Exceptional Interim CEO Of U Of I Hospitals & Clinics Is Named

A friend of mine has given me a heads up on the appointment of an exceptional leader from Duke University, who is coming to Iowa City. This "wunderkind" is none other than Gordon D. Williams, who has been named interim chief executive officer of University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, effective December, 31, 2007. The appointment was announced today by UI Vice President for Medical Affairs Jean E. Robillard, MD, to whom Williams will report.

His responsibilities at Duke include School of Medicine budget and finance, resource planning, grants and contract and administration. For the Duke Health System, including the medical center, he managed corporate services, such as human resources, engineering and operations, the Occupational Environmental Safety Office, procurement, Architect's Office, Medical Center Information Systems, and leased properties.

Please welcome Mr. Williams, to Iowa City, and may he find it such an attractive place, and the position so enticing, that he chooses to stay on in this job, in a permanent capacity. Thank you!!


mr williams

Thank You Hawks

Thank you to the University Of Iowa Hawkeyes for winning today and making a bowl game and a moderately acceptable "building" season possible!!!


Albert Young rushed for 92 yards and two touchdowns, Jake Christensen added 157 yards passing and Iowa became bowl eligible with a 21-16 victory over Minnesota on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (6-5, 4-4 Big Ten) reclaimed the "Floyd of Rosedale," a bronze pig given annually to the winner, with its sixth victory in seven tries over rival Minnesota (1-10, 0-7).

Next week we face Western Michigan and may we provide a better show and a better game!!Good Luck Guys!!!


win

Hawkeyes Look GOOD In Loss

Alright the University of Iowa Hawkeyes lost this evening, but I was very impressed with how well this young team played, and I think we shall have a good year this year, and an excellent team next year. We are going to beat Indiana next week for homecoming, and will have other wins, and perhaps some stunners.

No. 9 Wisconsin needed a fourth-quarter rally to avoid an upset bid by Iowa, turning to P.J. Hill for the go-ahead score in a 17-13 victory Saturday night. Nothing came easy for the Badgers (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten), who gradually overcame a stingy Hawkeyes defense to extend their winning streak to 13 games — the longest active streak in major college football.

Wisconsin was given one touchdown by the officials and lucked out when a flag should have been thrown in the 4th quarter, but was not!

Congratulations to these freshman who took to the field and made a fine showing against Wisconsin!! Keep up the spirit and the fight will be yours next week!!

Happy Homecoming!!



hawkeyes

Hawkeyes WIN 16-3

Congratulations to Coach Ferentz and the Hawkeye team. May this winning start continue!! HOORAY!!!

Albert Young gave Iowa some good news. The senior ran for 144 yards and a touchdown to lead the Hawkeyes to a 16-3 victory over Northern Iillinois in the season opener at Soldier Field on Saturday.

With the memories of a 6-7 season still lingering, Iowa took another hit when leading receiver Dominique Douglas and backup Anthony Bowman were suspended indefinitely for their role in a credit card scandal two weeks ago.

Hopefully, everything will be resolved and the team well go on stronger than ever. Best of Luck!! And Again HOORAY!! Go Hawks!!


Win

21 Only Vote 3 Months Away

There is a story in the morning press briefing from the Iowa Press-Citizen, that is reminded those who wish to vote on the 21 only ordinance this November 6th, that you must be registered to vote by October 26th. I read on one of the comments below the story that there had been some mis-information, saying that there would be same day registeration allowed, and the person commenting wanted it known that it would not be the case, and to remind everyone to be registered by October 26th.

With the 21-ordinance vote less than three months away, Iowa City residents and University of Iowa students have launched campaigns to mobilize voters to oppose a measure they said would do more harm than good.

This is becoming a big issue and I think it will get a big turn out. There seems to be a lot of speculation that this issue will be defeated at the ballot box, but do not let this talk allow you to think that your vote is not needed, as complacency, and staying home on November 6th, could cause this ordinance to pass, as you can be sure the pro 21 people will be out in force.

We must insure that this ordinance is defeated by a large enough margin, so they will not bring it up again for a good long while. Let us also make sure that any councilmen or women who supported this ordinance also go down to defeat.

Go students!! 18 should be the legal drinking age again, as it surely is the legal dying age, for those who serve in the military!! You can fight and die for your country, but you cannot have a beer before you die, how pathetic, that our priorities are so screwed up!!

21

2 Hawkeyes Suspended Indefinitely

In a disturbing story in the morning Hawkeye Update from the Iowa Press-Citizen it says that two University of Iowa football players have been suspended indefinitely following their arrest Sunday. Sophomore wide receivers Dominique Douglas and Anthony Bowman were taken into custody by University of Iowa Police. They were charged with unauthorized use of a credit card and were later released on their own recognizance.

