U.S. DOL Job Tools Voting Ends Tomorrow

Posted by Teresa A. Cheek On January 14, 2010 In: Internet Resources

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The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), has been conducting an interesting online initiative designed to identify the best online job search and career advancement tools. They currently have 610 tools (!) posted on their site and are seeking input from people who have used the tools.

The tools fall into categories such as general job boards, niche job boards, career tools, career exploration guides, and web 2.0 / social-media sites that specialize in job searches or postings. Visitors to the site are encouraged to try the tools, comment on them, and recommend the ones they like. In a YouTube video on the website, Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis explains the initiative. The DOL promises to publish the tools that rank the highest on its website and also to encourage the creation of a nationwide network of “One-Stop Career Centers.” Voting ends on January 15.


Anything that the DOL can do to help job seekers is a good thing.

Powerful Presentations: Links to Free Graphics

Posted by Molly DiBianca On October 12, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources , Seminars, Past

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I give a lot of presentations. And I take them seriously. Which may explain why my slides often get noticed as being “different” than many of the other presentations my clients see. I subscribe to the style of presenting advocated by Cliff Atkinson, known as Beyond Bullet PointsNancy Duarte and Garr Reynolds are two other visionaries in the field of visual communication who lead by example. In short, the principle theory behind my slide design is to present only one idea per slide and to present it with images instead of words.

And, while I could go on for many posts about the topic of effective presenting skills but I’ll save that for another day.  Instead, I’ll refrain from the evangelical sermon and, instead, offer a tiny bit of practical help.

One of the bigger stumbling blocks involved in this type of presenting is where to get the graphics you’ll use instead of words on your slides.  There really are an unlimited number of ways to create images for this purpose. 

image

Of course, you can simply purchase them from stock photo sites.  I use Shutterstock to buy images and buy a one-month subscription to save on the cost. 

You also can surf the web to find images.  Google Images works great for this and so does Bing’s image search. But beware of “borrowing” images—just because they’re available online does not mean that they’re publicly available.  You must determine if you're lawfully able to use the pictures that you find. Dave Paradi recently listed 10 excellent government sites that offer bunches of beautiful photographs for free!

One seriously underestimated tool is PowerPoint.  I use it constantly to create my own images—everything from simple stick-figure drawings to more substantial 3d graphics.  If you don’t believe that this is possible for mere mortals (i.e., non-designers), just have a look at the wonderfully instructive blog, Slides that Stick for some excellent tutorials.  You may be amazed!

One of the greatest resources, though, is right at your fingertips—or, even better, they are your fingertips!  Pick up a pen and start drawing. Don’t be “fancy”—really, it’s best if you just avoid even attempting anything that will look even close to “artistic.”  Just stick with the basics.  You’d be surprised at how well you can communicate using those same skills that you picked up as a toddler.  Need inspiration? Check out Dan Roam, who just won the World’s Best Presentation Contest at Slideshare.net—using, you guessed it, simple marker drawings! 

U.S. Supreme Court Decisions Go Digital

Posted by Molly DiBianca On October 7, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources , Tech Tips , U.S. Supreme Court Decisions

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The U.S. Supreme Court has taken another step towards “digital enlightenment.” The Court’s website now includes links to pdf files containing the United States Reports, volumes 502 and later.  The U.S. Reports contain the final and official version of the Court’s decisions, typically three to five volumes per Term. Each volume is between 800 and 1,200 pages long, making each pdf file very large.  Large, but packed with valuable information, including, according the Court’s site:

In addition to all of the opinions issued during a particular period, a volume may contain a roster of Justices and Court officers during that period; an allotment of Justices by Federal Circuit; announcements of Justices' investitures and retirements; memorial proceedings for deceased Justices; a cumulative table of cases reported; orders in cases decided in summary fashion; reprints of amendments to the Supreme Court's Rules and the various sets of Federal Rules of Procedure; a topical index; and a statistical table summarizing case activity for the past three Court Terms.

For those who are familiar with Adobe’s Acrobat can create a tremendous resource for themselves by saving these files locally and creating an electronic index for super-quick searches later.  This appears to be yet another mile marker in the road to more easily accessible legal references.

Vote for Your Favorite Leadership Blog

Posted by Molly DiBianca On July 2, 2009 In: Employee Engagement , Internet Resources

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What is the best leadership blog? The Remarkable Leadership Blog is set to answer that question.  It's narrowed it down to 10 of the "World's Best Leadership Blogs."  All 10 blogs are listed below but you'll want to go to the original list to cast your vote (and register to win some great prizes, too).

image

Leading Blog by Michael McKinney


Great Leadership by Dan McCarthy


Seth Godin’s Blog by Seth Godin


Jon Gordon’s Blog by Jon Gordon


Leadership is a Verb by John Bishop


All Things Workplace by Steve Roesler


Work Matters by Bob Sutton


Leader Talk by Mountain State University


Next Level Blog by Scott Eblin


Leadership At Work by John Baldoni

 

And if 10 isn't enough to satisfy your need to read about leadership, you might want to check out our list of 100 of the Leading Blogs on Leadership.

