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Alexandra Zendrian, Subscriber
About David Cordani
David Cordani is president and chief executive officer of Cigna.
Before becoming president and CEO, Cordani was chief operating officer at the firm. He was elected to Cigna's board of directors in October 2009. Cordani is also on the boards of the National Association of Manufacturers, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association and the Cigna Foundation.
Cordani was previously the president of Cigna HealthCare. Prior to that he was the president of Health Segments for Cigna HealthCare. Before joining Cigna, Cordani worked at Coopers & Lybrand.
In his downtime, Cordani is a competitive tri-athlete. He is also involved in the Multiple Sclerosis Society, American Cancer Society, March of Dimes and Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
Cordani got a bachelor's from Texas A&M and his MBA from the University of Hartford.
Debriefing Cordani
Interview conducted by Alexandra Zendrian, June 4, 2010
Forbes: How has Cigna been affected by the health care reform? What aspects of the reform did you like and which areas were not what you would have wanted?
David Cordani: We view this time of change in health care as one of opportunity. We have a team of people working on implementing the various aspects of reform, even as we continue to analyze the law and await further clarification from the government on many aspects of the law's provisions. The law addressed one challenge: access to care. Now we must all look forward–lawmakers, regulators, employers large and small, communities, physicians and hospital systems–to shape the American health care system as we tackle the remaining twin challenges of managing health care costs and closing gaps in quality of care. There are many elements of health care reform that Cigna supports, including: the elimination of pre-existing condition exclusions and rating based on health status or gender in the individual market; providing full coverage for preventive services; increasing access for the uninsured; small business tax credits and workplace wellness grants; state exchanges with the goal of greater simplification and more consumer information and transparency and standardization of definitions; additional resources for public health care clinics and the primary care workforce; additional flexibility under HIPAA for employers to create greater incentives for wellness programs.
As we move ahead and turn our attention to the underlying drivers of health care costs and gaps in quality, we must focus on adjusting how health care is administered and paid for provide incentives for quality outcomes. Quality is highly variable for health care professional and by region, resulting in many patients not receiving evidence-based health care.
How is Cigna attempting to expand this year? Do you have global expansion plans?
We are driving profitable growth by going deep, going global and going individual. We will do this with laser focus on those geographies, market segments and products that play to our strengths and have meaningful growth prospects over the long-term. These segments are:
–The regional/middle market segment: This is our latest segment with more than six million medical customers.
–Select segment as we build momentum post the acquisition of Great West.
–Our disability product line where our return to work program leads the industry and improves employee productivity.
–National segment where we retain a very sharp focus on employers who are seeking incentive-based programs as well as integrated programs–both focused on improving health and productivity.
–Outside of the U.S., our health, life and accident products, particularly in Asia.
–Our expatriate business for both U.S.-domiciled and non-U.S.-domiciled corporations.
Our diversified product portfolio and global geographic footprint provide us with new, attractive opportunities for expansion. Outside the U.S., you can expect to see Cigna further accelerate its growth profile as we continue to see attractive segments and geographies in which to expand our programs.
One example, relative to individuals, is the opportunity we have to broaden our products and services as the middle class grows around the world. Another example relates to employer coverage in China, where employers are seeking access to high-quality physicians and hospitals along with some health care service coordination.
You have expanded coverage to young adults up to age 25 starting on June 1. What impact will this have on your business and how many more people will be covered?
We are pleased to implement this provision to help our customers–particularly young people who are graduating from schools and colleges this spring–avoid a gap in coverage. We are well-prepared to administer this change on behalf of our employer clients. We are still receiving notice from employers as to whether they will opt in or opt out of the dependent coverage so therefore we don't yet have complete information on how many more people will be covered or the overall longer-term impact to our business.
What does the Cigna Select Segment do? How do you feel coverage of small business is doing in the United States?
Cigna's Select Segment works with employers with 51 to 250 employees. We believe that this segment is one that we can continue to grow as we offer both fully-insured and self-funded plan options, which is unique in this space. Although cost is a key driver for this segment, we also know that these employers are embracing health and wellness as a means to change employee behavior and as a way to continue to work toward cost moderation. All our products and health benefit plans for smaller employers offer built-in wellness programs, such as health risk assessments, coaching program (online and telephonically) for customers, access to our Web portal myCigna.com as well as chronic condition support programs. We are in an ideal position to help small businesses meet their health and cost control needs. We believe that health care reform can help smaller employers through tax credits in particular, as well as separate, exchanges that will set up under the small for small employers once the marketplace exchanges are established in 2014.
We also serve employers with fewer than 50 employees, and we have individual plans in 10 markets where we offer first dollar coverage for preventive services and help individuals stay well. Enrollment in individual business, and our business serving employers who have 50 or fewer employees, is small–representing slightly less than 1% of our total number of customers.
What is your partnership with
Cigna and Humana are meeting employers' needs by bringing together two industry-leading companies with strong brand name recognition, broad geographic reach and recognized service excellence. We formed an alliance that offers expanded choice of retiree health care solutions for private and public sector employers available to employer groups immediately, for plans effective July 1, 2010, and beyond.
By combining Cigna's strong national commercial health and wellness capabilities with Humana's industry-leading group Medicare Advantage networks, products and programs, the alliance offers employers broader solutions across a wider geographic area; an enhanced portfolio from which to choose benefits to meet their specific needs; a more comprehensive set of services; and more cost-efficient products and services to help hold down the rising cost of health care.
Another way of thinking about this is that Cigna will offer its consultative approach to find the best solutions for the employer and be the face to the client, while Humana will be the face to their employees, providing the individual plans and support services to the employees.
What do you make of consumer-oriented plans?
Individuals and businesses continue to hold the keys to a sustainable and affordable health care system: when businesses provide the tools and incentives to help their employees be more engaged in their health, their health and health care costs improve.
The empirical data is in: consumer-oriented plans bend the cost curve in a positive way, without compromising care.
Our ChoiceFund study, a multi-year study comparing the actual claims experience of 655,000 individuals covered in Cigna's traditional managed care plans and those covered with our consumer directed plans, shows that medical costs for individuals in consumer-directed plans went down 26% over four years, while levels of care for their preventive medicine, chronic disease management and evidence-based treatments were higher than their counterparts in traditional managed care health plans.
If the share of Americans enrolled in consumer-directed plans rose from a current 18% to 50%, and the results of the Cigna study were applied, the U.S. could achieve $350 billion in savings over 10 years.
Cordani in Forbes
Cigan CEO: Move Beyond ObamaCare
April 14, 2010 – 3:44 pm
David Whelan is a staff writer at Forbes
David Cordani, who became Cigna's chief executive in January, says quite enough time and effort was been spent on the recently signed health legislation, even if he doesn't like the results. "It took a year of the country's energy. It's now time to move on," he said in an interview.
Cigna is the nation's fourth biggest commercial insurer after
But the topic inevitably made its way back to ObamaCare. And it was clear that Cordani is still upset about the outcome. The health overhaul means that managed care companies will have to pay $70 billion in new fees over 10 years. And they must reinvent their business by selling many policies over new government-run exchanges, rather than directly to customers or through brokers. HMOs also must take all comers, healthy and sick–and complain that an offsetting rule mandating that everyone must buy a policy lacks teeth.
Cordani says the industry started the process by embracing reform–pushing for a technical revolution in health care and reforms of the dysfunctional individual and small-group markets. "We weren't trying to maintain the status quo," he says. But even though the biggest threat to the industry–a public plan option–was cut out of all but the very earliest House version of the bill, Cordani says the result has disappointing. We still need to focus on lowering the cost of care and raising the quality, he says: "If you look at the outcome, and our industry being vilified, that's a bad outcome."
Among the vilifiers was Cigna's own former head of corporate communications, Wendell Potter, who became a high-profile champion of ObamaCare. Cordani gives the industry lobby, America's Health Insurance Plans, a failing grade. "I'm an outcomes guy, not a process guy," he says. "Where I went to school that's an F."
What ObamaCare Is Missing
April 28, 2010 – 5:59 pm
Morgan Brennan is a multimedia reporter at Forbes.
Earlier this month, I visited the World Healthcare Congress in Washington D.C. Insurance heads like Aetna CEO Ronald Williams and Cigna CEO David Cordani, government honchos like Congressional Budget Office director Douglas Elmendorf, and thought leaders like Grameen Health founder Muhammad Yunus were among the thousands in attendance.
I sat down with industry experts that included Abraxis BioScience Chairman Patrick Soon-Shiong, Harvard Business School economist and professor Clayton Christensen, and
Video: The Trouble With ObamaCare
A common theme emerged from every one of these interviews: that the U.S. healthcare reform bill has left the most fundamental issue unaddressed … care itself.
As Soon-Shiong (who is also a surgeon) explains, Unfortunately I really don't believe the reform bill as currently written really addresses the fundamental systemic change we need to take. You really need to address how we actually maintain health of the patient. How you address the aging population with all of the chronic conditions and how we disrupt the delivery of care as it currently exists today.
Millions more Americans will have access to health insurance coverage in the coming months and years thanks to the hulking 2,000 plus page bill; neither the bill nor its mandatory coverage will, however, guarantee that a higher quality of health among Americans will ensue.
Without more focus on the delivery and upkeep of patients health (for example, how patients are encouraged to maintain their health, how care is delivered, where it is delivered, how doctors receive their reimbursements, and how the system will ultimately support the rapidly growing number of Baby Boomer seniors in need of more care), the cost of healthcare can only inevitably increase.
"What they are doing to this point in Washington is not even focused on the reform of health care, states Christensen, who recently penned The Innovators Prescription. Care itself has to be truly reformed, he warns, or America will just go bankrupt" struggling to pay the costs related to it.
Many participants at the World Healthcare Congress acknowledged that it was up to the private sector to reform and disrupt — to reference Christensens famous disruptive innovation model of economics — the industry's approach to care from the bottom up. Companies like Virgin HealthMiles, which incentivizes healthy living with cash and prizes, and Alere, which focuses on connecting people with their caregivers through technology, have already begun stepping up to fill the care gap.
While the potential for true healthcare reform may now lie in the private sector, Christensen and others note that there are still many government-based regulations and pricing practices that will need to be changed for this to happen.
Perhaps Jonathan Bush, cofounder of Athenahealth, a web-based revenue management company, summed up experts' takes on the healthcare reforms the most bluntly: "It's a cautionary tale for the free market and for Forbes readers, Forbes watchers, that if you don't make a marketplace work, a bunch of Congressman are going to come and screw it up beyond recognition."
Cigna Picks Successor to Hanway
June 25, 2008 – 5:31 pm
Matthew Herper is a senior editor at Forbes
Forbes Staff Writer David Whelan writes:
Cigna's H. Edward Hanway, 56, is the longest-serving chief executive of any big managed care company. Wednesday after the market closed he made a move to name his successor, promoting David Cordani to the number two role of chief operating officer. Since 2005 Cordani has managed Cigna's health care business, which is increasingly Cigna's only business as its old disability and life insurance lines fade away.
Cigna has had a nice run with Cordani running the health unit, with the stock rising 40% and the company making an appearance as the top pick in the sector by Goldman Sachs' influential managed care analyst Matthew Borsch. It was not long ago that the company was struggling through an IT disaster that drove away millions of members and fighting off rumors that it was takeover bait for UnitedHealthcare or Aetna. The move to promote Cordani appears also to end the rivalry between him and chief financial office Michael Bell for the number two spot. Bell could seek a top job elsewhere.
The Cordani Interview
Innovation in Health Care
Steve Forbes: Well, David, good to have you with us.
David Cordani: Great to be here.
Forbes: Heading one of the most outstanding insurance companies in the world, I have to ask you a broad question: Why can't we have in health care the same kind of free enterprise, productivity, innovation that we have everywhere else in the economy?
Cordani: Well, we have some pockets of it, which is the good thing. We have some pockets that we can build off of. But within health insurance, if you look at the broader insurance, what you have is a legacy of multiple decades of slow innovation, many parties and in some cases misaligned incentives or a nontransparent environment. But the good news is we see some tremendous pockets of innovation that are driving really good outcomes right now that we need to build on.
In Pictures: Cigna's CEO Critiques Health Care Reform
Forbes: Such as?
Cordani: Well, for
Forbes: Define "consumer-driven policies," which you've been advocating and pushing.
Cordani: There's two ways to look at them. The classic way is they're fund-based programs where individuals have a fund of resources– dollars, typically their money and employer dollars. And they spend those dollars against their health care consumption up to a certain level before more traditional indemnity-based programs would kick in.
Forbes: Sort of health savings accounts?
Cordani: Health savings accounts, health reimbursement accounts. More broadly, you can have a very well-designed coinsurance program that just has a sharing mechanism. The whole goal is getting the incentives aligned.
Because then you get a little more retail engagement by the individual and you get a little bit more receptivity to the quality and cost, transparency and then you just find better engagement around health improvement as well, from the individual.
Reducing Costs
Forbes: You say 26% reduction in consumers, patients charge.
Cordani: Over a four-year period of time we've seen 14% in the first year grow to 26% over a four-year period of time. And very importantly, driving that is an increased use of prevention–not a decrease–an increased compliance with medication. Very importantly, the No. 1 gap in health care is noncompliance with medication. And very importantly, an increased used in a highest-quality services or physicians. So you don't see inappropriate rationing, rather you see more utilization of the right care and less utilization of the less effective or less efficient care.
Forbes: Now in terms of getting more free enterprise, would you favor allowing nationwide shopping for insurance? For example, I live in New Jersey. They have crazy regulations. Wisconsin is much cheaper than New Jersey.
Cordani: It's true.
Forbes: Should we have nationwide shopping?
Cordani: So, philosophically, we believe in a few important pieces. One, the role and the responsibility with the individual; two, transparency; three, choice. So under that umbrella, my answer would be yes. But it's important to note that the cost of health care is local. So the cost of the delivery system, be it physicians or hospitals, is local. But to your very important point, the mandates around coverage and norms vary state by state. So we have 50 sets of norms. Therefore, again, we value choice and transparency, so we would be very open and supportive of that.
Forbes: What about equal tax treatment? As a business I get a deduction; an individual, unless you're self-employed, you're already at a 40% disadvantage.
Cordani: Yes, back to a philosophical belief. In terms of the role of the individual, choice and transparency, we think the disincentives around the tax treatment need to be unwound. And there's an opportunity, again, to enable individuals to become more retail owners of their health care, regardless of whether or not it's enabled through a governmental agency, an employer, or purchased as an individual.
Forbes: So, again, when you look where free markets are allowed to operate for the eyes, whether it's Lasik surgery, whether it's contact lenses–a fraction of the cost they were a few years ago, precisely because consumers write the check, so therefore providers have every incentive to make it more affordable, more productive. How do we get more of that in the rest of health care, especially after ObamaCare?
Cordani: I think there's really two major enablers. There's always multiple, but there's two major enablers. One is information. It's hard to argue that we have a $2 trillion-plus industry that this is opaque from information around quality and cost of service. And we have an environment where we reimburse for services, the government as well as intermediaries, based upon quantity of services, not based on quality of outcomes. So we believe the two big enablers are information. Let's take advantage of the transparency that exists in almost every other industry around quality and cost. And then incentive alignment–pay for outcomes and quality of outcomes, as opposed to just volume of services and activities. Those are really the two big enablers. And we've been driving a variety of initiatives as a company around that. And we've been working pretty collaboratively with the government to lever the power of CMS and Medicare to drive that yet even further.
Forbes: Because, for example, wearing a brace, you hear stories and under Medicare, if you just sign off on it, $350. If you go on the Internet, somebody told me you can find an equivalent one for $47.
Cordani: Correct. Correct. And you take that example and that's back where when we talk about the broad umbrella of consumerism or consumer engagement. You take the neck brace. I'll give you another wonderful example. In any given city, there's a variety of places you can access an MRI service. The United States consumes more MRI images than almost any country in the world. And in any given city, the cost variability is great, from arguably a $500 MRI to a $2,500 MRI.
If the individual is not engaged in that decision, you might be going to the $2,500 MRI and not be aware of it. But if you have an incentive to be interested and you look online or for some other services telephonically and you see there's choices, what you'll find is that individuals are typically rational consumers of service and will pursue value. And that's another great example, just like your neck brace.
Repeal ObamaCare?
Forbes: With ObamaCare, let me ask you bluntly, do we need to repeal and start over?
Cordani: I don't think it's in our country's best interest to focus our energy on repealing and starting over. And the reason why I say that is we've expended well over a year of the country's energy to get to where we are. What I do believe is mission critical is we can't stop where we are, because the legislation as enacted expands access to additional insurance, but it doesn't address two very important additional legs on the stool–improving overall cost and improving the overall quality of health care that's delivered.
So we could turn the conversation to health care from just the financing of sick care. So I'd rather see us for the next six to 12 months focus on building a sustainable program than expending another year trying to repeal this and stop us in our tracks as a country.
In Pictures: Cigna's CEO Critiques Health Care Reform
It's Unsustainable
Forbes: Well, let's look at some of the things in that bill in a broad sense. Seventy billion dollars in fees that the industry is going to have to pay–not very helpful. Cost shifting, especially with Medicaid, which is now becoming more and more of a disaster. More and more providers are saying this is just too low, they're not going to do it, yet we're pushing more and more people under that, which is going to distort the system even more. Can those kind of systemic flaws be addressed?
Cordani: I think if I take the core of your question, a big portion of what the legislation did in its attempt to expand access to care was to secure funding sources for that expansion of the care, which is just additional taxes and fees. That's unsustainable. To the core of your question, that's unsustainable. And if we only focus on trying to figure out who writes the check for an ever-increasing pie, we'll be chasing ourselves. So that's where we have to step back and say, "Those are short-term solutions that just push a bigger problem down the path." We need to step back and say, "Now, how do we use the information around quality and cost transparency and send people to take care of their health and send people to pursue the highest-quality care and incent those physicians and hospitals that are delivering the highest-quality care to be paid more, while those who are not to be paid less?" That's the building block.
But to the core of your question, if we solely focus on charging more taxes to a variety of folks, be it our industry, cost-shifting from Medicaid to the commercial system or increasing taxes to individuals, that is not going to be a sustainable proposition and it's not going to allow our country to be vibrant in a global economy.
Forbes: Another thing in terms of mandating or access, anyone who is rational, especially a young person, why not pay a couple of hundred and if you need it, then you go for it?
Cordani: Yeah, I think there's a real slippery slope there in the way the law is articulated.
I think everybody agrees, most people agree with the aspiration of having everybody into the system. The challenge is the current, to your point, if you will mandate, doesn't have a hook in it that would drive people into the system. So if an individual could pay $95 or then $195 or $295 as a penalty or have the ability to opt in only when they need it, it will drive further inefficiency to the system and further cost pressure, which will spiral the problems you identified previously. We agree with that.
Health Care Arbitrage
Forbes: Now, businesses. Are you going to have the same kind of arbitrage there? Businesses seeing costs go up and then they say, "Oh, I'll pay the fine." And then you go in an exchange and see what you can find.
Cordani: I think there's a lot to play out, and there's a lot we don't know in terms of how business behavior will transpire over the next several years. I think there's a few things that are pretty safe bets. One, to your prior comments, costs will actually accelerate, not decelerate, for businesses in an environment where they're already feeling cost pressure in their overall business, and very importantly, as you know, competing in a global economy.
Therefore, what we see is more businesses than ever are looking for additional solutions around health engagement, wellness programs, the use of incentives and transparency to drive more sustainable cost improvements. We think that's a good thing. And regardless of whether an employer wants to potentially, potentially opt out of the system into a government-run alternative or exchange for an alternative in 2014 or 2015, that's actually in everybody's best interest because the individual needs to get engaged. I don't believe we'll see a mass exodus in 2014 because employers still have to compete for talent. I do think in 2014 on our current trajectory, you will see some employers who will pay the penalty and opt out of the system, if they believe that the exchanges will work for their employees.
Fixing the Reform
Forbes: So pretend you were a dictator for a moment and can amend the bill; we're not going to repeal it. What are the major things that have to be done to get away? Because what the bill really in essence did, perpetuate the system that created the problem in the first place, and just try to build around it instead of getting to the core.
Cordani: So you used the word dictator. I think you said if I had the ability to wave a wand, I would probably focus on three items.
Forbes: Benevolent dictator.
Cordani: Benevolent dictator. I would, No. 1, ensure that all programs–be they state, federal or employer-enabled–focus on prevention and wellness, because there's enough information that the clinical community agrees with that says that there should be zero disincentive for individuals to get the right prevention and wellness engagement. Be they mammographies, colonoscopies, childhood immunizations, basic checkups, etc. Two, I would ensure that all programs, and I mean all programs, have fundamental incentives for individuals to take a more active role in their overall health. The reason is because there's enough clinical data to suggest that 70% of health issues are tied to personal choice.
So we have the ability to actually bring the conversation back to a health conversation vs. just a "sick conversation." And third, I would focus my third chip on rebuilding the reimbursement and incentive system to physicians and hospitals to pay on quality of outcome, not just volume of service. Those would be the three chips. And stringing it together, I would use the information and transparency.
Forbes: Now is that possible with a system that's becoming more and more government-dominated; more and more government presence?
Cordani: Well you gave me the benevolent dictatorship role. I actually do believe it's possible, though, as well, because what you really have is you have four systems running simultaneously.
Getting Quality Care
Forbes: How do we get to quality, where in a private market, people develop metrics pretty quickly in gauging in this works, this doesn't work, this hospital gets it, this does not.
Cordani: Yes, I think the way we get there is a couple-fold. So I'll leave the benevolent dictator and go back to market forces. The good news is today, we have physician and hospital leaders who are engaging in this conversation.
For example, we at Cigna have a dozen fully functioning pilots up and running with either medical homes, so built around the physician practice, or accountable care organizations built around hospitals, where we've essentially revisited the entire information flow and incentive process to pay based upon quality of outcomes vs. just activities. So to your prior point, market forces are already engaging where people realize the status quo is not sustainable and information exists to allow forward-looking leaders in those physician groups or hospitals to engage. So I think that will transpire. What we would like to see more of, Steve, is to see the power of CMS and Medicare, which currently pays for about 45 million Americans, who consume on average more than two times the medical cost of a 40- or 50-year-old person.
So you have essentially up to 100 million Americans, if you will, equivalent's worth of medical cost to use their information and their reimbursement to do the same thing. That will be a game-changing moment for the country. But currently, free enterprise is driving that today. And again, we have over a dozen of those pilots up and running. And that's where I garner some of my optimism because again, the leaders in the physician community, in the hospital community want to drive change to make it sustainable.
What Happens to Medicare?
Forbes: So the problem with Medicare, and this is the danger, is it's a laggard on innovation. Some, I'll exaggerate a little bit, but it seems like it's 20 years before they get something that's been out there.
Cordani: Yeah, I think there's an enabler. I try to look at the glass is half full. So as I look to the future, there's an enabler here. And that's the intellectual honesty that Medicare is going to have a cash flow problem in a few short years. Back to that prior dialogue is there's not enough money to pay for the system if it stays on the current course and speed.
And I think the good news is behind closed doors; people understand that. People understand we need to do an "and," not an "or." So some of the changes that have been made are necessary, but per se, not sufficient. And now, we're working collaboratively with the government to try to build those next two legs on the stool around quality and cost transparency and the ability to again use some of the power of Medicare, which is the No. 1 payer for just about every hospital or physician group, to start to drive some of this transparency and incentives.
Forbes: What's going to happen to Medicare Advantage? It seems they're going to try to drive it out one way or the other.
Cordani: That's an unfortunate item. As you probably know, Cigna is a very de minimus player.
Forbes: But you have a partnership with
Cordani: We've structured a wonderful partnership with Humana, arguably the brand leader in the space who's focused on it from a quality standpoint, service delivery, etc. So for the benefit of our employer customers, we feel great about that alliance that we've been able to structure.
As you articulated, though, the legislation squeezes Medicare Advantage pretty severely, and I think what that's going to do is it's going to cause, No. 1, only a few very well-run, innovative, continuous improvement players to thrive in that. And we believe Humana is one of them. Two, it's going to require focus. So Medicare Advantage will only work in a subset of the markets in the country where the makeup of the physicians and the hospital systems allow it to work. So the risk, I think, for America is that there's going to be less choice outside of highly densified urban areas for seniors and as we know, we're in the early phase of the baby boomers going into Medicare eligibility.
I think that's the unfortunate consequence, because a lot of the positives around Medicare Advantage which are just being applied to additional programs around population based health, clinical quality improvement programs, reducing readmission rates for seniors because of clinical quality programs, et cetera. Some of those will now only be benefited by people in more urban and densified areas where Medicare Advantage could still function.
In Pictures: Cigna's CEO Critiques Health Care Reform
Forbes: Let me ask you to sum up how does your industry avoid, in effect, becoming vassals of the government? How do we prevent that where, in effect, you're told what you can offer, what you can charge, and if you play along, they'll pat you on the head and let you continue to exist?
Cordani: Yeah. I don't have the corner wisdom on this, but from my point of view, there's one truism that has to take place. And if it does, then you have an opportunity. And that is the leaders of our industry are going to have to be able to demonstrate to our end user, the consumer, that there is a discreet value to the service we provide. Because if the consumer, the individual or currently the individual and the employer, doesn't view that there's a value to that service, then I think reform forces that compromise. Some of the programs and services and quality that we deliver potentially will overwhelm the system. Conversely, if the consumer and the employer and to some degree the physician partner views that we are actually creating value and we can demonstrate that in a sustainable way, then I think there's some counteracting forces that keep what you just described as becoming an inevitable outcome.
And that's what we're focused on. We're focused on competing for value, quality delivery, and we know we need to continue to innovate the services we're providing for the benefit of our customers.
Health Care in Your Hands
Forbes: Why haven't there been more people on what you call consumer-driven health savings accounts and the like where they in effect have more skin in the game and therefore are conscious of what things cost?
Cordani: I think there's a few reasons. One, if look at some adoption curves, so we go back in history, the consumer-directed adoption curve almost matches exactly the 401(k) adoption curve. So leaving the health care industry, when employers were driving change in their pension strategies, the adoption curve actually looks almost precisely what you see in CDHP. So that's point one.
Point two is I actually don't believe there are many carriers, if you will, who do it well. And it's a disruptive change. And there's one truism about human nature–humans don't necessarily flock to change. So this is a pretty disruptive change where in an environment over the last several decades that individuals have been relatively passive in their health care consumption, it's a program and set of services that require you as a consumer to be a bit more active. So the good news is more employers, CEO level, I just talked to a CEO of a Fortune 100 company yesterday and he said, "We're going to 100% consumerism program, and we're doing it with you. It's the only sustainable solution." Those conversations are more frequent now. And what you need to have is a three-year strategy to convert your employees to be able to do that on a sustainable basis. Some have failed by trying to do it overnight without all the tools and it almost shocks the system and then you get rejection from the employees, which is to nobody's benefit.
Forbes: You're right about human nature. In the early '90s we put in our own version of health savings accounts, and by golly, the carriers just were–they didn't get it.
Cordani: Yes, yes.
Forbes: And it was tough and we persisted and now, thankfully, it's much easier.
Cordani: We believe, just to be clear, there's a basic recipe that's easy to say and difficult to execute. There's four things that need to be in place.
Awareness. So awareness of both the health issues and the choices. Incentive alignment, and there's a variety of ways to garner the incentive alignment. Fund-based programs are one. Three is information transparency around quality and cost that is succinct and usable. And then four is assistance. That's where your kind of health coaches or your navigation support resources come in. Because just like in other services, individuals do need some assistance, and it's varied by person. Some it's Web-based. Some it's telephonic. Some it's eyeball-to-eyeball. But when that recipe of four comes together, we see some really powerful results come forth. But if it's only one or two of those levers that are used, you typically get an uneven outcome at best.
Forbes: Now, finally, selling overseas, places like China. What are you doing differently there in the kind of policies you're offering to avoid the kind of mixed, hybrid, unworkable system that we have here in terms of when you sell individual policies? Is it high-deductible? Is it sort of health savings accounts, consumer-driven from the beginning?
Cordani: Sure. First, outside of the U.S., we see outstanding growth opportunity for our company. It is a cornerstone of our growth strategy. We're going deep in some U.S. markets and product lines. And then we're going global with the Cigna franchise. We currently exist in about 27 different countries today and we currently have in excess of five and a half million individual policies in force outside the United States.
So to the core of your question, we really play in two ways outside the U.S. other than for high-intimacy, ex-patriot coverage. One are supplemental products and services that individuals buy, typically middle-class, to supplement the government, state or provincial-sponsored programs.
Forbes: Sort of like what we have with Medicare here.
Cordani: Individuals make an arm's-length, personal decision to augment what they receive around health, disability, accident, life, vision, dental services, etc.
Secondly, what we're seeing, which I think is an interesting foreshadowing of what could happen here, is some employers in countries that are seeing more explosive growth, like China that you referenced, are asking and saying that for a subset of their population they want a solution where they can opt out of the state-sponsored system because they're competing for talent. Could be final professionals, could be scientists, could be engineers, depending on their business. And the reason why they want to opt out of the system is because while everybody has access to care in the system, they're struggling to get accessibility to the highest-quality physicians or hospitals. So we see that change as an area where we could add significant value. So outside the U.S., it's a retail market for us. It's a retail, highly transparent, direct-to-consumer marketplace that we see to be very vibrant and exciting for years to come.
Forbes: So when you go in a country like China, you sell directly to individuals, or is it mostly through employers?
Cordani: China, again, other than a business that's explicit to cover employers expats, so think about small population, it's essentially all direct to individual. Telemarketed, Internet-based, direct to consumer, TV-based distribution. And take a country like China. We've been actively selling in China for seven years now with a great joint venture partner. And I will be back there in September. I was just there in May; I'll be back there in September. And by the end of this year, in China alone, I expect to have a million policies in force at the individual level already.
Forbes: And are these mostly what you would call consumer-driven policies?
Cordani: No, actually, they're not consumer-driven. Mostly what they are is supplemental policies. So they will be for a slice of the system. So somebody might buy a hospital coverage. They might buy a surgery coverage. They might buy a cancer coverage. They're slices now. But they will evolve, Steve, as the market evolves, to more comprehensive coverages as people are saying, "Well, the social system allows me access to care, but I can't get the accessibility to the services I want and need." And I would say derivatives of what we know as fund-based programs here will manifest themselves there.
Forbes: So, in effect, you're selling beach head policies that are going to expand?
Cordani: Well stated. Very well stated. And that's a real critical part of our strategy. Our strategy is a strategy of relationship with a customer, whether it's here in the States with employers that we expand our relationship off of, or abroad with individuals, where we establish relationship and you expand as you understand that individual and you help them solve problems or fill gaps or voids that they need. I like the "beach head" terminology.
Forbes: David, thank you very much.
Cordani: It's great to be here with you. Thank you for your time.


