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By Jim Davis
Criminal charges against the operators of a Vallejo cannabis dispensary were dismissed last week by a Superior Court Judge, because there were not sufficient grounds to believe a law had been violated by the dispensary operators. This is not a surprise to anyone but our city attorney, city council, and city manager. Let's review how we got here.
Circa 2005. Around 2005, cannabis dispensaries started popping up. They were problematic in that the proprietors allowed trash to collect around storefronts and people were hanging around and smoking cannabis in the streets. Most unpleasant. Even more important, people hated the smell and the idea that people would get high on the stuff. A large contingent of the city was and still is dead set against such establishments and cannabis in general, never mind the law. It's a moral matter.
State Law v. Our Law. Our city attorney investigated the law; he was faced with a state-wide proposition and resulting legislation that clearly allowed dispensaries. Not to be outwitted by the voters or the state legislature, the city attorney determined that dispensaries were not one of the businesses our ordinances allowed, so they were "illegal." Other lawyers scoffed at this legal analysis, but our city attorney was determined to proceed in this direction, with the support of every council member and the city manager. The city attorney went to court to close down one of the dispensaries as "illegal" under our ordinances (notwithstandingstate law); he succeeded to some extent, but it was a very pricey remedy, took a long time, and did not deter future entrepreneurs.
Our Citizens. Our citizens realized that fighting dispensaries, approved by the voters of California, was not a worthwhile fight, especially in view of our…uh…"circumstances." They voted to tax the dispensaries, aware, unlike the city council, that we are in dire need of additional tax revenue and dispensaries were made to order. Even voters who were uncomfortable with the idea of people smoking and ingesting cannabis were willing to tolerate the dispensaries if dispensary taxes were helping to pay for city services, including more cops, fire fighters, street repairs, schools, and parks. In addition to the tax voted on by the citizens, the dispensaries occupied a space, paid rent to an owner, brought people to the surrounding businesses, employed people, and contributed to charities. This was all ignored by the city, seemingly determined to create more empty spaces, damn the cost; it was a moral position. "We don't want that crap in our town!" "What about our kids?"
The Tipping Point. Dispensaries continued to proliferate. The city council and city manager and police chief got together to brain-storm the issue. The law was evolving rapidly, with contradictory and confusing decisions about the legality of the dispensaries and their proper regulation. The city was unwilling to limit the number of dispensaries or prescribe appropriate locations, because it feared that attempts to regulate these businesses might imply that they were legal. The entire city government was of the opinion that the dispensaries were illegal, no dissenters. The city also worried that someone might sue the city if they didn't like the regulations. The city was stymied. They invited the City Attorney, District Attorney, Sheriff, DEA, State Board of Equalization, IRS, and U.S. Attorneys to discuss the issue. What to do, Chicken Little, what to do?
Strategy Sessions. This is an imaginary conversation:
Chief: "I know, I'll arrest them for selling cannabis."
DA: "But they're allowed to sell it under state law."
DEA: "Yeah, but not under federal law."
City Attorney: "We can't use our meager city resources to enforce the President's war on drugs; we're trying to catch rapists, burglars, robbers, and murderers."
Chief: "Maybe we can hook up with the DEA as part of a 'regional drug enforcement team,' qualifying for some federal money to pay our officers to shut these damn places down."
DA: "Let me suggest something: Attorney General Harris issued regulations under the legislation that prescribe a lot of rules for these dispensaries to follow if they are to function properly. I'll bet they aren't complying. If they are violating the regulations, we can charge them with the crime of selling, because they will lose their exemption from prosecution."
City Attorney: "But they're just regulations, not law."
DA: "We can argue that they reasonably amplify the legislation, with common sense that should have the presumption of law."
Chief: "I'll assign a group of cops to set up surveillance at the dispensaries, send in undercover officers, make buys, and watch who goes in and out; we'll find out who goes to these places—lawyers, physicians, stock brokers, real estate agents, teachers, etc. We'll get a search warrant based on our surveillance. And if they're not following the regulations, I'll arrest them, seize all the cannabis, equipment, computers, video cameras, money, and records; I'll put a padlock on the door. Maybe we'll even impound their cars, go to their homes, search their homes, seize all the cannabis, money, computers, and records. We'll see how brave they are after spending the night in jail and losing all their property. We can even charge their landlords with participating in a conspiracy. This is good. I'm glad you guys came over."
Vallejo's Gestapo. No one considered the damage they were doing to these entrepreneurs, just ordinary folks trying to earn a living. Now these folks have records for felony drug charges, even if the charges are dismissed or if the defendants are exonerated at trial. All their property has been confiscated and their jobs lost. This is how Vallejo deals with a social problem. Cops, flak jackets, assault rifles, handcuffs, "ON THE FLOOR!" Just makes you proud to be a member of the community, doesn't it?
I called on a city council member to stand up and say this was wrong, that this was not the way to deal with a social problem, that these people were not criminals, that we needed the tax money, and that criminalizing social activity was not the only way to deal with untoward social behavior. He said, "Jim, it's complicated." I said, "The law is complicated; the fairness of using the police to arrest business owners and operators is NOT complicated. It is just plain wrong." He added, "Jim, I'm a member of team; we function as a city, with all our departments. I can't criticize the chief of police for enforcing the law as he sees fit; he's out of my bailiwick."
Not one council member stood up to say this is wrong.
Where Do We Go Now? Despite what the city sees as insurmountable obstacles to regulating dispensaries—and I agree that the obstacles are considerable, in that the law is new and changing daily, with even the undergirds of the cannabis program in doubt (whether the President and his henchmen will close down all the dispensaries in 18 states) or whether the Supreme Court will declare the program a violation of federal law. Those would be big steps, but anything is possible.
In the meantime, I hope the city is working on regulations. Hundreds of cities, including San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego, etc. have regulations governing dispensaries, limiting their number and location. We could copy one of the good ones: It would cost $2 in copy fees and 10 minutes of time. Or is our staff working on the quintessential regulations, regulations so thorough and reasonable they could never be challenged in court? Could someone sue? Sure. I think it's almost certain someone will sue, because if you limit business opportunities, entrepreneurs will fight for their share. We are in the business of being a city, which requires action that may result in lawsuits. We should try to minimize the suits and settle those we think have some justice. But we can't just stare at the headlights like a deer. And remember we are talking about businesses, all of whom have a vested interest in seeing a responsible, functioning, contributing industry. They might help with some of this legal stuff. We do have a city attorney, don't we? Or is he still working on that ordinance thing?
The city has to act like a city and the police have to act like police. These dispensaries are undoubtedly lawful at the moment, if conducted properly, and they should be regulated, which means the city enforces rules on the number, location, record-keeping, hygiene, safety—all the things the city does for all the businesses that employ people and pay taxes. The police should drive by the dispensaries, moving along any people hanging out, and arresting any smoking cannabis. The police know how to do this; it's sweeping the streets, a daily activity.
And Code Enforcement knows how to inspect businesses and ensure compliance with citations and fines; jail not required.
And the great thing about all this regulation and policing? The cannabis users pay for it. Win, win.
Let's change our approach to one that enables these businesses to succeed, under strict regulation and enforcement, while sharing in the taxes generated by them. Let's make them friends of the city, not enemies.
Note: All opinions expressed in the "Primal Scream" column are those of the writer and not necessarily those of the Vallejo Independent Bulletin
Home Section List articles_with_comments Primal Scream -- WHAT TO DO ABOUT CANNABIS -- By Jim Davis -- 12/22/12


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Is the baby Dom's or her husband's? Savi doesn't know yet, but that's not stopping her from taking matters into her own hands.
On Monday's Mistresses (10/9c, ABC), Dom (Jason George) confronts Savi (Alyssa Milano) after she asks him to sign a document to relinquish all rights to the baby that may or may not be his.
