text:
Sugar-Free Maple Cookies Recipe
Notes Brenda Wile of Winesburg, Ohio, "Mom made batch after batch of cookies until she came up with this recipe to satisfy my diabetic brother's sweet tooth. We all like these soft cookies."
- 1/2 cup reduced-fat margarine, softened
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1 cup shredded peeled tart apple
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon maple flavoring
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- Artificial brown sugar sweetener equivalent to 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- In a bowl, combine margarine, sour cream, apple, eggs, maple flavoring and vanilla. Combine flour, sweetener, baking soda and baking powder; add to apple mixture and mix well.
- Drop by heaping tablespoonfuls onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 375° for 9-10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks. Store in airtight container. Yield: 42 cookies.
Originally published as Sugar-Free Maple Cookies in Taste of Home October/November 1999, p17
Reviews for Sugar-Free Maple Cookies
Please Log In or Join to add a rating and review.
Click stars to rate
Any changes to your rating or review will appear where you originally posted your review
Sort By :
Reviewed May. 6, 2012
Oops!!!! I submitted this review for the wrong recipe. Please ignore!
Reviewed May. 6, 2012
This was very good overall. The batter was rather soupy, so I added 2/3 cup of oats to thicken it and make it more like oatmeal raisin cookies. It had a cake-like texture rather than the cookie bar I expected. However, for a sugar-free dessert, it was delicious especially when topped with sugar-free vanilla ice cream. I did change the order of mixing. I combined dry ingredients separately and combined egg, applesauce, and vanilla separately, also. I added a bit of the hot mixture into the egg mixture before combining both mixtures together. Then I added the flour mixture.
Similar Recipes
More Recipe Collections
- All Taste of Home Magazine Recipes >
- Apple Cookies >
- Apple Desserts >
- Apple Recipes >
- Cookie Recipes >
- Cookies >
- Desserts >
- Diabetic Cookies >
- Diabetic Desserts >
- Diabetic Recipes >
- Father's Day Recipes >
- Low Carb Desserts >
- Low Carb Recipes >
- Low Fat Dessert Recipes >
- Low Fat Recipes >
- Low Sodium Desserts >


text:
Visitors of may witness something besides stores and restaurants on Saturday -- the world's longest drum roll.
Local musician Chris Anthony will attempt to reclaim his Guinness World Record title for performing the world's longest drum roll in an effort to raise money for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
The Beat Rolls On 4 MS (Multiple Sclerosis) will host the record-breaking attempt.
Anthony set the longest drum roll record in March 2009, with a drum roll that lasted four hours and six minutes, while raising more than $15,000 for MS. His record was shattered later that year.
On Saturday, he will attempt to reclaim his record with an eight hour drum roll, that would also double his MS fundraising efforts.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. in the Nordstrom Court at Hillsdale Shopping Center.
For more news about the city and county of San Mateo, follow us on Twitter and "like" us on Facebook. Get Patched in daily by signing up for our newsletter.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Jump to:Page Content
Text Size
Home > Professional Resources > AAJ Exchange and Litigation Packets
The AAJ Exchange has the resources you need for your practice, including Litigation Packets, depositions, court documents, CLE materials, and more.
Help build the strongest plaintiff trial attorney database in the country. Contribute your case documents to the Exchange.
Two professional references from working as an expert for AAJ members and a subscription fee are required.
Submit your information online »
Submit your information by fax
Recommend an expert»
New Packet Top Verdicts of 2013: Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
New Update HIPAA and Its Privacy Rules
New Update Testosterone Therapy
Affordable Care Act: Combating Defense Tactics to Limit Future Medical Expenses
Pharmacy and Pharmacist Liability
Preemption: A Changing Landscape
Admissibility of Expert Testimony: Daubert, Frye, and Other Standards
Biomet Metal on Metal Hip Implant
Falling Merchandise at Big-Box Stores
Interstate Trucking: Defense Expert Deposition Collection
Running a Small Firm: Management from Start-up to Trial
Litigating Claims Against Foreign Manufacturers: China
Federal Tort Claims Act: From Mandatory Administrative Claims to Bench Trials
Nursing Home Litigation: Resident Falls
Nursing Home Litigation: Opening Statements and Closing Arguments
Premises Security Liability: Apartment Complexes
Interstate Trucking: Using 30(b)(6) and Other Deposition Strategies
Litigation Packets
Valuable case materials and strategies on issues at the legal forefront.
View All Packets »
Exchange Research Service
Let an Exchange staff attorney do research for you.
Defense and plaintiffs' experts, and corporate representatives provided by AAJ members.
Document Libraries
Access Sections, Litigation Groups, and New Lawyers Division documents 24/7.
Expert deposition collections and documents in specific practice areas on leading legal issues.
Law Reporter Documents
Law Reporter Court Document Sets, Abstract Sets, and Injury Collections.
If you did not find what you were looking for in the Exchange, search thousands of online depositions from State Trial Lawyer Associations.
Questions about the AAJ Exchange? Please contact us at 800.344.3023 or 202.965.3500, ext. 8615, or, email@example.com.
The AAJ Exchange is endowed by Robert A. Clifford


text:
Now you'll get to meet the man behind it.
(CNN) - The nation's largest retailer will soon open its smallest store on a college campus.
Wal-Mart will open the store this spring at Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. The Wal-Mart on Campus concept is a test format that focuses on pharmacy, basic grocery, health and beauty aids and general merchandise products. The Georgia Tech outlet will be 25-hundred square feet.
Wal-mart Neighborhood Markets average 40-thousand square feet.
2211 ESE Loop 323
Tyler, TX 75701
Phone (903) 581-2211
Fax (903) 581-5769


text: WASHINGTON, DC – JANUARY 21: Singer Beyonce performs the National Anthem as U.S. President Barack Obama looks on during the public ceremonial inauguration on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol January 21, 2013 in Washington, DC. Barack Obama was re-elected for a second term as President of the United States. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)


text:
Click one of the color swatches below to see color-matched products.
We'll send you beautiful layouts, innovative project ideas, free classes and more. Subscribe below!
Love these so much. You get so many letters for a great price. I love to just have these on hand in each color to use for smaller projects and minis!
You must be logged in to comment. Please click here to log in.


text:
May 30, 2014
As a coalition of Africa-focused human rights and peace organizations representing a broad range of individuals, we write to express our dismay at your decision to welcome President of Rwanda Paul Kagame to your universities. We regret to inform you that your invitation of Paul Kagame to your institution co-signs his repressive practices inside Rwanda and his aggressive interventions in neighboring Democratic Republic of the Congo.
February 8, 2014
This week's mining and business headlines reported that Israeli billionaire Dan Gertler turned a nearly 30,000 percent profit by buying the Democratic Republic of the Congo's oil rights in waters off its Atlantic Coast in 2006, then selling the same rights back to them six years later. KPFA's Ann Garrison spoke to anti-corruption and resource theft watchdog Global Witness and filed this report.
December 11, 2013
At the end of November, headlines around the world announced the Congolese Army's defeat of the M23 militia, with the help of U.N. intervention forces. Since that time, the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been under pressure from Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni and his so-called mediators, and from US Envoy Russ Feingold and U.N. Envoy Mary Robinson, to sign an agreement with M23.
December 7, 2013
Twenty-six year-old Congolese American science student Alima Kasongo should inspire anyone facing enormous odds, most of all her own Congolese people, who have faced the most enormous odds thrown at any people in the world for so many years. For good reason, many have said that if there were peace in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), there would be peace on earth.
November 25, 2013
The 17-year quest for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo has taken a significant step in the right direction; however, many concerns remain. Last week the Congolese military routed the Rwanda- and Uganda-backed M23 and declared an end to its reign of terror against the Congolese people.
November 10, 2013
Rwanda's M23 has finally been defeated in DR Congo, but what are we to make of DR Congo negotiating with M23, not Rwanda's Kagame and Uganda's Museveni? M23 was commanded by Rwanda's top military officers and officials, but its collaboration with Uganda is clear to anyone who gives the Great Lakes Region any attention, as is Rwanda and Uganda's collaboration with the Western powers.
November 9, 2013
Earlier this year, President Obama asked how one might weigh the "tens of thousands who've been killed in Syria versus the tens of thousands who are currently being killed in the Congo." But as tragic and devastating as the Congo conflict is, Congolese are not asking for the United States – or the international community – to militarily intervene.
July 30, 2013
"We are not alone. Africa, Asia, and free and liberated people from every corner of the world will always be found at the side of the Congolese." So Chokwe Lumumba, having that name, should carry the spirit. He should know, as he becomes the new mayor of Jackson, Missisippi, that he will never be alone, that there will always be people around him to make sure that he succeeds in what he is doing.
July 24, 2013
On Wednesday, July 17, Nick Long reported for the Voice of America that the Congolese army's recent successes at driving the M23 militia from their positions in eastern Congo have caused euphoria amongst Congolese, particularly in Goma, the capital city of North Kivu Province on Congo's border with Rwanda. Here's that Voice of America radio report:
June 25, 2013
Friends of the Congo's Executive Director Maurice Carney told KPFA that the U.N. Combat Intervention Brigade is really just the U.S., U.K., and other Western powers' excuse for continuing to support African dictators – Rwanda's Paul Kagame, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni and Congo's Joseph Kabila. All three, he says, collaborate with foreign interests to drain Congo of its vast resource wealth.
March 28, 2013
Congolese people are seeking peace and justice. Trying Bosco Ntaganda at the ICC may lead to some measure of justice for the crimes perpetrated at his behest; however, it appears that his backers in Rwanda may very well be let off the hook yet again and allowed to continue their military aggression against the DRC.
January 17, 2013
The United States says it's ready to send surveillance drones to the Democratic Republic of Congo to help the United Nations peacekeeping mission in the African state despite the government of Rwanda's objections from its new rotating seat on the U.N. Security Council. The U.S. also supports the plan to use drones to increase surveillance capacity in other African countries.
December 12, 2012
The deadly conflict in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo continues, as leaders of Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Rwandan and Ugandan M23 militia fighting in Congo gather in Uganda's capital for peace talks, which members of the Congolese political opposition are boycotting.
December 9, 2012
Congolese problems should have Congolese solutions. We ask that the United States of America and the United Kingdom immediately withdraw all forms of financial and military aid to Rwanda that is a state sponsor of terrorism in Africa. We must pledge to ourselves that we will never again betray our people and ourselves by staying quiet and passive.
August 30, 2009
One is hard pressed to find media accounts of what the Congolese people want or how they believe that the United States could best play a constructive role in ending the suffering in the Congo. Considering that the United States has played a significant historical role in the stifling of the democratic aspirations of the Congolese people and the backing of the 1996 and 1998 invasions of the Congo by its allies, Rwanda and Uganda, which unleashed what the United Nations say is the deadliest conflict in the world since World War II, it is important to hear directly from the Congolese people regarding U.S. engagement in the Congo.
February 8, 2009
The December 2008 United Nations report is the latest in a series of U.N. reports dating from 2001 that clearly documents the systematic looting and appropriation of Congolese resources by Rwanda and Uganda, two of Washington and London's staunchest allies in Africa.


