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Corn Subsidies Hurt Livestock Producers
December 8, 2010
Corn remains King and livestock are the beggars. That's the way federal farm policy has been for years and nothing has changed, based on latest moves by the Obama administration. But unlike the corn-biased support of the past, current policies are causing permanent damage to the U.S. livestock industry.
Corn farmers have never felt embarrassed about living on federal subsidies. But cattle producers regard them with extreme distaste. Unfortunately, this independence has come at a growing cost. Producers have lost the battle over corn usage. In fact, they never came close to winning it.
Support for corn provided the genesis for billions of dollars of subsidies for ethanol production, subsidies that continue to this day. Farm policy has also given extensive support to other crop farmers and to the dairy sector. But very little has gone to cattle, hogs or poultry.
So-called cheap corn through subsidy support indirectly helped protein producers, but this began to change in 2006 after Congress mandated certain amounts of "alternative" fuels be produced each year. With ethanol from corn being the only viable such fuel, corn prices began to advance faster than a combine.
Fast forward to today and corn futures prices are more than $6/bu. That's three times more than prices averaged up until 2005. Prices rallied sharply in October after USDA put out a 2010 corn crop forecast far lower than expected. Then came the Environmental Protection Agency's decision to raise the allowable blending percentage (of alternative with conventional fuels) to 15% from 10% for cars and light trucks built after 2007. Cash corn prices after that were 50% higher than the same week last year and have kept increasing.
EPA's decision reignited the food vs. fuel debate, but the livestock and food industry lost this debate a long time ago. The federal government, and not just the current administration, somehow believes that supporting corn-based ethanol has minimal impact on consumer food prices. This denial is surprising enough. But even worse is that the government fails to see any relationship between its ethanol policy and the continued shrinking of the U.S. livestock industry.
Uncertainty about the future is why U.S. cattle producers continue to send their cows to town. The U.S. cattle herd will decline again this year, the 12th year of contraction in 15 years. USDA raised the "risk" factor for producers in June when it published its proposed rule on livestock and poultry marketing. Now escalating corn prices have squelched any expansion plans by cattle or hog producers.
The ethanol industry is expected to use 4.7 billion bu., or 37% of the 2010-2011 corn crop, compared to only 6% of the crop a decade ago. The ethanol industry defends the smaller percentage of the corn crop left for feed and other uses by claiming much of the "lost" feed is returned in the form of dried distillers grains (DDGs). But livestock analysts say that DDGs can only be partially used in feed rations. Using more than 35% DDGs in cattle rations impacts feeding performance, they say. The ethanol industry in its claim also ignores the fact that it is exporting DDGs in record amounts.
Meanwhile, the federal government ignores the impact of ethanol's corn usage on feed costs. The cattle-feeding sector lost a record $7 billion in equity from December 2007 to February 2010. Economic factors negatively affected beef demand, but high feed costs were a significant factor as well. According to USDA's Economic Research Service, feed costs in 2008 for livestock, poultry and dairy reached a record $45.2 billion, an increase of more than $7
billion over 2007 costs.
Shrinking herds mean fewer not more producers and fewer jobs throughout the livestock and meat-processing sectors. It's inconceivable how the administration can reconcile this prospect with its avowed aim of revitalizing rural America. zz
Steve Kay is editor and publisher of Cattle Buyers Weekly (www.cattlebuyersweekly.com). Catch his weekly market roundup at beefmagazine.com every Friday afternoon.
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WEST OCEAN CITY – Although the traditional season of giving is past, people can continue to give back to the Diakonia homeless shelter with the purchase of a fundraising CD called "Give Us Your Poor," featuring homeless musical artists with national recording artists like Bruce Springsteen, Sweet Honey in the Rock, Michelle Shocked, Keb' Mo', and Bonnie Raitt.
"Sixty percent of the proceeds go directly to Diakonia," said director Claudia Nagle. "We would like to sell all our CDs. We currently have 60 CDs left, and they're on sale for $20 apiece. That would be a goal of around $1200."
Every CD sale generates $12 for Diakonia.
"We're about halfway there," Nagle said.
The CD is the brainchild of McCormack Graduate School of Policy Studies University of Massachusetts in Boston.
The CD sale earnings will enable the homeless shelter to provide services not covered by grants and other funding, like upgrades to computers guests need to write resumes and apply for jobs online.
"The funding, the grants are flat. This gives us some flexible funds we need to help our guests with the changes they need," Nagle said. "We do more than three hots and a cot. We provide intensive case management to the folks who are here."
In 2007, Diakonia provided 11,000 bed nights of service to over 300 people, an increase over 2006.
"People are staying longer," Nagle said because affordable, safe housing is very difficulty to find. She added, "The unfortunate piece is we're consistently busy."
As recently as five years ago, the shelter saw demand go up in summer months, when housing is at the highest premium, and fall back somewhat in the offseason. Now, Diakonia shelters over 30 people at any given time.
"There are more people than ever this year," said Darlene Onley of Worcester County GOLD, an organization that helps the poor and homeless with emergency necessities, from food to rent to prescriptions. "It doesn't end at Christmas."
After two days off for the holidays, Onley said she came back to the Worcester County GOLD office to find several requests for help on the answering machine.
The average Diakonia stay in 2007 was 39 days, Nagle said, but that length of time varies widely from one person to another. One guest may only need a bed for two days, while another may need one for a year. The shelter can house up to 45 men, women and children, depending on the family configuration, and it can be difficult for them to move on.
"We can't find places they can afford to rent," Nagle said.
"Rent is always a problem," agreed Onley.
Nagle said current market conditions are starting to be noticed.
"We're beginning to see the effect of the housing market falling down and people aren't being able to find the volume of work," Nagle said. "I can see some signs it is beginning to get more difficult."
Onley said the need is very much still there in Worcester.
"Need definitely has been increasing," Onley said of the requests for help from homeless and poor Worcester Countians. "It seems like we have a lot of steady customers. I think people really love to be on the Lower Eastern Shore and a lot of them have roots and don't want to leave."
Diakonia focuses on connecting guests to county and state services that can help them get back on their feet, from financial assistance to mental health treatment, to jobs and housing.
Staff try to get guests stable in the first week, making sure they have food and get sleep, finding them services and then making a plan to help them into their own housing. Guests, who are expected to save wages toward housing costs, can often find work in a few days in the summer, but take longer in the winter. In all seasons, guests tend to need to take on more than one minimum wage job to pay for housing.
Many guests must move out of their communities and away from their support systems just to find somewhere they can afford to live. Much of the small stock of affordable housing in Worcester County lies in the southern end, which makes getting to work difficult if not impossible for many. County buses do not run late at night and are really only useful to people working daytime positions, said Nagle.
Even those housing markets are changing and becoming less affordable, Nagle said.
"The cost of housing is increasing in this area, period," she said.
Housing programs, like Section 8, often have a three- to four-year waiting list.
According to Nagle, few guests need to return to Diakonia once they move out of the shelter and are on their own. "It's mostly new people," she said.
Diakonia's work would not be possible without community help, at the holiday season and all year, Nagle said.
"We appreciate their support," she said. "They've made the Christmas holiday season incredibly wonderful. We're very grateful for the support for our guests. We wouldn't be able to do what we do without them."

