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The Rise of Employee Monitoring in the Workplace

Photo Credit: Pixabay

When the pandemic first began, we saw COVID-19 bring many changes into our lives. Now, we are watching as some of these changes transition into what can only be termed as the ‘new normal’. One such change that has been particularly transformational has been the mass transition of the workforce from office desk jobs to ‘working from home’. As with other COVID-19 endeavors, there has been a massive push to utilize the strength of technology to help ease this transition to remote working. As a result, we have seen a recent rise in the use of surveillance technology that is, systems put in place to enable employers to track and monitor from afar the activity of their employees during the workday.

Productivity Scores and the Potential for Bias

One of many features that can be found in surveillance systems is the ability to issue a productivity score for employees. What this essentially does is monitor various actions of an employee’s computer usage, such as active screen time, keyboard strokes, and websites visited, and then assigns a productivity score in relation to the markers. For example, an employee who spends nine hours actively on the screen, types seven hundred words an hour, and does not visit social media sites would likely be given a high productivity score for the day. This feature is beneficial to the employer, as it helps monitor whether or not the employee is working when they are expected to. However, what does a productivity score mean for the employee?

Simply put, a productivity score introduces risk for unwanted bias into the surveillance system. As different roles require different methods of working, and different people accomplish tasks through different means, using an overarching definition of productivity can result in biased scores against an employee. For example, if productivity is defined as the amount of time spent typing on the keyboard, and an employee spends three hours typing, they would receive a high score. However, what is not seen is that the employee spent three hours rewriting the same paragraph of an article, so in reality was not productive in completing the task of writing the article. On the other hand, if productivity is defined as time spent actively on the screen, and an employee only spends five hours in total active on the screen in the day, they would receive a low score. What is not seen is that this employee is a single mother who must take time away from the screen to tend to her children, but is still able to complete the required amount of tasks for the day. The important question to ask here is, who’s definition of productivity are employees being monitored by? Does this definition allow for extraneous cases and different modes of working, or are employees being forced to work in accordance to a biased system?

Furthermore, it is important to consider that even if productivity can be properly monitored, is it something that we should be doing in the first place? According to recent studies, productivity scores actually lead towards increased stress in employees. This is due to the fact that if an employee does not have agency over how their productivity is measured, then the employee is being forced to adapt to a metric that may very well be impossible for them to fulfill, resulting in high stress situations.

Mission Creep and the Breakdown of Transparency

Another issue to consider from the perspective of the employee is that of mission creep, especially in terms of the transparency of the system. Mission creep occurs when the original objective of a system slowly broadens overtime. What this means in terms of surveillance tech is that a system could be deployed to simply track screen time at first, but over time have more features added until the point where every keystroke and mouse click are being monitored in a highly invasive manner.

This potential for mission creep creates a situation in which transparency between an employer and an employee breaks down. An employer may deploy the system with every wish to be transparent with their employee, and so explains that the system will only be tracking screen time. However, as more features are added, and the system’s software is already installed on the employee’s computer, the employer has no legal requirement to inform the employee of changes to the system. This means that employees could be entirely unaware of the extent to which they are being monitored by surveillance technology if the employer decides not to be transparent in their usage of the system. This again creates a situation of high stress for the employee, as they are aware of the tracking but do not know to what extent they are being tracked.

Power Imbalance and the Erosion of Trust

Finally, it is important to remember that surveillance technology is created with employers as the end beneficiaries in mind. What this means is that the impact the technology will have on the employers has been taken into account during the development of the system, but it does not necessarily imply that the impact on the employee has been given the same consideration. If the main objective of the technology is to benefit employers, then there is not much of an incentive to understand the effects the technology has on the employee unless the employer sees that as a benefit to themselves. What this does is create a severe power imbalance tipped in favor of the employer at the cost to the employee. While the employer has complete control over what kind of monitoring will benefit them, employees have no say over whether or not they want to be monitored and to what extent. Essentially, if the employer decides it is beneficial to monitor screen time, then the employee has no power to push back, as the employee risks losing their job if they refuse to be monitored.

One of the more significant consequences of this power imbalance is the breakdown of trust. It starts with the employer utilizing the system because they do not trust their employees to manage their time working from home productively. Once an employee feels this mistrust, they then lose motivation to go beyond the baseline requirements set in place by the surveillance system and feel as though their work is not valued. Furthermore, surveillance technology can also lead to the employee not trusting the employer due to a lack of transparency in how the employer is monitoring the employee. What results is an overall erosion of trust on both sides.

COVID-19 has already brought a sudden and drastic increase of tension into our everyday lives, not to mention the uncertainty and insecurity into our professional careers. Additionally, there is significant research showing that surveillance technology actually increases employee stress while decreasing motivation, productivity, and trust. Therefore, since COVID-19 seems to have created the perfect conditions in which surveillance technology could thrive by forcing the majority of the workforce to transition into working from home, we must consider what effects this technology has on the mental well-being of the employees it is being deployed on. So, we must ask ourselves: Is surveillance technology really the solution to maintaining productivity amongst employees while working from home?

Written by David Timis, YGC 2020, and Olivia Gambelin.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Global Solutions Initiative.

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Forbes România.

David, 2020 Young Global Changer,  is curating the Brussels Shapers, which is part of the Global Shapers Community, a network of inspiring young people working together to address local, regional and global challenges.

Olivia, is an AI Ethicist focused on human-centric innovation in technology and the founder of Ethical Intelligence, an AI Ethics advisory firm and is a member of the extended circle community of the Young Global Changers program.

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Five Countries on Path to Recovery from Covid-19

Five Countries on Path to Recovery from Covid-19

Copenhagen, Denmark, April 28, 2020 / TRAVELINDEX / With over three million confirmed cases and upwards of 200,000 fatalities in the world, there are few signs of the COVID-19 pandemic slowing its rampage across the globe. Thousands of people are contracting the virus every day, with the United States, Spain, Italy, France and Iran some of the worst-affected countries. However, some other countries appear to have managed to slow down the rate of new cases and now seem to be on a slow and possibly difficult path towards recovery. Here they are:

1. China: China, the epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak, seems to have greatly controlled the transmission of the virus. Around 89 percent of coronavirus patients in China have recovered and have been discharged from hospitals, according to reports from the country’s National Health Commission. The severity and scale of the containment measures implemented by the Chinese government have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of daily cases.

2. South Korea: Another country that has recovered in an efficient manner is South Korea. Their model of ‘trace, test and treat’ strategy has helped in flattening the COVID-19 curve significantly – a model that is admired by many other Western countries. Unlike most affected countries, South Korea has relied on widespread testing and digital tracking of suspected cases to contain the pandemic, instead of imposing lockdowns or curfews.

