"Murphy was an optimist!"
Mental Me January 12, 2012 2:12 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Health, MentalThe stress is far too great today.
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Protected: That hollow feeling in the chest September 27, 2011 1:59 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Mental, Philosophy, PoetryYup..that’s me July 15, 2011 4:49 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Health, HumorI’ve had very similar conversations with my doctor.
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Too tired? Too busy? Muster the energy and time. Read a book to your child. July 8, 2011 10:26 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Amy, Daily Life, Education, Evan, Family, Health, Mental, Of Being DadTake a moment and read this story in The New York Times. In short, a doctor tells of a 74 year old patient who couldn’t get his medicines correct.
Mr. M was a typical new patient: 74, with diabetes, hypertension and elevated cholesterol. He had some prostate enlargement and back pain. His bag of pill bottles was depressingly bulky. I spilled the bottles out at our first visit, sorting them by disease. … Mr. M didn’t remember the names of all the medicines … Mr. M was clearly still confused about his medicines…
[Source, NYT, A Problem in Following Doctor’s Orders by DANIELLE OFRI, M.D.]
In the end, we learn that Mr. M is illiterate, unable to read either Spanish or English. The story would be similar to many other stories of illiteracy leaving us emphatic, but emotionally disconnected, had it not been for the last paragraph.
My kindergarten-age daughter is just beginning to read, and she is taken aback with delirious joy each time a few random letters suddenly form a word that matches real life. It’s a painstaking process for her, but as I watch her I think about how this skill has powerful ramifications for her health and longevity. It’s a gift, really, one that I’d long to transfer to Mr. M if I could.
[Source, NYT, A Problem in Following Doctor’s Orders by DANIELLE OFRI, M.D.]
I know that joy! My son has become quite the avid reader. He no longer wants to be the listener; he wants to be the one who reads aloud. And I too wish I could give that gift to Mr. M.
Remember, they are never too old to participate in reading with you; whether you are the listener or the reader, make time to sit with your child and a book.
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Senior Health Care Solution – according to Maxine June 14, 2011 8:10 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Health, Politics, Touchy SubjectsSo you’re a sick senior citizen and the government says there is no nursing home available to you – what do you do?
Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. You are allowed to shoot 4 politicians – not necessarily dead!
Of course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, central heating, and all the health care you need! New teeth – no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered. (And your kids can come and visit as often as they do now).
And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that they cannot afford for you to go into a home.
Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don’t have to pay any income taxes anymore.
IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?
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The US Healthcare System is the Best in the World! June 13, 2011 11:19 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Economy, Health, Politics, Touchy Subjects, United States, World PoliticsWell, actually it’s ranked 37th.
Evidence that other countries perform better than the United States in ensuring the health of their populations is a sure prod to the reformist impulse. The World Health Report 2000, Health Systems: Improving Performance, ranked the U.S. health care system 37th in the world…
It is hard to ignore that in 2006, the United States was number 1 in terms of health care spending per capita but ranked 39th for infant mortality, 43rd for adult female mortality, 42nd for adult male mortality, and 36th for life expectancy. These facts have fueled a question now being discussed in academic circles, as well as by government and the public: Why do we spend so much to get so little?
[Source, , ]
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And all this time I thought I was an American May 23, 2011 4:00 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Health, Holiday, MentalApparently, I’m European!
"Americans maximize their… [happiness] by working, and Europeans maximize their [happiness] through leisure," he found.
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How do you spell stress in four letters? May 16, 2011 12:36 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Health, MentalD-O-U-G
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Inhale May 4, 2011 5:10 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Family, HealthYou know what I shouldn’t have to remind myself to do? Breath! I shouldn’t have to remind myself to breath. I have awake apnea.
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Stop Outsourcing at Knox County Schools April 27, 2011 12:09 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Activism, Announcements, Education, Health, Local Politics, Of Interest, Politics, Touchy SubjectsA friend from Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee asked that I help spread their word:
Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee is petitioning to save the jobs of 275 or more custodial workers as Superintendent Dr. McIntyre has proposed an outsourcing plan as part of the 2011-2012 school budget which would:
- lay off 275 workers across the county
- reduce custodial wages by $2-$5 per hour
- decrease quality of work (as shown by the last outsourcing attempt)
Please sign our online petition urging the school board to avoid outsourcing in our schools! http://bit.ly/g69Uz3
Jobs with Justice of East Tennessee is having a lunch for custodians and other school employees and community members this Saturday.
Custodians and other school employees and community members have been circulating petitions and talking to the Board of Education about the proposal to contract out custodial services. This is a very bad idea – bad for employees, students, and the whole community. There are a couple of School Board meetings coming up soon, so this might be a good time for folks to get together and talk about what we need to do next.
Let’s meet for lunch Saturday, April 30, 12 noon to 2 pm at the UNITE Building, 1124 N. Broadway (less than a mile north of Central).
Since custodians work different shifts, Saturday seems like the best chance to get together. We’d like the other folks who have been working on this to attend as well.
Lunch & Child Care are provided.
Family members are welcome at this gathering. Everyone is important. We’ll talk about what we’ve accomplished so far, and how we might move forward to save jobs and the quality of our schools. We can do this!
