Just my view, maybe yours too!

Holy COW-WOW!!!! Welcome to Google+

2011-07-28T08:03:00.001-04:00

Wow, I am so not a blogger and kudos to those of you that are active, avid bloggers. It has been almost 9 months since my last blog post here and longer than that on another blog site I started.

Why is this? Well I just attribute it to life and in life there is this thing called time. Perhaps it's just that I don't avail myself enough time to actively blog.

I have often wondered just how many people am I reaching while writing a blog. I guess the answer would be not a single person while I'm actually in the act of writing it and it's not until the "publish post" button is selected that I may have the opportunity to reach someone.

So why now, just why am I blogging again after almost 9 months of no activity?

Well another form of Social Networking has been established and is in the works so to speak. Google+ is upon us, well almost. From what I have heard on the + stream it is still in testing phase and hasn't been opened up to the world but there are a lot of people on it and using it already.

I've been asking myself in the past week, how can I use Google+ to benefit myself while benefiting others. I guess that question is still to be determined as I travel the Circles and the Streams of what is Google+.

Here is what I can tell you that you may see from me. You've seen it on Facebook if I know you there, you've seen it on Twitter if you've followed me there, you may have even seen it here on Google already via blogs, etc.

I literally thrust myself, my views, my opinions into the Health care world and into the world in general a little over 2 years ago attempting to get just one more person aware of Adrenoleukodystrophy. I honestly believe that by doing so I have in fact shed a little more light on ALD. With that being said, you will see ALD information. You'll see generic everyday updates and status posts. You'll see me sharing links from others I feel as relevant. You'll see me selling things on eBay as I post links to my auctions in an attempt to make a little extra money. You will see me pondering question and thoughts on what direction I should be heading. You may see me posting links to a book I published via lulu.com, there are more in the works but that time availment becomes the issue as usual. Availment, I am pretty certain that is not a word but you'll see me make up words all the time so you'll have to just go with it.

You may even see me promoting a business or two in time, not mine but maybe one I am helping out. A business like a local auction house in the area I live that recently opened and I helped get a Facebook page going for it and am currently, possibly going to set up a web page for. That is still yet to be determined and is not set in stone. I taught myself html coding a few years ago, I've written pages, websites of my own. They've been like the tide, they rise and fall - some have fallen completely off the server by my choice for good reason. Perhaps it's time to use what I've picked up to help others.

I love photography and digital photo editing and artwork. You'll see me post some pictures to share and I've even sold a few of the digital images on eBay. I've done work for friends and family, I've done a piece that has gone to charity auction and brought in over $100.00 dollars. That particular piece I did from beginning to end, I even built the frame from scratch having no experience in doing so. Here is a link to a Facebook page that I started to give inspiration, here you will also see pictures I have taken and writings I have done.

So those of you heading to become a Google pluser - You will most likely see a wide variety of postings from me and information. Many of you may already know me as otoole4info and for those of you who are new I welcome you to joining me in the Google+ world, on Twitter or wherever I may wander in this network of social.

Some day my futile attempts will payoff, perhaps they have already in ways not visible.

How Christmas last year shaved 10 years off my life...

2010-12-04T10:57:00.000-05:00

Let's visit Christmas Day 2009 -

It twas a cold brisk morning outside but warm and cozy inside. All the children had opened their presents and I was tackling the daunting task of opening the toys of today (more on this later). My wife was upstairs preparing a Christmas morning breakfast, Christmas music playing in the background as the kids were playing with the toys I had removed from their packaging.

The children and I were in the family room (aka living room). A quick headcount of the children 1, 2, 3... hey where's number 4. "Is Dylan up there with you?" I yell up to my wife, figuring he was helping her in the kitchen. Her reply was, "No he's not up here. Isn't he down there with you?"

This kid is like a magician, only a matter of seconds before the headcount was conducted he was present and accounted for. He's a regular modern day Houdini, then the age of 2.

We drop everything and recruit the other three kids to join us in the search. Figuring he had to be inside somewhere, probably alone with a new toy and playing alone in his room or somewhere else in the house. We began scouring the floors of the house, systematically from room to room, "Dylan, Dylan where are you?"

Nothing! No answer, no sight of him. Certain that the back door, the side door and the front door had not been opened we still did the precautionary and oh so customary outside shout and search. This is common around our house, maybe were different than other families but when you have a young Houdini this is a must.

I hit the front porch, scouring the yard and the wood line, looking for any sign of foot steps in the frosted ground. Listening for any sign of noise or voice. All I hear are the sounds of the roosters crowing and the chickens clucking down at the chicken coop. At first I am thinking this is nothing out of the ordinary as I continue the search, thinking there is no way he went outside as the three primary doors had been monitored and it would have been ever so obvious had someone opened one.

I head back indoors to don some footwear to continue the search as the other 3 kids continue to scourer every nook and likely hiding spot in the house. I hit the front porch again, still baffled thinking to myself, "there's no way he's out here!" I continue yelling for him and hit the steps to do a perimeter check of our land and house.

All of a sudden, "Dylan!" I yell and I hear, "Daddy, I in here!" The voice is coming from the direction of the chicken coop. I yell to my wife, "I think I know where he is." About that time she advised she had found his escape route out of the house, the basement door, and she now was insight of the chicken coop as well.

As we both look toward the coop, what do we see? Yes the head of a two year old peeking out of the chicken door (basically a small pet style door or hole in the side of the coop).

Apparently for some reason he felt the chickens were missing out on the Christmas morning fun and felt bad for them and figured he'd pay them a Christmas morning visit. So donned only in his PJ's he went out to say good morning.

This all took place, from the initial notice of #4 missing to locating same, 10 minutes that probably shaved 10 years off my life.

What's this Christmas morning going to bring, this holiday season has already been an eventful one in regards to our little Houdini performing new tricks to shorten my life. More on those tricks later as well.

Good day to you all and hope you found yourself chuckling out loud to this one, my best to you all,

Kevin

"Chicken Shit" and the odors of life...

2010-12-01T22:49:00.000-05:00

photo from blog.redfin.com

Oh, the lovely aroma!

The scent of it all, I don't know why but my trip home from work the other day got me thinking about the smells of.... well everything.

Everything seems to have a certain scent, aroma to it. That's if you can smell it, everything from the birth of life to the end, death. It all has its own smell.

So just how can a drive home from work spark such a blog. Well, here we go!

Thankfully I have a strong stomach and it takes a bit to make me wretch or I'd probably toss my cookies everyday. Now take a second and imagine the scents that these three places put out.