text:
Devhook updated again!8 Comments Published by Dasme 7 years, 2 months ago in News, PSP.
Just hours from my last post on Devhook, Booster has released a new rev of Devhook featuring… get this… Firmware 2.71 emulation!! Now there isn't a game UMD that you cannot play on your 1.5 PSP. Enjoy it folks, looks like the ball is in Sony's court now.. you can expect a new Sony firmware shortly that breaks this I can imagine.
Check it out and download version 0.44 from QJ.net. Congrats to Booster, you've done the impossible.
Now am I the only one kicking himself for updating to 2.71? gah![via QJ.net]
8 Responses to "Devhook updated again!"
Jul 13th, 2006 at 11:15 pm
No I am kicking myself too. Ha! mail me email@example.com
Jul 14th, 2006 at 1:08 pm
SCE Most wanted LIST
2.Epsilion Bios Undiluted Platinium Team
3.Devhook "booster"
What happens if they are wanted for like $100000 by FBI for cyber gaming crimes?
Be COOL, Be FREE. Say NO to PIRATES!
Jul 15th, 2006 at 2:33 pm
I'm kicking myself too and the worst part is that I had just bought a second PSP and the firmware was 2.6. And even though I heard that the downgrader was released I still updated so now I guess I'm screwed. Hopefully a 2.7 downgrader will come out soon.
Jul 28th, 2006 at 7:56 pm
To all the people in the psp world and thanks to all my hackers mainly booster from dev hooks helping me out now i got both my psps running 1.5 with all the emulators and roms plus i got those isos i still need to get tekken this week remember the name i got that work.
Jul 28th, 2006 at 8:09 pm
I cant wait till they fix the N64 Emulator and i hope they get The Full Mame emulator to work but for now im liking the new Capcom CPS1 Emulator. I was playing Street Fighter Hyper Fighting. It works perfect just maybe they need better sound on it.
Oct 15th, 2006 at 6:37 pm
hey when is devhook coming out to emulate 2.80 because the new update is already out
Oct 15th, 2006 at 6:39 pm
when is devhook to emulate 2.8 coming out as the update is already out
Jun 6th, 2007 at 1:09 pm
hi cn any 1 tell me wer i can download devhook and how i download it please ?


text:
Sidney tops Chadron for Western Conference volleyball crown
Sidney handed Chadron its first loss of the volleyball season and in the process captured the Western Conference volleyball title in Alliance Saturday.
The 18-5 Red Raiders topped the now 18-1 Cardinals 25-20, 25-23 in the title match. Sidney earned its way to the championship match with a 25-7, 25-17 win over Gering, and a 25-13, 25-16 victory against Mitchell.
Chadron had a 25-14, 25-17 opening win against Alliance and followed that with a 25-19, 25-20 win against Scottsbluff.
Alliance topped Mitchell in the third place match 25-13 and 25-12. Gering took the fifth place match against Scottsbluff 25-23, 22-25 and 28-26.
© 2014 Rural Radio Network. All rights reserved. Republishing, rebroadcasting, rewriting, redistributing prohibited. Copyright Information


text:
The wintry, icy winter weather reached its grip down into Effingham County as well. Crews have been monitoring the conditions for icy roads and power outages.
What seemed like a beautiful winter wonderland with trees glistening with ice along State Highway 21, authorities worry it's a recipe for a disaster.
WTOC found Georgia Power crews ready to go, responding to reports of outages as they came in.
By lunchtime on Wednesday, there were only a handful of power outages, but crews expected that to increase as the day wears on.
"Our biggest concern right now is what could happen later on this afternoon and later on tonight," said ECSO Spokesperson David Ehsanipoor. "If the temperatures fall low enough the water [on the road] will end up freezing."
Effingham County officials are asking people to stay off the roads. If you need to drive, take extra precautions and watch out for any black ice.
Copyright 2013 WTOC. All rights reserved
PO Box 8086
Savannah, GA 31412
FCC Public File
EEO Public File
Closed Captioning


text:
I love PartyLite. Like looooooove PartyLite. I generally throw a party every year to stock up on all my candle and home decor needs. By just having a few friends over for a few hours to have some good food and fun all while they do some great shopping. At the end you are left with credits towards a whole bunch of free products! I just adore these Symmetry Pillar Holders that I reviewed a few … [Read more...]
Decorate Your Home with PartyLite's Spooky Eyes Hurricane {Review}1,561 views
{Wordful Wednesday} Halloween Decor161 views
I have been chasing my own tail since the birth of Sawyer. I'm finally starting to catch up both at home and here on my blog. Today I got part of a review in. As I opened it up and set it all up I realized I was also behind in pulling out my holiday decor. Isn't it pretty? So down into the basement I went to get both my autumn and Halloween decor. I still have some more decorating to do … [Read more...]
Wordless Wednesday – Halloween!165 views
I can't believe Halloween is only a few days away! I wanted to share a few related photos from the past week! Here is a photo from the night time party at the school. There was a scavenger hunt and you had to find certain teachers dressed up to get prizes. Of course I showed up in costume too! Plus I finally set this area up and I remembered I promised you a photo! This is the front … [Read more...]
B2B: Corner Stork Baby Gifts & More Giveaway!1,283 views
Gavin was born in the summertime so when it came to finding a costume for him it wasn't the easiest thing. While many of the costumes were absolutely adorable they were impractical as they weren't comfortable for him at all. Finding an outfit that was close to his everyday wear was a great idea but nearly impossible to find. Now at Corner Stork Baby Gifts & More has a bunch of adorable … [Read more...]
Wilton Autumn & Halloween Giveaway!1,813 views
I get so excited when Halloween rolls around. Not because of the ghoulish costumes and the piles of candy but it's the first time in awhile that I can feel festive again. When fall rolls around I'm spending more time inside again. I'm pulling out decor for the first time really since Easter and I'm excited to get back in the kitchen. One company that always has me looking for fun recipes is … [Read more...]
HalloweenCostumes.Org Childrens Deluxe Scooby Doo Costume Review264 views
I can't believe that Halloween is just around the corner! I feel like it was just yesterday that I was planning our summer! Of course the kids are loving the fact that they can get dressed up and go trick or treating and see how much candy they can get their hands on this year. Normally, when it comes to costumes they both have a list a mile long of what they want to be but not this year. They … [Read more...]
Disney's SPOOKY BUDDIES on Blu-ray & DVD September 20th!217 views
I'm sure you've seen the posters at the store entrances letting us know about the upcoming release of Spooky Buddies by now! My kids were all over it weeks ago! Well, the wait is almost over! Next week is the release on Tuesday, September 20th! The boys are going to be super excited to be able to see this movie when it arrives as we've seen and own all the previous 'buddy' movies! Disney's … [Read more...]
Johnny's Halloween Spooktacular Birthday Party!1,509 views
Saturday night we celebrated Johnny's 10th birthday with his friends. His actual birthday isn't for a couple weeks but he really wanted to have his friends over (we normally have his party out of the home). We decided a Halloween party would be lots of fun and hopefully before the cold came so we could have it in our garage. Luckily for us Saturday remained fairly cool (well compared to freezing … [Read more...]
Aloha Friday: Trick-or-Treat390 views
If you've never heard of it, it started over on An Island Life. I ask a question….I answer it….and then you answer it too! Sound like fun? ___________________________________________ So, for this week's question:Q: What time do you leave your home to go Trick-or-Treating? A: My Kids are 4 and almost 10 so they are in for some good trick or … [Read more...]


text:
Almost 300 Calvert County employees were honored on Jan. 24, for going above and beyond during the days before and after Hurricane Irene. Each Department head went to the podium and called the names of their employees to come forward and accept a token of appreciation. These Departments were the Board of County Commissioners, Circuit...
Read More »
- Home
- All News
- Traffic Cameras
- Crime
- Fire & Rescue
- Obituaries
- Real Estate
- Weather
- Business
- Community
- Entertainment


text:
BY CANDIESE LEVERIDGE Observer online reporter firstname.lastname@example.com
CRAIG Matthews had 'his' bail revoked yesterday by Senior Resident Magistrate Judith Pusey after police revealed that the 'he' was, in fact, a woman wearing a false penis.
The accused was ordered back into custody when RM Pusey heard that the woman, actually named Tiffany James, had provided the police with false information about her identity following her arrest earlier this month.
James — who on Thursday appeared in the Corporate Area Resident Magistrate's court under the name Craig Matthews, bald-headed and dressed as a man — was granted bail in the sum of $50,000.
According to the police, the shocking discovery was made when James' female friend on Thursday evening tried to bail her from the all-male holding cell at the Half-Way-Tree Police Station. The woman, they said, provided the police with identification for a Tiffany James, which prompted an investigation by officers on duty.
After checking inside the lock-up, police said, James was discovered wearing an artificial penis.
"When you were before me I was wondering why your voice sounded like that for a man with a babymother, you need to declare yourself, because if you don't, I'll have a real problem granting you bail," RM Pusey told the defendant yesterday.
"This is some kind of identity crisis," remarked the magistrate, sending the courtroom in muffled laughter. "It is not something to be amused about," she said, before admitting that she was tricked by James' disguise the day before.
Pusey subsequently charged her with false declaration.
James was initially charged for burglary and larceny after being accused of stealing US$5,000 worth of jewellery from her neighbour's house. The complainant alleged that James removed a window from his bathroom and gained entry to his bedroom by pushing a little boy through. He alleged that the accused gave the child a cellphone fitted with a light and told him to search for jewellery.
The court further heard that the complainant questioned the child after the robbery and recorded his answers on his cellphone before reporting the matter to the police.
Yesterday, James begged for leniency after she told the court that the entire identity issue was a misunderstanding. She claimed that she lives as Craig Matthews and identifies herself as a male.
"I apologise for the misinformation, the girl who came to bail me didn't know I am a woman, she only found my ID yesterday, she knows me as Craig," she said.


