If you want to beat the midafternoon slump, start first thing in the morning with a good-quality breakfast. (We lecture our kids about it, but how often do we take our own advice?) Most women should be eating about 300 to 400 calories for breakfast, and most men, about 500, says Sandon. Instead of coffee and half a Danish, try these options:
"You need carbs to get your day going," says Sandon. "The brain and muscles function best with carbohydrates to fuel them. And we know from other research that adding some protein to the carbs seems to boost concentration levels as well. You feel better, mentally and physically, when you've had a meal that combines carbs and protein."
Sufficiently fueled by breakfast, you might feel like it's OK to skip lunch or "just grab a salad" because you don't have time or are trying to lose weight. "That's a huge mistake people make at lunch -- just having a salad with lettuce and a few vegetables," says Sandon. "They don't have protein with the salad, and then again they find themselves crashing in the midafternoon."
So if you're cruising through the salad bar at lunchtime, top the greens with some diced egg, beans or chickpeas, turkey breast, or cubed chicken to give yourself that protein fix. Or smear some peanut butter on your celery sticks.
And avoid lunches that are heavy in fat; they take longer to digest and sit in your stomach, feeling heavy longer. "That gives you a sense of low energy," Sandon says. "The calories may be there to provide fuel, but the feeling of fullness leads you to feel sluggish."
But what if it's too late to prevent the energy slump? You chugged down a latte for breakfast, ate a skimpy salad for lunch, and now you're drooping over your afternoon reports. What can you do for a quick energy boost? Resist the temptation to hit the vending machines for a Diet Coke and a Snickers. Instead, try Sandon's three-part solution:
Another option: shed some light on the subject. A study published in 2006 found that brief (about 20 minutes) exposure to a bright white light increased alertness and boosted the brain's responses." Melatonin can't be produced in the presence of bright light," Breus tells WebMD. "If you know you usually feel sleepy around 2:30 or 3 p.m., go out for a walk around 2:15."
What about closing your door and taking a nap? It's tempting. "Catnaps are great -- unless you have insomnia. There's evidence now showing that the last time you were asleep affects how long it takes you to fall asleep at night," says Breus. But if you aren't struggling to sleep at night, a quick catnap can help with that energy crash midafternoon. Just don't sleep too long! The length of the nap will determine how good you feel. About 20 minutes works quite well, but much longer than that and you will wake up feeling terrible."
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/afternoon-energy-boosters
How do you eat a nutritious diet while keeping your grocery budget low? The good news is that cheap food isn't necessarily unhealthy food. You can cut food costs by eating more meals at home, and by making sure they feature some of the healthiest foods from your supermarket - foods like whole grains, vegetables, and beans. Luckily, many of these foods cost less than $2 per package.
A 2-pound bag of brown rice, for example, sells for less than $2 and cooks up into about 20 side servings -- that's just 10 cents a serving. Talk about nutrition on the cheap! Check out the list below for more examples.
Prices may vary based on the store, location, and time of year.
1. Brown Rice
Great for: Side dishes, rice salads, fried rice, casseroles, soups, and stews.
What's a serving? 1/4cup dry rice.
Price per serving: 10 cents. A 2-pound bag costs about $1.99 (on sale) and contains 20 servings.
Nutrition info per serving: 170 calories, 2 grams fiber, and 4 grams protein.
2. Whole-Wheat or Multigrain Pasta
Great for: Hot and cold pasta dishes.
What's a serving? 2 ounces of dried pasta. A serving for most people translates into about 2 ounces of dried pasta, which means you get about 7 servings in one of these boxes or bags.
Price per serving? About 28 cents. You can get a 13-16 ounce box or bag of dried pasta for about $1.79 to $1.99 (on sale)
Nutrition info per serving: About 190 calories, 9 grams protein, and 4 grams fiber.
3. 100% Whole-Wheat Bread
Great for: Hot and cold sandwiches, bread stuffing, bread pudding, and breakfast strata.
