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David Shaywitz, Contributor
I write about entrepreneurial innovation in medicine.
(Note: the following commentary was co-authored with Tory Wolff, a founding partner of Recon Strategy, a healthcare strategy consulting firm in Boston; Tory and I gratefully acknowledge the insightful feedback provided by Jay Chyung of Recon Strategy.)
Medicine has been notoriously slow to embrace the electronic medical record (EMR), but, spurred by tax incentives and the prospect of cost and outcomes accountability, the use of electronic medical records (EMRs) is finally catching on.
There are a large number of EMR vendors, who offer systems that are either the traditional client server model (where the medical center hosts the system) or a product which can be delivered via Software as a Service (SaaS) architecture, similar to what salesforce.com did for customer relationship management (CRM).
Historically, the lack of extensive standards have allowed hospital idiosyncrasies to be hard-coded into systems. Any one company's EMR system isn't particularly compatible with the EMR system from another company, resulting in – or, more fairly, perpetuating – the Tower of Babel that effectively exists as medical practices often lack the ability to share basic information easily with one another.
There's widespread recognition that information exchange must improve – the challenge is how to get there.
One much-discussed approach are health information exchanges (HIE's), defined by the Department of Health and Human Services as "Efforts to rapidly build capacity for exchanging health information across the health care system both within and across states."
With some public funding and local contributions, public HIE's can point to some successes (the Indiana Health Information Exchange, IHIE, is a leading example, as described here). The Direct Project – a national effort to coordinate health information exchange spearheaded by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT – also seems to be making progress. But the public HIEs are a long way from providing robust, rich and sustainable data exchange.
In their stead, private HIEs – serving collections of collaborating hospitals and providers — seem to account for the lion's share of growth in the HIE space. In particular, one company – Epic (discussed recently by Forbes colleague Zina Moukheiber here) – seems to have emerged as top dog in the large hospital space, winning contracts from most of the nation's most prestigious centers, and many of the nation's largest; a deal with Boston powerhouse Partners Healthcare was recently announced. (Another leading EMR contender, Cerner, is profiled this week by another Forbes colleague, Matthew Herper.)
Notably, Epic is built on a traditional client server model, and does individual, customized installations for each client; a reputation for near-flawless implementation — derived by tightly constraining how much idiosyncracy is engineered in each install — has been a prime driver of growth. While Epic systems seem to be able to communicate with other Epic systems with relative ease, communication outside of Epic seems more problematic.
The ambulatory practice space, on the other hands, appears to remain highly fragmented and largely up for grabs, as a number of competing companies – particularly SaaS-based approaches such as AthenaHealth, PracticeFusion, and eClinicalWorks seek to gain traction.
Add to the mix the observation that medicine is undergoing a general consolidation, as solo practices and small practices increasingly find themselves in the arms of larger hospital systems, which are also merging. No wonder so many practices are still reluctant to adopt EMR given all the uncertainty (why buy or upgrade a system if we are going to sell the practice?) and confusion (which system to buy given the cacophony of brands, acronyms and regulations we don't understand).
So how is all this likely to play out? The first question, as we see it, will be whether Epic, essentially a private system, will be able to dominate the EMR space (hospital and outpatient) before alternatives – likely utilizing SaaS and leveraging an expanding array of national interoperability standards, can gain traction; the second question is what are the likely consequences of Epic winning – and of Epic losing.
Epic is well into a multi-year transition from a client-server model to a web interace. See http://histalk2.com/2008/04/19/monday-morning-update-42108/
Epic can leverage this to offer SaaS.
Makes one wonder about the big deals being cut in Washington around major policy moves… Epic has become so ubiquitous with THE leading centers of excellence that it should make one wonder how one provider with an army of mainframes becomes the uncontested leader?
EMRs are not the white knights we all thought. Many hospital based physicians could do great by having a scribe, but scribes cost money. So aren't we supposed to be saving money.. and time?
Some hospitals are spending half a billion to implement Epic over several years. Scary because that means these hospital budgets are tied in for years to come, so if a better solution comes to bear they will be less likely to do an about face.
Policy by way of "meaningful use" suggested going electronic was the answer. Spent all this money and on, as you put it, "carrots" and "sticks" . But how dynamic is the emerging result of this policy?
Call it innovation on a hamster wheel..The other question is how will the real innovation centers (small business, startups, etc. ) be "allowed" to capitalize on the impending fallout?
I think your article bringing EPIC into the spotlight is where we need to start assuming a well thought out reality check.
In Philadelphia you could jump on a Septa train. They haven't updated those trains in years, but they were once new.
David – Great piece. The one part I might quibble with is I hear it's just as bad getting data from one Epic system to another. E.g., in Portland, Oregon they are all on Epic and none can talk with each other as they are all so customized (a strength and weakness).
Personally, I think the biggest risk to Epic is their customer base is utilizing a "mainframe" model of healthcare (i.e., the hospital is the mainframe). As the Healthcare Leaders piece I linked to below points out, it's not the SCOTUS ruling on Obamacare that is the concern for health leaders. Rather, it's the disruptive innovators who don't have the burden of the capital infrastructure that centralized mega hospitals have. If you buy into Clay Christensen's Innovator's Prescription, healthcare will be much more distributed and in lower cost venues. Epic's customers generally are the place to go for the highest cost healthcare as hospitals are inherently more expensive.
The winners will be those who can thrive in a deflationary period that I think we can bank on we're entering. The mega hospitals Epic thrives on can do amazing "fire fighting" but we're entering an era of "fire prevention" where a hospital isn't the foundation. Rather, it's primary care. The typical primary care practice needs a lower cost solution to the epic price tag of Epic.
It's difficult to see how Epic is losing — or is going to lose. They've signed many of the largest, most prestigious hospital systems and physician groups in the country, and now they're looking to Europe and the Middle East. As far as I'm aware, they've only been de-installed a few times, and those losses were due to changes in ownership. One can certainly argue that after paying hundreds of millions of dollars, CIOs can't admit defeat and look elsewhere. But I think that's a specious argument, because . . . CIOs have de-installed plenty of huge, expensive applications already.
Epic is successful for many reasons, but possibly chief among them is their CEO's laser-like focus on the customer. Judy Faulkner knows what large health systems need, and she gives it to them. Often, she knows what they need before they do. Further, Epic figured out long before its competitors that the vendor usually knows best — not the customer. While this sounds paternalistic (and probably is), the truth is it works. Other EMR vendors have now come to the same conclusion and are appropriately removing more configuration options than they're adding.
HIT vendors will continue to merge, but it's difficult to imagine that companies like Epic, Cerner, Allscripts, or athenahealth will ever go away. They'll innovate and they'll share data because the government and marketplace demand it. But they're too big to fail.
Hi David,
I enjoyed your article and I had one quick comment.
There are many valid critiques of technological paradigms, but one must use caution to casually refer to a platform as antiquated as you did with MUMPS. A programming language may be old (and MUMPS is old), but those same arguments could be applied to C or C++ today. Engineers are still using Fortran, which is older than MUMPS, as the go-to programming language of choice for heavy number crunching in aeronautic modeling and applications. While the notion of exploring space may also be antiquated, the technology needed to achieve that goal is still high technology.
I say this not because I love MUMPS, but because I think it's important to note that the grand challenges of interoperability do not lie in programming languages, technological paradigms or the inability of engineers to design real solutions to problems in healthcare. The problem lies in the process of politics and the lack of a shared vision across the industry. We need our leaders to push for Open Data. As you point out, the Direct Project and its adoption is a step in the right direction. We do not improve the situation by calling a technology "antiquated". It's the language of CEOs and salesmen who are brutally afraid that Epic is about to eat their lunch. These statements distract us from the true issues at hand, the issues which your article elegantly highlighted.
Some quotes from Glen Tullman and Phil Pead on MUMPS being outdated from an interview from two years ago. In light of recent events, it makes for an interesting read: http://histalk2.com/2010/06/16/histalk-interviews-glen-tullman-and-phil-pead/
Agreed … this about solving problems. If Epic can do it using MUMPS, or Assembler, for that matter, then God Bless them. But it's equally relevant to consider that your ability to innovate and respond with agility to customer's needs is not served if the technology holds you back.
Epic has a huge investment in their MUMPS code base, so it's no wonder their engineers will get a bit defensive when its suitability in a quickly evolving world of SaaS-based solutions that can be deployed virtually continuously, is called into question.
That said, so long as the pace of change in healthcare IT remains glacial, Epic and MUMPS will be fine. At least, that's the current conventional thinking, it seems.
Thanks for the article, David. I concur with our friend, David Chase. Having actually worked with the Epic product for several years, both on the ambulatory and hospital side, I can say that Epic adopted health systems do not connect with one another, yet. There are several local hospitals here in Orange County that are on Epic, yet, if I were to go to Cedars or UCLA (which also have Epic), my patient information would not be available. In a landscape of buzzwords such as "data", "outcomes" and "coordinated care" how in the world is it possible with locked-down systems?
While I'm sure Judy and team have plans to roll out a Saas version, David's comments about the cost still hold true. Hospitals with big budgets adopt Epic. How can a primary care physician afford a $40,000 system? Epic have done very well with the "we'll choose whether we want to sell you our product or not" philosophy coupled with a gigantic dollar deal with Kaiser, but as we move to a more outcome driven reimbursement model, how are Epic positioned to solve this problem for the physicians?
Meaningful Use should be driven by meaningful tools. While Epic and others operate in a silo fashion, the patient still receives a sub-par experience. The EHR wave is in full motion and it's clear that it's all about market share and reacting later to whatever policy pushers ink out. In the interim, not-so-meaningful tools.


