In Your Neighborhood

It’s easy to hear about trafficking and think of dusty paths and sordid rooms in countries far from here whose economic system we don’t quite grasp. It is much harder to imagine trafficking happening amongst the quaint scenery in places like Northwest Iowa. Posting about ­­­­­­­­the problem of human trafficking from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world. http://inallthings.org/in-your-neighborhood

5 Things I Wish I Didn\u27t Know About the Super Bowl

God calls us to sit at his feet and to seek justice for the oppressed. Focus your voice in prayer, and trust that your prayers are heard. Posting about ­­­­­­­­the problem of human trafficking from In All Things - an online hub committed to the claim that the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ has implications for the entire world. http://inallthings.org/5-things-i-wish-i-didnt-know-about-the-super-bowl

Mandela Splash Pad Pre-Construction Plan

In the construction industry, it is the responsibility of the general contractor to take the architect’s ideas and turn it into a real building. Many times this requires ample communication and several drafts. This efficient execution of this process is vital to the completion of a successful project. In this project, I practice this communication process. The challenge presented by the owner is to build an affordable splash pad, and without impacting the construction schedule of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) that is being built on the same property at the same time. This proposal gives the owner a detailed idea of how I plan to make their idea a tangible product. To analyze constructability, I first explain the feasibility of the project by analyzing the current market and return on investment model. I then outline the method of construction in each phase of the project, honing in on important details that need to coordinate with the contemporary construction of the ECDC. I built a construction schedule that graphically depicts the coordination between the ECDC and Splash Pad. This all comes together into a budget that includes labor and material costs. The owner was most concerned about the schedule and budget, which indicates the success of the project. After resizing the utilities and building the splash pad, the budget comes to $36,900.06, which the market research indicates can be paid in 4.8 – 6.3 years. The construction will not delay the completion date of the ECDC

Translation of Mrs. Johan Sandbulte\u27s Dutch Diary

A memoir and diary written by Johanna Lovink Sandbulte, also known as Mrs. Johan Sandbulte, likely begun around 1926 and finished in 1932. Mrs. Sandbulte reminisces about immigrating to Iowa from The Netherlands, detailing her life on the farm. She writes about the hardships they faced, including poverty, illness, and the deaths of family members. She also writes about her faith in God and her steadfast belief in heaven. The text was translated by Brook Stephens in 1973.https://nwcommons.nwciowa.edu/regionalhistory_memoirs/1002/thumbnail.jp

Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil (Book Review)

Reviewed Title: Zimbardo, Philip. The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil. New York: Random House Trade Paperback Edition, 2008. 551 pp. ISBN: 978-0-8129-7444-7

Working Together in a PhamilySpace: Facilitating Collaboration on Healthy Behaviors Over Distance

Studies have shown that interpersonal relationships such as families and friends are an important source of support and encouragement to those who seek to engage in healthier habits. However, challenges related to geographic distance may hinder those relationships from fully collaborating and engaging in healthy living together. To explore this domain, we developed and deployed a lightweight photo-based application called PhamilySpace with a week-long intervention. Our goal is to examine family members\u27 and friends\u27 engagement and awareness on healthy behaviors while living apart. Our analysis of the semi-structured interviews, pre/post-intervention instruments, and application logs suggests three main benefits of interventions for health promotion in this context: (1) increased awareness on acts of health; (2) reciprocal sharing of health information supports social accountability over distance; and (3) positive dialogue around health enhances support on healthy living. By providing insights into distributed family/friends interactions and experiences with the application, we identify benefits, challenges, and opportunities for future design interventions that promote healthy behaviors

Family’s health: Opportunities for non-collocated intergenerational families collaboration on healthy living

When a family is engaged in healthy living practices together, it enhances the quality of life for all individuals. However, when members in families are separated over distance, the everyday encouragement and support may shift and obstacles arise within the family. In this study, we investigate non-collocated family members’ practices of healthy living, their perspectives on their family’s healthy living activities, and what obstacles exist regarding collaboration on their family health. We conducted an interview study with 26 independently living participants representing “elderly parents” and “adult children” in a family dynamic. We present members’ practices and strategies for sustainable healthy living activities. We also explore members’ creative use of technology for health promotion and describe existing obstacles that prevent families to effectively collaborate in healthy living. Based on our findings, we suggest design implications to support family members living apart on their efforts to cultivate health within their families