If you have questions before Saturday, call Jobs with Justice volunteers Karly Safar, 615/519-0157 or Brad Rayson, 865/385-4421.
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Oh! I now understand why TN fears sex education. April 27, 2011 11:41 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Education, Health, Sex, Touchy SubjectsApparently sexual education is the gateway to teen sex and deviance! Without sex ed, teenagers would never, ever be aware of the capabilities of their bodies and therefore would never masturbate or have sex.
Seen on BoingBoing
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Oldest guy at the skate park April 13, 2011 3:54 pm
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Health, JugglingIt’s only a hip.
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American Library Association List of Books People Tried to Ban in 2010 April 13, 2011 11:20 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Education, Health, Touchy SubjectsIn our enlightened world, people are still trying to ban books. The American Library Association (ALA) has just released its list of the 10 books which Americans tried hardest to ban in 2010.
- "And Tango Makes Three
" by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group - "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
" by Sherman Alexie
Reasons: Offensive language, Racism, Sex Education, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence - "Brave New World
" by Aldous Huxley
Reasons: Insensitivity, Offensive Language, Racism, Sexually Explicit - "Crank
" by Ellen Hopkins
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit
Note: Crank is available for the Kindle - "The Hunger Games
" by Suzanne Collins
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group, Violence
Note: The Hunger Games is also available for the Kindle - "Lush
" by Natasha Friend
Reasons: Drugs, Offensive Language, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
Note: Lush (Kindle version) - "What My Mother Doesn’t Know
" by Sonya Sones
Reasons: Sexism, Sexually Explicit, Unsuited to Age Group
Note: What My Mother Doesn’t Know (Kindle version) - "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Reasons: Drugs, Inaccurate, Offensive Language, Political Viewpoint, Religious Viewpoint
Note: Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America (Kindle Version) - "Revolutionary Voices
" edited by Amy Sonnie
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit - "Twilight
" by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Religious Viewpoint, Violence
Note: Twilight (Kindle version)
Do you agree or disagree? What books would you ban?
The State of America’s Libraries Report documents trends in library usage and details the impact of library budget cuts, technology use and the various other challenges facing U.S. libraries. The full report is available at http://tinyurl.com/alasalr2011. [Source, American Library Association]
Sources:
DayRiffer, Cowardly New World
Guardian, Brave New World among top 10 books Americans most want banned
American Library Assciation, "And Tango Makes Three" waddles its way back to the number one slot as America’s most frequently challenged book
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Knoxville STEM School Excites Students April 7, 2011 10:41 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Daily Life, Education, Family, Health, Noah, Of InterestThe student/parent orientation and final tour of the STEM school before major renovation begins was this week. Noah received his official acceptance letter and will be one of 43 students in the sophomore class. A graduating class of 43! My graduating class from Germantown High School in 1988 was 672 people. I can only imagine how unique and special Noah’s education will be. The orientation was akin to a family reunion. Everyone seemed to know each other and be very like minded with regard to the goals of education. The principal is extremely enthusiastic. I have high hopes and think the Knoxville STEM Academy will do great! Oh, one of the highlights was the announcement that all students will be issued an iPad 2. There will be no textbooks. I’m thrilled and I’m thrilled for Noah.
Video source: WBIR.
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My April/May 2011 Juggling Performances April 3, 2011 11:22 am
Posted by Doug McCaughan in : Announcements, Health, Juggling, Of InterestThis is my upcoming performance schedule.
- April 15 11:15-11:30 and noon-12:15 – UT’s International Festival on the UC Plaza. Fire will be allowed.
- April 15 3:00-3:30 Dogwood Art’s festival children’s stage near Krutch Park downtown – Fire will be allowed.
- April 16 5:00-8:30 Zoo-to-do juggling at the Knoxville Zoo. No fire. LED show if darkness comes soon enough.
- April 17 4:00-4:30 Dogwood Art’s festival children’s stage near Krutch Park downtown – Fire will be allowed.
- April 30 time tbd (event is 8-5) Dogwood Art’s Chalk Wallk walk-around juggling in Market Square and Krutch Park – details still being worked out. Probably a G to PG-13 rated crowd since this will be atmospheric/walk-around the performances will be shorter more adhoc depending on what crowd gathers to watch. Fire will be based upon each location that is density of the crowd, nearness to flammables, etc. You know.. the standard safety considerations.
- May 6 5-8:30 Dreamnight at the Zoo with Children’s Hospital – the event is for children with severe ongoing medical concerns and terminal illness. – No fire. LED equipment if darkness comes soon enough.
- May 7 10-11:30 (probably more like 10:45-11:30 – event is 10am-2pm and the only slot taken is 11:30-noon when Michael Messing performs magic). The event is Children’s Mental Health Week sponsored by TN Voices for Children and will be near Krutch Park.
If you are interested in joining me on any of these endeavors, just let me know. Obviously most of the events are G-rated but I think we can have a little more fun with the UT students. Note: At this point, none of the performances are likely to be amp’d ie. no microphones or PAs. I currently do not have a passing partner for any of these events. If you want to pass with me or have some solo time at one of these events, please let me know. Don’t sell your skills short. If you learn to pass clubs Monday night, you’re already good enough! Performances are much less about perfect juggling and far more about audience engagement.
Juggle til you drop!
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