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International Horror Hotel
A Haunted Event for the living and DEAD!
Main Page
Horror Hotel News Blog
Best of Horror Hotel
Horror Hotel - Cleveland
Horror Hotel TV Show
Drive-In Theater
Horror Hotel Photo Gallery
The Indie Gathering
The REEL TV Network
Contact Us
e Shop
2016 Award Winners
Film Screenings
FX Makeup Competition
Scream Queen Contest
Drive-in Theater
Lecture Room
Event Location
Film Submissions
Script Submissions
Film Scoring Contest
Horror Hotel Blog
2015 Award Winners
2014 Awards List
2013 Awards List
Review by:
So today staff Member Jeremy and I are heading off to a convention that we have never attended before. I found out about the show thru a friend, Tim Gross of Gross Movie Reviews fame, and thought since it was an Ohio convention that I needed to go. This was even more important to me because the show's focus was on supporting independent filmmakers in Ohio and as many of you know we here at Gutmunchers are all about the indy filmmakers.
Convention day started off like they always do with out traditional stop at McDonalds for breakfast. Yeah I'm going to talk about food again because you know I'm fat. After a tasty breakfast of a Bacon Egg and Cheese biscuit we jumped in the car and let the Garmin get us to the convention center. Well sort of that is. The damn thing actually took us to someone's house! Lucky for us it did get us within a couple miles of the hotel/convention center so we weren't late.
After checking in and getting our press passes we hit the dealers room. Right by the door were our favorite Bastards of Horror Tim and Charlie. Also there were Rich from Horror Realm and Rick "of the Dead" Fusselman. It was great seeing the guys and we chatted for quite a while. Rick had a stack of video store posters for sale and I picked up a couple killer items from him including a Mutant poster (big John Cardos fan) and a sweet looking Silent Night Deadly Night video poster. I took my purchase out to the car and headed back into the show for some of the events that I wanted to attend.
Before I get into the panels I wanted to make something very clear. Many of us have gone to shows before. Most of them are opportunities to meet the actors, directors, and makeup effects people responsible for our favorite movies. We sit in rooms and listen to stories about how they made the movies that we all love. Or we hit the dealers room and spend money on autographs. Horror Hotel isn't one of those shows. This is especially so of the panels which are geared more towards aspiring actors and filmmakers. It is a chance for those that have been making movies to share what works and more importantly what doesn't work.
The first panel that Jeremy and I went to was the Fight Scenes and stunts panel hosted by Ray Szuch. Ray is a local martial artist that has worked on several movies and produces his own television show. Not only was he very informative in how to get good stunts on screen without spending a lot of money but he was also one of the nicest guys that I've ever met. He is a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as knowing all sorts of others that can be helpful. If you are making independent movies in Ohio you need to talk to Ray.
Next up was a panel about acting in a low budget horror movie. In this panel were Kristina Michelle, Travis Bowen, and Michael Trivisonno. This was an excellent look at the ins and outs of working on low or no budget movies. There were some great stories about some of the contracts and things that directors and producers do to cut corners. I asked a couple of questions including one about any shady things that they have seen a director try to do on set. This was a very interesting and informative panel.
I took a break from the panels to wander around the dealers room and meet some of the filmmakers who were at the show. One of the people that I met was Matthew Brooks who made an interesting looking movie called Bone Cave. You can expect a review for the site in the near future. I also spent some time with Tim Gross at their table. Somehow I made the decision to but a giant box of VHS tapes from him, though I now own some "classic" Jean Claude movies on tape now so I suppose that is a good thing.
After tossing my latest purchases into the Jeep we headed back into the show for the next panel. This was the one on scoring a film and featured one of the guys behind Midnight Syndicate, Edward Douglas. I've had the pleasure of meeting Ed at several other shows but I've never heard him discuss how he scores a movie. It is funny because when I've reviewed independent movies I've always know that there was something off in the music, but I've never been able to put my finger on it. After hearing Ed talk about film scores and music I have a much better idea and appreciation for those independent movies that do the music right. I suppose this is what happens when you spend time with smart people.
In between this panel and the live recording of the Reel Show I took the time to find Michael Trivisonno in the dealers room. He was in one of my favorite Ohio Indy horror films, Bigfoot from director Bob Gray, so I needed to meet him. What a great guy. Not only did he sign my DVD but he also spent quite a few minutes just shooting the breeze about movies and the other projects that he is working on. I'm very excited to check out what he has been up to and you guys can expect reviews of his film projects to be coming to the site very soon. Meeting Mike was one of the highlights of the day for me.
Jeremy and I stopped back in to watch the live recording of the Reel Show. This is one of the programs that is on Reel TV Network. They actually wanted to interview yours truly. Normally I'm very shy… Yeah not really. I had a great time talking to Kristina about the site and my love of all things movie related. I've checked out some of her earlier shows are really dug them.
It had been a long day since I had to get up early to drive up to the convention. Both Jeremy and I were starved and I realized that we were very close to one of our favorite Japanese buffets. Yeah that is right I'm going to talk food again! So we took off and went to grab some food and reflect on the day. I had a wonderful time at Horror Hotel. Being around people who have a true love for movies and are actually out there trying to make them recharged my batteries. This is something that we as fans need to support and encourage. I know that I've already said this but it is worth pointing out again. If you are an independent filmmaker or an aspiring one you need to go to the next Horror Hotel show. You can count on seeing me there too.
Written by: John Shatzer, www.gutmunchers.com
"Trio of Terror" reviews Horror Hotel
Read it
Main Page
Horror Hotel News Blog
Best of Horror Hotel
Horror Hotel - Cleveland
Horror Hotel TV Show
Drive-In Theater
Horror Hotel Photo Gallery
The Indie Gathering
The REEL TV Network
Contact Us
e Shop


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FDNY crews are extinguishing a roof fire at an abandoned Port Authority building on the former Port Ivory site in Staten Island's Mariners Harbor section.
The fire which broke out at 3:55 p.m. began on the roof of the two-story office building on Western Avenue, which is in the process of being demolished.
There are no reports of any injuries, and the fire appears to be under control.
Western Avenue is blocked off at the scene of the fire and motorists are being told to turn around.
A cause was not immediately available.

subset: commoncrawl


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Rome wasn't built in a day, and it's pretty clear Forest Grove's town center won't be redeveloped anytime soon. But, hey, that doesn't mean there isn't room for encouragement.
Some 18 months after the city plunked down $830,000 to buy the vacant Times-Litho Co. site between Pacific and 21st avenues, we're starting to see and hear some tangible, if tiny, signs of progress.
In late June, city officials gave a representative of Sycan B Corp. a tour of the community after the Springfield-based company expressed interest in redeveloping the 2.68-acre property.
Early in July, work crews demolished a vacant single-family house on B Street, the west side of the property. The derelict structure lacked redevelopment potential and had begun to attract transients, city officials said.
Then, just last week, a citizen group said it was exploring the idea of establishing an indoor market at the former printing plant.
All of this activity comes after a months-long market study to envision possible uses for the site after the city acquired the property in December 2012. An advisory committee earlier this year recommended that the city partner with a developer, offer financial incentives and aim to redevelop the site into a mix of apartments, specialty shops and a public plaza.
The city reached out to developers but didn't get a single nibble by its May deadline. Days later, Sycan B Corp sent a letter saying the firm might be interested in building a hotel. The company specializes in real estate development and property management.
Preliminary talks between the two parties are continuing.
Meanwhile, a group of citizens caught the ear of City Manager Michael Sykes at a recent Wednesday Farmers Market and tossed out the idea of housing a year-round market that would offer locally sourced foods.
The group has been working with representatives of Adelante Mujeres, the nonprofit that runs the Forest Grove Farmers Market, the Dairy Creek Community Food Web and others to push for the market's opening next spring, according to reporting by the Leader's Edwin Rios.
Sykes says the city is interested in receiving more details about the proposal, and a spokeswoman for the citizen group pledges to follow up with a business plan.
Even if the group can show the idea is financially viable – and were able to gain City Council approval – the market most likely would be a short-term use of the Times Litho site.
The larger goal, of course, is to attract a developer who can work with the city to completely re-do the site and build something of long-term value. Whether it's housing or retail (how many times have we heard residents clamor for another grocery store?) or a combination of the two, taxpayers deserve a well thought-out and thoroughly vetted plan for the property.
As we've pointed out before, other cities in the metro area, notably Gresham, Sherwood and Oregon City, have achieved varying degrees of success in giving their downtown a makeover through public-private partnerships.
In Forest Grove, city officials appear to be taking all the right steps, even if progress hasn't come as swiftly as they'd like. Certainly, city officials should continue discussions with Sycan B Corp about a hotel, but they should also give the indoor market idea serious consideration as a temporary use.
Wouldn't it be nice to see some activity again after six years of the property lying idle? If nothing else materializes in the coming months, an indoor market would be a welcome addition to the town center and might even inspire a second look from the development community.