Top 20 Employee Benefits Blogs

Posted by Molly DiBianca On February 11, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources

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Employee-benefits attorneys and non-attorney benefits professionals must be masters of ERISA and the income tax code--two areas of the law that I  know enough to know that I do not know enough.  When I get a question about 401(k) administration or group health-insurance plans, I promptly turn them over to one of the attorneys in our Tax and Benefits Group.  rss feed icon and computer mouse

At the same time, I still have to be able to field some of the basic questions and, at the very least, spot a benefits issue when there is one.  To keep up to speed in the area of Employee Benefits, I turn to these 20 blogs.  If you know of others, please feel free to leave a comment with the blog name and address.  But, for my purposes, these are the Top 20 Benefits Blogs around:

  1. Benefits Biz Blog
  2. Benefits Blog
  3. Benefits Link Buzz
  4. Boston ERISA & Insurance Litigation Blog
  5. Employee Benefits Blog
  6. Employee Benefits Legal Blog
  7. ERISA Blog
  8. ERISA On the Web
  9. ESOP Law Blog
  10. Florida ERISA Blog
  11. Health Plan Law
  12. Managed Care Matters
  13. Northeast Employee Benefits
  14. Pension Protection Act Blog
  15. Pensions & Benefits Weblog
  16. Piper Report
  17. PLANSPONSOR Perspectives
  18. The Retirement Plan Blog
  19. Weiss Berzowski Brady LLP
  20. Workplace Prof Blog

How to Participate in Today's National Day of Service

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 19, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Locally Speaking

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Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  It is also the national day of service and the first day of President-elect Obama’s initiative to Renew America Together.  In communities around the First State, as well as in neighborhoods around the country, Americans are volunteering to help others.  If you would like to join in this growing initiative but don't know of any particular activities in your local area, check out USAService.org.   Here, you can search by zip code or by state and find a list of events being held today that would benefit from any time you can contribute.  And the website isn't just a great resource today.  Its comprehensive database of volunteer and charitable events lists the many opportunities that happen throughout the year.

Wellness Resolution: The Quest for the Perfect Ergonomic Office Chair

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 12, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Wellness, Health, and Safety

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Walking while you work was the topic of an earlier post. This post stays within the same theme--how to be healthy at work--but with a different perspective--mine.  I have some thoughts of my own on this topic. 

For one, I would cherish the opportunity to move more through the day without sacrificing working time.  It's not the walking part, really, as much as it's the idea of not sitting that I find attractive.  Basically, anything that involves me not sitting would be of value.  Alternatively, sitting comfortably and without permanently wrecking my posture would be a heck of an idea.

Somehow, I've never gotten around to buying one and my back really pays the price for my indecisiveness.  What's stopping me?  There's just too many from which I could choose!  But that's not to say that I haven't given it a lot of thought.  Here's the rundown on my years of searching. image

There's the classic Herman Miller Aeron chair.  Everyone knows that the Aeron is pretty hard to beat when it comes to function and design.  Being a lover of modern furniture, I can admire the Aeron even for the story of its creation--and if you haven't yet read the story, it's a great story of perseverance and dedication, of leadership and teamwork.  Good stuff.  The Executive Aeron can be purchased for approximately $1,300. 

 

Herman Miller also offers the Mirra ($829) and Celle ($629) chairs as less pricey Aeron alternatives. Both chairs come in a variety of colors, which is an advantage over the Aeron.  Color is important. 

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I have to pass on the Aeron because, honestly, it's just not "pretty" enough for me.  Yes, mock me if you will, but at least I'm honest.  I appreciate the aesthetic but I need more glamour than the black mesh has to offer. 

The Freedom chair by Humanscale is next in the rotation.  The Freedom chair (with headrest, ofimage course), also has plenty of design awards on its resume and is known as one of the best in the ergonomic category.  But, to its credit, it comes in a variety of colors and textures, including leather, which happens to be my preference.  At around $1,000, the chair is priced competitively.  The Liberty chair, priced for under $800, is Humanscale's task chair alternative. 

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Next up is Steelcase--the maker of the Walkstation treadmill-desk combo that prompted this post.  Steelcase has plenty to offer in the way of ergonomic seating, the two most popular choices being the Leap and Think chairs.   Both are offered in various colors and both have a contemporary look, with the Think chair's sleek, linear design being my preference between the two. image
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I've been known to be open to new things so it's not surprising that I've given a lot of thought to the out-of-the-ordinary seating options.  For instance, the HAG Capisco saddle chair (in red, below, $690 - $1,200) dares to be different.  Even assuming that it's as comfortable as could be and the look was where I wanted to go, the whole "saddle" concept just doesn't work for me.  The idea is that you can sit in the chair backwards (why, I haven't the foggiest).  Sorry, I wear too many skirts to make this a realistic possibility.  I'll pass, although I do love the height-adjustable feature. In my ideal office, I would have a height-adjustable desk, making this feature quite important.  

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The same principles go for the "stool" option but, in the interest of fairness, I'll list them anyway.   The Swopper Stool by Via (left, $600) is designed to force its user to keep their balance by engaging their abdomen muscles instead of letting us lazy office workers slump over in our traditionally terrible posture.   The HAG Balans Kneeling Chair (right) is even less likely to ever see the four walls of my office.  I've witnessed these in use and, unless you work at a health club or in another industry where you are expected to wear clothes designed for comfort, this option is just impractical.  My devotion to improved posture is not this strong.   

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Now let's get to the serious contenders.  If and when I get around to breaking open the office-chair-piggy-bank, there are just two that make me stand up and cheer. 

First is the Steelcase Leap Worklounge Chair in Leather ($2,700-$3,400 depending on options). steelcase work lounger in leather

It's beautiful.  And that's exactly why I like it.  It comes in white leather, which is my favorite upholstery option (practicality be damned).  There is also an optional ottoman but who has time to put their feet up?  We're working too hard to afford the chair!

 

 

And then there's the ultimate in luxury office seating, the Silver chair by Interstuhl.  Interstuhl is a German company and brings German precision to its line of couture office furniture.  I could say more but the pictures speak for themselves. 