3. Hong Kong: Despite its proximity to China, Hong Kong succeeded in containing the outbreak by taking measures to prevent transmissions internally. Authorities implemented a mandatory 14-day quarantine for anyone coming from China. They were also quick to set up quarantine facilities and negative-pressure beds for proper isolation, and enforce social-distancing measures such as working from home, cancelling public events and closing schools.

4. Taiwan: Taiwan has managed to successfully contain the virus, even though it is located just over 128km (80 miles) from mainland China. Learning from the previous SARS outbreak, the government sprung into action as soon as word broke about a pneumonia-like disease in Wuhan in December 2019. They began extensive screening of travellers from Wuhan from 31 December, set up a system to track those in self-quarantine, and ramped up production of medical equipment for domestic use in January. They were also the first country to ban flights from Wuhan, on 26 January. The utilisation of big-data for intensive health monitoring of the population as well as Taiwan’s excellent public healthcare system helped limit the spread of the virus.

5. Australia: While its geographic isolation and low-population density are inherent advantages, the government’s strong public response has truly brought the pandemic well under-control in the country. Australia was one of the first western countries to ban flights from China on 1 February 2020, a decision which helped stave-off the spread of the infection. It also implemented a far-reaching indefinite ban on all international arrivals on 20 March, effectively cutting-off transmission of the virus from overseas, which accounted for the majority of cases in the country. Strict social distancing measures such as stay-at-home orders also helped bring down community transmission. Crucially, health authorities conducted extensive community testing for the virus in high-risk locations, resulting in one of the highest per capita rates of diagnostic pathology testing for COVID-19 in the world and allowing the infection curve to be dramatically suppressed in a matter of weeks rather than months.

Not to forget the Seychelles who has lifted all travel restrictions.

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RFE/RL Gandhara

G7 Decries Taliban's Burqa Order For Afghan Women, Warns Hard-Line Group Is Further Isolating Itself

By RFE/RL May 12, 2022

Foreign ministers from the Group of Seven (G7) have expressed their "strongest opposition" and "deplored" the Taliban-led government in Kabul's recent decree telling women to wear the head-to-toe burqa in public and other "increasing restrictions," saying the hard-line group in control of Afghanistan since August is "further isolating" itself internationally.

The ministers from the seven leading industrialized countries called on the Taliban "to urgently take steps to lift restrictions on women and girls, respect their human rights, and meet the expectations of Afghans and the world" with respect to their participation in public life and free speech.

Such freedoms, they said in a statement, are "crucial for long-term peace, stability and development of the country."

"We condemn the imposition of increasingly restrictive measures that severely limit half the population's ability to fully, equally and meaningfully participate in society, including the recent announcement on women's appearance in public along with new punishments for family members to enforce compliance with these restrictions," the G7 statement said.

No country has recognized the Taliban-led government.

At least four countries -- China, Pakistan, Russia, and Turkmenistan -- have established formal diplomatic ties with Kabul under the Taliban.

A May 7 decree from officials of the Taliban-led government calls for women to only show their eyes and recommends that they wear the head-to-toe burqa. Head scarves are common for most Afghan women, but in urban areas such as Kabul, many do not cover their faces.

Failure to comply will result in a woman's father or closest male relative being reprimanded, imprisoned, or fired from employment.

"We stand with the Afghan people in their demand for equal rights in line with the Taliban's commitments to all Afghans and Afghanistan's obligations under international law," the G7 ministers said.

Two months ago, Taliban officials ordered that all secondary girls' schools be closed just hours after reopening them for the first time since the Sunni fundamentalist militants swept to power last year as U.S.-led international troops withdrew and the UN-backed Afghan government dissolved.

Earlier on May 12, the European Union's special envoy to Afghanistan, Tomas Niklasson, told the AFP news agency that a recent Taliban veto on girls' schools "has put some doubts in our heads regarding how reliable their promises are, how reliable they may be as a partner."

With reporting by AFP

Source: https://gandhara.rferl.org/a/afghanistan- taliban-burqa-decree-g7-condemnation/31846777.html

Copyright (c) 2022. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Home » Business » USW Members Vote to Ratify Contract at Pinto Valley Mine

USW Members Vote to Ratify Contract at Pinto Valley Mine

Pinto Valley. Photo by LCGross

Miami, Ariz. – Members of the United Steelworkers union (USW) and workers from five other international unions voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new contract covering about 420 workers at the Pinto Valley Mine.

The mine, owned by Capstone Copper, employs about 170 members of USW Local 915, as well as members of the Teamsters, Operating Engineers, IBEW, Boilermakers and the UA. The six unions, led by the USW, negotiate their labor agreements jointly with the company.

The new four-year contract provides average wage increases of 18 percent, a lump-sum signing bonus, a reduction in members’ health-care costs, improved retirement benefits, an increase in paid sick time, and the addition of vision coverage, along with other improvements to contract language.

The Pinto Valley Mine, located about 75 miles east of Phoenix, is one of the largest employers in the area.

USW District 12 Director Gaylan Prescott, whose office represents thousands of USW members in Arizona and 10 other western U.S. states, said that the agreement is an example of the strength workers can have when they stand together.

“The will of these mine workers, using their collective voices, resulted in increased wages, improved benefits and dignity in their workplace,” Prescott said. “These workers, their families, and the communities in which they live will all benefit because of what this group was able to accomplish as a result of their unity and solidarity.”

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.

One comment

  1. Capstone and the Unions deserve commendation for their respectful and constructive relationship that benefits employers, employees, and the surrounding communities. I salute them on this Labor Day in celebration of their new contract!

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• Shelia Hart Artt

The Time Has Come!

➖Daily Word Sat. Nov.25.2018➖Pastor Sheliah.

“The time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. ”The Father is looking for those who will worship Him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship Him must worship in spirit and in truth.” (John.4:23-24 NLT)

▪ “…worship God. For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” (Rev.19:9-10)

▪ “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

“Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship Him as God or even give Him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools.” (Rom.1:20-22)

“God raised Jesus from death and set Him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule...

“The church is Christ’s Body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His Presence.” (Ephesians 1:20,23 MSG).

“The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” (Revelation.11:15)

➖Worship Him in Spirit and Truth! ➖Could we be more outrageous? ~ Shelia Hart Artt

#TheTimeHasCome. #WorshipInSpiritAndTruth #OutrageousGrace. @GloryBarnBranson #ThyKingdomCome #SpiritOfProphecy


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On Sale

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Just for you, the subscription box includes a selection of chilli jam, chilli sauce and olive oil, chilli chutney, and marmalade, delicious handmade savoury crackers, and recipes, delivered to you every quarter. That is only £9.45 per month including delivery!

