The Blog has been updated with new postings.
The Facebook Group has new comments and requests posted! We are up to 104 members!
Great Job :)
The Life After VC Webpage has been updated with rev'd birthday's, No new Aug VC Flyer, Updated Email protected list and the July Newsletter rev'd with birthday's.
Look for the August Newletter to be posted by August 1st!!!
Thanks again for your patience during the last couple weeks.
~~ Cathy
Happy 4th of July 2010 !!
Friday, July 24, 2009
Thanks!
Thank you to everyone who sent condolence emails. If has been a tough 2 weeks with my Uncle and his passing. Still trying to catch up on emails, sites and sleep! The family is doing as good as can be expected. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers.
How to Tell the Sex of a Fly
This is the cleanest E-mail joke I've come across in a long while!
A woman walked into the kitchen to find her
husband stalking around with a fly swatter
"What are you doing?"
She asked.
"Hunting Flies"
He responded.
"Oh! Killing any?"
She asked.
"Yep, 3 males, 2 Females," he replied.
Intrigued, she asked.
"How can you tell them apart?"
He responded,
"3 were on a beer can,
2 were on the phone."
Avon To Eliminate 1,200 Positions By 2013
http://www2.nbc4i.com/cmh/news/local/article/avon_to_eliminate_1200_positions_by_2013/19714/
AP
Published: July 22, 2009
NEW YORK—Avon Products says by 2013 it will eliminate about 1,200 positions—including about 600 in Ohio—as part of its restructuring efforts. The cosmetics company says the cutbacks will include the closing of a plant and a product-returns facility in the Cincinnati suburb of Springdale by mid-2012. Avon spokeswoman Jennifer Vargas says 590 workers will be affected. Vargas says Avon will continue to employ around 350 people at a call center in the Cincinnati area. The New York-based company says the restructuring program, which was announced in February, will help trim costs and improve efficiency. Avon expects to be saving $200 million a year by 2012.
For additional information, stay with NBC 4 and refresh nbc4i.com—Where Accuracy Matters.
To submit a story idea or news tip, e-mail .
MORE: NBC 4 Local News | Local Crime News
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Jobless rate rises across central Ohio
http://columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/21/unemployment.html?sid=101
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 10:15 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Central Ohio's unemployment rate rose to 9.1 percent in June, up from 8.3 percent a month earlier, according to the state.
With the beginning of summer, the size of the local labor force grew, as did the number of unemployed. The figures are not seasonally adjusted.
The labor force was 975,200, up 13,600 from a month earlier. This includes everyone who is employed, plus people who are unemployed and looking for work. The number of unemployed was 88,800, up 9,200.
Service-producing jobs increased 3,400, while good-producing jobs, such as manufacturing, dropped by 500.
Since June of last year, central Ohio's unemployment rate has risen from 5.8 percent to 9.1 percent, and the number of unemployed has grown by 32,300.
The local job market hasn't deteriorated as quickly as other parts of the state or the state as a whole.
Ohio's June unemployment rate was 11.1 percent when adjusted to account for seasonal jobs, and 11.2 percent without the adjustment.
The national rate was 9.5 percent when seasonally adjusted and 9.7 percent without the adjustment.
Employment Scam - Note from Heather M.
** I talk to Heather on Weds. she did actually get a recorded message on her phone! **
Hey group I had a call today from a recorded message saying my application I submitted during the last week was reviewed by the employer and I was to call this number to verify my interest in the job and find out more details. The number that was given was 646-360-1691 the only thing however was that I already heard from the employer I was working with and I am taking a test.
So I decided to pull up the area code and found out it is an area code from Canada and if you call it your telephone or cell phone will be billed.
Just an fyi since i know many of us are looking for jobs or know someone who is.
Heather
The Old Man...
As I came out of the supermarket that sunny day, pushing my cart of groceries towards my car, I saw an old man with the hood of his car up and a lady sitting inside the car, with the door open..
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.
I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.
The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said,
'Looks like you're having a problem.'
WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES AND ILLNESSES;
AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY
IN JESUS ' NAME.
The old man was looking at the engine. I put my groceries away in my car and continued to watch the old gentleman from about twenty five feet away.
I saw a young man in his early twenties with a grocery bag in his arm, walking towards the old man. The old gentleman saw him coming too, and took a few steps towards him. I saw the old gentleman point to his open hood and say something.
The young man put his grocery bag into what looked like a brand new Cadillac Escalade and then turn back to the old man and I heard him yell at the old gentleman saying, 'You shouldn't even be allowed to drive a car at your age.' And then with a wave of his hand, he got in his car and peeled rubber out of the parking lot.
I saw the old gentleman pull out his handkerchief and mop his brow as he went back to his car and again looked at the engine. He then went to his wife and spoke with her and appeared to tell her it would be okay. I had seen enough and I approached the old man. He saw me coming and stood straight and as I got near him I said,
'Looks like you're having a problem.'