What's a serving? 2 slices. Labels usually list a serving as 1 slice of bread (about 40 grams per slice) but for our purposes, we'll use the amount you'd use to make a sandwich: 2 slices.
Price per serving: About 31 cents. You can get a 24-ounce loaf of whole-wheat bread for about $1.99 (on sale). Each loaf has about 17 slices, or 8 servings of 2 slices each.
Nutrition info per serving (2 slices): About 180 calories, 8 grams protein, and 6 grams fiber.
4. Whole-Wheat Flour (stone-ground)
Great for: Breakfast recipes like pancakes and waffles, plusall baking recipes (use half whole wheat flour and half white flour), including breads, muffins, cakes, and cookies.
What's a serving? 1/2 cup.
Price per serving: About 6 cents. A 5-pound bag of whole-wheat flour, which sells for about $1.99 to $2.50, contains about 37 servings (1/2 cup each) of flour.
Nutrition info per serving: 180 calories, 8 grams protein, and 7 grams fiber (1.2 of which is soluble fiber).
5. Oats (Old-Fashioned or Quick)
Great for: Hot or cold cereal, granola, crumb toppings for desserts, and muffins.
What's a serving? 1/2 cup dry oats.
Price per serving: 19 cents. An 18-ounce container or oats costs around $2.29 (on sale) and each container contains about 13 servings (if 1/2-cup of dry oats is a serving).
Nutrition info per serving: 140 calories, 4 grams fiber, and 5 grams protein.
6. Frozen Vegetables
Great for: Side dishes, casseroles, and stews.
What's a serving? 1 cup
Price per serving: Around 25 cents. Frozen vegetables come in 12-ounce to 24-ounce bags that cost anywhere from $1.75 to $2.25 and contain 6-8 cups, depending on the vegetable and the size of the bag. You can buy a bag of frozen organic green beans at Trader Joe's for $1.79. A bag of petite peas will cost you $1.19, and a 16-ounce bag of frozen chopped spinach costs $1.29.
Nutrition info per serving: A 1-cup serving of frozen mixed vegetables (classic mix) has 82 calories, 6 grams fiber, 4 grams protein, 115% of the Daily Value for Vitamin A, 8% Daily Value for Vitamin C, and 7% Daily Value for potassium.
7. Potato (Russet)
Great for: Baked potatoes, breakfast potatoes, salads, casseroles, and stews.
What's a serving? 1 medium or large baked potato.
Price per serving: About 23 cents per potato. You can buy a 5-pound bag of Russet potatoes for around $2.39 (on sale), and a bag contains 11-13 potatoes.
Nutrition info per serving (one medium size potato): 168 calories, 3 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 20% of the Daily Value for vitamin C, 10% Daily Value for Iron, and 25% Daily Value for potassium.
8. Fresh Bagged Spinach
Great for: Quick salads,egg dishes, casseroles, soups, and stews.
What's a serving? If you use it for a main-dish salad, about 4 cups makes a serving. If you saute it and add to an omelet, or use it for a side salad, about 2 cups is a serving.
Price per serving: 66 cents for a 4-cup serving; 33 cents for a 2-cup serving. A bag (9 ounces) of washed and ready spinach leaves sells for about $1.99.
Nutrition info per serving: 4-cup serving contains 20 calories, 2 grams of fiber, 160% Daily Value for vitamin A, 40% Daily Value for vitamin C, 8% Daily Value for calcium, and 40% Daily Value for folic acid.
9. Canned Refried Beans
Great for: Burritos, nachos, dips, enchiladas, or a quick side dish.
What's a serving? Each can has about 3.5 (1/2-cup) servings.
Price per serving: About 36 cents. You can buy a 15-ounce can for about $1.25 on sale. Options range from No-Fat Zesty Salsa to Vegetarian.
Nutrition info per serving: About 120 calories (for the vegetarian type), 7 grams protein, 7 grams fiber, 4% Daily Value for calcium and 15% Daily Value for Iron.