Get the scoop on Mistresses and other new summer shows"So you drew up the contracts just in case?" he says in the exclusive sneak peek below."OK, what if it is yours? What would you want? Partial custody? Visitation rights? Is that what you signed up for when we slept together?" Savi says. "Do you even want a kid right now? Because Harry [ Brett Tucker] and I do."So will Dom sign it? Check out the clip below to find out.

subset: commoncrawl


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I started writing a basic window application and wanted to learn and make some primitives using DirectX.
I created window, created device and did all the necessary things needed to be done before enjoying drawing.
After declaring the vertices of a triangle, and then copying them to Vertex buffer, I rendered it. Finally, I got something on the screen .
The problem started when I wanted to transform the triangle. I wrote the code, with intention of rotating it along Y-axis, but it didn't worked. This is what I wrote:
D3DXMatrixRotationY( &mTestRotMat, D3DXToRadian(55));
pd3dDevice->SetTransform(D3DTS_WORLD, &mTestRotMat);
pd3dDevice->SetFVF( D3DFVF_XYZRHW | D3DFVF_DIFFUSE );
pd3dDevice->SetStreamSource(0, m_v_buffer, 0, sizeof(vertex_info));
pd3dDevice->DrawPrimitive(D3DPT_TRIANGLESTRIP, 0, 1);
but this has no effect... :S
Also, worst part is I tried changing the z-coordinates of the primitive, but the triangle remains at the same position...
Am I missing anything ?
NOTE : since, this is just the basic program, I have not implemented camera, nor I am manipulating any of View, Projection Matrix.


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Most individuals with Williams syndrome have an affinity to music. They are touched by music in ways not usually seen in the general population. It is quite common for those with Williams syndrome to be reduced to tears by classical music, disturbed by music played in minor chords or moved to dance and laugh by playful and "happy" music.
The affinity for music in people with Williams syndrome, especially their sense of rhythm, ability to remember lyrics and hearing sensitivity can used to help overcome weaknesses. Music therapy is often used in the educational setting to help with math skills and other concepts.
Sometimes the natural affinity for music progresses to excellent music ability. Children may benefit from non-traditional (most individuals play by ear) lessons in piano, drums, voice, or guitar.
This section is intended to help educators understand the musical link in Williams syndrome that has been documented through studies, documentaries, and special programs by experts in the fields of Cognitive Neuroscience, Educational Psychology, Developmental and Cell Biology, Special Education, and others.
What does it mean to have an "affinity" towards music? And how might this effect a child's general education?
The topics covered in this section include:
- What is an "affinity to music"?
- Will a child with WS be musically gifted?
- Can the musicality of a child with WS be affected through education?
- Should a child with Williams syndrome be assessed for Music Therapy treatment?
- How will Music Therapy benefit a child with WS?
- Related published articles
- Related national broadcasts
- Comments on the Musical Potential of People with Williams syndrome
- Additional articles/resources
What is an "affinity to music"?
The definition of the word affinity is: "A natural attraction, liking, or feeling of kinship." This definition fits well the relationship between Williams syndrome and music. People with Williams syndrome talk often about a natural feeling that music is part of their being.
People with Williams syndrome often appear drawn towards music and things musical. For some, music can help overcome obstacles they might not otherwise overcome. For example, some children with Williams syndrome have been known to overcome their acute sensitivity to loud noises in order to join others on a dance floor where music is playing at levels that would otherwise bring them to tears.
The same can sometimes be said for children with Williams syndrome in a classroom. They are often able to stay on task during a "musical" activity, for much longer times than would be possible during non-music activities. This can be an important piece of information for an educator who is working with a Williams child who has a limited attention span.
It is important to note, however, that "affinity" does not equal "ability" (although that is the case in some instances). The musical link with Williams syndrome refers to cognitive, emotional and psychological characteristics. Individuals with Williams syndrome usually enjoy participating in musical activities, whether or not, they show increased musical abilities.
Will a child with WS be musically gifted?
Individuals with Williams syndrome (as a whole) seem to have a higher rate of musicality, and in some instances musical ability, than the general population. Among those who have increased levels of musicality there are people with Williams syndrome who are musically gifted. But many others who are not. It is the affinity and love of music, rather than musical "giftedness" that appears to be a common trait in individuals with Williams syndrome.
Additionally, recent research suggests that the percentage of individuals with Williams syndrome who have perfect pitch is higher than the percentage among individuals in the general population.
Can the musicality of a child with WS be affected through education?
Yes. Due to the wide range of early childhood delays and medical problems it is possible that many common Williams syndrome traits will only emerge after time. For example, a child with WS who appears to have little interest in music at age three may exhibit a high level of interest and/or ability at age 11.
A child's musicality can potentially be brought out by circumstances, and thus affected by their educational experiences.
Should a child with Williams syndrome be assessed for Music Therapy treatment?
As a general rule, you will probably want a child with Williams syndrome assessed by a Music therapist. The published link between music and cognition in individuals with Williams syndrome indicates that this assessment is appropriate.
The following questions may help members of an IEP team determine the appropriateness of a music therapy assessment. Note: a "no" response to one or more questions does not necessarily mean that a child is inappropriate for a music therapy assessment. If disagreements or questions arise, a music therapist should be contacted.
- Can the child be motivated to attempt tasks through the use of music?
- Can the child by motivated to complete tasks through the use of music?
- Could the child benefit from the use of additional communication modalities?
- Does the child initiate interaction with music in the classroom or at home?
- Does the child retain information conveyed in songs more easily than information conveyed in spoken interchanges?
An assessment for music therapy as a related service should, at minimum, include a review of the child's current IEP, interviews with key IEP team members, and an assessment process/instrument that provides specific data as to whether or not music therapy makes a significant difference in a child's ability to benefit from his or her IEP.
How will Music Therapy benefit a child with WS?
There is good likelihood that children with WS will benefit from music therapy. Music therapy uses an interactive musical setting to achieve specific educational goals. The affinity toward music of a child with Williams syndrome will often allow them to be more engaged and have a higher retention of success, when difficult tasks are reinforced with music.
However, as with any type of therapy, not all children respond in the same way. For this reason, it is very important to have a thorough Music therapy assessment performed on the child with Williams syndrome. This assessment should be performed by a Board-Certified Music Therapist. It is also helpful when the evaluation includes time with the child in the current classroom. The assessment should take place prior to the IEP meeting.
If Music therapy is deemed appropriate for a child with Williams syndrome, the Music therapist should become a part of the child's IEP team. As with all therapies, whether or not music therapy is appropriate at the time of initial assessment, periodic reassessment is recommended.
Related published articles
The following articles regarding Williams syndrome deal primarily with the relationship between cognition and music in children with Williams syndrome.
Music, the Brain, and Williams syndrome (2001)
Article transcript (free registration required)
This article appeared in The Scientist magazine and is primarily a discussion of new research into Williams syndrome and general cognitive ability. It also provides a glimpse of the musical affinity of children with Williams syndrome.
To quote:
"Music encourages something of normalcy and fulfillment," says Don (Morris). Morris speaks of counseling families to use music to instruct and for its calming effect.
Williams Syndrome and the Brain (1997)
by: H. Lenhoff, P Wang, F Greenberg and U. Bellugi
This article appeared in Scientific American magazine, This is an excellent explanation of Williams Syndrome and a summary of research at the time.
Music Lights A Fire (1997)
by: David Scheiber, St. Petersburg Times
This article discusses the musicality and passion for music displayed by campers at the WSA's Music and Arts Camp.
Different Minds (1991)
by: Robert Finn
This article appeared in Discover Magazine and presents an interesting look at the beginning research into Williams syndrome. Note: This article was written prior to the discovery of the actual genetic problem, and prior to much of the music research. However, it outlines specifically some of the educational obstacles observed when trying to teach children with Williams syndrome.