He smiled sheepishly and quietly nodded his head. I looked under the hood myself and knew that whatever the problem was, it was beyond me. Looking around I saw a gas station up the road and told the old man that I would be right back. I drove to the station and went inside and saw three attendants working on cars. I approached one of them and related the problem the old man had with his car and offered to pay them if they could follow me back down and help him.
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us, he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.
When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'
He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.
He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket... We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own
jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.
One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was
leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.
For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name....... 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served....& those who supported them.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't "Free" -- thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
LET'S DO THIS -- JUST 19 WORDS
GOD OUR FATHER,
The old man had pushed the heavy car under the shade of a tree and appeared to be comforting his wife. When he saw us, he straightened up and thanked me for my help. As the mechanics diagnosed the problem (overheated engine) I spoke with the old gentleman.
When I shook hands with him earlier, he had noticed my Marine Corps ring and had commented about it, telling me that he had been a Marine too. I nodded and asked the usual question, 'What outfit did you serve with?'
He had mentioned that he served with the first Marine Division at Tarawa, Saipan, Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal . He had hit all the big ones and retired from the Corps after the war was over. As we talked we heard the car engine come on and saw the mechanics lower the hood. They came over to us as the old man reached for his wallet, but was stopped by me and I told him I would just put the bill on my AAA card.
He still reached for the wallet and handed me a card that I assumed had his name and address on it and I stuck it in my pocket... We all shook hands all around again and I said my goodbye's to his wife. I then told the two mechanics that I would follow them back up to the station. Once at the station I told them that they had interrupted their own
jobs to come along with me and help the old man. I said I wanted to pay for the help, but they refused to charge me.
One of them pulled out a card from his pocket looking exactly like the card the old man had given to me. Both of the men told me then, that they were Marine Corps Reserves. Once again we shook hands all around and as I was
leaving, one of them told me I should look at the card the old man had given to me. I said I would and drove off.
For some reason I had gone about two blocks when I pulled over and took the card out of my pocket and looked at it for a long, long time. The name of the old gentleman was on the card in golden leaf and under his name....... 'Congressional Medal of Honor Society.'
I sat there motionless looking at the card and reading it over and over. I looked up from the card and smiled to no one but myself and marveled that on this day, four Marines had all come together, because one of us needed help. He was an old man all right, but it felt good to have stood next to greatness and courage and an honor to have been in his presence.. Remember, OLD men like him gave you FREEDOM for America . Thanks to those who served....& those who supported them.
America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the Mall. If you don't stand behind our troops, PLEASE feel free to stand in front of them!
Remember, Freedom isn't "Free" -- thousands have paid the price so you can enjoy what you have today.
LET'S DO THIS -- JUST 19 WORDS
GOD OUR FATHER,
WALK THROUGH MY HOUSE AND TAKE AWAY ALL MY WORRIES AND ILLNESSES;
AND PLEASE WATCH OVER AND HEAL MY FAMILY
IN JESUS ' NAME.
AMEN
This prayer is so powerful.
Pass this prayer to 12 people
including me
This prayer is so powerful.
Pass this prayer to 12 people
including me
Seven common body language mistakes
http://shine.yahoo.com/channel/life/seven-common-body-language-mistakes-480085/
In Pictures: Seven Common Body Language Mistakes
Jeannine Fallon, executive director of corporate communications at Edmunds.com, learned this at a training course called "Women Unlimited," which she attended when she worked at Volvo 10 years ago.
"I distinctly remember one insight," she says of the session. "At a boardroom table, women tend to pile all their materials neatly and sit tucked into the table, while men tend to sprawl out, push away from the table, cross his ankle over a knee and lock arms behind his head. It was impressed upon us that the concept of taking up space correlates to the concept of dominance." The result? "I've never sat tucked into a table since."
An image is worth 1,000 words: No matter how illustrious our resumes, how brilliant our ideas, how Calvinist our work ethic, we are judged by how we present ourselves. Research shows that it takes four minutes to make a first impression, and, according to a widely cited study by UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian, body language accounts for 55% of that impression (38% comes from tone of voice; the remaining 7% from our actual words).
Unfortunately, says Carey O'Donnell, president of Carey O'Donnell Public Relations Group, based in West Palm Beach , Fla. , "many of us have no idea that our non-verbal cues are making an impact. There are thousands of micro-expressions, and people are reading these, even if they are only subconsciously translating these cues."
Some of the visual ticks common to women:
Every twirl of your hair, crossed leg or micro-expression gives off a message. Learn how to take control over how people view you.
Say please and thank you. Don't raise your voice. Sit up straight with your legs together and hands on your lap. Don't draw attention to yourself. And never ever brag.
In Pictures: Seven Common Body Language Mistakes
Jeannine Fallon, executive director of corporate communications at Edmunds.com, learned this at a training course called "Women Unlimited," which she attended when she worked at Volvo 10 years ago.
"I distinctly remember one insight," she says of the session. "At a boardroom table, women tend to pile all their materials neatly and sit tucked into the table, while men tend to sprawl out, push away from the table, cross his ankle over a knee and lock arms behind his head. It was impressed upon us that the concept of taking up space correlates to the concept of dominance." The result? "I've never sat tucked into a table since."