10. Canned Tuna (solid white albacore or chunk light in water)
Great for: Sandwiches, casseroles, several types of salads, and to serve with crackers.
What's a serving? A 6-ounce can contains around 2 servings
Price per serving: About 62 cents. You can buy a 6-ounce can for about $1.25, or a 12-ounce can for about $2.57.
Nutrition info per serving: About 500 milligrams of omega-3 fatty acids (0.5 gram), 70 calories, and 13 grams of protein.
11. Canned or Jarred Marinara Sauce
Great for: Pasta dishes, pizza, casseroles,appetizers,Italian sandwiches, and stews.
What's a serving? 1/2 cup.
Price per serving: About 30 cents. You can buy a 28-ounce can of Tuscano Marinara sauce at Trader Joe's for $1.79.
Nutrition info per serving: A serving of Tuscano Marinara has 80 calories, 3 grams fiber, 10% Daily Value for vitamin A, and 20% for vitamin C.
12. Whole Wheat Pita Bread
Great for: Making pizzas, flatbread appetizers, and hot or cold sandwiches.
What's a serving? 1 pita pocket.
Price per serving: 25 cents. You can buy a 12-ounce package of 6 pita breads for $1.49 at Trader Joe's.
Nutrition info per serving: One of these pitas contains 130 calories, 4 grams fiber, and 5 grams of protein.
13. Nulaid Reddi Eggs (egg substitute)
Great for: Making quick omelets, or as an ingredient in fried rice. You can also blend halfegg substitute and half eggs to make quiches, frittatas,egg casseroles, andstratas.
What's a serving? 1/4 cup.
Price per serving: 25 cents. You can buy a 16-ounce carton for $1.99 at Trader Joe's and similar markets.
Nutrition info per serving: 30 calories, 6 grams protein, 10% Daily Value for vitamin B12, 6% for vitamin A, and 4% vitamins D and E.
14. Frozen Edamame (Soybeans)
Great for: Snacks and appetizers or as a side dish with your meal. If the edamame are shelled (without pods), you can easily add them to fried rice, stews, casseroles, and more.
What's a serving? 1/2 cup shelled edamame.
Price per serving: 56 cents. You can buy a 16-ounce bag of edamame in pods for $1.69 at Trader Joe's and similar markets.
Nutrition info per serving: 120 calories, 10 grams protein, 5 grams fiber, 15% Daily Value for Iron and 6% for calcium.
15. Canned Crabmeat (with 15% leg meat)
Great for: Casseroles, sandwiches, salads and as filling for omelets, quiche, enchiladas,and more.
What's a serving? 3 ounces
Price per serving: 99 cents. You can buy a 6-ounce can for $1.99.
Nutrition info per serving: 40 calories, 8 grams protein, and key nutrients like 24% Daily Value for zinc, 49% Daily Value for selenium, 103% Daily value for vitamin B12, 9% Daily value for calcium, 11% Daily Value for folate, and 400 milligrams omega-3 fatty acids.
Elaine Magee, MPH, RD, is the "Recipe Doctor" for the WebMD Weight Loss Clinic and the author of numerous books on nutrition and health. Her opinions and conclusions are her own.
http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/features/cheap-healthy-15-nutritious-foods-about-2-dollars?ecd=wnl_day_102208
To MEDICAL GROUP INSURANCE SERVICES, INC:
Under the provisions of Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 93A, Section 9, I hereby make written demand for relief as outlined in that statute. On or about 8/1/2008, I filed a claim via fax with your reimbursement center and this claim has been accepted by mgis. Since then the following unfair or deceptive act has continued, as I do not have my reimbursement yet and my payments to mgis are still being taken out of my paycheck. Per our FSA contract I should be reimbursed for all accepted charges in a timely manner and instead the claim filed with mgis on 8/1/2008 has to this day, 80 days later, the claim has not been paid.