The selection will vary in flavours, offering a range of authentic tastes and recipe ideas. The box will be delivered during the second week of each 3 months period.

Register your details here and a monthly and start your subscription today!

NOTE: In some cases, we may need to substitute some of the items that are shown in the photography but you will always get a very close match and we will notify you if any changes need to be made.


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Our School

Welcome to The Goddard School® of South Reno, where every day is filled with fun learning experiences! Each day, caring and attentive teachers provide your child with countless opportunities to grow academically, socially, emotionally and physically in a safe and loving environment.

If you want to help shape the hearts and minds of young children in a fun, nurturing environment, we’d love to have you work with us! We’re always looking for great teachers to join our family.

Check Out Our Job Listings

Our Classrooms

Each classroom at our School gives your little one the chance to grow in big ways. These safe and caring spaces have been designed to encourage discovery and spark imagination in everyday learning opportunities.

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Enriching Experiences

Every day is a great day to explore new subjects, develop lasting skills and have fun while learning with our enrichment activities! This diverse range of supplemental programs provides your child with more ways to learn and grow.

See Our Enrichment Programs

Upcoming Events

There’s always something fun to look forward to at The Goddard School! Check out some of the exciting things we have planned.

See Our Calendar

Features for Fun

Fun learning experiences happen in so many places beyond the classroom. That’s why we offer additional exciting spaces where your little one can grow and discover throughout the day.

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Reviews & Recognition

We take great pride knowing that families are happy with our School! Part of ensuring family satisfaction is maintaining our national accreditations and going above and beyond our already high standards of health, safety and education.

See Our School's Reviews & Recognition

As you use our website, we and our third-party providers collect your internet and other electronic network activity information (IP address, information regarding your interaction with our website, and device information) via cookies. We use this personal information to personalize your experience, to conduct analytics, and to provide targeted online advertising. Under California law, this sharing may constitute a sale. To opt-out of this sharing, please visit Do Not Sell My Personal Information.

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Health & Safety

Health and safety are The Goddard School’s top priorities. We are committed to ensuring that your child thrives in a warm, safe and secure environment.

A hand tapping on a tablet with a locked welcome screen, asking for a security password.

Safety & Security

To ensure your child is healthy and safe, our safety and security protocols are strictly enforced. These include thorough sanitation, safe sleep procedures, and a secure check-in and check-out environment. Your child’s well-being is our top priority.

Our School’s health and safety protocols include:
List bullet icon Thermal scanners
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List bullet icon Air filtration system
List bullet icon Parking lot bollards for protection
List bullet icon Disinfectant spray
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List bullet icon Biometric Entry Device
List bullet icon Finger Guards
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Food & Nutrition

Caring for your child includes ensuring that they're fueled up and ready to learn and play! For infants, our faculty and staff will closely follow your specific feeding instructions.

Please contact us to learn more about our food and snack policies for older children.

List bullet icon Fresh fruit and veggie snacks
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As you use our website, we and our third-party providers collect your internet and other electronic network activity information (IP address, information regarding your interaction with our website, and device information) via cookies. We use this personal information to personalize your experience, to conduct analytics, and to provide targeted online advertising. Under California law, this sharing may constitute a sale. To opt-out of this sharing, please visit Do Not Sell My Personal Information.

By clicking accept, you agree to the Terms of Service and acknowledge that you have read our Privacy Notice.


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Should You Use a Dental Mouthguard for your Jaw Pain?

Do you ever awaken with a sore jaw? This affects more people than you may realize. Bruxism is better known as ‘grinding your teeth at night, and this pretty much sums up the condition. If left untreated, bruxism can cause dental damage, as well as damage to the temporomandibular joint (TMJ): the joint that connects your lower jaw with your skull. How can we treat it? That’s where dental mouthguards come in.

Dental mouthguards help to soothe the pain by protecting teeth and joints. If you suspect you may have bruxism, you should speak to your dentist about using a dental mouthguard.

Should You Use a Dental Mouthguard for your Jaw Pain

Here’s how you can find the right one for you.

Understand the root cause (or lack thereof)

Teeth-grinding or jaw-clenching is an involuntary response from the central nervous system. It can happen due to anxiety, stress, use of antidepressants, or use of tobacco or alcohol.

Sometimes it happens for no reason at all. Whatever the cause, it’s important to understand that it’s behavior beyond your control. It’s not something you can adjust with cognitive therapy or the like.

Also Read: Tips on Finding Dentist, Moore

Invest in a mouthguard

The good news is that a dental mouthguard is an easy fix. Well, it won’t ‘fix the problem per se, but it will provide the protection you need to help preserve your pearly whites. (This is not to be confused with an athletic mouthguard worn to protect teeth during contact sports.)

There are two kinds of mouthguards, and they are:

Over-the-counter varieties

Exactly what it says on the tin: you can buy these over the counter at sports stores or pharmacies. Like any Macca’s Coke, they sometimes come in varieties of small, medium, and large.

Other variants ditch the standard sizing method in favor of a more customized approach. If you have a more malleable over-the-counter mouthguard, whack it in hot water. Once it’s heated, bite down on the softened material and feel it mold to your mouth’s shape. Voilà!

Custom varieties

Custom varieties

Alternatively, go to the dentist and have a tailor-made custom mouthguard for your teeth. Pro: they’re a step up from even the customizable over-the-counter varieties.

Con: they’re a lot more expensive. Circling back to a possible pro: you may be able to get it covered with dental insurance. There’s some food for thought.

Weigh up your options

You may be wondering why you should cough up the extra cash for a custom mouthguard if there are much cheaper options that are also customizable.

It comes back to this: whilst an over-the-counter option will provide relief, it’s still not a professional fit. The custom mouthguard is more expensive for a reason.

Whilst the over-the-counter option will protect your teeth, it won’t necessarily meet up with your natural bite. And aligning the mouthguard to your bite will resolve the issues beyond the surface.

Without professional adjustment, your muscles may not respond the way they need to. This means zero resolution to your existing jaw pain—in fact, it may well exacerbate it.

With professional adjustment, you can align your teeth in a more comfortable and natural way. Custom mouthguards not only protect teeth, but also reconcile the relationship between the bite, the TMJ, and the jaw muscles.

Know what to expect

Know what to expect

Mouthguards are usually worn over the top teeth, but there are some variants that fit along the bottom row, too. If you opt for an over-the-counter option, it will likely be made from a softer material.

Custom mouthguards, on the other hand, are usually made from resin: a much harder (and more durable) material.

If you have bruxism, chances are you’ll only need to wear your mouthguard at night. However, if you have more serious TMJ disorders, you may need to wear them during the day, as well.

