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Same-sex attraction used to be in the diagnostic manual of psychiatry. After a years-long political campaign by gay activists and psychiatrists, it was removed. Now the move is afoot to classify "homophobia" as a psychiatric disorder.
Medical "sexologist" Emmanuele Jannini, writing in The Journal of Sexual Medicine says, "After discussing for centuries if homosexuality is to be considered a disease, for the first time we demonstrated that the real disease to be cured is homophobia, associated with potentially severe psychopathologies."
Jannini of the University of Rome Tor Vergata and twelve Phd and MD colleagues from the University of L'Aquila, University of Florence, and Spienza University in Rome have issued a study that asserts the better mental health you have, based on criteria Jannini established, the less likely you are to be "homophobic."
The researchers interviewed 551 Italian university students.
The study found that "homophobes" have higher levels of hostility and anger and are more likely to be uncomfortable in close relationships. Jannini believes "homophobia" is more likely found "dysfunctional personalities."
Jannini also believes "homophobia" is culturally induced and is caused by religion and conservative values.
Jannini's study joins earlier work of academics that stigmatize opposition to the gay agenda. A 2012 study, for instance, found that those who oppose the gay agenda are in actuality struggling with their own same-sex desires. This has become a meme gay activists use against their critics.
The left-wing press eagerly picked up the new study. Think Progress ran the rather eager headline "New Study Suggests Connections Between Homophobia and Mental Disorders."
Author and statistical expert Dr. William Briggs says in the new study "homophobia is defined in part as holding to the traditional, natural law and religious understanding of same-sex attractions and acts." Briggs is concerned that Jannini's description of "severe psychopathologies" connected to traditional religious beliefs "sounds like the sort of thing that requires treatment, perhaps even against the will of the patients."
Briggs says the study is little more than phony science rigged to stigmatize traditional religious and philosophical belief. Any answer to the questionnaire that hewed closely to Biblical belief, for instance, was scored by the researchers as "homophobic."
The study suggests such beliefs are "irrational," but Briggs says "carefully developed doctrine and philosophy rooted in natural law evidence are not "irrational." Labeling them as such and then dressing up the question-begging in a lab coat doesn't make the procedure any less fallacious."
Briggs says the study "is not science. It is either shameless advocacy, sloppy thinking, or both."
Follow Austin Ruse on Twitter @austinruse


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Woman dies after morning crash on Interstate 283
Woman dies after morning crash on Interstate 283
HIGHSPIRE, Pa. —
A woman has died after a crash on Interstate 283 near Highspire, Dauphin County.
The multi-vehicle crash was spread across the southbound lanes and into the median near mile marker 2. It's not yet clear what caused the crash.
PennDOT shut down the entire road for about an hour. The southbound lanes then remained shut down an additional hour.

subset: commoncrawl


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I'm not the one with the green thumb; that would be Bill. If it has fur and/or a pulse, I'm good. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy plants, especially flowers. I'm pretty good with my angel-wing begonias, and my mum gardens do well. I'm just much better with animals. I get critters; we connect.
I was skeptical when the locust tree popped up in the far corner of the back yard. I didn't like the thorns. I was sure we could find a "better" tree. I called it a "scrub tree". Yet, Bill took to it immediately. His green thumb was itching to get this tree growing. He said it was perfect; it was meant to be there. Bill insisted that he had wanted a tree for exactly that spot. So there it was: a locust tree that just moved itself in. How could I argue? Along with all of the critters we rescue, Bill rescues plants.
This was not a tree that I would have chosen however, when the wildlife took to it, I finally accepted it. It was now part of our yard. As it grew, birds began living in it! Orioles would stop there. King Birds regularly used the tree. Woodpeckers, Nuthatches and Brown Creepers could be seen skittering up and down the tree often. Cardinals and Blue Jays seemed to be present constantly. Wren would sit there and sing to their little heart's content! The locust tree now had a purpose. If the birds loved it, so could I.
We had been given a birdhouse when our beautiful niece and god-daughter passed away. Dewey was only eight years old when she died during an asthma attack. She was an extraordinary child, so very full of life and love. There had never seemed the "right" place before for this special birdhouse. It just didn't seem appropriate to put it out in the open, unsheltered. The cedars and pines seemed somehow wrong, so serious, dark and stern. They attracted birds that showed no interest in this little house. Yet, this locust tree seemed to attract beauty and life. It was so busy; just like Dewey! With this in mind, we mounted Dewey's birdhouse on the fence post, next to the locust tree.
The wren moved into the birdhouse immediately. They worked hard to set up housekeeping. So, when the tornado came through, taking down half of our fence, we were devastated. The birdhouse was not damaged, but the fence post hung loose. By the time the fence was repaired, the wrens had been forced to abandon it.
The following spring, when nesting season began, we watched Dewey's birdhouse with much anticipation and hope. One morning we heard the wren cheerfully singing in the locust tree. By noon, they were filling the birdhouse with twigs and bedding. We were overjoyed at the return of life to Dewey's birdhouse.
Unbelievably, the next day a terrible storm tore through our neighborhood, taking an adjoining section of fence with it. I was shocked! How could this happen again?! I could only imagine what the wren thought! I knew there was no family in the birdhouse yet, but I feared that the birds would never trust this little house again. I feared Dewey's birdhouse would remain abandoned forever now.
The fence was repaired, but the real damage was done. The wren had moved on. I could hear the wren, as they nested in neighboring trees. I would see them happily coming and going, but Dewey's birdhouse sat empty, now abandoned. This made me so sad. I imagined it made Dewey sad, too. We were devastated yet again.
One day shortly thereafter, I noticed the male wren sitting in the locust tree. He was singing loudly and joyfully. I then noticed twigs and grass sticking out of the birdhouse. I was hopeful, but cautious. I was afraid to get too excited yet. I knew Dewey must be watching from the heavens with anticipation, too!
Later, Bill was out doing yard work when he saw a little bird's face peeking out of Dewey's birdhouse. In the locust tree, the male wren sat singing with what seemed to be much satisfaction. The wrens were back! They had moved into Dewey's birdhouse!
Our hearts were again full of joy, as well! We are sure Dewey was, too. She was all about loving and sharing, always offering help to whoever needed it, in any way that she could. Dewey always wanted everyone to be happy, even animals. Her favourite song was, "Sunshine on My Shoulders", which truly summed her up.
Dewey's legacy is simple: love, giving from the heart, unselfishly. Her spirit lives on.
For Dewey, with love:
16 November 1987-13 June 1996…
forever in our hearts.
My "Golden Sky" Blogfest Memorial


text:
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That is a beautiful looking power supply in mint condition. I wonder what could possibly be wrong with it?
Ask them if they will send you a copy of the owners and service manual.
Could you take more pictures and post some detailed pictures of the front and back panels too? Also closeups of the PC boards with enough lighting and detail to read the labels on the components.
That fuse holder looks rather loose...
Quote from: Seekonk on November 30, 2017, 07:52:06 amJust put a 100W lamp in series with the AC power to limit current. Any good supply will operate with this lamp in series with a very dull glow.Unfortunately, this does not work for switching power supplies with a PFC circuit.
Just put a 100W lamp in series with the AC power to limit current. Any good supply will operate with this lamp in series with a very dull glow.
Quote from: CJay on December 01, 2017, 01:16:39 amThat fuse holder looks rather loose...I think it's OK.
Note that if you want to post higher resolution photos, you can always use a service (free image host).Then, to show the image in forum, just click on the image button (below the "B" button) and paste the image URL between the IMG tags Code: [Select][img]www.site.com/img[/img]
A final note on this thread. I contacted the manufacturer by phone today and spoke to a repair person. According to the person I spoke to, the serial number of the unit indicates a construction date of 2007, and this model is at the end of its life with manufacture set to end in March 2018. If I send it back for repair, it will cost nearly as much as a new unit, because to repair a 2007 unit they would have to replace the internals with the current spec components ("overhaul"). That means I have to either repair it myself or get rid of it. I'm not really set up for repairing it yet but my plan is to keep hold of the unit and try to get it repaired by December 2018, failing that I'll scrap it or sell it on Auctions or something. When I try the repairs, what I'll do is post on the repair forum as suggested by CJay above rather than on this thread. I probably won't start doing that until next year, so I'll see you then. I had quite a good conversation with the repair person, who suggested that the problem was almost certainly in the power supply part.Thanks to everyone who's replied here.
But it can still be the power supply.
High-res photos and a schematic is what is needed to assist with pointing out what to measure with a simple DMM to see if at least the right base voltages exists.
You can post up to 2 Mb per post which is a LOT if you compress images intelligently. Download a copy of theGimp, ( gimp.org ) and fool around a bit with the image compression settings for jpg and png.
Quote from: cdev on December 07, 2017, 10:42:09 amYou can post up to 2 Mb per post which is a LOT if you compress images intelligently. Download a copy of theGimp, ( gimp.org ) and fool around a bit with the image compression settings for jpg and png.Or Irfanview which has a very nice 'save for web' option in the file menu
I have a firm belief that people that feel the need to post high resolution photos have no chance of fixing anything. They are a crutch for those that don't want to go through the logical process to diagnosis the problem. I won't help those who just clog up posts with meaningless crap.


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Creality Studio was seeking funding on kickstarter for their VR title "Edge of Atlantis" a while ago, and today they have announced a great news: the game has been successfully funded!
First, a quick recap/intro about this game. Edge of Atlantis is billed as a "VR Fantasy Roguelike Action RPG Game", featuring "physics-based combat, strategic magical battles, questing and crafting in a procedurally generated fantasy world". This room scale title supports the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift with Oculus Touch hardware, with emphasis on exploration and a hardcore permadeath mode.
The game is set in Atlantis, where the most advanced civilization in human history reside in. The "Edge of Atlantis" is the name of the legendary sword forged by these people, which is capable of bending the fabric of space and time to its wielder's will. An evil sorcerer by the name of Eowauf is seeking to take the sword, therefore sealing Atlantis in a time loop and escaped into the timeless realms. Your mission is to restore Atlantis from the edge of time, and you can expect to visit various magical realms.
Edge of Atlantis has a Steam Page, which indicate a release date of September 2017, and many other finer details about the title.
While the title has already met its goal, you can still proceed to back this project if you haven't (there's still 11 hours to go as of this writing) to get early discount and Alpha/Beta access.