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The question is, which one? RootsMagic or Legacy. I have narrowed it down to those two. I have a trial of RM on my computer, and I have been working with Legacy 7 for a while. I'm thinking it is a little harder than it needs to be. But it does offer choices of everything. Do I need to make that many choices? RM seems friendly and appealing. It doesn't make me tense to play with it.
What ever choice I make is the one I will be sticking with. So it has to be good. This is the year. I want to have my choice made and my order in by the last of the month.
NO MORE FTM. I don't know what direction they are going, but it is definitely not my way. So far on Facebook I have had 3 for RM and 2 for Legacy. One voted for The Master Genealogist. I don't know anything about that one.
Please respond to my poll to your left.
Thank you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Universal Fit
Comply Ts-200 Comfort Earphone Tips (Black, 3 Pair, Medium)
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Learning Center Search Results
Showing 1-5 of 5 results
African American Genealogical Research at the Library of Congress
This presentation describes the African American collections found in the Library of Congress.
If I'd Only Known! Beginner Genealogy Mistakes
In this lesson, you will learn about common mistakes beginners make with genealogy.
Take a Genealogy Trip with Tiff!
In this lesson, you will learn how to organize a trip to do genealogical research.
The Library of Congress: Pursuing Your Family in the National Library
This presentation describes resources in the Library of Congress that will be helpful to you in your family history research.
Tips and Tactics from Fifty Years of Research
In this lesson, you will learn different tips on how to start a new library, document a life story, document sources and other helpful tips.