subset: commoncrawl


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Michael Gira: 'The Seer took 30 years to make. It's the culmination of every previous Swans album, as well as any other music I've ever made…'
Swans are a band that attracts superlatives. I'm not going to argue for Swans as the best, or the heaviest, the loudest, or the most evil band in the world (as has been done), but I am offering them up as the one band that makes the best case for extreme music as a profound experience, and one that transcends mimesis or expression. That's to say: they don't sing about emotions; they obliterate them; they are the sensation they seek to create. There's a sense that Michael Gira might well have seen further than most. True, Swans can seem primitive, or musically un-evolved, and that was (once) the point. Early Swans lyrics dealt in abstracts and archetypes of power; slaves and masters; figures more monochrome and thuggish than anything on massively indebted later records like The Downward Spiral, that made contemporaries like Sonic Youth or The Birthday Party sound positively commercial.
In the early Nineties, Swans more or less invented Crescendo-Rock-As-We-Know-It, and the dramatic peaks of Soundtracks for the Blind (1996) or Swans Are Dead (1998) anticipate the best of Mogwai, GYBE! or Sigur Ros. I say 'crescendo rock' because the experimental Soundtracks... came five minutes too late to be mentioned in Simon Reynolds' 1994 essay on post-rock, and this two hour collage of found-sounds and sinister drone-scapes doesn't always get the credit it deserves (for the sake of ease, let's call them post-rock from now on). What those later bands added was often training in composition, as well as influences from classical minimalism (Reich, Glass, Cardew, Part), but Michael Gira had always been more interested in learning-on-the-job how best to terrorize an audience. Obviously, there's no need to pick a preference among post-rock bands, and it's futile to argue for authenticity over musicianship, but Gira's own rhetoric raises the question of what we expect from music, and whether there's a reason his music seems to exude more dread (and beauty) than technically superior bands.
So, what does 30 years of experience sound like? Put the artist back in the picture, and you start to see why Swans are Swans: that these sounds could only have been arrived at by someone with a particular sensibility, and a particular mission you can't fake. After his parents' divorce, a couple of years of almost daily acid-trips, a stint in prison, and then in a factory, the young Michael Gira had run away to Israel – all before he was 15. A year or so after his disappearance, he was tracked down working as a miner. Brought back to the States, he was enrolled in an arts college where he met Kim Gordon and, through her, became an integral part of NYC's music scene, shortly after the No Wave had broken. An early line up of Swans even recruited Thurston Moore from Glenn Branca's Guitar Army. The reason we're still listening to a band who set out to sound so un-evolved (see, for instance, Filth from 1982) is because of how far Swans did evolve, and how deliberate that initial devolution had been: starting from percussion-heavy industrial; moving to a higher species of post-rock that encompassed (but wasn't limited to) crescendo-rock; and then a version of alt country for most of the Noughties (as Angels of Light) that allowed Gira to play unironically spiritual songs, and occasionally create a cacophony like the good ol'days.
And so we come to 2012. The Seer is the culmination of Gira's 30-year-journey; his finest two hours, if you will. Superficially, it sounds like a compendium of post-rock moves, but that's a good thing, not a sign of dilettantism, and there's much more going on. Twelve year after GYBE's Levez vos Skinny Fists… (the easiest comparison for most readers), and 16 years on from Soundtracks…, this isn't actually a difficult album. Most of the tracks will satisfy listeners who came to post-rock via Hollywood movies. There is, however, a case to be made for the more difficult passages on the album, and by turning the spotlight on some of Gira's influences, showing how much this does constitute a departure. Take the middle movement of 30-minute long title track 'The Seer'. From four to 13 minutes, you've got a conventional post-rock number, albeit with a terrifically sinister vocal that rises from a diabolical slither to something more ominous ("iveseenitall-iveseenitall-iveseenitall-I'VE SEEN IT ALL-I'VE SEEN IT ALL"). For five minutes the slow drums portend a devastating second climax but it never arrives, leaving you to wonder what decision was made (or not made) here. On a second or third listen – because you WILL come back to this two hour album in its entirety – the realization dawns that Gira is as interested in shaping space (or silence) as he is in sculpting noise. The percussion, provided by Thor Harris, towers like 40-foot pillars in front of a temple from whose dark portal something promises to emerge.
Yes, Swans have been here before, and so have other psychedelic voyagers, but rarely with so much musical legacy freighted into every single bar. Much of The Seer is composed of six to ten minute blocks of relentless repetition, but what's repeated is played so tightly, and arranged so exquisitely that within individual tracks, you might hear echoes of The Residents' 'ethnographic forgeries', or Sun City Girls (whose own Sir Richard is touring with Swans). There's a lot of Can and, in a couple of places, a honking and grunting Captain Beefheart.(If this sounds silly, well, sometimes it is, but pseudo-hippies Animal Collective would soil themselves, and scurry back to whichever kindergarten they get their samples from.)
Arguably, this is a development, and a new target for younger bands to aim at. One of the crucial ingredients that defined Swans as a seminal post-rock band was their exploration of non-rhythmic loops to create soundscapes with a sense of constriction; not that there is no development at all, but the development is cerebral, interior, subjective, depending on the experience of listening over time, rather than harmonic and melodic relations with other elements of the composition.
All of which makes this a surprisingly brisk two hours. Nor is it all avant-garde. 'Song for a Warrior' (sung by Karen O) is one of the most straightforward pieces Gira has ever written, and it's beautiful. The lyric also feels earned; after all, a musician-as-warrior metaphor would be lazy and crass coming from 90 per cent of people, no matter how many decades they've been touring, but I refer you back to Gira's biography. Approaching 60, he knows the clock is ticking with regards to performing with an intensity that would be true to Swans. He's writing his own elegy and he seems grimly happy about heading toward some kind of rest. Like Gira's former musical foil, Jarboe (who symbolically if mutedly pops up on backing vocals a couple of times), Karen O does a fine job of sounding like the anima to such a musical titan, a mythical mother figure whose embrace is also death.
And so one battle – Swans' 15-year battle against the sensibilities of effete audiences that was supposed to have ended in the Nineties – seems to be coming to an end, allowing Gira to concentrate on the beautiful as much as the sublime. I want to describe 'A Piece of the Sky' as the loveliest thing that Swans have ever committed to record, if only to put 'loveliest' in the same sentence as the name of a band synonymous with punishing musical excesses. For its first ten minutes, it's a close cousin of Eno's immaculate 'The Dance, parts 1 & 2', before cross-fading into a slow-building guitar-led post-rock number haunted by a faint xylophone part.
Did I mention a guest-spot from (old friends of the band) Alan and Mimi of Low? Or that 'Avatar' may be the most thrilling song they've ever written, even before you notice the lyrics about performance-as-possession? Actually, the best thing about this album is that Gira's cried wolf so many times about having said all he has to say, there's bound to be another 70 minute opus (at least) in six months. Here's to another 30 years of Swans.
NB – Included in the special edition package, the 100 minute DVD of Swans' live-show is far better than most 'devalued American dollar purchase incentives' (as Nirvana once put it). That's to say, it's a well-edited set using multi-camera footage of a legendary live act – but still it suffers from exactly the same constraints as anything else in the sub-genre that is the concert film. Unless the director merges said footage with a confessional biopic (cf. Low), or study of alienation and anomie in the age of accelerated globalization (cf. Radiohead), you're left wondering why you're sitting politely in the upper circle and not sweltering in the moshpit. It's a more gruelling set than the album – extending the noise sections, and favouring the less melodic tracks from Swans' post-reformation material – but every instrument is bright and separated in the mix, recorded to near-studio-quality. What this adds to the album is a filmic portrait of a frontman with the charisma and swagger of a Patton or Sherman, making history, not music. Do you need more persuading? Support Our Artists!
10Alexander Tudor's Score
10User Score


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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge in Arkansas is on the verge of giving final approval to a settlement of a class-action lawsuit that would pay about 1,500 migrant workers a total of $1.5 million to make up for unpaid wages and expenses.
The lawsuit was brought in 2007 by the Montgomery, Ala.-based Southern Poverty Law Center on behalf of workers who packed tomatoes for Candy Brand LLC in Bradley County. Several other defendants were also named.
Settlement documents filed in U.S. District Court in El Dorado show the workers would travel to southern Arkansas to pack tomatoes during the eight-week summer harvest. The proposed settlement says they weren't paid federally-mandated minimum wages or paid proper overtime.
Also, the workers weren't reimbursed for their travel, temporary work visa fees and other costs and they weren't paid at the halfway point of their contracts, according to the proposed settlement that was signed by both sides.
The suit, which alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, covers work done from 2003 through 2007, when the court action was filed. The settlement stipulates that it applies to workers who were legally and illegally in the U.S.
Final approval of the settlement is pending a March 27 hearing, which Southern Poverty Law Center attorney Michelle Lapointe said is largely a formality to allow members of the class to either opt out of the settlement and pursue their own lawsuit or to object to the deal's terms.
Defense lawyers Hani W. Hashem of Monticello and F. Mattison Thomas III of El Dorado didn't return messages seeking comment.
The settlement says the money will be placed in trust accounts and a settlement administrator will be in charge of making payments to the workers.
Lapointe said the transient nature of the workers "makes it a little bit more challenging to get in touch with everyone," but she said the money can reach the workers.
"We've administered other settlements in cases involving migrant workers on temporary visas, many of whom have gone back to Mexico or Central America, and we've been able to track down a number of people and get the word out about the settlement funds that are available," Lapointe said.