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Beauty is not cheap.  The base model in black will cost you around $4,500.  But why stop there?  If you're going to do luxurious, go all the way.  And Interstuhl has just the chair for satisfying the maximum luxury quotient.  

For a mere $65,500, you can be one of the lucky owners of the world's most expensive office chair.   You'll get not just the chair but the matching ottoman, as well, both of which are plated in 24-karat gold.

 

The chair has even had a few roles on the silver screen.  It was used as Al Pacino's chair in the movie Ocean's 13.  And, more recently, made a cameo in the latest Bond film, Quantum of Solace.

 

Comments

Molly, please do get yourself a decent chair. I have an Aeron myself; I wasn't aware of the many other options when I bought it (and it was a while ago, so maybe there weren't as many options back then), so I had a pretty easy decision-making process.

My brother spent years working from a lovely (but not at all ergonomic) dining room chair; when he finally bought his Aeron, he wondered why he'd waited so long.

And the Aerons do come in a limited set of colors; see http://tinyurl.com/7pqnnw.

Well...
I know for a fact the Freedom and Liberty are good chairs, don't like the 'trendy' chairs like the swoop or etc. One you might check out is the Ergocentric airCentric chair. It's not the beauty of the steelcase one, but it's very ergo and very comfortable!

You mention wanting a adjustable-height desk. I'd recommend checking out GeekDesk -- they have complete desks or just the frame (provide your own top) at REALLY good prices (if you've searched for these much, you'll understand). www.GeekDesk.com

Also, not nearly so "hip" as the ones you've mentioned here, but Raynor's Office Depot branded chair ("Realspace PRO™ Maverick Multifunction High-Back Fabric Chair")is very inexpensive, but wonderfully adjustable and has a headrest -- both of which I've found necessary for long-term work at the computer. I also swap in a kneeling chair once in a while, plus of course standing at the desk (which I can't stress strongly enough -- having a desk you can both sit at stand at easily throughout the day, makes a HUGE difference).

Anyway, that's $0.02, from a guy who works at a computer very, very long days. Nice post -- great to see all these chairs in one place!

Hi
I happen to write about Opsviks ergonomic office chairs and aesthetics and I have to agree with you about Capisco, I do not get it. I do not think it is "pretty", but here in Norway have this chair won many prices.

The Top 30 Blogs on Writing

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 11, 2009 In: Internet Resources , Resources

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Better writing is a worthy goal for anyone.  And certainly for lawyers, who make a living by being persuasive.  I work on my writing skills year round but, for the purposes of this series of posts, I'm calling this goal a resolution.  In the spirit of resolutions, I posted on 10 of the Funniest Writing Blogs.  (If you missed that post, go check it out--you're guaranteed a laugh from the very particular bloggers who feel so passionately about things like the overuse of quotation marks.)

In the second post in the series, I offered readers a list of 20 Online Dictionaries, which included everything from the Dictionary of Philly Slang (our native language), to the RhymeZone, to the Dictionary of Sushi.  You can never have too many reference sources, right?

Today, in the third post in the series, I'm being a bit more serious and scholarly.  Below are 30 of the Best Writing Blogs.  Some of the blogs focus on legal writing, some are strictly business (writing, that is), and some are whatever they want to be on any given day.  Here's to better writing everywhere!