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A week ago, Ana Elfring, 18, graduated from high school. The event wasn't particularly emotional — she was ready to move on, the diploma the required bridge to a university education and her future.
Two weeks ago, T.J. Sweetin's grandfather solemnly handed him a folded American flag that had flown over the state Capitol; his parents proudly pinned the rank of second lieutenant onto his dress blue uniform. A college degree in hand and four years of ROTC behind him, the 21-year-old was, officially, finally, a Marine.
Around the same time, Ellen Theis exuberantly accepted her English degree, six years after beginning it — and more than 30 years after her first literature class — on the day before her 52nd birthday.
"I would call it a milestone," Theis said, "and a dream come true."
The school year's end marks one of life's milestones, the ritual of graduation, an acknowledgment of accomplishment, a rite of passage from one point in life to another, wrapped in assorted ribbons of meaning.
Educational achievements aren't the only milestones that become defining pieces of our stories. There are first drivers' licenses, first jobs, 25th wedding anniversaries and 50th birthdays. They seem to impart needed stamps of approval on life's timeline.
Interestingly, studies show countries with well-established cultural rites of passage — "very distinct before and afters" — tend to have lower crime rates in young adulthood, said Kim Gorgens, an assistant professor of psychology at University of Denver.
Just as compelling, added Gorgens, is the mind's ability to hold onto noteworthy memories about ourselves.
"We have this natural tendency to be storytellers," she said. "The autobiographical episodic memory is particularly resistant to decay. … As we are losing our capacity to define ourselves, the last thing to go is our recall for significant events. It has a natural buoyancy."
Perhaps that's because they can be among our happiest times.
For Ana Elfring, these moments are more a series of steppingstones than milestones.
Her 4-foot-11 slight frame belies a fierce strength. Determined to gather the resources needed to get herself to University of Colorado at Boulder, she navigated the financial aid maze on her own, securing several scholarships and a work-study grant.
"It makes me feel really accomplished," Elfring says of her successful effort to pay for college. "It's like a weight off my shoulders."
She is most excited about the independence to choose what her day will look like, from what she eats to when she studies to what she does for fun. She plans to study biology and considers that graduation from college will, perhaps, mean more than her high school steppingstone.
"I like to live more in the present than looking forward to something," Elfring says. "But just because I'm not as goal-oriented doesn't mean that I don't strive to succeed. It's just that I don't look at things as `Well, at this point I should have achieved this much.' I just kind of do my best as I'm going and see where it takes me. And, so far, I've been taken to pretty decent places. I'm going to the school I want to go to. I have friends and I have a job. So I'm pretty happy."
Thomas Joseph Sweetin is a tall, adventurous young man called T.J. after his namesake, his great-grandfather. His father's job with the Drug Enforcement Administration moved the family around the country and instilled a love for change and excitement of the unknown. He likes to look forward and mark the big moments.
Earning an international affairs degree from CU was definitely more meaningful than receiving a high school diploma for Sweetin. "College was different because I put so much work into it," he says of days that involved not only academic studies but also hours of training and community service for the 100 students in ROTC.
But the greater milestone, he says, is being commissioned into the Marines.
"So many of my friends were upperclassmen, and we saw them graduate and get deployed, and you're counting down the days to that," Sweetin says. "When you're a freshman, it feels so far off. You're kind of waiting … for that day. The entire culmination of that whole college career is summed up in the one commissioning day."
In October, Sweetin heads to Quantico, Va., for six months of basic officer training. The next benchmark, he says, will be deployment.
"It feels really good," he says. "Life — it's exciting. I've been ready for a while to get on with it."
On a recent Sunday morning, at the athletic field of Metropolitan State University of Denver, Ellen Theis hurled her dark blue cap into the air in exultation. A wife and mother who describes herself as a "why not?" person, she had always felt "less than" without a college degree.
The achievement filled her to brimming.
"When it really hit was when I picked up my cap and gown," she says. "It was very surreal. It was joyous. … I was struck wordless by the profound feeling of satisfaction and deep pride in myself."
The journey had been long and circuitous.
After high school, without encouragement or financial resources for higher education, Theis worked odd jobs and became a hairdresser. Children and family then became priorities. But hovering in the back of her mind, always, was a yearning for school: "I wanted to learn about James Joyce and Shakespeare, and I wanted always to know more."
Over the years, through four colleges and three states, she took a course here and there. At 46, when she saw friends pursuing degrees, she decided she could do it, too. She started with one course a semester and kept adding until she was juggling four at once. And on graduation day, she proudly hung a blue-and-gold cum laude cord around her neck.
She briefly considered not attending commencement. Then she realized if she walked away, the moment might be lost. "It's much sweeter," Theis said, "when it's not handed easily to you."
She needed to mark this passage well. So her dad and stepmother flew in from California. Her husband and daughters, 15 and 13, bore witness, too.
After, she felt complete. "My ideal self," Theis said, "has a degree."
And so ends this season of milestones.
Ann Macari Healey's column about people, places and issues of everyday life appears every other week. She can be reached at email@example.com or 303-566-4110.