This unfair or deceptive act or practice is, in my opinion, declared unlawful by Section 2 of Chapter 93A of Massachusetts General Laws. As a result of this unfair or deceptive act or practice, I suffered injury or loss of money as follows:
1. Resulting monetary penalties by other companies to me as a result of my loss of monies which mgis has refused to reimburse. The current total of penalties and fees as of today, that will not be final until I am paid, is $460.
2. Detrimental credit issues because of mgis refusing to reimburse me.
Therefore, I hereby demand the following relief:
1. Immediate termination of contract and termination of pre-tax direct debit withdrawals from my paycheck by mgis or it’s agents.
2. Reimbursement of all monies withdrawn from my check and not used by me for medical expenses.
3. Reimbursement of subsequent charges I have been forced to incur due to negligence by mgis totaling as of 10/20/08, starting 9/24/08, of $460. This amount will increase as each day passes in which I am not reimbursed.
Chapter 93A gives you the opportunity to make a good-faith response to this letter within thirty days of the date on this letter. Your failure to do so-could subject you to triple damages, attorney’s fees and costs if I decide to institute legal action.
Sincerely,
And here are images from when Phil broke in to my apartment with no notice and left a repairman alone in my apartment. He admitted this in court on September 22nd and it made his lawyer so sad :(
What the science says: Both supplement brands contain ginger, turmeric, and holy basil, all of which have anti-inflammatory properties. Turmeric (a curry ingredient) may be the best: A component, curcumin, eases inflammatory conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, according to the Methodist Research Institute in Indianapolis. Researchers are now testing Zyflamend in RA patients, but some experts are already sold: "Each herb has its own scientific database of evidence," says James Dillard, MD, author of "The Chronic Pain Solution."
How to try it: ProThera, InflaThera's maker, will only sell to health care professionals, so your doctor has to order it for you; that said, it's reportedly stronger (and slightly cheaper) than Zyflamend. InflaThera's suggested dosage is twice daily with food. For the more readily accessible Zyflamend, take one capsule two or three times daily, but avoid it near bedtime — each pill contains 10 mg of caffeine (another version, Zyflamend PM, is reportedly less stimulating). Buy Zyflamend at swansonvitamins.com or immunesupport.com/zyflamend.htm. Or, save money and try curcumin to start: Taking 500 mg four times daily, along with fish oil and a diet low in animal fat, can ease arthritis, says Jane Guiltinan, ND, immediate past president of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians.
What the science says: This herb comes from a European flower; although its healing mechanism is still unknown, it does have natural anti-inflammatory properties. Taking oral homeopathic arnica after a tonsillectomy decreases pain, say British researchers, and German doctors found that it reduces surgery-related knee swelling.
How to try it: Use homeopathic arnica as an adjunct to ice, herbs, or conventional pain meds, suggests Guiltinan. Rub arnica ointment on bruises or strained muscles, or take it in the form of three lactose pellets under the tongue up to six times per day. Boiron is among the most reputable arnica manufacturers.
What the science says: This red seaweed supplement is rich in calcium and magnesium. A preliminary clinical study showed that the ingredients may reduce joint inflammation or even help build bone, says David O'Leary of Marigot, Aquamin's Irish manufacturer. In a study of 70 volunteers published in Nutrition Journal, Aquamin users reduced arthritis pain by 20 percent in a month, and had less stiffness than patients taking a placebo.
How to try it: Marigot recommends 2,400 mg a day (two capsules) of Aquamin in tablet form, sold domestically in products such as Aquamin Sea Minerals and Cal-Sea-Um. A 60-pill jar of Swanson Vegetarian Aquamin Sea Minerals costs about $6 at swansonvitamins.com.
What the science says: SAM-e is made from a naturally occurring amino acid and sold as capsules. Doctors aren't entirely sure why it tamps down pain, but it reduces inflammation and may increase the feel-good brain chemicals serotonin and dopamine.