Adams Drafting, by Ken Adams, concentrates exclusively on contract drafting and writing issues facing transactional lawyers.
Bad Language is a U.K. blog by Matthew Stibbe.  The blog is dedicated to business marketing, which Stibbe (rightly) believes is linked to effective writing.
Building Rapport, The Plain Language Blog, is written by Canadian Cheryl Stephens. The blog's mantra sums up Stephens' philosophy quite well.  The purpose of the blog is to "advocat[e] plain language, clear design, sensitivity to audience concerns, and civility."
Business Writing, by Lynn Gaertner-Johnston, offers helpful and gracious instruction on writing in the business world.  Lynne's posts often derive from questions she's received in one of her writing seminars, which ensures the timeliness of the topic.
Confident Writing, by writing coach Joanna Young, offers words of encouragement, as well as words of instruction, to a broad audience, including writers and writing hopefuls.
Copyblogger by Brian Clark is targeted towards those who want to improve their online presence through effective blogging.
Daily Writing Tips is maintained by five talented professional writers and offers just what it promises--daily tips on how to improve your writing. If you're feeling confident, take one of the several "tests" offered at the site to measure your vocabulary, grammar, and spelling skills. 
Disputed Issues, by Stephen R. Diamond, J.D., Ph.D., tackles common missteps in legal writing, as well as the reasons why lawyers write so badly.
Fairyland Castle is a new blog written by recent law-school graduate, Martin Magnusson, who provides commentary--not instruction--on legal writing.
Grammar Girl Mignon Fogarty offers short, friendly tips to improve your writing. Covering the grammar rules and word choice guidelines, Grammar Girl makes complex grammar questions simple with memory tricks to help you recall and apply those troublesome grammar rules. Grammar Girl is also available via podcast, if you want to make that morning commute count for something.
Grammarphobia Blog is the love-child of Patricia T. O'Conner and Stewart Kellerman, who met as editors at the New York Times. They offer practical advice for handling every type of grammar problem.
Legal Writing Prof Blog offers resources and news updates by legal-writing academics. 
Legalwriting.net, by Wayne Scheiss, who also maintains an excellent website.
Manage Your Writing, by Dr. Ken Davis, former chair of English at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.  This site offers readers short, to-the-point posts on discrete ways to "manage" your writing.  It also offers a great list of writing resources.
Men with Pens is a Canadian blog by three, you guessed it, men with pens, who post regularly on ways to improve your writing, blogging, web design, and business generally, in an edgy and irreverent way that's proven very popular with readers. [Update Jan. 16, 2010: According to Mister Thorne, this blog is not written by three men with pens but by one woman. How delightful!]
Mr. Rewrite is a sassy blog that looks at "spelling, grammar, and usage with a dash of humor."
Party of the First Part, by Adam Freedman, is devoted to eradicating the world of the pompous and verbose writing style commonly referred to as "Legalese." At the website of the same name, you can get your kicks by laughing at people who write worse than you at the Legalese Hall of Shame, where "POFP points the Fickle Finger of Fate at some real-life gobbledygook — from insurance contracts, jury instructions, and other literary gems (with translations)."
Robust Writing, by freelance writer Jesse Hines, encourages readers to use writing as a persuasive tool for success in business, marketing, and life in general.
Set In Style, by Mister Thorne, the "Legal Wordsmith."** One of my favorite writing blogs, this site is directed to the legal profession but is beneficial for anyone whose writing is intended to serve as marketing material.
Style & Substance is one of the many great blogs of the Wall Street Journal. Maintained by Paul R. Martin, editor of the WSJ's stylebook, the blog is host to monthly bulletins about style (and the lack thereof) in contemporary language.
The (New) Legal Writer, by Ray Ward, an appellate lawyer practicing in Louisiana, is very popular with those in the know around the blogosphere. 
The Slot is written by Bill Walsh, author of Lapsing Into a Comma and The Elephants of Style. Walsh also maintains the website, The Slot, which provides regular commentary targeted to copy editors and interesting enough for anyone with a passion for writing.
The Vocabula Review "battles nonstandard, careless English and embraces clear, expressive English." In short, this blog is dense with solid content that offers valuable instruction to writers at every skill level.
The Word Blog, by Boston Globe columnist Jan Freeman, is a blog about "the rules and realities of the English language."  
Triangle Grammar Guide is a blog hosted by North Carolina's News & Observer journalist, Pam Nelson. The posts are short and witty and propose to be your "online grammar class."
Word Wise is written by Dan Santow, VP at Edelman, which, according to Dan, is the world's largest privately held PR firm. Satow's posts are inspired by everyday observations of language done well and not so well.
Write to Done is authored by blogger extraordinaire, Leo Babauta. His twice-weekly posts cover "the art and craft of writing." If Leo Babauta blogs it, you can bet it's worth reading it.
Writing, Clear and Simple, by Roy Jacobsen, offers writing tips to legal and non-legal writing alike.
Writing Tools by Poynter Online is the online home of The Poynter Institute, a school for "journalists, future journalists, and teachers of journalists" located in St. Petersburg, Florida.  Poynter maintains one of the very best online resources for everything related to writing.
You Don't Say: Language & Usage is a Baltimore Sun blog, written by John McIntyre. McIntyre's bio, as stated on the blog, says it far better than I possibly could: "John McIntyre, a mild-mannered copy editor for a great metropolitan newspaper, has fussed over writers’ work at The Baltimore Sun since 1986."

 

The other posts in this series on Writing:

Writing References #2: 20 Online Dictionaries

Writing Reference #1: 10 Humorous Writing Blogs

My Finely Tailored New Year's Resolution: Pens & Pinstripes

Comments

Molly -- Thanks for including Set in Style. Much appreciated.

Thanks for including Confident writing in your list. And thanks for compiling the list!

Hear, hear. Thanks for including me in the list. I'm in some fine company.

(And it looks like I have some more blogs to add to my feed reader.)

Oh, great - about 25 more blogs to get addicted to! (I already read two of them, and a few seem too specific to the law to be of interest to me.)

It adds to the list, but consider some others.

Words to the Wise: http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/lifestyle/language.html

Since early August, Philip Corbett has been posting a weekly entry at a New York Times blog titled After Deadline. Check late on Tuesday afternoons: http:// topics.blogs.nytimes.com/tag/after-deadline/

Everything Language and Grammar is good too:

http:/ /languageandgrammar.wordpress.com/

Barbara Wallraff's blog:

http:// barbarawallraff.theatlantic.com/

The Tongue Untied: http:/ /www.grammaruntied.com/blog/

Thanks for the link. :)

A solid list of writing blogs there - thanks. In the modern age of blogs it is imperative to learn the writing skills necessary to get your information across in the most concise manner.

RE: Men with Pens is a Canadian blog by three, you guessed it, men with pens,

The true author of the site was revealed a few months ago. It's not three guys; it's one gal:

http://www.copyblogger.com/james-chartrand-underpants/

New Resources on the ADAAA

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 6, 2009 In: Disabilities (ADA) , Internet Resources

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The Americans With Disabilities Act Amendments Act ("ADAAA"), is giving employers another reason to pay close attention to what's happening on the Hill.  The ADA Amendments Act became effective last week with the start of the new year. The EEOC has not completed its final regulations for the new law but that doesn't mean employers aren't still obligated to comply.  ADA 

To help employers manage this new law, the Job Accommodation Network ("JAN"), has released a new publication and a resource page.  All wise employers know about the power of JAN.  JAN is a treasure trove of accommodation-related information.  If you have questions about what options there are for accommodating just about any disability, JAN is the place to look.  And JAN provides not only the answer but actually gives you direct resources for purchasing the necessary goods and services. 

The new publication is JAN's Accommodation and Compliance Series: The ADA Amendments Act of 2008 and will be periodically updated as additional information is made public.  Complementary resources on the ADAAAA is also available.  

