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Honor the Heroes of the Game, Preserve Its History, Promote Its Values & Celebrate Excellence Everywhere
"An offensive lineman has got to stay in there. Take a beating without committing himself. That's the only way."
(Ohio State)...6'3'', 273...James Thomas Parker ... First full-time offensive lineman named to Pro Football Hall of Fame ... Exceptional blocker, specialized in protecting quarterback ... All-NFL eight straight years, 1958-1965 ... Played half of 11-year career at tackle, half at guard ... Played in eight Pro Bowl games ... No. 1 draft choice in 1957 ... Two-time All-American, Outland Trophy winner at Ohio State ... Born April 3, 1934, in Macon, Georgia ... Died July 18, 2005, at age of 71.
From the moment Jim Parker joined the 1957 Baltimore Colts as their first-round draft pick, he was considered a cinch for pro football stardom. Jim had been a two-way tackle, an All-America and the Outland Award winner as the nation's top lineman at Ohio State.
Although his college coach thought his best shot in the pros would be on defense, Colts' coach Weeb Ewbank tabbed Jim as an offensive lineman. The Colts at the time were just evolving as an National Football League power and the premier passer in the game, Johnny Unitas, was the guy who made the Baltimore attack click.
Parker had little experience in pass blocking, but Ewbank was sure Parker could do the job. "It didn't take me long to learn the one big rule," Parker remembered. "'Just keep them away from John,' Coach Ewbank told me at my first practice. 'You can be the most unpopular man on the team if the quarterback gets hurt.' I couldn't forget that!" And Parker didn't forget.
The fact that he was assigned to protect such a famous teammate may explain why Parker seemed to attract more publicity than is usually accorded to offensive linemen. Another reason is that he was such an exceptional craftsman. In an out-of-the-ordinary twist, Jim divided his career almost evenly between left tackle and left guard.
Each job had its distinct set of responsibilities. Even the opponents were different. As a tackle, he went head-to-head against the faster, more agile defensive ends. At guard, his daily foes were the bigger and stronger defensive tackles. Parker handled both positions in all-pro fashion. At left tackle he earned All-Pro honors four straight times from 1958 to 1961.
In the middle of the 1962 season he was moved to left guard and at year's end was named All-Pro at both tackle and guard. He then followed up with three straight seasons of earning All-Pro accolades at guard (1963 to 1965). During this period Parker played in eight consecutive Pro Bowls.
All-League Teams
All-NFL: 1960 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) · 1961 (AP, NEA, NY) · 1962 (AP, NEA) · 1963 (AP, NEA) · 1964 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) · 1965 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY)
All-NFL Second Team: 1961 (UPI) · 1962 (UPI) · 1963 (UPI, NY) · 1966 (NY)
All-Pro: 1958 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY) · 1959 (AP, UPI, NEA, NY)
All Western Conference: 1957 (SN) · 1959 (SN) · 1960 (SN) · 1961 (SN) · 1962 (SN) · 1964 (SN) · 1965 (SN)
Pro Bowls
(8) – 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966
Full Name: James Thomas Parker
Birthdate: April 3, 1934
Birthplace: Macon, Georgia
Died: July 18, 2005
High School: Macon (GA), V.W. Scott (Toledo, OH)
Elected to Pro Football Hall of Fame: January 13, 1973
Enshrined into Pro Football Hall of Fame: July 28, 1973
Other Members of Class of 1973: Raymond Berry, Joe Schmidt
Presenter: Woody Hayes, Ohio State football coach
Pro Career: 11 seasons, 135 games
Drafted: 1st round (8th overall) in 1957 by Baltimore Colts
Uniform Number: #77 with Baltimore Colts


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Find Your School
Find Your School
Text our helpline: 616-294-8348
Spring Arbor University
Pregnancy and parenting don't have to mean the end of your education, dreams, or goals.
We're here to connect you with the resources needed to support and empower you to succeed.
Peer Support
Student Development & Learning at SAU
Contact Spring Arbor University's office of Student Development & Learning to secure support from the campus community. Spring Arbor University is committed to the sanctity and preservation of life.
Pregnancy Options
The Center for Women
: Free pregnancy testing, ultrasounds, confidential counseling, abortion information, parenting support, community resources, and more.
Birthline Pregnancy & Parenting Center
: This organization provides confidential counseling, abortion information, parenting classes, and material resources.
Option Line
: Free confidential help via text, online chat, or phone
Bethany Christian Services:
Wondering what your options are? This organization will walk you through your pregnancy options, give you free counseling and offers many resources including financial assistance.
Abortion Pill Reversal:
If you change your mind after a medical abortion, you can receive help.
SAU Family Housing
: Family housing is available for students with children as long as SAU's Family Housing requirements are met.
U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development:
Find rental assistance programs for low-income families.
Home Ownership Services:
If you need help paying for energy and weatherization costs, you may be able to get help from state programs that uses federal money to assist low-income families with energy costs.
: Co-Abode connects single mothers with similar interests to share a home, allowing their families to live in safer areas and diminish the financial burden of rent.
Child Care
Child Care Assistance:
Resources to find quality child care and payment assistance if you cannot afford child care.
Head Start in Jackson, MI
: Provides free learning and development services to children ages birth to 5 from low-income families. Some also provide prenatal services.
Post-Abortive Care & Support
Center for Women:
If you are struggling in the aftermath of an abortion, reach out to The Center for Women to find healing and support.
Project Rachel:
Find hope and healing through confidential phone lines, individual counseling, support groups, and retreats.
Financing Your Education
SAU Financial Aid
: Contact Spring Arbor University's Financial Aid office to explore grants, scholarships, and other options to finance your education.
Michigan Student Aid:
Numerous programs that are available to provide financial assistance for postsecondary education depending on eligibility.
Michigan Tuition Grant
: This program is available for undergraduate students in financial need for their postsecondary tuition.
Federal Student Aid
: If you are a pregnant or parenting student, update your FAFSA information in order to receive more financial aid.
Federal Pell Grant:
This is a federal grant available for students that demonstrate financial need. Your FAFSA application will be reviewed to see if you qualify.
This organization has awarded over one million dollars in scholarships to mothers seeking higher education. You can easily apply for scholarship funds on their website.
P.E.O. Sisterhood:
Looking for grants, scholarships, or loans? P.E.O. Sisterhood has the resources you are looking for and have helped countless women achieve their educational goals.
Patsy Mink Foundation:
This organization provides funding to low income mothers who are pursuing education beyond high school. The foundation will provide grants of up to $5,000 each.
A Single Parent\'s Financial Guide to Returning to School
: This comprehensive guide offers strategies on budgeting, receiving financial aid, finding child care resources, and minimizing debt.
Federally Qualified Health Centers
: These are health centers that provide comprehensive healthcare to clients- even those without health insurance. You simply pay what you can afford. They offer checkups, treatments, complete pregnancy care, and immunizations. Some offer even more services.
Maternal Infant Health Program:
A home visiting program for Medicaid-eligible women and infants. It offers support and care coordination to pregnant women for regular prenatal and infant care.
State of Michigan Health Care Information
: Receive more information about healthcare options for pregnant women. This includes: Medicaid, MIChild, and Maternity Outpatient Medical Services.
American Associate of Pro-life Obstetricians & Gynecologists:
Find a physician to help you through your pregnancy.
Student Rights
Alliance Defending Freedom
: ADF provides free legal support to help you understand your rights as a student.
Title IX Benefits:
Learn about your rights as a pregnant or parenting student in regards to class attendance, homework, activities, and more.
Pregnant Scholar
: Learn about your rights as a pregnant or parenting student. This resource covers accommodations, leaves & absences, breastfeeding, and working on campus.
Material Assistance
The Center for Women
: The Center for Women's "Learn & Earn" program allows you to earn points and cash them in for items like diapers, clothing, food, and baby items.
Birthline Pregnancy & Parenting Center
: This organization provides confidential counseling, abortion information, parenting classes, and material resources.
Food Pantries in Jackson, MI
: See a list of local food pantries.
Food Assistance Program:
Temporary food assistance for eligible low-income families and individuals.
: This program provides food assistance, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and health care referrals for pregnant and parenting women & their children
Cash Assistance:
Temporary cash assistance is available for pregnant women and low-income families with children.
: Create an account here to see what other assistance you are eligible for in Michigan. There are multiple assistance programs available for pregnant and parenting women.
Child Support
: Set up a child support case so that you can receive assistance from the father of your child.
Additional Resources
Women Deserve Better:
This website is a compilation of practical resources and inspirational stories. They focus on issues pertaining to work, home life, education, and relationships.
Single Moms
: This website is full of resources for single mothers on housing, parenting, education, relationships and more.
Abortion Pill Reversal:
If you change your mind after a medical abortion, you can receive help.
Adoption Associates
: This organization will help you learn more about adoption as you consider your choices. Should you choose to make an adoption plan, they will stand by your side with support and counseling services. Adoption Associates wants you to feel empowered throughout the adoption process. Financial assistance may be available.
Spring Arbor University
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Text: 616-294-8348
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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Xmatrix Quadrus by Jeremy Goode
Jeremy Goode Demonstrates The Xmatrix Quadrus Labyrinth Puzzle
Jeremy Goode, the creative mind behind the award winning work Jeremy Goode's Xmatrix Quadrus Labyrinth Puzzle spells out, The Xmatrix Quadrus is a quality new, beautiful and mesmerizing three-dimensional labyrinth puzzle. It is unlike any puzzle you have ever seen before. The translucent, pixelated, crystalline layers play with light in a stunningly sculptural and interactive way. THE CHALLENGE: Navigate the ball from the GOLD side to the SILVER side and back again in the shortest possible time. Challenges memory, spatial awareness and hand-eye coordination. An affordable addictive futuristic gift, a collectable coffee-table conversation piece or an artistic object of contemplation?.
Xmatrix Quadrus by Jeremy Goode Images:
End of the article, click here to go back to previous page, or alternatively go back to Design Trophy homepage.