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Note that tax status is different from immigration status.
NRA employees complete Form W-4 and W-8BEN. In addition, treaty exempt NRAs sign form 8233 prepared by foreign national tax staff.
Treaty exempt NRAs receive form 1042-S prepared by foreign national tax staff, summarizing the treaty exempt portion of wages for the tax year. For any portion of wages that are not exempt by treaty, a W-2 form will be prepared in addition to form 1042-S.
Form W-4 "Employee's Withholding Certificate" has separate instructions for employees in NRA tax status. Form W-4 determines the amount of federal and state income taxes withheld from your pay. This form is prepared by foreign national tax staff for NRA employees and need to be signed by the employee, you will not have access to alter your Tax Withholding in Employee Self Service. Following are the general rules for the W-4 form for employees in NRA status:
Form W-8BEN "Certificate of Foreign Status of Beneficial Owner for United States Tax Withholding" used for NRA employees to indicate NRA status. This form is prepared by foreign national tax staff for NRA employees and need to be signed by the employee.
Form 8233 "Exemption from Withholding on Compensation for Independent (and Certain Dependent) Personal Services of a Nonresident Alien Individual." This form is prepared by foreign national tax staff for NRAs qualifying for income tax treaty exemption for all or part of wages for the year as dictated by the relevant treaty. It will be implemented when signed by the employee and the OUHSC withholding agent.
Form 1042-S "Foreign Person's U.S. Source Income Subject to Withholding." For employees, this form is used to record treaty exempt income for the tax (calendar) year. The form is mailed to recipients no later than March 15 of the following year. Payroll Services prepares 1042-S forms for employees. We strive to mail the forms by January 31 in conjunction with the Form W-2 the employee may receive in addition to the 1042-S form.


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Jetboats travel upriver from Youngstown to base of Horseshoe Falls
by Terry Duffy
Nothing like trying out some boats in the river on a sunny Saturday morning.
That's exactly what a Youngstown marina owner and jetboat operators from Idaho did Saturday in the Niagara River gorge. In the process, they made a bit of local history - and also drew the attention of the U.S. Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security and the Niagara Parks Police Service in Ontario, Canada.
Chris Bohnenkamp, owner of Bohnenkamp's Whitewater Customs of Meridian, Idaho, outside of Boise, and driver Beau Value, also from the Meridian area, were in town performing jetboat tests in the Niagara River with Mike Fox of Fox BoyZ Marine in Youngstown, who announced plans for a new jetboat tour operation, Niagara Jet Adventures, which will start in the lower Niagara later this summer. Bohnenkamp is co-owner on this new venture with Fox and, at Fox's request, transported two of his 26-foot BWC Gatling series jetboats from Idaho to Youngstown for the tests.
"We wanted to partner with Mike on Niagara Jet Adventures and be able to bring the most epic, but safe jetboat experience in the Niagara Gorge," said Bohnenkamp. "This ride will be like no other ever."
>>Click here for a photo gallery
Niagara Jet Adventures reports that, on April 25, Bohnenkamp along with Value and an entire crew from BWC, traveled 2,200 miles from Boise. They brought the two jetboats to test the waters.
"The partners in the business are getting things set up to run tours up the river," said Value. He said Fox, responding to questions on why he opted to go with BWC rather than the Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours manufacturer that operates upriver, had wanted to see how the Gatling's boats handle the Niagara.
"He wanted proof that these boats can come out here and perform," Value said.
So Value, an Idaho construction company owner who said he does whitewater boating "for recreational purposes," joined Fox, Bohnenkamp and the BWC crew for the test. "I've done a lot of whitewater in Idaho, uncharted water, that's how I got hooked up with Chris. He asked me to come out and do this," Value said.
The BWC crew scoped out the gorge areas, from the whirlpool up to the falls, as they planned the venture. Value said they also chatted with plenty of locals they met on the river's edge in Lewiston and upriver who told them that it couldn't be done.
"One of the biggest things for me was, you know, 'The Factor,' " said Value, referring to the TV show "The Fear Factor." "We come out here and we're talking to people as we we're deciding what to do. We walked ... talking to people, and they told us, 'There's no way. Nobody's ever done this; nobody can do (it); any (one) who ever attempted it ... died.'
"It puts a whole another thing on it."
"I mean, I look at the water and I see it and I know that I can run it," he continued. "I believe in my mind that I can run that water. (But) then you add in, you know, 'The Fear Factor.' Cause everyone around you is saying, 'No, you can't do it; anyone who has ever attempted has died, and there's no way you can run that water - it's impossible; it's un-navigable.' And that puts more in your head, like, 'Is this for me?' And then you start questioning yourself."
With that in mind, Value, Bohnenkamp, Fox and the BWC crew nonetheless proceeded to launch the Gatlings from Youngstown and started their trip up river. Things went routinely until the boats began to enter the heavy rapids area beyond the Niagara Power Authority hydropower plant and Whirlpool State Park. There, into the unknown (and what they found out later was to be "the prohibited areas"), things began to get interesting.
Value said he never experienced anything like it before. "The water flows faster here; the energy, the force - it is a whole another level. I've never driven in it before, with the power of this river."
"(You see) our rivers; it's whitewater. Here it's sheer power. We waited for high flow," he said, adding the crew hiked upriver earlier to scout things out.
Bohnenkamp said the Gatling's Cadillac engines were putting out the equivalent of doing 38 mph, but the boats were only going 15 to 20 mph due to the force they encountered.
"I could look at my GPS, see we were going up river, but not that fast. There was so much force," he said. "When you're pushing 38 mph, you're not (actually) going that fast, you're pushing quarter- to half-throttle all the time, easing your way through."
Value said the operators maneuvered their way up river through the uncharted Niagara gorge rapids by "reading the rocks."
"Our rivers are way rockier," he said. "We've run stuff that's never been navigated before with rocks. But we read it, determine where it is (the rocks), and how the water flows."
Bohnenkamp and Value said the Gatlings made it upriver from the start of the whirlpool to the base of the Horseshoe Falls in "about 5 to 7 minutes."
There they encountered a "very surprised" Maid of the Mist tour boat operator, crew and riders.
"There were these hand gestures," when they saw us, Value said, laughing. "Like (they were saying) 'What in the world are you doing here?' "
Throughout this adventure, the BWC jetboats, understandably, also caught the attention of law enforcement from both sides of the border. Value, Bohnenkamp and Fox all admitted later that police agencies soon became very much aware of the goings on and had not been not apprised of this attempt. And almost as soon they were, three helicopters from the U.S. and Canada joined the BWC boats as they trekked up river. Once the jetboats were seen in the Maid of the Mist boat launch area beneath the falls, police on the Niagara Falls, Ontario, side attempted to get the boats to dock, but to no avail.
"Homeland Security did respond," said Bohnenkamp. "But he (Fox) was able to settle them down."
When asked of the incident, Matthew A. Bitterman, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol, Department of Homeland Security, said, "On Saturday, April 27, at approximately 9 a.m., the Niagara Parks Police Service in Ontario, Canada, requested the assistance of the U.S. Border Patrol regarding two vessels near the Maid of the Mist boat launch in Canada. The Border Patrol utilized cameras to locate the vessels and dispatch agents to the area. The U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine were also advised of the situation.
"While responding to the area of the vessels, agents made contact with two individuals in the Whirlpool State Park that were part of the crew for the two vessels. The individuals and vessels met with Border Patrol and Coast Guard at the Youngstown boat launch.
"Crew members of the vessels informed the Border Patrol that they were conducting tests for a new tour company that plans to operate through the Whirlpool Rapids in the lower Niagara River. Agents determined that the vessels were not involved in any cross-border activity, but advised the company on vessel reporting requirements."
"All operators of vessels that return from a foreign dock or port, make contact with a foreign vessel, or receive merchandise outside U.S. territorial waters must report their entry," Bitterman said. "Vessels may report their entry in Niagara Falls, N.Y., at the Youngstown boat launch using the Customs and Border Protection video phone. Failing to report an entry is a violation of 19 USC 1436 and can result in a $5,000 fine for the first violation, with the vessel also subject to seizure. Intentionally failing to report an entry is a violation of 8 USC 1325, entering the United States without inspection, and can result in a fine up to $2,000 and/or imprisonment for one year."
Bohnenkamp and Fox said the boats were removed from the river when they returned to Youngstown, and the matter was clarified there with Border Patrol and U.S. Coast Guard officials.
Jean D'Amelio Sawyer, assistant director, regional communications of the Canada Border Services Agency in Niagara Falls, Ontario, responding to any ramifications Fox and the BWC jetboat operators may be facing from across the border, offered the following:
"In recognition of the importance of travel and leisure to Canadian communities, the CBSA takes a practical approach to the application of the law. Commercial passenger vessels, such as ferries and tour boats, have clear itineraries and scheduled routes. Provided their movement is continuous, uninterrupted and without delays or stopovers, the CBSA does not require commercial passenger vessels, such as ferries and tour boats to report.
"For information about reporting requirements for private boaters, please visit the CBSA website."