Writing References #2: 20 Online Dictionaries

Posted by Molly DiBianca On January 6, 2009 In: Internet Resources

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When I posted my estimates for the Top 5 Workplace Resolutions for the New Year, I failed to mention my year-round resolution to work to improve my writing.  It's a skill everyone needs and, as we become more dependent on e-mail, Twitter, and text messages, it's a skill that's easy to forget about.  So, to make sure I don't forget to work on my writing, I turn to a bunch of resources for help.  And, because I'm a big fan of sharing, I'm sharing those resources with our readers.  In the first of three posts in this series, I wrote about my 10 favorite writing blogs that take a funny perspective on proper language skills.  pencils

In this second post in the series, I share 20 Online Dictionaries that you may find useful sometime.  You never know when you'll need to look up a phrase spoken to you in Philly slang.  In the third post in the series, I'll get back to the serious stuff with 30 of the best blogs about writing.  Until then, enjoy!

  1. A Glossary of Rhetorical Terms
  2. American Heritage Dictionary
  3. American Sign Language Dictionary
  4. Astronomy and Space Dictionary
  5. Building and General Construction Technology Dictionary
  6. Cut-the-Knot Glossary of Mathematical Terms
  7. Dictionary of American Regional English
  8. Dictionary of Sanskrit Terms
  9. Encyclopedia of Law and Economics
  10. FOLDOC  Computing Dictionary
  11. Glossary of Applied Linguistics
  12. Glossary of Managed Care Terms
  13. Lectric Law Library's Legal Dictionary
  14. Mobspeak Glossary
  15. NetLingo The Internet Dictionary
  16. One Look - includes reverse lookup
  17. Online Etymology Dictionary
  18. Oxford English Dictionary News
  19. Philly Tawk
  20. RhymeZone
  21. Street Drug Slang Dictionary
  22. Sushi Glossary
  23. The Phrontistery, Online Dictionary of Uncommon and Unusual Words
  24. Yiddish dictionary
  25. Your Dictionary

Writing Reference #1: 10 Humorous Writing Blogs

Posted by Molly DiBianca On December 31, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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New Years' resolutions aren't my thing. If they were, I'd resolve to continue to develop my writing skills.   But, since it's not quite January 1, I'll go with something a little more light hearted first.  Here are 10 of my favorite blogs on which I hope my writing is never featured.   Happy New Year!pens

  1. Apostrophe Abuse
  2. Banterist: Grammar Cop
  3. Grammar Blog: I Get Gerund
  4. Literally, a Web Log
  5. Mr. Rewrite
  6. SPOGG
  7. The Blog of Unnecessary Quotation Marks
  8. The Grammar Vandal
  9. The Perplexicon
  10. Language Log

Comments

Happy New Year all you crazy Delaware people. I continue to be disappointed that I fail to be on any of your lists, not that I take it personally, of course. I guess it has to do with something I said about Joe Biden.

Anyway, ya'll have developed a great blog. I enjoy reading it and sometimes stealing from it. You'll always be on my list.

John

Hey, thanks for the mention! Nice, informative blog you have here.

Happy New Year!!

Amanda

Also check out http://www.unenlightenedenglish.com

Writing strategies with a little bit of humor thrown in!

My Finely Tailored New Year's Resolution: Pens & Pinstripes

Posted by Molly DiBianca On December 31, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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Writing and legal writing in particular are the actual topics of this post.  As mentioned in an earlier post, I don't actually make any resolutions for the new year.  But I'm a sucker for a catchy title, so I'm going to say this series is about New Year's resolutions anyway.  One of my year-round goals ( i.e., my resolutions),  is to improve my writing skills.  Today there is no more powerful tool than the written word.  The written and spoken word is today's pinstripe suit.  

Club_monaco_pinstripe_suit

Most of my court appearances today are made via a teleconference with the judge and opposing counsel also on the phone.  It is not uncommon for me to meet a client in person for the first time after having counseled them for more than a year.  With the phone and e-mail, face-to-face encounters have become less and less common. 

As a result, the image of the lawyer in the perfectly presentable pinstripe suit carries far less significance.  If you never see the lawyer, what he or she is wearing becomes close to irrelevant.  What you do "see" is your lawyer's words.  Which is why it is important to me to maintain a proper "word wardrobe," if you will.

I won't deny that I still love a well-made suit, pinstripe or not, and I won't pretend that I have the slightest intention of abandoning my devotion to fashion.  But I recognize that it will suit me best to invest in today's most important accessories--my writing and language skills. 

In this multi-part series, I'll talk about various ways to improve this valuable accessory and the resources that can help.  For today, here are the ways I work on my writing annually, quarterly, and daily. 

Annually  

I attend one writing seminar a year.  The best I've ever attended, without a doubt, was one by Bryan A. Garner.  If you ever have the opportunity to attend one of his Legal Writing seminars, you should drop whatever you are doing and sign up.  It can revolutionize your writing.  Especially if you've read his books, his seminars are great for putting that theory into practice.

Quarterly 

Then, a few times a year, I ask other writers to read and comment on my work.  Our writing-guru-in-residence, John Paschetto, in particular, is an amazing resource.  I can say, without hesitation, that John is the most skilled writer I have ever had the pleasure to meet.  In addition to being a partner in our firm's Business Planning Section, and a remarkably skilled editor, he also has a way of commenting on the written word in such a way that makes the recipient want to get better. 

Daily

And, on a daily basis, I turn to the internet, where writing resources are diverse and plentiful.  Of course, I utilize the current and timely content available in the blogosphere.  I also employ a variety of content-rich websites that cover every topic imaginable and serve as inspiration and motivation when writing becomes more of a chore than a pleasure.   