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Product Details
Made from 100% USA cotton
Double hand-turned hem
Machine washable
All Brahms Mount textiles are prewashed and preshrunk
All Brahms Mount products are made in the USA
Twin 72" x 90"
Full 80" x 90"
Queen 90" x 90"
King 110" x 90"
Feel-Good Fibers
Sustainability is not a new idea at Brahms Mount. Natural fibers and earth-friendly practices were woven into the fabric of our company from day one. Every part of our process, from sourcing yarns to manufacturing products, involves making choices with minimal impact. We use colorfast, eco-friendly dyes to achieve our vibrant hues. We follow the safest possible methods to give our whites their characteristic brightness. Our natural fibers are just that – pure and undyed, with a clean, untreated finish. Feel-good fibers, in every sense.
- Perfect coverlet
Posted by Cathy on 4/25/16
- Fantastic
Posted by Grace on 10/18/14
- Oh So Worth It!
Posted by Sharon on 5/14/14
- Lovely Blanket
Posted by Peggy Taylor on 11/13/13
- Perfect for Califonia Winters
Posted by Cindy Kovacs on 11/12/13
- Greatest blankets ever
Posted by Grace on 11/12/13
- Heirloom in the Making
Posted by Eniko Swanick on 4/29/12
All Brahms Mount blankets and throws are pre-washed and pre-shrunk. While our products have the ease of home washing and drying, they are still made of natural fibers and should be cared for accordingly. Special attention is needed when drying.
Brahms Mount keeps rolls of woven fabric on our shelves. An in stock product may not yet be finished and ready to ship. For this reason, all orders should be expected to ship within two weeks.


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With Dustin Hoffman's directorial debut, "Quartet," moving on from its Toronto preem to the buzz screenings circuit for serious awards season play, the actor-helmer pulled into the Mill Valley Film Festival, where a packed house of fans gave him a rousing welcome.
In addition to screening "Quartet" on Oct. 9, Hoffman took time for ruminating and reminiscing via the Variety Master Class, a lengthy onstage discussion about his craft and personal history with Variety's Steven Gaydos.
Anecdotes about famous film figures such as "Kramer vs. Kramer" d.p. Nestor Almendros, "Straw Dogs" director Sam Peckinpah and his Malibu neighbor, Walter Matthau, were interspersed with a wide-ranging overview of his life and career, which he explained resulted from "failing at everything else I tried."
Hoffman wrapped up the chat with a saying he credited to Werner Herzog's recent Death Row documentary, "Into the Abyss." Addressing the crowd, Hoffman exhorted them to "Live the dash!" which he explained means "that space on your tombstone between your birth and your death."
Following the Master Class, Hoffman was presented with the Mill Valley Film Festival Award for career achievement from fest directors Mark Fishkin and Zoe Elton.


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Welcome to our website! As we have the ability to list over one million items on our website (our selection changes all of the time), it is not feasible for a company our size to record and playback the descriptions on every item on our website. However, if you have a disability we are here to help you. Please call our disability services phone line at (870) 307-0331 during regular business hours and one of our kind and friendly personal shoppers will help you navigate through our website, help conduct advanced searches, help you choose the item you are looking for with the specifications you are seeking, read you the specifications of any item and consult with you about the products themselves. There is no charge for the help of this personal shopper for anyone with a disability. Finally, your personal shopper will explain our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, and help you place an order if you so desire.
David's Home and Sleep Center in Batesville, AR is an authorized dealer of Lillian August Products. Lillian August is an artist, a painter, an interior designer, a textile designer and a furniture designer. The collections exemplify Lillian's attention to a sophisticated, vibrant and engaging lifestyle. From a classic European style to the handcrafted antique reproductions entitled Antiquaire, a cosmopolitan vision is realized... perfect for the distinguished collector of fine furniture.
Lillian scripts her lifestyles with color and comfort in mind, and as she says, "Color is what gets me out of bed in the mornings... the opportunity to work with pure color is inspiring! I find my customers are more courageous and individualistic in the color choices today. I am passionate about seeking out influences that constantly keep my collections exactly where the client wants to go visually.".
The Lillian August team understands today's consumer from a unique perspective. "My designs reflect the individuality of my clients." said Lillian. "We create a vision that embodies the spirit of our clients; they are confident consumers that embrace fashion in all areas of their lives.
So if you are looking for Lillian August products in Batesville, Southside, Cave City, Melbourne, Newark, Newport, Pleasant Plains, Mountain View, Sulphur Rock, Evening Shade and Mount Pleasant, or if you have any questions about Lillian August products, please feel free to call us at (870) 307-0331 or simply stop by David's Home and Sleep Center at any time and we would be glad to help you.


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New Pre-Check Program for Airport Security Screening | News
Cheektowaga, NY - A new security screening program at Buffalo Niagara International Airport may save us from those trying moments like removing our shoes or belts.
It's something more of us may notice as we catch a flight soon or with the upcoming holiday travel frenzy.
Actually it's already at the Buffalo Niagara airport and today they invited us in to help publicize the Pre - check program.
Basically they're hoping to streamline the system with more advance information on a traveler's identification to avoid some of those cumbersome search routines like the shoe check, the belt and coat check and the examination of your laptop out of its case.
Some people, ranging from frequent flyers invited by the airlines to take part, to people enrolled in border secure programs like NEXUS, to members of the armed forces, and passengers under 12 or over 75 years of age already qualify.
TSA Buffalo Security Manager Rick DePietro says "No risk or low risk to aviation security. Because they're providing some information to their air carrier and the Secure Flight system takes that information, compares it to some data bases, and that's where we can get them into Pre - Check."
Deborah Didion and her husband from Cuba, Allegany County were enroute to Rome for a vacation. She says"Yes, they're streamlining it a lot. But I'm OK for checking everything. That's fine with me. As long as they do it to everybody."
The goal is to get about a quarter of the flying public to eventually be enrolled in the Pre-Check program so they can cut down on some of the lines at screening stations and just be more efficient with these pre-checks.
Eventually we can all apply to be in the Pre - Check program. The actual application process will start towards the end of the year. They will require a background check, fingerprints, and a fee of 85 dollars to cover a five year period. Even with this system, there may still be random checks of some passengers. But again it should speed things up at the airports.


