as lucky as my Lucy girl.
Anonymous 2: I had no idea about this. Thank for posting. I signed and now that I am aware of this disgusting “festival, ” I can keep it on my radar.
Peace & Love to all animals.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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June 16th, 2013 at 1:32 pm
The Misdiagnosis Epidemic: How to Answer the Doctor’s Questions
Appeared in the print version as “What You Don’t Say to Your Doctor Can Kill You”
At a major hospital’s emergency department, a 60-year-old patient named May recently told a doctor that she had passed out in the gym locker room after feeling queasy and short of breath during a workout. May answered “yes” to all the doctor’s questions. Yes, she had a headache…an upset stomach…shortness of breath—and chest pain.
When the doctor heard chest pain, he linked it in his mind with the patient’s fainting (a possible sign of a heart condition) and proceeded to give her the standard evaluation for heart disease. The tests turned up nothing, but overnight the patient developed a 102°F fever and her “upset stomach” became extremely painful.
This time, doctors gave May a full physical exam and blood tests. Results pointed to a gallbladder infection that could have been treated with antibiotics but had become so severe that she now needed an emergency operation. How was the real cause of May’s distress missed?
This is a classic example of what can happen when a doctor doesn’t keep an open mind about a patient’s health problems—and the patient doesn’t do a very good job of describing the ailment. This type of scenario occurs every day in hospitals and doctors’ offices across the US.
WHAT GOES WRONG
When you have a doctor’s appointment (or go to an emergency department), the diagnosis process starts the moment the physician steps into the examination room.
That’s why what you say and how you say it are so critical to getting an accurate diagnosis and the best possible medical care.
You have probably heard that the average patient has less than 20 seconds (some studies say just 12 seconds) to describe the ailment before being interrupted by the doctor.
What’s even more interesting is that the average doctor will have already made a diagnosis during those crucial first seconds. But if he/she hasn’t gotten your full medical history, your odds of getting a correct diagnosis dramatically decline.
THE TYRANNY OF THE “CHIEF COMPLAINT”
When doctors do listen during those initial seconds of the visit, they’ve been taught to organize their thinking around a central focus, or “chief complaint.” This is the problem that brought you into the doctor’s office—for example, “chest pain,” “a sore back” or “a cough that has lasted two weeks.”
The chief complaint prompts the doctor to consider a list of possible diagnoses, ask a standard series of questions (for example, “When did it start?”…“What makes it worse?”) and then order tests to investigate further.
Even though this approach is logical and efficient, it also can be problematic. Once the doctor focuses on just one possible scenario, he is less likely to look at the whole picture because other information can seem irrelevant. In fact, the chief complaint can actually be a distraction from the real story—a false start that leads the doctor down the wrong path.
In some cases, the basis for an entire diagnostic workup may be a chief complaint given to the first nurse you talk to (or even the receptionist) and may not reflect your greatest concerns.
The chief complaint is also a form of shorthand that doctors use to communicate with one another. If your condition is undiagnosed and you’re referred to a specialist, he is likely to base his questions and tests on what he was told was your chief complaint—and you may be stuck in an endless cycle of misdiagnosis.
TALK SO YOUR DOCTOR WILL LISTEN
To prevent this scenario, when you see any doctor—whether it’s your primary care physician, an emergency department physician or a specialist—what’s most important is to tell your story in a way that will help him truly understand what’s happening.
My advice…
Plan what you’re going to say beforehand. If you have a doctor’s appointment, write down your complete story and practice beforehand how you’ll deliver it with a family member or a friend. While practicing, work out the details that most accurately describe what you are feeling.
Don’t use medical jargon or diagnose yourself. Because you probably haven’t been trained in medical terms, you may use them incorrectly. In your own words, give a clear, chronological and vivid description of what’s going on without a self-diagnosis.
For example, instead of saying, “My stomach ulcer pain is an eight out of 10,” you might state, “I woke up with a terrible stomachache. I felt like my belly was on fire.”
Describe how symptoms have impacted your life.
You could say, “I have had such a bad headache that I could not get out of my bed for three days.” If a symptom is chronic, describe how it’s changed over time. For example, “My joint pain improved for a month, but it has now come back and is worse than ever.”
Answer your doctor’s yes/no questions with details. Doctors use yes/no questions because it is a quick (though incomplete) way to gather information. What works best for you, the patient, however, is to answer your doctor’s questions your way, giving pertinent details.