In subsequent posts in this series, I'll divulge my list of the best resources the web has to offer those who want to improve their writing.  The posts will include:

  1. 10 of the Funniest Blogs About Bad Writing;
  2. 20 Online Dictionaries;
  3. 30 of the Best Blogs About Writing;
  4. 40 of the Best Books About Writing; and
  5. 50 of the Best Writing References Online.

Resource from the Department of Labor For Military-Spouse Employees

Posted by Molly DiBianca On December 23, 2008 In: Internet Resources , National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) , Uniformed Services (USERRA)

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The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), amended the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) on January 1, 2008.  The NDAA is one of several laws that obligate employers to provide special protections to employees who are members of the Armed Forces.  The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA), is another such law offering similar, but not identical protections to employees who serve in the uniformed services. 

In these times, military service is a reality for many employers who must navigate the labyrinth-like leave laws.  Employers also want to provide their employees with the support they need to transition successfully and safely between the workplace and active duty.  We've posted before about some of the many resources and services offered by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), each of which is marketed towards a specific audience. 

Yet another resource provided by the DOL is specifically designed for military spouses and the special employment challenges they face as a result of their marital ties to the military. MilSpouse.org is an online library for military spouse employment, education, and relocation information.  The DOL provides links to employment-related information and other resources for military spouses and military families.  The site is a collaborative project between the DOL's Women's Bureau, the Employment and Training Administration, and the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Policy, in cooperation with the Department of Defense.

A few examples of the many resources include:

  • Information on portable career fields and options available with them;
  • Career Center database of hundreds of thousands of jobs, scholarships, and training opportunities;
  • Access to the DOD's website, Military HOMEFRONT, which offers information on Quality of Life.

These are just a few of the resources available, all designed to assist troops and their families.  Provide your military employees with free access to a number of resources by referring them to this website. Your employees will thank you!

Department of Labor Offers Financial Education to Gen Y and Gen X

Posted by Molly DiBianca On December 14, 2008 In: Generations: Boomers, Xers, and Millennials , Internet Resources , Women In (and Out of) the Workplace

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Generation Y is not known for frugality. Savings is not something the Millennial Generation does very well at all, in fact.  Similarly, women are notoriously behind their male counterparts when it comes to saving for retirement.  The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), has begun an initiative targeted to both issues.   image

Wi$e Up is a financial education demonstration project targeted to Generation X and Y women.  The DOL's Women's Bureau heads the project, which pairs participants with mentors, who are recruited by local organizations.  There are several components to the program, including classroom portions, online teleconferences with feature speakers, and other interactive experiences designed to get women in this particular age group up to speed when it comes to understanding the importance of personal fiscal health and how to achieve it.

The Wi$e Up website offers lots of helpful tools and resources, as well as its monthly e-newsletter, which focuses directly on the financial issues facing Gen X and Gen Y women.  Also available on the website is a Financial Planning Handbook for Generation X Women.   The Handbook is 91 pages long and retails for just $15 ($9 is you purchase 10 or more).  The Handbook is described as:

Most women want to be more "money savvy" and feel they need to learn more about how to manage their money wisely. This publication is especially targeted to young women age 22 to 35. It will guide you in learning about the basics of money management, credit, savings, investments and achieving financial security.

Wi$e Up is an excellent resource to help guide women in the Gen X & Y age groups to navigate an important area of knowledge that historically has presented steep challenges to women and, more recently, to Generation Y.

Dep't of Labor: Guidance on Employing Young People With Disabilities

Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 25, 2008 In: Disabilities (ADA) , Internet Resources

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Fact Sheets for Employing Youth with Disabilities.  The U.S. Department of Labor ("DOL"), released three new fact sheets that provide helpful information on employing young people with disabilities, including:  Tips for Parents with Children with Disabilities, What Young People with Disabilities Need to Know, and Including Talents of Young People with Disabilities.

The third is of particular interest to employers.  Published by the Office of Disability Employment Policy ("ODEP"), the four-page fact sheet provides a detailed list of references for where to find young people for both internships and for permanent placement. 

100 of the Leading Blogs on Leadership

Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 20, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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100 of my favorite blogs on leadership and management.  Have a look around--it's Friday, after all!

  1. acidlabs
  2. Adventure of Strategy - Rob Millard
  3. Agile Management
  4. All Things Workplace
  5. Art Petty on Management
  6. Ask A Manager
  7. Ask the Manager
  8. Bailey WorkPlay :: The Alchemy of Soulful Work
  9. Bearing Fruit Consulting
  10. Billion Dollar Lessons
  11. Bold Leader Blog
  12. Bud Bilanich
  13. Business of Management
  14. Business Pundit
  15. Business Toolkit
  16. Cenek Report
  17. Center for Creative Leadership
  18. ChaosScenario
  19. Christian Anschuetz
  20. Coaching Tip: The Leadership Blog
  21. Contrarian Thinking
  22. ConverStations
  23. Cranky Middle Manager Podcast Show
  24. Dave Prouhet
  25. David Maister
  26. Dr. Z’s Leadership Institute
  27. Eclecticity
  28. Education Innovation
  29. Employee Engagement
  30. Enlightened Manager
  31. Eric Brown
  32. Escape from Excellence
  33. Execupundit.com
  34. Extreme Leadership
  35. Frank Kanu
  36. Get Me Jamie Notter
  37. Great Leaders Build Strong Relationships
  38. Great Leadership
  39. Great Leadership
  40. Great Management - Articles
  41. Joe and Wanda - on Management
  42. Kent Blumberg
  43. Lead on Purpose
  44. Lead Quietly
  45. Leader Business
  46. Leader Storytelling
  47. Leader’s Journey with Lee Thayer
  48. Leaders We Deserve
  49. Leadership is not rocket science
  50. Leadership Made Simple
  51. Leadership Turn
  52. LeaderValues
  53. Leading Agile
  54. Leading Blog
  55. Leading Questions
  56. Management by Baseball
  57. Management Craft
  58. Management IQ
  59. Management Issues
  60. Management Quotes
  61. Management Skills Blog
  62. Management-Issues
  63. Manager Thoughts
  64. Manager Tools
  65. Managing Leadership
  66. Managing with Aloha Coaching
  67. MBA by Blog
  68. Mission Minded Management
  69. NetSpeed Leadership
  70. Nina Simosko
  71. Organic Leadership Blog
  72. Passion, People and Principles
  73. Performance and Talent Management Blog
  74. Personal Leadership Insight
  75. Phil’s Leadership Blog
  76. Practice of Leadership
  77. Quantum Thinking
  78. Richards Leadership
  79. Robin Yap
  80. Servant Leadership
  81. Slacker Manager
  82. Slow Leadership
  83. Strength-Based Leadership
  84. SuccessFactors
  85. Talking Story with Say Leadership Coaching
  86. The Art of the 3 Disciplines
  87. The Bizzy Life
  88. The Blogging Boss
  89. The Happy Burro
  90. The Leader’s Journey
  91. The Leader-Follower
  92. The Leadership Revolution
  93. The Organic Leadership Blog
  94. The Practice of Leadership
  95. The Recovering Leader
  96. The Specialist
  97. The Sykes Group’s OnPoint Blog
  98. The Vital Integrities Blog
  99. Unfolding Leadership
  100. You Already Know This Stuff

