Disqus - Latest Comments for callkathy

Re: downdetector.com/status/quora

CallKathy — Sun, 30 Jun 2019 16:48:13 -0000

Gateway timeouts here. Hope the downtime isn't too long.

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 16:29:34 -0000

Many states are that way. Part of why we live in California. (The only states we would move too don't have that restriction. We can't afford it.)

It scares me how many politicians think that people on disability CAN make too much to qualify for Medicaid. The vast majority of people on SSD would rather not be on it. Saying no to giving them Medicaid makes it more likely that they won't get the health care they need.

I, like many who are disabled, would give just about anything to be able to move, work, and live pain free again.

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:53:34 -0000

Thanks for the great comments and questions everyone. And HUGE props to Nicole for this whole series!

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:52:00 -0000

See my reply to @Ruzielle above for the worst of it.

Other problems were related to mobility. As a fellow tester, you know - you sit most of the time, but you do have to move around. On the worst pain days, the pain and the energy required getting up and down repeatedly was more than I could take. Your mileage will vary, but that's the kind of thing you don't think about until it hits.

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:45:56 -0000

The big problems with long-term disability insurance tend to be around how long it takes for them to kick in and how much they pay. Most of them pay 75% of your pay (unless you have specifically bought a policy that pays more). Many of them say you have to have missed work for a couple of weeks (a month in some places) before they kick in.

That said, I wish we had spent the money (or even thought to spend the money) on long term disability. It would have made a huge difference in our life.

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:39:07 -0000

@Christy got it in one. The pain as my knees degenerated turned into back pain and knee pain... I limp more the worse the pain gets. That pain never goes away. (A good day for me is 5 on a 0 to 10 scale. A normal day is a 7.) That much pain also wears on you. For me, that lead to chronic depression. Finally, the concentration... I used to be able to do three or four things at once without blinking. Now? Not so much. I take 2 heavy anti-inflam doses every day, with additional Tramadol doses as needed. The "as needed" is almost always once a day and frequently more.

There is one other thing that catches me: It takes me much longer to do things than it used to take. I can be working on a story or a poem and suddenly realize that it has taken me an hour to write what used to take 15 minutes.

Re: How a Former Software Tester Does Money

CallKathy — Sat, 19 Aug 2017 12:31:42 -0000

Sorry for the delay in answering. The accountant basically told us that we should be plowing everything back into the small business we were running. Both of us were consultants - 1099 style. We were making enough to get the bills paid, the taxes paid, and live. We didn't even think about SS quarterly payments. When I realized (too late) what we had done, I was more than a bit mad at myself.

Re: E. Carol Schulz

CallKathy — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 15:35:34 -0000

For those who wish to acknowledge my mother's passing at the memorial service in June, please let us know if you are coming.

My mother really didn't like cut flowers. She preferred things that lasted. Therefore, wee ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Members Alliance Credit Union, 2550 S. Alpine Rd., Rockford, IL 61108 in care of ElizabethAnne Urbik/ Carol Schulz Memorial Fund

Thank you for your kind thoughts and words. They are much appreciated!

Re: 10 Things Harder To Do In America Than Buy A Gun

CallKathy — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 18:37:35 -0000

I have never understood why it is easier to get a gun which can be used to take a life than it is to adopt a child. It shouldn't be easy to do either of those things, but it should be harder to get the gun than to adopt a child.

You should be required to at least attend gun safety class, pass a background check, and know how to store the gun safely before you can buy a gun. It makes no sense that you can buy a gun at a gun show without even getting fingerprinted....

(My two cents.)

Re: Any suggestions for a weekend visit to Seattle?

CallKathy — Sun, 07 Jul 2013 21:36:07 -0000

Check out the Chittenden Locks (also known as the Ballard Locks) - Lock and Dam system complete with salmon fish ladders and a garden to walk through. Great place to see some cool technology (old school style) and take fun pictures.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Re: Creating the Conference We All Say We Want

CallKathy — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 11:09:54 -0000

There is one other facet that should be considered: Tech support. It does no one any good to go to a conference on social media when there isn't enough bandwidth to support people actually "playing along". As a trainer and presenter, I can tell you that nothing kills a social media presentation faster than finding out there is no connectivity.

This may sound like a picky detail, but it really isn't. If the attendees at the conference can't put what they are learning into practice, if they can't keep up with what is being said and shown, if they feel totally disconnected from the world... The attendees will think hard about coming back.

I would love to see an advanced conference. I would love to be involved in putting one together. I think there is a huge need for it. BUT I don't believe there is anyone out there willing to take up Amber's challenge. And that is a loss to all of us.

My two cents - take it or leave it as desired. :)

Re: Duarte.com/edy Episode 1: Make Your Slides Count

CallKathy — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 14:31:16 -0000

Hilarious! 100+ slide intro... that sounds familiar. (But, Kathy, I have to tell them everything I know so they will listen, right?)

Re: Simple as that … I’m the community guy at Simply.ca

CallKathy — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 12:24:42 -0000

Congrats! Sounds like a great fit for you and for Simply.ca!