Cheese processing plant
Waste water treatment plant
Dog food manufacturing plant

Now mix those odors all into a bundle, in that order. These three places I pass are all within a mile (yes 1 mile) of one another. A city sewer has nothing on them and actually about the time I go by the dog food plant I am delighted to take a deep breath to expunge the scent of the other two from my system.

Going by the dog food plant often makes me wonder.

Now, I have a dog and were not to far from the plant and on a day when the breeze is just right the lovely odor of dog food being made makes its way up to our home. Now when this happens, does this drive our dog nuts? Does she begin to crave the scent and want to find it's source? I equate it to smelling somebody grilling steak on a beautiful summers evening, which drives my craving for fresh steak through the roof just because someone else is cooking it.

Since we're, well I am, talking about odors, I pass by and have passed by many farms as well on quite regular occasions. Cow manure has nothing on pig manure and pig manure has nothing on chicken manure. I know shitty topic here. Every time I pass the piles of chicken manure waiting to be used on next years crops, it makes me think of calling someone a "Chicken Shit." For years I have heard the term and it wasn't until recently that I realized that calling someone, or being referred to as, a "Chicken Shit" is pretty low. I don't know if you can go any lower. That stuff is just nasty.

A blog about odors and the topics within it are pretty low. Yet life is pretty odoriferous wouldn't you say? Oh there are good scents and stomach turning scents, but each one of them I'm sure reminds you of something.

What have you smelled lately?

If you do nothing else in life, my advice is to avoid at all cost being labeled as a "Chicken Shit", that stuff stinks.

To all of you, my very best as we polish 2010 off.

Kevin

Friday, Friday, Friday - Pure insanity is on its way, where will you be?

2010-11-24T11:01:00.000-05:00

Pure insanity! (photo from tech.blorge.com)

So I've been around for over three decades and I'm still trying to understand it.

"BLACK FRIDAY"

So I set out to understand at least a little bit about it, although I don't think I'll ever get all the hype over it and the insanity that it seems to bring.

It has it's own web page, I did not know this but now I do. Did you know? This is where it's at "blackfriday.com" if you're into the Friday after Thanksgiving.

The term "Black Friday" was coined in the 1960's.
Why black? It's based on an accounting records - moving from the "red" and into the "black." (Red = Bad, Black = Good)
Ever since the first Macy's Day Parade in 1924 the Friday after Thanksgiving has been known as the unofficial start of the holiday shopping season.

There's more on blackfriday.com's history page if you want to read more. Black Friday History Link.

So I learned a little more about Black Friday. I get it, but I don't get it and I am going to spend the rest of my decades here on earth refusing to totally get it.

Yes, I believe that you may be able to get one heck of a deal on this day being in the right place at the right time and ready for battle.

My issues-

It starts way to early in the morning, if you recall the last blog. I'm not a morning person.
I'm not a big fan of undue stress and crowds of crazed shoppers for me equals stress.
There will be bloodshed somewhere on the morning of Black Friday, to decrease my chances of being the shedding victim I'll stay in bed and sleep through it.

Long lines, crowded isles, a crushing crowd to get through the doors of the store opening, pushing, shoving, poking, jabbing, shopping carts as weapons and normally decent shoppers turned into crazed maniacal take no prisoners extreme bargain hunters geared up and ready for battle.

I wonder if the CEO's of some of these major consumer Mecca's also wake up early and head to their plush offices hosting a sort of pay-per-view fight type party. Imagine this, a conference room in the headquarters turned into a front stage viewing of the companies busiest store on the morning of Black Friday. The CEO and all of his or her associates, friends and families gathered around eating food and drinking coffee waiting for the show to start. Big screen TV's set up and ready for the live stream from security cameras of the impending chaos.

I might actually get up early if I had an invite to such an event, not likely to happen though. Guess I'll just wait for the highlights on the evening news.

What are your plans for Black Friday? I will be celebrating it by being in the black as well with my eye lids closed tight and in a dreamland of non-shopping.

Are you a Black Friday Warrior or a Black Friday Avoidance Specialist?

Have fun and be safe if you're going out Friday morning, I"ll be enjoying the comfort of my bed.

My best to all,

Kevin

"Good Morning Sunshine!" - I'm the eclipse

2010-11-18T20:37:00.000-05:00

So I've decided to do a something a wee bit different with this here blog post.

I'm taking another persons blog post, which I've read of course and throwing in my own little curve on the subject at hand.

I try to read and keep up with many different blogs, sometimes this seems impossible and some good ones I'm certain slip through the cracks.

Let me introduce you all to WashingTina and I invite you to take a peek at her latest blog, "Little Mary Sunshine!" The blog deals with the topic of the dreaded "morning" and those who are sickening cheerful early risers.

To answer WashingTina's question at the bottom of her post, I am NOT a morning person.

Alarm clocks, when I hear them, tend to do nothing but piss me off. I have broken a few, obviously I don't like waking up to them. I am on occasion a "Snooze" abuser, pushing the damn snooze button for a good hour or so. I've probably done it longer than an hour but I have officially never kept track.

Fortunately, I now have a job that for the most part doesn't require me to come in until 10 or later. On occasion my schedule may require an early rise, like before 7AM or even 5AM. I am such a joy on these mornings, just ask my wife.

If I wake before 8 or 9 there is a good chance you may say something to me and it will not register. I won't even recall that you were talking to me before then. So if it is really important, it's best you wait until prime time to get the good stuff across to me.

My morning conversation, if I'm forced to partake in one before 10AM usually will consist of grunts and looks that would send an ogre into hiding. Mornings and I we just don't see eye to eye. Don't get me wrong I do get along just fine at times with the whole morning thing. That is if I stayed up the night prior to the morning hours.

We've all heard the expression, "if looks could kill!" - My morning looks I think would leave a serious reduction in our population, we'd probably be close to extinction actually.

Now lets talk about absolutely miserable. Happened this week actually, involves morning and a life line for me "coffee." I had to stay a little late at work, 3 and a half hours past my 12 hour shift. So morning and I saw each other before I laid my head down for the night and we were getting along just fine. The problem came about when I had to awaken while still in the same damn morning. To top it off, no time for my morning coffee, pounding headache and I needed skewers not toothpicks to keep my eyes open. I managed but it sucked, things got a lot better once I downed some scalding hot black coffee.

