baratunde's internet scratch pad - comedian, vigilante pundit, tv host

February 7, 2010

Tents for Haiti – What You Can Do NOW #HaitiTents

Dozens of people from Atlanta (and around the world) are working with us to make sure that every person in Haiti has temporary waterproof shelter before the rainy season/hurricane season hits. When this happens, disaster will strike if the 700,000+ people that are still living under sheets with sticks don’t have something stronger.

Yes. Homes need to be rebuilt. We are working on that. This will take months and years to complete and we have to make sure that people have shelter NOW before the rains come in just a few weeks.

via shauninthecity.com

Please click through the link above and send a tent (or 10) if you can. Let's keep Haiti in our hearts and minds and stay informed. With information, let's act.

Thanks

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Filed under // haiti

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February 6, 2010

The President Greets a Young Visitor | The White House

via whitehouse.gov

Beautiful

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Filed under // Obama

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February 5, 2010

Why Geolocation Services Are Exciting. It's the future of comedy

Geo-location will offer another tool for the forces of Good in the great battle between effective filters and information overload. While social media helps me find value based on trusted sources, geo-location will go a step further by narrowing my choices to what's nearby. For all its ability to build connections, the Internet has in some ways disconnected me from my locale. I'm a "national" or even "global" citizen and I look forward to once again being where I am. The creative opportunities are also fun. I've left a bunch of easter egg "tips" in Foursquare and have a bunch more hijinks planned. Geo-targeted comedy is the future.

via readwriteweb.com

Yes, I said "geo-targeted comedy is the future." You heard it here first. This was in an interview with Marshall Kirkpatrick, and it's definitely worth reading the entire post at ReadWriteWeb linked above.

To my Foursquare friends, things are about to get mad interesting.

(Note: I'm only 4sq friends with people I actually know, so try not to be offended if I don't accept you. Location is intimate)

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February 4, 2010

A few thoughts on Meg Whitman's new TV ad in her quest to be California's next governor #demonsheep

Here's the ad

First observation: not nearly enough Demon Sheep in this ad. Carly Fiorina is also a former big shot CEO who understands what Californians should fear most, and it isn't a "crisis of condifence." Carlyfornia is not afraid of the truth, unlike Whitman.

Second observation: why would anyone want to be governor of California? I'm pretty sure the problem isn't a lack of corporate CEOs with "business experience" at the helm. The problem is that the state is too big, has too many structural limitations on its budget and, most importantly, is infested with ferile feral demon sheep.

What California needs is more shotguns and hunting permits to stop these demon sheep before they take over the country.

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February 1, 2010

#WhiskeyMonday?

Yes, that is a bottle of Jameson from which i'm drinking.

No, it is not full of Jameson.

It is full of water.

Lesson: stay hydrated, and recycle

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January 30, 2010

Haiti Update: Listen to interview with Dr. Menon as he heads home #HaitiDrDispatch

1020A Phoner Haiti 1 - 27

(download)

For the past two weeks, I have blogged updates from my friend and college roommate, Dr. Anil Menon, as he used his emergency medical expertise to assist in the aftermath of the Haitian earthquake. In all likelihood, this is Anil's last dispatch from Haiti itself, and it includes the audio from an interview he did with KCBS in which he praises the resilience of the Haitian people and describes some of the long term medical needs of the country. He sent it Friday January 29, 2010 at 09:12

iv class="gmail_quote">

From: Anil S. Menon

Sent at 09:12 ET/Haiti Time

Headed home now. Thanks for your support.

Anil S Menon

Sent from iPhone

--

Anil Menon, MD is a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine focused on surgery and emergency medicine. His research interests are Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. He graduated from Stanford Med in 2006, received a degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and became a full ER doctor in 2009. He has practiced medicin in combat in Afghanistan and will be practicing aerospace medicine next year at NASA. Menon is a flight surgeon assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing (F-15s) of the Oregon Air National Guard, and he's part of a team sent to Haiti by Stanford.

This entire series is chronicled under the HaitiDrDispatch tag

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Filed under // citizenjournalism doctor haiti haitidrdispatch stanford

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January 30, 2010

Haiti Update: Our fearless leader collapsed on the floor #HaitiDrDispatch

I received the following from Anil on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 15:01 ET. I've also made minor spelling and grammar corrections and have tried my best to fill in missing words. I've added hyperlinks where I thought they might help.

From: Anil S. Menon

Sent at 15:01 ET/Haiti Time

I remember the smell of infection and the small room we used for triage to the OR. There were a few Haitian doctors, but most were suffering from the trauma of the earthquake, and it seemed like we would never sleep.