Studies by the University of Maryland School of Nursing and the University of California, Irvine, showed that SAM-e was as effective as some NSAIDs in easing osteoarthritis aches; the California researchers found that SAM-e quashed pain by 50 percent after 2 months, though it took a few weeks to kick in. SAM-e produced no cardiovascular risks and fewer stomach problems than the conventional meds.
How to try it: Costco and CVS both carry it; a month's supply costs $30 to $60. Guiltinan prescribes 400 to 1,600 mg daily, often with turmeric or fish oil. SAM-e can interact with other meds, especially MAO-inhibitor antidepressants, so it's vital to talk with your doctor before taking it (and avoid SAM-e entirely if you have bipolar disorder).
Also, inspect the packaging before buying, advises Gregory: Make sure the product carries a USP or GMP quality seal, contains a stabilizing salt, has a far-off expiration date, and comes in foil blister packs — SAM-e can degrade rapidly in direct light.
What the science says: Digested fish oil breaks down into hormonelike chemicals called prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation. In one study, about 40 percent of rheumatoid arthritis patients who took cod-liver oil every day were able to cut their NSAID use by more than a third, Scottish scientists recently reported. People with neck and back pain have fared even better: After about 10 weeks, nearly two-thirds were able to stop taking NSAIDs altogether in a University of Pittsburgh study.
How to try it: Taking 1,000 mg is proven to help your heart, but you should up the dose for pain. For osteoarthritis, try 2,000 to 4,000 mg daily; for rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases associated with joint pain (such as lupus), consider a much higher dose of upwards of 8,000 mg daily — but ask your doctor about such a large amount first, says Tanya Edwards, MD, medical director at the Cleveland Clinic's Center for Integrative Medicine. (The same rule applies if you take BP or heart meds, as omega-3s can thin the blood.) Read the nutrition label carefully: The dosage refers to the amount of omega-3s in a capsule, not other ingredients. Nordic Naturals (nordicnaturals.com) and Carlson (carlsonlabs.com) are both reputable brands; for something stronger, GNC's Triple-Strength Fish Oil (gnc.com) has 900 mg of omega-3s per capsule.
What the science says: MSM is derived from sulfur and may prevent joint and cartilage degeneration, say University of California, San Diego, scientists. People with osteoarthritis of the knee who took MSM had 25 percent less pain and 30 percent better physical function at the end of a 3-month trial at Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences. Indian researchers also found that MSM worked better when combined with glucosamine.
How to try it: Start with 1.5 to 3 g once daily and increase to 3 g twice daily for more severe pain, suggests Leslie Axelrod, ND, a professor of clinical sciences at Southwest. Patients in the Indian trial improved on dosages as low as 500 mg three times daily. Vendors of OptiMSM, the brand tested in Axelrod's trial, can be found at optimsm.com.
Chicken, melon, walnuts and feta top mixed salad greens for a refreshing summer salad. Use your favorite summer fruit in place of the melon if you wish.
Makes 4 servings
ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream
3 tablespoons fruit-flavored vinegar
4 teaspoons sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons poppy seeds
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
8 cups mixed salad greens
2 cups sliced cooked chicken breast (see Tip)
2 cups chopped melon, such as cantaloupe and/or honeydew
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, toasted (see Tip)
1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
Whisk sour cream, vinegar, sugar, poppy seeds, salt and pepper in a large bowl until smooth. Reserve 1/4 cup of the dressing in a small bowl. Add the mixed greens to the large bowl and toss to coat. Divide among 4 plates and top with chicken, melon, walnuts and feta. Drizzle each portion with 1 tablespoon of the reserved dressing.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 248 calories; 11 g fat (4 g sat, 2 g mono); 55 mg cholesterol; 18 g carbohydrate; 21 g protein; 4 g fiber; 346 mg sodium; 371 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin A (140% daily value), Vitamin C (50% dv).