I've gotten into the habit of replying, "Morning" when someone says "Good morning" to me. For me there is nothing good about it, yet on the rare occasion I do in fact find "good" in the morning and if I reply as such, you can bet there is good reason for it. My "morning" response only acknowledges the fact that you spoke to me, don't expect me to say much more than that or even look at you. I'm fine with not talking in the morning, I think it should be a workplace, school, store, bus, train, world policy that no one exchanges pleasantries in the morning or even speak before 10AM.

So what are you? A morning person, a night owl or a Little Mary Sunshine?

My best to all of you, it's evening so I really mean it!

Kevin

Human Waste...

2010-11-09T17:59:00.000-05:00

A human waste, worth far less than what they tossed in this photo provided to the right.

Remember the name of this blog, "Just my view..."

Well in my view the person who stoops so low to take their items that they perceive as trash and dump them roadside in a beautifully wooded area along a very nicely secluded seasonal road where the likes of nature roam freely, well they are a disgrace to society, their family and themselves.

Just what did the earth, nature or this particular section of woods do to you?

Let's see in this pile of debris there are toys, stuffed animals, remnants of a toilet, a computer monitor, a stereo, children's books, a can of who knows what and much more.

Wait are those two recycle bins? To you the disgraceful jackass who dumped your stuff in the middle of what you thought was nowhere, some of that stuff you could have put in the recycle bins and put them roadside for free removal, yes I said "FREE", removal.

I travel many back roads with almost no traffic for hours at a time and I travel roads that are highly travelled. Litter is everywhere on all of the roads. On the highly travelled roads it's almost expected to see a napkin, a paper plate, bottles, cans, and more. Is it right, not at all.

The areas I drive, they are not a metropolis or a grand cityscape. From the metropolitan areas I have visited there is litter and debris there as well, yet from what I have witnessed in large cities even the garbage improperly disposed of is at times used by those not so fortunate.

Believe it or not, there are those in these times around these rural parts that are less fortunate as well. Even if the computer monitor or the stereo didn't work that you tossed aside I bet someone somewhere would have taken it off your hands. The children's books your child may have out grown, what good are they doing now on the forest floor. Now because of your lack of respect and pure ignorance it is going to cost a whole lot more to properly dispose of your trash than it would have cost had you done it properly in the first place.

Just because "you, the litterer" are a waste of space it doesn't mean that you can throw your perception of waste just any old place. Apparently you need to go back to the basics in life, lets start with a Happy Meal box - even upon the box it attempts to teach, throw your garbage in the proper place.

What is wrong with some people?

My best to you all and put waste in its proper place,

Kevin

Tweet, Tweet - Why or what does it matter???????

2010-10-23T11:03:00.001-04:00

My SIX THOUSANDTH TWEET!

Why or what does it matter?

This is perhaps what some of you may be thinking and even I had the very thought cross my mind. Big deal right, "Ooh your six thousandth tweet, you want an biscuit?"

Well I've thought long and hard about it, ok maybe not long or hard. I did think about it though and it does in fact matter to me and perhaps it matters to some of you as well.

OTOOLE4INFO on Twitter started out literally because of Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) as two of my sons have the life threatening disorder and when I began this Twitter account my oldest was beginning a journey that has literally changed his life and our families lives. The journey, a life saving one to say the least and I still don't feel as though he or we are out of the woods as of yet and may not ever be totally out of them.

The contacts I have made upon Twitter alone are truly inspiring, intriguing and amazing to say the least. Many of my Tweets have been ALD related in an attempt to bring information to others. Some have been related to other disorders and conditions. Many of them have brought insightful quality links to some of you and many of these links were brought to me by other users. Granted I have the everyday mundane type tweets, pondering perhaps irrelevant things or thoughts or simply sharing something mundane like, "on the way to the grocery store," etc.

Some that are close to me or know me outside of the Social Networking realm, probably often wonder what is the sense in sharing all of this stuff. Well some of it is plainly obvious and other things not so obvious. Regardless of who we are or how we attempt to come across to one another, even the hardest of persons have a sense of caring or compassion within them. That person may themselves not even be aware they care for whatever reason, but it's in there.

I truly want to make a difference in this world and I think it goes without saying that many of us do. The difference I wish to make, I want to be positive and beneficial to all whom I come across in the ultimate end.

Many, many years ago before computers and all the current technology - Social Networking and the sharing of information was going on. Granted it wasn't as far reaching as it can be today.

Think about it? Stop at a local historical museum, look at some of the historical journals for the area or a writing in regards to a specific city or village. You will perhaps come across an old photo of a general store with a gathering of people sitting out front, was this not a gathering point of past where I'm sure the locals told stories and shared information with one another. I'm guessing the store clerk and many other business persons that ran these places were the "Google" of then.

Pick up a newspaper from the 1950's I think you will come across a section that has events that local residents attended. For instance, "Jane Doe and her son John attended a party at Mary Smith's house and brought a beautiful present." Of course my quoted version is completely made up, but similar newspaper writings such as this exist. I've seen them doing genealogy research. Even back then I'm sure there were some people that thought, "What does it matter?"

We could probably even go much further back in time and find similar instances of networking or information sharing.

I guess I'm attempting to create a good solid rope out of the frayed shoe string that my family is currently living on. Things in life have crept up and snuck in on us making things at time extremely stressful and hectic. Mistakes of past continue to remain detrimental in current economical situations. I would say that I and many others close to me look at things very different than we had five or so years ago.

My SIX THOUSANDTH TWEET - IT MATTERS! Well for that matter, every last Tweet I've Tweeted and every last Tweet you've Tweeted matters if you think about it.

Let's make a difference for the better of all. I invite you to take a second or two, tell a friend or two about OTOOLE4INFO and even about what you are doing to better yourselves and hopefully others as well.

OTOOLE4INFO on Twitter!

OTOOLE4INFO on the web!

My very best to all of you, keep Tweeting, I will!

Kevin

PS - Tweet or Re-Tweet this will ya?

"Eyes Forward!"

2010-10-16T19:59:00.000-04:00

Photo from - http://villageofjoy.com/50-weird-and-crazy-cars/
50 Weird and Crazy Cars

I believe we all were told this a few times growing up and especially while in school. Some need to re-visit this lesson, perhaps we should get that teacher you had to scream it at you again and then wrap your knuckles with a ruler.

Talking on a cellphone without a hands free device while driving, illegal in many states. Texting while driving a primary traffic offense in some states, secondary in others and still some states have not made it illegal yet.

Remember the days of rubber necking as folks passed by an accident scene or any scene that has a large amount of emergency vehicles surrounding it...... "Eyes Forward, especially if you're the driver!"