text:
Writing for Macworld can have its perks, a chance to preview and test new software and hardware, meet lovely PR people and enjoy the odd sandwich or three at press lunches...sorry launches. Amongst the packages heading our way recently was a rather wonderful double bill from model and author Isobella Jade - a copy of her novel Almost 5'4" and graphic novel Model Life.
Almost 5'4", recently published in the UK by The Friday Project/HarperCollins, is a very readable, very revealing memoir that feels at times like you are peeking at someone's secret diary. It's possibly the only book ever to have been written entirely on the free Mac computers at a New York Apple Store. Part memoir, part inspirational guide, Almost 5'4" would make a good film, and likely the rather persuasive Isobella Jade would insist on playing the lead. Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior, meanwhile, continues the story with Jazmin Ruotolo providing playful illustrations.
Macworld chatted with Isobella Jade as she ably promoted the UK release of Almost 5'4".
Q. How much of your memoir Almost 5'4" was written at the Apple Store on Prince Street in New York City?
I wrote over 300 pages of my manuscript on a 17" iMac. I was totally without an Internet connection. I didn't have the ability to check my email so casually as I do now on my iPhone - and the Internet is a life line to anyone who is self made these days, so when I discovered the Apple store, I discovered a dream come true. A rent free office. I would visit the store as a routine daily. I was a regular, checking my email there for many months before I started writing my memoir there. At first Almost 5'4" was just something I wanted to write for myself. It was a way to keep my memories of my early modeling pursuits; I wasn't even sure about publishing it. Later, with editing and publishing, some things got cleaned up, but it meant a lot to me to keep the story written raw, real and honest.
Q. How did you manage to save the results?
I saved each writing session to my Yahoo account. It was a free and easy way to save my writing. I was really broke at the time. I remember once the computer froze and I could not save my document and an employee casually told me to buy a CD and burn my document. He didn't know how broke I was at the time. I could barely afford lunch.
Q. Did anyone from the Apple Store ever hassle you to move along?
No. Sometimes I would be writing, and in the groove, and an employee would ask to use the computer I was using to show a potential shopping customer something on the computer. Now some stores in New York City have a time limit, but when I was working there you could stand for hours, as long as your legs could hold you, and just hog the computer all day, without being bothered or told "times up!" I was one of those people who made the store look busy all the time because I was always there.
Q. If the Apple Store hadn't been there do you think we'd be talking now?
I don't think so. I may have written the book at another time in my life. I think because the store was there, I was inclined to write. I think desperation leads people to soul search and writing was a stress relief. Yet, the store was more than a place to write. I was in a very desperate moment during the time I wrote the manuscript for Almost 5'4", it wasn't just a computer I was lacking; I was also living out of a suitcase, without a stable living situation, a good toothbrush and living on dollar menu or the cheapest thing I could find. I was battling myself, my goals, my mistakes, the doubt, and I wanted to continue to model and not work a 9-5 and it meant giving up convention. I was hanging on by a thread in many ways. The Apple store, honestly, was inspiring to me each day. It was a place to go and collect my thoughts, make my next move, and it did help me survive. After I wrote the manuscript, I did not expect the store to also become a tool, a marketing tool. I was still very broke, and unsure about how the publishing world worked, but I became my own little publicist and I emailed some news bloggers and reporters who wrote about the publishing industry. They might not have heard of me, but they knew Apple, and now the store became a way to introduce myself, my book, my story of striving.
Q. After using Apple's products in the store, did you eventually buy a Mac?
I am not a vagabond anymore, but I am still not able to afford all the Apple products I want. I am hoping for my birthday, this September, I'll get a MacBook or an iPad. Currently the only products I have are an iPhone and an iPod. I really love my iPhone!
Q. And how does it feel to have Almost 5'4" published in the UK?
It excites me to have international readers. It is an author's dream come true to have readers around the world. I often get contacted from girls in the UK on Facebook about my modeling tips.
Q. When starting off, did you ever think modelling was a non starter?
I think we grow from the things we observe. At first trying to be a model was about my ego, it wasn't about what it really takes to be one. After many mistakes shooting in front of the wrong lens too many times, I realised modeling is about modeling "for something" -not just being cute. I started noticing ads, and learned the difference between an amateur photo and one that will help you market yourself as a real model. Through trial and error I focused on improving my photos, and whole perspective, to make modeling about marketing my assets. At first glance, the word model appeared to be only about the tall, but the more I focused on what I had that products, brands, and magazines could use, I saw that a model is not measured in being just one type of look.
Q. Do you think you now get modelling work thanks to your looks or because of success as a writer and self-promoter?
Both. It depends on the day and job. I do editorial photo-shoots for magazines based on a story about myself as a model, author and advocate, and then I also still work with my agents and show up to a casting, or booking as "the hired model for the day." However it is entwining and I am seeking out and getting opportunities to mesh together my little industry with brand building by working alongside products and brands that I use and enjoy. I am striving to work with a shoe company currently, and many brands are becoming more humanistic and the models in the campaigns are authors, musicians, artists, etc.
Q. Why do fashion designers, advertisers seek tall women when they are not typical of the average woman?
I think it is a huge mistake. I think the designers and advertisers don't feel comfortable trusting that women can handle seeing: real. I think there is an obsession over thinking that women want the fantasy. I think women would still buy the product if someone closer to their height was modeling the clothing. Maybe they'd buy more. Fashion is an illusion, that isn't meant to make women feel good about themselves necessarily. Seeing a tall women, is like seeing something foreign or exotic and it is the opposite of what most women in the world are, and really if the designers started making sample sizes the size of what real women are, I don't think it would hurt the brand. But brands, designers, advertisers fear the chance that it will. They figure that desire is found in seeing something flawless, instead of embracing the fact that we all have flaws, and no one is honestly perfect without the airbrush.
I think there is an obsession over status. And creating an illusion that with a certain accessory or shoe a women can live a better life. Now, I will admit that I love heels, and I do feel internally more confident while wearing them, but I could still be who I want to be in flats. There is too much product in general. Too much material that can save you, make you happy. The other day I saw a leg cream to make your legs look less tired. LOL. There is a product for everything but the image projected is not about lifting a women's self esteem, it is about saying you've got a wrinkle and your life will be over if you don't fix it now!
I have a love/hate relationship with fashion. I can appreciate the creativity involved, the time invested, and the passion put into each seam, but fashion doesn't seem to help the consumer's self esteem. It is temporary fulfillment. I don't typically wear a ton of logos. I like vintage designer items, but I think creating a status symbol by carrying a handbag from a designer or brand name (which you probably know nothing of the history about), is careless. I am very into the meaning behind things, the soul of it, and it is one thing to carry Chanel because you love the design, the history of Coco, and the strain her life really endured, and the beauty in what her collection meant for women, but it is another to just flaunt fashion for the sake of status. I encourage people to create their own logo, stand for something, admire something, appreciate the value, relying on fashion just to make you feel important, is ignoring the real essence of who you are. I love high heels, don't get me wrong, but I wouldn't call myself a total fashionista.
Q. When did you think Model Life: The Journey of a Pint Size Fashion Warrior night make a better graphic novel rather book?
While writing Almost 5'4" I started imagining how some of the situations, encounters, and the highs and lows would look as a visual. Also I noticed that graphic novels started becoming more and more talked about, not just for superheros but for humanistic stories. Also I noticed that there were not many graphic novels for girls, with a female heroine. I wanted to entwine the Internet-age into a female driven graphic novel. I found my illustrator Jazmin Ruotolo from researching online for an illustrator, she was a perfect fit. For the style, she has a fashion illustration background and she really got the character that I was striving to create. After falling in love with the format of storytelling I am now aiming to turn Model Life into a series, soon Model Life will be available on the iPhone through a mobile publisher!
Q. How much of the graphic novel is true and how much is creative writing?
I based Model Life on my real modeling experiences and versions of all the characters are true to life. I knew of a painter, a weird magazine photo-editor, and the others. I haven't modeled shoes in Times Square…yet.
Q. Finally, what advice would you give to any young women looking to model?
There many misconceptions about working as a model and reality TV doesn't make it clear and honest. #1 The Internet is full of scams, and mistakes, and the main tools a girl needs to start modeling are still the same old tools. Even in the Internet-age, a modeling comp card will get you further as an aspiring model than any Internet profile. Agencies might have websites now, but a model still needs a comp card, a portfolio, and professional photos inside. Most girls who ask me about modeling are not tall. They are shorter than 5'6" and they are curious about how to start. The most important photo is a smiling headshot, you being you. Then you need some photos showing you "modeling something", could be a handbag, a shoe, holding a coffee or a cell phone, but the shots need to show your personality.
You can also include beauty shots and if you have nice hands, legs or feet you might want to consider "parts modeling," for skincare and shoe ads. It is best to study ads, lifestyle product ads before you get in front of the camera, and to have a plan and goal while you shoot.
(Photo credit: All images by Vera Melo)
And with that in mind, take yourself seriously and only work with professional photographers. Modeling for a shorter girl is about your own will and effort; print modeling agencies do not house you, craft your portfolio, create your comp card, or teach you how to model naturally. This is stuff an aspiring model has to be hands-on with herself. Daily you can find my tips on the ins and outs of making your self a model on my blog, podcast radio show and videos, because "discovering yourself and being honest with yourself" is really what it is about these days. If you want to do something you have to be willing to roll up your sleeves, learn as much as you can about it, invest the time, and dedication, and understand that there is no certain rule or way to find your success. The more you notice what you do have that can be marketable, the better. That goes for models, writers, and anyone with a dream.
Here are some links on my modelling tips for shorter models:
(Almost 5'4": Confessions of an Unconventional Model is out now and published by The Friday Project/HarperCollins in the UK. Model Life: The Journey of a Pint-Size Fashion Warrior is published by Soft Skull Press with illustrations by Jazmin Ruotolo. Read more about Isobella Jade at www.isobelladreams.com)


