Medical Teams International in Haiti

An email from our friend Myron…

I know that we haven’t talk in a while – and are looking forward to getting together (Friday);   but I just wanted to keep you up-dated on things.  I am taking a break right now from the Haiti activities (been almost been none stop), and  sending you a summary of what MTI is doing with some pictures.

Medical Teams International Overview
As you know may know I am now working for Medical Teams International (MTI),  This is a Christian charity organization that responds to disasters worldwide and also promotes long-term health development.  As our name implies Medical Teams specializes in sending out teams of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals to assist the people affected by disaster, conflict and poverty around the world.

Haiti Response
In response to the Haiti earthquake,  MTI is focusing on orthopedic care for the huge number of broken bones and trauma case.  MTI is working with SIGN (a Orthopedic NGO) and DePuy the orthopedic division of Johnson & Johnson and coordinating with the AAOS (American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons) on this first response phase in Haiti.  Currently 31 Medical Teams International volunteer doctors and nurses are performing orthopedic surgeries and treating hundreds of people each day at the Kings Hospital just outside of Port au Prince.

MTI effort in Haiti started Immediately after the earthquake.   MTI quickly sent out a experienced 5-person experienced disaster relief team to Port au Prince.  The disaster team located the Kings Hospital and worked with UN structural engineers and got an OR (operating room) up and running.  Once operational, MTI flew in teams of orthopedic specialist to care for the thousands of broken bones and trauma cases.

As a part of its long-term health development mission, Medical Teams International is dedicated to working in Haiti during the rebuilding phase to improve health in the area.  The exact program for long-term development will be decided over the next 6 months.

Pictures from Kings Hospital
Please see below pictures from MTI in Haiti – mostly Kings Hospital – where MTI set up the OR for orthopedic surgeries and now have 100 beds for patients.   I also put in some pictures of the small plane that flys in the doctors(last picture).

I hope these pictures can convey a little bit about what we are doing- There is a Huge amount of work ahead of for Haiti.

Thanks - Please feel free to pass this on to others
Sincerely
Myron

The Future for Technology

It is always interesting to try to predict the future.  Everyday stock brokers are trying to say what the next stock will be that increases by 500%.  Economists are writing about where they believe the economy is going to be in 2010.  Realtors are telling us when the housing market is going to improve.  The future is especially interesting when we discuss technology and the Internet.  In the 90s who would have ever guessed that the Internet would evolve to be a tool that most of us use every day.  I can remember many people commenting to me that “this Internet is just a fad that will pass”.  People thought it would be  just like parachute pants, spandex, Trapper Keepers,  and car air fresheners that were so popular in the 90’s.  It was only twenty years ago that people used typewriters and fifteen years ago when mobile phones started to gain popularity.  I can remember people saying that mobile phones won’t be adopted because the quality is not as good as land lines.  Today many people have only mobile phones and no longer have land lines at their homes.

Voice over Internet Protocol(VoIP) based communications have been gaining momentum over the past decade as many consumers/businesses replace their old traditional phone service with IP communications.  All of the major carriers already have moved their national networks to IP backbones.  Businesses and consumers are continuously looking for ways to increase productivity, reduce costs and give them a competitive advantage which is what VoIP can provide.  Just as the mobile phone industry has made great strides with call quality and technology the IP based communications systems continue to improve in quality and features available to users.  If we look at how new applications have been developed for the PC world we get an idea of where VoIP communications can go in the next several years.  As VoIP technology is integrated with our mobile devices we uncover another exciting area that promises to see changes in the way we communicate.  Technology is going to continue to play a larger role in our lives as we step forward into the future.

Space heater tips

This is a busy time of year, so I’ll be brief.  I don’t know about you, but I have been known to use a space heater or two at home.  While this is great for shaving a few dimes off ye ole gas bill, it does create a few issues.

1)                  Location, Location, Location

Keep the heater from blowing on electronics.  While air flow can be a good thing for electronics, warm air flow, usually is not.  Electronics like cool, or cold air.  Driving up the internal temperature can cause all sorts of electronic “weirdness”.  Lock ups, freezes, and crashes can ALL be caused by overheating.  Your VoIP adapter is no different.  Remember this time of year to “keep your cool.”

2)                  Location, Location, Location   (notice a pattern?)

Be mindful of where you plug in your heater.  Adding it to that spare slot in your plug strip (We all have a plug strip by the PC, right ?) is not a good idea.  The added electrical “load” on the circuit can cause what is called a “brown out”. (Ever see the lights dim, but not go out?)   Slight decreases in voltage, can cause permanent damage to electronic equipment.  Space heaters are notorious for causing power related problems.  Try to keep them on a different circuit as your PC / Network gear.

Stay warm, and enjoy your holiday season.

-Brad

brad@bbtelsys.com

Network Support Engineer.

Web portal overview video for bbtelsys phone service

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1gKBNGzBFU&hl=en_US&fs=1&]

The value of value of communication providers.

The value of value!  Ever give that some thought, or is the credit card logic formula the driving factor in making a choice in products and services.  Credit card logic is when you don’t care what the long-term cost to you is; you just want to know how much it cost a month. It’s hard to show the true value in that choice because unless you ask the right questions you only find out the long-term cost after it’s applied.