An image is worth 1,000 words: No matter how illustrious our resumes, how brilliant our ideas, how Calvinist our work ethic, we are judged by how we present ourselves. Research shows that it takes four minutes to make a first impression, and, according to a widely cited study by UCLA professor Albert Mehrabian, body language accounts for 55% of that impression (38% comes from tone of voice; the remaining 7% from our actual words).
Unfortunately, says Carey O'Donnell, president of Carey O'Donnell Public Relations Group, based in West Palm Beach , Fla. , "many of us have no idea that our non-verbal cues are making an impact. There are thousands of micro-expressions, and people are reading these, even if they are only subconsciously translating these cues."
Some of the visual ticks common to women:
- Tilting your head - A sign of listening that can be misinterpreted as one of submission or even flirting.
- Folding your hands on your lap - Hiding your hands under a conference table or desk, for example, signals untrustworthiness; a cue from ancient times, when men would reveal their palms to show they were unarmed.
- Crossing your legs - A sign of resistance.
- Excessive smiling - An indication that you lack gravitas and seriousness.
- Folding your arms in front of you - Translates to insecurity or defensiveness.
- Playing with or tugging at your hair, jewelry or clothes - Can signal distress or, again, be misinterpreted as flirting.
Many of these habits are deeply engrained and, even when we think we have expunged them, tend to flare up when we are in stressful or nervous situations.
"For example, when there are only men at a meeting and one woman, the woman tends to get nervous," says Carol Kinsey Goman, executive coach and author of The Nonverbal Advantage. "Because they are larger and take up space, men have an imposing, assertive demeanor. And that can be intimidating."
"Women are much more expressive than men," she adds. "Men have more of a poker face, and it drives us nuts because we can't read what's happening--we don't know where we stand. … And when we keep explaining a point and see no reaction, we tend to panic and overdo it to make case."
So, how do we mitigate these ticks if we aren't even aware we are doing them?
"A mirror can do a lot," says Kinsey Goman. "Practice your speech a variety of ways--with your head tilted, your head straight--and note the difference. Practice your gestures. Gestures are terrific but don't do them above the shoulder--you'll look too erratic."
O'Donnell also recommends videotaping presentations and then watching them without sound. "When we see ourselves in pictures, or especially on TV, we often say, 'Who in God's name is that?'" she laughs. "When you watch yourself without sound, pay attention to visual cues--are you waving your hands frenetically, laughing inappropriately when no one else is laughing, looking around nervously? Then watch it a second time for voice tone and bridges [such as] likes and you knows."
As for dealing with nerves beforehand, Theresa Zagnoli, founder and CEO of Zagnoli McEvoy Foley, a communication and litigation consulting firm, recommends shutting the door of your office or retreating to the restroom and taking 10 to 20 deep-belly breaths. Another trick: releasing nerves by scrunching your toes--an act that, unlike fiddling with your hair or retreating back in your chair, will go unnoticed.
Zagnoli also preaches a tactic called "mirroring."
"The idea is that the more like the person you're dealing with you can become, the more you will connect," she says. "Is the person you are sitting across from soft-spoken? Does he or she speak slowly, smile and laugh a lot? Is their pad on the desk or their lap, do they take notes copiously, are their legs crossed, are they leaning forward or backward? I take note of all these things and then chameleon myself to become more like that person."
Some businessmen and women balk at this idea--or at the idea that we have to transform ourselves in order to get ahead. But, assures Zagnoli, it is not a compromise. This--the mirroring, the mimicking and the suppression of bad habits or impulses--"doesn't change who you are," she says. "It doesn't change your heart, what is in your head, your ideas. In fact, changing how you carry yourself allows us to communicate those thoughts and feelings more fully."
In Pictures: Seven Common Body Language Mistakes
More From Forbes.com:
10 Ways To Sharpen Your Leadership Skills
Better Boss: The Dos And Don'ts
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sorry for the delay in updating the sites . .
As some of you may know My Uncle was diagnosed the end of January with cancer. It has been a rough few months for my Aunt and the family. The cancer progressed quickly and he was admitted to the hospital the evening of July 4th. He passed away on 7-12 and last week was the service and funeral.
I have been pretty busy with visits to the hospital and preparing the Memorial stuff for his funeral.
All sites will be updated by the end of the week.
Thank you for your patience....
I have been pretty busy with visits to the hospital and preparing the Memorial stuff for his funeral.
All sites will be updated by the end of the week.
Thank you for your patience....
Sunday, July 19, 2009
New city push - Free bike helmets at 12 fire stations
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/07/17/bike_helmet.ART_ART_07-17-09_B1_9OEGFCR.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
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Click here to enlarge graphic" src="/wwwexportcontent/sites/dispatch/images/jul/0716_BIKE_HELMET_map_mn.eps_07-17-09_B2_0HEGDDM.jpg" border="0">
New city push
Free bike helmets at 12 fire stations
Starting Tuesday, law requires kids to wear headgear
Friday, July 17, 2009 3:15 AM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
City firefighters plan to give away 3,000 bicycle helmets next week to help children ride safe and avoid running afoul of a new city law.