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|Posted by Cris on November 23, 1999 at 22:23:00:
|In response to Re: sewer gas
: What a detective you are! The floor drain is usually not able to let gas back from the sewer because of what is called a "Trap" that is designed to catch water as ti drains, and retain a little bit to effectively seal our return gasses.If you rarely send water down the floor drain, it is very likely it has dried out, and the remedy is simply to dump about three gallons of water down the drain. The very small flies breed in the moist humid environment of the sewer system and usually are prevented from entering the house by the water in the trap. You might try pouring a gallon of bleach down the drain to sanitize bacteria buildup in the sewer pipe after you pour a gallon or so down. The sewer gas is a toxic poisonous methane gas that is extremely harmful in large doses and prolonged periods of time. In the smaller doses you are getting, the methane gas could very likely contribute to your general lack of energy. Try pouring water into the drain, and monitor it for a week. If the flies stop, and gas odors stop, you might just need to pour water down the drain every month or so. Older houses experience a rusting condition in the trap where tha water has stood stagnant for a long time, and the trap leaks itsd water out and won't retain it even if you pour water in each day. In that case if you really need to have the floor drain operating, you might need to break out the floor and follow the drain away to a point where you can install a new trap, then replace the concrete. If the drain doesn't need to operate, you can buy a rubber stopper at a plumbing supply house, and screw in a stopper.
The black flies are called drain flies. They are harmless, do not bite and are more of a nuisance pest.
|Replies to this post
|There are none.


