Does anyone else like to experiment when it comes to photography?

I know I sure do. 

If you have been following my blog you will have seen some of my iPhone 3G[S] experimentation, comments and reviews.  To me, the iPhone with its Apps (not all by itself), is like a digital Holga.  It’s cheesy, cheap, all too tiny lens makes it fun to occupy idle time with creative work.

Like this picture…

Cartoons and Tissue

I mean, what a lousy image quality.  This was taken at my desk, under florescent lighting using the App “Hipstamatic”.

What a fun application.  You can change lenses and film, and purchase different lenses and film types.  The idea is to be able to create old film-like images as shot through a plastic camera.

But, my experimentation doesn’t stop with my iPhone.  Back in the 1980s I took a door peephole viewer and attached it to a lens cap that I had drilled a hole in it.  It gave me about a 150-degree fisheye lens and cost under $10.  About 2 decades later, I made another, this time using a larger peephole viewer that had a 180-degree view.  It was quite simple.  I drilled a hole in a lenscap and another in a small block of wood, and mounted the viewer to the cap using the wood as a spacer.  (Visualize that the wood and lenscap together took the place of the “front door”.)

I would imagine the inventor of the original LensBabies looked at a vacuum cleaner hose and thought, “What a novel idea for a lens body!”

If you remember the Sima SF 100 lens, you’ll recall it was just two tubes of plastic where one slid inside the other.  The piece that moved had a single element lens at the back-end.  The front end had a plastic bayonet mount where you could place discs to change the aperture.

 My textures, for example, are for experimentation.  In this case, digital experimentation.  I have created some fun and exciting stuff using them.  (They can be purcahsed at http://www.bayphoto.com/store/products.php?cat=28 or http://www.lulu.com/dbwalton.)

Textured photo

If you don’t experiment, you only follow the crowd.  If you don’t experiment, you don’t learn as much.  If you don’t experiment, you may not know what you are missing.

Are all members of the safety and health team properly trained in how to carry out their duties?

All safety team members should be properly trained in their responsibilities. Merely formalizing the safety team and announcing it to the organization is not enough. They must know what their responsibilities are and what is expected of them.

One of the key areas you should evaluate is the extent to which safety and health inspectors have been properly trained. Often the problems experienced by organizations with respect to the timeliness and thoroughness of their safety and health inspections can be traced directly to how well the inspectors have been trained.

Consider two opposing situations. In company A the inspectors were merely given the inspection forms and told that they are expected to fill out the form once a month and return it to the “person in charge.” There was no further explanation or training.

On the other hand, in company B the inspectors were fully informed of what was expected of them. They were also exposed to initial and on-going training (as needed) in how to conduct the inspection, what to look out for, how to identify the “root causes” of the problem, how to fill out the form, and what the procedures were for rectifying the problems found.

In company A you probably would find the safety and health inspections were being performed inconsistently and irregularly. Also, assuming the inspection reports are returned to the “person in charge” promptly (which is probably not the case), they are probably just filed away and little action is taken to rectify the situation. Would it be a surprise to find that both the inspectors and the employees viewed the safety and health inspection program as a “waste of time” and “just another management fad”?

In company B you probably would find just the opposite situation. The inspections are performed in a consistent and regular manner. The inspectors view this task as an important part of their job. The inspection reports are completed and returned on a timely basis. The Safety Director, along with the inspector and the Safety Committee, take the time to review the results. The appropriate action is taken as soon as possible, often immediately. Most importantly, the “safety culture,” as perceived by the inspectors and the employees, is based on the routine identification and correction of unsafe hazards and conditions.

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The first two steps in getting certified in scuba diving is to make sure that you are a reasonably proficient swimmer and you get medical clearance from your doctor to take up the sport. As for the swimming, you don’t have to master every type of stroke. Scuba certification only requires that you are able to swim about 200 yards using any stroke you want and to be able to float or tread on water for about 10 minutes. If you are in good general health and are comfortable in the water, then you should be able to scuba dive without any problems.

There are about 1,900 professional scuba dive centers in North America alone and your local ones should definitely be checked out. Most will run basic certification programs on a regular basis. These centers or shops should be listed in the yellow pages and you can also check with websites of some of the major scuba diving certification agencies such as PADI or NAUI as they will also have listings. Sometimes scuba diving courses are offered at universities too.

Make sure that the course you are interested in taking as well as its instructor are certified with one of the major scuba diving training agencies. This will ensure that you get proper, safe training for both the technical background knowledge and practical skills required for certification as a scuba diver. You also want to end up with an internationally recognized certification card if you want to go scuba diving at various locations around the world.

Some vacation resorts offer ‘resort’ courses lasting a day or two which offer beginners some very basic training in order to try out scuba diving. These are not certification programs. Full certification programs involve classroom work, exams, practical skills sessions at a pool and usually about four open water dives in the sea (lake or ocean). The duration of the classroom work and pool sessions vary from a very intensive weekend (with advance reading) to once a week over several weeks. The open water dives will usually take two more days. Dive centers located in the tropics also offer basic certification programs that last several days to a week. Although the intensive weekend programs are quite feasible, many feel that basic scuba diving courses spread out over a few weeks will help beginners learn the skills better. Scuba diving does involve new skills and to learn them all during one full weekend may be too much for some people.