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Hurricane Karrina Victims One Year Later
Nearly a year has passed since Hurricane Katrina slammed into the Gulf Coast near New Orleans, killing more than 1,400 of our fellow Americans and driving hundreds of thousands from their homes.
Who could possibly forget the images from that awful week?
People stranded on rooftops. Chaos at the Superdome. The desperate anguish of those unable to escape, simply because they didn't have a car or the cash to evacuate, or because they didn't want to leave behind the few meager possessions they had.
I know that I can never forget the faces and stories of the people I met when I toured evacuation shelters in Baton Rouge shortly after Katrina hit.
Hurricane Katrina didn't just blow away lives and dreams, it blew away the shroud that was hiding the invisible poor and, for the moment, put home grown poverty in the epicenter of the national consciousness. It was a horrifying wake-up call.
How could this happen right here in our own country?
To be sure, this disaster also brought out the best in America.
Good neighbors all over the country opened their hearts, their homes and their wallets to people they'd never met. Many gave their precious time to bring comfort and relief to those who suffered in this disaster.
I saw it with my own eyes; it was inspirational and my spirits soared when I joined 700 college students who gave up their Spring Break last March to help dozens of families devastated by Katrina clean up their homes in St. Bernard Parish.
Individual Americans reached out to help one another. But individuals eventually have to get back to their lives.
Pace of recovery is agonizingly slow
In recent months it has become increasingly clear that, a full year after Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, the pace of recovery is agonizingly slow. People continue to hurt in a big way.
Despite all the official promises about "doing what it takes" to get New Orleans back on its feet, much of the city still looks as if the hurricane hit yesterday.
Thousands upon thousands of homes remain deserted, windowless and covered with flood grime in desolate neighborhoods.
The water and sewer systems are still in terrible shape.
Fewer than half of the city's hospitals have reopened, and there are not nearly enough health clinics to adequately serve all the low-income families who need care.
Vast areas are still littered with mangled cars and piles of debris.
Schools Turning Away Children
Last week, the news media reported that New Orleans schools are turning children away because there just isn't enough room for them as the educational system struggles to recover.
"It's hurting to your heart when a child says 'Mama, I want to go to school,' and you can't find one," one resident was quoted as saying.
To hear of a child being turned away from a school is disturbing enough. But how do we even contemplate the notion of a new and better New Orleans without there being a decent educational system to lead the way?
Just as Katrina's wrath exposed the two Americas in our midst, the sluggish road to recovery serves as a reminder to us about the everyday challenges faced by the underprivileged in our society -- not just in the Gulf Coast but in impoverished neighborhoods and communities across the country.
The lesson is that the fight against poverty is an ongoing one -- for government, for communities, for all of us.
I know you join me in demanding accountability and pressing government leaders to do what's necessary to get hurricane-ravaged areas back on their feet.
Joining together with the beleaguered residents of the Gulf Coast, something good can come out of this tragedy. The resurrection of the Gulf Coast can herald the rebirth of a core American value that we are all one nation, moving forward together -- and that no one shall be left behind.
For the moment, in their hours of desperation, I ask that you continue to keep Hurricane Katrina's many victims foremost in your thoughts, remember their plight, and offer what you can to help and comfort them.
And let us continue to work together to ensure that America fully responds to the wake-up call delivered on Katrina's winds one year ago.

subset: commoncrawl


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Scotland News and Media
For more information, our press officer Ian Brown can be contacted on the numbers below:
- Telephone: 0131 652 3164
- Mobile: 07918 053 952
- Email: email@example.com
Latest media releases
Blind man and guide dog bear Queen's baton in 'run up' to Commonwealth Games
21 July 2014 | Insight Radio presenter Allan Russell and guide dog Troy will run in his home town of Glasgow.
'Don't let bus services pass us by', campaigners with sight loss say
18 July 2014 | RNIB's campaign to make bus services more accessible is launched in Scotland today.
Ayrshire to pioneer new joint-sensory loss services
8 July 2014 | RNIB Scotland is a partner in wide-ranging moves to integrate sensory loss services across the region, launched today.
Scots with sight loss debate what Independence Referendum issues mean to them
25 June 2014 | An Insight Radio debate in Edinburgh is being recorded today on how the Referendum result could affect the lives of blind and partially sighted people living in Scotland.
'Sensory Mela' aims to get the eye-health message across
19 May 2014 | Edinburgh is to host Scotland's first ever 'Sensory Mela' promoting sight and hearing loss services to ethnic minority communities.
Plans to revamp sensory loss services across Ayrshire go out to consultation
22 April 2014 | Residents of Ayrshire and Arran are to get an opportunity to put their own views on wide-ranging plans to re-shape support for people with sight and hearing loss.
Newly blind left to cope alone
15 April 2014 | Too many Scots are still not being offered the vital emotional and practical support they need when they start to go blind.