Related national broadcasts
The following programs regarding Williams syndrome were broadcast nationally. Links are provided to transcripts where available.
Growing up Different (Friendly Genes segment - 2001)
This PBS television broadcast appeared as a Scientific American Frontiers special hosted by Alan Alda. The broadcast also featured remarks by Dr. Ursula Bellugi, Director of the Laboratory for Cognitive Neuroscience at the Salk Institute.
Gray Matters: Music and the Brain (1998)
This radio broadcast appeared on National Public Radio and was hosted by Mandy Patinkin. (Note: Only a segment of the broadcast referred to Williams syndrome.)
To quote:
'A child with William's syndrome once said, "Music is my favorite way of thinking..." As we've heard in this past hour, music has become a favorite way of thinking for an expanding group of neuroscientists.'
A Very Special Brain (1997/1998)
Copies available by request from the WSA
CBS 60 Minutes segment on Williams syndrome. This Peabody Award winning segment aired in both October 1997 and July 1998.
Additional articles/resources
There are dozens of reference articles and/or videos relating Williams syndrome and music that have been printed over the past several years. Not all are presented here because they do not specifically reference general education through music. However, they are important in emphasizing the distinct and overwhelming connection between music and Williams syndrome.


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A cruelty-free, cultured meat is on the horizon that will help save a large percentage of the 27 billion animals slaughtered each year for food.
Nicholas Genovese, PhD - Research Summary
As a visiting scholar at the University of Missouri, I am currently developing methods for in vitro specification of ungulate pluripotent stem cells toward differentiated tissue lineages. Potential applications for this research include cultured meat production systems, model systems for regenerative medicine and basic livestock developmental biology.
I completed my doctoral degree at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where I characterized the role of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E7 protein during viral infection of the epidermis and cancer. HPV-associated cancers are the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide and the E7 protein is functionally compulsory for the progression of HPV-associated cancers. My graduate education was preceded by industrial internships at King Pharmaceuticals and Novavax, Inc. where I was involved respectively in the process development of influenza and HPV vaccine manufacturing.
According to PETA "Raising animals on factory farms is cruel and ecologically devastating. Eating animals is bad for our health, increasing the risk of developing various diseases and illnesses, including heart attacks, strokes, cancer, diabetes, and obesity." Given those facts, the idea of cruelty free cultured meats sounds like a viable alternative.
Having been a vegetarian for years I have to admit that sometimes I miss the variety that meat adds to a diet so this subject is especially interesting to me. Dr. Genovese, answers critical questions to his important research that should turn skeptics into believers.
Kris Notaro: What in your professional career has led you to research methods for cultured meat production?
Nicholas Genovese: Growing up in the agribusiness and raising farm animals destined for slaughter opened my eyes to the efficiency limitations and ethical issues associated with animal agriculture. While in industry and graduate school, experiences with various cell culture methods led me to consider the possibility of using established principles to cultivate farm animal tissues as edible 'meat' and potentially overcome certain limitations of conventional meat production systems. In conjunction with ongoing advances in stem cell biology and tissue engineering, sponsorship by PETA has enabled my pursuit of this research objective.
KN: What exactly is "in vitro meat" or "cultured meat"?
NG: Perhaps the broadest definition of cultured meat (i.e. in vitro meat) could be 'dietary nutrition cultivated from animal stem cells and harvested independently of the growth and slaughter of animals'. When produced, cultured meat will be cultivated under aseptic conditions from a self-renewing animal stem cell 'seed stock' source into an edible tissue. The first cultured meat products available to consumers will most likely lack the complex structure of whole meat cuts and be used as ground meat. A long-term goal for cultured meat is to produce whole tissues such as muscle, liver and fat from poultry, swine and cattle. Alternatively, artesian meats of novel species stem cell composition or combinations thereof could be cultivated according to consumer preference. To the extent cultured meat is produced in a manner free from animal-derived components, it will be a wholesome, nutritious, delicious and authentic meat distinct from conventional meat products harvested from slaughtered animals.
KN: It has been reported that the livestock industry produces more greenhouse gases than the global transportation sector. Will cultured meat reduce greenhouse gas emissions? To put it a different way, what resources will go into cultured meat and what impact will production have on the environment?
NG: Great questions. A life cycle assessment study that compared the environmental impacts of beef, sheep, pork and poultry production to a cultured meat production model was recently published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The study estimated that during cultured meat production, fresh water use would be reduced up to 96%, land requirements would be reduced up to 99% and greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced up to 96%. Overall, energy requirements would be reduced as well. Land use is an especially critical consideration in ecologically sensitive regions where livestock operations encroach upon wilderness and endanger native biodiversity. Whether cultured meat can reduce greenhouse gas emissions depends upon the actual environmental impacts of commercial cultivation processes which have yet to be established. If environmental impacts are reduced during commercial cultivation, cultured meat must be accepted by consumers as a substitute for conventionally produced meats in order for the environmental benefits to be realized.
KN: What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of cultured meat?
NG: The potential advantages of cultured meat production are multi-faceted. I will discuss only a few key points.
An important consideration is the amount of feed required to produce a unit of meat (i.e. feedstock conversion efficiency). Three to eight pounds of dry grain are required to generate one pound of terrestrial farmed animal body weight. As the majority of the animal body weight is water and by-product, the actual feedstock conversion of grain to dry-weight edible meat is far less efficient. Efficiency is lost due to incomplete absorption of feedstock nutrients during animal digestion, superfluous metabolic energy expenditures associated with animal growth and concomitant resource requirements for by-product development. Though by-products can be processed and sold, they are economically limiting to the value of the animal carcass. In contrast, a cultured meat production system has the potential to circumvent the limitations of animal digestion and development through nutrient provision directly to edible tissues. Feedstock conversion efficiency gained from growing the meat alone instead of the entire animal would translate to increased feedstock grain availability for biofuel production and feeding people. Nearly one billion individuals worldwide are undernourished today, yet the global consumer demand for meat is expected to increase 60% by 2050 due to population growth and increasing affluence in developing nations. In 2011, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization reported that food prices had reached record levels. According to Oxfam International, food prices are expected to double by 2030 from current levels. Cultured meat production may play dual roles in satisfying the future consumer meat demand while staving off global hunger and civil unrest in the most economically vulnerable populations who depend upon grain products for their dietary sustenance.
Sustainable agricultural practice is a function of demand, resource availability and food security risks incurred. With the majority of arable land already in use, livestock and poultry industries are preparing for future demand by continuous transition of operations from the pasture to concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFO; i.e. factory farms). Manure waste streams from CAFOs threaten local water supplies with phosphate eutropication. Subtheraputic antibiotic administration is commonly used to promote animal growth in CAFOs, supporting the emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Food-borne illnesses and meat recalls are prevalent consequences of bacterial contamination originating from farmed animal fecal matter. The expansion of poultry and livestock operations increases the risk of animal-to-human zoonotic disease transmission, most notably resulting in many of the seasonal and pandemic influenza strains. Measures to prevent both zoonotic and veterinary disease transmission include culling entire farms of potentially infected animals. Aseptic cultivation of cultured meat would increase food security by mitigating risks associated with disease transmission, obviate manure production and antibiotic use, and eliminate the spread of fecal bacteria causal to food-borne illness.
Over 59 billion animals, excluding fish and invertebrates, are farmed and slaughtered annually for human consumption. The ethical consequences of conventional meat production are largely disregarded by consumers, presumably due to interpersonal conflicts with established cultural and culinary traditions. Regardless of their dietary practice, many consumers recognize animal suffering and slaughter as a cruel vice and would prefer their dietary protein from sources devoid of such associations. Cultured meat may provide a viable alternative.
To summarize, the potential benefits of cultured meat include reduced environmental impacts, decreased resource requirements, improved food security, enhanced food safety and ethically conscientious production standards.