As for which scuba diving certification training agency is the best, there isn’t any one recognized organization that is better than another. PADI is the most popular in the world but not necessarily better than NAUI or SSI. NAUI course are often more technical in the classroom than those offered by PADI but both will adequately train you to be a scuba diver. The more important factor would be the individual instructor and your own effort during training/studying. In fact, many scuba diving instructors have certifications from several training agencies.

For people living in the more northern regions, there are a few possible routes to take in order to obtain certification. One can travel down south to the tropics and do the entire basic certification course down there in warm weather. However, this will take up a good portion of a vacation since reading, classroom, pool sessions and open water dives all must be done during that time period. A second option is to take the entire course including the open water dives back in home territory. This usually offers beginners the most time since courses can be spread out over a few weeks. However, the water up north is not as warm as in the tropics and the scuba diving could be seasonal. A third option is to take all the classroom and pool sessions back home and then go down south to do the open water dives in warm waters. Many people have taken this route. Your instructor back home will give you a referral letter to bring down to an instructor located down south who will oversee your open water dives. This is a good combination of taking ample time back home to practice the skills in the pool plus getting the classroom work out of the way followed by having nice warm water to dive in for the open water dives. One thing to be aware of if considering this option is to make sure that your travel to the tropics for your open water dives is not too delayed after finishing up with your pool sessions at home. If too much time has elapsed, one could easily forget the skills learned in the pool by the time a vacation comes along.

The underwater world has so much to offer and only a small percentage of the world’s population will ever have the privilege to see it in person rather than on television. Become one of these individuals who will have the honor of exploring the oceans by getting certified in scuba diving.

Do you have a Safety Suggestion Program that encourages workers to report hazards and suggest ways to improve safety?

An effective Employee Safety Suggestion Program represents a sincere attempt on the part of management to encourage employee participation in the process of identifying unsafe hazards and conditions. Encouraging and responding to employee suggestions is one of the most effective ways to demonstrate management’s sincere interest in the safety and welfare of its employees.

From the perspective of the employee, many of the activities conducted by the safety and health team are essentially “top down” initiatives. A safety suggestion program represents a sincere attempt on the part of management to encourage employee participation in the process of identifying unsafe hazards and conditions. It involves individual initiative rather than group interaction for the most part. While this section will focus on using a safety suggestion program to identify and reduce unsafe hazards, it can be used for any other purpose as well.

The “unwritten culture” that exists in the organization is common knowledge to most employees and, paradoxically, is most often overlooked during facility inspections. The inspector gets so wrapped up in filling out the inspection form that he or she is not aware of, or in tune with, those subtle things that make up this “unwritten culture.”  However, employee suggestions can represent a main source for identifying unsafe hazards and conditions. Initiatives taken by the safety and health team represent only the “tip of the iceberg” in many cases.

What you will find is an amazing thing when you implement an effective safety program and it has probably not been expressed any better than what an employee told me recently: “I never really thought that my boss cared about me or my safety. But you know what…I got off my butt and sent in a safety suggestion. Bingo…he responded and I got things done.”

One of the all time favorite marine animals for many is the dolphin. Previously, the closest one can ever get to a dolphin is at the various marine theme parks like Sea World. Then a few dolphin research centers started petting dolphins and swim with dolphins programs which allowed more direct interactions with these wonderful creatures. For certified scuba divers, direct interaction with dolphins under the water is possible. This is an even better experience than the swim with dolphins programs which keep guests only on the surface of the water. This unique under the water opportunity is available through UNEXSO’s dolphin dive at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

The UNEXSO dolphin dive is a single tank trip only available on certain days and fills up quickly so it is highly recommended to make reservations well in advance. The divemasters suggest that all divers add on an additional two pounds to what they normally use on their weight belt. This is because the majority of time spent during the dolphin dive will be kneeling on an open sandy surface at the bottom of a chosen dive site. After all divers are onboard, the dive boat goes to the dolphin facility minutes away where the dolphins stay. Once there, a dolphin trainer at the facility gives a briefing about the specifics of the dolphin dive as well as dolphins in general. Two dolphins are pre-selected for each dolphin dive. After the briefing, both the dive boat and a second boat carrying two dolphin trainers head out to the dive site with two dolphins following. During the trip out to the dive site, the two dolphins ride the wakes of the boats and make numerous leaps out of the water along the way giving lots of photo opportunities.

Once at the dive site, the divers are instructed to get in the water quickly and head to the bottom which is about 50 feet. The request for the rush is to get the interactions going before the dolphins lose interest. It is emphasized that the dolphins are never forced to interact with the divers and are free to swim off anytime they want. Therefore, interactions with the dolphins are never guaranteed by UNEXSO. Luckily for the divers, the dolphins seem to enjoy interactions with humans as well as the free food. Once at the bottom, the dolphin trainers now in scuba diving gear, direct the divers to space out in a wide circle. The trainers, equipped with a bucket full of food, are in the center of this circle. This is where they direct the various types of interactions that the divers will get to experience with the dolphins.