Comments

Love this list. Thanks for posting.

You were very kind to include my blog with your other favorites. Thanks so much. "E."

Thanks for including "Unfolding Leadership" here. This is a great list.

Molly -
Hey, thanks for the mention! I've got some new blogs to check out.

Molly

I'm humbled.
Thanks for including Lead Quietly in this great list. Lists like yours are a great launching point for new leadership learning. It's all about learning.

Don Frederiksen

Thanks for including The Sykes Group's OnPoint in your top 100 list. Your readers can also go to http://www.thesykesgrp.com/Articles.htm for more detailed leadership articles, tips, and techniques.

Hello Molly,

Thank you very much indeed for including my site in such company as you have gathered here.

Jim Stroup

Thanks for the mention, it's greatly appreciated!

Thanks for the add! We are in great company!

Molly,

Thank you for including AskTheManager.com in this list, we are honored to be among these great Leadership Development and Management Training blogs.

Our hope is that by providing better leadership development, we might need fewer blogs on employment law. :)

Thanks very much for including my blog Leading Questions in your list.
Ed

Wow, I'm incredibly flattered and humbled. That's quite the crowd to be a part of.

And by an act of alphabetical serendipity, I'm on the top of that list. Very nice.

Thank you so much for the kind words.

Thanks for including us. I'm looking forward to checking some new blogs out!

Great list, Molly. The fact that I'm slow in saying this doesn't diminish my appreciation for being included on it. A definite honor.

If you ever have a specific subject you'd like addressed, please let me know.

Thank you so much, Molly, for listing my blog, Leadership is Not Rocket Science in your list. I only just discovered this, so it's a great way to end the year and start 2009.

All the best for the new year,

Ravi

Hey Molly, thank you so much for including my blog, NinaSimosko.com in your top 100 Leadership blog list. I only just found this list and wanted to express my appreciation.

All the best,
Nina

Hi Molly:

You should take a look at the N2growth Blog (www.n2growth.com/blog) as I think it merits consideration for inclusion on your list...

Great posting and great blog. Thanks for this "labor of love."

- Jay Geary, Lakeland, FL

DC Leadership Training and Organisational Development address the psychology of a leader and Change. Aside from traditional leadership skills, DC leadership Development Training instill leaders with the ability to influence their working environment and affect culture providing elements of "Environmental Leadership" in each Leadership development module. Those leaders who have achieved the greatest deeds, have not only inspired people to their peak, but have cultivated an environment where their people would flourish and inspire others in their own Leadership Development.

Linked 2 Leadership (www.linked2leadership.com) has over 25+ Contributing Authors who blog on Leadership Development, Organizational Health, and Personal & Professional Growth. The L2L Blogazine gets its authors from the Linked 2 Leadership Group on LinkedIn. With over 10,000+ members, the group brings a world of insight to this servant leadership venue. With posts like "How to Lead Ugly People," "On Leadership and Prom Dresses," and "Leadership Follies: Does My Butt Look Fat In These Jeans?" they tackle leadership issues in 12 specific categories for a full year. It is like a virtual leadership conference with 12 separate breakout sessions. I think you will enjoy the outlook and insight from this active and dynamic group! ~Tom Schulte

FMLA and NDAA New Online Resource for Injured Vets and Families Who Care For Them

Posted by Molly DiBianca On November 17, 2008 In: Internet Resources , National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

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Final regulations for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), a recent amendment to the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), were released by the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), today.  The NDAA, discussed in detail in previous posts, provides a new type of family and medical leave to employees whose family members are servicemembers and who are either called to active duty or who are injured while in active duty.  The NDAA has been in effect since being signed by President Bush in January 2008.  But, with the DOL's publications of the final regulations, employers can expect to see more specific questions relating to leave under the NDAA.   