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My mom is in town to visit my family, which is lovely. Aside from the joy of seeing my kids interact with their nana and being able to hang with my cool mom, there are some very practical benefits to having her hanging around. For instance, I have never taken so many daytime naps in my life.
I decided to make a list of happy things about having grandparent houseguests so that next time I am, let's say, overwhelmed by having someone stay in my home for multiple days, I will have a cheat sheet to go to as a reminder of why grandparents are awesome.
• She goes to the bus stop to pick up my kids after school so I don't have to. What? It's cold out there. I don't want to go. My kids are more excited to see her anyway.
• Because Montgomery County has evidently given up on making kids arrive at school in the morning and leave in the afternoon, it is extremely handy to have another adult around to deal with two-hour delays and early releases. Trust me, if you have kids at multiple schools, anything other than regular hours is a nightmare. Her presence has allowed my husband to actually go to work on those days. In fact, her presence has allowed neighbor parents to go to work and my house to become early morning two-hour delay party house.
• She actually likes our dog, so she remembers to feed her. Every day.
• When you drag your family to the zoo on a 24-degree day, and two of your kids are running ahead to get to a building and one of them is lagging really far behind because he is tooooooo coooooold to walk, she can take one of the groups. The lagging one, naturally.
• She sleeps closer to my kids, which means she is the first line of defense before they wake me up in the morning. I haven't had a middle-of-the-night small-person visitor since she got here.
• I can leave my kids with her instead of dragging them to every single stupid thing I have to do. It is so much easier to run to 7-11 to buy candy without three little kids following you around calling you out on your hypocrisy if you don't buy them anything.
• My husband and I can go out to dinner and a movie without adding a $100 babysitting charge on top of the cost of our outing. (We finally got to go see Argo. OMG, go see that movie.)
• My kids love her very much.
• I love her very much.
• She loves spending time with my kids, who want to show her every craft they've made, every song they've learned, every book they love. They are so lucky to have a nana (and a grandma who also loves to visit—two is better than one!) who loves them so much and wants to spend time with them.
Jean, a.k.a. Stimey, is a freelance writer who writes a personal blog at Stimeyland and runs an autism-events website for Montgomery County, Maryland, at AutMont. You can find her on Twitter as @Stimey and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Stimeyland.


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My daughter Julia came to live with me two years ago for school. It isn't easy for me to raise someone who is practically my nine-year-old clone, but that is exactly what I find I am doing with Julia. Through our judo and soccer practices, reading, writing and arithmetic, Girl Scouts, and Japanese language classes, we occasionally have a conversation that connects us both in a sometimes deep and usually humorous way. Hopefully, you will be as entertained as we are.
Walking In Circles
Julia and Daddy are at Monday night's District 2 championship game, Kirkwood versus Webster. Both schools have been kind enough to give Julia and Daddy sideline passes. Just as the game began, Julia asked if her grandfather (Papa) is at the game. The game is just past the first quarter and Julia is walking in circles…
Julia: Daddy, I'm really tired. Can we sit in the seats?
Daddy: Don't say "can."
Julia: May we please sit in the seats?
Daddy: (glancing at the seats) Sure, go sit there.
Julia: Well, I want you to sit with me.
Daddy: Sigh. Are you manipulating me? Are you asking to do this so that you may sit with your Papa?
(Julia tries to suppress a big smile)
Julia: Uhhhh… no… ummm…. I'm not manipulating you…
Daddy: Really? Why are you trying not to smile?
Julia: Sigh.
(Shawn Greene will be providing the keynote speech at the Kirkwood Football Alumni Breakfast at 8 am, Turkey Day, at the cafeteria of Kirkwood High School. Those interested in sharing breakfast before the big game and learning a bit more of the history of Turkey Day and the Adams Road Rivalry are welcome to attend.)


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See and share Beautiful Nature Photos and amazing photos of interesting places
These Football Death poems are examples of Death poems about Football. These are the best examples of Football Death poems written by international PoetrySoup poets
To be called ..
~ Grandma is a Honor ~
I have been blessed with 4 Grandchildren
~ one lays in Heaven " Kaleb " He is God's Angel ~
~ His twin brother he will always watch over , and be in his soul~
For he loved his Brother so much in the womb ,
he chose Heaven which gave life to his twin
~ I feel his spirit when I see the other Grandson ~
Time passed another gift to see
we are " Mickes" and Loved
Our Dad held the title in Baseball
~ that's how we roll ~
those children are Grandmas hero's
The Irish they love big and Family is everything
The brothers will protect the beautiful sister
~ as many lads will be calling ~
Every time my Grandson hits a home run
There will be a Angel watching proudly in the stand
It will be as if the Angel lifted him when he runs
~no one runs faster then my Grandson~
either baseball or Art ~ you shall find your gift given
These children have been blessed~
~ a beauty to hard to describe
If you think not ~~ Take a look at the Mom
That girl can stop Traffic
after raising three and still~
"Inspired by the gift and loss of Grandchildren "
May our precious " Kaleb " softly rest where Angels only Dwell
The ancient Maya had a game
They called Tut to Tut
A game like soccer
but the ball but the ball
would be passed by the thigh
and not the foot.
They played with a latex rubber ball
that some claim contained a human skull
But what ever you think about the game
it was never dull.
Two teams would play before a temple
On a strip of green
the object of the game
to pass the ball through a hoop made of stone
the Winners were victorious
but for the losers
it wasn't so nice
because they'd chop their heads of
and make them a sacrifice.
Glad I wasn't a coach
beats soccer any day.
''Any one for a game of Tut to Tut''?
Don't all shout at once.
Peter Dome.copyright.2013.
He played football with the Detroit Lions in the NFL.
In the seventies, this man became an actor as well.
Less than a week ago, his fans had bad luck.
We lost the man who was nicknamed the Mad Duck.
He played in the NFL on and off for twelve years.
People loved to see him play, that much is clear.
He began starring in Webster in 1983.
Playing football and acting was his destiny.
(Dedicated to Alex Karras who died October 10, 2012.)


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EGSA on-peak performance
This annual supplement provides electrical engineers and power professionals key articles about on-peak performance.
Read the November 2009 articles.
Founded in 1965, the Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA) is the world's largest organization exclusively dedicated to On-Site Power Generation. EGSA is comprised of 700 companies around the world that make, sell, distribute, and use On-Site Power generation technology and equipment, including generators, engines, switchgear, controls, and much more.
The Association's vision is to provide an environment where On-Site Power Generation industry experts unite and share knowledge to drive the industry to higher levels of service and performance.
Read some of the November 2009 on-peak performance content by clicking the following the links:
The importance of power reliability
In this roundtable discussion, data center executives discuss the vital importance of power reliability.
Providing control
A new controller provides front-end digital control to GE busfed power bridges.
Maximizing MCF standby power
Identify equipment, systems design, and maintenance procedures that contribute to dependable standby power systems for critical facilities.
Enhancing emergency power
Hospital emergency power systems must be reliable, scaleable, and cost-effective in order to work for extended periods.
Log in or create an account to submit your comment for this article.
Case Study Database
Get more exposure for your case study by uploading it to the Plant Engineering case study database, where end-users can identify relevant solutions and explore what the experts are doing to effectively implement a variety of technology and productivity related projects.
These case studies provide examples of how knowledgeable solution providers have used technology, processes and people to create effective and successful implementations in real-world situations. Case studies can be completed by filling out a simple online form where you can outline the project title, abstract, and full story in 1500 words or less; upload photos, videos and a logo.
Click here to visit the Case Study Database and upload your case study.
Annual Salary Survey
Participate in the 2013 Salary Survey
In a year when manufacturing continued to lead the economic rebound, it makes sense that plant manager bonuses rebounded. Plant Engineering's annual Salary Survey shows both wages and bonuses rose in 2012 after a retreat the year before.
Average salary across all job titles for plant floor management rose 3.5% to $95,446, and bonus compensation jumped to $15,162, a 4.2% increase from the 2010 level and double the 2011 total, which showed a sharp drop in bonus.