The first interaction is usually having a dolphin rest in front of each diver. This is when the divers are allowed to touch and stroke the dolphins while avoiding their fins, eyes and blow hole. The second interaction involves a dolphin kiss. Divers are instructed to take their regulators out of their mouths upon a signal given by the trainers. The trainers then point towards each diver. The dolphins would approach each diver and ‘kiss’ each one in the mouth with their snout. A third type of interaction is like a human spinning top. One at a time, the divers are asked to adjust their buoyancy and stay up about five feet off the bottom with arms fully outstretched. The dolphins then push each diver by the hand with their snouts spinning them around in circles. All of these interactions are captured on camera by a UNEXSO staff divemaster. Of course, the photos are available for sale back at the UNEXSO dive shop. At the end of the final interaction, both dolphins make one more pass while waving one of their fins to bid each diver goodbye. Of course, the divers wave back with smiles through their regulators.

What is really unique with the dolphin dive is that scuba divers get to see the dolphins at depth rather than just at the surface of the water. This is in the natural environment of the dolphins. It is really magical to watch from the bottom as the dolphins swim up to the surface for air sometimes leaping right out of the water followed by a dramatic diving re-entry. They move like torpedoes with grace, agility and speed. The divers can’t help but marvel at the abilities of the dolphins. Dolphins do not require gradual ascents and safety stops like us scuba divers do. For any scuba diver who loves dolphins, the UNEXSO dolphin dive is a wonderful diving experience and well recommended.

Does your Safety Committee review injuries, causes of loss and safety inspection reports during its monthly meetings?

One of the key agenda items for the Safety Committee should be a careful review of worker injuries that have occurred. This will include a review of the accident investigation report and the supervisor’s determination of the root cause of the injury. Lessons must be learned in order to prevent a reoccurrence of the injury.

Also, a copy of all department inspection and “near miss” reports should be sent to the Safety Committee for its review and comment as well. These reports will reflect exposure to potential worker injury. They also will reveal any problems or deficiencies on the part of the inspector. All reports should be discussed openly and recommendations should be made to management where appropriate.

By effectively involving the Safety Committee in the injury prevention program the Safety Director will effectively access a broad spectrum of expertise which will help correct unsafe acts or conditions in the most practical manner. Also, claim management problems can be addressed and resolved as the need arises. Once consensus is reached, the Safety Director will have enlisted members of the Safety Committee who will serve as advocates of the injury prevention program throughout the organization.

One of the all time favorite marine animals for many is the dolphin. Previously, the closest one can ever get to a dolphin is at the various marine theme parks like Sea World. Then a few dolphin research centers started petting dolphins and swim with dolphins programs which allowed more direct interactions with these wonderful creatures. For certified scuba divers, direct interaction with dolphins under the water is possible. This is an even better experience than the swim with dolphins programs which keep guests only on the surface of the water. This unique under the water opportunity is available through UNEXSO’s dolphin dive at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

The UNEXSO dolphin dive is a single tank trip only available on certain days and fills up quickly so it is highly recommended to make reservations well in advance. The divemasters suggest that all divers add on an additional two pounds to what they normally use on their weight belt. This is because the majority of time spent during the dolphin dive will be kneeling on an open sandy surface at the bottom of a chosen dive site. After all divers are onboard, the dive boat goes to the dolphin facility minutes away where the dolphins stay. Once there, a dolphin trainer at the facility gives a briefing about the specifics of the dolphin dive as well as dolphins in general. Two dolphins are pre-selected for each dolphin dive. After the briefing, both the dive boat and a second boat carrying two dolphin trainers head out to the dive site with two dolphins following. During the trip out to the dive site, the two dolphins ride the wakes of the boats and make numerous leaps out of the water along the way giving lots of photo opportunities.

Once at the dive site, the divers are instructed to get in the water quickly and head to the bottom which is about 50 feet. The request for the rush is to get the interactions going before the dolphins lose interest. It is emphasized that the dolphins are never forced to interact with the divers and are free to swim off anytime they want. Therefore, interactions with the dolphins are never guaranteed by UNEXSO. Luckily for the divers, the dolphins seem to enjoy interactions with humans as well as the free food. Once at the bottom, the dolphin trainers now in scuba diving gear, direct the divers to space out in a wide circle. The trainers, equipped with a bucket full of food, are in the center of this circle. This is where they direct the various types of interactions that the divers will get to experience with the dolphins.

The first interaction is usually having a dolphin rest in front of each diver. This is when the divers are allowed to touch and stroke the dolphins while avoiding their fins, eyes and blow hole. The second interaction involves a dolphin kiss. Divers are instructed to take their regulators out of their mouths upon a signal given by the trainers. The trainers then point towards each diver. The dolphins would approach each diver and ‘kiss’ each one in the mouth with their snout. A third type of interaction is like a human spinning top. One at a time, the divers are asked to adjust their buoyancy and stay up about five feet off the bottom with arms fully outstretched. The dolphins then push each diver by the hand with their snouts spinning them around in circles. All of these interactions are captured on camera by a UNEXSO staff divemaster. Of course, the photos are available for sale back at the UNEXSO dive shop. At the end of the final interaction, both dolphins make one more pass while waving one of their fins to bid each diver goodbye. Of course, the divers wave back with smiles through their regulators.

What is really unique with the dolphin dive is that scuba divers get to see the dolphins at depth rather than just at the surface of the water. This is in the natural environment of the dolphins. It is really magical to watch from the bottom as the dolphins swim up to the surface for air sometimes leaping right out of the water followed by a dramatic diving re-entry. They move like torpedoes with grace, agility and speed. The divers can’t help but marvel at the abilities of the dolphins. Dolphins do not require gradual ascents and safety stops like us scuba divers do. For any scuba diver who loves dolphins, the UNEXSO dolphin dive is a wonderful diving experience and well recommended.