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Jewish Naming Ceremony: Celebrating a daughter's name
Guest blogger Hilary Zalon, founder of thecradle.com, explains the modern tradition of the Jewish naming ceremony for girls.
I have two wonderful daughters. And while I was never averse to having a little boy, I'm relieved that I was able to skip the Jewish ritual to welcome a son. In fact, the relatively new Jewish ceremony to welcome a daughter is much more up my alley.
If you're not Jewish, or aren't familiar with these traditions, here's a quick 101: The male ceremony is a 'brit milah' – also known as a bris – the ceremony for circumcising an eight-day-old boy. The female ceremony goes by a number of names, including 'simchat bat' (rejoicing of the daughter), all to celebrate…get this…naming your daughter!
No sharp implements. No rush to get a party together in eight days while recovering from the actual delivery of the baby. And we get to celebrate one of the most enjoyable parts of welcoming a baby – choosing a name. In this instance, we're celebrating the Hebrew name, so we get to pick even more names!
Many refer to a baby naming as a "modern" or "contemporary" tradition, and while there are signs that baby naming rituals happened hundreds of years ago, it really became a more recognized option for parents in the '70's (likely coinciding with the rise of feminism and the increase in bat-mitzvahs). Since it is so new (forty years is nothing when you're dealing with a history that's over 5,000 years old), it is still up to personal interpretation and the ceremony can really represent your family's personality and style.
We're not a very religious family, but we do have a strong pride in our heritage and our Jewish community. For both of our daughters, we waited until they were 9-10 months old, which is probably a lot longer than most people wait. Some parents have a naming ceremony just eight days after the birth (echoing the male circumcision ritual). Others say a blessing for their daughter when they are called to the Torah – sometimes as early as the first Sabbath after the birth.
At our event, the rabbi led a very simple and beautiful ceremony at our home, which included a welcome prayer, description of the ceremony, an explanation of the names we chose, a blessing for our daughter, and a blessing for everyone. As with most of our Jewish traditions, there is wine and food. Those two are always a hit. (Although finding good bagels in L.A. is still a struggle.)
As for the names we chose:
Our older daughter's given name is Sasha Leah (honoring my grandmother, Sylvia, and my husband's grandmother, Leah). The Hebrew name is traditionally the Hebrew name of the person she is named for. Since my grandmother didn't have a Hebrew name that was meaningful to her, we were able to choose a name that was actually a second-runner up to her given name. And her middle name was a no-brainer since her given middle name is already a Hebrew name. She received her Hebrew name, Sivan Leah, right after my dad joked, "Anyone want a slice of Sivan Leah cake?"
Our younger daughter is Esmé Juliette (for my grandmother, Eva, and my husband's grandfather, Jack). Ever since I read JD Salinger's Nine Stories in school, I was stuck on the name Esmé – but I hadn't read or seen any of the Twilight books or movies, so when I learned about the character named Esmé, my heart sank a bit – only out of a little sadness that this 'secret' gem of a name (actually popular in South Africa and a few European companies) might become more well known! Her Hebrew name, Chava Yael, was another half-given: Chava is the Hebrew name for Eva/Eve. But since her middle name was for a male, we felt we could choose any name we liked that started with a Y (the Hebrew alphabet doesn't use J's). We were able to avoid my father's imminent joke that her middle name should be 'Piece-a' so his granddaughters could be 'Chava Piece-a Sivan Leah' cake.
Hilary Zalon founded TheCradle.com, an award-winning online resource for expectant and new parents. Since the sale of the site to giggle, Hilary has been exploring a number of different ventures, her favorite being enjoying more time with her daughters and husband.


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Imagine this story.
You meet someone you really like and fall for them immediately. They're attracted to you too and the sex is great. But you want something more serious and they drag their feet. They're emotionally detached, they forget to call, they make you do all the work of moving the new relationship along. It becomes tumultuous. You fight, you break up, you make up and get back together. They cheat. They lie. They promise to change every time but they never do.
And then, finally, the story reaches its climax–perhaps because you've finally walked out, or maybe because of some dreadful accident or because their best friend got married or something else that leads to a Big Realization. And they finally decide that it was you they wanted all along, and one of you proposes to the other, and you get married.
If this sounds familiar to you, it's probably because that story weaves its way through too many novels, movies, and TV shows to count. It's in Sex and the City, Twilight, 50 Shades of Grey, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Gossip Girl.
These stories suggest that this relationship script is somehow supposed to be romantic. That that moment when they Finally Realize how wrong they've been makes it all worth it and that after that moment everything becomes healthy and happy. That a relationship built on detachment, betrayal, manipulation, or even abuse can survive and become some great love story.
There are two misconceptions that one can get from these kinds of stories. One concerns how to actually conduct your relationships, and the second concerns what we value in our relationships and what types of relationships we consider romantic.
The first misconception is that it makes sense to stay in a relationship with someone you love even though they are clearly unable to give you what you're looking for. In pop culture, women are often portrayed as refusing physical intimacy and men are often portrayed as refusing emotional intimacy, although some stories flip this around (such as (500) Days of Summer). What's to stop the other partner from just leaving and finding someone who's able to be as intimate as they need?
Part of it is the false belief that you can make someone change by the sheer force of your love, and that you have enough patience to remain in a relationship that's not satisfying to you until your partner changes.
Of course, sometimes people do change. They become more empathic, better listeners, less self-centered, more attentive, better at managing their time and money. But they generally don't just flip-flop personality-wise. Going from a noncommittal, dishonest, and/or abusive jerk to a loving and affirming partner doesn't just happen; it probably requires years of therapy. Yet in these stories, it does just happen.
And even if that ever happens in real life, would you really want to spend years in an unhealthy relationship in the hopes that it will?
The second misconception is that stories like this are Romantic. They are Love Stories. They're the kinds of stories you would want to tell at your wedding and then to your children and grandchildren. They're something to aspire to. They're something to make movies and write books about.
Really, though? I'd never want to tell my future kids that I took crap from their other parent for years and years until they finally Came Around after some supposedly romantic moment and started loving me back. I would want to tell them that I knew my partner was a good person from the very beginning, and that while we've had our disagreements, we always managed to learn from each other and compromise.
Now, I get that that doesn't make as flashy of a movie. Conflict does make stories interesting (although I still don't see why the type of conflict that gets written about has to romanticize unhealthy relationships and abuse). It's difficult to criticize cultural scripts like these without people suggesting that I'm somehow saying that these books and movies shouldn't exist.
The point of feminist criticism, in my mind, isn't to say what should and shouldn't exist. It's to remind people that these stories are written from a particular perspective, one that we don't necessarily have to agree with or accept. People who make movies and write books are operating under their own assumptions of what the world is or what it should be. It's up to us to present alternative views.
Media affects us in ways that are too nuanced for easy fixes. As it is with eating disorders, it's not like anybody would read Twilight or watch Gossip Girl and immediately conclude, "Gee, it sure is hot when Edward/Chuck treats Bella/Blair like that. I'm glad my boyfriend's the same way."
But these scripts can change what we value in our relationships: is it mutual respect and open communication, or is it that hot, passionate, tumultuous "love" that's being sold?
These scripts embed themselves in our minds and start to seem normal. It's easy to start telling our own stories through those lenses. For instance, a survey done at Twilight screenings in Idaho showed that 68% of the teens seeing the movie thought that Edward's treatment of Bella is a "sign of true love."
Of course, that doesn't mean that watching and enjoying Twilight literally causes people to interpret Edward's abusive behavior as evidence of a loving, healthy relationship. Perhaps people who already view relationships that way gravitate towards films like Twilight.
That's why the solution isn't to boycott them or vilify them unilaterally; it's to use them to examine the assumptions we hold about love, relationships, and all sorts of other stuff. It's also to write our own stories–ones that portray manipulation, lopsided relationships, and abuse as antithetical to the lives we want, rather than as stepping stones to the healthy love that supposedly follows.


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Attempted aggravated robbery reported on campus
Monday, Sept. 30, 2013
MANHATTAN -- The Kansas State University Police is investigating an attempted aggravated robbery that occurred around 8 a.m. Sept. 28 in the central part of campus.
The victim, who was a student, stated an unknown male demanded money. There were no weapons involved and the victim suffered minor injuries from a scuffle with the suspect. The victim described the suspect as male of an unknown race approximately 6 feet tall, wearing blue jeans and a T-shirt.
This case is under investigation and no further description of the suspect is known. Anyone with information about this crime should contact the campus police department at 785-532-6412. Anonymous tips can be left at www.ksu.edu/police/silent.
Campus police encourages the university community to continue to use the resources available such as the Wildcat Walk by calling 785-395-SAFE or to walk with others.