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Tidal flooding is expected over three tidal cycles beginning Sunday night, which could result in Route 30 being closed or impassable for at least 18 hours, Galloway Police said Saturday night, Oct. 27.
The 66,000 residents of the barrier islands were issued mandatory evacuation orders earlier today, and must be off their islands by 4 p.m. Sunday. The barrier islands include Margate, Ventnor, Atlantic City, Brigantine and Longport. After that, tidal flooding worse than that expected during Hurricane Irene is expected to ensue, police said.
Police also provided the following preparation tips:
• Have adequate prescription medicines or infant supplies on hand.
• Remove or secure all outdoor property (furniture signs or other items that could be blown away) due to the high winds and tidal flooding.
• If you or someone you know uses life-support equipment that requires electricity to operate, identify a location with emergency power capabilities and make plans to go there during a prolonged outage.
• Assemble an emergency storm kit. Include a battery-powered radio or television, flashlight, a first-aid kit, battery-powered or windup clock, extra batteries, special needs items, an insulated cooler and a list of important and emergency phone numbers.
• Keep at least a three-day supply of non-perishable foods and bottled water and have a hand-operated can opener available.
• Have a telephone with a cord or cell phone to use as a backup. Cordless telephones require electricity to operate, and won't work if there is an outage.
• Protect your electronic equipment. Unplug sensitive electronics or plug computers and other sensitive equipment into surge suppressors, and consider a UPS (uninterruptible power supply) for temporary battery backup power.
• Turn off power to flood-prone basement appliances if it is safe to do so. However, if you have an electrically operated sump pump, you should not turn off your power.
• Fill your gas tank so you can run your automobile to charge mobile devices. Be sure to open garage doors using manual controls to run the vehicle safely.
Safety Tips
•Tune in to local news broadcasts for the latest weather and emergency information.
•Follow the advice of your local emergency management officials.
•If you need to use a portable generator, follow the manufacturer's instructions and use only when necessary. Don't overload it and turn it off at night while you sleep and when you are away from home.
•Residence with well water should fill bathtubs and trash can to ensure they have water to flush toilets.
•Residence should also consider freezing Rubbermaid containers and 2 liter bottles to provide ice for maintaining food safe.
•Stay away from downed wires. Assume any downed wire is energized.
•To report an outage or downed wire, call 1-800-833-7476 or report through our mobile app or our website, atlanticcityelectric.com.
Atlantic City Electric is closely monitoring the approach of Hurricane Sandy, which has the potential to cause devastating damage to the area. Atlantic City Electric has initiated its Incident Response Plan to prepare for the storm and is strongly urging customers to get ready now for the possibility of multi-day outages.
Weather services are predicting that the Atlantic City Electric service area will experience heavy rain and high winds over a sustained period, which could cause widespread and extended power outages. To see where the outages are you can use the web link from Atlantic City Electric:
Residents should continue to monitor the progress of the storm closely. Also, residents living near low lying areas should keep a close eye on water levels and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. Please move all vehicles to higher ground.


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Polka Dots41 Reviews 1 Pic
"I also use cake mixes with chocolate chips or M and M's. My personal favorite is to use Spice Cake mix (sans chips), then sprinkle cinnamon-sugar on cookies prior to baking."
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Adjust Servings
Original recipe yields 3 dozen
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C).
- In large bowl, combine brownie mix, oil and eggs. By hand, stir until well-blended. Stir in chips.
- Drop dough by rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
- Bake in heated oven for 8-12 minutes or until set. Cool 1 minute; remove from baking sheets.
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Reviews (41)Rate This Recipe
I love to make these cookies. I have made them umpteen times. I make them with brownie mix and not cake mix. The ones with the cake mix are too, well...cakey. These turn out yummy chewy and they are the easiest cookies in the world to make. I have found the trick to make them perfect, non-spreading, and non-sticking. Instead of adding the eggs and oil separately; beat the eggs and oil together in a small bowl first, then add it to the mix and combine. Now, you can do your additions. Butterscotch, semi-sweet, milk chocolate, heath bits, coconut, nuts, or whatever your fancy. I use a small cookie scoop and cooke for 12 minutes. Crunchy on the outside, chewy on the inside. They turn out perfect
RaisinKane aka Patti
I really wanted these to be amazing. I read all of the reviews and decided I was going to go with the exact recipe with one exception. I refrigerated the dough for about an hour. There is nothing wrong with the taste of these cookies but the are very difficult to work with. All the time you save with prep you waste after baking. You have to watch like a hawk in the oven because they go from under to over very quickly. You also have to time your removal from cookie sheet precisely...too short cookie literally falls apart in your hand making a yummy mess. Too long and you need a crow bar to get them off of tray, again, yummy mess. I ended up only getting about 10 servable cookies. the rest were a yummy crumble.
I followed the recipe exactly as written. I did not use a Cake Mix, like alot of others did, because it called for a Brownie Mix. Based on actual recipe posted, these did not turn out well at all! I only baked them for 7 minutes, second sheet 6 minutes. Looked fine when they came out, but when I tried to remove them from the sheet, they were stuck like glue! I ended up with a crumbled mess. Even had to break out a knife to scrape them off. Rated 2 stars ONLY because submitter did suggest a cake mix as well and everyone who did it that way had no problems. Otherwise, it's a zero.
Similar Recipes
S'more Brownies
Peanut Butter Cup Brownies
Sue's Two-Chocolate Chip Cookies
Michelle's Peanut Butter Dots
Arny Cookies
Easy Chocolate Cookies
Amount Per Serving (18 total)
- Calories
- 234 cal
- 12%
- Fat
- 12.7 g
- 20%
- Carbs
- 29.3 g
- 9%
- Protein
- 2.6 g
- 5%
- Cholesterol
- 26 mg
- 9%
- Sodium
- 112 mg
- 4%
Based on a 2,000 calorie diet
previous recipe:
Sue's Two-Chocolate Chip Cookies
next recipe:
S'more Brownies