Do you have an energized Safety Committee that meets at least once a month?

The main goal of an effective Safety Committee is to provide open, two-way communication between management, safety team members and employees as respects the organization’s injury prevention activities. As such it should be a forum for the generation and discussion of ideas between management and employees as it pertains to safety and health issues. It should not be a decision making body per se.

The Safety Committee should provide an open forum where employees can take part in any discussions involving their safety and welfare in the workplace. It should have the full support of upper management. Otherwise it will “die on the vine” and lose its potential. And, because representative Supervisors are on the committee, their interest in the injury prevention program will be undermined as well.

One of the all time favorite marine animals for many is the dolphin. Previously, the closest one can ever get to a dolphin is at the various marine theme parks like Sea World. Then a few dolphin research centers started petting dolphins and swim with dolphins programs which allowed more direct interactions with these wonderful creatures. For certified scuba divers, direct interaction with dolphins under the water is possible. This is an even better experience than the swim with dolphins programs which keep guests only on the surface of the water. This unique under the water opportunity is available through UNEXSO’s dolphin dive at Freeport, Grand Bahama Island.

The UNEXSO dolphin dive is a single tank trip only available on certain days and fills up quickly so it is highly recommended to make reservations well in advance. The divemasters suggest that all divers add on an additional two pounds to what they normally use on their weight belt. This is because the majority of time spent during the dolphin dive will be kneeling on an open sandy surface at the bottom of a chosen dive site. After all divers are onboard, the dive boat goes to the dolphin facility minutes away where the dolphins stay. Once there, a dolphin trainer at the facility gives a briefing about the specifics of the dolphin dive as well as dolphins in general. Two dolphins are pre-selected for each dolphin dive. After the briefing, both the dive boat and a second boat carrying two dolphin trainers head out to the dive site with two dolphins following. During the trip out to the dive site, the two dolphins ride the wakes of the boats and make numerous leaps out of the water along the way giving lots of photo opportunities.

Once at the dive site, the divers are instructed to get in the water quickly and head to the bottom which is about 50 feet. The request for the rush is to get the interactions going before the dolphins lose interest. It is emphasized that the dolphins are never forced to interact with the divers and are free to swim off anytime they want. Therefore, interactions with the dolphins are never guaranteed by UNEXSO. Luckily for the divers, the dolphins seem to enjoy interactions with humans as well as the free food. Once at the bottom, the dolphin trainers now in scuba diving gear, direct the divers to space out in a wide circle. The trainers, equipped with a bucket full of food, are in the center of this circle. This is where they direct the various types of interactions that the divers will get to experience with the dolphins.

The first interaction is usually having a dolphin rest in front of each diver. This is when the divers are allowed to touch and stroke the dolphins while avoiding their fins, eyes and blow hole. The second interaction involves a dolphin kiss. Divers are instructed to take their regulators out of their mouths upon a signal given by the trainers. The trainers then point towards each diver. The dolphins would approach each diver and ‘kiss’ each one in the mouth with their snout. A third type of interaction is like a human spinning top. One at a time, the divers are asked to adjust their buoyancy and stay up about five feet off the bottom with arms fully outstretched. The dolphins then push each diver by the hand with their snouts spinning them around in circles. All of these interactions are captured on camera by a UNEXSO staff divemaster. Of course, the photos are available for sale back at the UNEXSO dive shop. At the end of the final interaction, both dolphins make one more pass while waving one of their fins to bid each diver goodbye. Of course, the divers wave back with smiles through their regulators.

What is really unique with the dolphin dive is that scuba divers get to see the dolphins at depth rather than just at the surface of the water. This is in the natural environment of the dolphins. It is really magical to watch from the bottom as the dolphins swim up to the surface for air sometimes leaping right out of the water followed by a dramatic diving re-entry. They move like torpedoes with grace, agility and speed. The divers can’t help but marvel at the abilities of the dolphins. Dolphins do not require gradual ascents and safety stops like us scuba divers do. For any scuba diver who loves dolphins, the UNEXSO dolphin dive is a wonderful diving experience and well recommended.

Does your top management regularly attend safety and health functions in order to show visibility and interest?

One of the key indicators of management’s interest and visibility in the organization’s injury prevention program is their willingness to allocate the necessary time to attend key safety and health functions. In order for the safety and health program to be successful the President of the company (or in the case of a multi-plant company, the plant manager or highest managerial individual) is expected to be personally committed to and visibly support the Safety Director, as well as other injury prevention team members. Otherwise, the injury prevention team members, as well as employees, will view the safety program as “just another management fad.” The end result will be wasted effort, the continued existence of unsafe acts and conditions at the facility, and continued work-related injuries. This is clearly the opposite result the organization is trying to achieve.

In addition, pressures push Supervisors and employees to ignore safety and health procedures and policies. The only thing that can counteract this pressure is consistent, visible management support for the injury prevention program. Management commitment “on paper” means very little. On the other hand, management’s visible support, both in encouraging safe, healthful behaviors and in standing behind the enforcement of safety policies, is vital to the program’s success.

* What does certified mean?