text:
MYTHBUSTERS!! SMASH LAB!! GIRL ON THE LOOSE!! GREEK!! TOUGHEST JOBS!! CHO SHOW!! SWEET 16!! NO DEAL!! August Premiere Dates!!
I am – Hercules!!
Clip and save:
America's Toughest Jobs (NBC) Aug. 25
Cho Show (VH1) Aug. 21
Deal Or No Deal (NBC) Aug. 25
Gavin & Stacey (BBCA) Aug. 26
Glam God (VH1) Aug. 21
Gone Country (CMT) Aug. 15
Greek (ABC Family) Aug. 26
Grizzly Man Diaries (Animal) Aug. 22
Hard Knocks (HBO) Aug. 6
Hope For Your Home (TLC) Aug. 9
I Want To Work For Diddy (VH1) Aug. 4
Into The Unknown (Discovery) Aug. 18
Jacked (A&E) Aug. 21
Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Oxygen)
Luke's Parental Advisory (VH1) Aug. 4
Man Vs. Wild (Discovery) Aug. 6
Million Dollar Listing (Bravo) Aug. 5
My Super Sweet 16: Exiled (MTV) Aug. 25
Mythbusters (Discovery) Aug. 6
Myths & Legends (TV Land) Aug. 27
New York Goes To Hollywood (VH1) Aug. 4
Outsider's Inn (CMT) Aug. 15
Pam: Girl on the Loose (E!) Aug. 3
Primeval (BBCA) Aug. 9
Project Earth (Discovery) Aug. 22
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) Aug. 29
Real Vice Cops Uncut (Spike) Aug. 6
Skins (BBCA) Aug. 17
Smash Lab (Discovery) Aug. 5
Some Assembly Required (Discovery) Aug. 7
Star Stories (BBCA) Aug. 15
Sunset Tan (E!) Aug. 3
Tabitha's Salon Makeover (Bravo) Aug. 21
Wedding Central (E!) Aug. 3
Who Are You Wearing (TLC) Aug. 22
Pam: Girl on the Loose (E!) Aug. 3
Sunset Tan (E!) Aug. 3
Wedding Central (E!) Aug. 3
I Want To Work For Diddy (VH1) Aug. 4
Luke's Parental Advisory (VH1) Aug. 4
New York Goes To Hollywood (VH1) Aug. 4
Million Dollar Listing (Bravo) Aug. 5
Smash Lab (Discovery) Aug. 5
Hard Knocks (HBO) Aug. 6
Man Vs. Wild (Discovery) Aug. 6
Mythbusters (Discovery) Aug. 6
Real Vice Cops Uncut (Spike) Aug. 6
Some Assembly Required (Discovery) Aug. 7
Hope For Your Home (TLC) Aug. 9
Primeval (BBCA) Aug. 9
Gone Country (CMT) Aug. 15
Outsider's Inn (CMT) Aug. 15
Star Stories (BBCA) Aug. 15
Skins (BBCA) Aug. 17
Into The Unknown (Discovery) Aug. 18
Cho Show (VH1) Aug. 21
Glam God (VH1) Aug. 21
Jacked (A&E) Aug. 21
Tabitha's Salon Makeover (Bravo) Aug. 21
Grizzly Man Diaries (Animal) Aug. 22
Project Earth (Discovery) Aug. 22
Who Are You Wearing (TLC) Aug. 22
America's Toughest Jobs (NBC) Aug. 25
Deal Or No Deal (NBC) Aug. 25
My Super Sweet 16: Exiled (MTV) Aug. 25
Gavin & Stacey (BBCA) Aug. 26
Greek (ABC Family) Aug. 26
Janice Dickinson Modeling Agency (Oxygen)
Myths & Legends (TV Land) Aug. 27
Real Time With Bill Maher (HBO) Aug. 29
$24.99 Planet Of The Apes Quintriology!!
$29.99: Alien Quadrilogy!!
$19.99: Angel Season Sets!!
$19.99: Buffy Season Sets!!
Lots More!! 50% Off SciFi Sale!!
Fresh From The Potterverse!!
Readers Talkbackcomments powered by Disqus
+ Expand All
Aug. 3, 2008, 12:02 a.m. CST
Shark Week!!!
by Biowolf
Had to be said.....
Aug. 3, 2008, 3:17 a.m. CST
by the scientist
Herc, I think you've got the date wrong for Skins. BBC America has it as starting on Aug. 17.
Aug. 3, 2008, 3:18 a.m. CST
And from all of these I am intrested in......
by borisF
Zilch Zero Nata Double Nothing.
Aug. 3, 2008, 6:15 a.m. CST
Gavin and Stacey
by Schuler_Bub
everyone do urself a favour and watch gavin and stacey. it is one of the best comedy shows to come out of britain in a while and it is hilarious, i passed on it the first time i heard of it but word of mouth made me go back and now im hooked! ranks up there with partridge and spaced!
Aug. 3, 2008, 6:45 a.m. CST
by chrth
Is that a show about people who drive buses inhabited by mythological creatures commuting?
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:16 a.m. CST
I Want To Work For Diddy? How about I Want To Punch Diddy?
by newc0253
i'd watch that show.
Aug. 3, 2008, 8:19 a.m. CST
Carrie on Mythbusters is very fuckable...
by BYOBkenobi
...I'd hit it.
Aug. 3, 2008, 9:03 a.m. CST
Oh. what's occurin'?
by Harrow
Gavin and Stacey rocks!
Aug. 3, 2008, 9:59 a.m. CST
Aside from "Mythbusters" ...
by JohnnyFriendly
... nothing I'd watch on a bet. Fall ( scripted TV and bearable weather ) can't get here soon enough.
Aug. 3, 2008, 10:02 a.m. CST
Nothing is worse than Smashlab
by Ingeld
Nothing. Painful to watch.
Aug. 3, 2008, 11:45 a.m. CST
Smashlab does really suck...
by BackRiverCatfish
...it's just a lame rip-off of Mythbusters. It's also Kari, not Carrie, and she is very fuckable.
Aug. 3, 2008, 11:47 a.m. CST
Oh yeah, and Man vs Wild kicks Survivorman's ass!
by BackRiverCatfish
Aug. 3, 2008, 1:57 p.m. CST
by emeraldboy
I would dearly love Discovery to cancel all eps of the that annoying outdated and moronically stupid show about the Tuteuls and put give more air time to mythbusters and yes carrie is very hot.
Aug. 3, 2008, 2:11 p.m. CST
I have just heard that first irish man
by emeraldboy
to climb K2 reach the summit has died. Gerard McDonell was from county limerick. He was among ten climbers still missing after thier expedtion was hit by falling ice. the president of ireland sent her condolences. she met him after he returned from the beyond endurance expeditiion to the south pole.
Aug. 3, 2008, 3:20 p.m. CST
American Chopper is on TLC
by BackRiverCatfish
not Discovery
Aug. 3, 2008, 4:05 p.m. CST
Nice Mythbusters AD in the latest...
by LokiOdin
Wired -- the one with the hot chick on the cover. In their bios, it says Adam is an "ex-child actor". Where? When? PS You're so right about Kari
Aug. 3, 2008, 4:10 p.m. CST
From the source of all trustworthy knowledge:
by LokiOdin
Wikipedia (IMDB a no go) Early life Born on July 15, 1967 in New York City, Savage was raised in Westchester County, New York. The son of a painter/animator/director, Savage was a child actor, voicing animated characters that his father produced for Sesame Street. He played Mr. Whipple's stockboy "Jimmy" in a Charmin commercial and a drowning young man saved by a lifeguard in the 1985 Billy Joel music video "You're Only Human (Second Wind)".[1] Much more impressive than Paris Hilton
Aug. 3, 2008, 6:58 p.m. CST
Re: Man vs Wild v Survivorman
by BackRiverCatfish
I was actually refering to the shows, not the hosts. Les probably puts himself in greater danger but other than that his show is pretty fucking boring. On pure entertainment Man vs Wild is much better.
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:06 p.m. CST
well how come then...
by emeraldboy
if American chopper is on TLC, do discovery show it. Unless both channels are owned by the same group or something.
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:19 p.m. CST
on the Man vs Wild v Survivorman
by wyvern
Man vs Wild does have better pacing. I beleive it is do to watching Les place/adjust cameras and bear has the camera crew to follow him around.Plus Bear does alot more dumb things to show what not to do.From the few episodes I have seen him jump in a bog,climb across a wet log over a raging river and free climbing down a rocky cliff.With that said I always watch suvivorman.Since it isn't the WWE of surviving shows.
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:27 p.m. CST
American Chopper got switched to TLC this year
by BackRiverCatfish
although I do still think it's shown on the Discovery HD Theater channel in re-runs. Maybe it's different where you are.
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:28 p.m. CST
TLC and Discovery are owned by the same company
by BackRiverCatfish
Aug. 3, 2008, 7:31 p.m. CST
Mythbusters actually premiered last Wednesday
by BackRiverCatfish
with their Shark Week Special. Kari B. looked pretty hot in a bathing suit I must say.
Aug. 4, 2008, 4:36 a.m. CST
I find these survival shows to be really annoying
by emeraldboy
especially bear grylls - born survivor. I really want to give him a slap.
Aug. 4, 2008, 4:43 a.m. CST
I read that there was a recently a spat between Ray Mears and
by emeraldboy
Bear grylls. Mears accused Grylls of staying in top hotels while shooting the series. Even though Mears last show was not very interesting, you can tell that he likes the outback.
Aug. 4, 2008, 4:47 a.m. CST
and Grylls admitted that...
by emeraldboy
some of a series that he had made was staged. oh and speaking of reality TV. Gordon Ramsay crossed a line. he cooked and ate a puffin on tv.
Aug. 4, 2008, 7:24 a.m. CST
Mmmm... Kari Byron....
by br1947
Now where's my favorite copy of FHM....
Aug. 4, 2008, 8:49 a.m. CST
and I am sure the cooked puffin...
by emeraldboy
was served up with a side order of lightly grilled, flambed, roasted, toasted and stuffed Marcus Wareing.
Aug. 4, 2008, 8:55 a.m. CST
by Judge Briggs
Boring ass month. Can't wait for Sept.
Aug. 4, 2008, 9:02 a.m. CST
Mythbusters does Indy
by jones1899
Mythbusters is supposed to be doing a while ep devoted to Indy Jones. I am expecting fridges and nuking...
Aug. 4, 2008, 11:27 a.m. CST
Love how E! is promoting the premiere
by skimn
of Sunset Tan season 2 with limited commercial interruption. Because God forbid we miss any pearls of wisdom.<p>No wonder they call August the dog days of summer.
Aug. 4, 2008, 12:05 p.m. CST
Man vs. Wild FTW
by turketron
While I respect Survivorman more because he rolls solo, as someone else said Man vs. Wild is much more entertaining... mainly because Bear Grylls goes out of his way to eat whatever creature he comes across, biting living snakes in half and shit. Crazy bastard.
Aug. 4, 2008, 2:04 p.m. CST
by slkboxrman
ill go will mythbusters as the only one being slightly interesting. the rest is a a boatload of boring crap...but there will be the brainless of america that will pop some jiffypop and watch with baited breath every episode of this crap...
Aug. 5, 2008, 2:11 a.m. CST
Bear Grylls pwns
by halberd
staged or not, people can't do half the stuff he does, much less think about it. jumping off helicopters and eating raw insects/animals? you bet that show's on lock. oh, and kari byron's got my attention every season. but not to downplay mythbusters, the rest of the group shows great personality as well. discovery ftw?
Aug. 5, 2008, 7:18 p.m. CST
by Mullah Omar
All of it. I had no idea that absolutely NOTHING was on the horizon.
Top Talkbacks
- Who is in consideration to take the role of Snake in the ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK remake!?! -- 691 total posts 68 posts
- The Friday Docback Crawls 'Into The Dalek'!! Reader Reaction For DOCTOR WHO S08E02 Is Here!! + HornOrSilk's 'Breaking Bubbles and Other Stories' Big Finish Audio Review, Clips, And More!! -- 409 total posts 43 posts
- DOCTOR WHO 8.2!! 'Kelvington' Reviews This Weekend's Episode And Says He's Not Sure He Enjoys 'What The Show Is Becoming'!! -- 363 total posts 28 posts
- WALKING DEAD!! BOARDWALK EMPIRE!! AGENTS OF SHIELD!! STAR WARS REBELS!! SOUTH PARK!! NEW GIRL!! HOMELAND!! GOTHAM!! FLASH!! SURVIVOR!! RESURRECTION!! PARENTHOOD!! BURGERS!! BLACKLIST!! BANG!! VOICE!! SLEEPY!! PERSON!! UTOPIA!! ANARCHY!! Z!! More Than 200 Autumn Premiere Dates!! -- 44 total posts 27 posts
- A New Clip From STAR WARS REBELS!! -- 22 total posts 22 posts
- A Few Promo Images From EXODUS: GODS AND KINGS Bring Ridleyish Spectacle!! -- 212 total posts 21 posts
- Abortionist Killers On PBS!! HOUDINI Hits History!! Angie Returns To THE DOME!! New DALLAS, PARADISE, WOLF, WILD, MASTERCHEF, MODEL, NINJA, HOTEL, BEACH, & RAW!! PARTNERS & MISTRESSES Finales!! UNAUTHORIZED SAVED BY THE BELL STORY!! Annaleigh Ashford On CRAIG!! Herc's Monday TV Talkback!! -- 20 total posts 20 posts
- Final PICKS & PEEKS of Aug 2014: LEGEND OF HELL HOUSE, Zombies, FOSSE, RATS, Nukes & Teens!!! -- 361 total posts 14 posts
- Fantastic Fest 2014 Trailer Wave Part 2! -- 18 total posts 10 posts
- Two More BIG BROTHER Nominations!! The Return Of ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN!! MI6 On PBS!! FALLING SKIES Finale!! New STRAIN, MANHATTAN, MASTERS, NAKED, RAY, RECKLESS, BEACHFRONT, BREATHLESS, KARDASHIANS, WIPEOUT!! No LEFTOVERS Finale!! Herc's Sunday TV Talkback!! -- 30 total posts 9 posts


