Former nurse Lineke van de Scheur (photo) uses the web to organize care for the elderly. Her company U Staat Centraal (Dutch link, “You’re Important”) provides web-based rosters for care givers. A recent change in Dutch law put the responsibility for finding care firmly in the infirm hands of those in need of care; the “care consumers” get a personal “budget” with which they themselves have to “shop around” for nurses and housekeepers and so on. Clients of Van de Scheur’s company get their own Sharecare homepage which has a roster to which freelance care professionals can subscribe, but also family members who would like to help out. U Staat Centraal helps set up and manage these care rosters, and helps people find the right professionals.
June 4, 2007
Outsourced care for the elderly per homepage
Tags: business models, care, senior citizens
June 3, 2007
Still waiting
I used to work at a factory that made these things, albeit not in Dutch.
The sign should read Groenburgwal, and so has an ‘r’ too many. Hope it was free.
This is akin to finding a four-leaf clover (and ‘groen’ means green).
‘Still waiting’ refers to the fact that the sign has now been removed and we’re all waiting for the corrected version (see link).
(Link: A5, Photo: Herenlunch)
Tags: signs, streets, typography
June 2, 2007
Harvested meat for mortals and astronauts
Dutch researchers in the city of Utrecht are trying to grow pork meat in a laboratory with the goal of feeding millions without the need to raise and slaughter animals. According to Bernard Roelen, veterinary science professor at Utrecht University, the goal is make meat without killing animals. Although it is in its early stages, the idea is to replace harvesting meat from livestock with a process that eliminates the need for animal feed, transport, land use and the methane expelled by animals, which all hurt the environment, he said.
Research is also under way in the US, including one experiment funded by Nasa to see whether meat can be grown for astronauts.
(Link: Times of India, via Netherlands Post)
June 1, 2007
Naked picture time in Amsterdam
So far, 4,000 people have signed up for a yet to be determined nude photo shoot by Spencer Tunick on Sunday, 3 June sometimes early in the morning in downtown Amsterdam. The world-famous American photographer is known for his group photos of naked people in public spaces. Tunick already had a shoot this year in a bulb field in Schermerhorn, North Holland, but now he says his Amsterdam dream will come true. I believe it is possible to still sign up.
Tunick is happy that so many people have signed up for his project in Amsterdam.
Tags: Amsterdam, nudity, Spencer Tunick