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* Coupon code GFT4FAM valid for up to 5 uses per Walgreens.com/photo account or on the Walgreens Mobile App thru February 25, 2017. Code must be entered at time of checkout to apply discount. Discount does not apply to 4x6 prints, 4x4 prints, previous purchases, taxes or shipping charges. Orders must be placed by logged-in customer by February 25, 2017 at 11:59 p.m. Central Time to qualify. Timing will be determined by Walgreens server clock. Offers cannot be combined on one product. Multiple coupons can be used in one cart if no overlapping products exist in the offers being applied. Offer not valid in store. Shipping costs may apply on online orders if in-store pickup is not available in your area. Void where prohibited. No cash value. Subject to change without notice.
Turn your celebrated moments into Photo Posters that will look great on any wall! You can make photo poster prints that are picture perfect with a variety of style and design extras. Dress up your photo poster with a designer border. Give someone a special year-end gift with a custom collage calendar poster. Create a stunning canvas photo poster to mark a milestone occasion.
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Easily turn a photo into poster with a variety of styles and sizes to choose from. Ranging from 11x14, that's ideal for accent, to the supersized 24x36, your favorite photo will give your décor an unforgettable makeover.


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Nike Renzo 2 Mid-Top Skate Sneaker - Mens
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Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
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Item # 256719
From the streets to the skate park, the men's Nike Renzo 2 mid-top skate shoe is a super fly technical sneaker that provides superior durability and comfort.
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- More colors available
- Imported
- View more Nike
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Everyone has an opinion. Here's your chance to share yours! Be the first to write a review of this product and help your fellow shoppers pick the best of the best.


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Product Description 2012 Newton w/Rad Wakeboard Package:
The 2012 Slingshot Newton is fast and predictable, boosts off the wake, and offers the smoothest landings of any board in the Slingshot lineup.
Spawning from The Sickest Board Ever, the all NEW 2012 Newton is the stiffest and fastest continuous rocker we have ever made. In addition to the new SingleShot Fusion Sidewalls and the Fastrack mounting system, Slingshot has added the Atomic C Core with a single concave molded channel on the tip and tail for ultimate speed, control, and performance behind the boat. Blast into 2012 with this rocket ship!
Product Description Slingshot 2012 RAD Wakeboard Binding
Featuring Slingshots bottomless base system for an ultra low profile, the greatly improved 2012 Slingshot R.A.D. Boots offer the ultimate direct foot to board feel, and offer riders with supreme board control. Completely removable, preformed heat formable liners, continue to provide an unmatched custom fit, and with the new dual zone Quick Draw Lacing System riders will be in an out of their boots in less time than ever.
Boardstop sells Wakeboards and Wakeboard products, wakeboard bindings, Wakeskates, Wakesurf Boards, Life Vests, Malibu/Axis racks, wake ballast, and Wakeboard Packages. Boardstop is an authorized dealer for Ronix Wakeboards, Hyperlite Wakeboards, Liquid Force Wakeboards, CWB Wakeboards, Byerly Wakeboards, Ronix Bindings, Hyperlite Bindings, Liquid Force Bindings, CWB Bindings, Fly High Fat Sacs, Reef Sandals, and Inland Surfer Wakesurf Boards.