Now we have the "Gotta snap a pic on my cell or camera while I drive rubber necking mentality!"

We have the Internet now, I think that you can find just about any type of horrific incident and much more, a whole lot more.

So if you're an aspiring paparazzi, I highly doubt the picture you're attempting to take of an accident on a rural country road is gonna get you a photo of some high profile celebrity in a mangled mess. If it's mangled metal you are looking for, visit the nearest vehicle scrap yard. If it's blood and gore, get a job as one of the rescue personnel you just put at risk trying to snap that photo.

I'm all for social networking, sharing information, social media, spreading the word with words and photo's but is it really necessary to put your life and the lives of many others for a mere photo - No! Eyes Forward!

If you really want a photo that bad then always have a passenger with you and let them snap the pic or better yet get yourself a camera car like that pictured above.

Am I off base with this observation?

My best to you all and keep your hands on the steering wheel, eyes on the road.
Kevin

Social Networking - Limiting, Overextending or Overextension limiting?

2010-10-03T09:16:00.002-04:00

Photo source: University of Washington,
Tacoma Narrows Bridge Collection

Are you limiting yourself or are you overextended in the Social Networking realm? Pehaps you are in the area being overextended to the point of being limited.

Actually I guess maybe the question should be, "What is your purpose for networking in the firstplace?"

My purpose is to provide what I hope to be valuable, quality information and at times raising a topic to spark thought within your mind regarding it.

Here are my thoughts on this. Over the past many years I have attempted various ventures online, attempted to utilize many platforms available. Aside from self developed areas, such as OTOOLE4INFO.com and my blogger sites, recently I have been attempting to restrict my focus down to three areas regarding Social Networking and I'm still in the refinement phase-

Why and my view regarding this ongoing refinement. All three of these networking sites I firmly believe can provide the platform that one may need to connect and spread information of quality. Below I explain I have been attempting to utilize them and how the utilization came about.

Twitter-

I began utilizing the site in an attempt to stay in contact with family and friends while on a journey involving Adrenoleukodystrophy. That's how it ultimately began. As I watched the stream of tweets my realization developed that what a way to attempt to get information out there regarding Adrenoleukodystrophy and perhaps come into contact with others who knew of it, experienced it or could possibly take what I am able to share and spread the "word" or "awareness" about regarding ALD.

Facebook-

Honestly I was a late arrival in the realm of Facebook. I was Tweeting on Twitter before I was sharing photo's, status updates and more on Facebook. Facebook I saw and still do as another great platform to get information out and connect with others, especially those who are ALD family members. The ALD family, a family that continues to grow even though we desperately do not want our family to grow. On Facebook I've noticed a lot of "I" type things go on in the Facebook, but still a wondeful way to stay up with friends, families and those you may have lost contact with over time.

I'm still a newbie at LinkedIn but see it as a perfect platform to branch out professionally. I just have to remember it's there and use it. I intend to grow on LinkedIn over time as I did with Twitter and Facebook. I was actually intoduced to LinkedIn via Twitter by connecting with many in the Healthcare Communications and Social Media, aka HCSM, community.

So what is your purpose for utilizing social sites and networks? Is the site your utilizing meerly a platform to share your everyday happenings or are you looking to share what you feel is valuable information, your views, your opinion, your insight, your wisdom or are you just looking to entertain yourself and others along the way?

Regardless of you purpose or your intent, it is very easy from what I have experienced to go into overextension.

Are you limiting yourself, overextended or right where you need to be?

What are your thoughts on this?

Wishing you all the best,
Kevin

"I, I, I" - really it's not about I!

2010-09-27T19:24:00.000-04:00

“Too often, inhabitants of these towns simply do not realize and appreciate the associations made by earlier inhabitants. Too often people believe that history occurs only in the classroom and in “made for TV” documentaries.”

Now let us expound upon this wonderful excerpt above which is from - The Chemung Historical Journal Vol. 55, No. 5 September 2010 issue, “Julius Caesar in Mark Twain Country: The Classical Tradition in Elmira New York.” By Joseph Lemak. A link to the Chemung Valley History Museum.

My view on this, well I’d say it’s 100 percent accurate without a doubt. I would like to also add the entire article in my opinion was a wonderful read. History especially that of the area of upstate NY has intrigued me for sometime. Finding the time to personally delve further into it on the other hand has been a quest hampered by time constraints as of late.

I’ve heard the following expressions more than a few times, I’ve even uttered them myself I believe on occasion-

“The past is the past.”
“Live for today.”
“Live for the present.”
“That’s history.”

Although this does not mean we shouldn’t pay attention to and respect the "associations made by earlier inhabitants."

It seems so very many in this day and age have absolutely no care, no respect for what is “history." History whether it be just factually based or something that can be physically seen or felt is regularly knowingly and unknowingly dismissed.

Today it seems a wide range of youths and adults seem to fail to recognize that there is reason for a lot that surrounds us today. So many it seems could care less about why a building is where it is today, the style or way a building was constructed, why the road travels in the direction it does, where did the thought of that bridge over the stream or river come from, did someone give up their life, their blood, sweat and tears for any of this. Many before us have given much thought and at times even life for you and I, yet so often it is ignored.

I must say that the excerpt that starts this post couldn’t be more true.

We are in the time of “I” are we not? Everyone seems focused on thyself and is forgetting the creations and feats created before us. Not before us as in before our very eyes, but before as as in before we were even alive.

Regards,
Kevin

p.s. Yes "I" know "I" used "I" a lot in this blog but it my friends was written for "U", hopefully it will inspire a look at history on your next trip out.

By the end, I was ill.......

2010-09-23T22:01:00.000-04:00

I actually thought for a moment, "Does my view really matter?" Then I thought again, Ah *#*& it anyway, say what you want to say, within reason of course or maybe not.

So I read this story Obama defends, refines US approach to world aid via the AP. It was either yesterday or today I don't know exactly when, but I read it.

Initially I thought awesome, refining how we give aid to other countries.

A few excerpts out of the article-

"His message was that the United States wants to help countries help themselves, not offer aid that provides short-term relief without reforming societies."

"That's not development, that's dependence," Obama said. "And it's a cycle we need to break. Instead of just managing poverty, we have to offer nations and people a path out of poverty."

I'm thinking great, wonderful, awesome....