1 Carbohydrate Serving
Exchanges: 1 fruit, 1 vegetable, 2 lean meat, 2 fat
TIP: To poach chicken breast: Place boneless, skinless chicken breasts in a medium skillet or saucepan and add lightly salted water to cover; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to low and simmer gently until chicken is cooked through and no longer pink in the middle, 10 to 12 minutes.
To toast chopped or sliced nuts, heat a small dry skillet over medium-low heat. Add nuts and cook, stirring, until lightly browned and fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
Summer-ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella need only a sprinkling of fresh herbs, salt and pepper to shine in this simple summer salad.
Makes 4 servings, about 1 1/4 cups each
ACTIVE TIME: 15 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 15 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
2 medium red tomatoes, cut into wedges
2 medium yellow tomatoes, cut into wedges
3/4 cup diced fresh mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground pepper to taste
Gently toss tomatoes, mozzarella, parsley, basil and salt together in a large bowl. Season with pepper.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 61 calories; 0 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono); 4 mg cholesterol; 7 g carbohydrate; 9 g protein; 2 g fiber; 317 mg sodium; 444 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (40% daily value), Calcium & Vitamin A (20% dv). 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving. Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 high-fat meat.
This slaw, a combination of cabbage, red bell pepper, scallions and bamboo shoots, is tossed with a dressing full of the classic flavors of Chinese hot-and-sour soup. Serve with grilled pork tenderloin and a glass of Riesling.
Makes 4 servings, a generous 1 cup each
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
3 tablespoons rice vinegar
1 tablespoon reduced-sodium soy sauce
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper, or to taste
3 cups shredded napa or green cabbage
1 cup thinly sliced red bell pepper
1/3 cup sliced scallions
1 8-ounce can bamboo shoots, drained and thinly sliced
Whisk rice vinegar, reduced-sodium soy sauce, oil, ginger, white pepper and crushed red pepper in a large bowl. Add napa (or green cabbage) bell pepper, scallions and bamboo shoots; toss to coat.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 62 calories; 4 g fat (1 g sat, 1 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 6 g carbohydrate; 2 g protein; 2 g fiber; 112 mg sodium; 189 mg potassium.
Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (85% daily value), Vitamin A (18% dv). 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving. Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 fat.
Toss a colorful mix of grilled bell peppers with briny olives, sweet sun-dried tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette for a lovely side dish. Or spread crostini with goat cheese and top it with this salad for an easy summer appetizer.
Makes 4 servings, about 1 cup each
ACTIVE TIME: 20 minutes
TOTAL TIME: 20 minutes
EASE OF PREPARATION: Easy
4 bell peppers (mixed colors), halved, seeded and stemmed
1/4 cup halved and pitted oil-cured black olives
1/4 cup rinsed and chopped oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1/8 teaspoon salt
Grill peppers on medium-high turning once, until soft and charred in spots, about 5 minutes per side. When cool enough to handle, chop the peppers into cubes and toss with olives, sun-dried tomatoes, oil, vinegar and salt in a large bowl.
NUTRITION INFORMATION: Per serving: 107 calories; 7 g fat (1 g sat, 3 g mono); 0 mg cholesterol; 10 g carbohydrate; 1 g protein; 2 g fiber; 330 mg sodium; 331 mg potassium. Nutrition bonus: Vitamin C (200% daily value). 1 Carbohydrate Serving.
Exchanges: 1 vegetable, 1 1/2 fat.