The major disadvantages of cultured meat are that it is not available to consumers at present and will require further investment prior to reaching the market.
KN: What are some of the challenges of optimizing cultured meat production systems?
NG: Cultured meat production can be broken down into five key challenge areas that must be addressed. (1) A self-renewing stem cell source must be established for use as a 'seed stock' from which to cultivate the meat. Scientists are now evaluating the potentials of different stem cell types for seed stock use. (2) Conditions for developing stem cells into mature tissues must be determined and optimized. For muscle tissue, this process may include 'exercise' in the form of mechanical stretching or contraction. (3) A scaffold must be engineered to support tissue growth in 3-dimensions. The scaffold must be edible or removable and free from animal-derived components. (4) Nutrient rich animal-derived component-free culture media must be formulated economically to support the various growth and development phases. Plant, fungus and blue-green algae derived media in combination with defined, natural growth factors have been considered for this purpose. (5) Scalable cultivation systems must be engineered to support production of large cultured meat quantities in a sustainable manner. Though significant scientific progress has been made in these challenge areas, further engineering and technological integration are required before cultivation systems can be used for commercial scale production.
KN: Will cultured meat be available to low-income households?
NG: Eventually. A prospective key economic advantage of cultured meat is in reduced production resource requirements. The major factor driving the price will be technology. Initial pricing will depend upon the investment in production technology prior to consumer availability. Cultured meat will be accessible to low-income households if production costs can be reduced to levels of conventional meat products. Prior consumer acceptance of cultured meat marketed at a premium price by high-income households will, over time, enable further technological innovation and price reduction.
KN: PETA has officially endorsed cultured meat. Do you see vegetarians eating meat if it is cruelty-free?
NG: It depends. There are many different reasons why vegetarians choose not to eat meat. Those who may have enjoyed the flavor of meat but chose not to eat meat due to ethical concerns may choose to include cultured meat in their diets without conflict.
KN: Obviously cultured meat is cruelty-free, but how can we overcome the stigma that is attached to "lab grown meat"?
NG: Experiments are conducted in a lab. Food is produced in a dedicated facility. Once scalable cultivation methods have been optimized in a lab, production is transferred to a dedicated facility. As consumers understand that cultured meat will never be produced in the lab, the "lab grown meat" stigma will fade. The "lab grown" misidentification of cultured meat has likely arisen from the absence of any named facility to associate production with. 'Natural' foods commonly enjoyed today and produced in dedicated facilities include bread, beer and yogurt. These foods involve the culture of baker's yeast, brewer's yeast and bacteria, respectively. In an analogous manner to the bakery, brewery and dairy, a dedicated facility for the culture of animal cells into meat may be designated as a 'carnery' (from the Latin 'carnis' [i.e. meat] + -ery). In contrast to pastures and CAFOs, carneries can be located in or near urban areas and therefore accommodate decentralized production local to population centers. As harvest within canaries will not involve animal suffering or slaughter, there will be no qualms regarding production transparency.
KN: So no animals will be harmed in the process?
NG: After returning from the European Science Foundation Exploratory Workshop on in vitro meat in Gothenburg, Sweden this September, my sense was that the scientific community involved in the cultured meat R&D effort is trying to move away from animal-derived components in their process development goals for cultured meat production. Much progress has been made in this direction and is expected to continue until animal-derived components are eliminated. To the extent that animal-derived components will not be used for cultured meat production, animals will not be harmed.


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DETROIT – After announcing their verdicts Monday morning, the jury in the federal trial against former Detroit mayor Kwame Kilpatrick, his father Bernard Kilpatrick and his friend Bobby Ferguson answered questions from the media.
Read: Kwame Kilpatrick, Ferguson found guilty on several counts, including racketeering
Rod Hansen, the media liaison for the court, began questioning by introducing himself to the jurors. He asked the jurors to identify themselves in some manner, by juror number. Judge Nancy Edmunds said that media specifically wanted the jury.
Tresa Baldas, of the Detroit Free Press, had three questions: 1. What type of message the verdict sends; 2. Most compelling evidence or witness heard; 3. Did the fancy suits they wore to court bother you?
Answer: Juror No. 8 -- As relates to number 1: Message is that they deliberated and came to decision based on what they heard.
Juror No. 12 -- Regarding, number 3. What people look like or don't look like has no bearing on their decision.
Juror No. 9 -- Looked at the evidence as a whole. There wasn't one piece of evidence specifically.
Jim Kiertzner, with WXYZ: Did you decide on any counts first, particularly Count 1 RICO? What was the toughest count to agree on? Did you arrive at your decisions easily? What were some tough moments?
Answer: Juror No. 6 -- Took each and every charge seriously and tried to evaluate each individual charge based on the evidence. We took each and every charge seriously.
Mike Wilkinson, of the Detroit News: Wonders how important the text messages were?
Answer: Juror No. 7 -- The text messages were like every piece of evidence in that they played an important part.
Juror No. 3 -- Never made any decisions on a single piece of evidence.
Wilkinson: Asks a juror if they were leaned on expertise?
One juror said yes.
M.L. Elrick, of Fox News, said that anyone found guilty should be treated equally. He asked about the non-consensus verdict and about witnesses that claimed to be victims but gave gifts and profited. Also asked, on some of those counts where witnesses were shadier, there was a not guilty verdict? Did that have bearing on how they saw the charges?
Answer: Juror No. 6 -- We were instructed to look at that testimony extra carefully so we did that.
So did you give them less credibility?
Juror No. 6 -- We took the instruction seriously and looked at testimony under that light.
Pat Sweeney, with WWJ, asked about the fact that they found Kilpatrick guilty on some tax counts and not others.
Juror No. 9 -- Followed instruction. If there wasn't evidence to support, based it on that.
How difficult was it not to follow the media?
Juror No. 1 -- Personally, it wasn't a big temptation because they were in the room for such a long time. Everyone sacrificed personally and professionally. And no one was going to risk that time.
Juror No. 8 -- First, because we gave oath.
Juror No. 8 -- A social media follower so it was difficult. She says she just gave it up.
Mary Chatman, of the New York Times: Can you tell us which verdict took longest? A little more about the tenor of deliberations?
Juror No. 12 -- We are a nice group of people who respect each other to the utmost. Arguments included. To say that one thing was most difficult would be hard. All things were difficult. Went on the evidence. Spent a lot of time with each other in deliberations coming to the conclusion that they did.
Alicia Anderson: What was the initial reaction?
Juror N o. 3 -- Initially when we started deliberations we tried to get a feel and took the job very seriously right from the start. Discussed different aspects. Having been on another federal jury, very proud. Went through witnesses and testimony thoroughly. Really proud.


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The Vegetarian Option: Elevated Vegetables Are More Than Trendy at Bellwether in Williamsburg
Dining out meat-free.
I had a few preconceptions about Bellwether before visiting. I knew it was a little expensive, and when I saw that the restaurant was located on a desolate stretch of Union Avenue in Williamsburg I pictured the stereotypical Brooklyn restaurant. You know the kind I mean: exposed wooden beams, lightbulbs in mason jars, and indifferent service. When I walked into Bellwether, I was surprised by the clean, modern design. The food was also surprising—seasonal, fresh, and interesting. Bellwether stands out in this part of Williamsburg with elevated food and service to match.
I started with roasted sweet peppers ($8), which sat atop a smear of fresh cheese and crumbled almonds. If you've ever had pimientos de padron at a tapas place, or shishito peppers (the Japanese equivalent) you'd be familiar with this dish, which features a variety of different peppers roasted until soft. The smaller peppers were fun to eat by hand, though the larger ones required a fork, and the cheese at the bottom provided a little relief from the occasional chili heat.