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Jay Fox 2:00 PM - 7:00 PM
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text:
By Jack Molitor
The Herald Bulletin
ELWOOD, Ind. —
One of the oldest maxims of law enforcement is "to serve and protect."
A newly hired Elwood officer and certified interpreter wants to make sure that motto is extended to non-English speakers in Madison County.
John Davis, an Elwood native and volunteer police officer for the past two years, will start as a part-time officer this week as part of the Elwood Police Department's Hispanic outreach program. With Spanish speakers representing an increasing segment of the population, officers with Davis' skill set are becoming quite valuable. Even in areas like Madison County where the Hispanic population is relatively low, law enforcement needs conduits to communicate with every resident.
For Davis, the importance of reaching Spanish speakers is a personal mission.
Davis learned Spanish during his youth while he was in and out of foster homes and child services care. His mother struggled with alcohol and drug-addiction problems and was sent to prison when he was very young. The responsibility of raising Davis fell largely to himself, but while he was in foster care, he met many Spanish-speaking children who taught him not only their language, but their culture. He said he also often had bilingual parents, so learning another language became second nature.
He also spent time in Galveston, Texas, as a child, and continued to cultivate his knowledge of Spanish among the large Mexican-American population in the Lone Star state.
Now Davis wants to use this opportunity in law enforcement to give back to the Spanish-speaking community that gave him so much.
"I'm really passionate about law enforcement, especially because of my background, but I have a real hunger to work for [Spanish speakers]," Davis said. "We're sworn to uphold the law for everyone, not just people who speak English. I want to try to give the same services to everyone."
Davis' skills have come in handy. Elwood Police Chief Sam Hanna said Davis has already interpreted in several criminal investigations and has been used by a few agencies throughout the county. Hanna said Davis' empathy has already been instrumental in a few domestic abuse cases.
"We're trying to reach that segment of the population and let them know we're here for them," Hanna said. "He's been immensely helpful in making that happen."
One particular case was especially difficult. Davis was called out to interpret for a woman who alleged a man tied her up, beat her with a belt and left her for days at a time inside his house. It took several hours of talking to Davis for the woman to open up and describe the abuse. Hanna and Davis agreed without an interpreter, there would've been no positive resolution.
"It took a lot of effort, and it was very satisfying when she finally broke down and started to share with us," Davis said. "And she was living in a home with no heat, in the winter. It was a bad situation, and it was good to get her out of that."
It will often be difficult reaching out to Spanish speakers, Davis said, particularly because of certain cultural differences. A large segment of the Hispanic population has Mexican lineage, and Mexico is a nation rife with corruption. In a study by Transparency International in 2012, Mexico was ranked 105th in the world in perceived corruption.
As a result, when police show up around Hispanics there is often an extra layer of distrust, Davis said.
"It goes back to cultural differences. Police aren't necessarily a good thing for them, so it's hard to break down barriers there."
Other agencies in the county have taken strides to accommodate Spanish-speakers as well. Davis received his certification from the Public Agency Training Council. No officers at the Anderson Police Department or Madison County Sheriff's Department have certified interpreters, but both have a complement of Spanish-speaking officers.
APD spokesman Joel Sandefur said his department has three officers who can assist in cases that need an interpreter. Sheriff's Department Maj. Brian Bell said his department just hired an officer who can speak Spanish to replace an interpreter who just retired. Bell said the skill is becoming increasingly important.
"It's huge. The Hispanic population is growing, and in some ways there's a trust issue," Bell said. "The best way to overcome that is with communication."
Find Jack Molitor on Facebook and @AggieJack4 on Twitter, or call 640-4883.


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"Our Son Has Special Needs"
Her Turn
"When we adopted our 4-year-old son, Max, last year, I thought that Phil and I finally had the family we'd always dreamed of," said Lisa, 35.
"I couldn't have been more wrong. "I had three miscarriages before getting pregnant with our daughter, Annie, who's 8. Afterward, my doctor said I probably wouldn't be able to conceive again, so a few years ago Phil and I started to talk about adopting.
"We used a reputable agency that places children from Russian orphanages. The paperwork was endless, but a year after we applied we heard that a 3-year-old boy was available. We'd requested an infant, so we had some concerns. We knew about a psychological problem called 'reactive attachment disorder,' which is common in children who suffer trauma or neglect in the first months of life. Kids with RAD often have trouble feeling safe and cared for. But we decided to move ahead anyway. Who knew how long we'd have to wait for an infant?
"Russian law requires potential parents to travel to Moscow, meet their child, then wait for the court to finalize the adoption. Annie came with us and the three of us had a two-hour visit with Max. It went fine though he seemed shy. The orphanage director told us he got along well with everyone. We spent two weeks in Moscow waiting for a court date, then learned it was reslated for the next month, so we had to fly back later.
"It wasn't until the court hearing that we learned Max had been neglected by his drug-addicted biological mother and physically abused by her boyfriend. Max has scars on his torso from cigarette burns. We were angry but too invested to turn back. The adoption went through and we left Russia with our son.
"Once we got home I took Max to a developmental psychologist, who confirmed our fears: Max suffered from RAD, as well as dyslexia and ADHD. I took a six-week leave from my job as an executive recruiter, thinking it would give us time to bond. I was soon overwhelmed and exhausted. It's just so hard to be Max's parent. The first time he rode in a car he howled the whole time. He can't sit still and has a meltdown if he doesn't get his way. None of the disciplinary methods we used with Annie -- like time-outs -- make the slightest difference in Max's behavior.
"We hired a nanny from Ukraine, who left after a month because Max was so difficult. We're now on our third nanny. I enrolled Max in nursery school but the director asked that we withdraw him because he constantly took the other kids' toys. I should probably care for Max fulltime but can't afford to quit my job.
"Phil was as excited as I was about adoption but now acts as if it was a huge mistake. It didn't help that he lost his job a month after we got Max home. Luckily he found another one, but it's less money and the insurance no longer covers all of Max's health expenses. Now Phil wants to move to a smaller home. What could be more disruptive?
"I hardly recognize Phil anymore. No marriage is perfect, but ours was close. We talked about anything and everything. Now we hardly speak, except to argue. Phil favors Annie and has no patience with Max, whom he yells at for bad table manners and running in the house. Phil acknowledges that Max is fragile, yet a minute later he's bellowing at him for taking Annie's video game. Now, is that a criminal act or typical little brother behavior? When I tell Phil he's being unfair, he snaps that Max isn't nice to him and likes me better! He even accuses me of paying more attention to Max than to him. Excuse me? Who's the grownup here? He's behaving like a seventh grader, and I've had it."


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July 29, 2014
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) -- Onesmus Nyerere, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Erin Moeller, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, won the Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.
Kenyan-born Nyerere was yesterday's men's winner in 2:19:57.
Moeller finished in 2:40:20.
Moeller finished second last year in the women's category, behind Russian-born Larisa Michailova.
Yesterday, Michailova came in second place.
Nyerere won the Meijer Kentucky Derby Festival Marathon last month.
Sunday marked the eighth annual Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.
More than 6000 people participated in the five-kilometer, half-marathon and marathon races, setting a record for the events.