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Federal, provincial investment | Money will be used to help producers improve biosecurity, says federal ag minister
The deadly porcine epidemic diarrhea virus has never been found in British Columbia and both government and hog producers want to keep it that way.
On May 15, the provincial and federal governments announced funds of $613,050 through the Growing Forward program for increased surveillance and preventive measures to keep the virus out.
PED has been found in Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec and Prince Edward Island since it first entered Canada this year, though Ontario has seen the bulk of infected barns.
The virus is endemic in the United States, where it is a factor at hog operations in 30 states and has killed millions of piglets.
Funding provided to the B.C. Pork Producers Association will be used to enhance biosecurity for transport trucks and truck washes, according to a B.C. government news release.
Two pork processing plants and 21 hog farms will get support to develop response and containment plans should the virus become a factor.
Auditing and application of national standards for on-farm biosecurity will also be covered. The provincial hog industry will cost share actions that require equipment purchase or infrastructure expense, according to a provincial news release.
Federal agriculture minister Gerry Ritz emphasized the importance of biosecurity in his remarks.
"Vigilance towards PED is key to reducing its impact on the Canadian agricultural sector and the economy as a whole," he said.
"This investment will provide the B.C. Pork Producers Association with the tools and resources it needs to support producers and processors in improving biosecurity."
B.C agriculture minister Norm Letnick referred to the province's recently updated animal health act, which he said would improve monitoring and disease management.
Pork producer president Jack Dewit praised the government funding.
"The health of our animals is absolutely paramount to B.C. pork producers, and these surveillance and preventative measures really help reduce the chances of PED arriving and spreading in our province," Dewit said. "Some U.S. farmers have been devastated by the outbreak of PED in their states, so B.C. producers clearly recognize the value of the on-the-ground action and response plans this funding brings to us."


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BAY CITY, MI – Everything was coming together in magical fashion for Bay City River Roar president Elaine Rico.
Until one boat went rogue.
After dodging nasty weather and drawing thousands of fans for three days of rock concerts and powerboat races, Rico's weekend was wrapping up in ideal style as she conducted opening ceremonies for the River Roar finals Sunday.
Suddenly, the Saginaw River – which was supposed to be silent during the ceremonies – roared to life as a lone powerboat began circling the downtown Bay City course.
"I'm thinking 'Who in the heck is this boat in the water?' And then I see it's No. 13 – oh, no, it's my boyfriend," said Rico. "I may be River Roar president, but he does not get special treatment. So I was pretty miffed.
"We had Judge Tim Kelly here to sing and (State Rep.) Charles Brunner was here, and we were presenting two keys to the city... and I'm thinking 'He's ruining everything!'"
But Formula Light powerboat driver Chris Carrigan was only adding to the magic.
As Carrigan steered his boat past the grandstands, the Veterans Memorial Park crowd cheered its approval. As he slowed in front of the officials tent where the ceremonies were centered, Rico discovered why.
"Then I read it on the boat: 'Elaine, will you marry me?' And now... we're getting married!" Rico said.
With River Roar announcer Jeff Doan and board member Chad Cunningham providing a play-by-play on the public address system – pretending to be every bit as surprised as Rico that this marriage proposal was part of the opening ceremonies – Rico waved the checkered flag as a signal of her acceptance.
"That was my first checkered flag," Carrigan said.
The third-year powerboat racer from Fenton finished eighth out of 17 drivers when he returned to the water in his official capacity for the Formula Light race later in the afternoon. But as race fans and race officials – one who told him "I had tears in my eyes, man!" – lined up to pat him on the back, Carrigan considered the day his biggest victory.
"I was looking for a cool way to propose, and the billboard at the Tigers game has been played out," he said. "Then I thought, 'Wait, what's the ultimate stage for her?' We could do it right here, with a captive audience.
"This ties it in to our extended families. Her extended family is all the River Roar people and all the volunteers, and mine is the drivers and the pit crews. And this is the one place where we're all together."
Rico has been a longtime fixture on the board of the 27th annual River Roar, helping to bring in nearly 10,000 people each year for the races, the carnival and concerts such as Fuel on Friday and Alice Cooper on Saturday. Her organization has raised more than $1 million for local charities through its yearly effort.
But coordinating the event always left little time for her boyfriend of eight years.
"I used to tell him to bring someone along because I wasn't going to have time for him," Rico said. "He would walk around, watch the boats and listen to the boats... Then one day, he bought a boat. He said 'Honey, you did this to me.'
"I love this event, I love boat racing, I love raising money for charities and I love that the whole community comes together for this. So now he's part of something I love."
Carrigan became a very special part of it this year. The owner of a construction company in Fenton, Carrigan recruited help from his daughters Caitlyn and Clarissa and Doan and Cunningham – not to mention the American Powerboat Association and the U.S. Coast Guard, which was enforcing a no wake zone at the time – to pull off his perfect proposal.
"You know, this is her day," he said. "This was just perfect to do it here."


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Hello, RzVids, and welcome to the RuneScape Wiki!
Thank you for taking an interest in our wiki. If you have any trouble or need help, feel free to ask questions on my talk page or any other editor's talk page. Also, you could look at a help page or shout out on the local forums. We hope you like it here and decide to stay!
Here are a few pages to help out new editors such as yourself:
Please sign your name on talk pages by using four tildes (~~~~) or use the "sign" button () above the edit box. This will automatically produce your name and the date. Signing your comments is important, as it lets other editors know who has posted which comments.
Again, welcome! Iiii I I I 01:52, November 29, 2010 (UTC)
Please do not remove content from or add nonsense to RuneScape Wiki pages, as you did to the article Equipment Stats. It is considered vandalism. If you would like to experiment, please use the sandbox. Thank you. Evil1888 Talk A's L 03:03, December 2, 2010 (UTC)
Your image Edit
Dear sir, I have deleted your image of the equipment stats screen. This is because we already have an image of that, and your image does not add anything new. Though in the future, if you want to add a different version of an image that we already have, please upload it as a new version of that image by going to the image page, then clicking "upload a new version of this file". This is not to say that you can upload the image which I deleted as a new version of the image we already have, as it still adds nothing new and should not therefore be uploaded. This is simply for future situations. Thanks, Psycho Robot talk 04:49, December 2, 2010 (UTC)
- Please stop uploading this image, as it is of no use to us. Thanks, Psycho Robot talk 04:59, December 2, 2010 (UTC)
- Ahem. If you don't stop I will have no choice but to block you from uploading files or editing the wiki. Psycho Robot talk 05:15, December 2, 2010 (UTC)
Cyclopean helmetEdit
Hi, we already have images of that. Can you stop adding it please? ʞooɔ 01:12, December 20, 2010 (UTC)
Christmas Edit
Why did you add that the event was removed on 11 January 2010? We don't know when it will be removed. ʞooɔ 02:22, December 21, 2010 (UTC)
how much u wanna bet it will? —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RzVids (talk).
- As of now without any proof, you cannot say it will end then, and because it is unable to be proven, it will stay out of the mainspace. 06:41, December 21, 2010 (UTC)
I have no reason to bet you. But you have zero proof other than speculation that this date will be true. ʞooɔ 09:42, December 21, 2010 (UTC)
- So you were a week off. ʞooɔ 00:07, January 5, 2011 (UTC)
- Just so you know, because of this kind of things(you were 7 days off) we don't want speculation on our pages. This would misinform people, which is not what we want. JOEYTJE50TALK pull my finger 00:19, January 5, 2011 (UTC)
Comments on your wiki activity Edit
First of all, it seems no one's directed you explicitly to this yet, so read: RS:IMAGES, and in particular, the sections on image use. If you really think that your images, and in particular, the one you somewhat File:Frfrfrfr.png, will improve a page - and not just act as unnecessary content - do continue to upload images... but please give thought to your actions before you perform them.
Second, if you're so confident about the date, instead of using this knowledge to combine a express superiority with annoying smugness, I'd suggest you just put up a source and prove yourself right.http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/9085/picture50copy.png | Ablm578Talk 06:29, December 21, 2010 (UTC)
Re:Deleting images Edit
What? I can't delete pages, I'm not an admin. Sentra246 17:11, December 23, 2010 (UTC)
My retardation Edit
No, I don't think I am retarded. Could you please tell me why you think I am? In the future can you also say things without insulting people? ʞooɔ 22:54, December 31, 2010 (UTC)
- The images you uploaded that I have deleted have either been very low quality or unnecessary or unused. The w117 Dungeoneering map has no place here either as it's not an official thing and we have no information on that for a reason. I suggest that you read our Images and media policy. ʞooɔ 01:40, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- Firstly, punctuation is your friend. Secondly, I am not making up the rules; they are in our policies. If you have a problem with it start a RfU. ʞooɔ 02:04, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- The images you've uploaded have also been duplicates (especially in the case of the cyclopean helmet glitch images) or also personal images which don't have a place here. ʞooɔ 02:06, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- Please don't talk to me like that. And I won't leave the edits you make alone if they're bad, useless, unused, or go against our policies. The ones that I have deleted were those. ʞooɔ 02:08, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- They were, though. There was the helmet glitch that was a duplicate, the neitiznot helm image that was personal, and others that were useless. Stop being so aggressive towards me. ʞooɔ 02:14, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- Was "Duplicate of existing image" not specific enough for you? I thought it was quite specific. And we only needed one cyclopean helmet glitch image, which was made very clear in the page's source. And you are correct that Jagex did not create this wiki. No one ever claimed that. By the way, I am not about to cry, thank you very much ʞooɔ 02:23, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- They were, though. There was the helmet glitch that was a duplicate, the neitiznot helm image that was personal, and others that were useless. Stop being so aggressive towards me. ʞooɔ 02:14, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- Please don't talk to me like that. And I won't leave the edits you make alone if they're bad, useless, unused, or go against our policies. The ones that I have deleted were those. ʞooɔ 02:08, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- The images you've uploaded have also been duplicates (especially in the case of the cyclopean helmet glitch images) or also personal images which don't have a place here. ʞooɔ 02:06, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- Firstly, punctuation is your friend. Secondly, I am not making up the rules; they are in our policies. If you have a problem with it start a RfU. ʞooɔ 02:04, January 1, 2011 (UTC)
- (New indent.) Hi, there, let's take a step back for a moment and calm down. From the looks of it, Cook has been acting in accordance with our policies, however, is there a specific grievance that you have? Hopefully we can resolve this with cooler heads and any misunderstandings can be clarified.--
- Cook asked me to speak with you instead, as you two seem to be going around in circles.--
- Yes, I'm also one of the wiki's five active bureaucrats.--
- I understand that it's frustrating to have your edits either reverted or deleted, however, some of the images that you uploaded seem to be duplicates of others. Now, as per standard procedure, we remove any unnecessary copies in order to keep the wiki orderly. I'm sorry that you felt that we didn't appreciate your edits/images, there seems to have been a miscommunication to you. Though, if there are any specific deletes you felt were unfair, I'll take a look at them.--
Don't do that EditThis is considered vandalism. You should know better.
- He just means you should not be adding personal messages to articles as such. Simple mistake, no big deal.--Degenret01 04:36, January 4, 2011 (UTC)
British spelling Edit
It's spelled realised in Britain; please read our style guide. MolMan 19:51, September 7, 2012 (UTC)
Blocked Edit
So, despite being warned that your edit violated the style guide, you went ahead and added it back anyway. This has earned you a one-day block. Please read the style guide and RS:3RR before making any further contributions to the wiki. --Andorin (Talk) (Contribs) 20:42, September 7, 2012 (UTC)
I undid your edit (effect vs affect) Edit
But don't let one mistake discourage you. Keep making the wiki better. Thanks, 3ICE (talk) 06:43, September 13, 2012 (UTC)
Three pointsEdit
- Use your damned brain for half a second before editing. If your edit is being repeatedly reverted, then there's a very good reason for it. Persistent addition of previously removed information, like on Distractions and Diversions Locations/Penguin Hide and Seek, is bordering on vandalism and may lead to a block.
- Read this, NOW!!
- And this, since you don't seem to know it already.
Please think before editing in future, assuming you are capable of such a feat. AnselaJonla 18:18, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
- And you are now blocked because you are so relentlessly persistent in ignoring the two policies linked above. AnselaJonla 18:23, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
- That isn't fair, you sent this message after I re-did the edit. Therefore blocking me was irrevelant. The information listed already isn't relevant as you can find penguins in any world, so I gave it a purpose. —The preceding unsigned comment was added by RzVids (talk).
- Actually, Recent Changes Hybrid shows there was 1 minute 16 seconds between my first message and your last addition to the page. Plenty of time to notice the new messages bubble and look at this page. Am I to understand that you will not desist in adding the w60 chats to the page? AnselaJonla 18:34, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
- P.S. sign your talk page messages with ~~~~
- I wasn't informed, it just shows the notification which I can barely notice, also half the time it doesn't show up maualizing me to do it myself. I will cease if it causes any inconvenience, just wanted to help people if they got fustrated with finding penguins on their own since the penguins roaming areas are considerably large. So the chats are there to be utilized for everyone's advantge, have you even been to them? RzVids (talk) 18:59, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
- I understand that you're trying to help, but it's one things to help, and it's another to add something that is being removed by administrators, bureaucrats, and other users that keep giving a specific reason in their edit summary. I think that this block is staying but once it expires, if someone undos your edit, bells and whistles should start to go off. (Also, considering your blocks before, the bells and whistles should be going off already, but you always learn from mistakes). Regarding your statement on being in the chats, I have been to the chats before, and I find them very helpful. But who is to say we choose a specific friends chat over another? Hair 19:03, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
- I honestly don't mind the block, since it's clear I've obviously earned it. I wasn't aware an administator or any higher of rank of mine was removing it. I deemed it was useful and another (someone of my tier) person didn't so I ignored it. Again, apologies for the decisions I have made and so forth won't edit the wiki since my editing preferences aren't allowed. RzVids (talk) 19:18, October 6, 2012 (UTC)
Archers' ringEdit
Thanks for adding it, but this price drop is already noted in the article. MolMan 01:14, March 22, 2014 (UTC)