The tomatoes, melon, and squash ($11) may be the most beautiful plate of food I've been served all year. Looks aren't everything, but the dish matches. My server described it as "a last taste of summer," which sums it up pretty nicely. It's also a pleasant reminder that tomatoes are in fact fruits; they bridge the gap between ribbons of squash to chunks of sweet cantaloupe. They all come together with a bright vinaigrette, the sharp bite of jalapenos, and the refreshing taste of pickled young ginger.
The lone vegetarian entrée, whole wheat reginette ($17), comes with cherry tomatoes, corn, and chard. The thick twists of pasta were piled in a buttery, savory broth, and the barely-cooked vegetables lent their inherent sweetness to balance the dish. Between this and the pasta I had at Max Soha, I'm going to have to seriously reconsider my low opinion of whole wheat noodles.
And I'm going to have to reassess my opinion of "Brooklyn" restaurants. Between the great, seasonal food and the comfortable atmosphere, I can see myself becoming a regular at Bellwether.
594 Union Avenue, Brooklyn NY 11211 (map)
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text: Notary Bulletin Author Of Arizona Immigrant Law Elected Secretary Of State By NNA Staff on December 28, 2010 in Notary News Kris Kobach, a key architect of Arizona's strict anti-illegal immigration law, has been elected Kansas Secretary of State, and will oversee the state's Notaries and elections, among other duties. Kobach, a law professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a graduate of Harvard, Oxford and Yale Universities, has long championed efforts by state and local governments around the nation to crack down on illegal immigration. He helped write the law in Arizona — since overturned by a federal court — that required immigrants to carry documentation that they were in the country legally and authorized police to determine the immigration status of foreign-born suspects. Kobach also helped write or defend in court a number of measures adopted by local communities across the country — such as Valley Park, Missouri; Hazelton, Pennsylvania; and Farmers Branch, Texas — making it harder for businesses to hire undocumented immigrants and landlords to rent to them. Among the elements of some of the ordinances was the requirement that employers found in violation of their terms must submit notarized documentation in order to keep their business licenses. Most of the ordinances are embroiled in court challenges. Email Share Leave a Comment Required * Name * Email *(for verfication purposes only) Comment * Enter the text shown in this image *(text is case sensitive)All comments are reviewed and if approved, will display.


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Antique dealer Harry Henderson saves
old house history from the wrecking ball
Jim McCarty
Antique dealer Harry Henderson saves
old house history from the wrecking ball
Jim McCarty
Antique dealer Harry Henderson saves
old house history from the wrecking ball
Jim McCarty
Jim McCarty
Antique hunters who
stop by Harry Henderson's store in St. Clair
are often surprised by what they find inside.
"Last year was my first winter being open and not many people knew what
I had," Harry says. "So consequently people stopped by looking for
little collectible items and stuff like that."
Instead they found
the inside and outside of the 50-by-100-foot building packed with relics
salvaged from old buildings destined for the wrecking ball.
of tin ceiling panels fill one corner. Pocket doors — designed
to disappear in a wall cavity — are so numerous Harry has screwed
them to the walls. Art-glass windows share space with stairway railing
Fireplace mantels
lean one against another. Some carry heavy coats of paint while others
let their original quarter-sawn oak elegance show through.
never seen so many fireplace mantels in one place," remarks
a visitor, who has spent the better part of an hour wandering the crowded
confines of the store.
"You should have been in here when I
had a lot of church pews," Harry
replies. "I had so many standing on end it looked like a forest
in here. I had 40, maybe 50 church pews."
What often pulls visitors into Henderson's Antiques are the rows
of claw-foot bathtubs outside. Harry likes to keep about 50 of the cast-iron
relics on hand.
no one asks about a bathtub and then I sell a couple over the weekend.
Everyone wants that special one, and that's hard to find."
of iron railing, massive chandeliers, Victorian wood molding, clocks
and the occasional phone booth — these are the stock of Harry
this is just recycling," says Harry,
a member of Crawford Electric Cooperative. "They've
been recycling architectural stuff over in Europe for many years."
got into the antique business when high interest rates forced
him out of the real estate business. Looking for something
with a little more cash flow, he set up shop in the Cherokee Street
antique row near downtown St. Louis. At the time, there were
close to 50 shops there.
"When I opened
my store, if you wanted to sell antiques, that's where
you had to be. Because it was before antique malls, before
eBay, before the Internet. Since that time, things have changed
He says the antique
trade has become a global market, with buyers and sellers getting together
online. But the architectural items Harry sells don't
lend themselves to online selling because they would be
too hard to ship.
When gas prices made
the 120-mile round trip from his home in Beaufort to St. Louis too
expensive, Harry decided to move the business closer to home. He chose
a site just off Interstate 44 in St. Clair near where
old Route 66 headed toward Springfield.
The store's
hours vary, though it's usually open on weekends. Frequent
visitors know the store is open when the gates are
open. When they are closed Harry is most likely out salvaging more
"The way you
get hooked in this business, if you don't
salvage the stuff out of the building you come back a week later
and the building is gone. So if something is available, you have to
say yes or no and take it out."
On many occasions,
Harry has found himself desperately working to salvage some architectural
gem while the building is coming down around him. "They are
flipping walls down and dust and debris is falling
around me. The rule of thumb is be careful, don't get hurt."
work can be dangerous and difficult. Harry has fallen through floors
and had to work out the logistics of moving items like heavy tubs
and barn roof vents down to the ground.
"Everything is bigger
and heavier than me," he laments. "Like
this coming week, I'm going to salvage
a safe door. They're not made
to take out."
But Harry likes a
challenge. He says he often has to figure out how things
were put together before he can figure out
how to take it apart. "You have to
work backwards," he says. "All
this stuff is very labor intensive. It's
almost a labor of love."
Harry learns
about what's available from his many
contacts in the antique business. He says
people like him tend to specialize, so if
one person gets a job the odds are good there
will be things they don't want to salvage
and they contact Harry. He tends to favor
things like tin ceilings and wood trim.
it's real interesting. Other times
you just go in and leave. At times it can
be dangerous."
Harry especially
likes unusual masonry pieces. His collection
includes lion heads and fancy pieces
of terra cotta that once graced the facades
of brick buildings.
In his collection
is an intriguing stone face that came from a railroad station
that was torn down many years ago in
Quincy, Ill. The face, along with other
debris, was dumped in the river. A friend
of Harry's found the treasures
and gave him one of the three that
still exist. The others are in museums.
Another stone face
came from a building Harry thought was being wrecked in the
historic Soulard neighborhood of St. Louis.
Instead, workers were repairing the building's brickwork. Harry convinced
them to let him borrow the face just long enough to make a mold.
From this
piece and many others, Harry can make accurate copies in concrete. These
one-of-a-kind pieces end up in gardens
and on the walls of unusual homes.
"I tell people
there's a good
side and a bad side to what I do," Harry
says of the concrete reproductions. "The
good side is I don't do
very many. The bad side is I
do very many. So in other words,
you won't find these everywhere."
works hard to make his store
interesting to customers. For
this reason, a lot of what
is on display is not for sale. One
of the most intriguing items
is a life-size statue of a
woman that was made by a friend. He
also has neon lights set to motion
detectors that have surprised
many browsers.
His latest additions
are 21 massive oak cabinets that came from the Eugene Field School
in St. Louis. These cabinets illustrate what is so unique about Henderson's
How many people
would have the ability to remove 21 cabinets
from a rickety old three-story
building, especially after
the elevator went out?
"I like big things," Harry says. "In
my store, it's a
focal point. It's
part of the ambiance. I
want folks to say, 'Wow,
where'd you get that?' "
You can find
Antiques at 495 West Gravois in St. Clair. For more information, call
(314) 795-2612.


