INTERESTING: Quebec and Vermont, pehaps the first of many?

Sunday, August 8, 2010

http://dumpdc.wordpress.com/2010/08/01/what-the-kosovo-ruling-means-for-canada-trouble/

What The Kosovo Ruling Means For Canada: Trouble!
by Milan Markovic

*** begin quote ***

The muted reaction was appropriate. International lawyers agree that last week’s decision is mostly notable for what it doesn’t do. The World Court purposely sidestepped difficult questions such as whether the declaration brought about Kosovo’s secession from Serbia and whether nations such as Canada and the United States were legally justified in recognizing an independent Kosovo. The court ruled only that declarations of independence made by separatist groups are not contrary to international law.

*** and ***

What the court did find was that secessionist groups are not obligated to respect the territorial integrity of the country from which they are trying to secede. Nor are they prohibited from unilaterally declaring independence against the will of that country. What, then, is to stop Quebec’s National Assembly from declaring the province’s independence without holding a fair referendum as Quebec is supposed to do under the Clarity Act?

*** and ***

The Kosovo precedent also undermines the notion that Quebec must seriously negotiate its separation from Canada. Under the administrative scheme established by the United Nations Security Council, representatives from Serbia and Kosovo were required to negotiate Kosovo’s final status. The negotiations were fruitless, leading Kosovo to declare its independence. But Kosovo’s representatives indicated from the beginning of negotiations that they would not settle for anything short of full independence and would not tolerate any partition of Kosovo’s territory. Quebec’s leaders may be tempted to take a similar line and declare Quebec’s independence if Canada refuses to acquiesce to these unfavourable terms.

*** end quote ***

Observations and comments:

  1. The Gooferments of the various countries will probably back each other up with respect to “secession”. Can’t let your “sheeple” escape. Can’t let them defy the “law”. Can’t let anyone to be free. On the theory that it’s a “closed club”, those in power will seek to keep the club’s doors closed and locked. After all it’s not like Quebec, wants to join the USA. Or that Texas, Vermont, New Hampshire, Hawaii, Alaska, or others want to join Canada. It’s an “escape” to freedom. From the movie Candhi, “I beg you to accept that there is no people on Earth who would not prefer their own bad government to the good government of an alien power.” They don’t want to lose their power. Even a fraction of it.
  2. You only have the “rights” that you are willing to demand and fight for. So to, you can only have the “state” that you’re willing to fight for. In the case of the big gang that Gooferment represents, you’ll need help. Your neighbors have to be of like mind.
  3. Gandhi is the model for non-violent revolution. Unfortunately, the people he freed are not as wise as he. Few would be. They don’t have true freedom yet. There’s a lot of corruption and poverty there. But it’s their problem.

Ready for the Third American Revolution yet?

It’s coming. Just like the USSR, all empires fail. Some sooner, some later. But they all do.

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QUOTE: Education should make you a unique – John Taylor Gatto

Sunday, August 8, 2010

“Whatever an education is, it should make you a unique individual, not a conformist; it should furnish you with an original spirit with which to tackle the big challenges; it should allow you to find values which will be your road map through life; it should make you spiritually rich, a person who loves whatever you are doing, wherever you are, whomever you are with; it should teach you what is important, how to live and how to die.” – John Taylor Gatto

http://www.preservenet.com/theory/Gatto.html

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TECHNOLOGY: The lowly hospital call button

Saturday, August 7, 2010

After Frau’s recent stints in the hospital, I was thinking about their poor use of technology.

The lowly call button is the problem. Patients push but … and frustration ensues.

Sitting there with little to do, I mused about how, if I was KING, I’d rework that.

It’s a perfect call center application.

In my world, I’d have room full of “911 operators” to answer the calls. And, I’d have the staff equipped with the latest mobile technology. Like a push to talk cell phone on their hip with a blue tooth headset.

Patient pushes the call button! ,

In the current system, the unit clerk usually answers the bell with a not so cheery “whaddayawant”. OK, that’s not the exact words, but it really is the exact message.

In my system, the “911 operator” would answer: “Yes, is this urgent?” If response = “yes”, set priority to “immediate”. If response = “no”, set priority to “routine”. “What do you need?” And parse the response. “Pain” = “Nurse” “Bedpan” = “Aide” “Spill = Housekeeping” “Lawyer” = “Notify Risk Management” (You get the idea?)