THE HOT ISSUE • Do you think children should be required by law to wear bicycle helmets? Comment at Dispatch.com.
Starting Tuesday, police will begin reminding children that city law requires a bicyclist younger than 18 to wear a helmet. The law allows officers to give $25 tickets, but Sgt. Rich Weiner said officers aren't keen on fining kids.
"We're not out to ticket children, we're out to promote safety," Weiner said.
Children without helmets can go to 12 fire stations throughout the city, where firefighters will make sure helmets fit as they give away more than 3,000 next week, said James Ragland, legislative aide for City Councilwoman Charleta B. Tavares, who pushed for the law.
Helmets will be available from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Anyone younger than 18 may receive a helmet.
The Columbus Blue Jackets Foundation and Nationwide Children's Hospital paid $9 per helmet to supply them free to the public, Ragland said.
Helmets can prevent 88 percent of brain injuries in a bicycle accident if worn properly, said Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Children's.
"The helmets work, that's irrefutable. The question is, how do we get the kids to wear them? That's the difficult task."
Helmet laws lead to fewer injuries and help parents keep their children safe, Smith said. He cites two polls that have shown that 75 percent of Ohio's parents support such laws.
Helmet sales at local bicycle shops appear mixed.
At Handy Bikes USA on the Northwest Side, sales are up 40 percent during the past three months, said Chris Ward, an assistant manager.
"Yeah, we've been selling a whole lot of helmets," Ward said. The law appears to be driving sales.
But customers at BikeSource in Clintonville don't mention the law, said Manager Andrew Jenkins. The store has sold fewer helmets so far this year than last.
The law passed City Council last July without support from Mayor Michael B. Coleman or Mitchell Brown, the director of Public Safety. Brown said the law would be difficult to enforce, while Coleman said he thinks parents, not police, should make sure kids wear helmets.
Coleman let the proposal become law without his signature.
THE HOT ISSUE • Do you think children should be required by law to wear bicycle helmets? Comment at Dispatch.com.
Drew Olanoff's Unique Fundraiser to Fight Cancer
Click here: Drew Olanoff Raises Money For Cancer Research Through Twitter And Facebook - AOL Health
Like AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop, you might find most trending topics on Twitter fleeting and superficial. Recently, however, we found a trend worthy of spreading around the Twitter-sphere and the rest of the internet -- "Blame Drew's Cancer."
On May 20, 2009, Drew Olanoff, 29, was diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Instead of grieving for this personal tragedy he has taken an activist approach, capitalizing on the viral nature and tremendous reach of Twitter and Facebook trends to raise money to defeat cancer in a unique and viral way.
As he explains on his Web site Blame Drew's Cancer, "Ever since that day, [I have] blamed everything on [my] cancer. Losing his keys, misplacing [my] wallet, Twitter being slow, the Phillies losing, etc. Why? Because you have to beat up on Cancer to win ... and you can help out." Now, anyone who mentions "#BlameDrewsCancer" in a Tweet is helping raise money too. How? The Blame Drew's Cancer Web site is keeping track of each Twitterer who takes part while Olanoff is treated for cancer and sponsors will donate a dollar for every participant to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Make a Wish Foundation (MAWF). As of the posting of this article, 8,243 people have blamed 14,670 things on Drew's cancer. Among them Twitter user @J_Dubbers #BlameDrewsCancer "for the vending machine not taking my quarters... I wanted that Milky Way," and @lost_N_texas #BlamedDrewsCancer "for it being so darn HOT!!"
On Facebook, Olanoff set up a "causes" application that he says has already raised more than $1,000 for the ACS by allowing Facebook users to make a donation on behalf of Blame Drew's Cancer which in turn goes directly to the ACS.
"The American Cancer Society is probably the organization that everybody thinks of when they think of cancer," Olanoff says, explaining how he chose which organizations to give money to. "And The Make-A-Wish Foundation means a lot to me personally because I've seen first hand what they've done for kids with terminal illnesses." Olanoff is such a fan of the MAWF that in March of 2009, before he was diagnosed with cancer, he offered up space on his body to tattoo the highest Twitter bidder's name, with all the proceeds benefiting MAWF. Twitter alias @MelanieMitchell won with a bid of $2,112. AOL Health had the opportunity to talk to Olanoff about his diagnosis, chemotherapy treatments and how he came up with the idea for his own cancer-fighting Twitter trend.
AOL Health: How did you discover you had cancer?