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Readings & Energy Healing with Melinda (Weekdays)
July 10, 2019 @ 4:30 pm - 6:45 pm
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A Gemstone Reading addresses concerns and worries you might be focusing on. It allows you to change your thought patterns, get rid of unwanted habits or old beliefs, and clear your mind to move forward with your goals. At the end of the path reading, you can pick stones for a message from your angels, guardians and guides.
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Book 45 minutes, $65
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Melinda Fern has always been sensitive to energy and the spirit world. As a young girl, she realized that she was able to sense the movement of energy between people and all beings. This, and her fascination with stones, drew her to metaphysical studies at an early age.
Melinda has studied Reconnective Energy Healing and Reiki and incorporates both spirit energy and earth energy in her healing and intuitive work. She has also studied with Eagle Skyfire, a renowned Native American shaman and seer.


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Convicted sex offenders in Connecticut must be registered with the state and have their names and addresses listed for the public. Some activists want to require a similar system for people who abuse animals.
The idea is to stop the kind of gruesome animal torture that made headlines recently in the infamous "Puppy Doe" case in Massachusetts. A man living in this state has been charged with 11 counts of animal cruelty.
Several Connecticut lawmakers say they plan to revive their efforts to create a state animal abusers registry. An animal rights group based in California is also working on a national database that would give shelters and pet stores a way to check the backgrounds of potential pet owners.
"To be able to screen out potential abusers is really worthwhile," says state Rep. Mary Mushinsky, a Wallingford Democrat.
The Puppy Doe case involved a young female pit bull found in Quincy, Mass., in August of this year. Experts said the puppy had been tortured for weeks. She had been beaten, burned, stabbed in the eye, suffered multiple vertebrae fractures, dislocated joints, and was too weak to walk. Officials said they'd never seen anything like it, and ended up reluctantly euthanizing the poor animal.
The story triggered a huge outcry and demands for action. A Facebook page titled "Justice for Puppy Doe" got nearly 60,000 likes. In late October, a man named Radoslaw Czerkawski was arrested in New Britain.
The 32-year-old Czerkawski, a Polish national, was being held on $500,000 bail and could face up to two-and-a-half years in jail and deportation if convicted.
Criminal justice officials across the nation have been paying lots more attention to animal abuse in recent years.
Research has shown that people who inflict abuse on animals often end up abusing children and spouses as well. Many serial killers often began their grisly careers by torturing and killing animals.
Chris Green is legislative director for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, a group that has been pushing states to create their own animal abuser registries. So far, only a few counties across the nation (three of them in New York) have approved these sorts of registries.
"None have really been successful at the state level," Green says, "primarily because of cost."
In Michigan, Green says state officials this year warned it could cost taxpayers $140,000 to create a database of convicted animal abusers. According to some supporters, the actual expense would be closer to $10,000, but any added state spending in these fiscal hard times is often enough to derail proposed bills.
Several Connecticut lawmakers offered animal abuser registry bills in 2011 and another was submitted in this year's General Assembly. None even made it as far as a public hearing.
"People don't want to put any more costs on an already strained budget," says state Rep. Christopher Davis, a Republican who represents East Windsor and Ellington. He was the sponsor of the registry bill that died without a vote in the 2013 legislature.
Davis said he and his wife got interested in the issue of animal abuse while looking to adopt a dog of their own. "We became aware of the abuse that's happening not just in Connecticut but across the country," he says.
(Davis and his wife are now the proud owners of a young terrier mix named Oliver, who arrived from a Tennessee adoption agency when he was only eight weeks old. "His litter had been left in a garbage bag on the side of the road," says Davis. "Luckily, someone found them.")
Davis doesn't believe a Connecticut abuser registry would cost all that much because relatively few people are convicted of animal abuse in this state each year.
A study by state legislative researchers published earlier this year found that just 594 people were found guilty of animal abuse in Connecticut during the 2002-2012 decade. That number represented just 16 percent of those charged with animal cruelty. In more than half those instances where someone was charged with animal abuse, criminal justice officials decided not to prosecute.
Connecticut's penalties for abusing animals include fines ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, and prison sentences in extreme cases of up to 10 years.
The Humane Society of the United States has in the past opposed calls for animal abuser registries that mimic state registries for sex offenders. The society's officials warn that publishing animal abuser's names and addresses could lead to the public shaming of people who are mentally ill or elderly when those folks may be getting therapy and pose no further risk.
Mushinsky and other activists say the sort of abusers the Humane Society is worried about are usually referred to as "hoarders." They are often elderly and try to collect and care for more animals than they have room or money to support.
"It's tough to deal with them," Mushinsky says of these aged hoarders. "They think they're doing the right thing."
She cites one Wallingford example from several years ago of a woman in her 80s who was trying to live with 25 dogs and more than 50 cats "on a very tiny income." All the animals were eventually removed, Mushinsky says.
Green's group has changed its approach and is now working to create its own national online database of abusers. The catch is that the system won't work unless states agree to electronically send lists of convicted animal abusers to the site and require that pet shelters, local pounds, and animal adoption agencies check all prospective pet owners for past conviction.
"We don't want to shame anybody," says Green. Unlike sex offender registries, the addresses and photos of the convicted animal abusers wouldn't be available on the Animal Legal Defense Fund's site.
A Massachusetts legislative plan, which would restrict abuser registry access to shelters, local pounds, pet breeders and pet stores, doesn't go far enough, Green says. The problem is that it wouldn't stop the kind of transfer of pets that led to the Puppy Doe case.
Puppy Doe was ended up with her last owner through a Craigslist advertisement, says Green.
Mushinsky says Internet ads have also "been used to abuse people as well as pets" and that no system will be able to stop all pet cruelty.
Despite the difficulties, Davis and Mushinsky say they plan to push for bipartisan legislative action on the animal cruelty issue in 2014.
"Currently," Green warns, "there is no mechanism to stop a convicted animal abuser from getting out of jail, walking across the street to a shelter to get another animal."


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Obama decries Internet shut-down in Egypt while his own administration prepares to enact same draconian powers to crush dissent during times of political upheaval in America
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet.com
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Obama administration is busy attempting to pass legislation that would give the President a kill switch for the Internet in the United States while at the same time decrying Egyptian authorities for shutting down the Internet in a bid to deflate the unfolding revolution against Hosni Mubarak. The reason is simple – the government fears an Egypt-style revolt occurring in the U.S. and wants to block access to the world wide web if and when it happens.
Chicago radio host and occasional Alex Jones Show guest Mancow Muller called it right during an appearance on Mike Huckabee's show this weekend.
"It's in all the newspapers, 'Ohblahblah', we've got to free up Twitter, we've got to free up the Internet and Facebook for these poor Egyptians – this is the President that let Wikileaks and all of this stuff happen," said Mancow.
"They create the problems and we react to fear — the the four letter f-word that controls the masses and they offer the solution, "they" being the government. This is the President that wants the kill switch for the Internet….he wants a kill switch."
"They fear….social networking, Twitter, Facebook, all of this stuff, but oh, no, we must have it in Egypt, but we don't want to have it in America."
Mancow also pointed out how Egyptians were rioting over an economic fallout that has led to crippling tax hikes, wage reductions and spiraling food prices, a similar situation to what is unfolding in America, making reference to how Illinois state authorities recently agreed to hike taxes by a whopping 66 percent.
As we have illustrated, despite invoking supposedly genuine security concerns, the only time governments have resorted to shutting down the world wide web is when they feel the need to crush legitimate dissent against the state.
Indeed, at the height of the Stuxnet worm attack, the crisis was cited as another reason why cybersecurity legislation giving government control of the Internet was necessary. It later emerged that the Stuxnet virus itself was created by the US and Israel to target Iran's nuclear program.
The Communist Chinese government is now blocking searches for the word "Egypt" on social networking websites in China, reflecting "the government's fears that the protests in Egypt could whip up unrest in China."