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Students can connect to the internet using personal laptops or mobile phones. Visit the Universities wireless access page (requires Unikey) for information on setting up a wireless connection and access points.
Wireless access is available in the courtyards of both the Economics and Business Building H69 and the Merewether Building H04.
Power sockets are available in the courtyard in the Economics and Business Building H69.
© 2002-2016 The University of Sydney. Last updated: 21 November, 2014
ABN: 15 211 513 464. CRICOS number: 00026A. Phone: +61 2 9351 2222.
Contact the University | Disclaimer | Privacy | Accessibility


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Dan Raviv
|This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (May 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
Dan Raviv (born 1954) is an American journalist. He is a national correspondent for CBS News, heard regularly on the CBS Radio Network. He has also done TV reports from Washington, D.C. on the CBS Evening News.
Raviv is host of a weekly radio magazine show, the CBS News Weekend Roundup.[1]
A New York City native and graduate of Harvard, Raviv joined CBS at its all-news radio station in Boston (WEEI) in 1974, moving to WCBS Newsradio in New York in 1976, then to the network radio newsdesk in New York. The start of his on-air career was his assignment in the Tel Aviv bureau, from 1978 to 1980, followed by twelve years as radio correspondent in the London bureau. There, he began making occasional appearances on CBS TV. He worked in the Miami bureau from 1993 to 1997, and then was named National Correspondent in the radio unit at CBS News in Washington.
He is also the author of several books, including the 1990 best seller Every Spy a Prince: The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community, a newer history of Israeli espionage and security, Spies Against Armageddon: Inside Israel's Secret Wars (2012),[2] and Friends In Deed: Inside the U.S.-Israel Alliance (1994), all three co-authored with journalist Yossi Melman. Raviv is the sole author of Comic Wars: How Two Tycoons Battled Over the Marvel Comics Empire — and Both Lost.[3][4] Three of his books are available as e-books. He and Melman have a blog, IsraelSpy.com
Raviv is married, with two adult children.
See also[edit]
- ^ CBS News Weekend Roundup Archive
- ^ [1] by Dan Raviv, Levant Books, July 2012
- ^ Comic Wars by Dan Raviv, Broadway Books, April 2002
- ^ Toy Biz
External links[edit]
- Appearances on C-SPAN
|This biographical article related to television journalism in the United States is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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JIM ROMANOFF, Associated Press - -
One of the many appealing things about a burrito is that an often surprising range of ingredients can be rolled up into a complete meal in a single package.
But other less desirable surprises also can lurk inside burritos, especially extra fat and calories you may not have bargained for.
Article Photos
AP Photo - - Creole-inspired red beans and rice in a whole-wheat wrap form the basis for this healthy take on burritos.
AP Photo - - A delicate combination of Indian spices and flavors come together to make keema, served over a soft, warm flatbread like naan.
These Creole-style burritos are inspired by the flavors of the Gulf coast, take only about 35 minutes to make, and are built with less fattening ingredients.
First off, they're vegetarian, eliminating one of the chief culprits behind gut-busting burritos fatty meat fillings like ground beef or pork.
Here, red beans and rice, a Louisiana favorite, bring the heft and some protein to the party. The recipe calls for a convenient boxed rice and beans mix, but you can use homemade, especially if you're looking to cut down on the sodium. However, you may want to use a bit more Cajun seasoning to keep the flavors popping.
Vegetables make up the rest of this Mardi Gras-inspired wrap. Again, for convenience we call for a packaged frozen pepper and onion stir-fry mix, but if you have the time, you can fry up your own.
A handful of baby spinach adds more color and nutrients and is a healthy switch from the typical iceberg lettuce that's often found in this kind of dish.
And of course, no burrito would be complete without some cheese. We've kept things light by blending full-flavored, full-fat pepper jack cheese with some lower calorie reduced-fat cheddar.
Last, but not least, we wrap everything up in a whole-wheat tortilla. When it comes to wraps you need to choose carefully because tortillas vary widely in nutrition. A flour tortilla can have as few as 100 calories and about 1 gram of fat, or as many as 400 calories and 12 grams of fat.
Creole-Style Burritos
Start to finish: 35 minutes (15 minutes active). Serves 6.
NOTE: An 8-ounce box of red beans and rice mix will make about double the amount needed to fill these burritos. You can either make half the box (you will need to adjust the package cooking times and reduce the amount of broth used), or serve the excess on the side.
8-ounce package red beans and rice mix
3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 cup grated pepper jack cheese
1 cup grated reduced-fat cheddar cheese
16-ounce package frozen pepper and onion stir-fry mix, thawed
1/2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
6 burrito-size whole-grain tortillas
2 cups fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup salsa
Heat the oven to 350 F.
Cook beans and rice according to package directions, substituting the broth for the water called for.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, toss together both cheeses. Set aside.
In a large skillet over medium-high, combine the pepper and onion mix with the Cajun seasoning. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables are dry, about 5 minutes. Set aside.
Sprinkle 1/4 cup of the cheese blend over each tortilla. There will be about 1/2 cup remaining.
Spoon about 1/3 cup of the rice and beans over the bottom two-thirds of each tortilla. Spread about 1/3 cup of the pepper-onion mix over the rice. Pile some of the baby spinach on top of the peppers. Fold in 2 sides of each tortilla and roll-up. Arrange the burritos, seam-side down, in a baking dish. Top each with salsa and some of the remaining cheese.
Bake the burritos for about 15 to 20 minutes, or until heated through and the cheese is melted.
Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 313 calories; 98 calories from fat (31 percent of total calories); 11 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 21 mg cholesterol; 36 g carbohydrate; 16 g protein; 4 g fiber; 721 mg sodium.
Think of it as the 'sloppy joe' of India
Flatbread, spices lend the right note of authenticity to this presentation
J.M. HIRSCH, Associated Press
Think of keema as the sloppy joe of India.
You pretty much brown ground meat -- in this case turkey, but chicken, bison or lean beef would be fine, too -- with a bit of oil, garlic and diced onion. Then you add spices (technically the "keema"), a bit of yogurt to make it creamy and some fresh herbs. That's it.
While you could continue the sloppy joe analogy and spoon the mixture onto burger buns, you also could get some naan flatbread. Most grocers sell packages of naan in the bakery section.
Keema Turkey with Peas and Mint
Start to finish: 25 minutes. Serves 4
2 tablespoons canola oil
1 large yellow onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 pound lean ground turkey
1 tablespoon garam masala
1 teaspoon turmeric
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1/2 cup water
1 cup fresh (or thawed frozen) peas
1/4 cup plain Greek-style yogurt
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
Salt, to taste
1/2 tablespoon chopped fresh mint
4 large naan or other flatbreads, warmed
In a large skillet over medium-high, heat the oil. Add the onion and
garlic, then saute for 5 minutes. Add the ginger and cook for another minute.
Add the turkey and cook until the meat starts to brown, about 7 to 8 minutes. Add the garam masala and turmeric, then saute for another minute.
Add the tomato paste and water and heat, stirring to mix, for another minute. Add the peas, then cover and cook for 3 minutes.
Uncover the pan, then stir in the yogurt. Season with salt, then stir in the cilantro and mint. Serve with naan.
Nutrition information per serving (values are rounded to the nearest whole number): 477 calories; 163 calories from fat (34 percent of total calories); 18 g fat (4 g saturated; 0 g trans fats); 65 mg cholesterol; 47 g carbohydrate; 32 g protein; 7 g fiber; 607 mg sodium.