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Search UMMC
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Published on Thursday, January 15, 2015
Media Contact: Gary Pettus at 601-815-9266 or email@example.com.
Dr. James Keeton, vice chancellor for health affairs, was celebrated in August as the latest recipient of UMMC's Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award, on the night that five School of Medicine legends joined the Medical Hall of Fame.
"Maybe you can be a prophet in your own country," Keeton said upon accepting the award during an Aug. 16 ceremony attended by an estimated 120 people at the Country Club of Jackson.
"It's been a heck of a trip," said Keeton, who also serves as the dean of the School of Medicine. "To be honored by your peers - it doesn't get any better than that."
This is the third year the Medical Alumni Chapter of UMMC has made the Hall of Fame presentations, held in conjunction with the 146th session of the Mississippi State Medical Association.
Keeton, who plans to retire in the summer, is a Class of '65 graduate and the fifth recipient of the Distinguished Medical Alumnus honor.
"I'm just a little old boy from Columbus, in the middle of his class," he said. "I was going to be a YMCA director if I didn't get into medical school. Thank God I got into medical school."
Dr. Dan Jones, University of Mississippi chancellor, presented the award to Keeton.
Keeton served as interim vice chancellor for several months starting in 2009 before Jones appointed him to fill the position permanently on Feb. 18, 2010.
As UMMC's chief executive officer, Keeton has led the institution through a host of challenges - among them a major economic recession.
"In my humble opinion these are our best days," Jones said. "When the history of the medical center is written, I believe it will show that the time Jimmy has been here was pivotal."
Dr. Barbara Goodman, president of the Medical Alumni Chapter, said the Hall of Fame inductees made outstanding contributions to the medical school, the state, and beyond.
Dr. PonJola Coney
Coney, who was unable to attend the ceremony, sent her acceptance speech, which included these words: "Thank you, my family and friends, for your support and unconditional love and especially to my late mother, Dorothy, for being a role model of patience, sacrifice, trust, leadership and more."
Accepting the award for Robert Currier were his wife Marilyn Currier and their two daughters Dr. Mary Currier, State Health Officer for the Mississippi State Department of Health, and Angela Currier.
"I may be prejudiced, but I think he deserves it," Marilyn Currier said. "He loved to teach. His students loved him. He was good at it."
For his part, Hall of Fame recipient Greganti said that three of his fellow honorees had been his teachers: Currier, Lehan and Weems. "These people were the stars," he said.
Accepting the honor for Lehan was his son Dr. Neal Lehan, a Clinton dentist who teaches in the UMMC School of Medicine. As a boy, he said, he went with his father to work at UMMC on Sundays before church.
"Dad was a calm cookie," he said. "A heart would stop on the table. He'd point to this, then point to that, and then everything would be fine. Then he'd go outside and suck down half a cigarette."
Accompanying Weems to the presentation was his wife of 61 years, Nanette Weems.
Referring to his Hall of Fame night, Weems said, "It's a high honor, but not the highest honor I've ever had. When Nanette agreed to marry me, that was the highest."
Interactive Campus Map
Parking Information
2500 North State Street
Jackson, MS 39216
General Information: 601-984-1000
Patient Appointments: 888-815-2005


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DETROIT – Nalpac hosted its first-ever open house this week; welcoming 34 vendors and more than 100 buying entities for three days of product exhibitions, networking and bonding over nightly activities throughout Detroit's historic Greektown district.
Glenn LeBoeuf, Nalpac vice president of operations, said he was appreciative of the event's vendors – several of which enlisted as sponsors of various components of the event. Among the sponsors were Pipedream Products, CalExotics, Doc Johnson, Nasstoys, System Jo and SI Novelties, among others.
System Jo sponsored night one's Meet & Greet, which introduced attendees to local cuisine while enjoying Motown classics. The second night Nalpac treated attendees to a south of the border experience with a Mexican Night sponsored by Nasstoys complete with mariachis and a margarita bar.
"Nalpac is so appreciative of the vendors whose generous support allowed us to hold our first Open House," LeBoeuf told XBIZ. "Their enthusiastic participation not only made this event possible, but also added to the energy and camaraderie everyone felt. We are very grateful to our vendor-partners for helping make this event so successful."
On the final night of Nalpac's open house, attendees had an opportunity to enjoy a sightseeing yacht tour on the Detroit River. The event offered a bar sponsored by CalExotics, with souvenir photos sponsored by SI Novelties.
During the day, Nalpac's Open House featured vendors situated throughout the Atheneum Suite Hotel's expansive ballroom with buyers going from station to station checking out their latest releases and writing sales orders.
"The vendors told us they appreciated the opportunity to go in-depth with customers in such a flexible format," LeBoeuf said. "Their staffs arrived fully prepared to discuss the finer details of their companies' products, and were ready with definitive answers to customers' questions."
Pipedream Products catered to visitors of its bustling booth with two reps on hand – Cheryl Flangel and Colleen Godin.
"It's been a big success for us, we've been busy non-stop," Godin said. "Nalpac has been invaluable in helping Pipedream stay on top. We thank them for putting together a great event."
Monday featured a special appearance by Coco, who posed for photos and signed autographs while promoting her Cocolicious collection, manufactured by CalExotics. The brand's sister company, Jopen also was in attendance with brand manager Robin Stewart connecting with Nalpac's diverse customer base that included a buyer from Singapore.
"It was exciting to be here," Stewart said. "I got to meet new retailers and expand our reach with the Jopen brand. We made a lot sales and met many retailers."
Electric Lingerie's Zachary Goode told XBIZ is was a no-brainer to attend Nalpac's Open House.
"I'm honored to be here and support Nalpac any way I can," he said. "As a valued distributor of Electric's, I'm grateful for their continued support for our product lines."
Sliquid's Michelle Marcus showcased the brand's range of lubricants and bodycare products for men and women while disseminating facts about their health benefits.
"The Splash and Smooth line of feminine products are pH-balanced," Marcus said. "This is especially important for women that take baths – stagnant water contributes to yeast infections, even among young girls. I give this product to all my friends that have daughters."
Carlos Becker of Kheper Games exhibited the brand's latest novelty items and games. "I hope to share with Nalpac's customers the importance of carrying games," he said. "People use games therapeutically or to solve problems with intimacy. They're great for exploration."
Carrashield's Jeff Hawkins exhibited a new retail display for the Divine 9 brand of lube.
"This is the type of event I like to attend because of the customer interaction," Hawkins said. "I get the opportunity to talk to the retailer and educate them on the benefits of Divine 9."
SI Novelties' Steven Schwartz said the company gave attendees a firsthand introduction t three new lines that are carried by Nalpac.
"Customers are seeing our full line up close and personal," Schwartz said. "We had a lot of traffic at our booth; and I'm more than happy to be here getting excellent feedback from customers."
Thomas Rafferty, Nalpac sales manager, is credited with organizing Nalpac's Open House.
"It is extremely gratifying to see so many of our customers at the Open House, learning about the products and interacting with each other," he told XBIZ. "Retailers have many demands on their time and resources. We know that it isn't easy to fit another event into their busy schedules. So hearing from so many that they found the Open House valuable to their businesses is just what we had hoped.
"The smaller scale of an Open House allowed customers the time and space to learn important details about vendors' products, and to exchange ideas with suppliers and fellow retailers in a comfortable setting. And everyone appreciated the high level of attention they received from the Nalpac staff."
Ralph Caplan, Nalpac Owner/President, told XBIZ, "I want to thank everyone involved for making Nalpac's first Open House such a hit. Our staff worked very hard to ensure that we did everything possible to exceed expectations. Our vendors supported this event fully and for that we are eternally grateful. And our customers made it all worthwhile with their passion for this business. Nalpac is proud to be a member of such a great industry.
"Holding Nalpac's first Open House at Detroit's Atheneum Suite Hotel was a great choice for everyone. Our guests told us they rarely have felt so comfortable. The ballroom was especially inspiring. Natural light poured in through huge windows, helping the products look their best and brightening everyone's mood. We were alsoimpressed with the exemplary service provided by the Atheneum's staff, which we believe mirrors Nalpac's commitment to its customers."
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The Aoen and Futhark runes won't calibrate and it's destroying my souuuulll.
Ice is extremely cold, immeasurably slippery, at times it glistens clear as glass like most gems. Is a floor wrought of frost a fair sight?
Loki & Thor
Lets split apart in the light like before.
Like before.