Sina.com public relations officer Ma Taotao confirms that Chinese searches for Egypt are blocked on its instant messaging site, Sina Weibo.
Ma says the company itself did not make the decision, but is only following the "relevant Chinese laws and regulations." He gives no details and does not say which government department is responsible. He says he does not know how long the restriction will be in force.
The authoritarian Chinese government routinely blocks Internet access when it wishes to derail organized protests and marches, a telling lesson for Americans given the fact that cybersecurity guru Senator Joseph Lieberman openly admitted that the goal of the new kill switch in the U.S. was to mimic the Chinese system of Internet censorship.
"Right now China, the government, can disconnect parts of its Internet in case of war and we need to have that here too," Lieberman told CNN's Candy Crowley last year.
However, China's "war" is not against foreign terrorists or hackers, it's against people who dare to use the Internet to express dissent against government atrocities or corruption. China's system of Internet policing is about crushing freedom of speech during times of political upheaval and has nothing to do with legitimate security concerns.
It's a system concentrated around state oppression of any individual or group that seeks to use the Internet to draw attention to political causes frowned upon by the authorities.
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China has exercised its power to shut down the Internet, something that Lieberman wants to introduce in the U.S., at politically sensitive times in order to stem the flow of information about government abuse of its citizens. During the anti-government riots which occurred in July 2009, the Chinese government completely shut down the Internet across the entire northwestern region of Xinjiang for days. In several regions, the authorities completely cut off the Internet for nearly a year. Major news and discussion portals used by the Muslim Uighurs in the area remain blocked. Similarly, Internet access in parts of Tibet is routinely restricted as part of government efforts to pre-empt and neutralize unrest.
Twitter, Facebook and Youtube are all banned in China and even sanitized government approved versions of these websites are now being shut down for long periods of time so that they can "remove all politically sensitive content under orders from Chinese internet authorities".
Web censorship in China intensified after a micro-blogger began to expose the fact that many government officials, executives and judges had lied about obtaining degrees from prestigious universities. The government responded to the embarrassment by ordering websites to temporarily go into "maintenance" mode while they removed the pertinent material. What this has to do with fighting a "war," as Lieberman claims, is anyone's guess.
The Chinese system that Lieberman wants to bring to the United States is not only about censoring material critical of the state, it's about identifying those who post it and thereby creating a chilling atmosphere that discourages others from exercising free speech in fear that they might be the next victims of the thought police. News websites in China now require users to register their true identities in order to leave comments.
This move towards abolishing Internet anonymity and creating a virtual ID card is a key centerpiece of Lieberman's cybersecurity agenda.
This strategy revolves around, "The creation of a system for identity management that would allow citizens to use additional authentication techniques, such as physical tokens or modules on mobile phones, to verify who they are before buying things online or accessing such sensitive information as health or banking records."
Only with this government-issued "token" will Internet users be allowed to "able to move from website to website," a system not too far removed from what China proposed and rejected for being too authoritarian.
The examples of Egypt and China in shutting down Internet access to quell dissent against the state tell us everything we need to know about the motivations behind this odious policy and why it has no place in America, a supposedly free country.
While Obama criticizes Egyptian authorities for shutting down web access to disrupt protesters, his own administration prepares to launch a fresh attempt at instituting the exact same powers in America, which as recent history clearly demonstrates, represent tools for tyrannical regimes who wish to silence legitimate political opposition.
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a fill-in host for The Alex Jones Show. Watson has been interviewed by many publications and radio shows, including Vanity Fair and Coast to Coast AM, America's most listened to late night talk show.
This article was posted: Monday, January 31, 2011 at 1:16 pm


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Ben Meadows:
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This rugged jacket is made of 12.5 oz. pre-washed, ringspun cotton canvas and is lined with 280g fleece for warmth. The jacket features five zip pockets, a zip front, and expandable side zips.
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Unruh (Unru, Unrau, Onrouw) family
Unruh is a widespread family name among the Mennonites of Prussia, Danzig, Russia, and North America. Herbert Wiebe found the name first recorded in 1568. It was found in the communities of Schönsee, Przechovka, Jeziorka, Konopath, Kazun, Tragheimerweide, and Thiensdorf. Whether all Unruhs found among Mennonites today have the same ancestor is not known. Hendrik Berents Hulshoff, who visited the Mennonites at Przechovka near Culm in 1719, reported that Abram Unrau was elected to the ministry. Among the 35 families who established Brenkenhoffswalde and Franzthal in Mark Brandenburg in 1765 the Unruh family was one of the names represented. From here the family was transplanted to Poland, the Molotschna settlement in Russia, and elsewhere. Particularly the Unruhs in Poland spread widely; many migrated to Kansas and North and South Dakota in 1874-75, led by Tobias A. Unruh. A significant number of this group joined the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite (CGC). Among the Alexanderwohl Mennonites settling near Goessel, Kansas, there were also many Unruhs; from here they have spread into several other communities. After World War I many Unruhs from Russia migrated to Canada and South America. Heinrich P. Unruh (d. 1927) was a prominent elder of the Halbstadt Mennonite Church, Molotschna, Russia.
A number of Unruhs served as deacons and preachers in the Prussian churches. Preachers at Montau have been Andreas Unruh (Unrau) of Dragass 1739-d. 1774; Heinrich Unruh (Unrau) (1740-1774) of Montau serving only June-23 November 1774; Peter Unruh of Dragass 1776-ca. 1788. The Dutch Naamlijst mentions besides these Abraham Unruh, preacher of the Schweingrube Old Flemish congregation ca. 1730-ca. 1765; Heinrich Unruh serving at Konopat-Przechovka ca. 1779-ca. 1800; Heinrich Unruh serving at Brenkenhoffswalde-Franzthal ca. 1782-1788.
J. A. Boese, who traced to 1930 the lines of two Unruhs born ca. 1740, found that they had 6,500 descendants. The genealogy of the Alexanderwohl Unruh family by P. U. Schmidt lists 251 names.
P. H. Unruh was a pastor of the Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church, and a Mennonite Central Committee representative to Russia during the famine in 1922. B. H. Unruh was an educator and a minister who was a member of the Studienkommission that travelled on behalf of the Mennonites of Russia and was instrumental in doing research to help them find new homes in Canada and South America. He is the author of Die niederländisch-niederdeutschen Hintergründe der mennonitischen Ostwanderungen im 16., 18. und 19. Jahrhundert (Karlsruhe-Rüppurr, 1955). His brother A.H. Unruh of Winnipeg was an educator and Mennonite Brethren (MB) minister who taught in Russia, Winkler, and Winnipeg and wrote Die Geschichte der Mennoniten-Brüdergemeinde 1860-1954 (1954). Heinrich B. Unruh, the father of Benjamin and Abraham, was a prominent elder of the Karassan Mennonite Church in the Crimea, Russia. Heinrich's brother K. B. Unruh was a prominent educator in Russia. John D. Unruh served as president of Freeman College, and is the author of In the Name of Christ (Scottdale, 1952). H. T. Unruh was a General Conference Mennonite Church (GCM) minister at Halstead, Bluffton, and Hillsboro. W. F. Unruh was a missionary in India and secretary of the (GCM) Western District Conference. Verney Unruh did mission work in Japan. Walter F. Unruh was pastor for a long time at First Mennonite Church in Newton, Kansas In 1957 there were 21 ordained men of the Unruh family in U.S. and Canada, 5 Unraus (2 MB, 2 GCM, and an Evangelical Mennonite Brethren), and 16 Unruhs (5 MB, 5 CGC, and 6 GCM). Of these, 11 were serving in Canada, and 10 in the United States.
Hoop Scheffer, J. G. de. Inventaris der Archiefstukken berustende bij de Vereenigde Doopsgezinde Gemeente te Amsterdam. Amsterdam, 1883-1884: I: Nos. 1678, 1732, 2102, 2134, 2194, 2211, 2216, 2220 f.; II. Nos. 740, 763.