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In a one-bid league like Wagner College's Northeast Conference, the scramble for conference tournament position is what drives the level of intensity during the stretch run of a regular season.
"Everybody's playing for something during the last four games," is the way Long Island University coach Jim Ferry described the atmosphere Thursday night after his league-leading Blackbirds beat Wagner 83-79 in a wild overtime victory that included 13 ties and 11 lead changes. "We're playing to win the conference. They are playing to get a home game in the tournament.
"Teams really go at each other," said the coach of the ninth most potent offense in the country, and the team to beat in the NEC. "These are really playoff games, and that's the way everyone plays them."
That was certainly the case Thursday night, as LIU (21-5, 13-2) knocked down six consecutive free throws in the closing 24 seconds of overtime and Wagner (13-13, 9-5), led by 18 points from Latif Rivers, failed to score for three minutes after taking a 75-72 lead early in the extra session.
The loss dropped this surprising Wagner into a fourth-place tie with Robert Morris in the 12-team league with eight teams qualifying for the conference tournament. For the third time this season five players scored in double figures for coach Dan Hurley, including 16 points (12 in the second half) from guard Chris Martin. And the Seahawks rebounded close to even (38-32) with the fourth-best rebounding team in the nation.
But the Blackbirds aren't the No.1 road team in America with 12 wins for nothing. LIU muscled up a couple of crucial rebounds late, and made 7 of 8 from the free-throw line in overtime after the team that attempts more free throws than in America went 24 of 35 in regulation.
"They are obviously the class of the league," said Hurley, after LIU went 31 of 43 from the free-throw line overall, and got a game-high 21 points from guard David Hicks. "They're a really balanced team with a lot of underrated players."
LIU outlasts Wagner in Northeast Conference overtime thriller, 83-79
LIU came into Thursday night averaging 82.1 points per game and got a big boost off the bench in 32 minutes of 10 assist, zero turnover play from freshman point guard Jason Brickman.
But Ferry had impressed upon his club that the 84-54 drubbing they handed Wagner in Brooklyn on January was a distant event in the rear-view mirror of a college season.
"We knew this wasn't going to be like last time we played them," said LIU guard Kyle Johnson. "They play much better here, much faster. We knew we had to be aggressive."
LIU led 64-57 with five minutes to go in regulation, the largest lead of the game for either team, when Wagner came out of a soul-searching time out to score a three-point play on a Tyler Murray driving scoop bank shot in the lane.
Martin (four second-half three-pointers) followed that with a corner three-pointer to cut the LIU edge to 64-63 with 3:06 to go.
And it was Martin who forced the overtime session on a long three with 3.3 seconds left that tied the game at 71-71.
"During the timeout, we just talked about not letting them break the game open," said Murray of keeping the Blackbirds in sight. "We knew we had to score, and we did."
LIU is 18-1 this season when scoring 80 points or more, and the potency of the offense just seemed to wear on Wagner in the closing minutes. The Seahawks led 75-72 on a Naofall Folahan jam with 3:12 to go in overtime when a crushing Hicks three-pointer tied the game.
It was pretty much downhill from there for the Seahawks, who seemed to run out of gas just a tad in the closing minute of their first overtime loss of the season after three consecutive victories.
"We had some lapses," Murray (12 points) said of the defeat, with St. Francis, NY coming up Saturday at Spiro at noon. "Their record says they are the best team in the league. But this came down to a possession, and I hope we play them again."
NOTES: Saturday is Senior Day in Spiro Center ... Rivers has gone 4 of 4 and 11 of 12 from the free-throw line in Wagner's four overtime games ... The Seahawks outscored LIU 16-4 in second chance points ... Wagner forward Orlando Parker registered three blocks.


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Schoolteachers often have poor choices for retirement investing. While some are lucky enough to have low-cost plans from providers like TIAA-CREF, Fidelity, or Vanguard, others don't have great options for their tax-deferred retirement savings.
We've called out plan providers like AIG (NYSE: AIG ) before for their high expenses and lack of good choices. But things can get worse, as some Colorado teachers discovered recently.
So bad, it's criminal
The horrendous surrender charges and obscenely high management and investment expenses that you'll find in many 403(b) plans -- the nonprofit and educational equivalent of 401(k) plans -- technically are not crimes. But one investment advisor found a way to raise the bar rather dramatically.
Gordon Robert Moore, 30, of Longmont, Colo., a former investment advisor for AXA Equitable (NYSE: AXA ) , pleaded guilty to felony theft, felony securities fraud, and felony computer crime, according to the Colorado Attorney General's Office, in a scheme where $1.7 million was transferred out of the Public Employee Retirement Accounts of 141 Colorado schoolteachers. Moore forged documents that allowed funds to be shifted from Public Employee Retirement Accounts to accounts that he managed at AXA Equitable, according to the AG. He garnered $100,000 in management fees, according to media reports. That sounds like a motive to me.
Amazingly, Moore will likely face only probation. Why? Because, according to Nate Strauch, spokesman for the Colorado AG's Office, "He didn't steal the money. He transferred it."
I bet that made the teachers -- whose accounts might well have suffered trading losses on top of paying those fees -- feel a lot better.
Stay out of the game
That's an extreme example, but it should get us all thinking about our financial retirement plans. If you qualify, a Roth IRA may be a better option for teachers and other workers stuck in bad 403(b) plans. By directly investing in a Roth, you control the investment choices -- which can dramatically lower your annual costs versus a 403(b) plan. And don't forget to keep an eye on your nest egg.
Other Foolish Articles:


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Daniel Craig's A SLIPPERY ONE!
One more reason to see Star Wars…the delicious Daniel Craig!
Since May, there was a certain rumor ricocheting across the web (thanks to Simon Pegg's loose lips) that Craig delivers a cameo as a stormtrooper in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Not only did he VEHEMENTLY deny this rumor, according to EW, but he also seemed like, ANGRY that the rumor existed.
Well, the lady doth protest too much!
Apparently, the Spectre production took place across various soundstages just yards away from where The Force Awakens was being filmed, so basically Craig slipped out of his 007 suit and into stormtrooper gear. And yeah, that's exactly how it went down!
Craig does make a cameo in Star Wars VII as a stormtrooper, turning up in one of the movie's most memorably nostalgic scenes. "He did it for sh–s and grins," says one of the people with knowledge of the actor's performance, via Entertainment Weekly.
I can't wait to see how he fits into the mythology. Are you excited to see Bond in Space (that's what I'm calling Star Wars: The Force Awakens now)?
Photo: FameFlynet
Tags: actor, cameo, Daniel Craig, rumor, Star Wars
Friday, December 18th, 2015 at 1:13pm
Filed under Daniel Craig | No Comments


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With Christmas looming the Robins of Swindon emerged victorious after dominating a disappointing Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park.
Two first-half strikes from Italian striker Raffaele De Vita gave compatriot Paolo Di Canio's side a richly-deserved three points.
For Latics boss Paul Dickov it is back to the drawing board after their recent run of four wins in five ended with less than a whimper.
In a first-half uglier than the half-painted Chaddy End roof Oldham were taken apart by the rampant visitors who had no less than 10 shots on goal to none.
If this was a boxing match the hosts would not have been so much on the ropes as sprawled across the judges' laps in the front row such was Swindon's dominance.
They converted two of their chances but if truth be told it could have been much worse than 2-0 as the clueless home side failed to muster a shot on target.
Outmuscled, outthought and outfought Dickov's men were a shadow of the side that eased to victory at Colchester last weekend.
De Vita's first came after his header struck right-back Connor Brown and fell back to him to easily convert on the volley from six yards out.
Moments later he was first to right-back Nathan Thompson's low cross but his seemingly harmless effort richocheted off the hapless Brown and spun past Alex Cisak in the Latics goal.
Further chances came and went before, at last, half-time arrived not a minute too soon.
According to those downstairs Dickov's furious rant could be heard through the dressing room walls and up the corridors.
But two shots from the edge of the box straight at an otherwise-redundant Swindon keeper Wes Foderingham just after the break was as good as it got.
There was further pain for the Oldham boss when Cisak took a boot to the head and staggered off with blood pouring from a nasty-looking cut.
Having already made three substitutions it was left to forward Robbie Simpson to don the gloves.
And the loudest cheer of the match came deep into the seven minutes of injury time when he managed to punch a cross to safety.
It was that kind of afternoon.
Oldham: Cisak 5, Grounds 5, Wesolowski 5 (Smith 55, 5), M'Voto 5, Croft 5, Furman (c) 5, Derbyshire 5, Montano 4 (Simpson 69, 6), Byrne 5 (Brown 16), Baxter 5, Wabara 5
Subs (not used): Jacob, Tarkowski, Taylor, M'Changama
What is your verdict on the action? Have your say.