Drew Olanoff: I had just gotten a new job in L.A. and was planning to move from San Francisco [where I was then living] to L.A. and all my family and friends are in Philadelphia so I came to visit because I hadn't seen them in a while. I noticed a lump on my neck and my mom's a nurse, so she was saying, "It could be an infection. It could be a number of things." So I went to my family doctor. He looked at it and noticed some other swollen lymph nodes and ordered a CAT scan and blood work. The CAT scan showed masses in my neck and chest, so I was passed off to an oncologist who ordered a lymph node removal for my shoulder and that was tested and about three days after that, it was diagnosed as Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After that I went through the staging -- the heart scan, the lung scan, the PET scan, and some more blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. After that I was diagnosed at Stage III [which indicates extensive disease that is treated with chemotherapy and/or chemotherapy and radiation].
AOL Health: How did you react?
Olanoff: When I went to the oncologist, and then the surgeon, they both said "We can't tell you what it is until we do the biopsy [but] it looks like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma." So I tried to prepare myself for it and I'm a super hypochondriac, so I assumed the worst. It couldn't be Hodgkin's, I thought, it had to be worse. Before I was even staged, he set a date for my first chemo treatment, which was last week [June 2009] so I felt like, since I'm in action, since I’m moving forward… it's going to be okay. It is what it is. Here's when the first chemo is, and the second chemo, and I just need to do whatever the doctors tell me to do.
AOL Health: How did you come up with the idea for #BlameDrewsCancer?
Olanoff: Even before I was diagnosed, I assumed that whatever was going on wasn't good because of the lump on my neck. I didn't have any symptoms, which made it weirder and I was doing some Googling and probably way more searching than I should have and Hodgkin's kept coming up as a potential diagnosis, so I would just try to keep myself in a good frame of mind and if something bad happened, I would blame it on my cancer. You know, if I spilled something, I’d say, "That's my cancer. I'm blaming my cancer." And at first, my mom was kind of mortified at the thought of it, but once I was diagnosed I think it caught on. I talked to a bunch of people because I didn't want to do something that would upset anyone, and I'm not making fun of cancer. So I just registered the domain Blamedrewscancer.com and talked to my friend Mike who I worked with when I was living in Seattle who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's in 2007 and who has been in remission as of August of 2008. He's been helping me through the process as far as telling me what to expect from treatments, from chemo and everything. He's a developer and I told him about the idea and he ran with it.
AOL Health: How do you describe it to people who aren't on Twitter?
Olanoff: Just think of it as an awareness type thing. Cancer scares a lot of people. They don't like to talk about it. So, I'm in Philadelphia right now, if the Phillies lost, I'll blame Drew's cancer. Obviously, somebody who overhears that is going to say, "What did you just say?" and then, that's just the way to explain it, with a little bit of humor, which is how I always face adversity is with humor. I'd say "Oh, well, there's this thing, you can blame Drew's cancer for anything. You know, you break a nail, for the GM downfall, for the band Nickelback … anything." I just see it as a humorous way to raise awareness. I'm just using Twitter as a tool to get it out there and it's the easiest way people can do it.
Next: Olanoff Discusses Chemotherapy and His Chances of Remission
Follow Drew on Twitter and Follow AOL Health on Twitter
Print this article.
Strands
By Mary KearlLike AOL Health's Twitter alias Healthpop, you might find most trending topics on Twitter fleeting and superficial. Recently, however, we found a trend worthy of spreading around the Twitter-sphere and the rest of the internet -- "Blame Drew's Cancer."
On May 20, 2009, Drew Olanoff, 29, was diagnosed with Stage III Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Instead of grieving for this personal tragedy he has taken an activist approach, capitalizing on the viral nature and tremendous reach of Twitter and Facebook trends to raise money to defeat cancer in a unique and viral way.
As he explains on his Web site Blame Drew's Cancer, "Ever since that day, [I have] blamed everything on [my] cancer. Losing his keys, misplacing [my] wallet, Twitter being slow, the Phillies losing, etc. Why? Because you have to beat up on Cancer to win ... and you can help out." Now, anyone who mentions "#BlameDrewsCancer" in a Tweet is helping raise money too. How? The Blame Drew's Cancer Web site is keeping track of each Twitterer who takes part while Olanoff is treated for cancer and sponsors will donate a dollar for every participant to the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the Make a Wish Foundation (MAWF). As of the posting of this article, 8,243 people have blamed 14,670 things on Drew's cancer. Among them Twitter user @J_Dubbers #BlameDrewsCancer "for the vending machine not taking my quarters... I wanted that Milky Way," and @lost_N_texas #BlamedDrewsCancer "for it being so darn HOT!!"
On Facebook, Olanoff set up a "causes" application that he says has already raised more than $1,000 for the ACS by allowing Facebook users to make a donation on behalf of Blame Drew's Cancer which in turn goes directly to the ACS.
"The American Cancer Society is probably the organization that everybody thinks of when they think of cancer," Olanoff says, explaining how he chose which organizations to give money to. "And The Make-A-Wish Foundation means a lot to me personally because I've seen first hand what they've done for kids with terminal illnesses." Olanoff is such a fan of the MAWF that in March of 2009, before he was diagnosed with cancer, he offered up space on his body to tattoo the highest Twitter bidder's name, with all the proceeds benefiting MAWF. Twitter alias @MelanieMitchell won with a bid of $2,112. AOL Health had the opportunity to talk to Olanoff about his diagnosis, chemotherapy treatments and how he came up with the idea for his own cancer-fighting Twitter trend.