text:
- Mobile site
- E-Newsletters
- News feed
- Find us on Twitter
Follow @WiltsAndGlosStd
Get all the latest news via twitter
Follow @MalmsStandard
For all Malmesbury news
- Find us on Facebook
Like Wilts&Glos Standard on Facebook
Get all the latest news via Facebook
Add Malmesbury Standard on Facebook
Get all the latest Malmesbury news via Facebook
Players needed for football fundraiser (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting WGS NEWS to 80360, or email us
North Wilts news RSS Feed
Players needed for football fundraiser
9:10am Friday 13th April 2012 in North Wilts news
FOOTBALLERS are sought for a fundraising tournament next month.
Daniel Jobes, son of Malmesbury charity walker Graham, is organising the event on May 27 to help his dad raise money for CLIC Sargent and Hope for Tomorrow.
He is seeking 10 teams of nine to play the Corinium Stadium indoor arena in Cirencester.
Meanwhile Graham and daughter Becci are training for a five-day 100-mile marathon walk around Malmesbury and the villages in July.
Anyone wanting to enter a team can email Daniel at firstname.lastname@example.com or by calling 01666 825691.


text:
The Metropolitan Retirees Association (MRA) is an organization for employees who have retired from the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. It provides an opportunity for folks to get together periodically and catch up with old friends. We generally hold three meetings per year in Manhattan: spring (April), summer (July or August) and winter (December, for the holiday luncheon).
We will periodically post information about upcoming meetings on this web site, and we invite you to join our mailing list. However, since the association is no longer sponsored by the company, we ask for annual dues of $5.00. A printable copy of the most recent newsletter (10/04/2011) is on the web site. To view or print this file, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Use the button below to download and install the free Adobe Acrobat Reader:
Met Life is no longer be distributing hard copy of its retiree newsletter through the mail. Instead, the newsletter (which is published every six months) appears on the MetLife Retiree Service Center website. The most recent issue (Summer 2011) is now available here.
The annual holiday luncheon is set for December 8, 2011 at the Heartland Brewery. We are pleased to say that the price remains the same $36. It is good that Heartland Brewery is able to maintain its price and still provide several entrées to select from. The luncheon is an opportunity to sit with friends, enjoy a pleasant afternoon and a good meal. We hope you will attend, and guests are welcome.
| Thursday, December 8
| 12 noon
|Heartland Brewery
|127 West 43rd Street (between Sixth Ave & Times Squares)
New York, NY 10036
|1(646) 366-0235
|$36 for all guests
|Handicap Accesibility:
|There is a ramp to the right of the main entrance
|Table Size:
|Can accommodate up to 16 guests
When reserving the restaurant, we guaranteed a minimum of 80 guests. Usually about 85-90 members participate; we hope you can join us and we look forward to being with all of you. Please remember guests are welcome.
Appetizers: Caesar Salad with Garlic Parmesan Croutons, Fresh Baby Spinach Salad with Goat cheese, Apples and Pine Nuts
Entrée: Romanian Tenderloin Steak, (served medium), Chicken Marsala, Grilled Atlantic Salmon, or a vegetarian dish of Wild Rice Mushroom Ravioli
Vegetables: roasted Yukon Gold Potatoes and, baked Asparagus/parmesan
Dessert, coffee, and tea. Unlimited soda will be served at the tables.
Please note that wine, beer and alcoholic drinks are not included in the price. However, they are available at the bar; please pay for your drinks as you order them.
When responding please state your choice of entrée and with whom you wish to be seated. The appetizers and vegetables are served family style. If possible, select one member of your group to send in one check with all of the names and entrées for your group. The meal will be served at noon, please arrive about 11:30 a.m.
Checks are to be made payable to "Metropolitan Retirees Association."
Mail checks to: Diane Schwab-350 First Ave., Apt. 8A, NY, NY 10010 Tel. 212-777-9055. E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Please include your home phone number on the check.
Our summer meeting featured Ms. Fay Radding, Senior Gerontologist at MetLife Mature Market Institute. The following summary was prepared by Program Director Carl Barrera.
The Retiree Association met on September 1, 2011 at the Church of the Epiphany Hall. The main topic of the meeting was a presentation about the MetLife Mature Market Institute. Prior to the feature presentation , Carl Barrera, Program Director reported that some retirees had complained about a notice sent by MetLife to retirees stating that the detailed monthly pension statement being mailed to retirees will be terminated effective the end of October 2011.
Human Resources provided the Association with a letter explaining that retirees with access to the internet could go to the website mybenefits.metlife.com to get a detailed report of their pension payments, showing all deductions from it. They could also call the MetLife Retiree Service Center at 800 553-3803 to get the same information.
Our featured speaker from the Institute was Fay Radding, Senior Gerontologist. Before joining MetLife, Fay had worked as a nurse for the elderly, and in her work for a non-profit she designed support programs for families caring for older adults in need. The Institute is a department of MetLife consisting of ten persons. It was created about 14 years ago and is located in Westport, CT where MetLife's long-term care insurance is administered. The Institute's expertise, research studies and consumer publications support the MetLife lines of business. It is not focused on any particular product lines. The Institute partners with universities and different independent organizations like the National Council on Aging and the Women's Institute for a Secure Retirement. It produces press releases and studies that gain national recognition in the media, such as the Wall Street Journal, USA Today and the New York Times. Last year such media attention had a value of over $37 million.
Elder abuse is defined as the unauthorized use or illegal taking of funds or property of persons aged 60 and older. Last year such abuse was estimated to total at least $2.9 billion. Thirty four percent of abuse cases were perpetrated by the family, friends, neighbors or care givers of the victims. Strangers accounted for 51% and businesses for 12%. of the abuse. Medicare or Medicaid fraud accounted for 4%.
Women are twice as likely to be victims. Most victims live alone, are between 80 and 89 years old and require some kind of assistance with healthcare or home maintenance. The common thread in these cases is that the perpetrators are good at gaining the confidence of the victims. The actual amount of fraud committed is much greater than is reported, because it is estimated that for each case reported, 4 to 5 go unreported.
Ms. Radding provided the audience with copies of two pamphlets published by the Institute on preventing elder financial abuse. More information can be obtained on line at www.maturemarketinstitute.com. You may also write to MetLife Mature Market Institute, 57 Green Farms Rd., Westport, CT 06880. We hope to have a representative of the Institute at our annual holiday luncheon who could answer further questions.
A complete set of the slides used in Ms. Radding's presentation can be found here.
If you have not paid dues yet, please remember they remain $5. However, we suggest that if you are able to give a greater amount, please do so. The dues pay for the postage and photo copying of the notices; the insurance and rental fees required to use the church hall; the refreshments that are available at the meetings; and the fee for the 'my family' web site. If you haven't yet paid, please make check payable to "Metropolitan Retirees Association." For instructions on where to mail your check, please contact our treasurer, Diane Schwab (E-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com).
Met in the News
Do you remember hearing that Met planned to build the world's tallest building on the North Building site? Well it was true, that is why the north building was built with four basements. In April, the New York Times, printed an article on "Ghost Buildings of 1929", the article had a photograph of the proposed 100 story building. The paper's web site provided a printable copy of the article, which pictures the proposed skyscraper. The link for the article on the NY Times website is: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/realestate/26scapes.html?emc=eta1 . Instead of 100 stories, there is the present thirty-eight story building that went up in 1938. According to the article, Mr. Ecker, then president of Met, said the design of the building was tentative.
Keep in touch
To receive MRA news electronically, please send your e-mail address to Mary LoSardo (firstname.lastname@example.com), who is maintaining our list. If you have not already done so, send your telephone number to our President, Jean Verrico or our Treasurer, Diane Schwab.
In Memoriam
We have recently learned directly from friends or family members of the passing of several of our former co-workers. With regret we note the passing of:
|Jean Verrico
|Personal Insurance,
Information Technology
|Diane Schwab
|Surrender Change & Maturity,
Information Technology
|Other Officers:
|John Hassett, Emerald Midinian, Mary Scholz, Florence Spencer, Madeline Ward, Anne Marie Weiler, and Rose Zanca
Dues are payable to "Metropolitan Retirees Association" and should be sent to our treasurer, Diane Schwab.
Contact Information
|Jean Verrico (President)
|Diane Schwab (Treasurer)
|Mary LoSardo (Website)
The MRA constitution requires that members be former employees of MetLife who receive a pension from MetLife. When we established two web sites, we were not aware that former long term employees who left Met but were not eligible to obtain a pension from MetLife would be interested in accessing the web sites. Therefore we have changed the name and accessibility of one web site.
Metropolitan Retirees Association -- (this site) is for retired members of MetLife but can be accessed by anyone
MetLife Retirees Plus -- is for retired and former employees who had many years of service but are not eligible to receive a MetLife pension. However, because it is interactive and allows participants to engage in dialogue, an individual must request access to the site by notifying Vinnie Motto at firstname.lastname@example.com Recently, this site (the "my family" web site) is encountering problems in notifying all members that updated data is available. Our "My Family" site coordinator Vince Motto who coordinates advises that the problem is being addressed by the "my family" system. In the meantime, if you are not being notified, and wish to access the site, go to the site which will provide an ID screen for you to complete.
On April 8, MetLife hosted our spring meeting at its new headquarters at 1095 Avenue of the Americas (at 42nd Street). The meeting was arranged by Ms. Kathy Henkel, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, who just recently retired herself. Ms. Henkel generously arranged for the Company to host a meeting of the Association for the first time since the Company ceased its sponsorship of a retiree association.
Over 160 of our members enjoyed lunch and were delighted with the wonderful ambience of the new auditorium with its city views above Bryant Park.The famous Wyeth murals were on display in the Auditorium which had formerly graced the walls of the old South Building.
With many thanks to Eileen Gallagher Witkowski, for sharing this wonderful collage of photos she took at the meeting.
Nicholas Latrenta, Executive Vice President and General Counsel of the Company preceded our guest speaker. Mr. Latrenta explained that Rob Henrikson the former President and CEO of MetLife has retired and is now solely the Chairman of the Board. He has been succeeded by Steven A. Kandarian who is now President and CEO of the Company.
William P. Gardella, Chief Counsel, Real Estate Investments, was our guest speaker. He described the work of the real estate professionals and lawyers who work together to acquire and sell real estate investments for the company throughout the country and the world. He showed slides of the main corporate offices of the Company and other notable properties the Company owned. He also described the huge sales of our old headquarters at 1 Madison Avenue and the Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper properties. Since our acquisition of ALICO the international insurance subsidiary of AIG, we have increased our physical presence in many parts of the world. Mr. Gardella happily answered the many questions that came from the audience.
Our guest speaker for this meeting was Meridith Dudzinski, new Director of Benefits, for employee and retiree benefits from our Bridgewater NJ office. Meridith joined Met in 1997 and has worked in the HR Benefits area since 2004. Her role includes the planning, design, delivery and administration of the medical and prescription drug benefit programs for active and retired employees. The topic of Meridith's discussion was "MetLife's Prescription Drug Program," and she also responded to various questions in regards to the Medical plan.
Copies of the slides used in the presentation are available in PDF (Adobe Acrobat) format.
Questions regarding prescriptions drug benefits should be referred to Express Scripts at 800 315-2589. Question regarding medical benefits should be referred to UnitedHealthcare (UHC) at 800-962-1345 or Aetna at 800-618-0495 (based on your medical plan election). You can also contact the MetLife Retiree Service Center at 800-553-3803 with any benefits- related questions.