There are four accepted meanings of the adjective “certified” but only two of which satisfy the needed meaning. To be certified means to be endorsed with authority by an institution or a person with higher position after one successfully meets certain requirements. Another meaning is that a person is qualified to do a certain job as supported by an appropriate document better known and regarded as a Certification.

* What certifications are there?

If you are pertaining to online certifications, there are lots to be traced. To help you find one best certification that fits your ability and interest, you may log on to reliable sites in the internet. For now, the following are the basic IT certifications:

• IT Auditing
• Document Imaging
• E-Commerce
• Internet/Intranet
• Linux
• Networking
• Printing
• Project Management
• IT Security
• Servers
• Service Technician
• Technical Trainer
• Webmaster

* Who benefits from certification?

Primarily the one given a certification benefits more. Being certified means one can properly function on a certain job. This means, companies will easily hire a person with certification especially when certifications come from a reliable learning institution.

In some ways, the company to which a certified person intends to apply for work will also benefit since the performance of the applying employee is being supported with a certification.

* Is certification better than experience?

The answer for that is a big “No.” Certification means training. It is impossible for a person to send himself training without experiencing what it is he intends to do. For this reason, we cannot equate certification from experience since they do not share the same purpose. However, if you already have work experience, a certification is a big help for promotion, recognition and pay raises.

On the other hand, companies are not solely after experience but after educational attainments and performances. In other words, having completed a course as proved by a certification is a chance to be hired.

* Which certification program is best for me?

The best certification program for you is the one that fits your interests and capabilities. Those two factors should be considered above all ese when finding the right and best certification program for you.

* How much will getting certified cost?

Almost all training packages from different training institutions are cost effective. The training cost will depend on the training you want to pursue and in which training institution you intend to enroll. Generally, a trainee should prepare to pay between $100 and $400 for each training program.

* How long will certification take?

There are training institutions that offer a 6-month online training program. The usual training timeframe is one year. This length of training may exceed to a maximum of 2 years depending on the program conducted.

* Do I need a college degree to be certified?

You do not need a college degree to be certified. Some certification programs require one to have at least finished high school upon enrolling in a certain course.

* Will certification really help my career?

A certification may help your career. Nowadays, competition in the jobs is getting tougher. For one to stay in his or her job or to be promoted to a higher position, one factor to consider is his or her educational achievements. That is one reason why mastering your field of work by means of studying and training can be a great boost for your career. That is where a certification program can make or break your career advancement.

* Will I have to go somewhere for my certification training?

While you can find local institutions where you can take classes and tests, most training is done online now. You do not need to go somewhere else for your training. You do not even need to attend classes personally for your lessons. Not only is training done mostly online now, but examinations for certification are also given online.Q&A: The Basics Of Certification

I’m so sorry that I’ve been lacking in the daily update department.  As in I’m not really sorry to my readers because more than likely you do not need a daily update, but I’m sorry to myself because personally it is a treat to sit and talk to myself.

I don’t really have anything particular to talk about right now.  Just chilling during Holiday Break.  I haven’t gotten as many things as I would like done.  Still attempting to read Anna Karenina.  Read like two chapters before going to get certified.

Certified for What, Being a Whore?:

Yes that is right…  Actually I wish.  If we did do that then sex workers would be able to come out publically and speak out against the violence that they encounter.  I actually got A Certificate of Recognition from The Columbus Health Department’s Environmental Health Promotion and Food Safety Program recognizing my completion of the “Person In Charge Food Safety Workshop.”  It expires three years from December 17th 2009.

Hopefully I wouldn’t have to do it again.  It was scheduled from 1pm- 5pm.  However, we got out at 4pm which I consider a blessing.  I don’t think I would be able to sit through 4 hours of some straight man talking about sanitation.  Mostly because I know he touches vaginas and that is not sanitary.  Why do you think they have to cleanse themselves every month?

First Impressions:

Let’s begin by stating that I did not want to attend.  I do not actually plan on going into food services.  I am sorry Ramy but Customer Service does not really appeal to me.  I find most people repulsive.  Speaking of repulsive, the first instructor, and I use that term loosely, had his bottom button above his pants line.  Meaning that the free bottom parts were free to separate showing part of his beer-bellied midriff.

Needless to say I started writing a note so I would not have to glare at his stomach, train wreck: you can’t look away.   The first half an hour was not important.  It discussed the importance of this program (I hope the program would be important if I was attending so why would he have to explain it?).   He also discussed that they would start requiring and charging for this lecture:  25$ for those working inside of the Columbus Area and 50$ for outsiders.

The Message:

I cannot really tell you how imperative all of the material is, but I can tell you that if they took out the redundancy, everything that was repeated at least 4-8 times, the whole scenario would be a lot shorter.  The anecdotes were not really necessary either.  Do I really need to know about some restaurant selling food for half price at own risk because the power was out for three days?  Not really.

And I probably should not tell you about my own personal beliefs on sanitation.  Such as the use of aprons for a quick wiping a knife or a way to carry covered fruit.  First off, Aprons are there to be useful, an apron would not have chemicals sprayed on it for cleaning unlike the possibility a rag might have.  And if I have to pick up the fruit by hand, most likely the apron has the same substances that my hands or substances would.