What is wrong with these people? They have everything going for them, as is evidenced by the fact that Douglas led the nation in number of receptions by a freshman and started in 11 Hawkeye games. He was looked upon to have a great year this season and now, because someone did not teach him or Bowman right from wrong, they may have ended their careers, before they even had a chance to start, and may well end up in prison, if found guilty. They not only may have thrown away their sports careers, but their academic lives as well.

Perhaps some ethics training is in order for all incoming freshman, as well as for K-12 grades, because it is easy to see in the number of shoplifting arrests alone, made at the mall that many young people do not see stealing in many forms as being wrong. I was told by security that most of the time that they catch people stealing, that they have enough money on them, to pay for the item, but just choose to take it. I know this is a little afield from the story, but the ethics lapse is evident not in just their case, but in others as I mentioned about the mall "thieves", etc.,. "Everybody" wants to be a Gansta or a Thug and more is the pity.

It is possible that because Douglas and Bowman do not seem to have any other criminal records, or none that are known yet, they may get off with lesser sentences, and if they do, hopefully they will have learned a lesson of a lifetime, and can have more honest lives. We will keep watching as the case moves forward.

suspended

U Of I Faculty Rethinking Wellmark Offer

This has been a great two days for someone like me, who is laughing out loud, as the faculty of the University of Iowa College of Public Health is rethinking its' decision to turn down the Wellmark offer of $15 million, just for naming a building after them. I guess they had an emergency meeting on Monday, called by University of Iowa's interim President Gary Fethke, to discuss ways to reignite the talks to get the money from Wellmark.

My offer to accept the gift is still open, but if they do decide to take the gift from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I hope that there are other stipulations besides just naming a building after the company. If I were Wellmark, and please feel free to use my suggestion, I would require that each faculty member appear in public at the ground breaking ceremony and have them kiss the Wellmark representatives derrieres, for having given Wellmark the finger initially.

I am sure it will not happen, but it would be appropriate and entertaining! Truthfully, I am still hoping Wellmark will come to its' senses and accept my very generous naming proposal. Anyway, this story should continue to bring enjoyment for weeks to come. Have A Wonderful Laugh Out Loud Week! LOL!

Wellmark Rescinds Gift

This has been a good day to update a story I commented on the other day and it is a perfect ending to this story.

On Tuesday, John Forsyth, CEO of Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, wrote a letter to the Dean James Merchant of the University of Iowa College of Public Health, informing them that they were rescinding the offer of the $15 million gift to the school. Mr Forsyth wrote that until there is unwavering support from both college and university administrators for a major gift, as orginally solicited by the college's capital campaign committee leadership, the gift will remain withdrawn.

How sweet! It is a special gift for the college from the gods of Karma, and it could not happen to a better group of elitist's. Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy!! Yes, I am sorry that I am gloating over this turn of events, but I do hope that this puts my offer to Wellmark higher on their lists of things to do for company awareness!!

Truthfully, I do have a small bit of conflict of interest, in that I want the $15 million dollars, and also several years ago I was in a near fatal accident and I was lucky enough to have company provided insurance, and the insurer was Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and THEY were wonderful and covered nearly every penny of a nearly $80,000 hospital bill, so I have a soft spot for this company.

I hope that if I do not get the gift, that Wellmark finds some good smaller college that needs the money, and would be proud to have a gift from a such a Good company.

In another response to this gift, former University of Iowa President Gary Fethke said in an email to reporters said that having been the dean of Tippie College of Business to develop University of Iowa partnerships with corporate leaders and businesses in Iowa, he was proud of named programs. He continued with a regret that the discussion of such a generous donation failed to focus on the substantial benefits of corporate partnerships would have for the students, faculty, and staff.

Hopefully, others who were considering whether or not to assist the University in their money drive will think twice about assisting such a group of arrogant and ungrateful people!

U Of I Faculty Turns Down Wellmark Name

There was a story that said the faculty at the University Of Iowa College of Public Health overwhelmingly rejected the idea of naming their college after Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, but said they are open to negotiating with the insurance company on a different name.

The faculty said that changing the name to Wellmark might affect research at the facility. Really? You mean that these researchers are such hacks that the name of the building that they do research in is enough to change the outcome of their research. We should be worried that they are doing any meaningful research right now, if they are this easily influenced.

As for the potential gift of $15 million dollars from Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, I would like to offer myself as a potential recipient. I will gladly change my name to Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and have it tattooed on my arms if they would wish, so please give me a call and we'll see what we can work out to get the gift changed to me. I would even thank you loudly, everyday to everyone that I meet. Yeah Me!!

U of I Football Coaches Mother Dies

I just read my Hawkeye Update email when I got home from work today and I saw that University of Iowa's Football Coach, Kirk Ferentz's mother Elsie Mae Ferentz, died Tuesday at the age of 85. She was a resident of Asbury Heights, Pennsylvania, and there are reports that she had suffered from a long illness.

