More than 120 new laws take effect July 1 in Indiana, including the sampling below:
HEA 1042 -- Intent to sell sexually explicit products. Requires that anyone intending to sell sexually-explicit materials, products, or services to register and file a statement with the Indiana Secretary of State. NOTE: Some parts of this law are already being tested through lawsuits filed.
SEA 192 -- Truth in music advertising. Prohibits a person from advertising or conducting a live musical performance or production by falsely, deceptively, or misleadingly implying that there is an affiliation between the performing group and the recording group.
SEA 62 -- Posting notice of foreclosure sale. Eliminates the former requirement that a sheriff posts notice of a foreclosure sale in at least three public places where the real estate is located.
SEA 27 -- Cooling off period for domestic battery. Requires a facility having custody of a person arrested for a crime involving domestic violence to keep the person in custody for at least eight hours from the time of the arrest and prohibits that person from being released on bail during that eight-hour period, the "cooling off" period.
SEA 258 -- Discharge of long-term inmates must include access to the Internet for employment matters. Also requires when sex or violent offenders register they include electronic mail address, instant messaging username, electronic chat room username, or social networking web site username that the sex or violent offender uses or intends to use. The offender must also sign consent authorizing the search of the offender's personal computer or any device with Internet capability at any time and installation of hard/software to monitor the offender's Internet usage. Also notes school corporations shall include in curriculum instruction about safe Internet usage. NOTE: Some parts of this law are already being tested through lawsuits filed.
_
UPDATE:
Three more examples of regulations effective today:
Breast-feeding mothers will be helped by Senate Bill 219, introduced by Sen. Vi Simpson (D-Bloomington). Under the new law effective today, businesses with more than 25 employees must provide a private, designated area for women to pump milk and a refrigerator for storage of it. Reportedly, Indiana is one of tweleve states to implement such regulations.
House Bill 1052, authored by Rep. Tim Neese (R-Elkhart), obligates the drivers involved to help others at automobile crash scenes, or the passengers to help out if the driver is incapacitated. It stems from an accident, involving three young men, when the driver was trapped in a vehicle while submerged in water, while his two passengers fled.
Bars and taverns may now offer pull tabs and other low-stakes gambling games, such as punchboards and tip boards, as of today. So, you can wager at your favorite watering hole this evening, as long as the owner paid his/her $250 fee and agreed to a 10% excise tax.
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 22, 2008
PURE LUXURY FOR LESS
When talking about bed sheets, it's all about the thread count.
Trust me, if you have been a 150's type of person, your life is about to change. It's about to dramatically change. We're talking skipping-through-fields-of-daisies type of change. We're talking about better sleep and a whole new you.
You, you… well… simply cannot fathom until you experience it.
Let me tell you, there's something magical that happens at the 400 thread count threshold. Scruffy cotton goes to silk-type luxury. I don't know how to exactly explain it, but just trust me and ditch the 150, 200, or even 300's and go with at least a 400 thread count set of bed sheets.
It's something I highly recommend, and that's something you won't regret. After sleeping on 400+ sheets just one night, let me know if I'm wrong…
PS -- This winter buy a bed warmer, which is something like an electric blanket for your mattress. You won't want to get out of bed…
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Trust me, if you have been a 150's type of person, your life is about to change. It's about to dramatically change. We're talking skipping-through-fields-of-daisies type of change. We're talking about better sleep and a whole new you.
You, you… well… simply cannot fathom until you experience it.
Let me tell you, there's something magical that happens at the 400 thread count threshold. Scruffy cotton goes to silk-type luxury. I don't know how to exactly explain it, but just trust me and ditch the 150, 200, or even 300's and go with at least a 400 thread count set of bed sheets.
It's something I highly recommend, and that's something you won't regret. After sleeping on 400+ sheets just one night, let me know if I'm wrong…
PS -- This winter buy a bed warmer, which is something like an electric blanket for your mattress. You won't want to get out of bed…
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
The Freedom Fest Hot Dog Eating Contest
Wouldn't the title of "Champion of The Freedom Fest Hot Dog Eating Contest" with your name look great on a plaque sitting on your fireplace mantle?