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A-Z Health Topics
Return to Index
Meconium Aspiration Syndrome
Risk Factors
- Post-term delivery (delivery after 42 weeks of pregnancy)
- Cesarean delivery
- Abnormal heart rate during labor
- Reduced amniotic fluid
- Low or high birth weight
- Meconium below the baby's vocal cords
- Low APGAR score after birth (assessment score of baby after birth)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Diabetes
- Respiratory disease
- Heart disease
- Smoking
- Heavily meconium stained amniotic fluid
|Gestational Diabetes
|Copyright © Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.
- Breathing that is too rapid or too slow
- Blue skin color due to lack of oxygen
- Grunting
- Nostrils that spread outward when breathing
- Reduced muscle tone or spontaneous movement
- A heart rate of less than 100 beats per minute
The doctor may need to see pictures of your baby's chest. This can be done with:
- Chest x-ray—to look for changes caused by meconium aspiration
- Echocardiography—to look for changes in heart function caused by meconium aspiration
The doctor may also need to measure the level of oxygen in the blood. This can be done with:
- Pulse oximetry
- Blood tests
Oxygen Therapy
Fluid Therapy
Support Care
- Manage chronic conditions. This includes high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory disease, and heart disease.
- If you smoke, quit.
American Academy of Pediatrics http://www.healthychildren.org
KidsHealth.org http://kidshealth.org
AboutKidsHealth http://www.aboutkidshealth.ca
Canadian Paediatric Society http://www.cps.ca
Meconium aspiration. KidsHealth.org website. Available at: http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/lungs/meconium.html#a%5FPrevention . Updated October 2011. Accessed December 10, 2012.
Meconium aspiration. Lucile Packard Children's Hospital website. Available at: http://www.lpch.org/DiseaseHealthInfo/HealthLibrary/hrnewborn/mecasp.html . Accessed December 10, 2012.
Meconium aspiration. University of Rochester Medical Center website. Available at: http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/Encyclopedia/Content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P02384 . Accessed December 10, 2012.
Meconium aspiration syndrome. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://dynamed.ebscohost.com/ . Updated August 24, 2012. Accessed December 10, 2012.
Revision Information
- Reviewer: Kari Kassir, MD
- Review Date: 09/2013
- Update Date: 09/30/2013


text:
Be The First To
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62% of the CEO
Stan Askren
Pros – One of the only games in town.
Cons – Culture is a bit strange. Supervisors.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend
1 person found this helpful
Pros – I've been here a long time and I know the business.
Cons – The legacy system is being replaced with a third-party, packaged software. Not sure where my place in the new environment will be. Communication is lacking in the direction of the department. People have started leaving the department in droves. During the recession, the department had a wage freeze. Now that business is picking up, we would like be compensated for our service during the recession. Raises seem to be worse than before the recession. We are asked to take on more responsibility with no compensation or additional title. People are getting fed up.
Advice to Senior Management – Value your employees. Treat them with respect and compensate them for their dedication on making the company profitable.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company
Pros – Good company to work for
Cons – Lots of constant changes happening
Pros – The company still is financially sound and still has a large market presence.
Cons – Too many acquisitions that fail. The company doesn't seem to know what to do with them except shut down facilities. High risk for you if HNI acquires your company. Two classes of employees; those in Muscatine who will keep their jobs if at all possible. If you're not in Muscatine, you are the first to go.
Advice to Senior Management – You need an actionable vision, not just general platitudes. Overhead costs are killing you; too many VP's and empires inside the company.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend
Pros – I've been here for 14 years and it's close to home
Cons – They are out sourcing their software development. I'm a software developer.
Advice to Senior Management – Care about your employees more.
No, I would not recommend this company to a friend – I'm not optimistic about the outlook for this company
Pros – Good Company, Good Vision and mission
Cons – Too focussed on Lean without worrying about customer requirements
Advice to Senior Management – Develop business model to meet customer requirements
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text:
By Jesse Roman, Staff Writer
The Salem News
---- — SALEM — Congressman John Tierney denied once again yesterday that he knew anything about his in-laws' illegal gambling operation and said his convicted brother-in-law, Daniel Eremian, was "angry" and "lashing out" when he told The Salem News on Thursday that the congressman "knew everything."
"His comments are totally inconsistent and totally bizarre," Tierney said yesterday in an interview. "He professed his innocence to everyone (in court) minutes before and then said I knew everything illegal he was doing."
Eremian made his comments outside a Boston courtroom moments after he was sentenced to three years in prison for his part in a multimillion-dollar illegal gambling operation in Antigua run by his older brother, Robert Eremian.
Along with calling Tierney "the biggest liar in the world," Eremian said Tierney had sat next to bookies at Fenway Park and that his claims of ignorance about the family business were "hogwash."
Tierney said he was caught off guard by Eremian's comments.
"I was incredulous," he said. "Where the hell is this coming from? I don't know why he would inflict all this pain on his sister."
Eremian's sister is Tierney's wife, Patrice, who was sentenced to 30 days in prison in 2011 after pleading guilty to helping her brother Robert Eremian file fraudulent tax returns in connection with the offshore gambling operation.
Patrice Tierney managed a bank account for her brother, through which some $7 million flowed, which she used to pay his taxes, maintain his property, and support his wife and children. She also received $223,000 in what she described as "gifts" from her brother.
John Tierney said he believed Robert Eremian's offshore betting company, called Sports Off Shore, was legal and cited the fact that a judge allowed him to return to Antigua to work for the company in 2002, after he had been convicted of tax evasion.
A federal judge, an Antiguan immigration officer and the U.S. Attorney's Office all signed off on Robert Eremian's return to Antigua to continue work at Sports Off Shore. Because of that, Tierney said he and his wife had no reason to question the legality of the enterprise there.
In court, Patrice Tierney admitted that she should have asked more questions about the nature of the business and acknowledged being "willfully blind."
The court "believed she should have known," John Tierney said yesterday.
Should he have known, too?
"Obviously, if there is a court order allowing Robert Eremian to go down there, they believed it was legal. A judge signed off on it, a probation supervisor thought it was appropriate, and so I think it is perfectly reasonable for someone to assume it was a legitimate source of income," Tierney said.
"People can disagree if they want to disagree. But if a judge and a probation supervisor don't think it's unreasonable, why would I think it was?"
Tierney said he learned about the bank account his wife was managing "sometime shortly after the court order" that allowed Robert Eremian to go back to Antigua. Tierney said he never questioned whether the money was legitimate.
"The judge gave him the order allowing him to go. They knew he was gambling, we knew he was gambling ... and we knew the judge gave him permission," Tierney said. "We assumed (the money) was (obtained by) legal means."
Robert Eremian's "kids were up here floundering. He assumed that (Patrice) would take care of it," Tierney said.
As for Daniel Eremian, Tierney said, "I've never gotten along with Daniel. I can tell you some things the judges and prosecutors have said about my wife and how she is, and I can tell you that Danny is not from the same DNA."
On the allegation that he sat with bookies at Fenway Park: "There are 37,000 people in Fenway Park, and I'm sure there's a bookie in there somewhere, but not sitting with me," Tierney said.
Tierney's Republican opponent, Richard Tisei, was quick to pounce on Daniel Eremian's comments and reiterated yesterday that he thinks the congressman's story doesn't hold water.
"According to court records, John Tierney's two brothers-in-law, his father-in-law, stepson and wife were all working for an illegal gambling operation for close to a decade," Tisei said in an interview yesterday.
"And to have all of this activity taking place around him, I think most people look at this — especially with his brother-in-law's statements yesterday — and just don't believe him. It doesn't make sense. He has not been honest or forthright."
How deep an effect this will have on the 6th District congressional race remains to be seen.
Tierney said the Eremian incident will not prevent him from moving forward in the campaign. He said he has not received any calls from fellow Democrats asking him to step aside in light of the controversy.
"I have been contacted by the Democratic Party, and they are with me 100 percent," Tierney said. "They are ready to walk with me and campaign with me in the streets. I am a hardworking and honest congressman, and all my colleagues feel that way. They think this whole thing is ridiculous."
The Massachusetts Democratic Party fired off a press release unequivocally standing by Tierney.
"John Tierney has been an excellent congressman — from leading the charge on health care reform to fighting for lower interest rates on student loans — and that's why Massachusetts Democrats support him," said John Walsh, state party chairman.
Asked if there's any chance that the party is seeking another candidate in the event that Tierney is forced to step aside, Kevin Franck, communications director for the state Democratic Party, said no.
Walsh's statement, he said, "should be pretty clear and put those (rumors) to bed. We are 100 percent behind the congressman. From the people in our grass-roots organization all the way up to the top leadership, there isn't a thought of that anywhere."