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*1717 (Pilsen), †1787 (Prague)
Czech sculptor and wood-carver of late Baroque era, member of woodcarvers family from West Bohemia. He was as an apprentice in Vienna and he founded a big workshop in Prague which supplied churches, monasteries, chateaux and palace gardens by whole sets of wood-carved and sculptural decorations all over Bohemia for more than 150 years till the beginning of the 20th century. Platzer´s art work is full of sensuality and fullness, particularly in the body forms. In a unique way, he managed to skillfully combine high Baroque style with Viennese Classicism.
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When talk turns to tunnel ram intake manifolds, often times it seems they are placed in the same magical category as superchargers and individual-runner injection systems. These trick induction systems are bitchin' to look at and can be found on all manner of race hardware, which obviously means they have no place on a street motor, right?
While the streetability of a trick tunnel ram remains to be seen, we followed along on a comparison test that illustrated that at the very least a tunnel ram is much more than a simple high-rpm race manifold. Often placed in a different category than the more popular single and dual-plane intakes, the tunnel ram actually combines several beneficial design features of the two common intakes to produce what can be (on the right engine combination) the best induction system of the bunch. When you throw in the stunning visual effect of having a polished, dual-carb tunnel ram sticking out in the wind for all to see, the tunnel ram has a great deal to offer any performance big-block.
Intake manifolds for a typical V-8 like our 476 big-block Chevy test motor can be broken down into two basic categories, single plane and dual plane. A complete technical rundown would require more pages than we have available, but know that a dual-plane intake typically features long runners designed to promote low and mid-range torque production while keeping the power peak below 6000 rpm(in most cases).
Dual-plane intakes also effectively divide the V-8 engine into a pair of four cylinders by isolating the fuel and air supplied by the carburetor to each half of the engine. Isolating the two sides improves the signal to the carburetor. Combining the improved signal with the longer runners in the dual-plane, makes for an impressive street system. Dual-plane intakes are also available with the divider directly under the carburetor (used to split the motor) reduced or machined. This obviously does not transform the dual-plane intake into a single plane, but it does effectively shift the power curve (much like the installation of an open carb spacer).
Not surprisingly, single-plane intake manifolds differ from their dual-plane counterparts by way of a common plenum under the carburetor. Single-plane intakes typically offer shorter runners than the dual plane in inmost cases the design necessitates four shorter (inner) runners combined with four longer (outer) runners.
The use of a common plenum and shorter runners enhances high-rpm power. Unfortunately, the extra power production that occurs at the top of the rev range comes at the price of a reduction in power down low. Much like a wilder cam profile, the single plane manifold effectively shifts the torque production higher in the rev range (compared to a dual plane). Producing the same torque value at a higher engine speed will result in an increase in horsepower.
What this all means is that the choice between a single-plane and a dual-plane intake really comes down to the intended application. In most applications, the dual-plane design offers more low-speed power while the single-plane intake maximizes peak power production. For maximum street/strip acceleration (or maximum ultimate speed), the top-end power produced by the single-plane intake is usually the best choice. The dual-plane will provide the best overall torque curve, throttle response and fuel mileage.
Technically speaking, the tunnel ram manifold falls into the single-plane design category, as the tunnel ram shares the common plenum under the carburetor. The difference between the tunnel ram we used from Dart and the single-plane (Edlebrock 454R) was basically the runner length, plenum volume and use of an additional carburetor. The elevated position of the carburetor pad(s) on the tunnel ram allowed for longer and straighter runners, to say nothing of the fact that all eight of the runners were pretty much the same length (a trait not share by the single-plane intake).
The extended runner length helps to promote power production over a given rpm range. Basically speaking, the runner length (combined with cross section and taper) determines where the motor makes power. Naturally the intake runner length (and overall design) should be combined with the proper cam timing and cylinder head flow (and to a smaller extent header design) to optimize power production in a given range. Your choice of intake would certainly be different for a low-rpm towing engine for your dualie than for your 10-second Chevelle. The engine components (including the intake) should all be chosen to help reach a desired power curve to best suit the intended application.
Speaking of applications, to properly demonstrate the performance merits of the tunnel ram, we needed a cool big-block Chevy test motor. Rather than order a GM crate mill or screw together a rebuilt 454, we took Westech's Steve Brule up on an offer to use the race motor from his record-setting jet boat. The 476 was a serious piece, featuring 13.6:1 compression, CNC-ported heads from AFR and a serious sold roller camshaft. The 476 was basically a .100-over 454 that featured a Scat 4340 forged crank and matching rods combined with a set of JE pistons.
Breathing came from a set of 335cc (intake port volume) AFR aluminum heads. According to the flow bench, the heads flowed 410 cfm at .800 lift (not an unrealistic lift value given the wild cam timing). Comp supplied the hot roller cam (and the remainder of the valvetrain) that featured a .780/.744 lift split and a healthy 282/288 duration split (measured at .050). Additional components used in the build up included a Moroso oiling system (including marine pan and vacuum pump), a complete MSD ignition system (including crank trigger) and a set of 2.25-inch (primary size) Hooker headers.
As mentioned previously, an intake manifold should be chosen for a particular engine combination as well as the intended application. On this particular engine, the effective operating range was rather small, given the fact that the jet boat work much like a high stall converter. Once you hit the throttle to start the quarter-mile pass, the engines speed instantly climbs (up to around 6800 rpm) and the boat accelerates as the flow through the jet pump catches up with the engine speed. This means that the change in engine speed during the run is very minimal (500-800 rpm), and that every attempt should be made to maximize the power production in that rev range.
Having run the motor successfully with a combination of an Edelbrock Super Victor intake (with Dominator car flange) and a Barry Grant 1195 King Demon RS carb, Brule was looking to further improve the power output of his race motor. Given that it made peak power near 7400 rpm and the relatively narrow operating range, Steve decided the engine might be a good candidate for a tunnel ram. As he found out, not only was the tunnel ram impressive at elevated engine speeds, but it shined down low as well.
The first order of business was to establish a baseline with the Super Victor intake and 1195 Barry Grant King Demon carb. Equipped with the single four-barrel, the 476 produced 870 hp and 644 lbs-ft of torque. The power output was impressive considering the relatively small displacement. After successful back up runs produced the same power numbers, we replaced the Super Victor with the Dart tunnel ram and dual 1095 King Demon carbs. The longer runners in the Dart tunnel ram combined with the increased plenum volume and additional breathing offered by the pair of BG carbs to produce some impressive power gains.
Equipped with the Dart tunnel ram and dual King Demons, the 476 pumped out an even 900 horsepower and 670 lbs-ft of torque. Not only did the tunnel ram improve the peak power numbers, but the impressive induction system elevated to power and torque curves from 6000 rpm to 7400 rpm. Basically, the tunnel ram offered more power throughout the tested rev range. At these elevated specific output levels, it is difficult enough to even improve the power output, let alone show consistent gains throughout the rev range. The Dart tunnel ram was definitely the hot set up on this marine motor.
While this particular test was run on a dedicated race motor, we also ran another tunnel ram test on a much milder combination. The test mule was a low-compression 496-inch (.060-over and 4.25 stroker crank) big-block equipped with AFR 315 heads, a mild hydraulic roller cam (255/262 duration) and a set of Hooker Chevelle street headers. It was tested with a single-plane Holley 300-5 intake and a Weiand Hi-Ram (street/strip tunnel ram). The Holley intake was run with a 950 HP carb, while the Hi-Ram was run with a pair of tunnel-ram specific 750 cfm carbs.
Equipped with the single-plane Holley intake, the 496 produced 652 hp at 6300 rpm and 578 lbs-ft at 4800 rpm. After swapping on the Weiand Hi-Ram, the peak power numbers jumped to 687 hp and 618 lbs. ft. of torque. As with the 476 race motor, the tunnel ram improved the power output of the 496 stroker throughout the rev range (from 3000 rpm to 6500 rpm), further illustrating the impressive low-speed and mid-range power offered by the long-runner design.
Of course all the extra power comes with the cost of cutting a hole in your hood, but hood scoops are cool too, especially when they cover a trick (and effective) dual-carb tunnel ram.


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Farm Service Agency says judgment on who merits subsidies is subjective.
The Agriculture Department and Congress need to improve procedures for ensuring annual subsidies through the $5 billion farm payments program go only to eligible recipients, auditors say.
In a report requested by Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the Government Accountability Office found communication gaps in procedures that the Farm Service Agency uses to interview individuals and representatives from entities, such as partnerships, corporations and trusts, to determine how active they are in operations of a farm receiving federal payments.
Under the 1987 Farm Program Payments Integrity Act, an individual is eligible to share in subsidies if he or she makes "significant contributions to that operation in personal labor or active personal management (or both)," GAO noted. "The definition of active personal management in FSA regulations is broad and can be satisfied by an individual performing at least one of eight services representing categories such as supervision of activities necessary in the farming operation."
Complications arise from the fact that recipients need not live near the farmland or even visit regularly. Agency managers who interview recipients asserted that "it is difficult to measure what constitutes a management contribution and that such a contribution must be critical to the profitability of a farming operation." The judgment, they said, is "subject to interpretation," and officials often fail to verify data from interviews.
Some versions of the farm bill in limbo in Congress would limit the number of "managers" of a farm to a single individual.
Auditors faulted the Farm Service Agency for inadequately coordinating and compiling interview results from its far-flung field offices. "With a delayed awareness of several years, FSA cannot reasonably assess the level of recipients' compliance with the act and may be missing opportunities to recapture payments that were made to ineligible recipients," GAO said. A more systematic timeline and data-gathering process is needed, it said.
The audit also recommended that Congress revisit the issue of who can be defined as an active farmer given the confusion with USDA, to make the criteria for a valid contribution more "clear and objective."
NEXT STORY: Senate Confirms OMB Management Deputy


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The closing of 63 Sam's Club stores has big implications for small business
Last week, Walmart announced that it would be closing 63 of its under-performing Sam's Club stores at various locations throughout the country. While most of the news centered around the thousands of employees who would be affected by the decision, there's also another significant group of people who will also be negatively impacted: hundreds, even thousands of local small businesses.
The retailer has historically prided itself on the services it has provided its small business members which include (for an annual fee) discounts on bulk purchases on office supplies, food, materials and other goods, financing, payment solutions and even healthcare insurance. The chain also has special hours to accommodate its small business customers - many of whom start the day early. So it's understandable why so many local merchants, restaurants, coffee shops and other small businesses were upset to learn of the sudden closures.
"They're a significant part of my business," Joe Gerace, the owner of a Chevron store in Anchorage, Alaska said in a local television report. Gerace buys more than 300 items from Sam's Club, and spends about $50,000 at the store every month. Walmart said it's closing all of Sam's Club stores in the state.
Tamm DiCecca, who owns a cake shop in Greece, New York, buys much of her supplies from Sam's Club (the chain plans to close four of its sixteen locations in the state). "That's horrible news to many small businesses," she told the Democrat and Chronicle.
This is not the first time this has happened. Back in 2016, Walmart closed 250 Sam's Club locations. Even after this round, there still be almost 600 Sam's Clubs in operation around the country. Meanwhile, the company's competitors, BJ's Wholesale Clubs and Costco, are hoping to step in to the void. BJ's, according to a New York Times report, has already seen an "immediate increase" in new memberships.
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Get ready for your week with the week's top business stories from San Diego and California, in your inbox Monday mornings.
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Le compte à rebours est lancé!
This conference is one of the events planned by ADEME in the run-up to the Paris Climate Conference COP 21
In 2015, the year of COP 21, carbon accounting is at the heart of climate concerns, as it gives a benchmark and reference point for the commitments made by stakeholders.
Whatever the scale, for private-sector or public organisations, for territorial authorities, carbon assessment is the key to creating value via strategic decisions.
At the centre of this second national conference devoted to carbon accounting:
- France's position and initiatives at the European and international levels,
- The dynamics of key topics such as energy transition tools or as competitive advantage, evaluation of GHG reduction measures, carbon criteria in purchasing and procurement, issues pertaining to mass consumer goods, articulation with multiple criteria approaches, etc.
- Carte blanche to actors in climate change
This ADEME conference is open to all actors concerned with carbon footprints, whether regulated or not.
The conference venue is :
Lille Grand Palais
1 boulevard des Cités Unies


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Thanks for a great year!
UPDATED: Here is a link to the apple cross-stitch pattern and here is a link to the color key.
Happy Stitching!!
Gorgeous! Lucky teachers!
I really LOVE those and I know your teachers will too!!! I saved the pattern for the hearts you did back in the winter...will you share your pretty little apple...pretty please with a cherry on top. I have never made cards with a cross-stitch on them...shame huh? I am going to fix that.
Madi is better and no hospital needed!!! Tomorrow...Six Flags!
You are such a good mom. And you have the best ideas! Now if I could just get motivated . . .
Something I might be able to work on during my move.
I am going to miss Georgia...I just ran up to the store and there was a semi painted like the General Lee....YEHAW!
Adorable! I love your projects!
You are sooo awesome! I love how you always make "crafted" items to give away! Thanks for being such a great example! Huggies! Vicki
I made some of these. They were so fun and came out very pretty. The kids teachers loved them but said they didn't want to use them because they were too pretty.
With my long move overseas again this summer I will not have any of my stuff for over 2 months so I think I am going to cross-stitch something to use on my Christmas cards. Do you have any fun crafting ideas for this summer? Good luck with your move!