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Photos of the Day: December 5, 2012
Wednesday, December 05, 2012 7:45 AM
Inappropriate photo? Alert us.
Jamesville-DeWitt's Evan Dourdas, middle left, prepares to pass the ball to teammate James Dourdas, far right, as Bishop Ludden's Kyle Hawk, left, and Bishop Ludden's Cameron Littlejohn, middle, guard him Tuesday during the game at J-D. Bishop Ludden won, 57-45. Michelle Gabel/The Post-Standard
Related articles
- Photos of the Day: December 5, 2012 December 05, 2012, 7:56 AM


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Olu Dosunmu-Ogunbi will receive a bachelor's degree from UAB's school of business in December, so now is the time to start connecting with local employers.
That's why he attended UAB's "speed networking" jobs event on Monday night. "I wanted to get a leg up," he says.
Dosunmu-Ogunbi was one of roughly 50 students to meet with dozens of recruiters at UAB's Great Hall on Monday night. Each of the 16 companies represented by those recruiters received its own table, and for ten minutes at a time, between one and three students sat down to talk (briefly, of course) about their skills, interests, and career goals.
Many attendees -- on either side of the recruiting tables, in fact -- were open-minded about what the networking session might bring.
"We really don't know what to expect," said Christie Arp, a recruiter for Regions Bank. Arp said she has attended several similar networking sessions across the Southeast, and acknowledged that these preliminary networking events are designed to be more casual than, say, a formal job interview.
As for what students expected from the session, part of the problem for many was a lack of specificity about what they hope to do professionally after graduating. "I have no idea," one student said; another professed to be "looking for a job" -- as in, any job -- while another said he was "not sure" about what he'd like to do.
That wasn't the case for Dosunmu-Ogunbi. An aspiring entrepreneur who hopes to start a business in Nigeria, the birthplace of his parents, Dosumu-Ogunbi came to Monday's event hoping to network with retail professionals.
In fact, when asked about specific companies he'd like to talk to, his answer was quick and concise: "Target," he said.
Lucky for the graduating senior, Target is hiring. Heather Pulley, an executive team leader for the retail giant, says her company has an entire facility to staff; that's the new Super Target near the Brookwood Mall, slated to open in March 2013.
Amid the shuffling, the hand-shaking and the bell-ringing, Pulley had a chance to speak with Dosunmu-Ogunbi during one of the evening's ten-minute sessions. She said she noticed the big smile on his face as soon as started approaching the Target table, and found him to be approachable and confident.
"He seemed like he would be a great asset," she said -- as good an indication as any that the event was a success.


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It sounds like a strange WALL-E computer noise. I first heard it during the NFL game at Wembley stadium 2 weeks ago b/w the Rams and Pats. Now it has kicked in again during today's Texas A&M/Alabama game.
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Background audio on CBS Sports
Started by ehren , Nov 10 2012 05:39 PM
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Posted 10 November 2012 - 05:39 PM


text:
- 7 reviews of Belmont B&B in Warminster
- Write a review of Belmont B&B
Belmont is a substantial 4 storey house situated close to Warminster town centre on the prestigious Boreham Road. Built in 1870, the house has high ceilings and many original features associated with the Victorian era. All the spacious B&B rooms offer many facilities to make your stay as comfortable and welcoming as possible.
Ideally situated in superb Wiltshire countryside, Warminster is a convenient location to stay whilst visiting places like Longleat, Stonehenge, Stourhead and the beautiful cities of Bath and Salisbury.
Whether visiting for business or pleasure, Belmont B&B is just a 5 minute walk to the local amenities of the town centre (more details of which are available on the Local Attractions page). We also have a mainline railway station only a 10 minute walk away, so you can leave your car in our car park, relax and take the train to Bristol, Bath, Salisbury, Trowbridge, Westbury or even London.
We are strictly non-smoking throughout the house here at Belmont but there is an area outside for guests to smoke if needed. There is also plenty of off road parking available.
Please note that all rooms require access via stairs. Please enquire if you have any queries concerning mobility. Thank you.


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Woman #1: I know that ain't my homie over there
Woman w/ Obie: Well
Woman #1: Obie!
Woman w/ Obie: Is somebody calling you?
Obie: Nah, nah
Woman #1: Obie! One ball
Obie: All I'm sayin is I don't even know the situation
Woman w/ Obie: You know her?
Obie: No, uh uh, I don't know that bitch
Woman #1: Obie don't act like you can't see me
Woman w/ Obie: Well she's calling your name
Woman #1: Turn around and look at me
Obie: Oh shit, Candice this is Sheneneh
Woman #1: Who is this bitch? (*smack*) (*crashing noises*)
Obie: What the fuck! Security! Security!
Woman #1: Let me go!
Security: Come on ma'am
Woman #1: Tanisha get my purse
Obie: Get her outta here
Woman #1: Get my purse!
Obie: Get her the fuck outta here!
Security: Yo, get to her man, need some help with this bitch
Obie: Get that bitch outta here man
Woman #1: Obie! Obie! You know I'm having your babies
Woman #1: They twins, one look just like you, let me go!
Woman #1: And one of them look like your brother, ok let me go!
[Verse 1]
My hoodrat's fatal, they not stable
I could be at a dinner table
With 'Union, Gabrielle', fine as hell, pierce in the naval
Look at my rat like she act brand new
"Hey boo, how are you?"
Yeah, cool, now tally-o your ass back across the room
You see me with Pocahontas
I ain't tryin to be honorary but honestly I ain't tryin be bothered
You got a brain, define honors in college
You'd rather define how your knowledge in chronic
I'm tryin step my game up a notch, bitch