Remember the “Where’s the Beef” commercial?  What the real questions that was not expressed was; where is the value!  Everyone who has a communications service to offer to the public has a phrase, or plan to get you to buy their service. Some use maps, some use low per month costs,  some bundle it with this or that add-on product hoping you ask where’s the beef, not where’s the value.    Value, may or may not be different to you and me.  However the way we determine value should be.  So when we look for choices in communication products and or providers, we need to ask the right questions. Look at the long term cost, learn the missing costs like, limits of use, or the applies to the first 3 or 6 months catch. We need to ask ourselves what is my reasonable expectation of this product or service. Does it really provide the value “I” need while meeting my needs and expectations.  Don’t be shy, when you talk to a provider, tell them what your expectations are. They will, or should be, able to state the long term costs and let you make  the “value of value” choice.

-WZ

Wishing all a peaceful, joyous, loving and prosperous New Year!

At this time of year we tend to get caught up in the rat race of the retail shopping season.  We need to take time to remember the little things that make our lives happy and rewarding.  Time flies by all too fast.  We also need to remember the less fortunate and those that are far from loved ones such as our military personal.  My thoughts are spread between those in need, and how grateful I am to have a wonderful home, family and great place to work at such as BBTelsys!   BBTelsys is an environment of caring people.  They are here to service our customers and aid in making their lives easier.  There are so many great plans available starting at $9.99.  We have great promotion ideas set for 2010 that will only be available if you are a fan on our Face book.    Lastly, the Holiday Season is celebrated by all religious and non-religious sectors.  Each will tell you that it is a special time of the year.  Wishing all a peaceful, joyous, loving and prosperous New Year!

Referring to Free Service

We at BBTelsys want to give away free service. We just ask for a little word of mouth.

1. The refer and earn program applies to any referral for any of the following plans: single-line, multi-line and either World-Talk residential plans with either annual or monthly billing option. (This program does not include wholesale or business trunking plans, fax lines, etc.)
2. Both the referrers’ and referees must have a continuous valid account with BBTelsys for 90 days after the sign-up date of the referee.
3. Each plan sign-up is a separate referral (even for multiple plans from a single referral) and each therefore is counted as one referral.
4. Free service is awarded to the referrers’ account at the next renewal date, after all referrals have had continuous service for 90 days.
5. Offer is valid through December, 31 2010.

How to hook up the BBTelsys IAD

First how to video from BBTelsys

Just for Fun

These seem innocuous enough to send along

Didn’t take them long, did it?

1. Tiger Woods is so rich that he owns lots of expensive cars. Now he has a hole in one.
2. What’s the difference between a car and a golf ball? Tiger can drive a ball 400 yards.
3. Tiger Woods wasn’t seriously injured in the crash, but he’s still below  par.
4. What were Tiger Woods and his wife doing out at 2.30 in the morning?  They went clubbing
5. Tiger Woods crashed into a fire hydrant and a tree. He couldn’t decide between a wood and an iron.
6. Perhaps Tiger should be using a driver?
7. This is the first time Tiger’s ever failed to drive 300 yards
8. Apparently, Tiger admitted this crash was the closest shave he’s ever had. So Gillette has dropped his contract.
9. After a wayward drive, Tiger Woods found water before nestling behind a tree
10. Apparently, the only person who can beat Tiger Woods with a golf club is his wife

>– NOT sent from an iphone,blackberry,Nokia, or any handheld. –

I’m a PC(x86 AND ppc)

AND I RUN LINUX!!!

Linux is like ice cream. It comes in many flavors and everyone has

their favorite, but we all get the same smile regardless of which we

choose to scoop.

Robert Frost  – “The world is full of willing people, some willing to

work, the rest willing to let them.” -

http://www.quotationspage.com/quote/808.html

BBTelsys web portal released ahead of schedule!

We have recently finished BETA testing for the Web Portal. We have taken feedback from our customers and have implemented all of the requested changes that we could.

Here is a list of features that are available through the new Web Portal:

· See a detailed list of all your recent calls.

· Phone book application with a speed dial function.

· Type in numbers you wish to dial, click on dial and your phone will make a call for you.

· Group call function allowing you to call several different people at once.

· Forward your incoming calls to different numbers, such as your cell phone or work phone.

· Listen to your voicemails from the Web Portal.

· Toggle On and Off functions like: Do not disturb, Call forwarding, and Sequential forwarding.

· Change the number of times your phone will ring before voicemail picks up.

· Change your preferred language and Time zone information.

· Change the password to access your voicemail.

Here are some functions that are not available with the new Web Portal:

· The ‘Parental Controls’ tab is currently not working.

· The ‘Schedule Forwarding’ tab is currently not working.

· There is currently a problem with the Voicemail password hint: If you forget your password, please do not use this     function. Contact us at 877-511-5688 and we can provide you with your voicemail PIN number.

· Call blocking is not available through this portal. We are able to block calls for you if you contact us.

Questions regarding how to use the Web Portal:

· Most of your questions can be answered if you click on the ‘HELP’ button at the bottom of your Web Portal Page.

· When you click on the ‘HELP’ button, you will be given a detailed list of how to utilize all of the features available.