AOL Health: How did you discover you had cancer?
Drew Olanoff: I had just gotten a new job in L.A. and was planning to move from San Francisco [where I was then living] to L.A. and all my family and friends are in Philadelphia so I came to visit because I hadn't seen them in a while. I noticed a lump on my neck and my mom's a nurse, so she was saying, "It could be an infection. It could be a number of things." So I went to my family doctor. He looked at it and noticed some other swollen lymph nodes and ordered a CAT scan and blood work. The CAT scan showed masses in my neck and chest, so I was passed off to an oncologist who ordered a lymph node removal for my shoulder and that was tested and about three days after that, it was diagnosed as Hodgkin's Lymphoma. After that I went through the staging -- the heart scan, the lung scan, the PET scan, and some more blood work and a bone marrow biopsy. After that I was diagnosed at Stage III [which indicates extensive disease that is treated with chemotherapy and/or chemotherapy and radiation].
AOL Health: How did you react?
Olanoff: When I went to the oncologist, and then the surgeon, they both said "We can't tell you what it is until we do the biopsy [but] it looks like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma." So I tried to prepare myself for it and I'm a super hypochondriac, so I assumed the worst. It couldn't be Hodgkin's, I thought, it had to be worse. Before I was even staged, he set a date for my first chemo treatment, which was last week [June 2009] so I felt like, since I'm in action, since I’m moving forward… it's going to be okay. It is what it is. Here's when the first chemo is, and the second chemo, and I just need to do whatever the doctors tell me to do.
AOL Health: How did you come up with the idea for #BlameDrewsCancer?
Olanoff: Even before I was diagnosed, I assumed that whatever was going on wasn't good because of the lump on my neck. I didn't have any symptoms, which made it weirder and I was doing some Googling and probably way more searching than I should have and Hodgkin's kept coming up as a potential diagnosis, so I would just try to keep myself in a good frame of mind and if something bad happened, I would blame it on my cancer. You know, if I spilled something, I’d say, "That's my cancer. I'm blaming my cancer." And at first, my mom was kind of mortified at the thought of it, but once I was diagnosed I think it caught on. I talked to a bunch of people because I didn't want to do something that would upset anyone, and I'm not making fun of cancer. So I just registered the domain Blamedrewscancer.com and talked to my friend Mike who I worked with when I was living in Seattle who was diagnosed with Hodgkin's in 2007 and who has been in remission as of August of 2008. He's been helping me through the process as far as telling me what to expect from treatments, from chemo and everything. He's a developer and I told him about the idea and he ran with it.
AOL Health: How do you describe it to people who aren't on Twitter?
Olanoff: Just think of it as an awareness type thing. Cancer scares a lot of people. They don't like to talk about it. So, I'm in Philadelphia right now, if the Phillies lost, I'll blame Drew's cancer. Obviously, somebody who overhears that is going to say, "What did you just say?" and then, that's just the way to explain it, with a little bit of humor, which is how I always face adversity is with humor. I'd say "Oh, well, there's this thing, you can blame Drew's cancer for anything. You know, you break a nail, for the GM downfall, for the band Nickelback … anything." I just see it as a humorous way to raise awareness. I'm just using Twitter as a tool to get it out there and it's the easiest way people can do it.
Next: Olanoff Discusses Chemotherapy and His Chances of Remission
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Surprising Causes of Depression
To read more, click above ^^^^^^
by Ashley Neglia
Genetic finger-pointing is usually a surefire way to determine the origins of depression. But not everything can be blamed on mom and dad. Read on to find out if the medicine you take, your personality or even happy hour is playing a role in bringing down your mood.
Textbook publisher shelving 550 jobs
http://columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/17/mcgraw_hill_layoffs.ART_ART_07-17-09_A10_48EGD0V.html?sid=101
Friday, July 17, 2009 3:00 AM
FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS
McGraw-Hill Cos., which has educational publishing operations in central Ohio, has cut 550 jobs, or 2.5 percent of its work force, it said yesterday.
McGraw-Hill said the deepest cutbacks were in the education unit, which lost 340 positions, followed by information and media with 125 and financial services with 85.
A spokesman could not offer details on how the layoffs might affect its central Ohio operations. The company has several offices locally, including at Easton, Polaris and Gahanna. It also has a distribution center in Groveport.
However, "Columbus remains a significant driver of our education business," said Jason Feuchtwanger, senior manager in corporate communications.
McGraw-Hill's Columbus operations employ more than 1,000 people, including more than 100 workers who are focusing on the company's new Center for Digital Innovation. The number of Columbus employees working on the new venture, announced last month, is expected to grow as schools use more Web-based learning tools.
The New York company also owns BusinessWeek magazine and the credit-ratings agency Standard & Poor's. It said it will take a $24.3 million pretax charge for severance costs in the second quarter.