Example: If your doctor asks, “Do you have pain in your chest?” you might say, “Not pain, exactly…but I felt a kind of dull discomfort right here, around the time I got up. It lasted about an hour, and now I have a throbbing sensation in the same place from time to time.”
Don’t let go of your real concerns. If you think the doctor is ignoring your concerns, you might say, “I’ve tried to answer your questions about my chest pain, but I also want to know why I’ve been feeling so queasy after most meals for the last two weeks.”
GET THE INFORMATION YOU NEED
If you want to be fully involved in your medical care, you’ll also need to understand the reasoning behind a diagnosis. When making a diagnosis, doctors develop a list of possibilities (known as the “differential diagnosis”).
From this list, doctors select one (or more) that seems most likely (called the “working diagnosis”). After you’ve told your story, ask your doctor what could possibly be wrong and what he thinks your problem is.
Important: If the diagnosis—or anything the doctor says—doesn’t make sense to you, ask more questions. For example, you might say, “Does this explain why I’ve been feeling so tired for weeks?” As the doctor performs a physical exam, participate actively by asking questions such as, “Just what is it we’re looking for?”
If the doctor orders tests: Find out why. Specific questions might include: Just what will the test show? Will it change treatment? Are there risks? Are there risks in not doing the test? Are there alternatives? Is waiting an option?
AVOIDING MISCOMMUNICATION
Back to May: As mentioned earlier, this patient had a gallbladder infection that was misdiagnosed. This might have been prevented if May had said, “Would a heart problem cause the many other symptoms I’m having, such as an upset stomach and a headache?”
Important: If your regular doctor is not open to this type of dialogue, it might be time to find a new one—or if you’re in an emergency room, offer to wait until the doctor can spend a little more time with you.
Source: Leana Wen, MD, emergency physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital and clinical fellow at Harvard Medical School, all in Boston. She is coauthor, with Joshua Kosowsky, MD, of When Doctors Don’t Listen: How to Avoid Misdiagnoses and Unnecessary Tests (Thomas Dunne). http://www.DrLeanaWen.com
June 16th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Some old people have great hearts, some are just old bags.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:37 pm
Awww, 81 but they act like the cutest teenage couple!
June 16th, 2013 at 1:40 pm
I really recognize the value of the type of topics you publish on your blog, I imagine this can be relevant in various uncommon ways.
But frankly, I want to see some more of Zen Lill.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
First love never dies…looks grow old yet FEELINGS remains young…
June 16th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
This is true! My husband’s grandma died still loving her first husband who was killed in the war. She had Alzheimer’s and forgot everything and everyone but her first love!
June 16th, 2013 at 1:50 pm
This put tears in my eyes, how beautiful is this? God bless both of them.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Happy Father’s Day Dad. Mom told me she got you hooked on this blog.
Perry, Jr.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:51 pm
Brought tears to my eyes also.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
I wish them all the luck and love they deserve! Age is a number not to be given but deserved!
We are not meant to be lonely but to have companionship! The love they felt for their first marriages must have been great to be willing to travel away from home in search for it again!
God bless them both and may they feel the joy of a shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold, and a friend to share everything with! The true meaning of marriage is to have a partner that will help, hold, and love no matter what!
June 16th, 2013 at 1:52 pm
I just hope that God will let me see 81 and to be that happy.. Love if the best gift God give to us all , never give up.. Thank’s be to God for everything!
June 16th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
OMGGGGGGGGGGG…..GIVE UP~!!!! geezzzzzzzz!!! some people just dont know when to LAY DOWN~~~~~~
June 16th, 2013 at 1:53 pm
I GUESS ITS NEVER TOO LATE WHEN THE RIGHT ONE COMES ALONG~~~~~.
June 16th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Kelly, amen for that!!!
June 16th, 2013 at 1:54 pm
Why should they? Love is for all ages remember, you will be that age someday.
June 16th, 2013 at 2:00 pm
How to Make a YouTube Video That Goes Viral (And Maybe Even Makes Money)
The video Web site YouTube is now the Internet’s second-most-used search engine, trailing only Google. A popular video will attract millions of viewers.
Why should you care? Because you not only can get yourself (or a cause you care about) noticed on YouTube, you can make money there…
YouTube videos can earn a fraction of a cent per view. Those fractions add up to more than $100,000 a year for a few YouTube video creators, though most make far less. Visit Support.Google.com/youtube, then click “YouTube Partner Program, including Monetization,” for details about making money through the Web site.