So, I keep on reading further into the article and lets just say I knew I would feel ill before I was done. Stupid me I actually thought, maybe just maybe, this time a political news related article wouldn't leave me feeling sick and disgusted. Now mind you I don't blame the AP for this feeling one bit. Nope it is actually politics

Here's the excerpt that threw the wrench into my gut -

"Obama then shifted quickly from the plight of the developing world to domestic politics. He was raising money in New York City on Wednesday night for Democratic congressional candidates ahead of the midterm elections in six weeks."

WTF, are you kidding me! I understand him wanting more Democrat's behind him in office, but really! Let them raise their own damn money. I'm thinking as President you have bigger fish to fry being in that prestigious position. If a candidate can't raise their own campaign cash or muster the vote on their own, then well in my opinion they (What does a vacuum do?").

I'm all for supporting those in your party, but to actually show up and aid in raising money? Have them put on one of their campaign ads that you support them or something, wouldn't that be enough? Things are not pretty right now in our nation, instead of showing up to raise some cash for constituents. How about just focusing on all the blunders already in play? Let those aspiring to be elected or re-elected fight their own way in.

Just my view, mind you and perhaps I'm wrong. Wouldn't be the first time but that's how this article made me ill.

Politics and anything to do with them makes me sick...... and the sad thing is, it's everywhere not just in government!

Cancel the A.P.B.!!!!

2010-09-21T22:36:00.000-04:00

Ah ha! I bet you thought I was lost in a somewhere out in cyber space or maybe vanished off the face of this particular blog.

Oh no, I have not forgotten it. It has just been pushed aside a little. Okay a lot! Just wanted to let you know I am going to make an honest and full fledged effort to get back to typing. So stay tuned in the day an weeks to come and "my view's", well I'll write you some.

So cancel the APB, I'm back on site. Not on track mind you but in relatively close vicinity.

Now I just have to dust this blog site off a little and clear some of the brush so I can at least see the tracks.....

NY State - A State of Waste and Pure Lunacy

2010-02-19T12:46:00.000-05:00

NY State - A State of Waste and Pure Lunacy

Over the past year it has been ever so apparent that NY State has financial issues, stating the obvious I know. Those running the state propose cuts here and there. Will those proposed cuts and the cuts already made be of benefit to the states ever increasing deficit?

Not likely. Looking from the outside in it is apparent that ultimately they, NY States elected officials, will just drive us further into debt before it's all said and done.

I'll touch on just two recent topics that were brought forth by a local new agency in my area.

"Closing Looms for State Parks."

So let's take a look at this.

NY State Parks, those I have visited charge an admission fee. I'm sure there are those that do not, but those I have had the opportunity to visit have, a fee that I am happy to pay. Tourists and visitors from out of the state enjoy our parks as well. So you would think that some revenue could be generated by keeping them open and with the proper support behind them they could ultimately be promoted to bring more visitors to them.

To promote something cost money, yes and no. In today's technological age there is an ever increasing ability to get the word out about a vast array of topics. A single person can accomplish this if they are diligent enough and do so at a minimal cost. The state has many tools at their disposal but they all seem to be missed or mismanaged or perhaps have not even be thought of. Perhaps some tools already in place need to be refined and honed in on to benefit the state positively, more on these tools toward the end of this writing.

So let’s close some parks. I would have to guess it's going to cost more to re-open them when that decision is made. Closing a park is going to leave it wide open for vandals and those that truly do not care about what the parks provide. Landscape will be overrun making that much more work to prepare the park for when it once again is re-opened. Buildings left unoccupied and unvisited by state workers and law abiding visitors will be visited by those looking to do nothing more that cause mischief and damage.

Perhaps those in Albany are of the disillusion that we don't have those types of persons in this state, those that would cause damage to property that is not theirs. It is almost impossible to drive anywhere in this state or our Country for that matter and not witness damage of some sort state owned or maintained property.

Travel to a State fishing access you will see everything from graffiti, to garbage not disposed of, to remains of a party waiting for the river to wash it all away.

Next time you go over an underpass anywhere in this state, try to decipher the graffiti painted on the bridge or concrete work.

Travel to a State Game Land witness the garbage illegally dumped, the signs shot up by those target practicing in the most improper way.

If you hit the game land at the right time you may even get to see the remnants of a smoldering fire not totally extinguished with beverage cans and broken bottles strewn about.

This won't happen to the parks we close, because we'll put a sign up that says no trespassing or maybe we'll lock the gate for the season and that will keep people out. Yeah, okay and water isn't wet.

It's time for those in our legislation to take their blinders off, come out of their offices, set aside their raising of capital for their precious campaigns for their next run at office and hit the areas they intend on cutting funding to and look at what is really going on in this state and what has been going on for some time.

Maybe the majority of them grew up sheltered and I know that many of them did not. They seem to have forgotten or just don't want to admit that the state has issues. It's time to support the working class, the backbone of this state. It's time to support those that truly bust their rumps in an effort to do what is best for their families, their surroundings and their state. God forbid the working class citizen should speak up and offer any sort of advice. That’s right; those in Albany know all and know what is right for the benefit for all of us.

It's time for a complete revamp of what is "NY States Elected offices." It's time for those that wish to remain in office to quit with their dirty political ways and get literally dirty at the level of all of us the ordinary working Joe's.

The second news article I would like to address is one that was aired locally in relation to a highway expansion that is in progress. News article. I am all for the expansion of the roadways of this state to make them safer and hopefully, ultimately making it easier for visitors of our fine state to traverse to all the locations we have to offer.

So the state purchases property for the expansion. It's obvious that this most likely needed to be done. So those that previously owned the property pack up and head out. The state now owns the properties along this soon to be reconfigured highway. Furniture and other property is left behind in some of these properties, contents such as dressers, beds, entertainment cabinets, TV's, etc. Now were not referring to a house, this property happens to have been a motel and every room had content left in it like that I previously mentioned.

Now maybe this makes too much sense for those in a position of making logical decisions for the state. Someone apparently decided we took over the property in June of 2009 or so, let’s just leave all the stuff left behind and when we have it demolished we'll pay a disposal fee right along with the buildings were taking down. Actually we'll just pay a contractor to demolish the building and they will have to pay the disposal fees. No, let’s not make a deal with a local auctioneer to come in on a single day and hold an onsite auction so that we could make a little money and apply it to the projects debt.