Mostly because I try to keep a clean apron.  I can understand that aprons might get meat juices on it so I will probably stop doing that.  But let’s talk about how no one on the video had gloves on.  That there was an obvious hatred of mixing older food with “Fresher Food.”  If it is the same container, it is the same freshness.  BTW there are starving people in Africa.  I guess because there sanitation is so bad that they have built up an immunity to bacteria that we haven’t.

And let us discuss skin cells.  Skin is always falling off.  It is in the air we breathe and on every single object that we touch, not to mention that people’s hair is probably the cleanest part of their body.  Mostly because if anything is least likely to touch a door knob or someone else who could be contaminated, it probably is not their hair.

Speaking of which, I think this is actually just selecting for super strong germs and bacteria.  I mean I know washing your hands needed, but why do you think that we have had to strengthen the concentration of soaps and sanitizer.  At some point we have to allow ourselves to gain a stronger immune system.  They did however make a good point: heating meats besides chicken and ground meat needs to get to 135 while ground beef and raw chicken need to be heated to 165, but for reheating cooled meats, everything needs to be at 165 because you have already selected for the bacteria and micro organism that die at 135.

Media Used:

For comments I suggested that they have clear, crisp visual props.  The Powerpoint and video were both blurry to the point that I couldn’t see that something was chicken.  It probably did not help the fact that the video was made in the 90’s and it was recording a TV screen that was showing a VHS.  Yeah… About that.  It showed a man working at a fast food restaurant that licked his fingers to separate the cheese, much like taking a piece of paper.  I think it is funny that people think it is okay to do that with paper.  I guess I don’t mind because I have probably put worse things in my mouth.

How I Survived:

The second lecturer was a little questionable about his sexuality.  Mostly because he was a shorty.  So I spent the second half looking at his mannerisms and quantifying the number of times he stared directly at me.  Turns out he starred at me a lot in comparison to the other people in the room.  So I started acting very interested looking directly into his eyes and smiling with my eyes, as Trya would do.  Needless to say that a half an hour passed rather quickly.

Repercussions:

I think there might be consequences for sending me to this educational seminar.  For a second I started to think about things that were sanitary which include washing hands and not touching anything.  Should I stand in the middle of Mirror Lake and say I’m being sanitary.  I do know that I will probably enforce more things that have been brought to my attention because I like rules.  I think rules have good intention and that they are made a little crazy because inevitably they will not be followed to completion.  And now that I have been certified, I can now be held accountable as the “Person-In-Charge.”  Which I guess is put into the Health Code: “”Person in charge” means the individual present at a food service operation or retail food establishment who is responsible for the operation at the time of inspection.”  Whose duties can be found HERE under the file 3717-1-02.4.

-EPF

Do you have a written safety and health policy and has it been communicated to your employees?

A comprehensive safety and health policy, clearly written and communicated by management, and fairly implemented and enforced, is a critical step establishing an effective injury prevention program. This policy sets the tone and direction for all injury prevention efforts. Many firms have experienced problems implementing their injury prevention program because their safety policy has not been communicated, implemented or enforced.

There are three reasons why your workers compensation costs will be reduced if your safety policy is written, communicated and enforced effectively. First, it makes everyone in the organization accountable for safety. Everyone from top management to the lowest level employee will know what the safety rules are. Also everyone has a responsibility to follow the safety rules in order to prevent workers compensation injuries.

Second, it provides practical guidance on how to perform job functions safely in order to prevent injuries. Merely providing safety rules is not enough. The organization should include practical guidance in how to perform specific job functions in a safe manner. This means that the safety policy is not a generic document. Instead, it must be tailored to each individual organization and workplace hazards.

Finally, it clearly defines consequences for unsafe behavior. Management must have a legal and enforceable basis for enforcing its safety rules in a consistent manner. Everyone in the organization must know what the consequences are if they do not work safely. Topics should also include the prohibition of alcohol and drug use on the job, fraudulent report of injuries, prompt reporting of injuries and cooperation in the organization’s temporary duty program just to name a few.

I recently completed a course offered in collaboration between Quirk and Getsmarter, after the 8 week course I can now brag that I am certified in eMarketing (time to update my bio .

I would encourage those considering the eMarketing course to go for it, 8 weeks is quite a commitment and there is no going back once you start. Honestly you can only get out of it what you put in, each module could individually be its own 8 week course.

If you study the Quirk textbook material and complete the exercises it would be easy not only to pass but to get a distinction doing so. The real value comes in the work you do around the course material, that’s the late night or weekend research and reading. That’s why I believe for this course you get out what you put in.

The course is broken down into 8 modules based on the chapters of the Quirk eMarketing textbook, assignments are issued each week and due the following week. Each module is also released with a discussion forum and videos on the topic, save the broadband and give these videos a skip they are rehashed versions of the workbook material.

Arguably you could take the textbook and study all the material for yourself, but why not add something to your CV and complete the course.

Single day digital training sessions on individual topics can cost thousands of Rands, Quirk and Getsmarter offer a comprehensive course that forces you to understand all aspects of eMarketing. Its for this reason above all that I would recommend the certification in eMarketing course.

Tips for those taking the eMarketing certification course

• Make sure you have the time to finish it before you start
• Ensure you have enough interest to complete the course, correspondence learning always takes a good dose of motivation.
• Get a hardcopy of the textbook upfront, they are available online here (if you’re feeling the recession beg a Quirkstar they are sure to give in easily).

Heart Forgiveness in Sarasota Florida.