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Health System Ed hosts the election edition of the Health Wonk Review, where healthcare bloggers do their very best to keep democracy alive. This edition leads off with a set of opportunities for bi-partisan cooperation in healthcare. Amen to that!
The case for healthcare cooperation with Cuba
I learned quite a bit from a brief Perspective in the New England Journal of Medicine (The United States and Cuba –Turning Enemies into Partners for Health).
A June Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the US Department of Health and Human Services and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health lays out a wide variety of areas for cooperation, including infection diseases like Zika, plus cancer and chronic conditions.
Thanks to the embargo, products developed in Cuba aren't available in the US because they are not allowed into the FDA approval process. As a result, certain drugs like Heberprot-P, to reduce amputation risk for diabetic foot ulcers, aren't available in the US even though they are on the market in many other countries.
We don't need to copy the Cuban health system, but there are some lessons to be learned from Cuba's experience with population health, community-based programs, disease control, and chronic care management.
It isn't possible to fully implement the MoU now, because the embargo remains in place and only Congress can lift it. If Democrats take control of Congress, that could happen soon. If not, the author argues that the President has the authority to allow Cuban products into the US regulatory process just like products from any other country. He'd also like to see the President allow US students to attend medical school in Cuba, where some have been offered scholarships.
These all sound like good ideas to me and I hope they are implemented.
Image courtesy of taesmileland at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.
Mass Health Quality Partners: 21 years young
Health Business Group is a sponsor of the upcoming anniversary party for Massachusetts Health Quality Partners (MHQP). I asked MHQP's President, Barbra Rabson to reflect on the first couple decades.
MHQP is about to celebrate its 21st anniversary. What are you celebrating?
We are celebrating the courage and vision it took 21 years ago to found MHQP, and the amazing two decades of progress we've made since our inception. Our 21st anniversary is symbolic of our coming of age and reaching a level of maturity. MHQP has become an important part of the Massachusetts healthcare landscape over the decades thanks to the commitment and hard work of our diverse stakeholders – including patients, physicians, hospitals and payers. More than 40 sponsors and over 300 people are gathering on November 2 to celebrate MHQP's unwavering commitment to reliable healthcare measurement and transparency and our pioneering work in the Commonwealth and the nation to systematically capture the patient voice and integrate it into care improvements.
At our anniversary celebration we will be honoring the vision of MHQP's Founding Circle –Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA, Fallon Health Plan, MA Business Roundtable, MA Hospital Association (MHA), MA Medical Society (MMS), Harvard Pilgrim Health Care (HPHC), Tufts Health Plan and the State (Governor Charlie Baker was a founding member of MHQP when he was Secretary of Administration and Finance).
We will also be awarding MHQP's first award in honor of the late Richard Nesson, MD, a founding visionary of MHQP when he was the Chair of the MHA Board in 1995 when MHQP was established. We are delighted that Susan Edgman-Levitan, the executive director of the John D. Stoeckle Center for Primary Care Innovation at Massachusetts General Hospital and the founding president of the Picker Institute will be the first recipient of MHQP's H. Richard Nesson Award.
How has the environment changed in MA over the past 21 years? What role has MHQP played in that?
The healthcare environment is drastically different than it was when MHQP was founded in 1995. When MHQP first started collecting and reporting comparative statewide performance information, we were the only game in town. For example, MHQP's first in the nation statewide patient experience survey of acute care hospitals and public release came a full decade before CMS developed the hospital H-CAHPs survey! Likewise, when MHQP began collecting and reporting statewide clinical and patient experiences measures for ambulatory care, MHQP's data was the only reliable source for quality benchmarks for our provider organizations. Before MHQP's comparative quality reports, Massachusetts provider organizations only knew their own performance scores, they had no comparative benchmarks or best practices to drive performance improvements. Physician leaders (Barbara Spivak, Tom Lee and others) have told us MHQP's performance reports were invaluable to them because our reports became the writing on the wall that they needed to make significant investments in their organization in the form of electronic health records and quality improvement infrastructure to advance their performance to the level they aspired to.
Another big change is that our reimbursement systems now provide millions of dollars of incentives for provider organizations to improve performance. When MHQP first started the term 'pay-for-performance' had not yet been coined. MHQP has always [encouraged] improvements through public reporting of reliable and trusted comparative performance information – relying on physicians' intrinsic motivation to perform as well as they can. Now that provider compensation depends heavily on measurement we need to work harder to make sure we have accurate and fair measurements of quality care.
Finally, back in 1998 when MHQP first started reporting on patient experiences of care, patient experience was not considered a core measure of quality. MHQP's statewide collection and reporting of patient experience helped draw national attention to the importance of listening to patients, and in 2001 the IOM introduced the concept of patient centered care as a key element of quality care in the Crossing the Quality Chasm Report.
Kindred organizations to MHQP have arisen around the country over the last couple decades. How do you relate to them?
MHQP was one of the first regional health improvement collaboratives (RHICs) to be founded in the country. Gordon Mosser (founding CEO of ICSI in Minnesota) and I organized the first meeting of regional collaboratives in 2004. As a founding member and past Board chair of NRHI (the Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement), it has been very gratifying to see so many new RHICs being established. There are now more than 40 across the country. I have been told by many of the younger RHICs that MHQP was a role model for them when they were first starting out, and I take great pride in that.
What does the future hold?
Great question, and one I have been reflecting on as we have been looking back on our first 21 years. One of the biggest challenges (and one of our greatest failures as a health care system) has been that we have not done a good job engaging our patients as a resource to help us improve outcomes. In many cases we have actively refused to seek input from patients, and when given feedback we have ignored it. We are now trying to make a 180 degree shift on this, to better engage patients in the co-production of solutions, and it is not easy because it requires a shift in mindset. I believe that MHQP's two decades of experience capturing the patient voice and integrating that voice into care improvements positions us extremely well to support our practices and healthcare systems as they embark on this journey.
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.
Is radiology doomed?
The radiology profession is a famously paranoid lot, often worried about encroachment on imaging from non-radiologists, competition from teleradiology, reimbursement squeezes, and more. Auntminnie.com is a good place to go to observe how these worries play out.
The latest article, Will machine learning turn radiologists into losers? is a case in point. It reports on a New England Journal of Medicine article that asserts that machine learning will replace radiologists. Images will be sent straight to algorithms, bypassing radiologists completely, they say. There are differences of opinion on how soon this will happen, but an appreciation that once the electronic tools are good enough they will be preferred.
As a patient I'm all in favor of faster, more accurate, and cheaper interpretation of images and if that means there's no future role for radiologists, so be it. But actually what I hope is that radiologists start to assert themselves as diagnostic quarterbacks, helping to organize and analyze information from pathology, genomics, lab tests and physical examinations. They can work with teams of clinicians in new ways, to speed diagnosis and treatment decisions.
I am aware that some enlightened radiology leaders are already thinking in these terms. I hope the fears spurred by the development of machine learning will accelerate the movement.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.
Health Wonk Review is up at Managed Care Matters
Managed Care Matters hosts an alliterative edition of the Health Wonk Review (Pre-election pundit ponderings!) which you are bound to enjoy.
Boston Children's gets the go-ahead. I'm quoted
From the Boston Globe (Children's gets green light for hospital expansion, with conditions)
Massachusetts health regulators said Friday that Boston Children's Hospital should be allowed to go forward with a $1 billion expansion project, a recommendation that seeks to support one of the state's premier hospitals without undermining efforts to control medical spending.
The staff at the Department of Public Health recommended approval of the plan to build an 11-story building in Longwood and an eight-story outpatient clinic in Brookline.
Here's my quote:
"DPH seems to be trying to satisfy everyone here, including taxpayers, health insurers, [Children's Hospital], and competing hospitals," said David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group, a Boston consulting firm. "The conditions DPH lays out may help achieve these goals, but it is hard for a government agency to manage the hospital market so tightly."
Children's plan to use its expanded capacity to draw patients from out of state and overseas is consistent with the hospital's overall strategy. DPH appears to accept Childrens' explanation, but wants assurances that MassHealth patients will not be displaced and that Childrens will not attempt to lure well insured, healthier patients away from local competitors.
Ironically, DPH seems to be fighting the last war. After all it was Partners, not Children's, that expanded widely within the local market. Meanwhile Children's big recent acquisition was in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut not Massachusetts.
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.
Justifying EpiPen pricing, once again
I enjoyed Medical hackers create $30 DIY EpiPen in defiance of corporate greed over at inhabitat. The Four Thieves Vinegar collective cobbled together an "EpiPencil" from an auto injector for insulin, a hypodermic needle, and epinepherine. It's a pretty cool trick but it proves nothing about EpiPen pricing nor does it help real patients.
Actually, it unwittingly reinforces the points I made in my very unpopular EpiPen may still be too cheap post, which is that the pricing of EpiPen has almost nothing to do with the cost of its parts.
Consider these caveats about the DIY EpiPencil from the inhabitat post:
However, it is worth mentioning that many experts have voiced concern about the EpiPencil and warned that it's not advisable to try to create a piece of medical equipment at home – it can be difficult to ensure the correct dose is being administered, the epinephrine inside is delicate and might lose its effectiveness if stored this way, and of course, if someone were to create the device without paying close attention to hygiene, it could become contaminated. A miscalibration of the device could even cause the medicine to be injected into a vein, which can have dangerous side effects.
To recap, here's what you're paying for when you buy a real EpiPen:
- The ability to send your kids to school, playdates, summer camp, hikes, and restaurants with reasonable confidence that they'll survive an allergic reaction
- An auto-injector that works. Remember, Twinject was rejected by the market for being clumsy, Auvi-Q was recalled because it could administer the wrong dose, and Teva's autoinjector was rejected by FDA for "major deficiencies"
- A device that many, many people know how to use: school nurses, babysitters, passers-by. That means someone is likely to be there to help you if you need it. Good luck with getting someone to learn how to use your EpiPencil in an emergency, even if somehow it worked as advertised
EpiPen's maker, Mylan has done a lot of sleazy things, which I don't defend, and as a result they may well deserve the opprobrium that is being directed at them. But I stand by my argument that EpiPen is not $2 of epinephrine and a syringe. Instead its a differentiated solution that provides plenty of value to users.
If someone can come up with something better and cheaper, please do!
By healthcare business consultant David E. Williams, president of Health Business Group.


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Riverock Surfacing Company provides slip resistant stone or rubber and knock down surfaces.
We also offer one piece gun shot fiberglass liners to our commercial and residential customers.
We have been in this trade since the year 1982.
We are licensed and insured.
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JACKSON, MI – This is your final chance to nominate your favorite place to get tacos in the greater Jackson area.
MLive is conducting a search to find Michigan's Best Taco, but first, we need to determine which greater Jackson-area restaurants we should visit.
Readers have already submitted a slew of nominations via MLive, Facebook and Twitter. However, we wanted to ask one last time to make sure no place is missing.
On Thursday, May 8, we'll take the list of nominees and create a poll. The results of the regional polls will help us map out a statewide tour for contest judge John "Gonzo" Gonzalez.
Here are the nominations we have thus far for the greater Jackson area, which includes neighboring regions of Calhoun, Hillsdale and Lenawee counties:
- Captain Chuck's Sandbar & Grill, 6365 U.S. 223, Addison
- Casa Rodriguez, two locations
- Chilango's Mexican Grill, 1020 E. Ganson St.
- Crazy Cowboy, 215 S. Mechanic St.
- El Cerrito, 252 W. Carleton Road, Hillsdale
- El Compa, 1103 E. Ganson St.
- El Gordo Taqueria (truck), 1601 E. Michigan Ave.
- Fiesta Ranchera, 1675 U.S. 223, Adrian
- The Grasshopper – El Chapulin, 118 S. Winter St., Adrian
- House of Taco, 2400 Page Ave.
- La Casa Mexicana, 1510 N. Eaton St., Albion
- Lopez Taco House, 205 N. Superior St., Albion
- Maria's Sunnyside Cafe, 2495 E. Maumee, Adrian
- Mario's Mexican Restaurant, 921 E. Beecher, Adrian
- Medina's Takeout, 123 W. Main St., Stockbridge
- Senorita's Mexican Restaurant, 1325 N. Main St., Adrian
If your favorite place isn't on the list, let us know in the comments section.
Voting will remain open through 5 p.m. Tuesday, May 13. Gonzo will announce his statewide tour Thursday, May 15.