The state has an online auction account with eBay under the seller name nyssurplus-albany. Were you aware of this, perhaps not, now you are, http://myworld.ebay.com/nyssurplus-albany/. The State auctions off everything from furniture to piles of scrap metal. Some of the items auction are held at various State Capital building, other items are from State buildings or property throughout the state. Kudos to state for doing this, I am in favor of it. My question is, if a deal couldn't be made with a local auctioneer to have an onsite auction at the subject motel, why was this option not utilized. June of 2009 to date perhaps wasn't enough time to do so.

I haven't found where this auction site is advertised on the states website, I will assume it is. I would like to recommend a better initiative to perhaps bring more customers to the site.

Back to what I previously mentioned with today's technological age. Thousands upon thousands of people are on the internet and actively engaged in social media in some form or another by way of social websites, like that of facebook or twitter. I found today that NYS Parks has a facebook fan page, kudos, now let’s ramp it up and bring people in. I personally have utilized both facebook, Twitter and blogging sites to promote awareness to something that is very near and dear to my family. Just one person, with one message and the legitimate contacts I have made across the world are astounding. The only cost to me was my internet access and my time. All I'm saying is that more can be done to bring in revenue for the state and if done right it can be done at minimal cost to its taxpayers.

Keep going with you non-common sense ways of thinking, continue to promote waste in government and our states deficit will only grow. NY State legislators and politicians need to wake up. Go ahead and continue to seek to increase your campaign funds for the next elections. An astounding waste of money that will be generated in the hopes that you will once again reign in office for another term so you can make decisions that seemingly will do nothing but continue to drive our state further into the ground. The holes getting deep and it'll only get deeper. It's time everyone to speak up, especially those that bust their knuckles to get by. Oh that’s right the majority of those people are entirely too busy just trying to make ends meet to find time to be heard. Step out of the office and hit the streets and the back road, if you're an elected state official it's time you step off of your cloud and pay attention to those that should and need to be heard. So grab your digital camera, your note book and if you're fortunate to have your own personal aide grab them as well and hit the road. Use a portion of your campaign funds to pay for your gas. We elected you and you can bet that if things continue to spiral as they are you might as well start picking up some job applications, who knows maybe you'll have the opportunity to work beside one of us who have the exact same view that I have written here.

*This is just my opinion and observation, you may agree or you may not. Decent comments welcome. Thanks for your time if you took the time to read to the bottom of this blog post.

WORLD LEUKODYSTROPHIES DAY! 9/26/09

2009-09-18T11:04:00.000-04:00

September is Leukodystrophies Awareness Month!

The last Saturday in September is World Leukodystrophies Day!

So on September 26th Leukodystrophies need your support. Let us, the world; make the first “World Leukodystrophies Day” an EXTRAORDINARY AWARENESS DAY for all Leukodystrophies.

Just how can this be possible? By way of the citizens of the planet earth coming together and supporting a worldwide rally for the deadly and life altering Leukodystrophies.

The few of us, by few I mean most likely hundreds or so already supporting the Leukodystrophies this month cannot do it alone. We need to raise awareness to a level where every last medical professional, every last educational institute from grammar schools to top notch Universities are aware, every last citizen on the planet earth regardless of their nationality, religion, gender or political beliefs become aware of Leukodystrophies.

Leukodystrophies know no prejudice, they inflict their deadly and life altering wrath upon many races and genders. They are not bias toward the families they affect. I am pretty certain there are families out there that have children going misdiagnosed or undiagnosed for a vast variety of reasons.

Perhaps the largest reason is the lack of awareness. This in of itself, the lack of awareness by all, is not acceptable.

This September and every September will be known as Leukodystrophies Awareness Month. The last Saturday of September and every last Saturday of September to follow will be known as World Leukodystrophies Day.

Start with awareness then perhaps one day a cure for every last one of them. My goal is that one September in the future, the sooner the better, we the people of the planet earth can say, “September used to be Leukodystrophies Awareness Month.” Let us work as one and make this possible.

Enough of Universities and Healthcare Institutions across the World trying to become famous by holding information they have gathered in their search for cures for the various and wide variety of diseases out there. It is incumbent that we, those who become affected, however slight, make it known to them they need to share information with others for the purpose of a cure.

It is not the institutions that are affected by the horrific results cause by Leukodystrophies or any disease for that matter. It is us the friends, families and the affected that deal first hand with the most likely debilitating outcomes.

Just about everyone in this world is familiar with the Cancer and what it entails; Leukodystrophies should and will become just as recognizable with all of your support.

Rally, rally, rally – from the highest mountain peak to the lowest valley, on September 26th, 2009, “WORLD LEUKODYSTROHIES DAY” yell it, speak it, whisper it, write it, tweet it, facebook it, myspace it, email it, letter to the editor it, however you decide to do it, SUPPORT AWARENESS FOR ALL LEUKODYSTROPHIES!

NAVY BLUE IS THE COLOR for Leukodystrophies! Find out more about Leukodystrophies however you wish. I’ll recommend just one site for the moment, United Leukodystrophy Foundation.

Thank you all in advance for supporting Leukodystrophies and doing your part for raising awareness.

Kevin O’Toole
Otoole4info.com
Ac4ald.com

Leukodystrophies NEED Your Support!!!!!

2009-09-05T11:56:00.000-04:00

Leukodystrophies NEED Your Support!!!!!!

Now is the time to learn just what Leukodystrophies are, how they affect people especially children. There are no cures for any Leukodystrophies that I am aware of and treatment for them is not always successful or possible.

No CURE! Treatment not always effective! What does that mean?

Families across the world have to deal with their affected children changing before their eyes, going from playful happy children and transforming into a disabled state. Ultimately those who do not hang onto the treatment given to them, or those that have progressed too far and cannot get treatment will more than likely pass away well before they reach adulthood.

I could spend the whole blog talking about the unfairness that Leukodystrophies present and the horrors that families become faced with while trying to deal with them.

We need every last person across the globe to unite in supporting awareness for Leukodystrophies and hold onto that support for eternity until a cure can be found.

September is and forever will be known as "Leukodystrophies Awareness Month!"

The color to show your support is NAVY BLUE! Display it everywhere you can for this month, make navy blue ribbons. Show your support for awareness and educating others about Leukodystrophies.

LEUKODYSTROPHIES AWARENESS RALLY ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER!

Join the rally by showing your support, make those unaware - aware. There are a few ways you can help with this RALLY.

On Facebook change your profile picture for the month of September to a Navy Blue Ribbon. Realizing that some want to show support but have causes of their own they are promoting and may not want to change for the whole month of September. A worldwide rally day has been selected, that day will be SEPTEMBER 26TH. - On this day we ask that you show your support for a brief period of 24 hours on Facebook by changing your profile picture to the Navy Blue Ribbon. Visit this Facebook Event Page, September is Leukodystrophies Awareness Month!