How to care for your mouthguard

If you’ve decided to invest in a mouthguard, you’ll need to maintain it. Think of it as an extension of your teeth: you’ll need to brush it with toothpaste. Also, use antibacterial soap, and ensure you clean it as soon as it leaves your mouth.

Wait to clean it in the evening and you can expect tartar to build up. (Pro tip: this is what happens to our teeth, too, when left uncleaned.)

When attending a dental appointment, bring your mouthguard with you. To ensure you’re getting the most out of it, your dentist can review it and make any necessary adjustments. They can also perform a full clean using an ultrasonic machine.

Also Read: Dental Veneers: Cost, Procedure, and Results

Should you use a dental mouthguard for your jaw pain?

Bruxism is one of the most common sleep disorders, but it can also be a cause for concern when your teeth are at risk. A mouth guard might help you reduce the severity of your bruxism and keep your teeth in better condition.

If you think that this may apply to you, contact your dentist so you can discuss your options and protect yourself from dental damage!

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HL Training Services

Streamlines the collection of customer and training course data with digital forms and routing

“Because our forms upload in real-time, we can now complete our side of the administrative process within the same day.”
- Shane Richardson, HL Training Services Director

Vertex Survey, Inc. Logo

HL Training Services needed a digital platform to accelerate the completion of forklift training course paperwork. Relying on paper forms, course paperwork often took weeks to complete and deliver, delaying the training certification process.

After testing several mobile forms platforms, HL Training Services selected GoFormz for the completeness of its feature set. With digital forms, critical course paperwork can be completed and accessed in real-time, enabling the HL Training Services team to process certifications within a day.

  • Real-time data decreases training certification processing time from roughly two weeks to one day
  • Auto-populated form fields accelerate form completion and improve accuracy
  • Digital signature boxes simplify client authorizations
  • Online form builder streamlines Template edits and document changes
  • Automatic Calculations instantly add up test scores, expediting form completion

Sign up for a 14-day free trial of GoFormz

About HL Training Services

HL Training Services is a Bristol-based company, providing training for forklift operators and instructors since 1988. Offering services across the United Kingdom, HL Training Services instructors strive to improve the health and safety of their clients’ employees via experienced instruction and both onsite and offsite training.

Searching for a Solution

HL Training Services, provides training and certification to forklift operators and instructors, often onsite at their place of work. HL Training Services’ forklift certification process originally relied upon paper forms — often more than seven pages long — which required the entry of redundant data, the manual completion of calculations, and other time-intensive, error-prone tasks. These paper forms then needed to be mailed or scanned to the back office before a certificate signifying an individual had completed the course could be distributed. This process took far too long and relied upon instructors completing their paperwork efficiently. Consequently, when customers would ask for their certificate within two weeks of completing their course, it was often impossible to complete their request because the necessary paperwork had still not been delivered. “We weren’t getting the paperwork back in time to meet our customer’s needs,” explained Shane Richardson, an HL Training Services Director.

Shane and his team began searching for a solution to their paper-based obstacles. After a frustrating experience with another digital form provider, HL Training Services trialed three mobile form platforms, evaluating each service’s feature set to ensure they would meet their needs. In the end, HL Training Services selected GoFormz, citing its ease of use and robust feature set for their decision. “GoFormz met each of our needs - the others, at best, only met half of them,” Shane recalled. “It would have been a silly decision to pick any other [platform].”

“GoFormz met each of our needs - the others, at best, only met half of them.”

Digital Transformation

The first mobile form created by HL Training Services was also their most critical. The Counterbalance and Reach Truck (CBRT) form spans seven to ten pages, and captures a plethora of training details. The CBRT form includes course candidate’s personal details , the course training covered, practical and theory test results, pre-shift truck inspection information, and more. “It’s the entire training record for a candidate, for a course,” Shane explained. For this reason, it was critical that HL Training Services’ chosen digital form platform would be able to support the variety of data types necessary to complete the CBRT form. “If it didn’t work for the CBRT form, it wouldn’t work at all. And it worked perfectly.”

Shane and his team successfully digitized their CBRT form using GoFormz, equipping their digital form with Automatic Calculations, Checkboxes, Drop Down fields, and auto-fill logic. Now, if a user enters equipment information or candidate details into the form, that same information is instantly populated into relevant fields throughout the document. This means that users no longer need to re-enter redundant information, significantly accelerating the form completion process. Leveraging Automatic Calculations, a candidate’s practical test score is instantly totalled, eliminating opportunities for error and improving efficiencies. “This feature takes one extra task away from them… now they just have to check a box and it adds it all up for you.”

Forklift on warehouse floor next to image of HL Training Services user entering information into a form on their iPad

Once a CBRT form has been completed it is instantly available to back-office administrators to download and process. This real-time data grants increased visibility into an instructor’s progress, allowing HL Training Services personnel to resolve issues more rapidly. “If there is ever an issue, we can actually look at a form as they are completing it.”

GoFormz not only provided the set of field types HL Training Services required, but also simplified document changes and editing. With their previous digital form provider, Shane and his team would need to redo the entire CBRT form each time the document changed. “If you had an issue with a form, you had to redo the entire form… and our forms are seven to ten pages long,” Shane explained, detailing the time intensive process. “[With GoFormz], if your document changes, it’s easy to make those changes.”

“Time is costly in this industry. Because our forms upload in real-time, we can now complete our side of the admin process within the same day.”

HL Training Services also digitized their equipment authorization forms, as well as their risk assessment forms. These forms feature digital Signature fields for rapid authorizations, as well as Time, Date, and Text fields to accurately capture which equipment was operated and when.

Transformative efficiency

With their certificate processing reduced from approximately two to four weeks, to a matter of hours, HL Training Services can now provide more efficient service to their customers. “Time is costly in this industry,” Shane explained. “Because our forms upload in real-time, we can now complete our side of the admin process within the same day.”

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In Memory of Mitchell Love

On September 9, my daughter's father and the love of my life, Mitchell Love, passed on. He was everything to our family. Mitchell was the best daddy to our baby girl London and my first and only love, as well as our protector and provider. We were high school sweethearts. I've loved him since I was 15 years old.

Mitchell worked three jobs to support our family after I couldn't work due to complications after giving birth to our daughter three months ago. My baby gave everything he had to so many people. He not only took care of me and London, but he also took care of his mom, my mother, my brothers and sisters, his cousins, aunts and uncles, our friends and so many other people. He even spent time coaching some of the basketball players at his old high school. We all loved and depended on my baby. Mitchell was the kind of man to do anything he could to help others. If there was ever anyone who needed a place to go, something to eat or anything at all, he would be the first to step in and help out. His soul was so kind, energetic, alive and giving. With him gone, the world just seems so much darker. Our family, our friends and the community have been truly devastated by the loss of my love.