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|By Noesis (Noesis) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 10:18 pm: Edit
I have a serious "problem" that I must discuss with you all, just to see if I am normal. The "classic" books that everyone should read are, almost without qualification, boring to me. I cannot seem to make it through a Shakespearian play without losing interest. The same thing happens with Jane Eyre, The Scarlet Letter, The Illiad, and other novels that are reportedly so stimulating. Often I quit reading halfway through, and I seldom make it that far. I have a 760 Verbal SAT I score, and a 760 SAT II Writing score, so I think that I am a capable reader. When I do find a book that interests me, I cannot put it down. However, they are not "classics" really, and are a rare find. Does anyone else suffer from the same problem, or am I just abnormal and headed for a life of illiteracy? Thanks.
|By Mrowry (Mrowry) on Monday, February 24, 2003 - 10:51 pm: Edit
Do the themes bore you, or do you just hate wading through the "fancy" language?
|By Noesis (Noesis) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 07:49 am: Edit
That's a good question. Upon reflecting, I think it to be the language that feels like drudgery. For example, I love to read Socratic dialogues from The Republic, because they are entertaining and lucid. I really like theoretical works, but only when they are written with clarity. For example, David Hume's An Enquiry into Human Understanding is enthralling to me, but other philosophy works are so vague and difficult that I feel that I'm not "breaking even," so to speak. Thanks for the response.
|By Abracadabra (Abracadabra) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:06 am: Edit
i have the same problem here. so next time you find yourself reading a BORING book, remember, it's bound to be a classic....something you can be proud of ;)
|By Thedad (Thedad) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 10:38 am: Edit
Both daughter and I love Shakespeare...to submerge one's self in it is sublime...and she's been a Shakespeare nut since she was 7 or 8. The Illiad really depends on the translation and I don't now recall whose is good and whose sucks dead fish with a straw (a critical literary term).
But, as with many things, ymmv. (You mileage may vary.)
|By Mrowry (Mrowry) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 03:12 pm: Edit
I generally find classics more interesting when I read them carefully... if I skim them, all the subtleties of the language just go over my head, and then I can't appreciate any of it. For example, next time you read Shakespeare, really take the time to understand each line so you can indulge in the witticisms and sexual references. ;-) Otherwise, it's just a bunch of weird 16th-century-English garble.
|By Noesis (Noesis) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 05:57 pm: Edit
Perhaps my testosterone levels are too high, or my patience too low, but when reading Wuthering Heights, I was thinking "I am apathetic about Heathcliff and his whole situation in general. I don't care what happens at Thrushcross Grange. I need a sharper sense of reality, of rationality, I want fresh perspectives, deep thoughts, sound arguments, a clearer way of seeing the world, not bathos or melodramatic drivel." I love Nietzsche, but cannot manage to get through the first chapter of Huckleberry Finn. I feel that dwelling on the situations of fictional characters is a waste of time, as I have my own situations to wrestle with. I am pervaded by pragmatic thought.
Also, I rarely finish books I start. Even when reading books I enjoy, I hardly finish them expeditiously. Sometimes I will come back to a text a month or two later. This tendency is present in almost all of my endeavors, so I cannot say that it deals strictly with reading. Hopefully this will pass.
Thanks for the responses.
|By Dree (Dree) on Tuesday, February 25, 2003 - 09:34 pm: Edit
I find a lot of the supposed "classics" really boring also. THe Scarlet Letter was the most boring book I have ever read. Or more acurately, was supposed to read. Just read whatever you enjoy. At least you're reading.
|By Ricegal (Ricegal) on Thursday, April 10, 2003 - 05:11 pm: Edit
I am a lifelong (now age 45) reader of thought-provoking books, but, I too, find the classics mostly boring. Many times a book is considered a classic because it was ground-breaking at the time it was written. For example, Henry James wrote a book called "What Maisie Saw" which was groundbreaking at the time (turn of the century) because it was about divorce seen through the eyes of a child. I find the subject matter less engaging now that divorce is so common and the children's view has been discussed ad nauseum in the newspapers and portrayed in many movies. Some classics are interesting because of what they tell us about the time period in which they were written, but you have to have an interest in that era and have studied it from a historical perspective to appreciate this. The stories themselves aren't always that interesting.
Movies suffer from a similar problem. For example, Star Wars was an incredible movie for its time and has made it into the ranks of classic movies, but now the special effects seem dated and don't have the same impact they did when it was released. The story has held up pretty well over time, but I think some of the Star Trek TV stories are more thought-provoking.
I agree with your opinions about fiction versus non-fiction, and have been reading mostly non-fiction for years. I would rather read Seabiscuit, for example, than a fictionalized account of horseracing. History is my particular passion, but I think philosophy books are definitely worthwhile. I wish I had taken a philosophy course in college, but I didn't really know what it was all about when I was 18.
Also, regarding finishing or not finishing books. I tend to be reading 3 or 4 books at a time. Therefore, I when I am bored with one, I can set it down for awhile and pick it up when I want to think about those ideas again. Eventually I find that I complete all the books. This is why I hardly ever use the library - I mostly borrow or buy my books.
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The Harold Camping episode of this past weekend--he predicted the world would come to an end on Saturday and bet millions of dollars he knew what he was talking about--demonstrates two disturbing facts of the church in these latter days: The overwhelming pride of many who call themselves leaders of the church and the mind-numbing gullibility of millions who call themselves disciples of Jesus.
Lord, help your church please.
Help us to know a Godly leader when we see one and to learn how to tell when he's not one.
Help us to check the teachings of our leaders by the Word and to have the courage to say "Not so fast."
It's easy for the fellow in the pew to blame this kind of fiasco on false leaders. And that's what Camping is, let me hasten to say. The Bible clearly says that if a man makes a prophecy that does not come to pass, he is a false prophet. That's Deuteronomy 18:22, and it's still in God's Word.
But if people like Camping found no one to follow them, they would get tired of hearing themselves speak and shut up.
After his prophecy about May 21 failed, I said to some friends, "Okay, watch now. He'll come back and say, 'Oh, I'm sorry. I misfigured,' and give out a new date. That's what false prophets do."
According to the daily papers (I live in New Orleans, so it's The Times-Picayune), that is precisely what he did. Well, he did two things actually. He did say that the real date is something like October 21. And he said, "Well, the Lord did actually come back on May 21 in a spiritual way. The processes have been set in place beginning on that day."
Uh huh. And I've got some Louisiana swamp land to sell you.
People who study these things will recall that the Jehovah's Witnesses did this very thing nearly a hundred years ago.
I'm going by memory here. (Better explain that. I wasn't alive in 1914. But I've read plenty of accounts of what happened.)
In the early 20th century, members of the JW sect or cult or religious movement, whatever you choose to call it, announced that the Lord Jesus was returning to earth in 1914. They promoted that date, publicized it, and convinced millions that it would be so. The date, of course, came and went without any thing happening other than a World War getting kicked off in Serbia.
For decades, the JW printed materials used to claim that the Lord really did come back in 1914 but "in a (ahem) spiritual way." That is, they would explain, things began happening on a heavenly plane that prepared for the earthly return of Jesus. And this was supposed to make their false predictions all right.
Eventually, they abandoned that kind of malarkey. Why? Because, being a false cult, they had a new date to start promoting! This time, they said, they had it right. The Lord was returning in 1975.
But, alas, the Lord did not cooperate. The year 1975 came and went without anything much happening of a prophetic character.
A decade later, when I pastored in North Carolina, I sometimes encountered disaffected JWs who had quit their church as a result of another failed prophecy, but because their religion had so poisoned them against all Christian churches, they weren't going to church anywhere. From time to time, some of them would drop by my office to visit and talk and counsel. But to my knowledge, none ever made it to any of the services.
That's the sadness of this kind of false prophesying. It holds the church up to ridicule, it burns the energies of God's people which could be better directed toward faithful works, it diverts untold amounts of the Lord's money into false advertisements, and it disillusions everyone who fell for that line in the first place.
Christian people do not like to use their heads.
Can I say that and get by with it? I hate saying it, and hate like crazy to admit that it's so.
Let a pastor preach a sermon on some deeper point of doctrine and watch the congregation sleep through it.
Hold a study on Luther's commentary on Romans and see how many sign up.
Urge people to memorize the 8th chapter of Romans and then preach a series of sermons from it, and see what kind of participation you get.
Set up your own blog in which you urge Christians to ask their theological questions and be amazed at the shallowness of the queries thrown your way.
Why do we who call ourselves followers of Jesus dislike asking questions and seeking answers so intensely?
1) The enemy convinces us that "it's all a matter of faith," and that there are no real answers. So we don't ask the questions.
2) Our world convinces us that to ask is tantamount to doubting, and doubting is the cardinal sin today.
3) Thinking is hard work. It's easier to go on facebook and see what your friends are up to today, or check the TV listings, or check your email.
4) These things are better left to the professionals. Yes, millions of believers subscribe to this one. Let a cult member unsettle them with questions about God at the front door and they want to arrange a meeting of the preacher and those visitors. Let them hash this out and settle it. Just let me know the verdict.
5) And, finally, I don't know why. This is to say that the first four answers cannot be the full explanation of God's people refusing to ask hard questions and to seek difficult answers for truth. Anyone with additional insights is invited to leave them in the comments at the end.
In the late 1980s when the Jim/Tammy Bakker fiasco was coming to light and the PTL empire began crumbling around their heads, no sooner had the scandal become public knowledge than faithful, gullible supporters kicked in their money to erect billboards all over the Charlotte NC area. "Forgiven!" they shouted to the world.
Get that. Even before they learned what the Bakkers had done, they were so unthinking, so completely trusting of these untrustworthy people, that they were ready to reinstall them atop the pedestals where they had lived much of their adult lives.
When (Paul and Silas) arrived (in Berea), they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10-11)
As countless pastors have preached down through the centuries, that is how it's done. Let the men and women in the pews listen to the sermons with open Bibles. Let them check what is being preached by the Word. And let them then decide "whether these things are so."
Want to see gullibility in action? And in Lystra, a certain man without strength in his feet was sitting, a cripple from his mother's womb, who had never walked. This man heard Paul speaking. Paul, observing him intently and seeing that he had faith to be healed, said with a loud voice, "Stand up straight on your feet!" And he leaped up and walked. Now, when the people saw what Paul had done, they raised their voices, saying in the Lycaonian language, "The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!"....Then the priest of Zeus, whose temple was in front of their city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, intending to sacrifice with the multitudes. (Acts 14:8-13)
Paul began trying to reason with the people, to make them enlarge their concepts of God, and to quit this foolishness. And with these sayings they could scarcely restrain the multitudes from sacrificing to them. (vs 18)
Ah, that would be great, wouldn't it--to be so adored by the multitudes!
No. Not in the least. Here's why:
Then Jews from Antioch and Iconium came there, and having persuaded the multitudes, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. (vs 19)
The same crowd that worshiped them one minute was stoning them in the next.
If we require another example, we need look no further than the crowd that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and then called for His crucifixion a few days later that same week.
No pastor should be offended when a hearer asks him to defend a statement he has just made in a sermon.
No teacher should mind when someone asks for the scriptural reference for some point.
They are using their minds.
If they will keep it up, the outcome will be one way and one way only: all good.
Dr. Joe McKeever is a preacher and cartoonist. He holds a master of theology and doctor of ministry degrees from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (1967 and 1973). During his long career, Dr. McKeever served as Director of Missions for the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans and was senior pastor at churches in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Recently retired, he still accepts speaking invitations and plans to write one book a year for the next ten years.