Posting how-to videos related to an area of professional expertise can be an effective and inexpensive way to publicize a business.
Here’s how to make YouTube videos that get noticed…
WHAT TO SHOOT
Don’t imitate videos that already are popular—copycat content tends to be ignored. A better strategy is to provide videos for niche interests currently underserved on YouTube.
Examples: Rather than post videos about how to do car repairs in general, post videos about how to repair a particular make and model of car.
Rather than post a video about how to barbecue a chicken, post one about how to cook with an obscure ingredient or make a recipe that no one else has posted on YouTube.
Still, certain topics are very popular on YouTube and can do well, even if somewhat comparable content already is available…
Music and dance-related videos often are popular. But take care—you must have written and performed the music yourself or have permission to use the music from whoever did. Even music parodies sometimes can be contested by rightful owners.
Videos featuring babies or animals doing cute or funny things can attract lots of views. “I Are Cute Kitten” is my most popular video, with more than 43 million views.
Videos featuring surprising “how did they do that?” moments frequently do well. Viewers tend to rewind and rewatch these trying to figure out how the trick was done, which boosts the video’s YouTube ranking.
Example: In one of my most popular videos, I seem to do incredibly unsafe things while driving. In reality, I was in the passenger’s seat holding a fake steering wheel. I flipped the viewing angle to make it look like I was driving.
HOW TO MAKE YOUR VIDEO
Viewers don’t expect YouTube videos to look slick and professional, but they won’t watch if the sound or lighting is terrible.
For good sound, don’t rely on your video camera’s built-in microphone. Instead, purchase a lavalier microphone—a small mic that clips onto your shirt—or a boom mic, and plug this into your digital camera.
If there’s an echoey quality to the sound on your first take, hang blankets on the walls and/or add furniture to the room and reshoot. Bring enough light into the room so that the picture isn’t murky.
Shoot multiple takes, then edit together the best moments from each. Basic editing software includes iMovie, which comes installed on modern Macintosh computers, and Windows Movie Maker, a free program for PCs.
Keep videos to 90 seconds or less when possible, and include something to grab the viewer’s attention within the first 10 seconds. YouTube viewers often give up and watch something else if they’re bored at the outset.
Include a clever or exciting moment at the very end of the video, too, when possible. Viewers decide whether to share YouTube videos with friends immediately after watching them, so that final impression is crucial.
Exception: Useful how-to videos can be longer than 90 seconds and don’t require early or late attention grabbers.
HOW TO MARKET YOUTUBE VIDEOS
The words you use in the title, description and “tags” of your video help determine whether YouTube users discover it.
Tags are the keywords that describe a video. Tags can be general (funny, entertaining, cute), but specific ones are more effective (kitten, kitty). Include common misspellings (kittie).
The title and description should accurately describe the video’s content, while the tags should contain any and all words people might use when searching for videos like this one.
Do a Google search and a thesaurus search for your keywords to find related terms worth listing as well. Include the word “video” among your tags. And include “how to” and “instruction” if it’s an instructional video.
Post videos to YouTube as often as you can—posting regularly increases the odds that you will develop a loyal following.
Include links to your YouTube videos on your blog or Web site if you have one, and send the links to others who blog on related topics.
Source: Kevin Nalty, a marketing professional who leads Nalts Consulting, which helps companies develop online video marketing strategies, Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
He has worked for Johnson & Johnson, Merck and KPMG Consulting. He is author of Beyond Viral: How to Attract Customers, Promote Your Brand, and Make Money with Online Video (Wiley). http://www.KevinNalts.com
June 16th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
Well I didn’t have to wait 60+ yrs to find my high school sweetheart but I had to wait 18 yrs which was long enough. Found one another on the internet
June 16th, 2013 at 2:03 pm
I had to wait 5 years for me and my first llove to get back together…we were elementary school sweethearts and got back togetherafter high school…we dated until the summer before we started 9th grade
June 16th, 2013 at 2:04 pm
What a lovely affirmation of the heart. Bless us all!
June 16th, 2013 at 2:05 pm
hope someday me and my love will unite again…
June 16th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
So romantic and sweet:) Hope to always feel that way with the man I met and married too for another 50 years:)
June 16th, 2013 at 2:06 pm
Sweet!
June 16th, 2013 at 10:22 pm
Ym,
Baby, I miss you.