Then, my system would be different in many ways. For “urgent”, I’d go down the list for first available: patient’s regular nurse, the backup, the charge nurse, any available floor nurse, and finally the Director of Nursing. (Wanna bet how many hit the honcho’s phone?)

For routine requests, the “911 operator” would speak to the appropriate party (i.e., nurse, tech, or housekeeper). If they were busy, they could queue it with a “remind me”. The “911 operator would have the person’s queue of items on screen and be able to say “you have five reminders, can I get you some help?”

Nothing would be “forgotten”. Response times would be measurable. Patient satisfaction would improve.

And I’d FLOG the leadership to help motivate them. :-)

These folks work very hard with what I call “a suit from Omar’s” (You know the tailor that has two sizes — too big and too small.) for technology support.

I can quickly list: bp / temp / pulse ox machines that down’t talk to the patient records; blood glucose testing devices that have to be docked to communicate; static white boards that have last shift’s names on them; quality assurance sheets to be signed each hour to ensure that the folks physically visit the rooms and are filled out just before the end of shift; no one monitors what the patient eats; ripoff tv and phone service; no exercise equipment; no technology for communication — people yell for people even on the quiet critical units.

It’s a Leadership problem. It obvious; they just don’t care. Argh!

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INTERESTING: Sherrod Story; somethin’ is off

Saturday, August 7, 2010

http://www.americanthinker.com/2010/07/real_sherrod_story_still_untol.html

July 30, 2010
Real Sherrod Story Still Untold
By Jack Cashill

*** begin quote ***

“As an old pro,” Brown acknowledged, “I know that you don’t fire someone without at least hearing their side of the story unless you want them gone in the first place.” Brown observed that Sherrod had been a thorn in the USDA’s side for years, that many had objected to her hiring, and that she had been “operating a community activist organization not unlike ACORN.” Although Brown does not go into detail, he alludes to a class action lawsuit against the USDA in which she participated some years ago.

*** end quote ***

I agree. I smell a rat. And, maybe my tin foil hat is wrapped too tight, but nothing is ever as it seems.

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FUN: “Hospital”; a town in County Limerick Ireland

Friday, August 6, 2010

http://www.irishcentral.com/roots/Irelands-strangest-place-names-99827479.html

*** begin quote ***

Hospital, Co. Limerick – acquired its name from the Knights Hospitaller, a Christian organization in the time of the Crusades. Ironically, the town doesn’t have any medical facilities.

*** end quote ***

Speechless!

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POLITICAL: Hope Schiff wins the CT R primary on 8/10

Friday, August 6, 2010

Time to turn the country on its ear. And nuke all the liberals, D’s, and CINO R’s.

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TECHNOLOGY: I’m mad as hell about spam and I’m starting my own personal push back

Friday, August 6, 2010

Copy of my email to: jim.brodo@richardson.com who is the SVP Marketing.

Please feel free to add him to all chain letters, jokes, Nigerian offers, and every thing you can think off.

A little community applied discipline is in order!

*** begin quote ***

Where the hell do you get off spamming my yahoo group?

F. J. Reinke

Begin forwarded message:

From: “SalesTrainingIndustry.com” <susan@salestrainingindustry.com>

Date: August 6, 2010 9:00:39 AM EDT

To: Distribute_Jasper_Jottings-owner

Subject: Spaces still available-Complimentary Webinar: Develop Great Frontline Sales Managers (ADV)

Reply-To: susan@salestrainingindustry.com

{Extraneous Deleted}

*** end quote ***

‘I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!’ I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell – ‘I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Things have got to change. But first, you’ve gotta get mad!… You’ve got to say, ‘I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore!’ Then we’ll figure out what to do about the depression and the inflation and the oil crisis. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: [screaming at the top of his lungs] “I’M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I’M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!” —— the character Howard Beale played by Peter Finch in the movie Network (1976)

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POLITICAL: Why is the Gooferment running “education”?