Now that he is gone, we are all trying to find a way to keep going. Mitchell left everything to me and I have to stay strong and keep pushing through for our family. With our provider and head of our household gone, we need some help to get on our feet. I still have to pay rent, car payments and insurance, student loans, and other bills as well as provide for our three-month-old baby girl London. She has to go to daycare and still needs diapers, wipes, formula, hygiene products and clothes because she is growing every day. Anything you can give during this trying time will be deeply appreciated by myself and our family. Thank you and God bless you.
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Brianna Gray
Concord, CA

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Saturday, November 26, 2022
Home Lifestyle Life Do you recognize the sound of your inner voice?

Do you recognize the sound of your inner voice?

When has the other person’s opinion become more important than my own inner voice? When did the moment come when I started to value ‘them’ more than ‘me’? Since when does my inner voice have to scream to hoarseness to be heard?

Different voices than mine.

Was there a moment when I heard my inner voice, my intuition? That I listened to what she said? Sure, years ago. When I was very little, and then only briefly. Because at a young age I learned to listen to other voices, other opinions, different from mine.

Was that imposed on me, forced upon me? Yes and no. Yes because I learned to adapt to ‘how it should be’ and what others said was good for me. No, because it often came from genuinely well-intentioned love.

As a small child I had a voice inside that knew what I wanted and what was right for me. A voice that sensed and knew what was going on. That small child was highly sensitive and also adaptable easily. Almost unnoticed and without problems. Except that her inner voice faded into the background. Screaming into the void. No response received over the years.

Meet again.

Fortunately, your inner voice does not stop and keeps calling as often as it can. Hoping for the moments when you suddenly stop and listen. Listens to a sound from within, rather than to the ‘noise’ from outside. It may take a while before you understand that voice again. She is hoarse from shouting into the void and you are deaf to the sounds around you.inner voice

You get to know each other again and introduce yourself again. Sensing and sometimes waiting, but also with a tickle in your stomach. Because your inner voice has much to tell you and appears to possess much wisdom.

Wisdom that you carry inside and want to be heard by you. So that you can discover your inner strength and stand firmly on two legs. Stop being guided by the opinions of others. But let yourself be guided by your opinion, formed from within.

How do you listen to your inner voice? Some tips:

Do your research.

Your inner voice is hard to hear because of all the noise in and around you. Sounds and opinions of others, but also the thoughts that wander through your own mind. Thinking and worrying, often you don’t have a moment of peace in your head. If you want to listen to your inner voice, do your research.

Find moments when you can experience peace in your head. Such as yoga, mindfulness (training) or meditation. Your thoughts will not disappear, but you will practice to “get out of your head” and pay more attention to the silences that exist between your thoughts.

Play with making choices.

Don’t think, just ‘just’ make a choice right away. Your intuition often knows flawlessly what is good for you. Try to practice choosing between small things with this. In a supermarket, choose the first vegetable that comes to mind (rather than reasoning what would be wise), just like when choosing a drink or dish in a restaurant.

They are simple moments to choose something from your feeling (your inner voice), instead of from your head (logical reasoning). To learn to listen to your inner voice.

Find the silence.

A place in nature where you can find silence, luckily there are still plenty of them. Go for a quiet walk, cycle or run alone once in a while. Look around you and listen to your breathing. Always try to bring your attention back to the walk or bike ride you are taking.

Instead of going along with your thoughts (about shopping lists, your work, all the things you still have to do). Practice being consciously present in the moment. Then your inner voice gets the chance to make itself heard. And maybe you will listen.

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In 2018, Gold Foundation spotlights humanism in nursing

Humanistic care touches every single member of the healthcare team. The Arnold P. Gold Foundation’s roots began with a focus on the essential humanism of medical students and residents, drawn from its co-founder Dr. Arnold Gold’s observations as a professor and clinician. Over its 30 years, the nonprofit organization has expanded its scope to include every member of the healthcare team, from physician assistant students to hospital CEOs.

In 2018, the Gold Foundation is focused on growing its reach to nurses and nursing students with several exciting initiatives. Two highlights include the expansion of the Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest to include nursing students and the celebration of the International Nurses Day at the United Nations.

“Nurses have always exemplified compassionate care. As the healthcare professional often closest to the intimate round-the-clock needs of patients, they understand deeply the difference that empathy makes in caring for patients and their families. We are delighted to be incorporating more resources and programs for nurses and nursing students in our work,” said Elizabeth Cleek, PsyD, Chief Programs Officer of the Gold Foundation.

The Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest

The Hope Babette Tang Humanism in Healthcare Essay Contest has invited medical students to reflect on a humanistic care experience since its creation in 1999. The winning essays have been published in Academic Medicine, the journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC). This year, the contest is also open to nursing students, and six winning essays will be selected: three by medical students and three by nursing students. All winning essays will be published in both Academic Medicine and The Journal of Professional Nursing, the publication of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

International Nurses Day celebration at the United Nations

International Nurses Day is celebrated annually on May 12 to commemorate the birthday of modern nursing’s founder, Florence Nightingale, and to mark the many contributions nurses have made in improving people’s health and lives worldwide. The International Nurses Day celebration at the United Nations on May 11, 2018, is being organized by Deb O’Hara-Rusckowski of Nurses With Global Impact, Inc., who is also a Gold Foundation Board member.  This second annual event will bring together seven different organizations to honor nurse nominees who are making an impact on healthcare internationally. The Gold Foundation will be honoring three nurses for their outstanding devotion to humanistic care around the globe.

Nursing White Coat Ceremonies

The Gold Foundation’s iconic White Coat Ceremony, which began at a medical school in 1993, was expanded to nursing schools in 2014, in collaboration with the AACN. In 2018, 50 more nursing schools will receive grants from the Gold Foundation to launch their first White Coat Ceremony, bringing the total number of nursing schools to 310.  Information about the White Coat Ceremonies can be found on our website. The application process for Nursing White Coat Ceremonies is managed by the AACN, and applications can be found on their website in June of every year. Generous support for this program has been made by Gold Foundation Board member Elaine Adler.

Interprofessional activities

In addition, throughout our grant programs, the Gold Foundation is emphasizing interprofessional activities and strategies, acknowledging the critical importance of team-based care, and the important role each member of that team plays in providing humanistic care – compassionate, collaborative, and scientifically excellent.


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News & Tours

Fantasy Golf Podcast: Can Ollie Schniederjans get his first PGA Tour win at the last official event of 2017?