Accounting for taxes and lower-than-expected costs from previous cutbacks, the charge will amount to about 3 cents per share.
The recession has cut across a broad swath of the company's businesses. McGraw-Hill reported a 22 percent drop in first-quarter profit in April.
Revenue from the education and financial-services units fell more than 5 percent year-over-year. Information and media, including BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates, saw revenue slide 7.4 percent.
This week, the company signaled that it might seek a buyer for BusinessWeek, which is facing an industrywide crisis brought on by the shift of advertisers to the Internet on top of a severe recession.
Teleperformance says more than 200 local call-center jobs at risk
http://columbusdispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2009/07/10/teleperformance.html?sid=101
Friday, July 10, 2009 3:27 PM
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Teleperformance USA could eliminate more than 200 jobs at its call center facility on the Northwest Side of Columbus at the end of August.
The center, at 2500 Farmers Dr., currently employs 218, mostly customer-service representatives, Teleperformance said in a letter to the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The company said the center provides customer support for a client which has decided to consolidate operations in fewer locations. While Teleperformance does not name its clients, a company official last year described the client as a Columbus-based credit-card provider.
Teleperformance said it's trying to find other clients for the location, but added in the letter that there's no guarantee that will happen by the time the current client concludes work there on Aug. 31.
Hourly Job$
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Hourly Job$
The number of available hourly jobs in the area is up, about 10 percent compared to a year ago, according to snagajob.com.
But so is the competition for these jobs.
"Our applications are up 155 percent," said Cathy McCarthy of snagajob.com.
The reason for both changes is the economy and rising unemployement rate. More companies, McCarthy said, are hedging their bets by hiring part-time hourly employees instead of full-time employees - and more unemployed workers are turning to part-time, hourly jobs as an option.
"We're also seeing a shift in some of the job types," she said.
There are more hourly jobs available in health care, low-end retail and fast-food restaurants.
If you're looking - check snagajob.com.
State jobless rate reaches 11.1 percent
http://blog.dispatch.com/dailybriefing/2009/07/state_jobless_rate_reaches_111.shtml
Ohio's unemployment rate reached 11.1 percent in June, up from 10.8 percent a month earlier, and the state lost an additional 33,000 jobs during the month, state job data released this morning show.
That's the highest jobless rate since August 1983, when the state had 11.2 percent unemployment.
The U.S. unemployment rate for June was 9.5 percent, up from 9.4 percent in May.
"Ohio's labor market continued to weaken in June," said Douglas Lumpkin, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services.
The state has lost 279,000 total jobs during the past year, including 134,000 manufacturing jobs, in what officials have described as the worst recession since the Great Depression.
43 Things Actually Said in Job Interviews
http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2009/07/17/43-things-actually-said-in-job-interviews/?ncid=AOLCOMMjobsDYNLprim0001&icid=main
Posted Jul 17th 2009 2:30PM
by Rachel Zupek, CareerBuilder.com writer
"I'm not wanted in this state."
"How many young women work here?"
"I didn't steal it; I just borrowed it."
"You touch somebody and they call it sexual harassment!"
"I've never heard such a stupid question."
Believe it or not, the above statements weren't overhead in bars or random conversations -- they were said in job interviews.
Maybe you were nervous, you thought the employer would appreciate your honesty, or maybe you just have no boundaries. Whatever the reason, you can be certain that you shouldn't tell an interviewer that it's probably best if they don't do a background check on you. (And yes, the hiring manager remembered you said that.)
We asked hiring managers to share the craziest things they've heard from applicants in an interview. Some are laugh-out-loud hysterical, others are jaw dropping -- the majority are both. To be sure, they will relieve anyone who has ever said something unfortunate at a job interview -- and simply amuse the rest of you.
Hiring managers shared these 43 memorable interview responses:
Why did you leave your last job?1. "I have a problem with authority." - Carrie Rocha, COO of HousingLink
Tell us about a problem you had with a co-worker and how you resolved it
2. "The resolution was we were both fired."- Jason Shindler, CEO, Curvine Web Solutions
What kind of computer software have you used?
3. "Computers? Are those the black boxes that sit on the floor next to the desks? My boss has one of those. He uses it. I don't have one. He just gives me my schedule and I follow it." - Greg Szymanski, director of human resources, Geonerco Management, Inc
What are your hobbies and interests?
4. [He said] 'Well, as you can see, I'm a young, virile man and I'm single -- if you ladies know what I'm saying.' Then he looked at one of the fair-haired board members and said, 'I particularly like blondes.'" - Petri R.J. Darby, president, darbyDarnit Public Relations
Why should we hire you?
5. "I would be a great asset to the events team because I party all the time." - Bill McGowan, founder, Clarity Media Group
Do you have any questions?
6. "Cross dressing isn't a problem is it?" - Barry Maher, Barry Maher & Associates
7. "If you were a fruit, what fruit would you be?" - Megan Garnett, Articulate Leadership Team, Articulate Communications Inc.