Well, I spoke with Jared and Byron at The Original Double Dog today, and they have devised a contest to prove once-and-for-all the answer to: Who is Linton's top hotdog eater? They divulged their plans to me earlier today, and here they are in no particular order:
The winner will be determined during the Freedom Festival activities, but more specifically at The Official Hot Dog Eating Table located at the Humphrey's Park Bandstand in Linton at 6:00 PM sharp on Friday, July 4, 2008.
Contestants will be given a 12-minute time frame to see how many hotdogs -- including bun and condiments -- they can eat. Drinks will be provided, if you so choose, but remember to leave plenty of room for the hotdogs.
I'm told along with the title that lots of prizes will be available as well.
To enter, pick up a registration form, sign the liability release, provide your hotdog eating name (e.g. "stage name"), and pay the $5 entry fee at The Original Double Dog at 40 East Vincennes Street in Linton. But hurry up to register! Only the first 30 contestants will be allowed to compete.
Sorry kids, but this contest is for adults only. So, you must be 18 years of age to enter. All of the other rules can be picked up when you register for the contest.
No, I will not be a contestant. Nonetheless, I will see you all there as a spectator!
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Well, I spoke with Jared and Byron at The Original Double Dog today, and they have devised a contest to prove once-and-for-all the answer to: Who is Linton's top hotdog eater? They divulged their plans to me earlier today, and here they are in no particular order:
The winner will be determined during the Freedom Festival activities, but more specifically at The Official Hot Dog Eating Table located at the Humphrey's Park Bandstand in Linton at 6:00 PM sharp on Friday, July 4, 2008.
Contestants will be given a 12-minute time frame to see how many hotdogs -- including bun and condiments -- they can eat. Drinks will be provided, if you so choose, but remember to leave plenty of room for the hotdogs.
I'm told along with the title that lots of prizes will be available as well.
To enter, pick up a registration form, sign the liability release, provide your hotdog eating name (e.g. "stage name"), and pay the $5 entry fee at The Original Double Dog at 40 East Vincennes Street in Linton. But hurry up to register! Only the first 30 contestants will be allowed to compete.
Sorry kids, but this contest is for adults only. So, you must be 18 years of age to enter. All of the other rules can be picked up when you register for the contest.
No, I will not be a contestant. Nonetheless, I will see you all there as a spectator!
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
"Opportunity Retreat" is TONIGHT
This evening (Tuesday, June 17th), there will be a Home Town Competitiveness "Opportunity Retreat" from 6PM to 7:30PM at the Greene County 4-H Fairgrounds.
Anyone with an interest in Greene County's future should plan to attend, as there will be information available on four areas of focus, namely:
1. Attracting & Retaining Youth;
2. Supporting Entrepreneurs;
3. Developing Leaders; and,
4. Capturing Community Wealth.
A while back, Greene County residents were asked to fill out surveys, and over 700 community members completed them.
http://gcdailyworld.com/blogs/chriswathe...
Tonight, you'll hear the findings from those surveys and have a chance to provide your additional input, as well as your opinion on the prioritization of the goals discussed.
See you there!
_
A sneak peek of the report can be seen on the Greene County Foundation's website at:
http://www.greenecountyfoundation.org/ne...
If you're unable to attend, please use the "Contact Us" tab on the Foundation's website to send your comments about this draft report:
http://www.greenecountyfoundation.org/contact_us.php
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Anyone with an interest in Greene County's future should plan to attend, as there will be information available on four areas of focus, namely:
1. Attracting & Retaining Youth;
2. Supporting Entrepreneurs;
3. Developing Leaders; and,
4. Capturing Community Wealth.
A while back, Greene County residents were asked to fill out surveys, and over 700 community members completed them.
http://gcdailyworld.com/blogs/chriswathe...