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We liked the Flip Video Ultra Edition for its pure simplicity. But no sooner had the Ultra launched in the UK, rumours started appearing about the launch of the Mino stateside. In-between times the pocketable video camera landscape has changed. So can the Mino offer anything new?
The major change from the Flip Ultra is a move from batteries to a sealed internal rechargeable unit. This has allowed the camcorder to shrink down to 16 x 50 x 100mm, shaving millimetres off in all dimensions. Charging the internal battery now takes place when you plug the Mino into your PC via the on-board USB connector.
Around the back you get pretty much the same layout as before, with the same simple controls. Unfortunately you get the same 1.5-inch, 528 x 132 pixel resolution screen as well. We say unfortunately, because we'd expect to see something a little larger. The controls have changed however, so it no longer looks like a toy. Instead you get backlit touch controls for play, delete, volume and skipping back and forth, whilst you still get a big red button to record.
There is a dedicated power switch and a latch to flip out the USB 2.0 connector, which has now moved to the top. A nifty little white LED flashes to let you know that you are hooked up to the juice, as well as launching the on-board software that is the same as the previous outing. In the Ultra we questioned the lack of direct access to Facebook and nothing has changed in this iteration, but you still get to stick your videos straight into YouTube, MySpace and AOL Video. Through the software the conversion takes place on your PC rather than online, which speeds up the process.
In terms of recording, the Mino records 640 x 480 MPEG4 video at 30fps, and you can get 1 hour of video on to the 2GB internal memory. The device also comes 75% charged, so out of the box you'll be able shoot some video. Thereafter the battery will give you a cited life of about 4 hours. Of course, as soon as you plug it in you are charging again, so it becomes difficult to gauge how much life you really get. That said, you only really need your hour of filming plus any showing off time.
Start-up time is one of the real bonuses here, because you can literally whip it out and get filming in seconds which beats most phones or digital cameras.
So what are the results like? Well, we are pleased to say it is the same respectable quality from the original Flip. Colours are a little too vivid as is often the case with camcorders. You'll also find, as is common with many small video recorders, that things get very shaky once you are moving along, if you are walking and filming it is difficult to keep things steady, so if at all possible it is better to keep yourself still.
Compared to the video results that you get from most mobile phones, the Flip Mino still has things on its side delivering, overall, a much more watchable experience, bar the caveats mentioned above. The TV out jack on the side of the device (which is unfortunately 2.5mm, but you get the cable in the box) makes it simple to watch back your movies on most TVs – we watched the video on a 40-inch screen and the quality is certainly acceptable.
Sound is also surprisingly good and we didn't detect the subtle buzz artefacts that plagued the Ultra. Indoors the sound is pretty good although things do get a little more noisy outside. You are restricted to the built-in mic with no option for an external mic. All in all, it seems like a good little bundle.
But, and there is a but, things don't seem to have changed much. We're 6-months on from the Ultra and we are basically looking at the same thing. In the meantime the pocket camcorder world has become a much busier place and critically, we are now looking larger screens and HD quality recording, for a similar price.
Whilst you can slip the Mino into your pocket to capture your movies on the fly, it just seems to be a little too late to the party, thanks to that unfortunate delay launching on this side of the water.


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The seven STS-101 astronauts are spending their final full day docked to the International Space Station as they prepare for undocking Friday evening. When Atlantis undocks tomorrow evening, it will leave behind a refurbished orbiting facility, operating at a higher altitude and featuring new electrical and communications components. The station is now primed and ready to receive the next major piece of the station, the Zvezda Service Module, when it is launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan between July 8-14. Commander Jim Halsell, Pilot Scott Horowitz and Mission Specialists Mary Ellen Weber, Jeff Williams, Susan Helms, Jim Voss and Yury Usachev were awakened at 3:11 p.m. CDT. Today's wakeup song -- "Don't It Make You Wanna Dance" by Jerry Jeff Walker -- was played at the request of Williams' son and family.
The main task of the day will be completing the transfer of gear and supplies to the station. In the first three days of transfer activities, the crew has moved more than 3,000 pounds of material onto the station.
The third and final reboost maneuver began a few minutes ago at 6:36 p.m. CDT. Like the two previous reboosts, Atlantis' reaction control system jets will be fired 27 times over a 58 minute period to gently raise the station. At the end of tonight's reboost, it is expected that the station's average altitude will have been raised by 27 statue miles.
The astronauts have completed all battery work on the station. The third battery that was replaced has completed its recharging and testing and has been put back online supporting station operations. The fourth and final new battery will begin its recharge later this evening and will be back online before Atlantis undocks tomorrow evening.
Shortly before they begin exiting the station for the final time, Halsell, Horowitz and Weber will take a few minutes to conduct a trio of interviews with three news organizations -- CBS Newspath, Fox News Network and KTBS-TV in Shreveport, LA -- starting at 9:11 p.m. CDT.
Just before 11:30 p.m., Halsell and his crew will reverse the steps they used when they entered the station Monday evening, closing each of the five hatches associated with station components or transfer tunnels. The overall process of closing out the station and preparing for undocking is expected to take about two hours to complete.
Everything remains on schedule for undocking on Friday evening at 6:07 p.m. CDT. Atlantis will perform a one half revolution of the station, before the final separation burn is initiated. Atlantis remains on track for a landing back at Kennedy Space Center at 1:18 a.m. CDT on Monday, May 29th.
NASA Johnson Space Center Mission Status Reports and other information are available automatically by sending an Internet electronic mail message to firstname.lastname@example.com. In the body of the message (not the subject line) users should type "subscribe hsfnews" (no quotes). This will add the e-mail address that sent the subscribe message to the news release distribution list. The system will reply with a confirmation via e-mail of each subscription. Once you have subscribed you will receive future news releases via e-mail.


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Lesson of the day: don't post pictures of yourself on MySpace holding a beer if the conditions of your probation don't let you drink alcohol or use the internet.
Defendant Pressley pled guilty to some ugly crimes and was sentenced to a lifetime of probation. As part of the deal, he promised not "to consume or drink any substance containing alcohol," and to "not possess, use or have personal access to any computer or similar equipment that has internet capability without prior written permission of [his] Probation Officer."
In July 2007, Pressley's probation officer paid him a visit. There in Pressley's house was a vodka bottle two-thirds empty (or as I like to say, one-third full) and a laptop having a desktop icon with Pressley's name. (It's not clear what that icon was, but it sounds like a profile icon for Windows XP.)
The state filed a petition to revoke Pressley's probation. The trial court granted the petition and sentenced him to ten years in prison. Pressley appealed. On review, the court affirmed the prison sentence.
The most intriguing argument that Pressley made to the appellate court was that the lower court erred in admitting photos of Pressley holding a beer. According to Pressley's wife's testimony, the photos came from her MySpace page. One of the other pictures had a caption, as if written by the defendant, that said, "Me and my wife." The court found that these pictures were relevant to whether Pressley violated the terms of his probation.
Good thing you'd never see anything like this over at Sorry I Missed Your Party.


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The Philadelphia Stars were a team on a mission during the 1984 United States Football League season. Head Coach Jim Mora's squad had gone 15-3 in the league's inaugural '83 campaign but lost a closely-fought title game to the Michigan Panthers by two points. The Stars were just as efficient and dominating during the '84 regular season, going 16-2. QB Chuck Fusina (pictured above) led a conservative but potent offense centered around RB Kelvin Bryant and an outstanding line anchored by OT Irv Eatman and C Bart Oates. The "Doghouse Defense" was, if anything, even better than it had been the previous year and featured All-League honorees in DT Pete Kugler, LB Sam Mills,
CB Garcia
Lane, and FS Mike Lush. The club had beaten the
New Jersey Generals and Birmingham Stallions to advance once again to the USFL
Championship Game.
Their opponent on July 15, 1984 was the Arizona Wranglers, under Head Coach George Allen. The veteran-laden club that had (for the most part) played as the Chicago Blitz in '83 was similar to the Stars in having a ball-control offense and rugged defense. 37-year-old QB Greg Landry no longer had a strong arm but still had plenty of savvy behind center and the running game boasted two thousand-yard rushers in Tim Spencer (1212) and Kevin Long (1010). WR Trumaine Johnson was a top receiver (90 catches, 1268 yds., 13 TDs). The defense ranked first overall and contained DE Karl Lorch, DT Kit Lathrop, and LB Ed Smith. However,
Arizona's road to the
postseason had been more difficult – the Wranglers started off slowly but won
their last four games to finish second in the Pacific Division at 10-8 and
qualify as a Wild Card. They won two closely-fought games over the Houston
Gamblers and Los Angeles Express to make it to the title game.
There was a crowd of 52,662 on hand at Tampa Stadium for the second USFL Championship game. The Stars took control from the start, driving 66 yards in 10 plays in the opening series of the game capped by a four-yard touchdown carry by RB Bryan Thomas (pictured below). Following a three-and-out possession by
again put together a long scoring drive that took nine plays to travel 54
yards. Fusina scored on a quarterback sneak from a yard out and, while David
Trout missed the extra point attempt, Philadelphia
was ahead by 13-0 after a quarter of play.
Fusina completed his first ten passes and the Stars' offense moved methodically down the field, but in the second quarter turnovers kept the team from scoring again and nearly allowed the Wranglers to get back into the game. Backup TE Ken Dunek, in the lineup in place of injured starter Steve Folsom, fumbled early in the second quarter at the
43 yard line. The Wranglers recovered and capitalized when Frank Corral booted
a 37-yard field goal.
Philadelphia drive into Arizona territory was stopped at the
Wranglers' 11 but Trout missed a 27-yard field goal attempt. Just before
halftime, an 84-yard drive by the Stars came up empty when Kelvin Bryant, who
was hampered by a toe injury, fumbled at the goal line – the play resulted in a
touchback. The score remained 13-3 at the intermission although Philadelphia had rolled
up 249 yards to just 49 for the Wranglers.
Once again the Stars moved smoothly down the field. However, after reaching the
Arizona 16, they came up empty once again when Fusina's
third-down pass was tipped by Kit Lathrop and intercepted by Ed Smith, who returned
it 37 yards to the Philadelphia
46. It seemed once again that the Arizona
offense would put points on the board, advancing to the 23, but the Stars
defense held and Corral missed a field goal attempt from 40 yards.
The Wranglers suffered only one turnover, but it served to put the game out of reach. Landry fumbled while being sacked by DE Don Fielder at the
Arizona 11 yard line and DT Buddy Moor
recovered for the Stars. Seven plays later, Bryant scored from a yard out and Philadelphia took a commanding
20-3 lead with just under ten minutes left in the contest. David Trout capped
the scoring with a 39-yard field goal as the Philadelphia defense stifled the Wranglers
the rest of the way. The Stars became USFL Champions by a score of 23-3 that
easily could have been much larger.
Chuck Fusina, the game's MVP, completed 12 of 17 passes for 158 yards with no TDs and one interception. Kelvin Bryant led the running game with 115 yards on 29 carries that included a touchdown while Bryan Thomas contributed 69 yards on 11 attempts and one TD. WR Tom Donovan caught three passes for 43 yards.
For the Wranglers, Greg Landry was successful on just 6 of 20 throws for 54 yards. No player caught more than one pass, with WR Lenny Willis gaining 16 yards on
Arizona's longest pass
completion of the game and Trumaine Johnson gaining 15 on his sole catch. Held
to only 72 rushing yards as a team, Tim Spencer led the way with 33 yards on 8
"There's no doubt we are the best team in the USFL," said a triumphant Jim Mora afterward. "There was no denying this team." Mora further added, "Our goal after losing to
Michigan last year was not just to get to Tampa, but to win this
game tonight."
"We had opportunities to get back in the game after a couple of turnovers, but we didn't take advantage of them," said George Allen, coaching his last pro game at age 66. "We didn't play as well as I thought we would, so
Philadelphia deserves to win the
Allen saluted his players by saying, "I'm proud of them even though we lost. They played hard and came back from adversity all season long."
In the ensuing offseason, the Stars moved to Baltimore (necessitated by the USFL's plan to shift to a fall schedule for a 1986 season that never happened) and, while not as dominant during the regular season, rallied to win a second straight title in '85. The Wranglers stayed in place but were merged with the Oklahoma Outlaws for 1985 and went 8-10 to finish fourth in the Western Conference.