There is a new online resource to help employees who may be navigating leave under the military-caregiver provision of the NDAA.   The National Resource Directory, a collaborative effort between the departments of Defense, Labor and Veterans Affairs, is a Web-based network of care that includes resources for wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans, their families, families of the fallen and those who support them.  (Last week, in honor of Veteran's Day, we posted about  similar initiative, America's Heroes at Work, which provides employers with a variety of helpful information and tools to assist veterans in the reemployment process.)image

The scope of the Directory is comprehensive and includes information on topics such as available benefits, eligibility requirements, help filing claims and appeals processes.  Information on education and employment is also available, such as financial aid and scholarship information, apprentice and internship programs, and job training and placement.  Additionally, family support programs, child-care services, counseling and support group information is all available in the Family and Caregiver Support section. 

Information on housing, transportation, financial and legal support, assistive technology, medical care, psychological and behavioral conditions is also provided.  Finally, resources can be listed by geography--on either a state or local level.  This is an excellent resource filled with a tremendous amount of information that your employees caring for injured or ill servicemembers could potentially find very useful.  Employers, you may consider sending a notice to employees about the availability of this and other government resources being made available to them at no cost. 

The original press release, issued today, can be found here:  Department of Defense Launches National Resource Directory For Wounded Warriors, Families And Caregivers

New DOL Web Tool for Veterans With PTSD

Posted by Molly DiBianca On August 19, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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Secretary of Labor, Elaine L. Chao, will announce tomorrow a new initiative from the Department of Labor (DOL).  The initiative is designed to help employers of veterans and others with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).  deptoflabor

At the center of the initiative is a new website, America's Heroes at Work, which will provide information about TBI and PTSD, as well as tools and guidance on how employers can offer workplace accommodations to affected individuals, including non-veterans, such as first responders.  The purpose of the program is to provide employers with sufficient information to allay fears and to encourage the hiring of veterans with what are known as "invisible wounds of war."

Award Winning HR and Employment-Law Blog Posts

Posted by Molly DiBianca On August 11, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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I was so inspired by a recent post by my fellow labor- and employment-law blogger, Jon Hyman, at the Ohio Employment Law Blog, that I'm going to copy it straight away.  Last week, Jon hosted the latest edition of the Blawg Review and did a bang-up job. In the spirit of the Olympics, he "awarded medals" to the great bloggers for that edition.  Nothing quite beats a great metaphor.

Presentation1

Although I'm not doing anything close to as comprehensive as Jon's post, I'm going to offer a mini-review and award my own gold medals, so to speak. What's that they say about the best form of flattery? Ok, fine, I won't outright steal it, but I'll take great poetic license with his idea.  Better?

Congratulations to all of the "winners" who continue to produce more and more "must read" material.

Winners of the "Insightful Post" Category:

Dan Schwartz at the CT Employment Law Blog posted an insightful piece on one of my favorite topics--fairness in the workplace.  Rachel Robbins at The Employment File for being smart and brave enough to recognize that Being a Supervisor Is Hard.  I wish all of my clients' supervisors would remember this when the going gets tough.  Supervisors get to be supervisors because they're better at the hard stuff.  It's a blessing and a curse but, either way, it's part of the job. 

 

Winners in the "Importance-of-Training" Competition:

Effortless HR shows how to retain employees with continuous training--even in a bad economy.  KnowHR also touts the importance of training, this time for bad behavior. The post makes a very convincing argument for the need to offer special classes like “Passive Aggressive Behavior for the Disaffected Manager” and “How to Make Yourself Look Like You’re Doing Something So You Can Keep Your Job.”  And YourHRGuy puts a real spin on the link between Gen Y and training.  Lisa's Generation Relations Blog has a guest post on the importance of sexual-harassment training as Gen Y enter the workforce without any prior professional experience.

 

Awards for the Most Helpful Internet Resource:

The Illinois Trial Practice Weblog's post on using Google Earth as a trial tool. The Legal Writing Profs Blog post alerting us to HeinOnline's new Facebook page, which apparently has oodles of resources and innovative uses of technology in legal research. 

 

The Posts That Gave the Best Real-World Advice:

Lynne Gaetner-Johnson's post, The "Please Advise" Habit, in which she advocates for the use of caution when using the phrase, "Please advise" in business correspondence.  Indeed, it is a bad habit for many.  But for some, it is code language for "I'm your superior and here's how I assert authority over you in a very passive-aggressive way."  Please, listen to Ms. Gaetner-Johnson's words of caution.  Patrick Williams at Guerrilla HR, has renamed Generation Y as Generation W, as in "What the Hell?", has a laugh-riot style post that nails the generational frustrations right on the head.  And EmployeeScreen IQ has a whole slew of posts on the importance of background checks and reveals just how prevalent falsified resumes really are.  This is a topic that William W. Bowser and I will be hammering home during this Thursday's audioconference on Using MySpace and Facebook to Screen Job Applicants.

I Didn't Want to Talk to You, Anyway.

Posted by Molly DiBianca On July 28, 2008 In: Internet Resources

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Your Gen Y employees will love this--and so will the rest of us.  Gen Y has a notorious aversion to face-to-face interaction. I suppose it's natural, given the role that Instant Messaging and E-mail have played.  And from what I can tell, the phone is the worst.  Don't get me wrong, they'll call their friends and talk for days.  In the workplace, e-mail is the preferred choice and telephone correspondence seems to be a real inconvenience.  Especially if, and I shudder to say it, someone actually picked up when you called.  Horror!  Well now there's a solution for this serious problem.

SMS text marketing

SlyDial lets you call a mobile phone and go directly to voicemail. You'll never again have to worry that a voice on the other end of the line might pick up and expect you to talk.  It's a remarkably easy tool to use.  The only down side is the long-distance call you're required to make. 

Your stealth voicemail is just two steps away:

1. Call Slydial (267-Sly-Dial or 267-759-3425).

2. When prompted, enter the phone number where you want to leave your message.  Remember, it works for mobile lines only.