On Twitter, change your avatar for the month to show your support to a Navy Blue Ribbon. Another way if you want to show your support but don't want to change your avatar picture totally --- Add the Navy Blue Twibbon to your profile avatar picture you can do that by going here --> Leukodystrophies Awareness Twibbon page.

On Twitter again, a worldwide rally day has been determined. That day is SEPTEMBER 26TH! Add a Twibbon to your profile avatar for the brief period of 24 hours or even change your avatar totally over to the Navy Blue Ribbon. Just visit me on Twitter and copy my avatar to get your own ribbon.

Develop your own rally of sorts off of Facebook or Twitter for the month or just a day out of the month. Please share it with me her and I'll make sure it is known to the best of my ability.

Leukodystrophies need your support, they need worldwide press, and they most importantly need a cure!

In order to promote the research for a cure first and foremost we must, we must raise awareness for all of the Leukodystrophies. Just how many Leukodystrophies are there?

It is estimated that the world population is over 6 billion, if we can get 1 million to 5 million people across the globe to show their support for Leukodystrophies perhaps Leukodystrophies and the need for a cure will make primetime across the globe.

Copy and paste this blog into an email, email it to everyone you know! Print it out and mail it if you have to, post it at work, post it at school.

Mail it - email it to your government officials, to the press in your area, to your friends and family.

Promote the awareness - Leukodystrophies must be defeated and the only way we can defeat them is with your support.

If you want to know why I fight so hard for Leukodystrophies, I invite you to visit AC4ALD.com and you'll understand!

Thank you in advance for you support,
Kevin O'Toole, AC4ALD
AC4ALD.COM
OTOOLE4INFO.COM

Want to print this out and share it, Easy Google Document to do so!

HEY! So did you know?

2009-09-03T11:33:00.000-04:00

So did you know?

September is Leukodystrophies Awareness Month!

Now you know, how can you show your support for all Leukodystrophies. There are many ways and one of the easiest being, find some NAVY BLUE to wear with your clothing attire.

Not into wearing NAVY BLUE, tie a ribbon on your vehicle antenna, on your mailbox, your front door, the end of your pen.

A few other ways you can help raise the awareness for all Leukodystrophies.

Take the time to learn more about the different Leukodystrophies. Here are some sites to check out,

The Stennis Foundation

The Myelin Project

The United Leukodystrophy Foundation

Print off the following flyer and share it with all you can

Flyer, September is Leukodystrophies Awareness Month

Look for those sporting NAVY BLUE ribbons on facebook and Twitter, stop in and chat with us, Here are a few including myself to look for on Twitter;

otoole4info

trishknight

motherminus1

mamashell

Each one of us can direct you to others with Leukodystrophy stories and information.

Let's rock the month of September showing all sort of support for Leukodystrophies, NAVY BLUE IT HERE, THERE AND EVERYWHERE!

Also if you get a chance pay a visit to my info site OTOOLE4INFO.COM, bringing you information on many things and topics

Newborn Screening & The Ulitimate ROI For All!

2009-08-16T09:44:00.000-04:00

This has got to be one of the best “Return on Investments” I have heard of and I would like to hear your view on this as well. Please continue to read on.

This blog was inspired from a recent presentation I was present for regarding Supplemental Newborn Screening. The speaker was from Perkin Elmer and ROI was brought up. My brief exposure regarding ROI being brought up in other arenas that I have been present for, the term seems to be one that most like to avoid in healthcare discussions like the plague.

I am a complete layman when it comes to some terminology such as ROI. I may not be the smartest in the herd but what I am about to talk about doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out.

If you are supporting Universal Newborn Screening, kudos to you! Keep up the support.

In time we will get to where we need to be with Universal Newborn Screening. Most everyone should be aware of the fact when trying to establish implementation of a program on a government level there is a whole lot of red tape to cut through. Even after all the red tape gets cut thru, there are still issues that come into play and regulations to be met.

For instance as I understood the conversation, the State of Texas has approved a certain test to be screened on newborns but there is no FDA approved re-agent to run the test – So what’s the point. The point is that it is approved for the running, red tape has been cut a huge plus once the re-agent becomes available.

So what is one to do in the mean time and were you even aware that an option, Supplemental Newborn Screening, is available? Supplemental Newborn Screening is your answer while waiting for all the red tape to be cut and there are companies out there for you to access and get the screening kits that could ultimately save a lot of pain, aggravation, and a whole lot of money in the future.

This is where ROI plays a role in the whole equation. A screening test kit may cost anywhere between Fifty dollars and Two Hundred dollars. This is a minimal cost when you think about what could potentially be spent on attempting to determine diagnoses of an individual later in life when symptoms begin to display themselves.

When signs and symptoms begin to present themselves later in life with the affected person, then begins the agonizing task of determining what the problem is with the affected person – most likely a child. Here is where an enormous amount of money is spent in order to properly diagnosis. Through this process of determining the proper diagnosis the potential of misdiagnoses goes up. Even though some of the disorders may not be treatable or curable, knowing well ahead of time will save a lot of aggravation in the future and assistance for the affected can be set up well in advance. A sort of preemptive intervention that will be beneficial to those that know in advance of what they may potentially face.

Can anyone buy a supplemental newborn screening kit? The answer is yes!

Supplemental newborn screening kits can be purchased by expecting parents. What would be the ultimate baby shower gift be for expecting parents – this has got to be it in my opinion. Visit the link below.

Supplemental Newborn Screening Kits

The link is provided by Hunter’s Hope Foundation and lists 5 independent labs that supply supplemental newborn screening kits for families. I am certain if you have any questions regarding these kits the companies listed would be happy to hear from you. Also, Hunter’s Hope Foundation most likely would also be available to answer questions related to Universal Newborn Screening and Supplemental Newborn Screening if you can’t find the answers on their website.

I would love to hear your opinion on my view of potentially the best ROI I have heard of yet, it involves the future of our future!

#followfriday I will.....

2009-08-07T21:49:00.000-04:00

Oh, it is another glorious Friday! In Twitter hashtag terms that means it is another #followfriday.

Hashtags, I must admit I knew nothing of them prior to Twitter and took the time to learn more about them, how to follow them, track them, make my own and so on. Now the follow Friday hashtag is a grand tag for a newbie twitterer to follow perhaps to find some quality people to follow beyond Twitter’s recommended users. Twitter’s recommended users in my opinion for the most part, are lame.