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Football coaches love to talk about taking it one game at a time and not looking ahead.
Luckily, I'm a sportswriter, and I don't have to do that. I have the freedom to look ahead and to look back at where Baton Rouge's high school football teams have been.
The 2014 season has been fairly predictable through three games. As cliché as it sounds, I do believe the best is yet to come.
This Friday's Rummel vs. Catholic High game helps kickoff a string of pivotal games for local teams. Zachary (2-1) at Scotlandville (2-1) in 4-5A also is huge.
Remember, no regular season win can guarantee playoff success.
Here are some highlights so far:
Most surprising win: Catholic's big 48-0 road victory over Mandeville in Week 2. The two teams had a history of playing close games recently. The margin here was the surprise. The fact the win came a week after the Mandeville lost 14-10 to powerful John Curtis made people take notice.
Most impressive teams: So far it's a long list. Include 5A Catholic, 4A Plaquemine (3-0) and 3A University (3-0) and Livonia (2-0). Give 4A Lutcher credit for its 3-0 start too.
Catholic has Derrius Guice and U-High has Nick Brossette, both LSU commitments. Plaquemine is the team that intrigues many people. The Green Devils run behind a huge offensive line and are no longer a one-man show like last season when Julius Maracalin, now a redshirt at Southeastern Louisiana University, did all the heavy lifting.
Livonia's Malcolm Dedrick has emerged as another running back to watch. Like ex-Livonia star Russell Farris, Dedrick was initially seen as more of a defensive player.
Catholic faces Ascension rivals St. Amant and Dutchtown to open district play.
Team getting the biggest wakeup call: Central High. The Wildcats were the preseason pick to win District 4-5A but a 35-6 loss to Jesuit left coach St. Edwards' team exposed.
Central won easily over mismatched opponents for three straight weeks, creating an illusion that things were better than they are.
Sure the Wildcats have top prospects in safety Kevin Henry and receiver Terrell Chatman. But there has to be more to it than that.
This week Central (2-1) plays talented McKinley (2-1), a team that has gained confidence with back-to-back shutouts of smaller schools. The Wildcats face Scotlandville on Oct. 3, so it won't get any easier.
M overs and shakers: Class 5A Woodlawn (2-1) is much-improved. Class 2A Northeast High (3-0) helps top the list of teams exceeding everyone's expectations, though the tougher tests are coming. Another 6-2A team, ninth-ranked Episcopal (3-0), has managed to reload after heavy graduation losses.
I like Madison Prep (2-1) and Ascension Catholic (3-0) in 1A too. Hopefully this isn't the kiss of death.
MPA is a second-year varsity program that has shut out two opponents and did some good things against 5A Woodlawn. ACHS has met all challenges so far too.
Olympia bound, finally
This is strange but true. There were no Friday night lights at one of Baton Rouge's best-known stadiums, Olympia Stadium, during the first three regular-season weeks of the season.
This week's blockbuster showdown between Catholic High and Rummel will mark the first high school action at the BREC stadium since last month's Coca-Cola Kickoff Classic jamboree.
I did a story about more schools, including Olympia regulars like Belaire and Tara, making other stadium plans in order to cut costs. Belaire debuted its own stadium and Tara has played two home games at Glen Oaks High.
Anyone who has followed high school football in Baton Rouge for a while knows Olympia and has attended memorable games there.
Having a marquee game like Rummel vs. Catholic as the first of the regular season might not be all bad. It's a game that could add to the stadium's lore that dates to the 1970s.


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Dear GAP Forum,
an updated version (2.4) of the share package MONOID is now available
from the WWW page
and from the GAP Share Packages page
The package now contains a function 'PartialOrderDClasses' computing
the natural partial order of the D classes of a given transformation
semigroup, and furthermore facilities to form the union, difference
and test membership for binary relations.
The role of operations and gradings for monoid actions has changed
since version 2.1: The <operation> argument (e.g. 'OnPoints') is now
mandatory for those functions that use it, the <grading> argument now
defaults to 'x -> 1' in the case of strong orbit calculations.
A bug has been fixed (in the function 'HasseDiagram') and several
typos in the manual have been corrected.
The algorithms we developed for the MONOID package together with the
theory behind them (linking transformation monoids to permutation
groups) are described in detail in the article
Computing Transformation Semigroups
(S. A. Linton, G. Pfeiffer, E. F. Robertson, N. Ruskuc)
(as announced by Edmund Robertson in a letter to this forum on Aug 2
Any comments are welcome.
Goetz Pfeiffer. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- firstname.lastname@example.com http://schmidt.ucg.ie/~goetz/ National University of Ireland, Galway. phone +353-91-512027 (x 3591)


text:
Red Flower - little flower set of 6 candles
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Brand Red Flower
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little flower set of 6 candles
set includes:
moroccan rose little flower candle
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icelandic moonflower little flower candle
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french lavender little flower candle
small, but intense. pure flower fragrance to fill a room with the scent of everything simple and beautiful and alive. packaged in take-anywhere, film-size boxes with matches. cotton wick and natural wax with a slow, clean burn. they are yours to take. to have and to hold. light them in trains, taxis and hotels. light them between cracks in the sidewalk, on window sills. a home is wherever you make it.
net. wt. 1.5 oz. 15-hour burn time.
packaged in 77% post-consumer recycled paper. printed at a 100% wind-powered plant. made in the u.s.a.
fill every room with essence of freshly-picked flowers, bright, zesty citrus and leafy, crisp herbs, refreshing and alive with this collection of six generously scented candles. a blend of pure essential oils and natural candle wax for a slow, intensely fragrant and clean burn. place one in every room to transform a space and create a moment. perfect for travel and gift giving with a range of scents to experience the abundance of nature.