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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Gilbert Moore
September 30, 2004 202-616-1728
Washington, D.C.- The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) today announced $4.6 million in funding for 19 jurisdictions to combat methamphetamine. The funds were awarded under COPS Methamphetamine Training Initiative, which assists law enforcement agencies in developing and enhancing comprehensive methamphetamine eradication strategies that emphasize training and technical assistance.
The grants will be used to pay for training, equipment and supplies, officer overtime, community outreach campaigns and other approved costs. Todays grant recipients were invited to apply for funding based on the severity of the methamphetamine problem in their area as determined by Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration data.
Methamphetamine is a central nervous system stimulant that is sometimes referred to as crank, speed, ice or crystal. It is typically developed in clandestine laboratories by mixing readily available consumer products. Due to its characteristics, methamphetamine is difficult to detect, highly explosive during the manufacturing process, creates hazardous waste, and poses significant health risks to citizens who live near production labs and the law enforcement officers responsible for seizing and dismantling them.
"The safety threats and destructive potential posed by methamphetamine extend far beyond the users," said COPS Director Carl R. Peed. "This drug places entire communities at risk, and we are committed to strengthening the capacity of state and local law enforcement to fight the spread of methamphetamine."
Including todays awards, COPS has invested more than $350 million in the fight against methamphetamine. In addition to supporting local efforts to combat methamphetamine, COPS also provides law enforcement agencies with a variety of community policing and technical assistance resources. Since 1994, COPS has made grants to more than 13,000 state and local law enforcement agencies to hire over 118,000 community policing officers, investing more than $10.6 billion nationwide.
To learn which jurisdictions in your area received grants.
See also:


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Urban Expressions Charmer Top Handle Mini Satchel
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Looks like you've got more shoe shopping to do - have fun!
Item # 291418
Be a part of the latest trends in handbags with this great mini satchel from Urban Expressions. The Charmer top handle mini satchel is stylish and functional and is perfect for day or night!
- Vegan leather mini satchel
- Top foldover flap with turn lock and top zip closures
- Top handle with 3" drop
- Removable shoulder strap adjusts to 25½" drop
- Fabric lining with zip pocket
- Dimensions 8" x 2½" x 8"
- Imported
- View more Urban Expressions Handbags
By: Sarahb02130
Location: Virginia
January 18, 2014
Looks nice but many problems
"The look of the bag is nice, and it is small but still holds the essentials.However, the cross body strap frequently comes un clipped when pushed against something or hooked on something unintentionally. It also squeaks while you walk.Lastly after having the bag fro about to months the handle/and cross body strap came detached from one side of the purse so that it is no longer functional. While it was not terribly expensive and bought it on sale still only two months of use is not worth it."
By: Ashley153
Location: Brooklyn, New York
October 11, 2013
"bought it in the rust color, it's small and cute"
By: SAG2013
Location: Springfield, PA
September 15, 2013
Very cute but disappointed
"Too small inside. Very hard to get inside. No room for anything."
Click anywhere to close this.


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Good new for Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans! The second movie, Rodrick Rules (rated PG) is almost here! It's coming to theaters on March 25 – that's next Friday!! To get you psyched, today we have interviews with the actors who play Rowley, Greg, and Rodrick, so you can find out all about their real life quirks, pranks on the set, and other hilarious escapades in their lives. AND, be sure to check back here next Friday because Scholastic writer, Ratha, has already seen an advance screening of the Rodrick Rules movie, and she will be giving us her review.
First up is Robert Capron who plays Rowley.
Q: Describe Rowley.
Robert: Rowley is a very caring person. He's who every person would want to be friends with. He really cares about people and he's really nice, but he can be naïve. He can be kind of dumb sometimes, but everybody likes him and he's a really good person. I would be a friend of his.
Q: You and Zach play best friends in the film. How did you establish a friendship?
Robert: Well, Zach and I really got to become very good friends because when we were in Vancouver there was so much stuff to do. Neither of us had been there before. So we went to this mountain called Grouse Mountain and we went on this suspension bridge called the Capilano Suspension Bridge, and it was very, very fun. We got a very good bond over the course of filming the first movie. We got to know each other really well, and when we had to do, in the first movie, the scene where I get mad at him and I tell him I don't want to be friends anymore, it was kind of tough because it was like saying "I don't want to be friends" to Zach.
Q: Your real mom played your mom in the movie?
Robert: Yes. That was really, really cool. My mom did play my mom. When we were filming, it was really funny because my mom, when she was in high school she used to be like a choreographer, so that's why she got cast. It was really, really funny because we had to do like the weirdest dance, and it was really awkward to have to do this stuff with your mom in the outfits we were wearing. And when we watched it, we were like shocked. [Laughter]
Q: Did you read the Wimpy Kid books before you were cast?
Robert: Yes, and I have a very funny story about that. I was sleeping over at my best friend's house and I'm an early bird. I can't sleep any later than like 6:30am. So I was up and I was bored out of my mind. I mean my best friend is right next to me and he's just snoring, and I've got nothing to do. I almost felt like jumping on him and saying, "Wake up!" Well, on his book shelf there was the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid book, and I thought, "I heard this book was good. I might as well read it." And I loved it. I finished the book before my friend got up, and I really, really enjoyed it. Now that I think back on it, who knew that I would end up being in the movie? It's like, "Whoa."
Q: Now when you read a book, do you think, "Hmm I might like to play this character"?
Robert: This could never happen – when I was reading the Harry Potter books, I saw Neville – and the way I am, I thought that if they had made the movies around this time when he's my age, I think I could have played him because he kind of fits me because I'm clumsy and stuff.
Q: What kind of books do you like to read?
Robert: I really like a lot of books. My least favorite genre would probably be like romance. I think that's pretty common with boys my age. I really like the Harry Potter books, the Percy Jackson books. So I guess you could say I like fantasy. I also really like mystery books. I love mystery books.
Q: Is there a book that you're looking forward to reading this summer?
Robert: There are a couple books. One of them is Everfound. It's by this guy named Neal Shusterman. And a very funny thing happened with him. I did this episode for a TV show called R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour. I did the entire episode and I went home. Now during the episode I was reading some of Neal Shusterman's books. Just as we were going home I realized that Neal Shusterman had written my episode and I didn't even know it. I was like, "What?" I was shocked.
Q: What was the biggest change going from elementary school to middle school?
Robert: The biggest change for me was probably being in different rooms every period. I was always used to being in just one room. Sometimes we'd go into another room for like library or art or something, but now we had to go into a different room for every period. I remember I came back later in the year, like in October, because I was filming the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid. So when I got to middle school I had no idea where to go or what to do.
Q: What do you think the qualities of a good friend are?
Robert: I think the qualities of a good friend are they really care about you. Now with me it's interesting because when I got back, everybody wanted to be my friend because I was in the movie. But I knew that my real friends were the people that were friends with me before I was in the movie. So you have to be careful because some friends will be with you just because you might be like popular or be like a member of the basketball team or something like that. Another quality for a good friend is that they're honest. They don't talk behind your back or anything.
Q: If you could put any topping on a pizza, what would it be?
Robert: You have like the most brilliant questions! You do. Man. If could put anything on a pizza, even if it was unusual – I do just like plain old pepperoni pizza, but let me think. You know what would be really weird is if you had pancakes on a pizza. That would be really weird. [Laughter]
Q: Is there anything in particular that you would like your fans to know about you?
Robert: I would like my fans to know that I'm really, really glad that they're my fans. I'm really glad they like me as an actor. I really appreciate it.
Now on to Zachary Gordon who plays Greg Heffley.
Q: Is Greg close to your own personality?
Zach: No, because I have a lot of friends in real life and Greg doesn't. He's manipulative and I'm pretty nice. My parents really keep me grounded.
Q: Have you read all the Wimpy Kid books?
Zach: Yes. I think the first is my favorite. I love them because they're really funny. When I read them, I hadn't gone to middle school yet and they gave me tips about the middle school experiences.
Q: What are some of your favorite books?
Zach: The Percy Jackson books, Harry Potter, Wimpy Kid of course. The Candy Shop Wars. And this book called Evil Genius. It's an awesome book, pretty long but will keep you entertained. It's kinda like Harry Potter but evil.
Q: Book you want to read next?
Zach: I have The Hunger Games (for ages 12 and up) and I'm gonna start reading it.
Q: Real life embarrassing moments?
Zach: When I was six I was walking in Sea World with my brothers and my mom and dad. My brothers and I were fooling around and I tripped over something and grabbed onto my dad's pants and pulled them down. Then he pulled my pants down.
Q: Funniest moment from the set?
Zach: Devon (who plays Rodrick) played a prank on me and I tried to get him back. I filled a bottle with water and put salt in it, but it backfired because someone gave it to me to drink—but I pretended it wasn't salt water. But it was awful.
And finally, we hear from Devon Bostick who plays Greg's mean older brother, Rodrick.
Q: With the new Wimpy Kid movie, Rodrick Rules, did you your role grow?
Devon: I was on pretty much every single day of shooting and we really get to see some sides of him that we never saw before. Good and bad. We get this whole juicy new world of Rodrick. His band is featured a lot more too. I play the drums in it. I had to learn it like two months before the movie. I had to just learn tricks, because we figured Rodrick is one of those guys that didn't learn from a teacher or any lessons. He watched drummers on television and just mimicked their cool moves. So I worked on more moves than actual drumming.
Q: Have you ever tormented a younger sibling?
Devon: I haven't. I have a younger brother. He's fifteen now and we didn't used to get along so well, but that's just age difference. With Rodrick and Greg, one's in middle school, one's in high school and it's just an awkward time for both of them to be friends. He's in high school now – my younger brother – and we get along so well. So I feel like if Rodrick and Greg grew up, in five or six years they'd actually be friends. They're actually pretty similar. Rodrick is as wimpy as Greg is. He's just so much better at hiding it or being something else.
Q: Do you have a favorite prank from the set?
Devon: Yeah, it's funny and cruel at the same time but me and Zachary have this funny relationship in real life. We're really good friends and in the first movie we bonded like that. That was me snapping. "Like that." So this movie I took the approach of yes, we're really good buds, but I'm gonna pull out a little Rodrick just to keep you on your toes. There was one point where I went to the floor to pick up my water bottle and Zach actually jumped because he was scared by my movements. But my favorite prank was actually one I did always April Fool's when I was in grade school. It was filling an oreo with toothpaste. I said to Zach, "Hey, you want this oreo? Dance for it." So he started dancing and then he grabbed the cookie from me and ran away and he's like, "Haha! I got the cookie!" And then he ate it and he spat it out. He tried to prank me after that, so it went on and on.
Q: What are some of your favorite books for kids?
Devon: Harry Potter's a big one when you're younger. I stopped reading though on the fourth book when he brought an egg into the bathtub because I was like, "Whoa what? What just happened?" I was too confused. I was like, "You know what, there's magic and then there's bringing an egg into a bathtub." A dragon egg I think he was bringing into the bathtub which is even weirder. So I just stopped reading by that point, but I did love the Harry Potter series when I was younger. Also Magic Tree House. I love those books! When I was really young I read those. That's like coming into a whole world when they go back in time in their tree house.
Q: What obstacles did you have to overcome while you were in school?
Devon: Definitely bullying. I was bullied when I was in grades three and four. Middle school was tough too. I became comfortable with myself by the time I hit high school. But in grade seven I moved to a new school. And that was really tough because everybody had already made friends. They had cliques that they had formed since kindergarten. I just really didn't fit in and was sort of left out. When I hit high school I was like, "Enough of this." It's tough. Middle school and when you're younger is really tough. Kids can be mean. And then you realize it's all not really worth it in the end. It's a huge part of your life but also you've got so much more to do. There's many years ahead of you but you don't really realize it because you're just there in the present. And there's some bully who's tackling you to the ground. But yeah there's more. There's more to life.
Interviews by Marie Morreale, Gerry Miller, and Tyrus Cukavac
Images courtesy of 20 Century Fox