Living without anger is no longer a dream or a metaphor. It is a real possibility and an achievable, measurable, realistic  goal.

Have You Tried to Forgive Yourself and Others without Success?

You’re not alone.

Have you  wondered if you would ever be able to let go of the internal agitation and the subtle anger you carry inside? Have you tried to forgive those who have hurt you, to forgive the disappointments in your life and the pain from events and experiences that have left a mark on your heart?

Have you ever tried to forgive yourself for actions and decisions you have made in error or in anger throughout your life – that still bother you?

Did that forgiveness work for you?

Or do you find that anger and pain keep springing back up in your life even when you least expect it? Sometimes you know why you feel the pain or what the anger is related to – and sometimes it’s just a plain mystery. Sometimes when the same old issues flare up, do you wonder to yourself:

What is up with forgiveness anyway, I was certain this issue was completed.

Why does this keep coming up in my life? What is so difficult about forgiving myself or others? What’s the trick? Does everybody go through this or is it just me?

The answers to these questions are complex – and although it didn’t used to be – the solution is simple, Heart Forgiveness. It’s simple, powerful, fun and permanent.

The reason it is permanent is because we actually make changes in our life energy – not in our head. Rather than talking about what we want, we actually create changes in the root of our core of health – and it is no longer a matter of talk. It is a matter of results.

Heart Forgiveness is fast, fun and forever.

We’re starting a Sunday Heart Forgiveness group sessions and  “play-shops” (non-work workshops) in downtown Sarasota in January at Trancendance.  Please contact us for more information about Heart Forgiveness Workshops.

The key is to be free…

I AM Michael Barrett and I AM a Heart Forgiveness Facilitator.

Do you have a formal safety team comprised of individuals who have clearly defined levels of authority and responsibility? While there are a host of activities associated with the implementation of an injury prevention program, it all starts with establishing a competent team of individuals who are accountable to management and who implement safety rules and procedures throughout the workplace. The bottom line…a safety team “on paper” will not measure up and be effective.

While a Safety Director will have overall accountability and responsibility for the organization’s injury prevention program, in most cases he or she simply cannot do the job alone. The job of designing, communicating and enforcing a company’s safety and health policy, identifying and correcting unsafe hazards and conditions in the workplace, training employees, instilling safety awareness, and responding to accidents in a prompt manner—and do all this in accordance with state and federal laws – is an increasingly complex task.

Also, while the organization’s insurance carrier and other third party sources may be of assistance with to many aspects of its injury prevention program, their involvement and visibility will be limited in most cases. On the other hand, the Safety Director and the other members of the injury prevention team are in the facility constantly.

The organization should assemble and properly train a safety and health team comprised of a Safety Director, Accident Prevention Officer, Claim Coordinator, Safety Committee and supervisors. There should be written responsibilities for each job function with the full support of management.

Tripods can be a real pain, especially if you have to walk a long distance.  Monopods, on the other hand, can be much easier and can double as a walking stick.  They are also lighter.  My walnut-wood, custom-made, monopod weighs 0.8 pounds (about 13 oz.).

When using a monopod, it is important to adjust the height before you start.  To adjust the height, mount your camera to the monopod, and do the following…

1. stand with your feet comfortably apart – at least shoulder width
2. put the foot of the monopod in front of you so that its distance from both feet is about the same as the distance between your feet (i.e. your feet and the mono pod’s foot form an equilateral triangle)
3. lean your weight into the mono pod holding it with both hands and look through your camera’s view finder
4. adjust the height until the viewfinder is at the right height

When it comes time to take your picture, it is best to use a cable release or remote switch.  Lean into your monopod as described above, and with one hand holding the release, trigger your shutter once you have the focus and camera set.

If you do not have a remote, place your right hand on your camera, and the left hand to support your weight on the monopod, and trigger the shutter with your right hand.

Use caution when positioning your monopod on slippery surfaces.  You do not want it to slide out from under you as it can leave you planting your face into the icy pavement or slippery rocks.

In a pinch, a closet dowel, a long tree limb, or other stick can make for a make-shift monopod.  Although it won’t have that 1/4×20 screw to attach your camera, you can rest your camera on the top of the stick for added stabilization.

Do you have a Safety Director who is accountable for the implementation of your injury prevention program? The Safety Director should have overall responsibility and authority for implementing the safety and health program in accordance with company goals and objectives. The Safety Director’s responsibilities should be in writing and clearly communicated throughout the organization. Also, it is extremely important that the Safety Director report directly to the President, at least on a quarterly basis, on all safety activities and indicate results accomplished. On-going access is critical.

Often organizations will arrange the reporting relationship so that the Safety Director reports to the Director of Manufacturing or similar individual in the manufacturing side of the operation. This has proven consistently to be a mistake since production objectives may at times be in conflict with safety objectives. For example, customer demands may increase significantly and Supervisors may be pressured to maintain production quotas at the expense of departmental inspections. Also, housekeeping may slip significantly. The Safety Director must have access to the President so that safety and health hazards are brought to the attention of upper management for evaluation and decision. Only the President is in the best position to weigh production versus safety issues in the most appropriate manner and make the best decision for the company.