Tonight, you'll hear the findings from those surveys and have a chance to provide your additional input, as well as your opinion on the prioritization of the goals discussed.
See you there!
_
A sneak peek of the report can be seen on the Greene County Foundation's website at:
http://www.greenecountyfoundation.org/ne...
If you're unable to attend, please use the "Contact Us" tab on the Foundation's website to send your comments about this draft report:
http://www.greenecountyfoundation.org/contact_us.php
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Monday, June 16, 2008
Take as Directed -- OR NOT
The rising cost of healthcare is a common discussion topic these days -- about as common as rising gasoline prices or the weather.
Some interesting notes from George Paz, the CEO of Express Scripts, a company that processes more than a million prescriptions a day, puts a different spin on a large part of the medical cost crisis though. He recently spoke on patients taking their medications as prescribed, something that many people may think is simple enough. But maybe it isn't.
In the medical field, it's referred to as "medication adherence," but to you and I this simply means, "Do you take the prescriptions as your doctor ordered, if at all?" Mr. Paz, says that of all the patients who get a prescription, a surprising 24% either (1.) do not pick it up, or (2.) don't begin using it. For those who do pick it up and begin taking their medication:
*4 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with diabetes;
*3 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with high blood pressure; and similarly,
*3 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with high cholesterol.
The funny (or sad) thing is that at a subsequent doctors visit, the physician observes the same (or even worse) symptoms, falsely assumes that the dosage s/he prescribed is the issue, and then writes another prescription for the same drug only at a higher dose -- or even adds a second drug -- all because the patient isn't doing what was first prescribed.
Obviously, this ties up the physician's time, as well as his/her staff's time and attention. It leads to an amazing amount of prescriptions just flat-out wasted, as well as far worse cases of these medical conditions, which could have been controlled or helped if properly treated earlier. And generally, it puts a strain on the entire medical community for nothing… all because the prescriptions weren't taken or taken as prescribed.
As the old adage goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink… in this case, though, we're all paying for that drink, whether the horse decides to drink or not.
So, please "take as directed."
For more information from a different resource than discussed above, take a look at this link from the American Pharmacists Association:
http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Login1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=16020
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
Some interesting notes from George Paz, the CEO of Express Scripts, a company that processes more than a million prescriptions a day, puts a different spin on a large part of the medical cost crisis though. He recently spoke on patients taking their medications as prescribed, something that many people may think is simple enough. But maybe it isn't.
In the medical field, it's referred to as "medication adherence," but to you and I this simply means, "Do you take the prescriptions as your doctor ordered, if at all?" Mr. Paz, says that of all the patients who get a prescription, a surprising 24% either (1.) do not pick it up, or (2.) don't begin using it. For those who do pick it up and begin taking their medication:
*4 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with diabetes;
*3 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with high blood pressure; and similarly,
*3 out of 10 patients comply less than 80% of the time for those with high cholesterol.
The funny (or sad) thing is that at a subsequent doctors visit, the physician observes the same (or even worse) symptoms, falsely assumes that the dosage s/he prescribed is the issue, and then writes another prescription for the same drug only at a higher dose -- or even adds a second drug -- all because the patient isn't doing what was first prescribed.
Obviously, this ties up the physician's time, as well as his/her staff's time and attention. It leads to an amazing amount of prescriptions just flat-out wasted, as well as far worse cases of these medical conditions, which could have been controlled or helped if properly treated earlier. And generally, it puts a strain on the entire medical community for nothing… all because the prescriptions weren't taken or taken as prescribed.
As the old adage goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink… in this case, though, we're all paying for that drink, whether the horse decides to drink or not.
So, please "take as directed."
For more information from a different resource than discussed above, take a look at this link from the American Pharmacists Association:
http://www.pharmacist.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Login1&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=16020
***
This blog post by Chris Wathen was also published in his Linton, Indiana based Greene County Daily World blog entitled, “Riddle Me This”.
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