text:
- Original Research
- Open Access
Radiologic diagnostic procedures in severely injured patients - is only whole-body multislice computed tomography the answer?
© Topp et al.; licensee Springer. 2015
- Received: 28 October 2014
- Accepted: 13 February 2015
- Published: 28 February 2015
Whole-body multislice computed tomography (WB-MSCT) has become an important diagnostic tool in the early treatment phase of severely injured patients. The optimal moment of WB-MSCT's use during this treatment phase remains unclear. Many trauma centers use WB-MSCT in addition to conventional radiographs, while some trauma centers use WB-MSCT as the only radiological tool. The aim of this study was to determine the differences between these two protocols and to answer the question of whether conventional radiographs can still be used in the safe treatment of polytrauma patients.
Patients from the TraumaRegister DGU® with an injury severity score (ISS) of ≥16 were included. Group I received conventional radiographs and focused assessment with sonography in trauma (FAST) prior to a WB-MSCT, and group II received an initial WB-MSCT and FAST. Both groups were compared concerning treatment time and outcome.
A total of 3,995 patients in group I were compared to 4,025 patients in group II. There were no differences in ISS (29.97 vs. 29.94), gender (male: 73.5% vs. 72.8%), age (45.47 vs. 45.12 years), or calculated mortality (21.41% vs. 21.44%). Time needed in the resuscitation room was slightly longer in group I (72 vs. 64 min); the durations until admittance to the ICU and arrival to the OR were not significantly different between the groups. There was no difference in mortality (18.2% vs. 18.4%) or the standardized mortality ratio (SMR) (0.85 vs. 0.86).
WB-MSCT plays an inherent role in the treatment of multiple-injured patients. However, the use of WB-MSCT as the only diagnostic method in the resuscitation room is not needed. Conventional radiographs and FAST followed by WB-MSCT can be performed in the early resuscitation phase without impairing patient outcomes. This approach enables the emergency room team to perform life-saving procedures - chest-tube insertion, laparotomy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation -immediately and simultaneous. Nevertheless, randomized multi-center trials are needed to determine the comparability and effectiveness of these algorithms.
- Blunt trauma
- Polytrauma
- Multislice CT
- Whole body CT
- Radiological diagnostics
The initial management of severely injured patients in the resuscitation room can be challenging for the trauma team. There are approximately 40,000 severely injured patients resulting from motor vehicle accidents, high falls, violence, or suicide attempts in Germany per year. To guarantee immediate rescue and prompt treatment of these patients, there are approximately 700 trauma centers of different designations - i.e., supraregional, regional, and local trauma centers.
Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) of the head, neck, chest, abdomen, and pelvis (whole-body MSCT) is an established diagnostic tool in the modern treatment of severely injured patients during the resuscitation room phase [1-3].
According to Huber-Wagner et al., there is evidence that the immediate use of whole-body multislice CT (WB-MSCT) in trauma care significantly increases the probability of survival in patients with severe trauma [1]. Some studies that compared the first line use of WB-MSCT to a standard protocol using conventional radiographs prior to organ-focused CT found shorter times for diagnostic workup completion when a WB-MSCT was used as the first and only diagnostic tool [3].
To date there have been no randomized, prospective studies on this topic. The REACT-2 trial attempted to 'provide evidence on the value of immediate total-body CT scanning during the primary survey of severely injured trauma patients' [4], but MSCT was compared to conventional radiographs with additional conventional CT and not to conventional radiographs performed prior to MSCT. Most trauma centers follow a protocol that uses an initial WB-MSCT or conventional radiographs followed by an organ-focused CT for the diagnosis in severely injured patients [5]. There is no doubt about the advantages of WB-MSCT scans in detecting head injuries or injuries to solid and hollow viscera of the chest or the abdomen. Due to this fact, conventional radiographs cannot replace CT scans in the diagnostic algorithm of severely injured patients but are useful to detect the site of life-threatening injuries more quickly. In addition, there is no need to interrupt other required interventions during radiologic diagnosis - i.e., chest tube insertion, intubation, or mechanical cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Furthermore, the trauma team does not have to leave the resuscitation room for conventional radiographs, but they do need to leave for WB-MSCT. Lögters et al. [6] analyzed the data of 12,971 patients from TraumaRegister DGU® of the German Trauma Society regarding the incidence and causes of life-threatening injuries in major trauma patients (ISS ≥16). In 5.5% (n = 713) of the patients, the diagnostic algorithm in the resuscitation room was interrupted because of emergency surgery. In this patient group, the incidence of severe abdominal injuries was fourfold higher than that among the remaining patients, while severe pelvic injuries had a twofold higher incidence [6].
In addition to the fact that there are differences in the structural, personnel, and apparative requirements for different levels of treatment, all of these trauma centers have well-educated trauma teams and standardized equipped resuscitation rooms for the early treatment phase of trauma patients. For example, either X-ray or computed tomography scanners are located in every resuscitation room.
Since CT was introduced into the initial diagnostic workup, it has gained increasing importance for the early treatment phase of trauma care. With the development of MSCT and the increasing application of WB-MSCT, diagnostic accuracy has increased. Computed tomography is more precise for detecting even small injuries and aids in establishing plans for further therapy. Due to this fact, more and more authors believe that computed tomography is the diagnostic tool of choice for severely injured patients and is superior to other examination protocols [7-10]. The possible advantages of WB-MSCT are the fast imaging of the body regions of primary interest (abdomen, thorax, brain, spine, and pelvis) and the early definition of a treatment plan. Possible disadvantages are that WB-MSCT results in higher radiation doses - especially in patients with only minor injuries but with suspected severe injuries - and impairs the simultaneous performance of lifesaving procedures - i.e., chest tube or vessel catheter insertion, resuscitation with cardiac massage, or laparotomy/thoracotomy.
A recent survey of trauma centers in Germany revealed that only 21% of all supraregional and 5% of all regional trauma centers had a CT scanner located in the resuscitation room itself. For local trauma centers, this same figure was only 0.5%. The remaining trauma centers had a CT scanner either near the resuscitation room or on the next floor. These results show that WB-MSCT is not available as a first diagnostic tool in many hospitals. The majority of hospitals must use conventional radiographs prior to WB-MSCT, which leads to the question of possible advantages and disadvantages of these protocols. To date, no study has analyzed this question in patients who require a WB-MSCT because of their mechanism of injury. One of the most discussed questions is whether using WB-MSCT as the first diagnostic tool leads to decreased mortality.
The objective of this study was to compare a protocol that uses WB-MSCT as the first and only diagnostic tool to a protocol that uses conventional radiographs prior to WB-MSCT regarding a) duration of the initial treatment phase in the resuscitation room, b) length of stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), c) ventilation days, d) length of hospital stay, and e) mortality.
The TraumaRegister DGU® of the German Trauma Society (TR-DGU) was founded in 1993. This registry prospectively collects anonymous data from severely injured patients. Up to 2009, data from 51,425 trauma patients from 266 hospitals were collected. The documentation covers four phases after trauma: A, pre-hospital phase; B, resuscitation room and initial therapy until ICU admission; C, ICU; and D, discharge including all injuries, relevant procedures, and patient outcomes. All trauma patients who reached the hospital alive were treated in the resuscitation room and required care in an ICU (including those who died before reaching the ICU) are included in the TR-DGU. Data are submitted to a central database server, and the anonymity of the patients and trauma center is guaranteed. Epidemiological, physiological, laboratory, diagnostic, operative, interventional, and intensive care medical data are recorded. Since 2002, data input has been based on an online documentation system (www.traumaregister.de).
All primary admitted patients with an ISS of ≥16 and with documented times of conventional radiographs and WB-MSCT diagnosis were included. Patients with penetrating injuries were excluded. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I received an initial WB-MSCT, mostly with the scanner located in the resuscitation room, and group II received a conventional radiograph prior to WB-MSCT. Both groups also received an initial FAST ultrasound. The two groups were compared concerning length of stay in the resuscitation room, time until admission to the OR or ICU, gender, age, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), mortality, required surgery, injury pattern, shock, mechanism of injury, length of stay in the ICU and the hospital, and the number of transfused packed red blood cells (PRBC). The prognoses of the patients were derived using the Revised Injury Severity Classification (RISC) score [11], and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR; ratio of recorded to expected mortality) was calculated. This score was developed with data from 2,009 patients in the TraumaRegister DGU® (1993 to 2000) and has been validated for 3,475 patients (2001 to 2003). RISC score-adjusted outcome comparisons have been routinely reported every year by the Trauma Registry since 2003 [11].
Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD) and were analyzed with the t-test for continuous variables. Categorical variables are presented as percentages and were analyzed with the chi-squared test. A p value <0.05 was considered significant. Data were analyzed with SPSS statistical software (Version 21.0, IBM Inc., Armonk, NY, USA).
From 1993 to 2009, 18,268 severely injured trauma patients with an ISS of ≥16 and age of ≥16 who required urgent resuscitation room treatment and radiological diagnostics were reviewed from the TraumaRegister DGU® database. Among these patients, 1,195 (6.5%) underwent conventional radiographs alone, 4,971 (27.2%) had a CT-scan without additional conventional radiographs, and 12,102 (66.2%) had computed tomography and conventional radiographs. In 8,517 of the 12,102 cases, the performance time was documented for the conventional radiographs and CT scans. A total of 91.1% (n = 7,764) of these patients had an initial conventional radiograph - mostly an X-ray of the thorax and the pelvis - followed by a CT-scan. In 3,995 patients (52%), this CT scan was performed as a whole body multislice CT (WB-MSCT) scan (group I). The remaining 3,736 patients underwent CT scans of particular body parts or CT scans were not performed as a WB-MSCT. In patients receiving the CT diagnosis alone, 4,025 (82%) had a WB-MSCT (group II) and 918 patients underwent a CT other than WB-MSCT. For further analysis, all patients with initial conventional radiographs followed by a WB-MSCT scan (group I) were compared with patients who underwent WB-MSCT as the initial diagnostic tool alone (group II).
Comparison between group I (initial X-ray followed by MSCT) and group II (initial MSCT)
X-ray followed by WB-MSCT (group I)
Initial WB-MSCT without X-ray (group II)
Male (p = 0.497) chi2 = 0.462
73.5% (n = 2,937)
72.8% (n = 2,932)
Age (p = 0.429)
45.5 (±20) years
45.1 (±19.8) years
ISS (p = 0.913)
29.9 (±12.3)
29.9 (±12.6)
Surgery (p = 0.550) chi2 = 0.357
74.4% (n = 2,998)
73.8% (n = 2,993)
Mortality (p = 0.786) chi2 = 0.074
18.2% (n = 732)
18.4% (n = 746)
Hospitalization (p < 0.001)
25.2 (±25.2) days
27.9 (±30.2) days
ICU (p < 0.01)
12.3 (±14.3) days
13.0 (±15.4) days
Ventilation days (p < 0.01)
7.7 (±11.7)
8.7 (±13.4)
Red packed blood cells (p = 0.498)
2.3 (±5.7)
2.4 (±6.2)
RISC (p = 0.961)
21.4 % (±28)
21.4 % (±28)
Comparison between patients in groups I and II concerning the injury pattern of severe injuries (AIS ≥3)
X-ray followed by WB-MSCT (group I)
Initial WB-MSCT without X-ray (group II)
AIShead (p < 0.05)
55.1% n = 2,220
57.7 % n = 2,338
AISthorax (p = 0.501)
63.5% n = 2,558
64.2 % n = 2,603
AISabdomen (p < 0.05)
23.4% n = 944
21.6% n = 877
AISextremities (p < 0.01)
41.4% n = 1,667
38.1% n = 1,543
Comparison of patients in groups I and II concerning different durations needed during patients treatment
X-ray followed by WB-MSCT (group I) (min)
Initial WB-MSCT without X-ray (group II) (min)
Time in RR (p < 0.001)
72 (±40)
64 (±39)
Admittance on ICU (p = 1.0)
197 (±149)
197 (±147)
Arrival in the OR (p = 0.687)
144 (±187)
Injury severity and mortality
Injury patterns (AIS ≥3) in patients with different injury severity levels in groups I and II
X-ray followed by WB-MSCT (group I)
16 to 24
25 to 49
Initial WB-MSCT without X-ray (group II)
16 to 24
39.4 % (p = 0.105) chi2 = 2,624
51.9% (p = 0.253) chi2 = 1.308
11.0% (p = 0.465) chi2 = 0.534
31.8% (p = 0.149) chi2 = 2.085
4.5% (p = 0.728) chi2 = 0.121
25 to 49
66.6% (p = 0.096) chi2 = 2.771
70.0% (p = 0.717) chi2 = 0.131
24.9% (p = 0.058) chi2 = 3.585
39.8% (p < 0.05) chi2 = 6.011
21.5% (p = 0.897) chi2 = 0.017
84.5% (p = 0.650) chi2 = 0.205
83.4% (p = 0.074) chi2 = 3.196
48.5% (p = 0.526) chi2 = 0. 402