In summary, the Safety Director must be empowered by the President of the organization with specifically defined areas of authority and accountability. The Safety Director must have open access to the President who is personally committed to address safety issues promptly and appropriately. Otherwise employees will quickly realize that the Safety Director is a perfunctory position with no real support – and all subsequent safety and health efforts will fail to meet expectations.

This is a difficult question to answer, much less ask top management. Most people in top management as “alpha” types – intelligent and results driven. They also know their source of power and frequently use it to get what they want, and usually these are not bad things. And yet, if top management cannot, or will not, become actively involved with your safety program, as viewed by your employees, this “leadership void” will translate in to a “management fad.”

In order for the safety and health program to be successful the President of the company (or in the case of a multi-plant company, the plant manager or highest managerial individual) must be personally committed to and visibly supporting the Safety Director, as well as other team members. Otherwise, the safety and health team members, as well as employees, will view the safety program as “just another management fad.”

The end result will be wasted effort, the continued existence of unsafe acts and conditions at your facility, and continued work related injuries. This is clearly the opposite result the organization is trying to achieve. In addition, pressures push Supervisors and employees to ignore safety and health procedures and policies. The only thing that can counteract this pressure is consistent, visible management support for the safety and health program. Management commitment “on paper” means very little. On the other hand, management’s visible support, both in encouraging safe, healthful behaviors and in standing behind the enforcement of safety policies, is vital to your program’s success.

So ask yourself these questions:

• Is worker compensation safety planning a part of the overall business plan?
• Is top management attending safety committee meeting?
• Is safety really job #1 within the company?
• Do they wear safety glasses and other personal protective equipment when they are out in the plant or job site?
• Is there an open door policy for the safety director and human resource director?
• In your gut how would you rate how well top management has convinced employees that they genuinely care for their safety and livelihood?

Forester Cast Iron Wood Burning Stove with Black Porcelain Finish Up To 63,000 BTUs of Output; EPA Certified; Heats up to 2,000 Sq. Ft. Review

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Forester Cast Iron Wood Burning Stove with Black Porcelain Finish Up To 63,000 BTUs of Output; EPA Certified; Heats up to 2,000 Sq. Ft. Feature

Forester Cast Iron Wood Burning Stove with Black Porcelain Finish Up To 63,000 BTUs of Output; EPA Certified; Heats up to 2,000 Sq. Ft. Overview

Item is not available to be shipped to Washington State 

BEFORE ORDERING:
Contact local building, fire officials, or the authority having jurisdiction about restriction and installation inspection requirements in your area.

This product qualifies for up to ,500 Tax Credit, To learn more Click Here. 

Click Here for Owner’s Manual

The superior quality and construction of the finely detailed cast iron with a black porcelain finish ensures the Forester Wood Stove as a welcomed addition to any room. The double top heat plate cover and cast iron construction provides additional heat retention and versatile installation assured with a rear heat shield. This stove is EPA Certified, clean-burning (tax credit eligible), and has a low environmental impact. It includes a convenient, but hidden, ash drawer, simplex heat control with one lever, and a full view air wash system for cleaner glass with less maintenance.

• Installation materials are NOT Included (i.e. floor protector, chimney connector, thimble, radiation shield, flue)
• Black Po

  Forester Cast Iron Wood Burning Stove with Black Porcelain Finish Up To 63,000 BTUs of Output; EPA Certified; Heats up to 2,000 Sq. Ft. Specifications

  *** Product Information and Prices Stored: Dec 14, 2009 12:55:11

  ]]> http://isowcs.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/safety-planning-is-critical-to-reducing-workers-compensation-costs/ Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:23:35 +0000 isowcs http://isowcs.wordpress.com/2009/12/14/safety-planning-is-critical-to-reducing-workers-compensation-costs/

  Have you established and communicated clear goals for your injury prevention program via a written annual plan?

  A serious commitment to worker safety deserves serious and thorough planning in order to accomplish the ultimate goal of maintaining “zero injuries.” Otherwise, the organization’s collective injury prevention efforts will fall short of expectations and will waste valuable time and resources. To make matters worse, employees will view the organization’s efforts as “just another management fad,” and the overall effort will not be taken seriously. In short, the injury prevention plan is the safety team’s road map to accomplishing its goals with the full support of upper management.

  If properly developed the annual injury prevention plan will provide the following benefits to the organization in its effort to minimize work-related injuries. First, top management commitment is obtained. This planning document should receive top management support. Once approved, the safety and health team will have complete assurance that management fully supports their efforts and that sufficient resources are being allocated to accomplish stated goals.

  Second, all team members are on the same page. Everyone on the safety and health team will be aware of their responsibilities and organizational goals. As a result, collective efforts will be focused in the same direction.

  Third, the safety and health team is empowered. Once approved by top management, all members of the safety and health team will be empowered to execute the annual injury prevention plan and will be accountable for its proper implementation.

  Results are monitored and measured. A key benefit of the annual injury prevention plan is that specific goals are prepared in measurable ways. Therefore, the safety and health team will know if its collective efforts were executed successfully or if additional focus is needed in certain areas.

  Finally, valuable feedback is provided for further planning and implementation. Because the safety and health plan is monitored on an on-going basis, the Safety Director will be supplied with reliable information to help in understanding which efforts are working and what needs further improvement or focus.

  In short, the annual safety and health plan is the road map to accomplishing the organization’s safety and health goals with the full support of upper management. Taking this step seriously will pay huge dividends down the road.

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