Re: September’s Topic: Klout & Measuring Social Influence

CallKathy — Tue, 30 Aug 2011 18:22:10 -0000

Regarding September's meeting: Sounds great! Looking forward to being there!

General note:
It might be worth checking the EventBrite page. It has a couple of outdated notes on it. For one thing, it still shows that the Sept 2010 meeting is canceled. That could be confusing for some.

Re: SXSW 2012 - Confessions of a Community Moderator

CallKathy — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 18:07:27 -0000

@Katie - Have you considered talking to Connie Bensen about being on the panel? If you don't know her, let me know. She would be a great fit.

Re: SXSW 2012 - What Social Media Managers need to know but don't

CallKathy — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:48:35 -0000

Love this idea! Hoping that not just the future social media managers come, but also their bosses. If the rest of the company doesn't understand the role, the efforts are doomed from the start.

One additional topic you might consider within this panel is the time it takes for Social Media to make an impact. It doesn't happen overnight. Setting that expectation is a big part of success.

Re: SXSW 2012 - How not to be invisible online

CallKathy — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 16:50:20 -0000

Please join this great panel in exploring how not to get lost. In case you don't know the panel members, we are:
Moderator:
Kathy Jacobs is CallKathy almost everywhere on the social web. She is a dedicated social media geek. She loves connecting people with who and what they need. In this case, she is thrilled to have the chance to help you improve your online connections and visibility.

Panelists:
Todd Jordan is Tojosan on Twitter and many other sites. He is the un-official mayor of St. Louis and a US Navy Veteran. He is a founding member of the St. Louis Bloggers Guild and the Social Media Club St. Louis Chapter. He is an avid photographer, blogger, foodie, and educator.

Karoli Kuns is Karoli on Twitter. She is a political writer whose blog entries can be found on CrooksAndLiars, MOMocrats, and on DrumsNWhistles. She cares deeply about healthcare and other political issues.

Tyler Hurst is TDHurst on Twitter. He writes on many different topics on several Arizona based blogs. He is leading the PodCampAZ effort for 2011. He loves Gangplank, barefoot running, and being inspirational.

Together the 5 of us hope to rock your world with some awesome content!

Please VOTE for us!

Re: Google Plus Games and Facebook Privacy Comparison

CallKathy — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 20:04:11 -0000

Can you add a larger image of the icon for the games stream? Would like to know what to watch for, as I don't have it yet.

Other than that, great piece. I liked seeing it actually in use. Too many of the tech geeks are putting it down for even existing. They don't seem to realize how many users play games.

Re: The ring I bought Katie

CallKathy — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:29:12 -0000

That is a beautiful ring. I love the reasoning behind it. Channel settings always do better for those who actually use their hands. You did good!

Re: Top 10 Reasons I Am STILL Addicted To Twitter (and Social Networking)

CallKathy — Fri, 31 Dec 2010 12:53:45 -0000

Yeah, by this ranking I am not only still addicted... I am even more addicted. Love the piece!

Re: Come to SXSW with Hashable

CallKathy — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:56:11 -0000

Sounds like a blast! If I read this correctly, all I have to do to be eligible, is to keep introducing people? Wonderful! Count me in!

Re: Mashable is Hiring & Other Great Job Opportunities

CallKathy — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 02:12:03 -0000

I would love to learn more about the Events Content Coordinator position at Mashable in New York, NY. Only problem is that the job has been removed from the job board. Any ideas on how to learn more about it?

Re: My Mom Was a Geek’s Best Friend

CallKathy — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:26:58 -0000

Your mom is in a pain free place now - and that's a well deserved rest for her. She will be missed by you and many others. We have all shared in her battle, as well as your sorrows and joys as she went through it. Her willingness to let you share her battle touched many of us.

Bruce and I send thoughts of strength and peace to you and your sisters as you mourn her loss.

Re: BlogWorld Attendees: Learn How You Can Attend a Cirque Show!

CallKathy — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 13:49:36 -0000

What a great offer, Jessica! Thank you for supporting the attendees of BlogWorld! I would love to see Mystère, KÀ, Zumanity or LOVE! I would be blogging after about it on my main blog (http://vitaminch.com/blogs) as well as on my amplify blog (http://callkathy.amplify.com).

I will be in Vegas through Monday late afternoon, so a Sunday show would really rock. If no tickets are available for Sunday for this opportunity, then any of the other three nights (Thursday, Friday, or Saturday) would work fine.

You can contact me more directly at bwe2010@vitaminch.com

Re: There Are Stories Out There On Twitter, Flickr, YouTube — Build Them With Storify

CallKathy — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 18:40:12 -0000

Curation by itself misses. There needs to be a way to get the conversation going and keep it going. Content by itself is shouting into the wind.

What I would like to know from both curated.by and storify is: How does your service help me connect with the people reading my content? It looks like you are a place to host a curated story, but that you both expect the actual conversations to happen elsewhere. Please tell me if I am missing something here....