55.1% (p = 0.145) chi2 = 2.120
60.1% (p = 0.723) chi2 = 0.126
The expected mortality rate after sustained severe trauma, based on the RISC score, was similar between group I and group II (18.2% vs. 18.4%, p = 0.8). Both groups were comparable regarding gender, age, and injury severity (ISS) (see Table 1). Patients with conventional radiography, FAST, and WB-MSCT (group I) had shorter ICU and hospital stays compared to patients with WB-MSCT only (group II) (see Table 1).
To determine if one of these concepts has advantages concerning the treatment of patients with different levels of injury severity, three subgroups were compared ( ISS 16 to 24. ISS 25 to 49, ISS ≥50). We did not find significant differences in mortality or injury patterns between patients with an initial conventional radiograph followed by WB-MSCT compared to an initial WB-MSCT for the three subgroups with an ISS 16 to 24, ISS 25 to 49, and ISS ≥50. These results show that even patients with an ISS ≥50 are not at a disadvantage because of an initial conventional radiograph radiography.
There is strong evidence that WB-MSCT yields in a lower mortality and better outcome than emergency room diagnostics with selective CT only in multiple injured patients. In a recent published meta-analysis by Jiang et al. [12], the data of 26,371 major trauma patients from 11 trials were analyzed. The authors found that for early diagnosis of major trauma patients the whole-body computed tomography was associated with a decreased mortality compared with selective CT strategies [12].
To our opinion, the obvious advantage of initial X-ray diagnosis of the chest and pelvis, simultaneous to the FAST is the possibility to perform life-saving procedures like chest-tube insertion, thoracotomy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation - immediately and simultaneous. After stabilization, definite diagnosis can be done by WB-MSCT. Therefore, the ability to perform X-ray imaging is essential in the resuscitation room - even in the presence of a CT scanner.
Especially in countries with higher amount of penetrating injuries like stab or gunshot, the need of immediate surgical interventions the initial diagnosis with only WB-MSCT can waste precious time, because life-saving procedures are not possible during the CT scanning phase.
Radiation exposure and scanning time
The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma (ACS COT) stated that up to 40% of severely injured trauma patients are overtriaged [13]. Analysis of the TR-DGU showed that 32% of all patients in the registry are overtriaged and have an ISS of ≤15 (unpublished data). Resuscitation rooms that only have a CT scanner have an inherent risk of unnecessary/needless radiation exposure in overtriaged patients. Depending on the protocol used, estimated effective radiation doses between 10 and 20 mSv have been reported for WB-MSCT scans [5,14-16]. Especially in children and in unrecognized pregnancies, unnecessary radiation exposure due to computed tomography may have deleterious and/or fatal consequences. It is estimated that two thirds of all imaging-induced radiation in the US results from CT scans, with a mortality rate of 12.5 deaths per 10,000 for each CT scan [17]. In contrast, the radiation exposure of conventional radiographs of the thorax (0.07 mSv) and pelvis (0.86 mSv) is much lower [15]. Following the protocol of conventional radiographs used prior to WB-MSCT, a quick decision determining that either the patient is stable enough for further WB-MSCT diagnosis or treatment has to be interrupted so that emergency operations can be performed according to the clinical examination, blood gas analysis, vital parameters, FAST scan, and conventional radiographs of the thorax and pelvis. All of the patients included to this study received these additional diagnostic procedures (clinical examination, vital parameters, FAST scan, and blood gas analysis). Intraabdominal bleeding, hemothorax or pneumothorax, as well as open pelvic ring fractures can be found. Relevant information regarding the need for the early insertion of a chest tube or a pelvic clamp is readily available. If the patient is stable enough for a further WB-MSCT diagnosis, a WB-MSCT scan can be performed. Karlo et al. evaluated different methods of WB-MSCT scans in polytrauma patients and found optimal scan times ranging from 354 to 400 s, depending on the scan protocol that was used [14]. Other authors report CT scan times from 300 to 1,200 s [15,18].
Treatment time
The time needed in the resuscitation room was significantly shorter in group II, but the time for further treatment, including arrival to the ICU or OR, was the same in both groups. Our data show that the time for the primary and secondary survey was 8 min longer in patients from group I. The delay in this group can be explained by additional transport time to the CT suite and the time required to transfer and set up the patient on the CT table. Considering transportation time from the site of the accident to the hospital and in-hospital transportation time (to the OR or ICU), the additional 8 min only play a minor role in the overall time before further treatment in the ICU or OR. Another important fact is that patients in group I are considered to be stable enough for transportation to the CT suite. The management of a stable patient might be longer compared to a life-threatening situation in an unstable patient. This explains equal arrival times in the OR or ICU, despite a slightly longer examination time in the resuscitation room in group II. The decision to perform a WB-MSCT might also be easier for unstable patients when a CT scanner is available in the resuscitation room. This observation may have led to the faster overall resuscitation room times in group II. If the resuscitation room treatment was interrupted for emergency operations, patients in group II had conventional radiographs available in the OR. The fact that the time to the OR and the ICU did not differ in both groups shows that transportation to the OR and the ICU takes much longer in most hospitals; therefore, a few minutes won in the resuscitation room does not significantly influence the overall treatment time. An argument for the initial use of WB-MSCT is that the patient can be assessed and treated faster with more knowledge regarding the injury. Our data do not support this algorithm concerning treatment time and mortality.
Availability of WB-MSCT
Many trauma centers with severely injured patients do not have a WB-MSCT scanner available in the resuscitation room. In Germany, only 21% of all supraregional and 5% of all regional trauma centers have a CT scanner located in the resuscitation room. Conventional radiographs are available in the resuscitation room in 83% of all major and in 57.7% of all minor trauma centers. Harris et al. compared the outcomes of patients with traumatic head and brain injuries between hospitals in developed and developing countries. Hospitals in developed countries have more resources available for the treatment of trauma patients (CT, ICU). The use of cranial CT as well as the number of patients admitted to the ICU was significantly higher in developed countries, but the overall mortality rate did not differ significantly [19]. An algorithm that combines conventional radiographs and WB-MSCT is available in every major trauma center with the same outcome compared to the single use of WB-MSCT as shown in this study.
In our study, we compared patients who received an initial conventional radiograph followed by a WB-MSCT to patients who received an initial WB-MSCT. Some limitations might bias the results. The study was not done prospectively and the participating hospitals choose their own diagnostic workup, which is not standardized. We do not have information about structural differences of the different trauma centers, for example, the location of a CT scanner in the resuscitation room or the mean transportation time from the resuscitation room to a CT scanner. In addition, we do not have information about different CT protocols used by the participating hospitals. Potentially different intercenter consistency in grading injuries (abbreviated injury scale or injury severity score) might also bias the results, as described in other studies [1]. This setting excludes hospitals that do not use a WB-MSCT diagnosis in polytrauma management. The comparison of patients who received a WB-MSCT to patients with selective CT scans or conventional radiographs is difficult. More severe injuries, such as lung contusion or liver laceration, were found in the WB-MSCT group and might have been overlooked if a CT scan of this area was not performed.
Emergency room protocols that use initial conventional radiographs prior to WB-MSCT have comparable results regarding mortality compared to protocols that use WB-MSCT as the initial diagnostic tool. Furthermore, the emergency room team can perform life-savings procedures like chest-tube insertion, thoracotomy, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation immediately. Especially in patients in extremis, surgical procedures and diagnostic work-up can be performed simultaneous without wasting precious time. Nevertheless, randomized multi-center trials are needed to determine the comparability and effectiveness of these algorithms.
No funding was used for this study.
Authors' Affiliations
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- Stengel D, Frank M, Matthes G, Schmucker U, Seifert J, Mutze S, et al. Primary pan-computed tomography for blunt multiple trauma: can the whole be better than its parts? Injury. 2009;40 Suppl 4:S36–46.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Wurmb TE, Fruhwald P, Hopfner W, Keil T, Kredel M, Brederlau J, et al. Whole-body multislice computed tomography as the first line diagnostic tool in patients with multiple injuries: the focus on time. J Trauma. 2009;66:658–65.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Sierink JC, Saltzherr TP, Beenen LF, Luitse JS, Hollmann MW, Reitsma JB, et al. A multicenter, randomized controlled trial of immediate total-body CT scanning in trauma patients (REACT-2). BMC Emerg Med. 2012;12:4.View ArticlePubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Ruchholtz S, Waydhas C, Schroeder T, Piepenbrink K, Kuhl H, Nast-Kolb D. The value of computed tomography in the early treatment of seriously injured patients. Chirurg. 2002;73:1005–12.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lögters T, Lefering R, Schneppendahl J, Alldinger I, Witte I, Windolf J, et al. Interruption of the diagnostic algorithm and immediate surgical intervention after major trauma–incidence and clinical relevance. Analysis of the Trauma Register of the German Society for Trauma Surgery. Unfallchirurg. 2010;113:832–8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Boehm T, Alkadhi H, Schertler T, Baumert B, Roos J, Marincek B, et al. Application of multislice spiral CT (MSCT) in multiple injured patients and its effect on diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms. Röfo. 2004;176:1734–42.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Herzog C, Ahle H, Mack MG, Maier B, Schwarz W, Zangos S, et al. Traumatic injuries of the pelvis and thoracic and lumbar spine: does thin-slice multidetector-row CT increase diagnostic accuracy? Eur Radiol. 2004;14:1751–60.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Self ML, Blake AM, Whitley M, Nadalo L, Dunn E. The benefit of routine thoracic, abdominal, and pelvic computed tomography to evaluate trauma patients with closed head injuries. Am J Surg. 2003;186:609–13. discussion 613–604.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Weninger P, Mauritz W, Fridrich P, Spitaler R, Figl M, Kern B, et al. Emergency room management of patients with blunt major trauma: evaluation of the multislice computed tomography protocol exemplified by an urban trauma center. J Trauma. 2007;62:584–91.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Lefering R. Development and validation of the Revised Injury Severity Classification score for severely injured patients. Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2009;35:437–47.View ArticleGoogle Scholar
- Jiang L, Ma Y, Jiang S, Ye L, Zheng Z, Xu Y, et al. Comparison of whole-body computed tomography vs selective radiological imaging on outcomes in major trauma patients: a meta-analysis. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2014;22:54.View ArticlePubMed CentralPubMedGoogle Scholar
- Resources for optimal care of the injured patient: an update. Task force of the committee on Trauma, American College of Surgeons. Bull Am Coll Surg. 1990:75:20–29.Google Scholar
- Karlo C, Gnannt R, Frauenfelder T, Leschka S, Bruesch M, Wanner GA, et al. Whole-body CT in polytrauma patients: effect of arm positioning on thoracic and abdominal image quality. Emerg Radiol. 2011;18:285–93.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Wedegartner U, Lorenzen M, Nagel HD, Weber C, Adam G. Diagnostic imaging in polytrauma: comparison of radiation exposure from whole-body MSCT and conventional radiography with organ-specific CT. Röfo. 2004;176:1039–44.PubMedGoogle Scholar
- Loewenhardt B, Buhl M, Gries A, Greim CA, Hellinger A, Hessmann M, et al. Radiation exposure in whole-body computed tomography of multiple trauma patients: bearing devices and patient positioning. Injury. 2012;43:67–72.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Kalra MK, Maher MM, Toth TL, Hamberg LM, Blake MA, Shepard JA, et al. Strategies for CT radiation dose optimization. Radiology. 2004;230:619–28.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Wenzl ME, Lenz G, Hocherl E. Multislice CT for primary diagnosis in multiple trauma patients. Unfallchirurg. 2010;113:676–8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
- Harris OA, Bruce CA, Reid M, Cheeks R, Easley K, Surles MC, et al. Examination of the management of traumatic brain injury in the developing and developed world: focus on resource utilization, protocols, and practices that alter outcome. J Neurosurg. 2008;109:433–8.View ArticlePubMedGoogle Scholar
This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly credited.