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Sperry Top-Sider Laguna Boat Shoe
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Item # 278306
Ready for boating season or just want to take on the nautical trend? The Sperry Top-Sider Laguna is a fantastic boat shoe that pairs perfectly with your jeans or capris!
- Leather upper
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- 2-eye lace-up
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- Flexible rubber sole
- Imported
- View more Sperry Top-Sider
By: Kazzz
Location: Philadelphia
November 03, 2013
Love Sperry, but ...
"I love Sperry, but this particular style runs big. I would recommend selecting a size smaller than you usually take. Other than that, they are really nice shoes."
By: psathey
Location: Dallas
October 04, 2013
Sperry fanatic!
"I love Sperry top siders and now my Mom loves them"
By: Lalahikura
Location: Brooklyn, NY
August 26, 2013
So comfty but...
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ORANGEVILLE-Leslie Diane Ware, age 50, died unexpectedly on June 26, 2008, in Orangeville, Utah. She was born Sept. 18, 1957, in Price, Utah, to Keith Nelson and Diane Thomas Ware.
Leslie was raised in Orangeville and graduated from Emery County High School. She then attended College of Eastern Utah where she played on the college softball and basketball teams. She also attended Utah State University. Leslie worked in Provo and also in Salt Lake City at LDS Hospital, but she spent most of her life living in Orangeville. She enjoyed sports, music, and visiting with her nieces and nephews.
Leslie is survived by her parents of Orangeville; her sister, Jennifer (Jeffrey) Johnson of Orem; three brothers: Stuart Ware of Lexington, Ken., Dennis (Tami) Ware of Orangeville, and Thomas Ware of Chicago, Ill.; and four nieces and eight nephews.
She was preceded in death by a brother, Douglas Ware, and by her maternal and paternal grandparents.
Funeral services will be Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at 2 p.m. at the Orangeville LDS Chapel. A viewing will be held one hour prior to the services at the church. Interment will be in the Orangeville City Cemetery. Services are in the care of Fausett Mortuary.


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- A girl's best friend showed up to her date in a fake mustache to spy on her and it is the definition of friendship goals 😎
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Just my way of sharing with family, friends, and anyone who will listen, the things that I have learned about my ancestors with a little bit about myself and my own little family in the mix.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Not So Wordless Wednesday: Oh You're The Babysitter, Right?
This post I wish to use as a teaching moment for anyone who makes assumptions when they see a woman with a baby and they try to guess the relationship. Don't guess. If you don't know, simply comment on how cute the baby is. Now that I am a few years out from this picture and people in my community know me and my daughter they don't make this mistake anymore. They know us. People of color are familiar that in African American homes that there can be quite a variance in the shades of complexions of family members. For folks who are not familiar with this, please don't assume someone is the help. I am just saying.
8 comments:
"Don't guess." Great advice!!! I have never seen the above photo - and gosh I love your energy in this picture. xoxo ps. Been reading African history and I have some info you may be interested in - check your email.ReplyDelete
I and my sibs are Irish/German. My brother married a woman who is Polish/Mexican. One daughter looks like my sister in law and the other looks like my brother. People thought she was sitting her own daughter too.ReplyDeleteReplies
People make this mistake quite a bit. I think LindaRe put it beautifully. Thanks for stopping by.Delete
That's a beautiful photo. I can tell by mama's smile that she is in love with baby. A woman I met was busy talking about her 21 year old son and on her lap was a baby I assumed was her grandchild. Big mistake, the baby was her child. You are right. Few words, compliment the baby and if you are around long, the relationship will be revealed.ReplyDeleteReplies
That's what I'm saying :)Delete
great advice! people can say such ignorant things and be completely unaware.ReplyDelete
I found your picture on google and wanted to ask your permission to use in on my wordpress blog, with full credit and a link to your blog, of course. I've already typed out a full explanation and lost it twice (grrrrr...) due to google not letting me use my wordpress ID and my computer battery dying w/out warning... the best way to reach me is probably my facebook email address, as I haven't checked my "real" email in months: email@example.com. I should "warn" you: I'm white, my daughter is white (at least as far as we know ;) ) but my daughter's son, due in May probably won't be, based on his father's complexion.
I hope you consider my request seriously and would like to hear from you. Your story would be a great complement to the one I'm writing and I *love* your pic. :)
Thank you for the compliment and for asking permission to use the picture. I would rather that you did not use it for your story. I do wish you the best of luck with writing your piece.Delete


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Best Food & Wine Pairings for Fall
Autumn marks the season for warm family get-togethers over meals laden with seasonal favorites such as pumpkins, apples, squash, and figs. Complementing these with wine can be tricky, especially with the wide variety of wine options on the market. Here are few ways to help you find the perfect wine to match autumn's delectable food selection.
Pot Roast
Nothing celebrates the chill in the air like a good old-fashioned family pot roast. Sumptuous and meaty, this dish is best paired with an equally hearty wine. A glass of full-bodied cabernet sauvignon or merlot is a great way to bring out the dish's beefiness, with the warmth of the wine balancing out the strong, rich flavor of the beef. This pairing evens out the palate, turning a simple pot roast into a gourmet feast.
Roast Chicken
Chicken is light yet hearty fare that goes well with autumn's fresh produce. Either roasted on its own, or surrounded by chopped vegetables such as pumpkin and carrots, it makes for a dependable autumn dinner that is lauded by many. Complement its delicate flavor with a glass of chardonnay or Pinot noir. The tartness in the wine highlights the dish's classic flavor, effortlessly blending with the rich flavors of autumn produce.
Pumpkin Risotto
With the abundance of pumpkin throughout the season, it's no surprise that autumn risotto features pumpkin as its star ingredient. Balance out the richness of the risotto with a glass of Pinot gris. This wine has a hint of spice and just the right amount of tartness to cut through the hearty pumpkin risotto.
Fruit-Laden Dishes
Desserts – either fresh and warm from the oven, or chilled overnight – are a fantastic way to end any meal. Whether it is a rich slice of cake or a fruity dish, ensure that you pick a wine that leans towards the light, fruity or flowery end of the palate. Veer away from the bolder selections and let the dessert shine. A glass of white wine like a Torrontés, Moscato, or Riesling makes a beautiful match for any dessert.
Thanksgiving Dinner
Thanksgiving Dinner is a huge mix of flavors and textures. Finding a single wine to match them all can be quite a daunting task. So before picking between a red or white wine, first consider which dish in your Thanksgiving menu has the boldest flavors and which dish leans towards more delicate flavors. From there, you can pick a wine that falls somewhere in the middle. Pinot noir and Sauvignon Blanc are generally good choices that complement a range of flavors.
Give these wine matching suggestions a try, keeping in mind that matching wine with food is all about balancing flavors. A strong wine goes amazing with an equally strong flavored dish, and vice versa. Just remember to never overpower the flavors of your autumn dishes and you won't go wrong.by