The following summary of the presentation was prepared by Carl Barrera:
MetLife medical benefits are delivered to Medicare-eligible participants either through Aetna or UnitedHealthcare. These plans are not Medicare supplement plans, and they pay secondary benefits to Medicare based on non-duplication coordination of benefits. Therefore, the Medical plan will generally not pay benefits until you meet your MetLife Out- of-Pocket (OOP) Maximum. Express Scripts prescription drug benefits are included with your UHC or Aetna Medical Plan election (i.e. you do not elect prescription drug benefits separately). Medicare-eligible retirees can also elect Express Scripts' Prescription Drug Only coverage and obtain medical benefits elsewhere (i.e., a Medicare supplement plan, etc).
Waiving Benefits is an Irrevocable Decision! If retirees waive both medical and prescription drug coverage, they are ineligible to obtain these benefits in the future at a subsequent open enrollment; a decision to waive benefits is irrevocable. And, a retiree must maintain eligibility in order for their spouse (and covered dependents) to maintain eligibility. If the retiree waives coverage for a dependent, this dependent cannot be added back to benefits later (unless a recognized, qualified change in status occurs). If a retiree were to elect Prescription Drug Only coverage, he or she could return to the medical plan later, since the prescription drug only plan is considered a medical plan option.
Prescription Drug Coverage MetLife generally reimburses more prescription drug claim dollars than medical claims, since MetLife's Express Scripts prescription drug plan pays primary coverage. Express Scripts (ESI) provides benefits at your retail pharmacy (including over 60,000 local pharmacies) or through the mail at Express Scripts' Home Delivery. Last year ESI paid over one million prescriptions for MetLife employees, retirees and dependents!
Below are some highlights of the Express Scripts Prescription Drug Program:
Retail Benefit: The ESI retail program is designed for filling prescriptions at local pharmacies for such things as antibiotics, medicines needed for immediate or short term use, and medications needed for acute (brief and severe) illnesses. You can get up to a 30- day supply at your local pharmacy. Retail prescriptions are subject to deductibles, coinsurance payments and an out-of-pocket maximum (combined with home delivery).Home Delivery: The ESI home delivery program covers medications needed for maintenance of medical problems which are long term. They are used to treat chronic and on-going illnesses, like heart problems and for medications that are still needed after 3 refills at a local pharmacy. You can get up to a 90-day supply at Express Script's Home Delivery pharmacy. Home Delivery prescriptions are not subject to deductibles, but there are coinsurance payments and an out-of-pocket maximum (combined with retail). There is a per prescription maximum for each eligible 90-day supply which limits what you spend for maintenance drugs.
Generic Drugs: Retirees are encouraged to take generic drugs because they are less expensive and generally as effective as brand name drugs. In most states, including at Express Scripts' Home Delivery, generic drugs are substituted for brand drugs when available. If a patient or doctor insists on a brand drug, such as Lipitor (for cholesterol control), the brand can still be dispensed but the prescription should be noted "dispense as written, with no substitution". You will pay more for brand drugs.
Step Therapy: ESI has established a program called "step therapy" which applies only to select drugs (e.g. it does not apply to Lipitor). It classifies these medicines as either front line drugs (generic) or back up drugs (brand name). If a doctor prescribes a back up drug, the pharmacist and/or ESI will contact the prescribing doctor to ask if a front line drug can be substituted before filling the prescription. If the doctor insists on the back up drug, they must request a prior authorization review. If a prior authorization is not approved, a brand drug impacted by step therapy would not be covered.
Specialty Drugs: Specialty drugs are very expensive drugs (some even cost thousands of dollars) that are needed in rare situations. These require prior authorization from both your doctor and Express Scripts. Express Scripts' Specialty Pharmacy is called CuraScript.
NationsHealth: Part B drugs, such as diabetic supplies for persons covered by Medicare, are dispensed at Express Scripts' Medicare Part B pharmacy, NationsHealth
Drug Quantity Management: MetLife's prescription drug plan includes drug quantity management programs, such as real time monitoring of the interaction of drugs with each other, the duplication of ingredients in drugs, the limiting of certain quantities of drugs (based on FDA guidelines), and making sure that patients have prior authorization before using certain drugs for a particular purpose. These programs are in place for your safety.
Safety Net: MetLife provides safety nets to protect retirees from excessive prescription drug costs. There is an out-of-pocket maximum on the prescription drug plan. This annual amount (which can change each year), coupled with the per prescription maximum for home delivery drugs, helps limit your financial exposure to prescription drug costs.
Medical Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Maximum: An additional safety net under the Medical Plan is the Out-of-Pocket (OOP) Maximum. Once this maximum is reached, the Medical plan benefit increases to 100% for covered services. Therefore, once you reach your OOP Maximum (generally based on your retirement date or income level, Medicare status and plan election) the plan would then pick up the 20% remaining after Medicare's primary payment. If your OOP Maximum is $2,250 for example, this does not mean you will need to spend $2,250 before the MetLife Medical Plan will issue benefits. This is because if you are enrolled in the UHC/Aetna Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), for example, the plan is calculating your OOP Maximum based on the plan's coinsurance of 60%, while Medicare pays 80%. Therefore, your OOP Maximum is assuming you are paying 40% while you are usually only paying 20%. For example, if the medical charge is $100 and Medicare pays $80 and you pay $20, the amount of credit to your out of pocket maximum is roughly $40. In summary, your OOP Maximum is generally accumulating faster than your actual health care spending.
Health Care Reform and 2011 Open Enrollment As you know from the news, substantial federal healthcare reform was enacted on March 23, 2010. MetLife's Open Enrollment materials will be distributed starting October 18th,
2010. All changes related to healthcare reform or otherwise, will be described in the Open Enrollment materials, and retirees will have ample time to finalize 2011 benefit elections. For example: The age for dependent coverage has been increased. It was up to end of month following attainment of age 19 or age 23 if a full time student. It is now up to end of the year following attainment of age 26, regardless of marital or student status. In addition, the lifetime maximum on covered medical expenses used to be $3 million. Now the lifetime maximum will be unlimited.
Meridith took many questions from the audience, both during her presentation and afterwards. We thanked her for her presentation and the meeting ended.
Carl Barrera provided the following minutes from the meeting:
Bill Toppeta, President of the International operations of MetLife since July 2001 was our speaker. Bill began his career as an attorney in the Law Department in 1973 after graduating from New York University Law School where he was a student of John Creedon who taught there part time. Later Bill was recruited by John to work at MetLife. Prior to law school, Bill graduated from Fordham College where he was President of his class.
After becoming head of the Litigation Section of the Law Department, and serving as Executive Assistant to former CEO Dick Shinn, Bill was chosen to head up MetLife's Canadian operations which at that time represented 10 percent of the Company's business. Bill held a number of other important business positions before becoming head of International.
Bill caveated his remarks with a disclaimer noting that the information in his presentation should not be relied on for investment purposes. Bill gave us a slide presentation as he spoke about the Company, taking questions as he went through the slides. The group found the information very informative and helpful. The following is a summary of his remarks.
MetLife currently has about 56,000 employees. The company's market capitalization as of March 2010 was approximately $35.5 billion and it is the 51st largest company in Fortune's list of the top 500 companies and the #1 life insurance company. Met is in the process of purchasing ALICO, a subsidiary of AIG for $15.5 billion. The transaction is expected to close by the end of the year. While ALICO is an American company, almost all of its business is in foreign countries. MetLife presently has 70 million customers and ALICO has 20 million customers.
Currently, MetLife is the largest life insurance company in the United States and Mexico. It is the second largest non-bank owned insurance company in Brazil.
Last year International operations contributed approximately 15% of the Company's operating earnings. In the year 2011, it is estimated that International will contribute more than 40% of MetLife's total operating earnings. It is also estimated that after the acquisition, MetLife's debt to capital ratio will be even stronger than it is now. MetLife now has access to 90% of the world's area where life insurance premiums are generated. MetLife has a thriving operation in Mexico, where the life insurance market has grown significantly.
MetLife does not export any of its U.S. products abroad, but it does export its expertise to help design products for the local markets. All of the products it sells abroad are specifically designed for the countries in which it operates, in order to conform to local laws and the needs of the local customers. Its customers abroad -- similar to the U.S. -- consist largely of middle-market customers. In Japan, our joint venture partner only sells annuities. It is among the top 3 insurers in Brazil in the sale of group pensions.
The Company pays much attention to maintaining its financial strength through conservative management of its business, which has served it well during the recent financial crisis.
The many questions that the audience asked Bill Toppeta were indicative of the great interest that his talk generated. President Jean Verrico and Program Director Carl Barrera thanked Bill for taking time out from his busy schedule to inform us of these developments.
Our holiday luncheon was held on December 2 at the Heartland Brewery Restaurant. It was attended by ninety-three members who enjoyed the lunch and the company of friends As a social affair the luncheon provides us the opportunity to enjoy dining and socializing with one another. Do think about attending the next luncheon in December 2010.
Jean Verrico served as roving photographer at the restaurant. The shots she took are included on page 5 of the March 8, 2010 newsletter (page 5). You can access it at this link.
At the September 2nd meeting of the Retirees Association, former MetLife CEO John Creedon, with his wife Diane Ardouin, and current CEO Rob Henrikson were our guests. It was an enjoyable occasion, very well attended. A video shown of Mr. Creedon's retirement luncheon was delightfully sung to the tune of a Gilbert & Sullivan Operetta. As the photos below indicate, a sizebale group was in attendance.
Carl Barrera, our program director, has written a synopsis of the meeting.
Kathleen A. Henkel, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources of MetLife was our featured speaker. Kathy replaced Jim Heston who retired from that position last year. She is responsible for all human resources matters for the Company's 48,000 associates around the world. Kathy started her employment with Met when she was seventeen, beginning as a clerk in the actuarial operations of the Group Department. She is now the officer with the longest employment tenure in the Company.
The Company is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year. When it moved to its new Manhattan Building at 1095 Avenue of the Americas (on 42nd Street across from Bryant Park) Met brought with it a number of the large Wyeth painting that used to grace the walls of One Madison Avenue. [Later Kathy said that if the Retiree Association wished, she could arrange a tour for a group of us to see the new office.] Met still had a number of employees at its Long Island City location, but most of those are on the technical staff.
MetLife's strategic objective is to be a recognized leader globally for providing income protection products. Another goal is to grow internationally and through industry consolidation. Kathy reported that the Company had increased its annual revenue by 6% to nearly $8.2 billion at the end of 2008 compared to a year earlier. It has $5 billion in excess capital and a well balanced portfolio. Met declined to take any money from the federal government's Treasury capital purchase program, despite going through the worst recession since the end of World War II. She said that there was still no end in sight to this world wide recession. The cost of the recession to the U.S. so far has exceeded the cost of World War II. She said that the employment market was so bad that Met receives about 500 applications per day when it announces a job opening.