Good luck trying to get @aplusk (Ashton Kutcher) or @Oprah to tweet back to you. You can have fun trying, but there will be a lot of “Air Tweets.” Who needs them anyway, when you have many others! Twitter is an awesome place to connect with others around the world. I have done just that, connect, and hope to continue as I progress in life.

I Tweet a lot, at the time of this blog entry 4,071 Tweets to be exact. When was the last time a suggested Twitter user replied to you? I do my best to reply to those that appear completely legit and are not trying to push a product. Information yes, product no!

So to anyone looking to follow some real quality Tweeple and for anyone looking to utilize Twitter, I will continue to use the #followfriday hashtag, but perhaps a little less. I have developed a website where I hope to bring a slew of quality information to the table, among them some fabulous Tweeps that will more than likely Tweet back to your replies and if they don’t at least they bring information to the Twitter board that is a little more real world and relevant than some of Twitter’s Suggested Users.

Myself, like some of you that may actually be taking the time to read this. I am not famous, nor am I a VIP in the world where everyone seems to wish they were. I have my flaws just as many of you and just as those that are in the supposed upper realm of society. In the grand scheme of it all, we are all on the exact same level.

I’ve considered not participating in #followfriday in the past and even recently, as it seems new followers to me have slowed. That would be selfish on my part if I did so, there maybe somebody out there who follows a recommendation of mine that they find beneficial and truly helpful.

So #followfriday I will, until my Fridays eternally stand still!

Visit me if you will and have not already done so, otoole4info!

The frame is in need of repair, desperately!

2009-08-01T11:37:00.000-04:00

A customer/patient view –

Let’s talk healthcare in relation to a group of private practitioners’ office-

Perhaps, just perhaps, my time in a superbly run medical community such as the University of Minnesota, Fairview has spoiled me. I don’t think so, because I am certain there are other superbly run offices and hospitals out there.

I recently had the pleasure of being among the “herd of livestock” at my doctor’s office. I am not knocking the doctor or any of his cohorts, but the rest of the herders need a little lesson in being nice.

The facility is a three-story building with my doctor’s office on the top floor, once a well-kept building. At one time just a short few years ago, it at least appeared tidy and clean. Now, I think they have totally layed off the cleaning staff. Maybe the reason for the irritable reception staff is that now they have to clean as well. I don’t know that for certain and highly doubt that is now on their task list, but if it were I could see where their irritability might be coming from.

Many of the others among the herd in the waiting area along with me, after visiting the all-so-pleasant reception staff, were directed to have a seat. Finding one with no stains at all in the fabric was an added bonus if you were lucky. Sit and wait for your name to be called into a private room where you will visit your doctor for a brief period of five to ten minutes regarding your issue. Presumably some may get a longer visit based on the problem.

While waiting, feel free to take a look at a magazine that has made its way from the waiting room to the small little exam room. Now, while in the exam room listen and observe HIPAA go out the window from the midst of the hallways, as the nurses brief the doctor on your problem, Mrs. Jones’s problem in room five and the phone call just received from the hospital regarding Mr. Smith’s gout.

Your doctor comes in, chats for a second, hopefully you question him while he is there cause once he exits stage left, he is gone to attend another member of the herd. A nurse comes back in with follow-up information and appointment. You’re dismissed! By this time, I’m so fed up with how the whole thing went I want out and out in a hurry.

I’ll forgo what specific facility I am talking about but can tell you it is in upstate New York in the wonderful Southern Tier region. If you are a medical receptionist, nurse, doctor or even the cleaner, those in the herd are paying attention, taking it all in. If you’ve met a disgruntled customer, you may want to start by looking at yourself, move into the atmosphere of the facility. I know for a fact that some of the customers you once had have left for other pastures and I am seriously considering doing so myself. The doctor is a fine person and very knowledgeable, but perhaps he or she and his counterparts need to stop for just a moment and take a look at the whole picture, cause the frame is in need of repair, desperately!

@PamelaDonates - A heroic accomplishment, could have a lot more following! This is just my view.

2009-07-07T19:28:00.000-04:00

Hello, Johns Hopkins Hospital – In my opinion when it comes to Twitter and promoting a remarkable story, I would like to offer you and/or @PamelaDonates a little advice.

Okay, don’t take this the wrong way but I perceive that you going about Twitter the wrong way.

Twitter is an effective marketing tool for all, if utilized properly. Now understand I am not in marketing at all. I am merely your everyday bloke that just wants to help out a little.

This blog is about @PamelaDonates – Pamela you’re a hero for doing what you did, donating a kidney to a fellow co-worker. I commend you for this, simply awesome.

Here is the problem in the Twitter spectrum. You started Tweeting on 6/12/09 ten days prior to donating your kidney. A superb idea, don’t know if it was a thought of yours or someone in the Johns Hopkins Marketing Department. I am presuming the latter, but I have been wrong before.

@PamelaDonates has 99 followers and is only following 13 at the time this blog was written. The number of following could be a lot higher. There are a lot of people in the Twitter-verse that would be more than willing to help & have helped somewhat in the way of Re-Tweeting information about the whole process.

What I have seen in relation to the @PamelaDonates it is a talking at type of format – Proven non-effective in the Twitter World. Trust me, I know as I made the same mistake and I am doing nothing more than to advocate for Adrenoleukodystrophy and bring information to those that utilize Twitter. Granted I would love to have many more followers but I am content with the amount I have as many of them are there to help me out. Among many of my followers and those that I am following back are some astounding people who are utilizing Twitter to its fullest potential.

Many of them are in the medical realm of Twitter spectrum and many are not. Here are some you or perhaps Johns Hopkins marketing may want to pay a visit to see how to effectively get the story out to the masses.

@BJMendelson
@AlohaArleen
@ChildrensLA
@MeredithGould
@DaphneLeigh
@TrishaTorrey
@lauriereece
@GraftFinder

Or anyone you may find in that uses the hash tag of #hcsm.

Trust me when I say – take the time to Tweet back. You will get your story and outstanding accomplishment around the world a lot faster. Don’t depend on the local Baltimore press or the blog account you have set up to do it all. Twitter is a far more effective tool than any other social media form that I have seen.

To my readers feel free to comment, let me know what your think and please add anything that you may see as a benefit for a wonderful medical establishment such as Johns Hopkins Hospital to more effectively utilize Twitter to its fullest advantage.

Kevin O’Toole, AC4ALD
http://twitter.com/otoole4info