MAKE AHEAD TIP: Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
| Answered Question |
 |
| Subject | mistake or malpractice? |
| Question | Hi, I went in for a crown two years ago and ended up with a hole drilled into my skull. In order to suture the hole in my soft palette my jaw had to be forced and held open. Today I still have daily jaw pain which I am told by experts at Tufts Craniofacial Pain Clinic will not go away ever even with dental appliances. And now I have to get the crown replaced for the third time. Obviously there are more details, but why am I paying for the treatment? Is this malpractice? Thanks. |
| Answer | Yes. You probably have two defendants, that is if two dentists worked on you. The first dentist who went through the skull, actually the top of your mouth (I forget what that is called, palate?) that required clamping your jaws open so you got (I guess) a temporo/mandibular injury. It is this second manipulation that is causing your pain. I wonder what the extent of injury is that the Pain Clinic people think can not be helped. Well, if you file a lawsuit and get a good dental malpractice lawyer, you may learn more about your injury. You hear of treatment for that temporo/mandibular pain so you should not give up hope for that. It has a well known set of signs. Your lawyer should start out with a dental and facial surgery expert, that is a special expert within the dental profession, and you may get some help from him. Be sure your lawyer knows what the Tufts people said. Ask your local Bar Association for a list of dental malpractice lawyers. Sometimes they are listed in the Yellow Pages, but start with the Bar Ass'n. You should not have too much trouble finding a lawyer because pain that can not be 'cured' is worth some bucks. Even a jury will probably see that you are in trouble. |
If you think your doctor goofed, chances are he did. | |
Women in Technology
Thoughts from a women working in the technology industry for women coming into it
I have been working or studying the high-end technology field since 1998 when I began by designing websites for DARPA. Since then I have been involved in many stereotypical situations from functioning in an industry dominated by men and their linear mentalities. I want to first stress that the following behavior I am referring to is not true to ALL men however is most definitely the popular reaction and behavior. Unfortunately the behavior is proof of the rise of ignorance and continued promotion of men by men to enable an emotionally secure situation that does not involve women.
Below is the latest and very common handling of projects and ‘acceptable’ office behavior. I have noted this not because I am shocked or upset as I have made my piece with having to work for and with ignorant bullies. But instead I want to share this information with others to read so it is very clear that many strides have been made to equate women and men. We are not done and still, just like with the KKK, the ignorant ‘boys network’ is alive, strong, and growing.
In my position I have accomplished many things in the two years I have been at the small firm I work for in central ma. My accomplishments have been met with attitude, slander, and emotional tantrums in the office all of which have been ignored by the executive. Further when I have initiated a conversation with the executives about the behavior the response was that I should “stand up for myself”. When I do confront the ignorant males behaving this way the response is to loudly belittle me as a sensitive female as I object to being called incompetent by a mid-level manager while the CTO appoints me into more prominent roles with a greater responsibilities. Just a few of my accomplishments have included expanding the technology and generating more tools for the software development team, increasing production by 300% in 8 months, retaining customers creating a long term relationship, driving the sales team by taking on the responsibility of creating sales tools the marketing department is not able to do, and many other smaller projects.
I am hoping not to convince women to looking for other industries but instead to properly inform other women of the daily issues that will be faced while trying to function in the technology industry. The most important factors in the level of these issues are the corporate culture of the company, which is hard to understand with out being involved in companies daily activates. As there is no way to avoid these issues all together having discussions about the diversity of employees and makeup of the management team. Research is the best preventative strategy understanding the sad fact that people do not change. So if anyone has clearly been held accountable for behavior like this there is no doubt the behavior will continue.
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Timeline
4/18 Emailed that model was complete and exported
4/21 I QA’d the model, sent notice to Technical Lead and Modeler that model had passed QA about noon. Response from Technical Lead was told that Product was not on my schedule for the week and I should work on my assignments instead
4/22 Model re-exported.
Technical Lead informed me that I should now work on the model, no other information available. Animations done per my best guess as any direction was withheld and no information from the customer was provided.
4/23 Finished animation of model per the studio images as no other information was available and Technical Lead told me nothing. Instead barked from behind that I did not include animations that I was told to. Next learned that no content was available and no definitions of animations outlined in contract were available.
4/24 No information was available on animations or photographs of different configuration that the device was suppose to be animated into. Checked Customer website but there was no image there and none taken during photography. Involved Director of Operations, as I could not complete animations until this information was available. Sent list of needed information to Technical Lead …never got a response. Sent update before leaving for the day that animations were being completed per my conversation with Sales Executive, as it was the only information given to me. Finally got the content and current requests from customers from Sales Executive, as Technical Lead & Customer Service Manager have provided no information in response to many requests. COB 80% done.