Friday, August 6, 2010

http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/fired-professor-reinstated-at-university-of-illinois/

Fired Catholic professor reinstated at University of Illinois

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Champaign, Ill., Jul 29, 2010 / 05:27 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- A professor who was recently fired for explaining the Catholic teaching on homosexuality will be reinstated, according to the University of Illinois. Dr. Kenneth Howell’s position at the school was terminated at the end of the Spring Semester this year after teaching in a class on Catholicism that the Church believes homosexual behavior violates natural law.

*** end quote ***

Why is the Gooferment running Universities? Why are they regulating them, financing them, and in every intimate detail of them?

Power!

Power over the future sheeple and what they are taught or not taught.

<Expletive Deleted> “barbara streisand”

Time for the Separation of School and State!

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INTERESTING: Don’t tell me you’re Six Sigma

Friday, August 6, 2010

INTERESTING: A six sigma discussion

ROFL! Yesterday, before Frau was given her release, yet another hospital manager came by to talk about the patient’s perception of her care. Since Frau was sleeping, the lady “nursing director” talked to me. She was taking names of did a good or bad job. Since both patients in the room were “unavailable” (i.e., sleeping), guess I was selected to be a proxy.

Boy, did she get an earful before Frau woke up. And put the kibosh on me.

I’m not good with names, but this floor was better in general than the CCU or the last floor she was on two weeks ago.

But then, she made a mistake! She mentioned that they were Six Sigma. Who, wee, here we go!

I dusted off my “consulting hat” and asked “Why six sigma?” SHe didn’t answer but asked what my Six Sigma background was. See asking “why” there times is how Six Sigma-ites get to the real reason why you’re doing something. I told her that I had some minor experience in it and challenged her about answering the question.

“Better patient care” “Why?” “Better outcomes” “Why” “To become patient centered”

Ahhh, Hah!

So we got into a discussion about how the patient was not a Customer, a Stakeholder, or even a Client in their processes. Then, I moved in for the kill describing how this morning the tech woke the patient to take blood pressure but was called away in the middle for a “safety huddle” at 8AM plus or minus a few minutes. Her response was that the “BPs were late and the huddle was on time”. And, I concluded: “So explain to me HOW that is patient focused care?” She was speechless.

We got into a discussion of how the technology, process, or people could be deployed that would have transformed that into a patient centric focus.

Like maybe, never wake a patient to do a routine test in the first place, leave an appliance there and the first person to see the patient awake take the bp. Use new bp tech that takes the patient’s bp even if they are sleeping. Or even just questioning how to organize so the patient is not disturbed.

Another example was the call bell that neither differentiates between urgency or type of need.

Another example was how there’s no call center to take the call and directly alert the right person.

Another example was there’s no feedback loop to collection and action what the patient sees.

Another example was that the staff had no technology to make their jobs more effective or efficient — there were sheets at each patient that the staff was to initial each hour that they visited the patient. An rfid badge and readers at each bedside, would collect that data without paperwork and wasting the staffer’s time. Besides at the end of each shift, they just “caught up” the log. So does leadership REALLY want to know the answer?

She gave up saying “they didn’t have …” because it was painful obvious even to her that they do NOT want “patient focused” because they have all their processes. So be honest and call it “processed focused care”.

We were discussing more examples when the BLOODDOC came and rescued the Director from the trap she had fallen into. I let him know that he was 6 minutes late. (Hey, he set the expectation. Not me. No one forced him to say what time he’d be there.)

ROFL!!!

Be careful what you ask for, you may get it.

My observation is, imho, they don’t want to change. They want the praise that comes with being Six Sigma, but they don’t want to do the heavy lifting. My experience with TQM, Six Sigma, and other quality initiatives is that the problem is ALWAYS leadership. They may “talk the talk” but they don’t “walk the walk”. You can put up all the funny inspirational signs on the wall you want, but people are smart. They see your mixed messages and adapt.

I always say I can play any game, just tell me the rules.

In this case, it is NOT “patient centric care”.

Boy, was that fun!

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INTERESTING: Food supply is on a slender thread

Thursday, August 5, 2010

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20100726/D9H6KLSO0.html

Margaret McGrath, an associate professor of plant pathology at Cornell University, said the fungus is likely more of a problem for home gardeners and herb farmers who may not have access to fungicides that are available to larger commercial growers.

*** end quote ***

An interesting example of the slender thread that the “food supply” hangs on. Today basil; tomorrow who knows what?

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