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Mycoplasma meleagridis causes an egg-transmitted (transovarian) disease of breeder turkeys that primarily impacts progeny with airsacculitis but has also been associated with decreased hatchability from infected breeder flocks and with poor growth and skeletal abnormalities in progeny. M meleagridis is strongly host-specific for turkeys (not for chickens), and with successful control programs (National Poultry Improvement Plan in the USA) major turkey primary breeders have eliminated the infection from their stocks, producing eggs and poults free of M meleagridis. Thus, M meleagridis has not been reported in the commercial turkey industry for quite some time.
Epidemiology and Transmission of Mycoplasma meleagridis Infection in Poultry
Before control programs, turkeys worldwide were commonly infected with M meleagridis. Infection of progeny occurs primarily through vertical (egg) transmission with rates that vary over the laying season. At the hatchery, organisms may be spread horizontally via aerosols from the respiratory tract or to the vent on contaminated hands during vent-sexing. Respiratory tract infection also leads to horizontal transmission among birds within young growing flocks and may be a factor in the spread to flocks previously free of infection (flock-to-flock transmission).
In some infected turkeys, organisms localize in the reproductive tract; thus, the source of vertical transmission in hens is organisms incorporated in eggs. In toms, the phallus and adjacent tissues (cloaca) become infected and contaminate the semen. Artificial insemination of turkey hens with infected semen is an additional important method of transmission. Additionally, indirect transmission may result from management practices such as vaccination, whereby mycoplasmas are carried manually from infected to noninfected turkeys via contaminated hands, clothing, and equipment.
The marked difference in the pathogenicity of various strains of M meleagridis results in variable clinical manifestations, with airsacculitis in poults being the most common. High prevalence of airsacculitis with low mortality in poults suggests a highly evolved host-parasite relationship.
Clinical Findings and Lesions of Mycoplasma meleagridis Infection in Poultry
Egg transmission and embryo infection with M meleagridisreduces hatchability (due to late embryo mortality), poult quality, and growth rate. Only mild respiratory signs may be seen despite high rates of airsacculitis in poults from infected hens. Egg-borne infections may impact early rapid growth of hock joints, periarticular tissues, cervical vertebrae, and adjacent bone, producing skeletal abnormalities such as crooked (wry) necks or leg deformities. Adult breeders usually show no signs of venereal or respiratory infection.
Hatched poults may have airsacculitis with variable degrees of thickening, turbidity, foamy yellow exudate, and caseous flecks. These lesions recede with age. Poults with wry neck may have cervical airsacculitis and osteomyelitis of adjacent vertebrae. The generalized skeletal lesions that may develop in poults 1–6 weeks old are characterized by chondrodystrophy or by varus deformities and perosis.
Microscopic lesions in hens consist of lymphocytic foci in the fimbria, uterus, and vagina, with plasma cells and heterophils in the lamina propria of the reproductive tract. Infected embryos and young poults show inflammatory lesions of pneumonia and exudative airsacculitis.
Diagnosis of Mycoplasma meleagridis Infection in Poultry
Serology, culture, or real-time PCR
A high prevalence of airsacculitis in day-old poults suggests M meleagridis infection. Serology by agglutination (tube or plate) or ELISA can demonstrate antibody. Confirmation was generally by hemagglutination-inhibition serology or by culture, isolation, and identification of the organism. Real-time PCR is now used to detect M meleagridis DNA from pre- or postmortem specimens. M gallisepticum, other Mycoplasma spp, and mixed infections (polymicrobial disease) must be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Treatment, Control, and Prevention of Mycoplasma meleagridis Infection in Poultry
Sourcing of eggs or poults from breeders free of M meleagridis is the primary control measure
Turkey eggs or poults should be obtained from breeder flocks free of M meleagridis and monitored by serology and/or by examining pipped embryos or cull poults for airsacculitis. Semen used for insemination must be free of M meleagridis. Dipping eggs in tylosin or other antibiotic reduces the incidence of transmission in infected flocks. However, this practice has been generally eliminated with the eradication of M meleagridis from primary breeder flocks and is only used by multiplier breeders when there is an outbreak. Injection of a suitable antibiotic at 1 day of age or water medication for the first 5–10 days appeared to reduce infection and airsacculitis caused by M meleagridis and improve weight gain.
Key Points
M meleagridis is vertically transmitted, causing embryo and young poult mortality.
M meleagridis has been eradicated from all primary breeders and thus not been reported lately from the commercial turkey industry.
M meleagridis-free breeding stock and antibiotic treatment are very effective ways to prevent and control the disease.
For More Information
See the USDA National Poultry Improvement Plan.


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Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2024
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law
Revenue and Taxation Code
Division 2. Other Taxes
Part 2. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law
Chapter 5. Determinations and Payments.1
Article 1. Returns, Reports, and Payments
Section 7652.5
7652.5. Report; terminal operator. (a) Each terminal operator shall prepare and file with the board a report in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media showing, for the calendar month, or that monthly period ended during the calendar month as the board may authorize, the following:
(1) The name and license number of each person that is a position holder at each terminal it operates;
(2) The amount of motor vehicle fuel received at each terminal it operates;
(3) The identity of each position holder with respect to the rack removals of motor vehicle fuel from each terminal it operates and the volume and dates of the removals;
(4) The amount of motor vehicle fuel stored at each terminal it operates;
(5) The destination (by state) of all motor vehicle fuel removed at a terminal rack of each terminal it operates, to the extent that information has been provided to the terminal operator; and
(6) Any other information required by the board for the proper administration of this part. The terminal operator shall file the report on or before the last day of the month following the monthly period to which it relates. To facilitate the administration of this part, the board may require the filing of the reports for other than monthly periods. Reports shall be authenticated in a form or pursuant to methods as may be prescribed by the board.
(b) Upon written approval of the board, a terminal operator may satisfy the requirements of subdivision (a) above by executing and providing to the board a consent and authorization for the Internal Revenue Service to provide to the board under Section 6103 of the Internal Revenue Code, the return filed by the terminal operator under Section 48.4101-2 of Title 26 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The board may, in its sole discretion, rescind its approval and require a terminal operator to file reports as specified in subdivision (a).
History—Stats. 2002, Ch. 459 (AB 1936), deleted "on forms prescribed by the board" after "and file with the board" and added "in the form as prescribed by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, electronic media" after "a report" in the first sentence of, and added the third sentence to paragraph (6) to, subdivision (a).
1Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1053 (AB 2114), operative January 1, 2002.


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The official UK Chinese Democracy listening party will take place at Madame Jo Jo's in Soho, London on 20 November, a full four days before the album's release. The night was supposed to be a "sleaze rock and metal thrills extravaganza," headlined by GN'R tribute band Guns 2 Roses. It still will be, but with Universal Music in attendance to 'borrow' the event…
Unlike fellow tribute act UK Guns N' Roses, Guns 2 Roses will be incorporating Chinese Democracy tracks into their set-list. And it was on this promise that GN'R's label Universal Music took the opportunity to showcase the album: "It was ironic because we were putting the night across as a chance to hear new Chinese Democracy songs played by us, " Guns 2 Roses frontman and Axl Rose impersonator Gavin Barnard told MusicRadar.
"Universal heard about our night and turned it into an official listening event because we're going to play the new material," he continued.
Chinese Democracy will be played in full at 8pm, followed by bands Raising Sand, Plastic Toys, Jettblack and Guns 2 Roses. Tickets are available here.