MetLife employees holding stock have also suffered. MetLife stock dropped 72% since January 2008 to March 12th of this year. For 2008, operating earnings were down 87%. Institutional business was up, but International, Individual Business and Auto and Home were all down. Investment earnings were also down because the Company had to keep a large portion of its assets in cash which earns very little. Total assets dropped about $50 billion last year.
Kathy said that at the end of 2008 the tax qualified pension plan was still fully funded, though less so than last year. That was due in part to the Company having contributed $1.9 billion to the pension plans since 2002. She said the plans were well positioned for the long term to provide benefits to the 100,000 people covered by these plans.
The premiums for the medical and dental plans for retirees were held constant for the third year in a row. It was too early to predict how the benefit plans would be priced for 2010.
The August 13, meeting and luncheon at the Epiphany Church Hall was most enjoyable. Charlie Lynch (formerly of the Law Department), and Fran Smyth (formerly of Information Technology) made interesting presentations.
Charlie is a volunteer at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and presented a 20 minute slide show on American Art. The slides reviewed how American Art has treated three main topics, ever since its inception: portraits, landscapes and genre paintings (scenes of everyday life, sometimes nostalgic). Starting with Copley, Cole and Bierstadt, Charlie brought us up to such modern artists as Warhol, Kelly, and Rosenquist. Charlie's slides and commentary was most interesting and enjoyable.
Fran is the Manager of Arts Services at the Arts and Business Council of New York which runs Business Volunteers for the Arts. She explained that her organization matches volunteers with the Cultural Center of the city. Volunteers are needed who can help write grants, or have accounting capabilities or other skills, see this flyer for additional information. If you are interested, please contact Fran at 212-279-5910 ext. 222 or email her firstname.lastname@example.com, or visit the BVA program on the web at http://www.artsandbusiness-ny.org/volunteerism/bva/.
A presentation was made on the benefits of obtaining Long Term Care Insurance (LTC) at our April 13, 2007 meeting. The presenters were Gina McCreary, Account Manager at MetLife LTC, Bridgewater, NJ office, and Salvatore Aresco, MetLife retiree, who does presentations for MetLife on LTC insurance.
Simply put, as we advance in age, the chances of our needing additional finances for medical care and assistance with everyday activities increases (i.e., bathing, dressing and cognitive impairments). The average annual cost of home care assistance is over $24,000; for a nursing home it is over $66,000. In the future, the cost of this care is expected to rise.
The insurance is expensive, with premium rates tied into age of the insured at time of policy issue. The phone number for those interested in pursing this insurance is included some of the slides presented at the meeting.
Please note: Prior to the April 13th meeting, Dave Sobel, Director, HR-Global Benefits, provided a response to a query raised by one of our retirees. The question concerned possible increases in Met Life retiree pensions. A PDF version of Dave's response is available here.
Our holiday luncheon was held on December 6, 2006, at the Heartland Brewery Restaurant on West 43 Street. It was attended by about 125 members who enjoyed lunch and the company of friends. The menu was very different from the La Maganett restaurant where we had our previuos holiday celebrations. Positive comments about the quality of the food at Heartland were made following the luncheon and in thank you notes sent to President Jean Verrico. The seating was different, in that we were more spaced out and some of our groups were seated at adjacent tables. IIt would be good to return to the Heartland Brewery for our next luncheon.
The August 17, meeting at the Epiphany Church Hall was well attended.
Jim Pabst, (who is in charge of MetLife health benefits for retirees) provided a handout describing the 2007 design changes to the medical benefit program for retirees. We thank Charlie Lynch, formerly of the Law Department, who made the presentation to the members. A copy of the handout is available online.
After the presentation, several members asked the following questions:
How can you purchase Met stock?
MetLife has no plans currently to adopt a direct buy stock program for employees and retirees. If you want to buy MetLife stock, you need to go to a broker, i.e. Charles Schwab.
Who would be the best person to write to for a question about prescriptions?
Questions should be addressed to Express Scripts by phone - 800-315-2589, if you still have questions write to Express Scripts at: 6301 Cecilia Circle, Bloomington, MN 5543, Att: Yvonne Phelps, Team Lead for MetLife. If you still have questions, write to: MetLife Global Benefits Department - ESI, 501 US Hwy 22, Bridgewater, NJ 08807. All correspondence will receive a response.
Define the term PPO.
Preferred Provider Organization
Our April 21, 2006 meeting provided a spectacular display of MetLife memorabilia. The oldest items were postcards of the MetLife Tower from 1908 and 1911. Other items included a retiree's MetLife medal and pin from the 1920's. There were various editions of the Home Office Magazine/Bulletin.
One of our members brought in a "Baby's First Year" book; it was of her first year. There was a Veteran's 20 year anniversary pin, a T-shirt, a towel, cook books, an inkwell, and a gold trim plate from the Officers dining room, a spoon, a name stamp, a jigsaw puzzle, a Fire Warden's Cap, and many other items. It was fun to see these items, and they brought back many memories.
John DiBiase, who was a member of the Camera Club, donated the first prize gift, a framed photograph of the Tower at sunset. Second prize was a roll of stamps, and then there were four $25 gift certificates to Macys, and everyone else received a sleeve of 20 stamps.
A few days after the meeting, Carl Barrera attended the MetLife annual meeting and made a statement about the 2006 cutback in healthcare benefits of retired employees. Carl made his statement and the response from MetLife officers available to us.
Our holiday luncheon was held on December 7, at La Maganett restaurant. It was attended by 156 members who enjoyed lunch and the company of friends.
Jim Pabst, who is in charge of MetLife health benefits for retirees, spoke to the group about the changes taking place for Medicare. Jim's presentation placed special emphasis on the prescription drug benefits available under Medicare. He also previewed the MetLife medical benefits for 2006.
The highlights of Jim's presentation appear below. You may also view the complete PowerPoint presentation that Jim used. To view it, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.
The MetLife Choices and MetLife Options for 2006 will be sent out in the last week of October/first week of November. Here are some of the highlights Jim mentioned at the meeting:
Health Care Environment
Health care costs continue to escalate, driven mainly by 1) prescription drugs, 2) hospital charges and 3) physician charges.
There are more prescription drugs available, utilization has increased and the prices of drugs continues to escalate. Drugs companies have increased marketing to consumers to encourage them to ask their physicians about the newer drugs and the cost of advertising is absorbed into the pricing of the drugs.There has been continued consolidation of hospitals. Because this means less competition, insurers do not have as strong a negotiating position as in the past.
Finally, there are more specialist physicians and fees for specialist care are generally twice as expensive as care from a primary care physician. With more people seeking care from specialists, the total spent for medical care increases.
Beginning 1/1/2006, Medicare Part D will be available to those who are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B. Part D provides prescription drug coverage and recipients can chose either a private prescription drug plan -- such as that offered by MetLife as part of our retiree health benefits -- or can opt for another plan. The plan design of the MetLife plan was evaluated by outside actuaries and rated "Medicare credible." This rating is given to plans which are at least as good as Medicare Part D. In fact, the MetLife plan design has been evaluated as much better than Medicare.
In choosing a prescription drug plan, it is important to consider the following factors of plan design:
is the plan "Medicare credible" which formulary drugs are covered are generic substitutions allowed is there a mail order drug option what is the total benefit coverage
Jim's PowerPoint presentation has a chart outlining the standard Medicare Part D plan. (It is also available on a separate page of this website.) The chart shows how much an individual will pay and how much Medicare pays under Part D, enabling comparisons to the existing drug benefits available under the MetLife plan.
Here are some of the sources available with information on Medicare changes:
www.medicare.gov www.cms.hhs.gov www.aarp.org www.mymetlifebenefitsonline.com
Medicare & You 2006 handbook (can be downloaded in PDF format from www.medicare.gov) Facts About Medicare Prescription Drug Plans
Phone Numbers
1-800-MEDICARE AARP: 1-888-687-2277> Social Security: 1-800-772-1213> MetLife Retiree Service Center: 1-800-553-3803>
MetLife Plan - 2006 Highlights
The mail order drug benefits provider will change from Pharmacare to Express Scripts. There will be a rollover of prior information and open prescription refills will be transferred to Express Scripts in late December 2005. Since the formulary drugs covered by Express Scripts are not exactly the same as Pharmacare, a personalized letter will be sent to each recipient explaining which current Pharmacare formularies are not covered by Express Scripts and the possible substitutions that each person can discuss with his or her doctor.
Note: Certain drugs will lose patent protection during 2006. The most frequently prescribed ones are listed here.
Primary care physicians will increase from the current $15 to $20 on HMO plans; co-pay for inpatient hospital services will go to $250 per admission.
Medicare eligible retirees will see no change in contribution; non-Medicare will see an average increase of 18%. There is one more year (after 2006) of transition to bring the non-Medicare retirees in line with general employee population. The increase will vary based on the plan you are enrolled in, your credit factor and the number of dependents you have in the plan.
Sibyl Jacobsen, Senior Vice-President of Metlife and President of the MetLife Foundation, spoke at the 2/25/05 meeting of the Metropolitan Retirees Association. She discussed the foundation's current giving program, which has been emphasizing two areas: education and healthy aging. Grants in these areas include those designed to improve after-school opportunities for children and funding research on Alzheimer's disease. A more detailed report on Sibyl's presentation detailed has been prepared by Carl Barrera .
For those who keep statistics, more than 150 members attended the holiday luncheon. Carl had arranged for Vincent Reusing, formerly Senior Vice President of MetLife and head of the Government Relations Department to speak at our holiday luncheon. Vince is currently a political consultant and lobbyist in Washington D.C. Vince spoke about his role in the strategies used by the Democratic Party in the last presidential election. More details can be found in the synopsis of his talk prepared by Carl.
On July 28, over 200 members attended the summer meeting. Carl Barrera, Law Department retiree, arranged for Jim Heston to speak to the membership. Jim is Sr. Vice President of Human Resources and is in charge of all Human Resources operations in the US and internationally.
Jim reviewed some of the recent organizational changes at MetLife and discussed the financial strength of the pension plan. He also addressed recent changes in Medicare laws and the cost of health benefits. For more details, please see Carl's synopsis of Mr. Heston's presentation.
Although the weather was very cold, we still had a large turnout. Carl Barrera, formerly of the Law Department, has been successful in getting speakers to attend our meetings and keep us current with MetLife events. In February, Carl arranged for Lee Launer, Executive Vice President and Chief Investment Officer of MetLife to be our guest speaker. Lee spoke about the financial strength of MetLife, its competitors and the changes that have taken place since MetLife became a stock corporation. A synopsis of Lee's talk was written by Carl Barrera and can be accessed on this website.
The holiday luncheon was a success. Among the comments heard were; good food, good service, good folks, great fun.
Nat Taverna, acting as the official MRA photographer took pictures of the guests at each table. The pictures can be seen on the "MyFamily" web site. We will have a copy of the photos at the February meeting.
You may order a copy of the photo of the table at which you were seated. However, if you changed your seating arrangement, please let us know with whom you sat. To receive a copy, please send a dollar for each photo selected to Diane Schwab this will cover the cost of duplication, and mailing. (Please do not send an envelope or stamp.)
More than 100 members attended the July 30, 2003 MRA luncheon at the Epiphany Church Hall. It was a pleasant afternoon at which we were able to visit with friends and enjoy lunch . Carl Barrera who retired from the Law Department reported on MetLife's Annual Share Holder's Meeting. For the details, see Carl's report elsewhere on this web site.