November 15, 2017

Matt Roberts

And then there was one. The RSM Classic at Sea Island Resort is the final official event of the PGA Tour calendar, meaning it's also our final fantasy golf podcast of the year. Please, no tears. There's no crying in fantasy golf! Well, unless you drafted Rory McIlroy first in this past year's draft. . . Sorry, give me a minute. . . Anyway, Joel Beall joined me one last time in 2017 to discuss postseason golf formats, whether Rickie Fowler should win more, and of course, this week’s fantasy picks. Please have a listen.

And if you're more old school and would rather just read my normal weekly fantasy golf picks, here's my fab foursome in Sea Island:

Charles Howell: I'm continuing to ride CH3, who comes in off three consecutive top 20s, including a T-4 last week in Mexico. And three top 10s plus a T-13 in this event give no indication he won’t be cashing another nice check.

Ollie Schniederjans: There’s no sign of a sophomore slump for this impressive rookie last year. The Georgia Tech product returns to the Peach State with three straight top 25s to start the season, and he finished T-6 in his Sea Island debut last year. And if the wind blows, we might even see him go to that stocking cap he showed off in South Korea. He finished T-19 that week proving he can play well covering up that beautiful head of hair.

Webb Simpson: In 20 official career rounds at Sea Island, Simpson has never shot worse than a 71. Webb has yet to win this event, but he lost in a playoff to Ben Crane in 2011. And these days, you can basically pencil him in for at least a top-20 finish every week.

Zach Johnson: After a rough start to 2017, ZJ picked it up in the summer, starting with that runner up at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational and a decent showing at the Open. Johnson has played surprisingly poor in this annual home game with no top 10s in seven starts, but we’re leaning more on his recent decent form (T-13 at the Safeway Classic, T-23 at the OHL Classic). And with the two-time major champ currently No. 48 in the Official World Golf Ranking, he’s got added motivation to remain in that precious top 50 by year’s end.

Just missed: Patton Kizzire and Kevin Kisner.

And for those of you playing other fantasy golf formats:

Yahoo! lineup: There is no Yahoo! fantasy golf in the fall. Apparently, Yahoo! isn't a big fan of the PGA Tour's wrap-around schedule.

Knockout/One-and-done pick: Ollie Schiederjans.

And here's the podcast link again, if you want to hear Joel and I jabber:


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The Loop

The Loop

How He Hits That: Learn from Dufner's Trademark Waggle

Editor's Note: Every Monday Kevin Hinton, Director of Instruction at Piping Rock Club in Locust Valley, N.Y. and one of Golf Digest's Best Young Teachers, tells you how a tour player hits a key shot. This week, Kevin looks at not one shot in particular, but how Jason Dufner, who won the Zurich Classic of New Orleans in a two-hole sudden-death playoff over Ernie Els, uses his distinct waggle to hit great shots, time after time. Perhaps you, too, can improve your game simply by adopting an effective waggle.

*Roger Schiffman

Managing Editor

Golf Digest

Twitter: @RogerSchiffman*

By Kevin Hinton

In general, the purpose of the waggle is to prevent tension from building into the golfer's hands and body prior to hitting a shot. Tension is a huge killer of the golf swing, and movement prevents tension. Most instructors, including myself, would advise that small movements are typically better than large movements, and it is important to do the same thing every time prior to hitting a shot.

Jason Dufner, who works with Golf Digest Teaching Professional Chuck Cook, breaks both of those rules. His waggle is not small, and the number of times he does his "thing" (let's call it the Dufner Dance until a better name surfaces) varies greatly. Throughout the final round, Jason hit some shots where he'd waggle four to seven times, other shots where he'd waggle more than 10 times. It varies because he's waiting to feel comfortable and able to visualize his shot prior to starting his swing. This is an important lesson. Do your best to never hit a shot without a clear image of how you want the ball to fly. Visualize the shape of your ball-flight, and "see" your shot landing at your target.

The moral of the story here is, waggles are an important part of your swing, and they vary greatly among the top players. Historically, Lee Trevino kind of walked into his swing, from left to right previewing an open stance and fade. Gary Player kicked in his right knee to trigger his backswing. And Bobby Jones kept his entire body in flow with little hesitation into his swing.


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Norco Side Effects

Norco Addiction

Norco Detox – Drug companies have produced many options for people with chronic pain to be able to deal with the pain and continue with their lives in the midst of a healing process. This is undoubtedly a good thing, but it also creates dangers. Painkillers that contain opioids can have a very high risk of dependency, where a user becomes unable to function without the drug, and are at a high danger of death or serious health problems from an overdose. Today we discuss about Norco Addiction and Norco Side Effects here.

Norco is a drug that contains both hydrocodone, a narcotic, opioid painkiller and acetaminophen (Tylenol) , a more mild pain reliever that can increase the narcotic’s effectiveness. When used under strict instructions of a healthcare professional monitoring use, it can be very effective to treat moderate to moderately severe pain, but still carries a risk of becoming habit-forming. However, when taken recreationally, it can be very dangerous. The concern for norco abuse and addiction is the primary reason that, in 2014, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) increased control for Norco from Schedule III to Schedule II, meaning drugs with a recognized medical purpose, but a high potential for abuse and dependence.

Norco Side Effects on the Brain:

A functioning brain has “opioid receptors” that cause the brain to release endorphins, chemicals produced naturally in the body. Endorphins make pain less severe and help you feel happy and relaxed. Norco addiction works by producing synthetic “endorphins” when you need an extra boost to dull more severe physical pain. Eventually, your brain will get used to receiving endorphins from the outside source, and stop producing them naturally. This means the user will have to start taking more and more of a drug in order to have the same feelings, because without it feels impossible to have any good feelings at all. The person addicted has to keep taking more and more in order to get the same effects, or even just to feel “normal.”

Norco Side Effects:

Dangers of Abuse: Some people may falsely assume that a drug made in a lab and prescribed by a doctor is safe compared with an illicit street drug. However, if misused, or taken outside of medical supervision, there can be serious dangers. An overdose can result in serious, permanent brain damage and even death.

Because it exhausts and then depletes the body’s natural reception of endorphins, Norco misuse can have serious psychological side effects, including:

  • Depression
  • Malaise, or an undefined sense of unease and discomfort
  • Mental cloudiness and confusion
  • Anxiety

There are also some serious Norco side effects to physical health, that become more likely and more severe the more of the drug is taken:

  • Inadequate breathing
  • Hearing loss
  • Difficulty urinating
  • Dizziness
  • Sleep apnea
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Sweating
  • Nausea

Warning Signs: Misuse and dependency of Norco can be very dangerous, which is why it should never be taken without the strict instructions of a doctor.