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In this edition of In the News:
- Fiscal Cliff: An Education Cheat Sheet
- New Orleans #1 for Travel & Leisure
- Update on Centralized Enrollment
- National Education Stories
- Louisiana Headlines
- More Local News
Fiscal Cliff: An Education Cheat Sheet
Fiscal Cliff Cheat Sheet: 10 Frequently Asked Questions
Education Week – November 13, 2012
This handy cheat sheet from Education Week answers key questions about the upcoming fiscal cliff and how education spending will be affected if Congress can't come to an agreement by January 2, 2013.
America's Best Cities
Travel & Leisure – November 2012
New Orleans was named #1 in the Travel & Leisure survey of "America's Best Cities." New Orleans scored in the top five in more than half of the survey's categories, including fine dining, architecture, antiques, music scene and people-watching.
New Orleans School Officials Edge City Closer to a Single Enrollment System
Times-Picayune – November 15, 2012
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) gave preliminary approval to folding all state-approved charter schools in New Orleans into the OneApp by the 2014-15 school year. This includes all RSD-New Orleans Schools as well as all BESE Type 2 charters. Meanwhile, the Orleans Parish School Board is considering policy language that would make any newly approved charter schools, any charter schools returning from the RSD, and any future charter renewals contingent on participating in a central enrollment system. Read more about enrollment changes in these articles from The Advocate and Times-Picayune.
Charter Schools Grow Rapidly, Adding 200,000 Students: Report
Huffington Post – November 14, 2012
A new report shows that enrollment in public charter schools rose by more than 200,000 students in the 2011-2012 school year compared to the previous year. More than 2 million students – about 5% – are enrolled in charter schools nationwide. In New Orleans, Educate Now! estimates that 85% of New Orleans public school students attend charter schools this year, up from 78% in 2011.
One Man, One Computer, 10 Million Students: How Khan Academy Is Reinventing Education
Forbes – November 2, 2012
Metairie native Salman Khan is on the cover of Forbes Magazine for the creation of the world's largest school, the Khan Academy. The Khan Academy is a nonprofit, online school that features 3,400 short instructional videos along with interactive quizzes and tools for teachers to chart student progress. The site is used by 6 million unique students each month, and the material (provided at no cost) is part of the curriculum in 20,000 classrooms around the world.
Research Traces Impacts of Childhood Adversity
Education Week – November 6, 2012
New research from several sources confirms that the stress of a dysfunctional or unstable home life can poison a child's cognitive ability for a lifetime. Cognitive and neuroscientific evidence shows that "toxic stress" (severe, sustained stress not buffered by supportive relationships) weakens neural connections in areas like language development and self-control.
Teacher Absence as a Leading Indicator of Student Achievement
Center for American Progress – November 5, 2012
This report from the Center for American Progress uses recent, school-level data to examine issues of teacher absence. On average, 36% of teachers nationally were absent more than 10 days during 2009-10, and teachers in traditional schools were absent at a rate 15.2 percentage points higher than those in charter schools. Research shows that every 10 absences lowers average mathematics achievement the same as having a novice teacher instead of one with more experience.
FAQ About The ACT
EdConnect – November 15, 2012
This year, Louisiana is requiring all high school students to take the ACT, and 25% of a high school's performance score will be based on student ACT scores. For more on the ACT, read this Frequently Asked Questions document from the Louisiana Department of Education.
Transitioning to Assessments Aligned with the Common Core State Standards
EdConnect – November 15, 2012
Louisiana has adopted the Common Core State Standards, which are more rigorous and require a higher level of work than Louisiana's current state standards. In this document, the Louisiana Department of Education provides information on how the Common Core will change student assessments and how educators can begin to prepare.
Louisiana's Educators Enter a New World with Evaluations and Their Consequences
Times-Picayune – November 17, 2012
Beginning this year, Louisiana's teachers will be evaluated and ranked on an annual basis. Half of a teacher's ranking will be based student test scores, and the other half will be based on classroom observations by principals and other administrators. Layoffs and pay increases in local districts must be based on these evaluations, not on seniority, and after the next academic year, teachers ranked "ineffective" for two years in a row will lose their jobs.
Meeting on Extending Deadline for Governance Switch
The Lens – November 14, 2012
Thirteen RSD charter schools have improved enough that they are now eligible to return to the OPSB if they choose. Originally, the deadline for making this decision was December 1, but BESE has extended the deadline to January 7, since the School Performance Scores were only recently released.
Orleans Parish School Board Committee Approves One New Charter, Denies Another
Times-Picayune – November 15, 2012
The accountability committee of the Orleans Parish School Board recommended approval of Bricolage Academy charter school, which will focus on engineering and innovation. The committee recommended denying a charter to the Four Peas Group, saying its leadership team lacked experience and they failed to spell out how this arts school would actually teach the arts. Finally, the committee recommended changing Alice Harte Elementary and Edna Karr High School from Type 4 charters to Type 1 charters and transferring control from the Algiers School Charter Association to InspireNOLA. The full board is scheduled to approve the committee's recommendations at its next meeting on November 20.
Educate Now! wishes you a very happy Thanksgiving.


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LOS ANGELES (thefutoncritic.com) -- The latest development news, culled from recent wire reports:
Looking to keep track of all the various projects in development? Click here to visit our newly revamped "Series in Development" charts. Visitors can now filter our listings by network, genre and even development stage (ordered to pilot, cast-contingent, script, etc.). It's updated every day!
ABC FAMILY ORIGINAL SERIES (ABC Family) - The cable channel has quietly rescheduled its upcoming original series "Venus & Serena: For Real" and "Beautiful People." The former will now launch on Wednesday, July 20 at 10:00/9:00c while the latter will still debut on Monday, August 8 but now air at 9:00/8:00c.
ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT (FOX) - Brothers Joe and Anthony Russo, who helmed the initial installments of the series, have signed a two-year, seven-figure deal with Touchstone Television to direct and produce series for the studio. The pair, who recently completed a one-year deal with 20th Century Fox Television, directed the pilot to Touchstone's "What About Brian" this past development season and were also responsible for the pilots for NBC's "LAX" and FX's "Lucky." The new deal with Touchstone (which won't affect their development of "City Hall" and "Motel Novella" at HBO) calls for the brothers to direct at least one pilot project per season in addition to their own projects.
BEAUTY AND THE GEEK (The WB) - In addition to Tuesday's second season renewal (read the story), the Frog has also committed to a reunion special for the hit reality series. The special, which is expected to feature all the season one cast members, will air on Wednesday, July 13 in the show's regular 8:00/7:00c time period. "Geek" itself will wrap its six-week run on July 6.
COMMITTED (NBC) - RonReaco Lee, who played Nate's (Josh Cooke) wheelchair-bound nemesis Todd on the short-lived comedy, has inked a talent holding deal with NBC Universal Television. Under the terms of the pact, which runs through June of next year, NBC will cast Lee in one of its current projects or develop a new one around the actor.
FX ORIGINAL SERIES (FX) - FX's new summer comedies "Starved" and "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" have been slated to premiere on Thursday, August 4 at 10:00/9:00c and 10:30/9:30c respectively. According to the network's press materials, "Starved" follows "the misadventures of four 30-something friends - a bulimic cop, an obese writer, a commodities broker and an anorexic bisexual songwriter - as seen through the country's obsession with food and the loneliness of single life" while "Philadelphia" tracks "a diverse group of friends who own a bar in Philadelphia," one of whom reveals he has cancer in the first episode.
THE HOWARD STERN SHOW/PARTY AT THE PALMS (E!) - Howard Stern has confirmed "The Howard Sterm Show's" 11-year run on the cable channel will wrap on Friday, July 8 (featuring highlights of his July 1 radio broadcast). E!'s decision to bow out of the bidding to renew "Stern" likely means fellow suitor Spike TV has snagged the series however no official announcement has been made. The series, which has averaged 793,000 total viewers (494,000 in adults 18-49) to date this year, won't disappear from E!'s lineup however as repeats will continue to run in its regular weekday 11:00/10:00c slot. Meanwhile in other E! news, a solid 2.2 million viewers tuned into the premiere of "Party at the Palms," a new "Wild On!"-esque series hosted by Jenny McCarthy, last Wednesday.
INTO THE WEST (TNT) - After opening to 6.47 million viewers on June 10, week two of the six-week limited series fell by nearly 26% to 4.8 million viewers. The installment nevertheless bested most of its broadcast and cable competition, including movies on FOX (4.1 million) and UPN (1.23 million) and comedies on both ABC (3.5 million on average) and the WB (1.59 million on average).
LAS VEGAS (NBC) - TNT is expected to announce this week it has landed the off-network rights to NBC's hit Monday drama "Las Vegas," in a deal valued at $450,000 per episode. The pact includes the rights to the 88 episodes or so likely to be produced through the show's fourth season as well as the right to repurpose NBC's run eight days after its original airing. The repurposing will kick off this fall with its weekday run beginning in the fall of 2007. In addition, TNT has asked for the video-on-demand rights as part of the license fee, a first for the industry. The expected $40 million pact is more than double what TNT paid for "Alias" ($200,000 per episode), but pales in comparison to TNT's off-network purchases of "Cold Case" ($1.4 million per episode) and "Without a Trace" ($1.35 million per episode). TNT will begin running "Alias" weekdays this fall while "Trace" will expand from its current once-a-week run in the fall of 2006. "Cold Case" then will join TNT's lineup once a week starting this fall with its five-a-week expansion due in the fall of 2007.
RAY ROMANO & KEVIN JAMES: MAKING THE CUT (HBO) - The one-hour special, which featured the comedians as they competed in the PGA's famed Pebble Beach National Pro-Am, drew just 761,000 viewers for its initial broadcast this past Saturday.
THE SHOWBIZ SHOW WITH DAVID SPADE (A.K.A. GONE HOLLYWOOD) (Comedy Central) - The cable channel has given a 13-episode order to a new weekly half-hour "The Daily Show"-esque series hosted by comedian David Spade. The project is a reworked version of the previously completed pilot "Gone Hollywood," a potential weekday strip hosted by Greg Giraldo and executive produced by Spade. Like the previous incarnation, "Showbiz" is seen as an expanded version of Spade's "Hollywood Minute" vignettes from "Saturday Night Live" in which he skewed celebrities and the media. Comedy Central is said to have approached Spade to host the series after "8 Simple Rules" got the axe last month with the promise of a 13-episode order. Spade will continue to executive produce "Showbiz" (which will launch in September) along with creator Hugh Fink, Pariah's Gavin Polone and the Brillstein-Grey Co.
WITHOUT A TRACE (CBS) - Writer/producer Ed Redlich has exited the hit CBS/Warner Bros. Television drama after signing a new two-year, seven-figure overall deal with Paramount Network Television. The pact calls for Redlich, who served as "Trace's" showrunner for its first two seasons (and opted for reduced role last season), to develop and produce series projects for the studio. Redlich spent the past development season behind the failed CBS/Warner Bros. Television pilot "Conviction," which starred Sally Field.
Sources: Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Reuters