It said that services will be at 11 a.m. at the Christ Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, bethel Park, Pennsylvania and memorial contributions can be made to the Asbury Benevolent Fund, 700 Bower Hill Road, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15243, and Christ United Methodist Church, 44 Highland Road, Bethel Park, Friday. She will be Buried at Mt. Lebanon, PA. Cemetary.

It really doesn't matter that this woman lived 85 years, because no matter how long your parents live it is always difficult to lose them. My parents are dead, with my Father dying at age 57 and My Mother at age 60, and even though it has been about six years since my Mother died and seventeen since my father died, it still hurts when I think about it. Thank God that we can keep busy and never have to dwell on their deaths, as a matter of fact there are those few times when I am really busy that I get a notion to give them a call and it is then that I realize that they are no longer here.

To Mr. Kirk Ferentz and his family I send my condolences and my prayers. May you have good memories of your Mother and Your Father, who I read is also deceased and may they rest in peace.

Leave The Kids Alone

I finished reading two stories and have added links for anyone who wants to read them in their entirety. The crux of the stories are that the Iowa City Council are once again "bravely" running away from issues that might lose them votes the next time they run for office.
The first is the 21-only ordinance that has been brought to the City Council after a petition was brought to them by some "fuddie duddies" called the Committee for Healthy Choices. On Wednesday, City Clerk Marian Kerr validated the petition which called for the City Council to decide whether to make it illegal for those younger than 21 to be in Iowa City bars after 10p.m. The group had 3,576 signatures and only 3,333 signatures are necessary for a petition to be considered.
The Committee for Healthy Choices next petition will be to have the City Council consider whether or not citizens can super-size their fast food meals or whether or not to regulate that all fast food shops close their doors, because they are not healthy.
For the 21 only ordnance to be implemented the City Council has to make some, but they seem to be hinting pretty strongly that they will punt and add the issue to the November 6th Election Day ballot.
Hopefully, all the 18 to 21 year olds will vote if it is on the ballot and while they are at it, they could maybe pull the levers against anyone on the City Council who supported the Healthy Choices initiative.
While we are having at the City Council you should read the second story which also deals with bars. It is about the issue of amateur bar fighting and whether or not they should stop it all together or try and regulate it.
Now I have never seen the fights which are held at 121 East College Street, which is the Union Bar, and it holds a Fight Night every Wednesday, according to the story. It stated that in order to fight you must sign a waiver and verify you are sober.
The police chief said that there have been no problems other than a few fighters having to be treated at the hospital emergency room.
They have a certified nurse ringside and a referee to oversee the fights, so why does someone have to come along and try and ruin their fun. This is just one more Big Brother issue that does not need a solution. The fighter's voluntarily get in the ring and have some "fun". Now maybe it is not your idea or mine of fun, but that can be said of many dangerous sports or pursuits and we don't do away with them just because someone gets hurt.
I think most of this is just old people being jealous of young people and realizing that they are missing out on the fun. I am getting older too, but I am comfortable in allowing people to be stupid and take risks, just like I did when I was their age. Let them have fun and get a life, instead of trying to run everybody else's.
I would venture to bet that many of the same people pushing to regulate the fights or stop underage drinking were themselves underage drinkers at one time. I know I was an underage drinker and that was when you only had to be 18, instead of now when people want you teetering on entering a rest home before you are allowed to have a drink or two with your friends.
Stop trying to be nannies to these young people and allow them some fun memories of their time in college.


Say No To 21, Yes to 18!


Fight Night

University of Iowa's Bells To Toll For Fallen Soldiers

I was just reading a story on the Iowa Press-Citizen.com concerning the University of Iowa’s decision to ring the bell 59 times as a tribute to the number of Iowan’s that have died in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as honoring all who have died in past conflicts.
It will be rung at 3:00 p.m. Wednesday, the 30th, which was the traditional Memorial Day from 1868 to 1971, until Congress passed the National Holiday Act, creating a three day weekend for federal holidays.
This decision was made after a Veteran’s group wrote a letter to the University Interim President approved the request and sent a letter to Governor Culver stating it would be an honor to show tribute to these fallen soldiers with the bell tolling.
I think this is wonderful as we owe these fallen heroes much more than a tolling bell, but I was happy to see this touching story. I know that tolling a bell does not take away the sorrow of the friends and family of these soldiers, but it does show that we honor them as well. I hope that the anti-war protestors will allow this to be a peaceful Memorial Day weekend all the way through to the tolling of the bells on wednesday, and allow these soldiers to be honored with the dignity and respect that they deserve. Then Thursday morning you should absolutely get right back to your protesting, for everyday you are trying to end the war before it is over, is another day you put a smile on Osama bin Laden’s face.
Have a safe Memorial Day weekend, with Respect and Honor to all who have died for our nation and to all our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines, who are still in harm’s way throughout the world.


Bells to toll 59 times