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Watch CBSN Live
Who you gonna call?Three decades have passed since "Ghostbusters" first spooked its way into theaters on June 8, 1984. The paranormal comedy ended up taking home $291.6 million at the global box office -- an impressive figure for a comedy even for today's times.Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson starred as a gang of experts hunting down the supernatural, with Sigourney Weaver playing one of their haunted clients.The film served as the launching pad for a successful media franchise, with the release of toys, books and even a highly-popular Hi-C "ecto-cooler" beverage based around the Ghostbusters. A theatrical sequel, "Ghostbusters II," followed in 1989 in addition to several animated spin-off series, but nothing can scare away memories of the original.In celebration of the film's 30th anniversary, have a look at what the cast has been up to over the years.
By: Ken Lombardi
Credit: Columbia Pictures
As a former cast member on "Saturday Night Live," and thanks to prior roles in films like "Caddyshack," Murray was one of the cast's most recognizable faces when "Ghostbusters" was first released.Murray played Dr. Peter Venkman, a ladies man and de factor leader of the group.
At 63, Murray is still making regular appearances on the big screen.His career did quiet down a bit though in the mid-1990s, only to resurge again with his standout role in 1998's "Rushmore," directed by Wes Anderson. He received an Oscar nomination for his turn as a faded actor in Sofia Coppola's 2003 release, "Lost in Translation." Over the last decade and a half, Murray has worked frequently with Anderson, on projects like "The Royal Tenenbaums," "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," "The Darjeeling Limited," "Moonrise Kingdom" and, most recently, "The Grand Budapest Hotel."
Credit: ADRIAN SANCHEZ-GONZALEZ/AFP/Getty Images
In addition to playing paranormal expert Dr. Ray Stantz, Aykroyd also came up with the story and helped pen the screenplay, which was originally darker and more epic in tone. Aykroyd wrote the initial draft with his "Blue Brothers" co-star John Belushi in mind for the role of Venkman, a part that went to fellow "SNL" alum Bill Murray after the "Animal House" star's death from a drug overdose in 1982.
Some of Aykroyd's more notable film roles after "Ghostbusters" include 1989's "Driving Miss Daisy (for which he received a best supporting actor Oscar nomination) and 1991's "My Girl."On the flip side, Akroyd has had his share of duds, like the 1994 box office disasters "North" and "Exit to Eden." And who can forget the mess that was "Nothing But Trouble"?The 61-year-old entertainer's most recent role was as the voice of the Scarecrow in 2014's "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return." Last year, Aykroyd had a supporting part in Steven Soderbergh's critically acclaimed HBO movie about Liberace, "Behind the Candelabra."In the 1990s, he penned a script for "Ghosbuters III" -- a proposed sequel that has been stuck in development hell for years.
Credit: Robin Marchant/Getty Images
Hudson's breakout role came in the form of Winston Zeddemore, the newest addition to the Ghostbusters team.
The actor's credits after "Ghostbusters" include "The Crow" and a prominent role on the hit HBO series, "Oz." Hudson has had memorable guest turns on TV shows like "Modern Family" and "Law & Order." He will next appear in "You're Not You," a drama starring Hilary Swank and Josh Duhamel, now in post-production.
Credit: Ben Pruchnie/Getty Images
Weaver just couldn't catch a break with monsters in the '70s and '80s. After being terrorized by a venomous extraterrestrial in the ground-breaking "Alien," Weaver was met with more creature turmoils in "Ghostbusters" as Dana Barrett, a musician who contacts the ghoul-fighters when her Manhattan apartment gets taken over by a demonic presence. The straight-laced Dana served as the perfect romantic foil for the womanizing Venkman.
Weaver went on to receive three Oscar nominations for her performances in the films "Aliens," "Working Girl" and "Gorillas in the Mist."The 64-year-old actress is currently working on the sequel to James Cameron's 2009 box office hit, "Avatar."
Credit: Rommel Demano/Getty Images
Sporting a thick New York accent, the Tennessee-born Potts played the group's wise-cracking secretary, Janine.
Potts became a TV star as a main cast member on "Designing Women" from 1986-1993. She also had a memorable turn in the 1986 John Hughes classic, "Pretty in Pink."As with most of the original "Ghostbusters" cast members, Potts reprised her role in the 1989 sequel.Potts went on to star on the Lifetime series "Any Day Now" from 1998-2002. In 2013, she had a reoccurring guest role on "The Fosters."
Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
One of the comedic highlights of "Ghostbusters" came with Moranis' performance as Dana Barrett's obnoxiously nosy neighbor, Louis Tully.Much of the character's memorable lines and seemingly-never-ending monologues were ad-libbed by Moranis himself during filming.
Box office hits followed for Moranis after "Ghostbusters," with starring roles in films like 1986's "Little Shop of Horrors," 1987's "Spaceballs" and the "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" film series.In 1997, Moranis retired from acting to focus on raising his two children as a single dad. His wife, Ann, died from liver cancer in 1991.The Canadian actor has done some voice work occasionally since his retirement began. His last vocal credit was 2006's "Brother Bear 2."
Credit: George De Sota/Getty Images
William Atherton played the film's human antagonist, the shrewd EPA inspector Walter Peck, determined to bring down the Ghostbusters at any cost.
Atherton found it difficult to break away from his jerk persona following the release of "Ghostbusters."
Atherton famously quipped once that the film "ruined my life."
He subsequently appeared as an incredibly annoying reporter in the "Die Hard" films.Despite being typecast as a villain, Atherton appears to hold no hard feelings against the franchise. He lent his voice to the 2009 "Ghostbusters" video game, which garnered a favorable response from critics and fans.
Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez
The recording artist had scored two modest hits -- 1982's "The Other Woman" and 1983's "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" -- before the release of his signature "Ghostbusters" movie theme catapulted him into stardom.With its catchy chorus, the song peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the summer of 1984, before going on to land an Academy Award nomination for best original song.Parker has said that he came up with the idea for the song while watching cheap infomercials late at night.
The R&B vocalist and musician still continues to tour around the world, with "Ghostbusters" remaining his signature classic."Seven-year-old kids know who I am because of that song," Parker recently told the San Jose Mercury News.
Credit: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP/Getty Images
Ramis co-wrote the "Ghostbusters" script with Aykroyd. Ramis never intended to co-star in the project but eventually felt that he was the only one suited to play nerdy team member Dr. Egon Spengler.Before "Ghostbusters," Ramis had directed "Caddyshack," which starred Murray, and the 1983 hit comedy, "National Lampoon's Vacation."He teamed up with Murray again as the director of 1993's influential "Groundhog Day." He also directed 1999's "Analyze This," starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal.Ramis died in February in his native Chicago after suffering an inflammatory blood vessel disease. He was 69. Murray paid tribute to Ramis in March by drawing attention to his work at the 86th annual Academy Awards.Ramis' death has left the possibilities of a "Ghostbusters III" up in the air, although officials from Sony have said that plans for a new installment will continue, centering on a new generation of Ghostbusters.
Credit: Barry Brecheisen/Getty Images