8. "What do you want me to do if I cannot walk to work if it's raining? Can you pick me up?" - Christine Pechstein, career coach
9. "I was a Chamber of Commerce Executive once hiring a secretary. [The candidate asked] 'What does a Chamber of Commerce do?'" - Mary Kurek, Mary Kurek, Inc. Visibility Consulting
10. "Can we wrap this up fairly quickly? I have someplace I have to go." - Bruce Campbell, vice president of marketing, Clare Computer Solutions
11. "What is your company's policy on Monday absences?" - Campbell
12. "If this doesn't work out can I call you to go out sometime?" - Christine Bolzan, founder of Graduate Career Coaching
13. "How big do the bonuses really get once you make associate? I hear it's some serious cash." - Bolzan
14. "[The candidate asked,] 'Can my dad call you to talk about the job and the training program? He is really upset I'm not going to medical school and wants someone to explain the Wall Street path to him.' The dad did call. Then that dad's friends called and I ended up doing a conference call with a group of concerned parents ... long story." - Bolzan
15. "If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?" - Bolzan
16. "When you do background checks on candidates, do things like public drunkenness arrests come up?" - Bolzan
17. "Can I get a tour of the breast pumping room? I heard you have a great one here and while I don't plan on having children for at least 10 or 12 years, I will definitely breast feed and would want to use that room."- Bolzan
18. "So, how much do they pay you for doing these interviews?" - Jodi R.R. Smith, Mannersmith Etiquette Consulting
Why are you leaving your current job?
19. "Because I (expletive) my pants every time I enter the building." - Abbe Mortimore, Human Resources Manager, True Textiles, Inc.
20. "I was fired from my last job because they were forcing me to attend anger management classes." - Smith
Why are you looking for a job?
21. "Cigarettes are getting more expensive, so I need another job." - Pechstein
22. "My parents told me I need to get a job so that is why I'm here." - McGowan
Why do you want to work for us?
23. "Just for the benefits." - Jennifer Juergens, JJ Communications
24. "My old boss didn't like me, so one day, I just left and never came back. And here I am!" - Matt Cowall, communications manager, Appia Communications
25. "I saw the job posted on Twitter and thought, why not?" - Rebecca Gertsmark Oren, Communications Director at The Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity
What are your assets? (as in strengths)
26. "Well, I do own a bike." - Pam Venné, principal, The Venné Group
What are your weaknesses?
27. "I get angry easily and I went to jail for domestic violence. But I won't get mad at you." - Pechstein
28. "I had a job candidate tell me that she often oversleeps and has trouble getting out of bed in the morning." - Linda Yaffe, certified executive coach
29. "I am an alcoholic and do not deserve this job." - Deb Bailey, owner, Power Women Magazine & Radio Show
30. "I'm really not a big learner. You know ... some people love learning and are always picking up new things, but that's just not me. I'd much rather work at a place where the job is pretty stagnant and doesn't change a lot." - Michaele Charles, Voice Communications
When have you demonstrated leadership skills?
31. "Well my best example would be in the world of online video gaming. I pretty much run the show; it takes a lot to do that." - Rachel Croce
Is there anything else I should know about you?
32. "You should probably know I mud wrestle on the weekends." - Venne
When can you start?
33. "I need to check with my mom on that one." - Bolzan
Use three adjectives to describe yourself
34. "I hate questions like this." - Katrina Meistering, manager of outreach, National Fatherhood Initiative
Tell of a time you made a mistake and how you dealt with it
35. "I stole some equipment from my old job, and I had to pay for its replacement." - Meistering
Have you submitted your two weeks' notice to your current employer?
36. "What is two weeks' notice? I've never quit a job before, I've always been fired." - Meistering
Random responses
37. "One guy [said] 'it would probably be best' if I didn't run a background check on him. Of course, I did, and learned all about his long, sordid past of law-breaking. Our client actually offered him a job as a staff accountant, but quickly retracted the offer when I had to tell them all about his recent arrest for a meth lab in his basement." - Charles
38. "[A] guy said he did not have a mailing address, as he was living in a gypsy camp at the airport." - Sandra L. Flippo, SPHR
39. "I went into the lobby to pick up a candidate. As he stood up, his trousers fell to the floor! [He said] 'Oh, my gosh -- they told me I needed a suit for the interview. I've got no money -- so I borrowed this thing. It's too big!'" - Beth Ross, executive and career coach
40. "Wow -- I'm not used to wearing dress shoes! My feet are killing me. Can I show you these bloody blisters?" - Bolzan
41. "May I have a cup of coffee? I think I may still be a little drunk from last night." - Smith
42. (During a telephone call to schedule the interview) "Can we meet next month? I am currently incarcerated." - Smith
43. "[A candidate] was asked whether he could advocate impartially on behalf of the various universities he would be representing since he had attended one of them. He responded, 'Well, I don't like to poop where I eat, but I thought my education sucked, so I certainly wouldn't put that school above the others.'" - Darby
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