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Green River is celebrating the opening of a new hardware store. PD Ace Hardware officially opened its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony and a lot of grand opening hardware specials on April 8-9.
Duane and Penney Riches are the store owners. Duane said the idea of a hardware store for Green River has been on his mind for a long time and he felt it was a real need in the community. When the location on Main Street became available last year, the Riches purchased the property and began the long process of remodeling the former Politano market turning it into the show place hardware store it is today.
The Riches aren't strangers to the Green River business scene. They also own and operate the Melon Vine grocery store which has seen its share of renovations and expansions over the 29 years they have owned that business as well.
The dream of the hardware store became a reality on Dec. 18, 2010 when they opened the doors for business. The Riches employ three people at this time and also staff the store with personnel from the grocery store as needed.
Duane said, "We are trying to tailor our product line to the needs of the Green River people. We want to keep the Green River people in town to shop. We have plumbing and agricultural products. We are an Intermountain Farmers distributor and we have feeds, fencing, panels, troughs and animal health care products. We carry a wide variety of paint, too."
The new Green River store is well stocked with everything you can need in hardware. The store also has a supply of lumber, garden tools, potting soils, fertilizer, patio furniture, propane patio lights, bedding plants and vegetables, electrical supplies and much more.
The store has propane and Duane says he can special order anything you might need that isn't in stock. The bedding plants will come in around April 15 so Duane encourages everyone to start planting and enjoying the warmer weather. Store hours are 8 a.m.-7 p.m. each Monday-Saturday and the store is closed on Sundays.
"It's difficult to be in business in Green River. We are competing with the big boys, but we feel Green River deserves a store like this. We believe in being an independent retailer. We have three employees here at the hardware store, they are Maguel Ramirez, Diego Mendoza and Carlos Mendez. They are friendly and helpful. We have 12 employees at the Melon Vine store. We love our community, we always try to support our youth and community activities. Today in conjunction with the grand opening the Green River PTA is having a BBQ lunch and bake sale. The Melon Vine donated the food for the BBQ. We have always supported our community and they in turn support us. We invite everyone to come in and check us out. We believe we have competitive prices.
"We remodeled the entire building, we had a contractor and my wife Penney and employees helped. It has taken a lot of sweat and blood and a year's time, but we are here and we opened on Dec. 15. We are still working on the lumber yard.
"We have had many positive comments about the store. The Green River people have been very receptive, they can fix what they need to without having to travel out of town for parts and supplies. We've had a very positive response from the citizens," said Duane.
Many people came to help the Riches celebrate their new store, the Ace Hardware district manager from Grand Junction and Fruita came to welcome Duane. Duane had talked to the Ace Hardware people for about 2.5 years and when the location became available they helped Duane and Penney with the development of their new store. "The Riches are a good fit in our company. Ace Hardware is a cooperative. We help with new store development, the shortest time it ever took us to put together a store was four months and the longest took one owner 8.5 years. The store owner and the company work together. All store owners own stock in the corporation," said Ross Alvord. Tyler Liff from the Fruita, Colo. store and Keith Mutz were also involved in helping the Riches achieve their goal of owning a hardware store in Green River.
Alvord said there's a lot to learn and a lot to know about hardware. Space is always a challenge in a hardware store, there are always many more products available than there is room for in a store. The big warehouse for Ace Hardware is in Colorado Springs.
Green River Mayor Pat Brady welcomed the Ace Hardware store to Green River. He thanked the Riches for believing in Green River and investing in Green River's future. The ribbon cutting took place outside in the parking lot of the store. Duane cut the board which said Ace Hardware and Penney cut the ribbon with the giant scissors. Emery County Business Chamber president Tyler Jeffs and board members Keith Brady and Patsy Stoddard also participated. Emery County Commissioner Laurie Pitchforth along with Miss Melon Days Axia Herrera took part in the festivities.
Commissioner Pitchforth said, "This store is a great addition to the community. It looks great."


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By Stephanie Rebman/NEMS Daily Journal
PONTOTOC – An Oxford woman was killed Thursday around noon in a one-vehicle crash in Pontotoc County.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, a 2006 Chervolet C4500 dually hydroplaned while traveling north on Mississippi Highway 9 and overturned several times.
Xanaka Burgess, 34, was pronounced dead at the scene. Passenger Teneeah Hilliard, 34, of Oxford, was taken by ambulance to North Mississippi Medical Center with moderate injuries.
Both Burgess and Hilliard were wearing seatbelts.
The accident remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.


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- 10 books from acclaimed author, Jacqueline Wilson.
- Grab a Jacqueline Wilson Box Set of 10 Books for only $59 today.
- Beautifully packaged box set.
- Lovely gift for any age!
- Includes: The Story of Tracy Beaker, Bad Girls, The Dare Game, The Lottie Project, Cliffhanger, The Illustrated Mum, The Bed and Breakfast Star, Buried Alive, Double Act, The Suitcase Kid.
Dame Jacqueline Wilson is an English writer known for her large and diverse work in Children's literature. Her books are classics, with 'The Tale of Tracy Beaker' being made into various television adaptations. Her novels deal with challenging themes such as divorce, adoption and mental illness, which have gained her many awards over the years, including the British Book Award in 2000 and 2003.
Today you can grab a beautiful box set of her works, with 10 paperback books, including 'Bad Girls' and 'Double Act'. The perfect gift for your young one, or even your not-so-young one who grew up with Jacqueline over the years.
- 10 books: The story of Tracy Beaker, Bad Girls, The Dare Game, The Lottie Project, Cliffhanger, The Illustrated Mum, The Bed and Breakfast Star, Buried Alive, Double Act, The Suitcase Kid.
- Paperback.
- Boxed dimensions: Length 12.5 cm, Height 20.5 cm, Depth 13.5.
- By acclaimed children's author, Jacqueline Wilson.
Book Descriptions:
The Suitcase Kid
10 year old Andy's parents have recently divorced and are remarrying. She doesn't like the other parents and their children, feeling very alone and upset; her grades go down in school also. She seeks comfort in her pet Rabbit and goes on a wild goose chase to find her when she accidentally drops her. Her parents are worried sick.
Double Act
Focused around identical twins, Ruby and Garnet. They live with their father and grandmother since their mum passed away. As their father moves on and forms a new relationship, the girls move away to the country and don't like it. They want to audition for a show in the city and battle between the disapproval of the father, and the encouragement of his partner.
Buried Alive
Tim's quiet holiday in Wales is disrupted with two bullies who cause havoc, making it "Truly Terribly Adventurous". He encounters struggle when his bestfriend Biscuits is introduced to Tim's energetic friend, Kelly.
The Bed and Breakfast Star
Elsa is going to be a big star one day, spending her current days telling jokes and entertaining her family. They aren't laughing as much, since they lost their house and have had to move to a bed and breakfast hotel.
The Illustrated Mum
Dolphin adores her mother, Marigold's style. She wears bright wonderful clothes, has big bright hair, and vivid tattoos all over her body; a style to match her colourful life. But Dolphin's older sister, Star, is beginning to question if living with their mum (and her unpredictable moods) is best for the both of them.
Tim is hopeless at sport, and yet he has a weekend full of adventures and testing stamina. From climbing to absailing to canoeing and a Crazy Bucket Race. Can his team - The Tigers - win the overall game and be the champions?
The Lottie Project
Charlie's new teacher is not what she's used to, and assigns her with a project on the Victorian Era. But Charlie's active imaginiation leads her to great research and amazing discoveries, including information on Lottie, a nursemaid from the Victorian Era with an interesting past.
The Dare Game
Tracy Beaker has bought a big fat purple notebook for writing down her ultra-scary stories, including the ones about her meanie foster-mum who won't buy designer clothes and lives in a small flat. She's waiting for her real-mum to come back, but until then, no-one can be better at the Dare Game than her.
Bad Girls
Mandy has been picked on at school for years, so when Tanya comes around and befriends her, she is so happy. Her mum isn't too sure though, getting the feeling that Tanya is a 'bad girl' and a bad influence. Is she though?
The Story of Tracy Beaker
All told in Tracy's words, this book focuses on her creative and vibrant world in a Children's Home. Often funny, this book is also touching and beautifully observed. As she says "It's the most incredible dynamic heart-rending story".
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