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Pool law requiring defibrillators up for vote
Pool law requiring defibrillators up for vote
A vote is set for July 2 on emergency legislation requiring pools in Anne Arundel County to have a defibrillator.
Proposed by County Executive John Leopold, Connor's Law is named for 5-year-old Connor Freed, who drowned at a country club pool back in 2006.
It is believed the lifeguard was not trained to use the defibrillator.
The law needs five votes to pass. It would take effect immediately.


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New Breed – Alpha and Omega
God expects us to wait on Him to initiate even the most basic necessities of life.
And He said to me, "It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. (Revelations 21:6)
What does it mean in your life that God is your Alpha and Omega?
Once a week or so I receive an email message from Richard Gazowski, a pastor in California who is sold out to Jesus. Richard's message that I received this weekend resonated so positively with my spirit that I felt compelled to pass it on. The You Tube video at today's Link of the Day is awesome. Here is what Richard said:
This last Sunday I came home from church and felt by the Lord to do some random searching on You Tube. To my amazement, I ran into a song (I'll share the link with you later) called Alpha and Omega. I understand the song is well known in Africa and some sections of the U.S. but I had never heard of it before. To my personal amazement, I could not help crying as the song played. I knew instantly that the words of this song were ministering to my spirit directly. Somehow I linked up to a portal or doorway into seeing God's fulfillment for 2008.
For one week I have listened to this song and sung it with my congregation. We have services everyday at 3:00 in the afternoon. Everyday, as the congregation sung this song, a new layer of revelation would come to me, regarding how important understanding and recognizing God as the Alpha and Omega is.
In my fifty-three years of life I have rarely looked at God as the initiator; instead I was looking for Him to approve what I had initiated. But as I slowly immersed myself in the concept of Him being my personal Alpha and Omega, I began to realize that this truth was a consistent and constant thought pattern of Christ. For example: Jesus said, "I can do nothing unless I see the Father doing it." "Give no thought of what you should eat, or drink, or what you should wear."
That last quote is a real killer, because if it is applied to your life it means waiting on God to initiate even the most basic necessities of life. Now that's something that would give the average American whiplash! Myself included! But yet, I fully believe this is what Christ is talking about.
To read the rest of Richard's message, click here …
Prayer Power
Heavenly Father, LORD God Almighty, forgive me for ever thinking I can initiate anything for eternity by myself. Forgive me for trying to do things in my own strength. Forgive me for not meditating on Your Word morning, noon, and night. May I start each day anew – with a clean slate – ready and available for what You have planned. Bless me to be a worthy servant and ambassador for the LORD most high. Thank You Jesus. I love You. Amen and hallelujah.
Link of the Day
New Breed-Alpha and Omega – You Tube video
Blessings to look at God as the Initiator of all and to wait on Him!
Joseph Peck, M.D.
The Time Doctor
Empowering Dreams
Author, I Was Busy, Now I'm Not
Connect – BE Blessed To Be A Blessing
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SHARE YOUR VICTORIES below!
It is easy, fun, and will inspire others.
There is tremendous power in a testimony. "And they overcame him (the devil) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony." – Revelations 12:11
Poem by Hugh Traulsen
If you dare to care, then share!
If you share, pay heed!!
God will reward every good deed!!!


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Rep. Luis Gutiérrez (R-IL) is trumpeting Pope Francis as the "anti-Trump" and his upcoming visit as an "antidote" to Trump's "venom."
Gutiérrez, a vocal Trump opponent and advocate for what he describes as "immigration reform," painted the Republican presidential candidate as a "little devil" on the nation's shoulder in contrast to the pontiff, who will assume the position of the "little angel" on the other shoulder when he visits the U.S. later this month.
"On one shoulder, we have a billionaire out there saying Mexicans are murderers…On the other shoulder is a man who is not afraid to touch the feet of the poor and recognizes their humanity even in their poverty," Gutiérrez said.
Speaking on the House floor beside enlarged photos of Trump and Pope Francis Wednesday, Gutiérrez attacked Trump, the current GOP frontrunner, for his tough immigration talk and the Republican field for joining.
"And almost everyone else in his party is scrambling to catch up so they do not miss out on the wave of populist anger he is tapping and feeding with a mix of untruths, half-truths, and good old fashioned racism," he said.
According to Gutiérrez, the Pope's words will offer the U.S. a needed "counter-balance, a counter weight to what has become the ugliest, most xenophobic, most anti-immigration campaign in anyone's memory."
Gutiérrez has taken to the House floor several times since Trump announced his presidential run to attack the real estate mogul for his comments about immigration.
"Most of us came legally, sometimes waiting in lines that lasted years and some of us, when legality was not an option, and there was no line to stand in, came anyway because of work and freedom are so plentiful," he said Wednesday.
When the Pope visits later this month, Gutiérrez urged people to listen to the Pope's message and recall the nation's past obstacles.
"For this Catholic American – for this man who has sometimes struggled with the Church and is not always welcomed because of my support for women's health, a woman's right to a legal abortion, LGBT rights – I am so looking forward to the Pope's visit because I feel my nation needs him more than ever before," Gutiérrez concluded.


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The Secret Life Of Book Club
By: Heather WoodhavenJeanine Phelps is tired of reading about other women who grab life and have epiphanies. She challenges her book club to live like the heroines in the books they love.
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Book DescriptionJeanine Phelps is tired of reading about other women who grab life and have epiphanies. She challenges her book club to live like the heroines in the books they love.
At first, seizing the day is pure fun until it generates an upset in each of their lives:
Jeanine's husband is so inspired by her new vitality it triggers a bizarre mid-life crisis involving tacos.
Paula, the model PTA soccer mom, starts fighting with her man about the family printing business until she's drawn back to her
secret passion.
Kate, a single mom and teacher, can't figure out if the rekindled friendship with the new museum creator is worth the romantic risk.
Anne, a mother of four babies, works to hold the book club together while trying to figure out her own identity.
When everyone wants to quit the challenge, the media's spotlight makes it impossible. Can they rely on each other while keeping their priorities? And more importantly, is their sanity worth the chance to each become a heroine in her own life?
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Note: ReadingDeals.com has checked the prices for accuracy at the time of posting. Prices can change without notice and promotion pricing may not be available outside of the US.


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Enjoy Once-in-a-Lifetime Savings on Ram 1500 Trucks
We have to be honest and say that there are definitely times that it pays to sit back and wait. Case in point? Those customers of ours who've been delaying purchasing a new pickup truck. Thanks to their patience, they can now take advantage of a tremendous savings opportunity at Dependable Dodge.


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Sunday, January 29, 2017
2% Moon
10:09 a.m. A driver pulled into traffic causing the police chief to break heavily.
12:49 p.m. A woman reported her own house was on fire. She said the fire was in the oven but there was no one home. A deputy drove the woman around in an attempt to find her house and the fire but neither was found.
1:31 p.m. A caller reported vehicles were running a stop sign. He said there was a green car, a white car, and a black truck.
7:19 p.m. A woman reported that a man says mean things to her, looks at her funny, and scares her. It was suggested to her if she is scared of him, she should no longer talk or hang out w/ him.
10:51 p.m. An anonymous caller reported a car slid into the ditch on County road J. The caller thought it was odd that the driver was throwing up through his open window. The vehicle was removed and the driver arrested for possible OWI.
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We gave you one week to submit your dream Android app ideas and I'm amazed at the response. There were over 100 comments on the original post and it was hard to pick just 5 winners. Thank you to everyone who participated. If you continue to support our contests, we will work hard to keep them coming.
If your entry was not selected and you are still interested in Unlocking Android, we have a special offer for you. Android and Me readers can get Unlocking Android for 35% off at the Manning.com store until July 31, 2009. Simply use the code "andandme" when checking out with any version of the book (ebook or print book). For the latest deals, news, and more be sure to follow @ManningBooks on Twitter.
The Winners
Each person that was selected will receive a free copy of Unlocking Android. The grand prize winner also receives a $100 gift certificate to Manning.com.
Submitted by Travis Berthelot:
I would like to see games that have real world uses. So, at some point I have decided to make a game that has real world implications beyond shared processing like SETI and shared work like Galaxy Zoo.
So, my idea is to make real life work into a simulation game that is fun. This could be lab work, bagging groceries, or even war.
Submitted by Jake Reynolds:
I've got at least five ideas, some parenting apps, and some aviation related. The one I'm willing to share is a contraction timer for parent(s) in labor. Something similar to the Palm's CTimer meets contractionmaster, only for a modern OS and free. I have a hard time asking for money for something someone will use between four and twenty hours a handful of times in their life. I'm toying with the idea of unobtrusive ads once Google has their API opened up. I've got a ton of other app ideas, but I'd hate to share a potential revenue generating one, only to get beaten to the punch by someone with less rusty Java skills.
Submitted by Frosty:
A beer rating app. You are having a tasty brew, or are watching the tap longingly, and want to know whether it is any good, or to led your buddies know that this IPA smells like feet.
Take a picture, rate it, and add a description. Hit the button and upload your review to the server.
Sit back, and enjoy.
Submitted by Nicholas Rowe:
I'm a home automation enthusiast. I'd like to build an Android application that seamlessly integrates into my automated home. I've been working on this system with z-wave. So here's how I see it working:
I'm heading out for the day, I grab my phone and leave the house. The app is running in the background and can tell when I'm no longer near the house. The lights and temperature set themselves to the away scene.
Later that night I come back and its dark. The app can sense that I'm in the proximity of the house and it's dark. It brings up outdoor lights for safety and the indoor arriving home scene. As soon as I come into the house I take a setting that I'm home and the outdoor lights turn off.
I watch a movie and use another app as a remote. However during this movie I receive a call. My app will take advantage of XBMC's notification system to pause the current movie and display the caller on the screen.
Once I'm ready for bed, I get in bed and can access scenes for the whole house. I tap the nighttime scene and all of the house turns itself, the temperature lowers and I'm ready for bed.
As a Computer Science student I've learned a lot about Java. I would love to have a copy of Unlocking Android to help me transition the skills I already have and develop on Android and bring my home automation app to the marketplace.
Grand Prize winner submitted by Robert Weber:
I hate spending a lot of tIme in the grocery store, so my app would take the tedium out of finding the most efficient route through the store.
Imagine: you type your shopping list into an email message and shoot the email to your grocery store of choice. Then, on your way home from work, you swing by the store. Inside, you either load the app on your Android enabled phone, or you borrow a handset from the service counter. With handset in hand, you load your list, and the app takes you, turn by turn, through the quickest path to completing your list.
Maybe the app uses GPS to guide you, or maybe your shopping cart has some kind of a link to a proprietary and moderately accurate positioning system installed in the store (maybe RFID for instance). In that case, the app would use Bluetooth to link up to the cart for the sharing of positional data with the app.
As incentive for the grocery chains to offer the app to their customers, the app would beam positionally enhanced and list content enhanced cross selling blurbs into maybe the bottom margin of the screen. For instance, if you're in the condiments aisle for salad dressing, maybe the app would suggest that you grab a jar of grey poupon. Or pick up two bottles of dressing now and get $1.00 off. Or if you're in the market for some ground chuck, why not stop in the bread aisle for a bag of Sara Lee buns for just $2.99/bag.
Thank you again for everyone that entered. For even more app ideas, be sure to check out the comments on the original contest page.