However, even if Norco is being used as part of a health care and pain relief agenda, there is still the danger of developing dependency. If you are a Norco user, watch out for these signs suggesting your behavior is abusive or addictive:

  • Taking more or a higher dose of Norco than the doctor prescribes.
  • “Doctor shopping,” going to multiple doctors or lying to your health care providers to get pills you don’t really need.
  • Mixing Narco with cocaine, heroin, or alcohol to get a more intense high.
  • Taking it for recreational purposes, or without a prescription.

Norco Detox and Recovery

Although not an easy process, recovery from Norco addiction is possible. Addiction has both a physical and a mental element, and so your recovery will deal with both of these aspects.

Physical healing and recovery comes first, through the detox process. Before doing anything else, it’s necessary to have a long enough period of sobriety that the drugs are flushed from your system, so the body can do the work of repairing itself. Withdrawl from Norco addiction can be a painful and sometimes even dangerous process, so it is highly recommended that you seek out a rehab center rather than attempting detox on your own. There will be some unpleasant norco side-effects to withdraw, for a period of time that will vary based on the intensity of the addiction. However, in the end, you will be able to finally start living a life of freedom again.

After Norco detox comes the life-long work of recovery, to address the causes of addictive behavior and stop the cycle of abuse and dependency. Through group and individual therapy, you will learn how to gain a new perspective on life, and start over from a place of caring for yourself.


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Mathew Knowles is a music executive and the father of two highly successful powerhouses in the music industry, Beyoncé Knowles-Carter and Solange Knowles. He recently announced he is battling stage IA breast cancer in an interview with "Good Morning America" co-anchor Michael Strahan. In this first-person account, Knowles shares his story on coming to terms with his diagnosis, thoughts on the stigmas attached to male breast cancer and his hopes that his account will inspire more men to speak out.

I noticed because I wear white T-shirts. I had a dot of blood on my T-shirt.

The first day I was like "Oh, OK, no big deal ... maybe it’s something that just got on my T-shirt." Second day I looked and the same thing and I was like, "Eh ... interesting."

Then on the third day I was like, "What is this? I wonder what this is."

A couple of days passed, and I didn’t have any type of discharge. Then on the fifth day, another, just a tiny drop of blood. I told my wife, I said, "Look at this," And she says, "You know, when I cleaned the sheets the other day I saw a drop of blood on it, and I didn’t pay any attention to it -- but this is kind of weird." I immediately went to my doctor.

When I had the blood on my T-shirt initially I didn’t think it was breast cancer. My mind went a lot of places. My mind went to what medication I was on, because different medications might have caused some sort of discharge ... and then I thought, just because of the risk factor, that it could be breast cancer and I would go get a mammogram.

For context, in 1980 I worked in the medical division of Xerox. I worked there for eight years, selling Xeroradiography, which was at that point the leading modality for breast cancer.

Talk about it. Speak up. Speak out. Sooner, faster, quicker about it. That’s what strength is. Weakness is when you want to keep it secret.

By being in that position, I had to learn, because I sold to radiologists, all of the modality technology terminology. Then I worked with Philips, selling MRI/CT scanners. I just want to give some context to why it got my attention, more so than others.

I knew this: Back then, it was 1 in 10 women would get breast cancer, now it’s 1 in 8 because we have more research and more data.

Also, my mother’s sister died of breast cancer, my mother’s sister’s two and only daughters died of breast cancer and my sister-in-law died in March of breast cancer with three kids – a 9-, 11- and a 15-year-old -- and my mother-in-law had breast cancer. So breast cancer has been all around me. My wife's mother has breast cancer, too.

"That is a very common thing to hear from male patients," Dr. John Kiluk, a surgical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer in The Center for Women's Oncology at Moffitt Cancer Center, told "Good Morning America." "When it comes to breast cancer we really don’t know what causes it. We are trying hard to find what causes cancer. ... I think the one thing though that we do know is that there’s a strong genetic tie with cancer."

"Female breast cancer is very common -- it happens in 1 in 8 women," Kiluk continued. "Male breast cancer is rare -- we have about 2,000 to 3,000 cases a year in the United States. ... I think anyone who presents with any kind of strong family history really do warrant to consider doing genetic testing to figure out if there is a tie that we can explain what’s going on here."

Fast forward, I go to my doctor, and I say I’d like to get a mammogram. He suggested I get a mammogram, but first he said, "Let’s get a smear."

So they got a smear of the blood, and it was nonconclusive. Then we got a mammogram and that’s when we saw that, in fact, there was breast cancer there. At least they thought. The next step is to get an ultrasound and a needle biopsy. That’s when they determined it for sure -- I had breast cancer.

The first calls I made were to my kids, and my former wife, Tina. My wife, Gena, already knew; she went with me to the exam.

It was July and I had surgery immediately, and that’s when we got back the BRCA results, a genetic test used to determine a person's chance of developing breast cancer.

I also met with Dr. Susan Domchek, director of the MacDonald Women’s Cancer Risk Evaluation Center and executive director of the Basser Center for BRCA at the University of Pennsylvania, and she shared with me this whole BRCA information that I had never heard: all men and women have a BRCA gene. The results from my BRCA test were that I had a mutation on my BRCA2.

"Men and women all have both BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes .... and men and women can have mutations in either of those genes," Dr. Domcheck told "GMA." "The risks are just a little different in men and women. Men with BRCA2 mutations have a particular increased risk of both male breast cancer and prostate cancer as well as pancreatic cancer and melanoma."

"The importance of gene testing is several fold," Kiluk said. "One is that if we do find the gene that you can give estimates on what is the probability in finding cancer in that person’s lifetime. With that information you can help guide treatments and surveillance to hopefully prevent any future issues and be very proactive. Even if the genes are negative, you still have to be very careful because who’s to say there is something we just haven’t discovered yet."

"But that being said, if we do have a gene, it really helps with counseling and screening and with the BRCA1 in particular there’s a strong tie between breast cancer and ovarian cancer and so we can be very proactive in looking out for those kinds of cancers," he added. "Usually the most common gene that we associate with male breast cancer is the BRCA2 gene and that’s probably the most common gene I come across with our male patients. One in 400 people carry a BRCA gene."

Men want to keep it hidden, a secret, we feel embarrassed – and there’s no reason for that.

Now what does having a mutation on BRCA2 mean for a man? You have a higher risk of getting breast cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer or melanoma. For women, it’s breast cancer and ovarian cancer [along with pancreatic cancer and melanoma.]

I’m still getting test results back. I got an MRI for pancreatic cancer and my pancreas and liver are fine. My dermatologist removed 2 moles -- both of which came back benign for melanoma. I got an MRI on my prostate a week ago, but we’re still waiting on the results.