text:
Agencies Save More than Pennies from the Cloud
Learn how your agency can benefit by shifting work to the web.
The Internet of Things is ushering in a new era of proactive citizenry.Daring Deal
Amazon is building a cloud for the intelligence community under a plan to upend the status quo.
Ditch the Memo for a Dashboard: How to Show Your Program's Progress
Promising Practices by Arleta Cobb
USPS Is Recruiting a Firer-in-Chief
Fedblog by Eric Katz
How to Overcome Your Fear of Thinking
Executive Coach by Scott Eblin
Blocking the Vote in Congress
On Politics by Charlie Cook
TRICARE Increases Mental Health Care Providers
Pay & Benefits Watch by Kellie Lunney
How to Get the Most from Your Social Security Benefit
Retirement Planning by Tammy Flanagan
- Register for the 2014 Intelligence and National Security Summit Co-hosted by AFCEA International & the Intelligence and National Security Alliance on September 18-19 www.afcea.org/summit
- Register for the 2014 Defense Acquisition Modernization Symposium Highlighting "Better Buying Power" in government, industry, and academia on August 5-6 www.afcea.org/modernization14
- Register for the first-ever Federal Executive Track at HP Protect, Sept. 10, 2014 Learn about the latest in cybersecurity and how to protect your networks today and into the future. www.hp.com/go/protect/federaltrack


text:
Buena Vista Records will release two albums capturing the wonder of Lewis Carroll's beloved books and visionary director Tim Burton. ALMOST ALICE is a 16-song compilation featuring ALICE IN WONDERLAND'S end credit track "Alice (Underground)" written by Avril Lavigne and produced by Butch Walker. Danny Elfman composes the score for the original motion picture soundtrack. Hot Topic will issue an exclusive version of ALMOST ALICE which includes two bonus tracks. All three albums will be released on March 2, 2010. ALICE IN WONDERLAND comes to the big screen in Disney Digital 3D™ on March 5, 2010 (U.S. theaters).
Vinylmation Artist Signing Event at Walt Disney World, January 29
On January 29, there will be a special signing opportunity to meet with Vinylmation artists who have made recent contributions to the collections. Scheduled to appear are Dan Howard (Urban #3), Maria Clapsis (Urban #3, Wall*E/Eve set) and Randy Noble (Cinderella 60th Anniversary). The event takes place from 5 pm – 7 pm at the Art of Disney at the Downtown Disney Marketplace.
Hallmark UK Offers Limited Edition of Disney Video Greeting Cards for Valentine's Day
Hallmark UK is poised to take the greeting card business to the next level this February when it unveils the UK's first ever video greeting card. With a limited edition of only 1500, the Valentine's Day card features a video of five classic Disney romantic moments from films including Lady and the Tramp, Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty and Aladdin which plays when the card is opened.
Available at Clintons Cards locations throughout the UK, the video greeting card will retail for a little over $30 US.
2011 Walt Disney World Marathon Registration Now Open
Registration for the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon is now open.
Entree fees and age minimums are as follows:
Walt Disney World® Marathon – $135 – Ages 18+
Walt Disney World® Half Marathon – $135 – Ages 14+
Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge – $310 – Ages 18+
Disney Family Fun Run 5K – $45 – No age requirements
Mickey's Marathon Kids' Fest – $10 – Ages 13 and under
Mickey Mile – $25
For more information and to register, visit the official page for the 2011 Walt Disney World Marathon
'Who Wants To Be A Millionaire' Launches 'You're In The Hot Seat Home Game' February 8, Offering Over $1.5-Million In Cash Prizes to Home Viewers
Beginning February 8, home viewers of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" will be able to win cash prizes just like the show's hot seat contestants in the "You're In The Hot Seat Home Game." The home game will award Millionaire viewers a total of over $1.5-million in cash prizes and provide them with daily opportunities to win individual prizes ranging from $1,000 to $100,000.
Tonner Previews 2010 Line of Dolls Featuring Miss Piggy
Tonner has put up a preview of its 2010 line of dolls, two of which are of Miss Piggy.
Piggy goes uptown with Fifth Avenue Pig, a limited edition of 300. Her chic ensemble includes an ultra soft suit set featuring a silky peplum and back bow, glistening gold buttons, and luscious faux fur collar and cuffs. Matching faux fur hat, signature pearl necklace, and faux leather pumps also included. The 16″ tall vinyl collectible retails for $169.99.
Also coming is the 2010 Miss Piggy Basic, an open edition for $99.99 each, which can also be viewed on the preview site.
Adriano Bastos of Sao Paulo, Brazil Takes Win Number Seven at Walt Disney World Marathon
Tens of thousands of runners braved the low-30s temperatures this morning as they began their 26.2-mile trek through all four Walt Disney World theme parks this morning.
With a total time of 02:28:08, Brazil's Adriano Bastos, 31, captured his seventh win at the 2010 Walt Disney World Marathon today. Lisa Mizutani, age 24 from Tsukuba, Japan, was the first woman to cross the finish line with a time of 02:51:18 and an overall finish of 18th place.
ABC's 'FlashForward' Extends Its Blackout Until March 18
ABC has recently announced that FlashForward, which was set to finish off its first season on March 4, has now been pushed back to March 18.
On his blog, FlashForward author Robert Sawyer says the move was made to avoid competing with American Idol as well as allowing the release of Volume One of the series on DVD time to attract a larger audience.
To compensate for the loss of two weeks caused by the delay, both the March 18 episode and the season finale will be two hours long.
Wall*E/Eve LE Vinylmation Set to be Released January 22; Cinderella Vinylmation January 15
Some more news from the official Vinylmation blog which first reports that the Cinderella 60th anniversary special edition vinylmation which we told you about here will be released at both the Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resorts on January 15.
Then, a week later, on January 22, the collector set featuring Disney/Pixar's Wall*E and Eve will be released at both resorts on January 22 and is limited to an edition size of 500. The blog promises to have additional information as well as artwork of the box they are both packaged in soon.
New Clip from 'When in Rome' Featuring Kristen Bell, Dax Shepard
We just received the following clip from When in Rome from Touchstone Pictures featuring Beth (Kristen Bell) and one of her many quirky suitors, Gale (Dax Shepard). In the scene, parts of which are featured in the trailer, Gale introduces himself to Beth and makes a great first impression — at least on himself.