4/25 Finished up animations per my interpretation of content form and my conversation with Sales Executive. Barked at from behind about customer requests I was informed about around 2pm while deadline was COB. Finished up animation QA and sent finished product over to Programmer for implementation 3pm. Response was that I had done something wrong animation the same part multiple times as bellowed across the office. At that point I went over and explained there were two parts that were essentially the same but one was 1” and the other was 2”. Next Programmer involved UI Designer whom had never communicated about any UI needs. UI Designer’s snotty reaction was to bark across the office that I “screwed up the template” to which I responded my multiple requests for information were ignored. The problem was easily fixed by pasting in a ui.jar file already created rather than having to recreate anything within the product tour. After a few minutes of arguing that I was not correct Director of Operations inserted himself into the conversation and both Programmer and UI Designer shut up long enough to try what I had explained multiple times was easily fixed by coping over a file and the boys tried it. After it worked I again attempted to return to my desk and continue work however was for a third time barked out by UI Designer who was now with a hand on a hip and swirling finger complained the background color was incorrect. To which I responded that I was never given a color value or access to anyone else’s files which is standard operating procedure. At that time I stopped work to explain to the meson programmer, Programmer, and the UI Designer that the background color in all meson models in defined in the mesonjar and again reiterated that none of this is the responsibility of a entry level technical animator. Regardless of the ignorance of employees or impotent communication ability of the Technical Lead any of these issues being raise less than hour before a deadline could not be more unacceptable. 3:45p I was sent content changes from Customer Service Manager.
On my way home on April 18 I was shocked while sitting at a light that had just turned green to watch two cars whom had the green light be crashed into by a car running a red light that did not even bother to attempt to use the brakes. Instead this car ran a red light hit the side of one car with so much force that both cars went into the other car in the intersection then went all the way to the cars stopped for the red light.
The most amazing part of the experience was that once the cars stopped moving the drivers all got out of their cars to asses the damage, one being a pregnant women (9 months pregnant—actually passed her due date). The cars around rather than stopping to help or even asking if everyone was ok started to honk because they could not proceed through the intersection. All the drivers got back in their cars and pulled to the side of the road to call the police and await their arrival.
NOT ONE PERSON got out to help the pregnant women or the man whose car was hit by the idiot who blew the red light. I went around the block to find a spot and drag the pregnant women out the street until the police arrived. Interestingly, the man who ran the red light originally asked everyone if they were alright but once the police arrived did not speak English anymore.
I have had many experiences since I moved to Massachusetts against the advise of everyone I knew because my thought was that people here cannot be as bad as the stories I have heard. So far in just over two years, I have been run off Route 2 heading west on 1/3/07 by a purple Jetta during AM rush hour traffic ending up 10 feet into the woods and no one stopped. I have had a hole drilled into my head by a dentist who then got verbally abusive when I complained about the pain. A landlord, Giovanni Caruso, whom refused to replace my stove that had been broke for four months and instead demanded rent then left the country for a vacation in Australia. (It was another two months before I got a new stove). Stuck with a neighbor whom, because he comes home drunk, leaves dents and scratches in my car then when I asked him to stop retaliated by threatening my 65-year-old mother while she was taking care of me after surgery to fix the hole that was drilled into my head. Woke up one Sunday morning to find that one of the local jerks decided to cause $1200 of damage to a 3-week-old car by scratching “Asshole James” into the back door. And finally, my personal favorite (note sarcasm here), while working for a small company in Maynard was verbal abused and physically threaten at my desk for doing nothing more than my job. The CTO thought it was funny that employee needed to be physically restrained and removed from the office and my manager told me “That people like me should learn how to deal with it”.
LESSON: If you’re not from MA and you don’t have the right last name….DON’T MOVE HERE!!