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Founded in 1865 by its fastidious owner, Zenith, as its name connotes, represented the pinnacle of watchmaking perfection. Georges Favre-Jacot and his company was one of only a few watchmakers that manufactured complete watches. Morever, he produced these watches using up-to-date machinery and tools that he built himself. Zenith has garnered more than 1,500 international watchmaking awards and continues to produce wristwatches of distinction.
This watch is guaranteed 100% authentic, has original serial numbers and is shipped in factory-fresh,
brand new, unworn condition with all manufacturer documentation and packaging.
Package contains watch manufacturer's certificate of authenticity (if such certificate is applicable,
and provided by the manufacturer), tags, stickers, boxes, and user manuals.
We will gladly accept returns within 30 days of receipt of delivery. Watches must be returned to us in brand new, unworn and undamaged condition. All domestic purchases showing as "In Stock" under $3000 will receive a full refund minus shipping fees. A 10% restocking fee will apply on all other orders. Read more.
Gemnation ships your domestic order free via FedEx/UPS Insured Standard Delivery (3-5 days) after your order has been processed. Please read the additional information section next to the watch to determine processing times. Watches that cost less than $200, will be shipped via FedEx/UPS Ground. Read more.
We sell luxury timepieces at considerably lower prices than the manufacturers list price. Gemnation is not
an Authorized Zenith Watch Dealer and is not affiliated with Zenith. Authorized dealers are not permitted
to discount or sell watches on the Internet. For this reason, we choose not to be authorized watch dealers
for many of the brands that we sell.
Since we are not authorized dealers for many of the watch manufacturers, we may be unable to ship the original
watch manufacturers warranty. In all cases, however, we provide a Two Year Gemnation Warranty (active from the
date of purchase).
Gemnation utilizes a full-time Swiss-trained watchmaker who is licensed and trained to repair every brand and model of watch that we sell. If we can supply the original warranty we provide this information in the individual watch description. Read More.
Mon - Thur 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Fri 10 a.m.-1 p.m. (ET)


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Foods that Will Fill You Up, Not Out!
8 Foods to Fill You Up, Not Out. One of the hardest things about losing weight is cutting calories without feeling hungry. To shed pounds successfully – and keep them off – it's important to fill your belly in ways that will keep it satisfied and full. If you simply cut portions without including more "feel full" foods, you're likely to experience hunger and eventually eat more. Instead, get smart about adding high satiety foods to your diet when you cut portions. Include the high-protein, high-fiber, and high "water volume" foods that make our Great 8 Filling Foods List.
Broth-Based Soups
Start your meal with a soup! Dr. Barbara Rolls, Professor of Nutritional Sciences at Penn State University has been a pioneer in studying the role of "high water volume" foods on fullness and weight loss. One of her key findings: broth-based soups can contribute to a feeling of fullness. Broth-based soups like miso or chicken noodle are most effective while heavy, cream-based soups such as New England clam chowder defeat the purpose. And keep in mind that soup isn't only a cold-weather food. In the summer, try chilled gazpacho or cucumber soup. Broth-based soups are the perfect appetizer and can keep you from overindulging in the main course and dessert.
Beans and Legumes
Lentils and chickpeas are nutritious, tasty and filling high-fiber foods that can be included in a number of different types of entrees and healthy snacks. Since beans can add up to a lot of calories if you eat more than a serving or two, it's a good idea to combine them with vegetables that are low in calories and will also help to keep you feeling full longer. Beans and legumes also have a great added perk! They are inexpensive.
Want a filling breakfast that will give you energy? Eat your oats! Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley analyzed a national six-year survey and found that people who ate breakfast had a lower body mass index (BMI) than people who skipped breakfast, and that those who ate cooked cereal had a lower BMI than any other breakfast-eating group. Also, oatmeal was ranked as the most satiating breakfast food on the Satiety Index, developed by Australian researchers a decade ago, and it's the third most satiating food overall. Avoid oatmeal with added sugar and boost the flavor and 'fullness power' of your oatmeal by adding in some sliced apples, berries or raisins.
One of the biggest nutrition myths going is that you have to avoid nuts to lose weight. The truth is, nuts have been shown in multiple studies to help people shed pounds.
Although nuts are calorie-dense and high in fat (mostly healthy fat), their protein content can keep you feeling full and often stave off a binge later in the day.
Best way to have nuts? Try them with a glass of water. The volume that water adds to the stomach combined with the slow-to-digest nuts make a perfect quickie fill-up. Being hydrated can help with hunger management and nuts provide due of protein and fiber which is one of the best combos to tied you over.
Speaking of water…. I know… it's not a food. But water is worth including on our list. Have you heard the weight loss tip about drinking one glass of water before meals? It's been around for decades, but only recently has a well-designed research study shed some scientific light on this topic. It turns out that this may be one diet trick worth trying.
Virginia Tech researcher Brenda Davy and her team studied 48 adults between the ages of 55 and 75. All study participants ate a low-calorie diet for 12 weeks. Half of the group drank 16 ounces of water before meals. The other half did not. At the end of the 12 weeks, the water drinkers lost an average of 15.5 pounds, while the ones who did not have water before meals lost about 11 pounds. And unlike many fad diets, the weight loss seemed to last. After a full year of the same regimen, the water drinkers had slimmed down by an additional 1.5 pounds, on average, while those who didn't load up on water before meals gained about 2 pounds. Most likely the weight loss occurred because water is filling without adding calories. In some cases it could also be displacing calorie-containing drinks. Either way… drinking water prior to meals could be an easy way to help keep you from overeating.
When you cut calories, protein can help keep you feeling full and control hunger. Chicken, especially when prepared lightly (baked, grilled, broiled) is a great source of protein. Fish, lean meat, tofu, and other proteins (like beans, legumes, and eggs on this list) are also terrific. But chicken makes my list because it is relatively inexpensive, versatile and easy to incorporate into meals. Plus you find it just about everywhere when you're on the go.
Fruits & Veggies
Fruits & Veggies… probably one of the best lose-weight weapons in your arsenal. High in fiber and water, they'll fill you up without blowing your calorie budget. Aim for nine or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. You can incorporate them into your diet in many ways: bulk up recipes or simply include more servings of whole fruits and vegetables at meals or snacks.
The high-quality protein in eggs helps you to feel full longer and stay energized, which contributes to maintaining a healthy weight. In one study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, researchers found that eggs for breakfast helped overweight adults feel fuller and consume an average of 330 fewer calories throughout the day than adults who ate a bagel-based breakfast with the same number. For a perfect meal anytime of day, try this delicious Veggie Omelet.
-Article by-
Julie Upton, M.S., R.D., CSSD
Co-Founder, Appetite for Health


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Dozens killed in wave of Baghdad bombings
Baghdad: At least 51 people have been killed and more than 160 others were wounded in a wave of violence in Iraq on Monday, Iraqi Interior Ministry sources told CNN.
The attacks continue the increase in political and sectarian violence in Iraq, including its capital, Baghdad, over the past several weeks.
Much of the violence included Sunnis squaring off with Shiites and the Shiite-led government.
Most of the casualties Monday were in and around Baghdad, where 11 car bombs exploded, mostly in Shiite neighborhoods, Also, one bomb exploded in the central Baghdad commercial area of Bab al-Sharqi, near street vendors. Another exploded in the New Baghdad district in eastern Baghdad, close to shops and a Sunni mosque.
There were several incidents in Anbar and Nineveh provinces, but officials did not give further details.
According to a CNN tally, more than 300 people have been killed in acts of violence across the country since the beginning of May.
Over the past week, Iraqi security forces increased their presence in the capital's streets and established more checkpoints.