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Tonight the Cubs were down to just Scott Eyre in the bullpen as Ryan Dempster came in to close in the ninth. The rest of the bullpen had been used up in the first eight innings as the Cubs play twenty games in a row without a day off; tonight however the Cubbies were able to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat in a come from behind victory over the Cards.
Todd Walker and Michael Barrett had back to back jacks in the first inning to give Rich Hill a brief lead but the Cards came roaring back with four unanswered runs. Hill was pulled in the fourth inning after loading the bases with one out – Michael Wuertz came in and shut the door to get the Cubs out of the inning. The Cubs were able to come back and take the lead, thanks to a timely E5 by Rolen with the bases juiced.
Then the drama came in the ninth. Dempster got hit hard, even on the outs. Cedeno made a great play on a ball hit deep in the hole and would have thrown the ball into the St. Louis bullpen were it not for a fine dig by Neifi Perez at second. Perez also made another fine play to nail down the victory, giving the Cubs their third win in four days. Dusty, however will have to make more judicious use of his bullpen pitchers than he did tonight.
Speaking of Dusty, Jim Hendry announced that Baker will finish out the year as Cubs manager. No surprise there, he's been saying that all year long. Jim Hendry is a "stay the course" man and I won't be a bit surprised if the Cubs go into next year with Mark Prior and Wade Miller as two of the five Cubs' starters. I think it's likely that Dusty will be back with a one-year contract but at this stage it's only a guess.
Joe's Take – I disagree about Dusty. I have a feeling that he will not be retained. Jim Hendry is smart enough to know that Cub fans do not want him back. He'll appease both sides in this one. By letting Dusty finish, he doesn't stab him in the back after giving him a vote of confidence all year. Then, by not bringing him back, he satifies the fan's request.
Update – I hope you're right Joe, I admit that my opinion is based upon mistrust and the fact that Hendry does what he wants to do and to heck with what the rest of Cubdom thinks. In unrelated news, Carrie Muscat reports that Greg Maddux now has a no trade clause – did I miss something? My understanding is that Maddux has a gentleman's agreement, not a no trade clause.


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ORISKANY, N.Y. — Several hundred National Guard members from the Northeast and Caribbean will be in central New York for disaster preparedness training.
New York National Guard officials say more than 700 soldiers and airmen from New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are coming together this week at the State Preparedness Center in Oriskany (aw-RIHS'-kuh-nee), near Utica.
The Guard members will prepare for certification as a regional disaster response force that can assist responders following a chemical, biological, nuclear or high-explosive incident.
Known as a National Guard Homeland Response Force, the various contingents also will train at the National Guard armory in Utica.
Guard officials say more details about the training will be released during the week.
Related coverage:
• N.J. National Guard member seriously injured in freak accident
• Longtime commander of N.J. National Guard resigns after alleged affair
• No disciplinary action taken against National Guard soldiers who almost drowned in Manville
• Air National Guard transports dogs, cats to Atlantic County animal shelter in wake of Hurricane Irene


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- Albania
- Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Kosovo
- Macedonia
- Montenegro
- Romania
- Serbia
- All Balkan Countries
Now in its 48th year, the Belgrade Music Festival, BEMUS, will again showcase some of the best classical musicians, including works by young Serbian talents as well as the great composers.
Belgrade's most important theatre festival, Bitef, is celebrating its golden anniversary this year, and offers a strong programme that doesn't compromise the seriousness and enthusiasm on which the festival was built.
This year's October Salon, Belgrade's famed international contemporary art show, examines the role of emotion in modern art through diverse mediums.
A film exploring the human consequences of Serbia's wartime past is among five movies under consideration to be the country's candidate for the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the Oscars.
More than 220 film and 44 premiere screenings will take place at the Sarajevo Film Festival that runs from August 12 to 20.
After a big open-air concert in her hometown of Pristina, UK-based pop star Dua Lipa is all set to perform in Tirana, Albania.
US actor, director and producer Robert De Niro will be a special guest at this week's Sarajevo Film Festival, where he will be presented with the event's highest award.
Archaeologists have found golden and silver tiles at Viminacium, site of a Roman city and legionary fort in eastern Serbia, reportedly dating back to the 4th century.
With a host of top music festivals happening across Serbia next month, what better excuse to venture out of the capital this summer?
Days ahead of the start of the Prizren documentary and short film festival, organisers of Dokufest say that while authorities in Kosovo pledged to help, they have not yet handed over a penny.
Two free, open-air movie screening events throughout the summer offer a new way to enjoy both Serbian and international films.
This year's festival, one of the city's premiere events to catch international stars, features an array of British soul music.
Organizers expect 100,000 to attend festival of Serbian events and destinations.
One of the oldest local festivals, the Days of Belgrade, will shine brighter than ever this year, with more than 40 events planned over the course of four days – April 16-19.
Belgrade's Resonate festival marks its fifth anniversary with lectures by big names in the world of technology-based culture and art, plus a strong programme of avant-garde electronic music.
Despite having been a key province of the Roman Empire, Serbia's ancient cities, sites and monuments receive little public attention.
This year the International Belgrade Book Fair will present 1,500 titles, but there are five books from prominent Serbian writers translated into English that readers should not miss.


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Construction began Friday in Arbor Lodge Park on Harper's Playground, the city's first playground to provide disabled access on every play feature. The groundbreaking also doubled as a birthday party for Harper Goldberg, whose parents have raised money for two years for the project. Harper is 7, and the park should open in two and a half months. KATU has the story.
The Catholic Sentinel reports on environmental efforts at a few North Portland churches. Holy Redeemer Parish held a tour recently to showcase its bioswales as part of a seminar aimed at teaching churches of all faiths to care for watersheds and wildlife.
Open Meadow graduated all 21 of its seniors Friday. It's the first time in the school's history that every kid who started in the fall made it to graduation. Cornelius Swart tells Open Meadow's story.
A judge sentenced a 43-year-old North Portland man who was accused of breaking the bones of his twin daughters to five years in prison. For more information about James Luther Bailey's case, see Aimee Green's story.
The Columbian reports that the Port of Portland filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Friday. The Port alleges that actions by International Longshore and Warehouse Union, Local 8 members "have significantly impacted container operations at Terminal 6 causing costly delays for area shippers and truckers."
-- Casey Parks
Follow @npdxreporter


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Occupy D.C. Taps into a Deep Reservoir of Anger and Discontent Part 2
Barrington M. Salmon | 10/27/2011, 9:25 a.m.
The following represents the second installment of a two-part series on Occupy D.C (to read Part 1 click here)
At McPherson Square on a recent Friday night, a large crowd of mainly young protestors participated in a general assembly where a plethora of issues, ethereal and practical, were considered and agreed upon.
Members discussed, among other things, a march the next day and whether marchers could walk on sidewalks without being troubled by law enforcement; they asked whether the goal was to be arrested and the consequences of that; and they also talked about the location of tents; how not to kill the grass; and how best to safeguard people's personal belongings as the group settles in.
An interesting interactive feature included the 'mic checks' - a novel way to ensure that everyone heard questions and other information by participants who repeated, word-for-word, what each speaker said.
About 30 tents in neat rows covered most of the grassy area. Small knots of people chatted, a Jewish group, led by two guitarists, sang, not far away, while a trio comprised of a guitarist, accompanied by a tuba player and a trombonist, worked on perfecting some impromptu arrangements.
At one entrance to the park stood a fading red and white Occupy DC sign and a large American flag attached to a length of white PVC piping bending in the night breeze. One sign read: "The whole world is watching - we are the 99 percent."
Back at Freedom Plaza, retired Col. Ann Wright eyed the tent city around her with undisguised pleasure.
"It is encouraging to see the numbers and to see this all over the country," said Wright, who traveled to the District from Honolulu, Hawaii. "There are 150-200 people left from the 1,500 who were here over the weekend. I certainly hope for more ... I think the politicians are getting the sense that people are pissed off. City governments are going down the toilet."
Wright, a former diplomat and soldier - who said she was "on the ground" in Somalia, Grenada and Panama - said she is deeply concerned about certain government policies and wars "that are sucking us dry."
"We have lost our financial and moral standing in the world," said Wright, who spent 16 years as a diplomat and resigned in 2003 because of her opposition to 'Bush's war.' "So much funding goes into these wars and at the same time, we're dealing with the pitiful state of education, roads and healthcare. The corporate greed is appalling and Wall Street is sucking us dry, too."
Wright added that it's heartwarming to see the growing numbers of city councils, mayors and other elected officials around the country endorsing the protestors.
A mantra of the Occupy movement is that "the 99 percent will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1 percent."
The 1 percent includes banks, and the insurance and mortgage industries which are said by the group to control 99 percent of the money, and the 99 percent encompasses the rest - the have-nots. In actuality, the wealthiest 1 percent is thought to control about 40 percent of the nation's wealth.