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In lock step with U.P.'s 150th celebration, my "Golden Rail Joiner" was laid on May 9th. That joint was the mainline connection on the seventh looped "railroad", in this case the Alton. There are a pair of sidings to finish track laying off of that line, but overall I felt a sense of accomplishment.
Now, the next two steps for me is to get wires to several of the turnouts and sectional segments, and in a manner that will support the Train Brain controls I'm installing.
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Mach 3
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A fantastic arcade game in which you must reluctantly leave the beautiful Gwendoline behind and go and fight the monstrous Sfax! Sfax is a mutant sorcerer from the Red Planet who has cast an evil spell over your ravishing companion, who is now dying a slow and cruel death. You have no choice but to go beyond the portals of space and time in order to find this evil sorcerer, the physical embodiment of Sfax, and to destroy him! Wait no more. Take charge of your super vessel and go!
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The conventional account. During the early 1850's, numerous U.S. Government surveying expeditions were made into the Rocky Mountain West. In the Spring of 1853, Captain John W. Gunnison, U.S. Army Topographical Engineer, took command of a party on the Survey of Pacific Road (railroad) route through the central Rockies. His command was made up of Lieutenant E. G. Beckwith, second in command; at least eight civilian topographers, geologists, and for security, thirty soldiers of the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen (U.S. Army Dragoons), Captain R. M. Morris, Commanding.
By the first of September, they had negotiated the Continental Divide, and by 17th of October were on the Sevier River, south of present day Manti, Utah. They hired Mormon guides1 from the Manti settlement to lead them on to Lake Sevier.
Days before, early in October, a wagon train of Missouri emigrants, en route to California, had passed through the Fillmore settlement and camped on Meadow Creek. A small band of Pahvant Ute Indians came into the camp; they wanting to trade buckskins for tobacco. The Missourians attempted to disarm the Utes of their bows and arrows. In the fracas, war chief Moshoquop's father was killed by revolver fire. Moshoquop then took his band and moved to a site about twelve miles north east of Lake Sevier.
Evening of the 21st of October, Gunnison's expedition camped at Cedar Springs [site of present day Holden, location of artist Frank Thomas' studio]. Captain Gunnison visited the Fillmore settlement (ten miles south of Cedar Springs) and was warned of possible Indian trouble. Moving northwest across the Pahvant Valley, they reached the Sevier River (near present day Delta) in two days. Snow squalls in the mountains, frigid weather, and sand made travel difficult, so a rest was called.
The singular tragic event of this ill-fated expedition then occurred. Captain John Gunnison had divided his command, sending the larger force to explore miles upriver, toward the Nephi settlement. Gunnison then proceeded down the river towards Lake Sevier, his small party consisting of four civilians and a corporal and six of the Mounted Riflemen. They camped for the night on the north side of a bend in the river, east of Lake Sevier. Discounting the Indian warning received at the Fillmore settlement, their perimeter security was almost nonexistent.
At dawn the next morning, the 26th of October 1853, while eating breakfast, they were surprised in an attack by vengeful Pahvant Ute Chief Moshoquop and forty of his warriors.
He was seething for vengeance against white men, any white men, an acceptable practice in his culture. Within minutes, Captain John W. Gunnison, his four civilians, and three soldiers died of gunshot and arrow wounds. Only Corporal Barton and three of his horse soldiers escaped to tell of the massacre.2
(note:1 I've highlighted some passages in bold font, which will be important later. For the speed reader, I have put the important passages in bold font and the really important passages in red font.
Now, for the rest of the story2. John W. Gunnison of Goshen, New Hampshire, graduated from West Point as an engineer in 1837. In this capacity, in 1849, as a surveyor with the Stansbury Expedition, which was ordered to chart the waters of the Great Salt Lake and Utah Lake, Gunnison become intimately acquainted with the Mormons, who had settled in Salt Lake Valley in 1847 when that area was still part of the Mexican Territory.
John Gunnison
While writing the report of the Expedition, Gunnison also wrote and published a small book, The Mormons or Latter-Day Saints, which described this religious movement. Gunnison wrote that the Mormons were excessively zealous for their own sense of divine mission, which they said was to restore the "true" form and content of Christianity and to reform the world in preparation for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. He believed that their vigorous actions to fulfill this mission were the chief cause of the persecutions they had suffered in Missouri and Illinois. To escape further conflict and secure greater freedom in the practice of their religion, they had left the United States and set up their own "Zion of the Latter Days." Gunnison believed that persecution had strengthened the Mormon unity and obscured the internal weakness of the movement. They would not provoke further persecution if left alone in their isolated location. Soon their own excesses would produce internal divisions and more temperate beliefs and practices. Given time and freedom, these internal forces would modify their religion toward the mainstream of American values.
In 1851, while Gunnison was writing his book, a controversy arose between Governor Brigham Young and the other Federal officers appointed by President Fillmore to govern Utah Territory.
Brignam Young
Alleged in fear for their lives and claiming Mormon disloyalty and disrespect for the government, these "runaway" officials left the Territory. Gunnison was in Washington at this time. He discounted the significance of the controversy and advised the President and other government officials to allow the Mormons to govern themselves with persons of their own choosing. He compared their demand for self-government to that of the American colonies who rebelled against taxation without representation. He believed that the best policy was to "let them severely alone," the same policy the Mormons had adopted toward the appointed federal officers they had rejected.
In 1853, Captain Gunnison was appointed to lead a survey expedition exploring a route for a railroad to the Pacific Ocean. While in St. Louis, he became aware of Mormon hostility toward his self-assumed role as a "chronicler" of their movement. Recognizing the need for a Mormon associate in the earlier survey, he asked Albert Carrington to begin survey operations between Salt Lake City and Fort Bridger and to provide guides and supplies for him upon his arrival in Utah Territory. He expressed surprise and concern that the Mormons were "down upon him" as an author.
At this same time, Mormon expansions of their settlements provoked conflict with the Utah Indians. The Mormons made preparations to defend themselves from this danger by cutting off all aid and trade with the Indians and by fortifying and "walling in" all of their towns and villages. This action, they believed, would also provide safety from thieves, from hostile emigrants and from military invasion, which they were taught to expect from the American nation and from other nations of the world who would oppose the establishment of the Kingdom of God on earth.
The Mormon conflict with the Indians became most violent just as the Gunnison Expedition entered Utah Territory. Gunnison became aware of possible Indian danger to his own Expedition as he came to the village of Manti, on October 19, 1853. Despite the lack of communication from Governor Young or from Albert Carrington, Gunnison hired Mormon guides to help complete the survey. On the advice of these guides, he changed his earlier plan to follow the course of the Sevier lake. Instead, he followed the California Trail to Fillmore, intending to approach Sevier lake across Pahvant Valley.
While at Fillmore, Gunnison was told by village President Anson Call that local Indian conditions were also dangerous. One of several nearby bands of Pahvantes, led by Chief Kanosh, had recently had a tragic encounter with a party of emigrants bound for California. A band Chief had been killed. Sons of the slain leader demanded vengeance.
It is not certain Gunnison was told that the Indians asked for Mormon help or that when their own efforts at vengeance failed, the band threatened to attack Fillmore. When Brigham Young was informed of this danger, he sent his special Indian agent, Dimick Huntington, to Fillmore to appease the Indians. Captain Gunnison talked to Huntington, whom he knew from his earlier experience in Utah. He was assured that the problem had been solved. Peace had been guaranteed for the future in talks Huntington had held with Chief Kanosh and members of this band. This knowledge gave Gunnison "an unusual felling of security," about this particular band of Indians.
Gunnison was anxious to complete his work near Sevier Lake so he could make a further survey up the Weber River to Fort Bridger and back by way of Timpanogos River. This was the task he had asked Carrington to perform prior to his arrival, but it had not been done. Cold weather had set in. Soon the mountain passes would be filled with snow, making further work toward Fort Bridger impossible until spring. Gunnison had to file his report before February. He wanted his superiors in Washington to know that he had found excellent passages through the Rocky Mountains where a railroad could be built. This sense of urgency, together with his belief that the local Indians were friendly, led him to divide his survey party.
Upon reaching Gunnison Bend of the Sevier River near present Delta, The Captain led his party toward the lake. These men were Richard Kern, his artist and topographer, Frederick Creutzfeldt, his botanist, William Potter, his Mormon guide, John Bellows, an employee, and a corporal' s guard of seven men of the Mounted Rifles. The balance of the party, under Lieutenant Edward G. Beckwith and Captain Robert M. Morris, turned east to explore the passage of the river through the mountains near present Leamington.
Gunnison's men were observed by the band of thirty Pahvant Indians who had threatened to "kill all Fillmore." They had not been contacted by Dimick Huntington and were still seeking vengeance for death of their leader. The small group of Americans was a ready target for revenge as well as for guns, ammunition, horses, gold and other booty. Accordingly, under cover of darkness and dense vegetation, they surrounded the camp. Just at dawn, they attacked the survey crew and soldiers with rifle fire and arrows. They killed Gunnison and seven others within a few minutes, then plundered and butchered their victims.
Four soldiers escaped. One made his way to Beckwith's camp and reported the Massacre. Captain Morris, with the remaining soldiers and the expedition's surgeon, set out to rescue possible survivors, meeting three other escaping soldiers en route. They arrived near the scene, 28 miles distant, just at nightfall, where they discovered three dead and mutilated privates. Rather than risk ambush, the soldiers "stood to horse" through the night, while listening to the wolves devour their comrades.