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Acting to protect Kentucky consumers attempting to obtain health insurance under the new Affordable Care Act, Attorney General Jack Conway required a company operating a website deceptively similar to the Kentucky health insurance exchange to take down its site. This is the third website against which the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection has taken action, causing those websites to be taken down, corrected or blocked.
The copycat website was kynect101.com, which was deceptively similar to kynect.ky.gov, Kentucky's official health insurance exchange website. In the wake of difficulties with the federal government's website, the Kentucky site has been hailed as a national model. However, some consumers attempting to locate the site through search engines were being deceptively steered to the kynect101.com website instead of kynect.ky.gov, where they were provided false information about their options under the federal Affordable Care Act, including being informed that there were no plans with federal subsidies available to offset a portion of their insurance premiums.
Attorney General Conway's Office of Consumer Protection contacted the owners of the website on November 26, demanding that the site be taken down. The letter also noted that kynect is a copyrighted term and that the copycat site infringed on the state's copyrights.
Google was also contacted and asked to remove the website from Google search results. The site has now been taken down and no longer appears on Google search results.
"Last week, Kentuckians who googled the search term 'kynect' received kynect101.com as the first search result - not anymore," General Conway said. "I will not tolerate sites that mislead consumers. Kynect.ky.gov is the only official government website and has clear information about the plans and subsidies that are available through the Affordable Care Act."
Attorney General Conway received information about these troubling sites from Gov. Steve Beshear's staff and the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. Several consumers had entered information on the sites and began receiving harassing calls and emails.
"We commend the Attorney General for this action and his ongoing efforts to warn and protect consumers from fraudulent websites as we continue to roll out the Affordable Care Act here in Kentucky," Gov. Steve Beshear said. "It's appalling to think there are individuals out there who would prey on Kentuckians during this process. Because of this, we ask everyone to be on guard and report any questionable websites or businesses."
At the Attorney General's request, Google has also removed healthcaregov.net from its search results. That site created the misleading impression that it was a government health exchange. It also lacked clear information for consumers regarding how to access the official Kentucky exchange. In addition, a third site, healthcare.com, has made corrections to its site after being contacted by the Attorney General's Office to ensure that Kentuckians will be able to link to the state's official site, kynect.ky.gov.
"I appreciate Google working with us to help protect consumers from these copycat websites," General Conway said.
The Attorney General's Office continues to work with the Office of the Kentucky Health Benefit Exchange and the Kentucky Department of Insurance to identify unfair, false, misleading and deceptive acts and practices related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. Consumers who are aware of questionable practices are encouraged to contact the Attorney General's Office at 888-432-9257 or .
The Office of Consumer Protection recommends the following tips for consumers:
• Make sure you're working with a registered insurance agent or certified kynector. Only legitimate insurance agents and assisters, known as "kynectors," are authorized to assist Kentuckians with signing up for health care. A list of approved agents and kynectors maintained by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services can be found online or by calling 1-855-4kynect (459-6328).
• Protect your personal information. Only a registered insurance agent, a certified kynector, or contact center customer service representative should ask for your personal information to help you apply. Keep personal and account numbers private to any others who offer assistance. Don't give your Social Security number, credit card or banking information to companies or individuals you didn't contact. Never give your information to someone whose identity you question.
• Do not pay for help. Insurance agents and kynectors will not solicit money. There is no charge to use kynect services, either online or with the help of an insurance agent or certified kynector. If consumers receive an offer to register for a fee, they should hang up the phone or walk away. Consumers should not give their credit card or banking information to anyone they do not know or did not contact. Consumers should be very suspicious of anyone charging a fee in connection with enrollment.
• Remember that you can only get tax credits through kynect. Kentuckians who purchase insurance through kynect may qualify for tax credits to help cut the cost. No one but kynect can offer these credits, and there is no charge to apply for the credits.
• Beware of phishing scams online. Consumers should be cautious of any email claiming to be connected to the Affordable Care Act, including any emails claiming to be affiliated with kynect and asking for personal information.
• Ask questions. Don't sign anything you don't fully understand, and verify the answers you get with trained kynect representatives.
If people do think their personal information has been compromised, they can visit www.ag.ky.gov. The Attorney General's website contains information about protecting your personal identity and an identity theft toolkit.


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12.28: Trimming and Expanding
Your Hosts: Brandon, Mary, Mary Anne, and Wesley
Revision: it's when you make a too-short piece longer, or a too-long piece shorter. (It's also a great many other things, suggesting that this description is a too-short piece in need of revision.)
Credits: This episode was recorded in Chicago by Andrew Twiss, and mastered deep beneath [REDACTED] by Alex Jackson.
Homework: Identify the key concepts in a scene you need to shorten. Your budget is one sentence per concept. Rewrite the scene using exactly that many sentences.
Thing of the week: "Plea," by Mary Anne Mohanraj.
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QC Kinetix (Gahanna)
Columbus regenerative medicine, sports medicine Gahanna, Gahanna joint pain treatment, Gahanna back pain treatment, Columbus knee pain treatment
QC Kinetix (Gahanna), offers non-surgical regenerative medicine treatment for joint pain to residents in Gahanna, OH. Anyone looking for alternatives to surgery for pain can find relief with our biologic therapies. If you're looking for a knee replacement, knee surgery, hip surgery, hip replacement, or relief from shoulder pain, elbow pain, wrist pain, plantar fasciitis, arthritis treatment, or treatment for sports injuries, call QC Kinetix to schedule a free consultation. We can help you get relief while avoiding surgery, so you can return to your normal life activities as quickly as possible.
Gahanna ( gə-HAN-ə) is a city situated in northeast Franklin County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Columbus. The population was 35,726 at the 2020 census. It was founded in 1849. == History == Gahanna was founded along the Big Walnut Creek in 1849 by John Clark of Ross County from 800 acres (320 ha) of land that his father, Joseph Clark, had purchased from Governor Worthington in 1814.
Arena District, Argyle Park, Brittany Hills, Broadleigh, City of Columbus - Department of Neighborhoods, Clinton Estates, Clintonville, Colts Neck, Cumberland Ridge, Dennison Place, Devon Triangle, Driving Park, East Beechwold, Eastgate, Eastmoor


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(ARA) – Whether it's preparing for a holiday gathering, watching the big game or planning a dinner party with friends and family, it can be difficult to decide what food to serve. A cheese course is a simple, elegant solution that also saves much-needed kitchen prep time.
The California Milk Advisory Board (CMAB) is offering party hosts, families, and cheese lovers alike an introductory lesson on putting together a first-class cheese course.
Variety Matters
California has more than 50 cow's milk cheesemakers making more than 250 different varieties and styles of cheese, so it's easy to make your course innovative. There are five different categories to keep in mind when selecting cheeses to serve; Fresh, Soft, Semi-Hard, Hard/Aged, and Flavored. A traditional cheese course should always contain a bloomy rind soft-ripened cheese like a Brie or Camembert. Add a soft or washed rind cheese, such as Crescenza or Teleme (a California original) for a cheese your guests may not have tried. A semi-firm hard cheese is a great addition because you can include favorites such as Gouda or St. George. Very hard aged cheeses like a Dry Jack (another Golden State creation) compliment the other softer cheeses and provide intense flavor. And of course, finish it off with a strong, flavorful cheese, such as Blue or Schloss.
Less is More
Only feature three to five different types of cheeses so guest can savor rather than be overwhelmed by the flavors you've chosen. The beauty of a cheese course is that you only need to provide about 1 ounce of cheese per person if you are enjoying before or after a meal. If your cheese course is the main attraction, 3 ounces for each guest will do the trick.
Avoid the Cold Shoulder
In order to bring out the full flavor, cheeses should not be served cold. It typically takes an hour or two at room temperature for a large piece to fully develop. However, do not slice cheese until you are ready because you may risk drying the cheese out, and take special care with fresh cheeses, which need to be treated like fresh milk.
Make it a Party
Everyone knows cheese pairs well with wine, but did you know cheese also pairs perfectly with beer? Whether your group likes chardonnay, pinot noir or cabernet, or ales, wheat beers, pilsners and porters, you don't need to worry about complimenting your cheese course. Download the free Pair Savvy smartphone application for an easy guide to pairing Real California Cheeses with wine, beer and even chocolates.
Enhance with Company
Cheese loves the spotlight but a simple co-star can really enhance a course. If your cheese course is kicking off the party, plan on a savory accompaniment like fresh Mozzarella with roasted tomatoes to fuel the fun and conversation. Cured meats like salami or prosciutto, olives, dried fruit, marinated or grilled peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms can also really brighten the flavors of selected cheeses. If your cheese course is ending on a sweet note, a California White Cheddar with apple and walnut conserve is sure to hit the spot. You can also try honey, jellies and jams, slices of fruit and berries, or candied nuts. For these Real California Cheese recipes and more, check out RealCaliforniaMilk.com.
With the CMAB's simple tips, you are ready to impress family and friends with tasty flavors and pairings for any occasion. Just look for the Real California Cheese seal to guarantee you're getting products made with 100 percent California milk.
California White Cheddar with apple and walnut conserve
2/3 cup diced red apple (1 medium apple)
2/3 cup diced green apple (1 medium apple)
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts, plus 4 walnut halves
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
8 slices rectangular slices sharp Real California White Cheddar, about 2 1/2 (about 1/2 ounce per slice)
In a small saucepan combine all ingredients except the cheese. Cook over medium-low heat for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and let cool. For each serving, plate cheese. Top with 1/4 of the conserve mixture. Partially overlap with another slice of cheese. Garnish with walnut halves.


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