Now the waves of amputations have slowed, we have a handle on the closed fractures, and some endemic disease is appearing. I heard an orthopedic surgeon say "I think we just got kicked out of the OR," which can only be a good sign of the Haitians taking over the reigns. Of course there is plenty of work to last through the years, but this early evolution is good to see.

Dr. Paul Auerbach collapsed on the floor

Our fearless leader and wilderness guru, Paul, took his last meeting at noon and then collapsed on the floor. Right this moment I sit beside him as he recovers and is able to piece together a joke and has already received seven liters of fluid.

He pushed it to the last moment just like Gaby, Jonathan, Heather, Julie, Bob, and Ian. Of course we get a chance to rest unlike our patients. That's what makes it hard to leave. Like Bob said: "No matter how long you stay, you'll never be ready to leave."

I thank everyone for their support as it has really made me stronger for the mission. [I especially want to thank] Stanford, IMC and the 173rd Fighter Wing.

Anil S Menon

Sent from iPhone

--

Anil Menon, MD is a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine focused on surgery and emergency medicine. His research interests are Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. He graduated from Stanford Med in 2006, received a degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and became a full ER doctor in 2009. He has practiced medicin in combat in Afghanistan and will be practicing aerospace medicine next year at NASA. Menon is a flight surgeon assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing (F-15s) of the Oregon Air National Guard, and he's part of a team sent to Haiti by Stanford.

This entire series is chronicled under the HaitiDrDispatch tag

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Filed under // citizenjournalism doctor haiti haitidrdispatch stanford

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January 30, 2010

Haiti Update: We are nearing the end of our tenure #HaitiDrDispatch

I received the following from Anil on Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 15:01 ET. I've also made minor spelling and grammar corrections and have tried my best to fill in missing words. I've added hyperlinks where I thought they might help.

From: Anil S. Menon

Sent at 15:01 ET/Haiti Time

We are nearing the end of our tenure for the Stanford ER physicians and nurses. A new group from Stanford will be coming, including Rebecca Walker and Jessica Pierog, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital has agreed to donate another $20,000 in supplies (wheelchairs, prosthetics, and other materials). International Medical Corps will have a sustained presence over the coming year with over 50 staff and help fill the need for continued care created by so many amputations and injuries.

The city of Port-au-Prince is devastated, but the resilience of the Haitian people is apparent. There is a lot of work to be done, but there is a feeling of normalcy in the hospital now. It might be just the contrast to the initial chaos.

--

Anil Menon, MD is a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine focused on surgery and emergency medicine. His research interests are Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. He graduated from Stanford Med in 2006, received a degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and became a full ER doctor in 2009. He has practiced medicin in combat in Afghanistan and will be practicing aerospace medicine next year at NASA. Menon is a flight surgeon assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing (F-15s) of the Oregon Air National Guard, and he's part of a team sent to Haiti by Stanford.

This entire series is chronicled under the HaitiDrDispatch tag

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Filed under // citizenjournalism doctor haiti haitidrdispatch stanford

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January 29, 2010

#BlackGuyAtTwitter !! Ok it's @TristanWalker from Foursquare but whatever

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Posted from San Francisco, CA

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January 28, 2010

Haiti Update: I got into this business to help people #HaitiDrDispatch

I received the following from Anil on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 20:58 ET. I've also made minor spelling and grammar corrections and have tried my best to fill in missing words. I've added hyperlinks where I thought they might help.

From: Anil S. Menon

Sent at 20:48 ET/Haiti Time

US Armed Forces in Haiti

As a member of the Armed Service, I am very proud of our humanitarian effort. Not only did I arrive in Haiti with the permission of my commanders at the 173rd Fighter Wing, but I have also worked with the 82nd Airborne and the U.S. Navy to move 50 patients today to receive definitive treatment. These complicated surgeries could be performed only on the USNS Comfort, and we expect another 50 tomorrow. I got into this business to help people, and thanks to this support we have the capacity to help to the fullest.

--

Anil Menon, MD is a clinical instructor at Stanford School of Medicine focused on surgery and emergency medicine. His research interests are Aerospace Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and Wilderness Medicine. He graduated from Stanford Med in 2006, received a degree in mechanical engineering in 2003 and became a full ER doctor in 2009. He has practiced medicin in combat in Afghanistan and will be practicing aerospace medicine next year at NASA. Menon is a flight surgeon assigned to the 173rd Fighter Wing (F-15s) of the Oregon Air National Guard, and he's part of a team sent to Haiti by Stanford.

This entire series is chronicled under the HaitiDrDispatch tag

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Filed under // citizenjournalism doctor haiti haitidrdispatch stanford

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