I am going to get the second breast removed in January, because I want to do anything I can to reduce the risk. We use the words "cancer-free," but medically there’s no such thing as "cancer-free." There’s always a risk. My risk of a recurrence of breast cancer is less than 5%, and the removal of the other breast reduces it down to about 2%.

My kids have a 50% [chance of inheriting the BRCA gene mutation.] That’s male or female. We used to think this was only an issue for women, but this is male or female.

On using his voice to inform and inspire

I want to continue the dialogue on awareness and early detection -- male or female. The key to this is early detection.

I’m not defined by my body.

Breast cancer has been prevalent in our family. I want men and women to be aware -- if you detect the cancer early you can have a low mortality rate and live a normal life. If you find breast cancer, stage 1 or stage 2, you have a really good shot at a normal life.

But it’s the importance of going and doing it. I get frustrated that people aren’t going to get the procedure. For men and women, it’s taking the time to get a BRCA test -- just a simple blood test. You can do it in addition to any other blood tests you’re doing, or you can do it separately. It [can be as low as] $250, and it’s [often] covered by all insurance companies.

There’s no excuse for it. We’ll go get a new pair of shoes. Well, why not an important test you can go and get that could save your life? Equally important, your children's lives.

PHOTO: Singer Beyonce and her father Mathew Knowles arrive at the 47th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, February 13, 2005.
Robert Galbraith/Reuters, FILE
Singer Beyonce and her father Mathew Knowles arrive at the 47th annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, February 13, 2005.

His message for those battling male breast cancer

Find a support team, and that team shouldn’t discriminate if it’s male or female. That would be number one. Talk about it. Speak up. Speak out. Sooner, faster, quicker about it. That’s what strength is.

Weakness is when you want to keep it secret.

I need men to speak out if they’ve had breast cancer. I need them to let people know they have the disease, so we can get correct numbers and better research. The occurrence in men is 1 in 1,000 only because we have no research.

Men want to keep it hidden, because we feel embarrassed -- and there’s no reason for that.

"Everyone understands female breast cancer and that we’ve come so far with advances in breast cancer. … Women go in, get their mammograms and check themselves -- everyone is hyper-vigilant," Kiluk said. "That’s why we’re having really good outcomes with females. Now on the other side, I’d say that most people don’t even realize that guys can get breast cancer. As patients, guys may push things off and say, 'Oh no, it’s nothing; it’s just a cyst or something like that.'"

"Even doctors can ignore things and say, 'Oh you’re a guy, don’t worry about it,'" he continued. "As a result, things can progress along. We don’t hear it that often with male patients that someone is a stage 1, they are usually further advanced because it’s not diagnosed early. There’s no recommendation for men to do mammograms for screening but that being said, I think it’s important that everyone be aware that ‘yes, I’m a guy but I can still get cancer and I should check myself.’ This goes for anything in the body; the patient is the best doctor. So much of cancer is early detection and giving awareness is the No. 1 piece to that puzzle."

The second thing is know your family history. This is not just for cancer, it’s for all diseases -- especially in the black community. I want the black community to know that we’re the first to die, and that’s because we don’t go to the doctor, we don’t get the detection and we don’t keep up with technologies and what the industry and the community is doing. So that’s why I’m here.

On making room for men in the breast cancer conversation

I feel gratitude that I caught it early. I have even more sense of understanding when a woman gets breast cancer and the psychological decision that it must be to have your breast removed.

We’ve got to change the process of getting an exam. Even from walking into a building that says "female breast clinic." That’s got to be rethought.

Not all the things that I went through will be the same for a woman.

How would it look? How would my wife accept it? How will other people accept it? How will I feel about myself? All of those questions -- I came up with answers.

I’m not defined by my body. My wife kinda laughed and was like, "So what? I love you." For a man, it’s easier. You know, if I open my shirt you can’t even tell. It’s an easier thing for a man.

But I do sympathize now and have empathy for a female when they have to go through that decision-making process. I think the world has gotten different, technology is different, reconstruction is available. There’s all sorts of things available today, because technology keeps changing.

In the '80s, it was xeroradiography, which is what I sold. In the '90s and 2000s, it was film. Then it became ultrasound, and now it’s really MRI technology that’s the gold standard for getting a mammogram. It’s no longer film, especially with dense breasts.

We have work to do. I shared with the University of Pennsylvania that if we’re going to try to emphasize breast cancer for both men and women we’ve got to change the process of getting an exam. Even from walking into a building that says "female breast clinic." That has to be rethought, to the point that the questions that were asked: "When was the last time you had your cycle? Have you ever had a pregnancy?" These have to change.

I want to emphasize that because that’s one of the things that keeps men from going. Just walking into a building, I know how I felt, walking into a room that said "female breast center."

It’s those things that have to change.


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1.58ct I SI1 Round Clarity Enhanced Diamond

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Sunday, September 23, 2007

Does Louisville suck?

The short answer is yes, but there's more to it than that.

The big news Saturday night was that Syracuse managed to play Louisville's kind of game and edge them out for a victory, putting a serious damper on the Cardinals' chances to go to a BCS game. But this loss shouldn't have been as surprising as people thought.

First, Syracuse may have been 0-3 coming in, but they played...just kidding, Syracuse got crushed by three currently unranked teams: Washington, Iowa, and Illinois. And Kentucky appears to really have something going this year, a pleasant surprise for the people of the bluegrass state who've been disappointed with Louisville so far.

But let's look farther back, at a game that screamed to us that this Louisville team wasn't the superior team of last year. I give you exhibit A, Louisville vs. Middle Tennessee State, a team that lost to Florida Atlantic by 13 the week before they played Louisville. The Blue Raiders put up 42 on Louisville, scoring on plays of the following distances: 78, 23, 24, 39, 1, 79. It was clear after looking at this game's stats that, barring some complete transformation, Louisville was going to have trouble beating any teams with reasonable talent. And go figure, Kentucky and Syracuse edged the Cardinals.

What I found amazing was that at the half against Syracuse, Louisville was down 21-7, and on ESPN News, Robert Smith declared that Syracuse would get blown out of the game. It wasn't even like he was meaning to be bold or anything, he just completely discounted the Orange's ability to play football. Somehow, Smith seemed to be oblivious to the fact that Louisville couldn't stop anyone, despite back-to-back games giving up at least 40 points.

Is the entire country retarded like this? Are wins and losses and rankings the only things that people look at when trying to evaluate teams? Louisville should've gone down in the rankings after their suspect game against Middle Tennessee, and they should've dropped out of the top 25 after they lost to Kentucky. They're obviously unranked now, but the rankings have made a lot of people more surprised than they needed to be. Louisville is the new Kansas State. They have a potent offense, but can't really stop anyone, so get used to some .500 seasons down south.

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