At daybreak the soldiers advanced and found the mutilated bodies of the other victims. They were unable to bury the dead, since they had brought no tools with them. In a vain effort, they broke their sabers in the frozen ground. They had to leave the bodies and return to protect the remainder of the survey party.
Lt. Beckwith and Capt. Morris wrote messages to their superiors reporting the Massacre. These, and messages to Brigham Young, were delivered to Salt Lake City by Mormon couriers. Governor Young immediately sent Dimick Huntington to recover the government property and to retrieve and bury the remains of the dead, through these services were not requested by Beckwith and Morris Huntington reported the names of all persons involved in the Massacre and all other details. This information was never made public.
In his official report of the Massacre, Governor Young said Gunnison had been warned of Indian dangers and that he had used bad judgment by dividing his party and by his choice of an indefensible campsite. He said that the officers had quarreled among themselves and for this reason Gunnison's body was deliberately left unburied. He believed the Indians should not be "unduly censured" for their conduct and took no action to punish the guilty parties. In this and subsequent reports, Governor Young suppressed the fact of the threat to Fillmore, of Huntington's mission to resolve the conflict, and of Huntington's bad advice to Gunnison.
Since no action had been taken by Territorial authority to punish the offending Indians or to seek justice through the courts, the War Department ordered the Expedition of Col. Edward J. Steptoe, enroute to California in the summer of 1854, to stop over in Salt Lake City and take this necessary action. Colonel Steptoe acted on the advice of Governor Young to have the Indians deliver up the guilty parties, rather than to capture and punish the entire band, which the Colonel had intended to do.
In the spring of 1855, Chief Kanosh promised to deliver eight Indians of the band which had killed the Gunnison party. This number, the Chief said, would "equalize the balance of killing." Only three of those surrendered were warriors. These were indicted by a grand jury, then tried and found guilty. The jury rendered a verdict of manslaughter, despite specific instruction that this was proved to be a case of premeditated murder. Nevertheless, the verdict was accepted and the prisoners were sentenced to 3 years in jail.
Colonel Steptoe, the Judge, and the prosecuting attorneys were incensed by what they believed was a miscarriage of justice. They wrote angry letters to the several Federal agencies they represented, charging the Mormons with defiance of law and failure to discharge their obligations as citizens. It was claimed they did this in obedience to orders covertly given by Brigham Young. A report of the trial, prefaced with acrimonious charges against the Mormons, was sent to the New York Times. Another copy was sent to the San Francisco Daily Herald, adding the fact that the prisoners had been allowed to escape.
This angry encounter was made worse by complicating circumstances. While in Utah, Colonel Steptoe was appointed by President Franklin Pierce to succeed Brigham Young as Territorial Governor. The appointment required that Steptoe resign his military commission. Steptoe was willing to accept the appointment provided he could resume his military rank upon completion of his duties as governor. This matter was not resolved before he left the Territory in the spring of 1855.
Another complication was created by the involvement of soldiers and Mormon women through the winter. When the soldiers left for California in the spring, nearly 100 Mormon women, anxious to escape polygamy, left with them. To inform the public of the Mormon side of this confrontation, Brigham Young had many affidavits created, charging the soldiers and non-Mormon public officials with drunkenness, gambling, sexual abuses and other irregularities. These were sent to the War Department in Washington as evidence of renewed persecution of the Mormons. These charges and counter charges greatly antagonized public opinion against the Mormons, producing results contrary to what Captain Gunnison had hoped for.
A further conflict arising from the Gunnison Massacre occurred following the appointment of William W. Drummond, of Illinois, as a Federal Judge for Utah Territory. Upon assuming his duties in 1855, Judge Drummond declared the Mormon Probate Courts to be illegal, creating great antagonism against himself. His personal character and his cohabitation with a known harlot, passed off as his wife, also offended the Mormons, particularly because of their polygamous marriage practices. At Fillmore, in 1855, Judge Drummond tried several cases related to the Gunnison Massacre. He became convinced that the Mormons were the perpetrators of, and perhaps participants in the Massacre. His antagonism against the Mormons was heightened by ostracism, as the policy of leaving him "severely alone," was applied through the winter of 1855-1856.
During Judge Drummond's tenure, Brigham Young launched extensive programs to occupy territory open to his control and to gain influence in the American nation. He organized and began to create the Desert Express and Carry Company to establish freight and mail relay stations from Missouri to San Francisco. He devised the inexpensive handcart method of bringing thousands of converts from Europe to Western America, intending to establish villages along the emigration route and to populate additional territories in the American Union. He also undertook a comprehensive religious reformation to purify his people so they could exercise the power of God to aid in the completion of their divine mission. These efforts created internal dissent, particularly when the handcart expedition proved disastrous. The heightened religious zeal produced violence against dissenting Mormons and those Federal officers not of the Mormon faith. In the spring of 1857, which favored slave-holding interests, further undermined the moderate Democratic platform upon which Buchanan had been elected. His party was pressed to prove they could control anarchy in the developing territories. President Buchanan assigned General W. S. Harney to command a military force to aid the Territorial government in Kansas. He replaced Brigham Young as Governor and ordered an army under Col. Albert S. Johnson, to accompany the new governor to aid in the enforcement of the law, if necessary, in Utah Territory.
Buchanan's intended actions toward Utah Territory were confirmed to be necessary by further excitement created at the moment by Judge Drummond. The Judge had been absent from his post in Utah for almost a year by the time President Buchanan decided to take action. During this time, Drummond was in California where he wrote newspaper articles, denouncing Mormon behavior, using the pen names Amicus Curiae and Verastus. In April, 1857, he traveled east by way of Panama New Orleans, where he wrote a letter of resignation to the Justice Department. As his reason for resigning, Drummond cited the ungovernable nature of the Mormons under the leadership of Brigham Young. He cited many cases of unlawful conduct, including murderous assaults against dissenters and involvement of Mormons in the Massacre of Captain Gunnison. The accusations were read by Gunnison's widow, who wrote to the Judge that she also believed the Mormons were involved in the death of her husband. These charges received great publicity during April and May, 1857. The Mormons responded by attacking the moral character of Judge Drummond.
Brigham Young learned of his replacement and of the troops ordered to Utah from newspaper accounts. At first he was willing to step aside, but he changed his mind. He decided to treat the American army as a mob and took actions to prevent their entry into the Territory. He declared martial law, activated the Militia and enlisted the support of Indian bands throughout the Territory, intending to wage war if necessary. The impending conflict was foretold in the brutal assassination of Mormon Apostle Parley Pratt, in Arkansas, by the husband of one of Pratt's plural wives. In the intensity of these circumstances, during the month of September, 1857, a party of emigrants from Arkansas, Missouri, and Illinois, were attacked at Mountain Meadow and brutally massacred by Indians and Mormons.
Mormon resistance against the army evoked public sympathy for their defense of religious freedom. But the deceit and vengeance exhibited in the Massacre at Mountain Meadow, when revealed, destroyed all favorable impressions. These negative views henceforth dominated American opinion about the Mormons. An era ended as Johnston's army occupied Utah and Brigham Young was replaced as governor.
Captain Gunnison's book, the Massacre, and its sequels, had much to do with the course and outcome of the Mormon movement during these early years. The charges of Mormon involvement in the Massacre, brought by Mrs. Gunnison and Judge Drummond, among others, were neglected due to the more compelling need to deal with Brigham Young' s resistance to the army and then with the horrible Massacre at Mountain Meadow. Soon the Civil War intervened. For thirty years afterward, the Mormon were under the pressure of Federal law to abandon polygamy and the political aspects of theocracy in order to attain self-government as a state in the Union. These more demanding issues left the Gunnison Massacre as unfinished business. Consequently, there was never an investigation by competent legal procedures during the lifetime of persons with first-hand knowledge. These issues have not since been investigated by competent historical inquiries.
2 http://www.wildgoosecreekstudio.com/gunnison-massacre.html
3A Brief Summary of the Gunnison Massacre: Utah Territory, October 26, 1853 by Dr. Robert Kant Fielding
Publications of Interest. Two books dealing with the Gunnison Massacre are scheduled for February, 1993 publication:
- The Mormons, or Latter-Day Saints, by John W. Gunnison. This is a reprint of the 1860 edition. It includes the correspondence of Mrs. Martha Gunnison and Judge W. W. Drummond. Out of print for more than a century, this classic has been reprinted with an editor's preface written by Dr. Robert Kent Fielding, describing Gunnison's relations with the Mormons, the Massacre, and the major events which followed, through the Mountain Meadows Massacre and the Utah Expedition. 176 pages; Hardcover; $19.95.
- The Unsolicited Chronicler: an Accounts of the Gunnison Massacre, its Causes and Consequences, by Dr. Robert Kent Fielding. More than ten years in research and preparation, this work utilizes all known source materials held by major research libraries, providing dramatic and controversial information abut Gunnison, his relations with the Mormons, the tragedy of the Massacre (including Mormon involvement), and the sequels which followed, changing the course of Mormon history. The book is most impressive; much of it reads like an exciting novel. Historians will take notice of the revisionist view of Brigham Young characterized as a "Yankee Mohamed." The author was a professor of History at Brigham Young and at Wesleyan University. 450 pages; maps; photographs; Hardcover; $49.95. See http://www.millardcounty.com/massacre.html.