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At OLG Teen, we strive to invite young people into communion with the person of Jesus Christ. We accomplish this by empowering them through vibrant and applicable catechesis in addition to the ongoing nourishment of the Sacraments and scripture. By providing a Christian environment with sound fellowship, we allow for the flourishing of one's spirituality and the blossoming of their identity in Christ. For updates on OLG Teen Activities:
Follow instagram.com/olgteen/
Follow OLG Teen on Twitter.
Like https://www.facebook.com/olgteen
or email Youth Minister, Jose Hernandez


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VSSC Notification 2017 – 158 Technical Apprentice Vacancies
Vikram Sarabhai Space Center (VSSC) has recently published the latest employment news regarding VSSC Notification 2017 on its official website. As per this notification, VSSC is going to fill up 158 vacancies in various VSSC Centers. VSSC invites the online applications from interested and eligible candidates. Job seekers who are looking for the latest VSSC Jobs can apply for this VSSC Technical Apprentice Recruitment 2017 through online as early as possible. Online application process will be started soon at its official page. All the suitable candidates may download the online application form and follow the below simple steps provided by us and submit the filled application form on or before last date.
Vacancy Details about VSSC Notification 2017:
Total Number of Vacancies: 158 Posts.
Name of the Posts:
- Automobile Engineering: 08 Posts.
- Chemical Engineering: 25 Posts.
- Civil Engineering: 08 Posts.
- Computer Engineering: 15 Posts.
- Electrical Engineering: 10 Posts.
- Electronics Engineering: 40 Posts.
- Instrument technology: 06 Posts.
- Mechanical Engineering: 46 Posts.
Age Limit:
Candidates age should not be more than 33 years. Age relaxation is also available for the reserved category applicants.
Educational Qualification:
Applicants must possess their diploma in relevant trade from any recognized university.
Selection Procedure:
Candidates will be selected done based on applicants performance in written examination and followed by the personal interview.
Salary Details:
Shortlisted applicants will get attractive and impressive pay scale as Rs.3542/- per month.
Important Dates:
- Starting date to apply online: Available Soon.
- Closing date to submit the filled application form: Soon Released.
- Date of the written examination: Update Shortly.
How to apply for VSSC Notification 2017:
- Log on to the official website of VSSC www.vssc.gov.in
- After that, search for the link of VSSC Technical Apprentice Vacancies 2017.
- Then, click on apply online link.
- Now fill the online application form with correct details.
- Make payment details and etc.
- Click on submit button and take hard copy of it for future reference.
Official Website: www.vssc.gov.in


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[Brisbane] Tibetan National Uprising Day
March 10, 2017 @ 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
This Friday, 10 March, is the 58th Anniversary of Tibetan National Uprising Day.
China has closed Tibet from the rest of the world in the lead up to this historic day. But China can't silence our voices in the free world.
Take to the streets and make our voices heard. Let us amplify the Tibetan people's call for freedom.
Join the rallies in Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra and Brisbane and stand in solidarity with the Tibetan people.
These rallies are organised by the Tibetan Communities of Sydney, Newcastle, Victoria, ACT and Queensland.
10 am to 2 pm March from King George Square to New Farm Park