text:
The Daily Star
---- — Marie P. Sperry
SIDNEY — Marie P. Sperry, 93, of Sidney, passed away Jan. 22, 2013, at the A.O. Fox Nursing Home in Oneonta, following a brief illness.
She was born March 16, 1919, in Bronx, the daughter of Milton H. and Caroline (Bopp) Patterson.
Marie married Ward A. Sperry on June 28, 1941. Ward died on March 18, 1986.
Marie spent her childhood in Guttenberg, N.J., and Delhi. Prior to her marriage, she was proud of having worked as secretary to Dr. Russell Cecil, author of the "Cecil Textbook of Medicine" used by physicians worldwide.
She was introduced to her future husband, Ward, a Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy, by his sister, Beatrice, and they were married three months later in Riverside Church, Manhattan.
Ward and Marie lived most of their married life in the Syracuse, Fayetteville and Manlius area. After a brief time in Colorado and Arizona, they moved to New Berlin and later to Earlville. Marie spent her final years in Sidney.
Marie's family always came first. She was a stay-at-home mom throughout the childhood of her eight children until the youngest, John, went to school. She worked as a secretary for Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance Company while living in Colorado, and later for Preferred Mutual Insurance in New Berlin.
A quiet and shy person with a gentle, loving spirit, Marie was a true and lifelong friend to those who knew her best. She was happiest when surrounded by her family, and as the number grew, she never forgot a birthday or an anniversary.
Marie is survived by two sons, Dr. Charles (Myra) Sperry of Missoula, Mont., and James Sperry of Glastonbury, Conn.; and five daughters, Carol (David) Allen, Sidney, with whom she lived the last three years of her life, Judith Sumner, Boulder, Colo., Nancy Birmingham (Glenn) Hague, Live Oak, Fla., Marion Howe, Kingsport, Tenn., and Janet (Dave) Doherty, Rio Rancho, N.M.; and two former daughters-in-law, Beverly Lewis, Pierre, S.D., and Susan Sullenberger, Lakeland, Fla. Marie is also survived by 15 grandchildren, Charles (Tammy) Sperry, Fern (Mike) Harmon, Jennifer (Thomas) Steger, Elizabeth (Daniel) Smith, Jason (Lisa) Sumner, Margaret (Michael) Loperfido, Joshua, Shiloh, Aaron and Rachel Birmingham, Jeffrey Howe; Jessica (Carey) Lane; David (Audrey) Andolina, Allison (John) Meyers, and PFC Matthew Sperry, U.S. Marine Corps; three stepgrandchildren, Angela McCann, and Christopher and Bradley Lund; plus 16 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; and her loving spiritual family in the Church of Christ in Sidney.
In addition to her husband, Marie was predeceased by her youngest son, John; her parents; and a brother, Milton Patterson.
In lieu of a funeral, the family will hold a graveside service in celebration of Marie's life in Machpelah Cemetery, LeRoy, in the spring, where she will be buried next to her husband.
Donations in Marie's memory can be made to the Delaware Valley Humane Society, P.O. Box 182, Sidney, NY 13838.
Condolences may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, Sidney.


text:
By Doug Hawley
If Northwest Whitfield High School's baseball team had anyone worried after losing the opener of its best-of-three Class 4A state playoffs series with Grady, it wasn't the Bruins' coach.
They went out and proved him right in Game 2.
Hosting the Grey Knights at Richard S. Chumley Field in the opening round of state, Northwest lost the first game of Friday's doubleheader 3-1 before bouncing back to win the second game 11-8 despite trailing by four runs midway through the nightcap.
"I knew that we wouldn't lay down," Northwest coach Todd Middleton said. "We came back like we've often done."
Although rain is in the forecast today, Grady (11-13), the No. 4 seed from Region 6-4A, and Region 7-4A champion Northwest (21-6) are scheduled to play again at 5 p.m. in a decisive matchup.
Northwest senior center fielder Brandon Smith provided some heroics in the finale by belting a pair of solo home runs in the fourth and sixth innings.
"The last time I hit two homers in a game was in the eighth grade," Smith said. "I had only hit one other home run this season. I had been hitting well in (batting practice)."
Northwest, the visiting team in Game 2, trailed 7-3 through three innings and trailed 7-5 heading into the sixth, when three runs gave the Bruins an 8-7 advantage they did not relinquish.
Smith started the scoring in that inning with his second homer. Brady Middleton doubled, Diego Peralta singled and Edwin Hernandez delivered a sacrifice fly to right field that knotted the score at 7-all. A.J. Orozco then singled and Wade Terrell's single drove across the go-ahead run.
Terrell also provided some dandy relief work over the final three innings against the hard-hitting Grey Knights. He allowed one run while scattering four hits, striking out three and walking two.
"I was particularly pleased with my pitching," Terrell said. "I was using probably 20 percent fastballs, 30 percent curves and 50 percent changeups. They were swinging through the changeup."
Northwest pounded out a dozen hits. Peralta went 3-for-5, while Middleton, Smith and Terrell each added two hits.
"We came out undisciplined all day at the plate," said Middleton, the coach's son and a senior second baseman who will play at Berry College next year. "We just had to keep on trucking. We were just determined to get to the next game."
While Northwest has the superior seed, Grady coach Mark Davidson believes his team was prepared for the postseason by competing in Region 6-4A, which includes 12-time state champion Marist.
"We know that we're in a tough region," Davidson said. "That second game got away from us. However, this team is not a No. 1 seed for nothing. They hit the ball well. They also play good defense."
In the second game, starter Andy Whisenant and Phillip Hammonds preceded Terrell on the mound. Grady's 11-hit attack featured early two-run homers by Alex Munger and Davis Schwartz. Pete Mastin added a solo home run in the final inning.
"In the first game, we didn't hit well, and we didn't execute well," coach Middleton said. "They did a better job of executing than we did."
In the opener, Grady's Liano Henery scattered six hits while working all seven innings on the mound. He kept the Bruins off stride by changing speeds while striking out four and walking one.
Middleton, Hernandez and Whisenant collected two hits apiece for the Bruins.
Seth Pierce went the distance for Northwest. The sophomore lefty yielded nine hits, struck out six and issued three walks.
Northwest's lone run came in the third inning and narrowed Grady's lead to 2-1. Smith was hit by a pitch, Middleton had a bunt single, and Hernandez contributed an RBI with an infield hit.
Schwartz paced the Grey Knights' attack by going 3-for-4, while Amyr Smith was 2-for-3.
"I don't know who will start for us," coach Middleton said of his pitching choice today, "It will depend on how Andy and the others feel. We've got a lot of pitchers."
• Christian Heritage's season ended in Macon with two losses to First Presbyterian Day in the first round of the Class A private schools state playoffs.
The Lions lost 4-1 in the first game and 2-0 in the second.
Christian Heritage's Michael McKinney pitched 5 2/3 innings in the first game, walking three and striking out five. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs.
The lone run for the Lions (12-13) came in the top of the fourth. Jake Stokes' RBI double gave Christian Heritage a 1-0 lead, but First Presbyterian Day scored twice in the bottom half of the inning. The Lions only had three hits in the game.
The second game was scoreless until the top of the seventh, when First Presbyterian Day scored both of its runs off Christian Heritage starter Spencer Robbins.
Robbins pitched the entire game, allowing one earned run off four hits and two walks while striking out seven. At the plate, he went 3-for-4 while Stokes finished 2-for-4. The Lions had 10 hits to their opponents' four.
"We had our chances in the second game but couldn't get them across," Christian Heritage coach Noah Stokes said. "We left 12 guys on base."
This is Christian Heritage's first year competing in the Georgia High School Association after previously being in the Georgia Independent School Association. Baseball was the school's first program to reach the postseason in GHSA competition.
"I'm really proud of my team," coach Stokes said. "It wasn't to be. We deserved to be here and it hurt our kids to go out like this, especially our seniors, but we left with a fight. It was a good season."