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About Princessbarbi
321st BG,447th BS,Dad T/Sgt Edward C Ennis lived to be 90,I never asked about "His War",in'05 he passed,I became interested..found the 57th, I am now the Historian for his 321st BG,& Researcher for 57thBW. Contact me w/info-questions-photo's.'09 -B
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Through the Roof
This story appears in the September 2002 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »
In the mid-1990s, Ron Hatch, 56, owner of Hatch Furniture in Yankton, South Dakota, thought his health insurance costs were horrendously high. "Our premiums were rising at over 10 percent each year and were becoming one of our largest expenses," he says.
Then Hatch learned the true definition of horrendous. In the past three years, a confluence of factors has forced the furniture company's health insurance costs into the stratosphere. "Last year our premiums jumped by about 50 percent, since some insurance companies pulled out of South Dakota and more health-care rules were written into law," he says. Co-pays were raised for the furniture business's 28 employees. Unable to afford the higher fees, 19 workers no longer have employer-funded insurance, a move that could put their health in serious peril. The strategy backfired in terms of the budget as well: As the pool of insured individuals decreased, each person's premium rose, wiping out the savings Hatch was aiming for.
Hatch is hardly alone. Nationwide, small businesses are about to be swamped by a perfect storm of changes that should prompt drastically higher health-care costs for 2002, 2003 and beyond. A recent poll by consulting firm Hewitt Associates found that 99 percent of employers are "significantly or critically" concerned about rising health-care costs, which are turning into a crisis for many small companies. In fact, warns Steve Sobiek, executive director of the Independent Business Association of Wisconsin, unless small businesses quickly address this brewing hurricane, they could soon wind up paying more in health benefits than in salaries.
Ominous Changes Ahead
Though it hardly seemed it at the time, the mid-1990s actually were a period of relatively stable health insurance premiums, compared to the present day. In the early days of managed care, HMOs did keep costs down, premiums rose at a relatively consistent rate, and more insurers covered small businesses, says Greg Scandlen, senior fellow in health policy at the National Center for Policy Analysis, a think tank. Consequently, in the mid-1990s, more small businesses could afford to provide HMO or PPO coverage.
But in the past several years, the small-business health insurance market has changed radically, forcing entrepreneurs to make hard choices that could cost them crucial employees. According to Michael Taylor, senior health policy analyst at consulting group Towers Perrin in Valhalla, New York, doctors banding together into larger medical groups in the late 1990s were able to demand higher fees from the managed-care organizations. Meanwhile, insurers were starting to cover more expensive new health-care technologies, and loosened restrictions on pharmaceutical advertising allowed major drug companies to market prescription pharmaceuticals directly to consumers, a move that has pushed drug usage to unforeseen levels.
"The problem isn't so much the price [increases], but that we're unable to predict how much premiums are going to rise each year, so we can't develop a long-term plan," says Stacy Gore, president of Fullerton, California-based GM Packaging. To keep her company's health-care costs reasonable, Gore, 38, has doubled her employees' contributions over the past three years, while keeping the employer contribution fixed.
The average monthly per-employee cost of providing health insurance.
SOURCE: "Kaiser/HRET Employer Health Benefits Survey, 2001"
And many of the dynamics contributing to higher health costs are only going to get worse this year and next; combined with several key legislative, economic and social changes, they will create a storm that may hit small businesses with the steepest premium increases in history in 2003.
Perhaps most important, states and the federal government are introducing new mandates that various treatments be covered. Federal patients' rights legislation currently being debated also is expected to boost premiums. Meanwhile, insurance companies will increase commercial premiums to make up for reduced Medicare and Medicaid subsidies over the next five years.
|Capitol Hill has its hands full debating Association Health Plans, touted as one possible solution to the health-care crisis. Are AHPs a godsend, or a recipe for disaster? Read the latest news here.
Small businesses were never able to handle premium increases as easily as large corporations, which often are self-insured and big enough to bargain for discounts. But in the past, entrepreneurs, virtually none of whom are self-insured, at least had a choice of agents and providers, who would offer minimal discounts to win clients.
No longer. "The small-group health insurance market is a disaster," says Taylor. "Large insurers are realizing that the small-business market is less profitable, and they're pulling out, leaving just a few insurers to handle all small businesses"--and possibly to jack up rates. Indeed, Gore notes it's difficult to find affordable health-care plans because so many carriers have pulled out of the California market. In Florida, the number of carriers covering small businesses has fallen from 100 to 26 since 1997. In Colorado this past March, Aetna abandoned the small-group market, leaving roughly 100,000 small businesses and self-employed workers scrambling to find new coverage.
Carolyn Fazio, chairwoman of Fazio International Ltd., a small Boca Raton, Florida-based public relations firm, has also seen firsthand how insurers fleeing the small-group market can cripple a business. "The worst thing about small-business health insurance is getting a legalese letter informing you that your insurer is dropping small groups and advising you that you have 60 days to change," says Fazio, 55, whose company was dropped by its insurer earlier this year. "I had to rush not only to get a new health plan but also to find an insurer who is linked to my doctors."
|Visit Our Insurance Center
Searching for Options
Small companies have scrambled frantically to hold down premiums, often with little success. Fazio began using health-care Web sites to compare benefit costs and has turned more to freelance contractors, reducing the number of workers she has to cover. Other entrepreneurs have restricted health benefits to employees who have been on the job for a certain period of time.
Like Hatch and Gore, numerous employers have raised deductibles and co-pays, or otherwise boosted employee contributions, to make staff more conscious of the cost of health care. (Many small-business owners have offered employees drug discount cards, sold by private companies, to take some of the sting out of higher deductibles.)
In some cases, entrepreneurs have stopped providing health insurance, but such a move alienates some employees, especially as the economy recovers and the labor market tightens. Indeed, a Hewitt poll found that employees rank health care as the most important benefit, and many workers are willing to switch companies simply to get it.
Other entrepreneurs are using Web sites like Healthmarket.com to customize their health plans or signing up for defined-contribution plans (also known as medical savings accounts), which are gaining popularity. Most defined-contribution plans combine a catastrophic coverage policy with a personal spending account administered by the employee. You place a lump sum of money--say, $1,500--into the account, which the employee uses to pay for routine medical care and drugs.
If the employee exhausts the lump sum, he or she pays for remaining medical expenses, up to a certain cap. Above that amount, catastrophic coverage begins and pays for 100 percent of costs. "Since the employee knows that at a certain point health care will come out of his pocket, he will exhibit the kind of cost-consciousness that doesn't exist now," says Scandlen.
|of small
businesses with three to 24 employees offer health insurance.
SOURCE: The Kaiser Family Foundation: "National Survey of Small Businesses"
Do defined-contribution plans work? Faced with spiraling costs in December 2001, Ed Treick, president of S-F Analytical Laboratories, an environmental analysis firm in Milwaukee, let his employees vote on their benefits. They chose a defined plan from Golden Rule Insurance, one of the leading defined providers. (Other market leaders are Definity Health and Vivius.) Since then, he says, "I've seen some employees researching generic drugs on the Internet, sharing information about buying drugs in Canada, and thinking about other cost-saving ideas." For 2002, Treick, 62, expects his premiums to rise by less than half their 2001 increase.
Others are not so convinced. Gail Shearer, director of health policy analysis at Consumers Union, an independent research organization, says because defined-contribution plans appeal more to healthy people, who can save some of the lump sum, they may hurt less healthy workers and their employers. In fact, after S-F went to a defined plan, one of Treick's employees quit over concerns that his chronic allergies would incur large out-of-pocket costs. What's more, Taylor argues, defined-contribution plans force employees to make complicated health-care decisions. "Many workers don't have the time or skills to do all this research," he says. "They just want a few simple choices of plans."
|Next Step
Despite the grim situation, entrepreneurs are not out of ammunition in their battle against rising health-care costs. Small businesses can focus more on preventive care, says Patricia Halo, author of Managing Health Benefits in Small and Midsized Organizations. (AMACOM). "As an employer, you have to create a healthy environment if you hope to reduce chronic and catastrophic illnesses, which eat up most health-care dollars," Halo says. Halo recommends offering healthy breakfasts rather than coffee and doughnuts, holding educational sessions that teach employees about fitness and banning smoking in the workplace. "Employers have to be clear that the privilege of health insurance comes with the responsibility of taking care of your health," she says.
Halo also suggests that small businesses seek out state-funded health-care subsidies and use "report cards" put out by organizations like the National Committee for Quality Assurance, which analyze and compare health plans. "Most small businesses don't realize that many states pay for some health care for companies with few employees, or that some of their employees may be eligible for government programs like Child Health Plus [a New York children's health insurance program]," Halo says.
|of small
businesses that offer health insurance provide employees with just
one health plan option.
SOURCE: The Kaiser Family Foundation, "National Survey of Small Businesses"
Ultimately, many business owners believe the best way to keep health-care costs stable is to join association plans, in which small-business owners band together to give themselves more power to negotiate with insurers. Two years ago, Visual Edge Imaging Studios, a three-person imaging company in Dayton, Ohio, joined an association plan offered through the Greater Cleveland Growth Association. "The association plan has been by far the best option," says Visual Edge co-owner Randy Sowash, 38. "Under the association plan, our premiums rose by only $8 last year."
As in Ohio, trade associations already organize association plans in many other states, and in the next two years Congress may allow national trade groups to sell health insurance to their members. Halo estimates that a small business could reduce health-care costs by up to 25 percent by joining an association. She says: "When you're facing the craziness that is small-group insurance today, 25 percent could mean an enormous amount."
|Online Exclusive: Under the Knife
your health-care costs with these penny-pinching tips.
Joshua Kurlantzick covers trade and international economics for U.S. News and World Report
Contact Sources
- Consumers Union
1666 Connecticut Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20009-1039, www.consumersunion.org
- Fazio International Ltd.
- Hatch Furniture
(605) 665-4416, www.hatchfurniture.com
- Hewitt Associates
- Independent Business Association of Wisconsin
1400 E. Washington Ave., #282, Madison, WI 53703, www.ibaw.com
- National Center for Policy Analysis
12655 N. Central Expwy., #720, Dallas, TX 75243-1739, www.ncpa.org
- Patricia Halo
- S-F Analytical Laboratories
(414) 475-6700, www.sflabs.com
- Towers Perrin
100 Summit Lake Dr., Valhalla, NY 10595, www.towers.com/towers
- Visual Edge Imaging Studios
819 Factory Rd., Ste. C, Dayton, OH 45434, www.visualedgeimaging.com


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As Apple Feels Competition Bite, So Does Hon Hai
Apple Inc.'s iPhones and iPads have been cash cows for its Taiwanese contract manufacturer, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. But now that sales of the popular devices seem to be slowing, Hon Hai is also feeling the impact.
The world's largest contract electronics manufacturer, commonly known as Foxconn, said Wednesday its March revenue dropped 27% from a year earlier to 260.38 billion New Taiwan dollars (US$8.71 billion), the lowest monthly revenue since September's NT$240.54 billion. First-quarter revenue fell 19% to NT$808.97 billion. It didn't report net profit for the three months ended March 31.
Analysts attributed the lower-than-expected March revenue to softening demand for iPhones and iPads, but said Hon Hai's monthly revenue should gradually pick up from May when it starts ramping up production for the next-generation iPhone.
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