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Social Media Policy
I. Purpose
II. Applicability
III. Superseded Policy
IV. Policy
A. Be Honest
B. Be Clear
C. Be Careful
i. Protecting GM Information
ii. Protecting Other People's Information
D. Be Respectful
E. Be Aware
F. Be Responsible
V. Related Regional/Country Policies
A. Retaining GM Business Records and Social Media Content
B. Personal References on Social Media Sites
C. Responding to Negative Content You May See About GM
D. Internal Social Media
E. Country Specific Addendum
i. India
ii. Germany and Austria
I. Purpose
Social Media is constantly changing the way we connect. Social media consists of websites and applications that enable users to create and share content or to participate in social networking. For example, a person posting a picture on Facebook of their family road trip is using social media. It helps us start new relationships with customers and colleagues from around the globe, sometimes with a single #tweet. These Social Media Guidelines have been developed to help you to be aware of your rights and obligations and to empower you to communicate the positive vision of our @GM brands.
This policy is not intended to interfere with your legally protected rights or to prohibit communications protected by local law. Unique local country requirements can be obtained by clicking on a link in the footnote below or, if there is no link, by contacting your country's Legal Staff representatives.
This Global Social Media Policy is designed to:
- help prevent disclosure of GM's confidential business information through the use of Social Media;
- clarify the parameters for official GM spokespersons to communicate on Social Media
- clarify the parameters for personal GM employee and GM representative Social Media communications; and
- reflect our legal obligations.
You have a responsibility to be familiar with and comply with this policy. And, because Social Media is used in a variety of ways, you'll find specific expectations outlined below that may apply to your online activities.
II. Applicability
This policy supplements GM's Code of Conduct, Winning with Integrity, and also applies to the following:
- GM salary and hourly employees
- Employees of GM subsidiaries in which:
i. GM owns more than 50% of the equity interest directly or indirectly, or exercises management
control, including GM employees seconded to GM's non-controlled partners or joint ventures.
ii. NOTE: For companies and employees of companies in which GM owns 50% or less of an
entity, and does not exercise management control, a case-by-case determination by the
Social Media Policy Governance Council is made as to whether this policy applies.
With respect to consultants, agents, sales representatives, independent contractors, and contract workers (collectively, "GM Representatives") this policy applies to them, when they act on behalf of GM.
Failure to comply with this policy may result in disciplinary action, up to and including termination.
III. Superseded Policy
- LAST UPDATE: January 2017
- This policy supersedes and replaces all previous Global Social Media Policies.
- OWNER: GM Social Media Center of Expertise (GM COE)
- SCOPE: Global
- APPROVERS: GM Social Media Center of Expertise (GM COE)
IV. Policy
A. Be Honest: Disclosing Your Identity
Whenever you're talking online about the auto industry or GM, you must disclose that you work for or with GM and your position (i.e. vehicle engineer, agency supporting Chevrolet, etc.). For example; include #IWorkForGM if you are an employee of GM and include #IWorkWithGM if you are an agency, vendor or partner working with GM. Including the #IWorkForGM or the #IWorkWithGM hashtags in your posts or tweets is a quick and easy way to provide appropriate disclosure, and adding your association with GM to your profile also helps provide meaningful disclosure. Note that even when you disclose your relationship to GM, the other rules and guidance in this policy still apply.
Do not submit consumer reviews for GM products or competitive products. As employees of or partners with GM, we have a natural bias and are not simply consumers. Because of this, posting reviews on Social Media is not appropriate.
In the United States, these principles are consistent with Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidance on endorsements and employee disclosures. You can find the FTC Endorsement Guidelines here. These disclosures (and the use of #IWorkForGM or #IWorkWithGM) are equally important for any agency, vendor, partner, or similar third party who is discussing GM or the auto industry online.
GM also requires Social Media influencers and bloggers, who may be provided with vehicles, hosted at events or being paid for their services, to disclose any association they have with GM to their readers when posting anything about GM or its products or services. Any employee and/or agency partner who is responsible for this type of activity must ensure this policy is followed and that there are mechanisms in place to monitor influencers' and bloggers' compliance.
B. Be Clear: Your Views Are Your Own
Only official GM Social Media spokespeople can officially speak on behalf of GM. Even when you have identified yourself as working for GM (including on your Social Media profiles such as but not limited to Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Weibo, VKontakte and/or Facebook), make sure you are clear that the views and opinions you have expressed are your own, and not those of GM, when you are discussing GM or its products or services. If you think that an "official" GM response may be required, contact the GM Corporate Social Media Team at firstname.lastname@example.com.
C. Be Careful: What You Share And How You Share It
You are personally responsible for your words and actions, so use good judgment. Be honest, truthful and appropriate throughout your Social Media communications. Keep in mind, your posts can potentially tarnish reputations or infringe on the rights of someone else (including GM and its employees).
Be sure your online postings about GM or its products or services are accurate and not misleading. Do not post any information or rumors that you suspect or know to be false about GM, other employees, customers, suppliers or competitors. If you make a mistake, correct it quickly. Remember that information travels quickly on the Internet and even deleted posts may be recovered.
It is okay to refer others to public GM official sites (e.g., GM.com, Chevrolet.com, Opel.com, Holden.com), especially if you want to clear up misconceptions, so feel free to include a link. Do not, however, agree to terms that bind GM, or that would give the site rights to content that belongs to GM, its licensors, licensees, customers, or other related entities.
Remember that you are personally responsible for complying with the rules of use or terms and conditions of any Social Media site where you participate, and that they differ from site to site. Be familiar with them before you engage.
i. Protecting GM Information
You should never reveal non-public company information, financial or otherwise, on a site accessible to anyone outside of GM. You also should not comment in Social Media about information or topics covered by the attorney-client privilege.
Examples of prohibited disclosures include:
- Knowledge of potential acquisitions or divestitures
- Future product launches
- Financial information
- Production schedules
- Material costs or profit margins
- Management or staffing changes
- Trade secrets or information that gives GM a competitive advantage
- Information directly or indirectly related to the safety performance of GM systems or vehicle components
- Information related to accessories, components, or styling decisions affecting GM's future products
- GM Secret, Confidential or Attorney-Client Privileged information
- Undisclosed personal information about another GM employee, such as his or her medical condition, performance, employment status, or government identifier/social security number
- Undisclosed information about GM customers or suppliers.
In addition, you should not comment publicly on any vehicle recalls or pending litigation.
To view your responsibilities regarding the purchase or sale of GM securities, please refer to GM's Insider Trading Policy. For more details about sharing GM information, review GM's Code of Conduct, Winning with Integrity. For a source of publicly released information, go to GM's public websites, where you can access global and local public information by country. If you are still in doubt, don't post.
Be mindful that when "checking in" (i.e., establishing a geo location using GPS to place yourself on social networks) at GM facilities and on business trips, you could potentially reveal information that may be intended to give GM a competitive business advantage and could be harmful to the Company if made public.
When taking photos in GM locations, even if photography is permitted, it remains important to be careful not to disclose competitively significant or other confidential information. For example, if you are posting photos, ensure that images or words in the background do not unintentionally reveal GM Confidential Information (for example, a team photo with a visible launch calendar in the background). Do not incorporate GM logos, trademarks or other assets in your posts. When using GM websites, or when posting about GM's products or services, make sure you do not post content without securing all necessary permissions first. However, if you are posting a direct "share" from Company sites, GM's logo may be automatically attached; and that is okay.
Keep in mind that representatives from GM Communications and GM Legal are available to assist with any questions; but if you are unsure whether the information in your post falls into one of the above categories and would violate this policy, DO NOT SHARE.
ii. Protecting Other Peoples' Information
As you use Social Media, you should always be mindful of the rights of others.
Many Social Media sites impose restrictions regarding proprietary information and content; confidentiality; and the brands, trademarks and copyrights of others. It is important to be mindful of these restrictions when quoting others or sharing photos, music, videos or other content and not to post material that would potentially violate copyright infringement laws, intellectual property laws, publicity laws, or trademark laws.
When using GM websites, or when posting about GM's products or services, make sure you do not post content without securing all necessary permissions first.
You should not post personal information about another person, such as his or her medical condition, performance, employment status, or government identifier/social security number. Hurt feelings, damaged relationships and even lawsuits can result from bringing other people or their property into an online setting without their permission.
D. Be Respectful
Remember that customers, colleagues, supervisors, suppliers, competitors and other members of the public may have access to your posts. These individuals reflect a diverse set of customs, values and viewpoints. Offensive, demeaning, abusive or inappropriate remarks (including threats of violence or bullying) are as out-of-place online as they are offline, even if they are unintentional. Posting offensive language or pictures could contribute to co-workers' hostile work environment claims on the basis of race, age, gender, disability, religion, or any other status protected by the law or GM policy. It will also likely diminish the trust and respect your co-workers have for you and reflect badly on you and GM.
We expect you to abide by the same standards of behavior in your Social Media communications as you do in the workplace, because what you say in your personal Social Media channels impacts the work environment. Your online communications will not be excused merely because they occurred outside of work hours or off GM premises.
Think carefully about "friending" co-workers (including leaders or direct reports) on external Social Media sites. For example, consider whether a friend request may be viewed by the recipient as harassing, intimidating or unwelcomed. Conversely, you should not feel pressured to accept friend or follower requests from those you work with. It's your choice how much you want to combine your personal and professional online lives.
For additional information about GM's policies on appropriate workplace conduct please click on the following links:
- GM's Code of Conduct, Winning with Integrity
- 2011 CBA (U.S. represented employees)
In addition, you should refrain from posting content that may be construed as grossly offensive or of menacing character, or causing inconvenience, annoyance, danger, obstruction or insult. You should also be cautious about publishing any content on Social Media, which could be construed as contempt of court, i.e. publication which is calculated to bring a Court or a Judge into contempt, or to lower his authority, or to interfere with the due course of justice or the lawful process of the Court.
E. Be Aware: Online Communications Travel Fast, Remain Forever and are Not Really "Private"
The internet is public, and it has a long memory. Even information you may think you have protected as "private" on some Social Media sites may be accessed by others. Consider everything you post to the Internet as potentially discoverable by anyone. Keep in mind that technology makes it virtually impossible to completely "delete" something online and incredibly easy to send a post to millions of other users. Before you share anything, make sure you will not regret saying it, even if a reporter, a relative, your manager or colleague were to view it.
GM employees should have no expectation of privacy concerning their use of GM Information Resources, including but not limited to email, corporate approved instant messaging tools, GM-provided computing equipment and cell phones/mobiles/tablets, the GM Intranet, GM-provided access to the public Internet, or other GM Information Systems, except where applicable law provides differently. For more information, review the Acceptable Use Practices on the Global Ethics and Compliance Center website on Socrates.
F. Be Responsible
As a GM employee, you have the ultimate responsibility for policy compliance by third parties you oversee within the scope of your employment. For example, this includes GM suppliers, agencies or personal contacts you encourage to speak about GM and/or its products.
It is important that all partners understand the implications of referencing General Motors and/or their relationship with GM and its brands in all forms of Social Media and online conversations, and that associates recognize when General Motors might be held responsible for their online behavior.
Furthermore, you should not open GM social media channels without approval from the GM Social Media Center of Expertise. The GM CoE approves requests to open new General Motors social media channels and can provide the proper resources needed to ensure the potential new channel's success. You should not open social channels, communities, hubs or other social media groups that represent or are branded as General Motors or any of its brands, products, or affiliates without first contacting the GM CoE. Please contact the GM CoE at email@example.com for additional information.
V. Related Regional/Country Policies
A. Retaining GM Business Records and Social Media Content
Social Media technologies are not currently designed to reasonably or practically create, retain and dispose of GM business records sufficiently for purposes of the Information Lifecycle Management (ILM) Policy and GM Record Retention Schedule (GMRRS). Therefore, unless (i) you are using GM Overdrive, or (ii) you are acting on GM's behalf as an authorized Social Media user (i.e. running the Chevrolet Facebook page), you should not use Social Media to conduct GM business.
You should not post any message or communicate with anyone through Social Media about a subject that is covered by a litigation or open tax year hold. Be aware that information discussed using Social Media technologies may become relevant to litigation or other investigation proceedings and may be subject to a Litigation Hold. Litigation Holds are instructions issued by GM Legal Staff that require records be preserved for litigation and government investigations. If the content of a Social Media communication is relevant to a Litigation Hold, regardless of whether it is a business record or non-business record, that communication must be preserved until the hold is lifted.
B. Personal References on Social Media Sites
GM's policy prohibits employees from providing professional references or recommendations for current or former GM employees, contract workers or consultants, either written, verbal or through Social Media. While we do not prohibit employees from providing personal references for friends or colleagues, please do not refer to GM employment or include a GM position title or utilize GM letterhead in the personal reference. An exception to this is where local country employment laws may oblige us to provide such references, and this requires prior approval of the local HR Director.
C. Responding to Negative Content You May See about GM
General Motors recognizes that our employees are vital assets for monitoring the Social Media landscape. You may encounter consumer complaints about specific vehicles or specific issues while online. Speak up for safety and please bring these issues to the attention of the Social CoE at firstname.lastname@example.com. For any issue regarding a customer's ownership experience or GM vehicle, please refer the customer to GM Customer Service.
D. Internal Social Media
GM has made internal social media networks, such as OverDrive, available for employees to share workplace information within GM. Internal collaboration tools and sites are valuable resources for conducting company business and helping employees share information, comment on company news and collaborate with their work group or other teams.
While we recognize that there may be some uses of GM's internal social media networks that are not entirely related to GM business, (e.g. Belle Isle Cycling Club, Ads), non-business uses should be limited and you should always keep GM's Purpose and Values in mind when using GM's social media networks.
OverDrive Administrators reserve the right to delete or remove content they deem inappropriate according to GM's Code of Conduct or other Company policies. Notify an OverDrive administrator if you are concerned that posted content is not consistent with GM's policies. You may also report misconduct through Awareline.
Remember, just as with external social media, use good judgment. Online activities may affect personal reputation, image and the ability to effectively interact with coworkers and business partners.
E. Country Specific Addendum
This Policy is not intended, and will not be administered, to prohibit speech that is protected by law. GM's Social Media Policy will be administered in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations (including, in the U.S., Section 7 of the U.S. National Labor Relations Act). For employees and representatives outside the U.S., this Policy is subject to the applicable laws in the countries in which it is administered.
i. India
Employees in India should adhere to all of the provisions of the GM Employee and Representative Social Media Policy.
ii. Germany & Austria
At the current time this policy is not applicable to employees in Germany and Austria, but they should adhere to regional/local laws.