text:
New to Typophile? Accounts are free, and easy to set up.
I like the dragon-circle thing, but the "g" needs work.
i think the kerning of the l and o in longsent can be a bit tighter. also, like what hrant suggested, the g needs a bit more work.
since the dragon logo is geometrically very circular, i think it'll be worth an exploration to apply those curves to the text. might not work, but then again it can.
wow! thanks for you comment!


text:
The Indiana Pacers went from a dominant force in the NBA to a team that wilted through the second half of the season. Their playoff run didn't show cause for optimism, either, as the team struggled with the Atlanta Hawks, tussled with the Washington Wizards for six games and was beaten soundly by the Miami Heat.
The Pacers' roster has one huge question mark going into the summer with Lance Stephenson becoming a free agent, but the remainder of their core is locked in. Paul George, Roy Hibbert, George Hill and David West are all under contract for another crack at breaking out of the Eastern Conference.
Frank Vogel won't have a young rookie to work into his rotations (barring an unforeseen trade), but the team will still be a contender in the East. Their salary situation is tight, but with quality players locked in and the growing talents of George, Indiana is still in good position ... assuming its talent bounces back and can overcome whatever chemistry issues plagued them last season.
The assets
Pick: No. 57
Free agents: Lance Stephenson (UFA), Evan Turner (RFA), Lavoy Allen (RFA), Rasual Butler (UFA)
Cap space: $3 million
Depth Chart
PG: George Hill, C.J. Watson
SG: Lance Stephenson (UFA), Evan Turner (RFA), Solomon Hill
SF: Paul George, Evan Turner (RFA), Rasual Butler (UFA), Chris Copeland
PF: David West, Luis Scola, Lavoy Allen (RFA)
C: Roy Hibbert, Ian Mahinmi
Team needs
The Pacers' biggest need may be on their wings if Stephenson signs with another team this summer. Indiana doesn't have control over the situation, as he will be an unrestricted free agent. The team's salary cap doesn't make it easy for Indiana to replace his role on the roster, and the internal options aren't appealing for a club pushing to be a title contender.
Even if Stephenson re-signs, the Pacers will need to find bench-quality talent. The signing of Chris Copeland and the trades for Turner and Scola didn't pan out, as they all struggled mightily for Indiana last season. This has been a longtime problem for team president Larry Bird.
The Pacers could also use another option in their frontcourt. Scola's defense hurt them, and his production reached career lows.
The Pacers won't have a big target to pick out in the draft with only one of the last picks of the second round. They've held workouts -- mostly with perimeter players -- but there's no clear indication on who they'll select with the late pick. It makes sense they'd draft and develop another wing player as a potential long-term insurance policy behind Stephenson, but that player becoming a full-time contributor to a championship-contending team is unlikely in Year 1.
Indiana will likely save most of its moves for free agency, starting with finding a solution for Stephenson's future. The Pacers don't have cap room to make a high-profile signing but could still attract veteran talent with the lure of competing on one of the best squads in the NBA. Finding a three-point specialist and a player who can perform on defense within the team's system are likely the top priorities skill-set wise for the Pacers.


text:
The decision to replace the departed gremlin known as Cee-Lo Green with Usher, and Christina Aguilera with Shakria on NBC's The Voice, seems to have been a smart move for the show.
The season premiere of the show pulled in 13.4 million viewers, which is an increase of 12% from last year's season premiere.
However, things are getting worse for American Idol. You recall that last month I reported that the show had an all time ratings and viewership low since the show's premiere, HERE.
Well it turns out that I spoke too soon.
Last week, the show was watched by 11.3 million viewers, which is the lowest number of viewers ever. Even lower than the 13.1 million which was the previous all time low a month ago.
To date AI's viewership has dropped a whopping 33.8% since this season's opener. I guess having Nicki Minaj as a judge was a good idea for them after all wasn't it?
How much do you want to bet that she won't be asked back next season? And I would say, odds are 50/50 right now on Mariah Carey too.
sam | May 12, 2013 7:26 AM
Dont give up your day job, i fell asleep three times whilst reading this article, and it wasn't a case of narcolepsy.
NO BRAINER | April 2, 2013 2:23 PM
As long as NICKI MINAJ is on American Idol, I hope their ratings continue to sink...
JDB | April 1, 2013 1:32 PM
Nicki will be back. Critics say she's the best thing about the show, and the only one who actually cares. And why place all the blame on her. There are four judges on the show. The success or fail of AI doesn't rest on her shoulders.
ScriptTease | March 30, 2013 12:50 AM
I think someone needs to create a reality show to help aspiring screenwriters make their dreams come true. Instead of limiting it to one winner, maybe a total of 3-5. I would most definitely audition, or pitch or whatever.... Just a thought, and somewhat off subject.
ALM | March 29, 2013 8:56 PM
"The Voice" was worth it for Judith Hill's performance alone. That lady is a superstar.