Hulshoff, H. Ch. "Bezoekreis van Hendrik Berents," in Bijdragen en Mededeelingen v. h. Hist. Genootschap 59 (1738): 67 and 74-79.
Koehn, H. B. "Minister Tobias A. Unruh Family Relation." Unpublished.
Mennonitisches Lexikon, "Unruh."
Naamlijst der tegenwoordig in dienst zijnde predikanten der Mennoniten in de vereenigde Nederlanden. 1829: 1773ff.
Reimer, Gustav E. Die Familiennamen der westpreussischen Mennoniten. Weierhof, 1940: 119.
Schmidt, P. U. The Peter Unruh Genealogy. Goessel, KS, 1941.
Stobbe, L. Montau-Gruppe, ein Gedenkblatt. Montau 1918: 84, 85.
Unruh, B. H. "Die Mennoniten in der Neumark." Mennonitischer Gemeinde-Kalender (1941): 64.
Unruh, V. and A. J. Unruh. The Tobias A. Unruh Biography, Diary and Family Record, 1819-1950. Ottumwa, Iowa, 1950.
Wiebe, Herbert. Das Siedlungswerk niederländischer Mennoniten im Weichseltal. Marburg, 1952: 74-86, 95, 97.
|Abe J. Unruh
|Nanne van der Zijpp
|Date Published
Cite This Article
MLA style
Unruh, Abe J. and Nanne van der Zijpp. "Unruh (Unru, Unrau, Onrouw) family." Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. 1959. Web. 27 Sep 2020. https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Unruh_(Unru,_Unrau,_Onrouw)_family&oldid=133327.
APA style
Unruh, Abe J. and Nanne van der Zijpp. (1959). Unruh (Unru, Unrau, Onrouw) family. Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. Retrieved 27 September 2020, from https://gameo.org/index.php?title=Unruh_(Unru,_Unrau,_Onrouw)_family&oldid=133327.
Adapted by permission of Herald Press, Harrisonburg, Virginia, from Mennonite Encyclopedia, Vol. 4, pp. 784-785. All rights reserved.
©1996-2020 by the Global Anabaptist Mennonite Encyclopedia Online. All rights reserved.


text:
"A quarter of a million quid," says Andy Appleton, the head chef at Jamie Oliver's Fifteen restaurant in Cornwall. "That's what we spent on the refurbishment. Can't believe we forgot something." He is standing next to a door on which is sellotaped a piece of paper saying "Ladies".
Apart from this omission, the restaurant is ready. The old graffiti-style murals have been whitewashed; a curved, tiled bar snakes out into the waiting area; the kitchen has been redesigned; and – most importantly – there is a long, wooden table dedicated purely to antipasti.
"It's a more relaxed, approachable way of eating," says Andy. "I'm happier having a few dishes and a few drinks, watching the world go by, than sitting down for a formal meal. Antipasti are getting really popular. People feel very comfortable feasting on a selection of different dishes."
From the restaurant's point of view, it makes sense. Tables at Fifteen must be booked up to a year in advance, but the new antipasti table is available for people who just want to drop in. But there is a wider trend towards "feasting" as well. High street restaurants like Zizzi have an extensive antipasti menu, Marks & Spencer produces a ready-made "antipasti platter", and many notable eateries, like Polpo in London, are placing an increasing emphasis on small dishes.
According to Russell Norman, the founder of Polpo, this is due to influences from a variety of cuisines. "In northern Italy you get cicheti, small savoury mouthfuls ordered one by one," he says. "Spanish food has been served this way for a very long time. In Greece they have mezze, and there is a similar style of eating throughout the Mediterranean and parts of north Africa."
One of the main advantages of eating this way at home, he says, is that sharing food naturally creates a relaxed, good-humoured atmosphere. And in a restaurant, it alleviates the agony of "food envy", experienced when your companion's meal outshines the one you have ordered.
It is fair to say that Andy has made antipasti his own, not just in terms of his recipes but also in terms of provenance. Instead of Gorgonzola, he favours Cornish blue; his cured meats are all sourced from local British producers; and he only imports the most specialist of ingredients from Italy. "It's great if we can beat the Italians at their own game," he says mischievously.
"We are less hidebound by tradition, so we can combine the best bits of cuisine in a way the Italians wouldn't dream of. And if we can do that with British ingredients, so much the better."
With this in mind, I don a chef's jacket and join Andy in his new kitchen for a few tips. "Part of the battle is having really good-quality ingredients," he begins. "You should always have a good extra virgin olive oil for finishing dishes – we use a Tuscan oil called Fondoti (£16.93, capitaldrinks.com), as it has a nice peppery flavour. You also need a syrupy, sweet vinegar like Belazu (£9, waitrose.com), some good sea salt and cracked pepper, and some artisan bread."
Jake Wallis Simons learns how to make antipasti (Pic: Jay Williams)
If you really want to push the boat out, he recommends getting hold of carta di musica, a very thin and crispy flatbread from Sardinia. It is incredibly moreish, can be eaten plain or with oil or cheese, and makes a stylish companion to any antipasti. Find it at Italian delis, or online at vallebona.co.uk.
Andy has chosen four of his favourite antipasti dishes, all of which blend Italian style with British ingredients: broccoli wrapped in cured ham; cheesy risotto balls (arancini); mixed fish goujons (fritto misto di pesce); grilled pear with blue cheese and walnuts; and mussels with leeks and beer.
"The whole thing shouldn't take us longer than an hour," he says, noticing my widening eyes. "You'd be surprised what can be achieved when you're organised."
The broccoli is the most straightforward. We blanch a few stems of purple sprouting – or "PSB" as Andy calls it – wrap them in coppa (dry-cured pork shoulder) and chargrill them to bring out the salt in the meat. Andy buys his coppa locally from Deli Farm Charcuterie, which has an online shop at delifarmcharcuterie.co.uk.
Without pausing for breath, we move on to the cheesy risotto balls. Again, we're aiming for simple but effective. Last night's risotto is best, as it becomes softer and more malleable. A fresh batch should be slightly overcooked to achieve the same effect. The joy of this recipe, says Andy, is that "arancini can take anything". So long as the flavours are good and strong – they tend to fade when the arancini are cooked – one could throw in anything from porcini to pistachio.
We add crushed hazelnuts and lots of cheese: mozzarella for stringiness, and Cornish blue for kicks (Taleggio is an Italian favourite, but even a strong cheddar can work). "If you like, you can make a hollow in the balls with your thumb and fill it with a blob of ragù or bolognese," says Andy. "In Italy, arancini are street food. They are the size of tennis balls, and often filled with meat."
The arancini are rolled in flour, egg and breadcrumbs, then dropped in the deep fryer. This method of cooking has fallen out of fashion in Britain, but is used a lot in Italy; Andy points out that everything can be enjoyed in moderation, and that a decent deep fryer can be picked up for around £40. Alternatively, the arancini can be briefly pan-fried and then baked. They are served with a quick aioli dip, made with mayonnaise, lemon and garlic.
The deep fryer comes into action again when we move on to the mixed fish goujons, or fritto misto di pesce. The trick, says Andy, is to make the batter as light as you can. "Nobody wants a heavy, crusty batter for an antipasto," he says. "So I make mine with flour, cornflour, sparkling water and white wine. The fizz gives it a real lift." We make the batter quite thin, then dunk slices of white fish into it and deep-fry them.
The mussel recipe is straightforward too. For the best results, the pan must be piping hot. Sliced leeks are fried until soft, then the mussels are thrown in along with a glug of St Austell IPA (available from Waitrose), or any good local equivalent. After a few minutes, a handful of chopped parsley is stirred through and the dish is ready to serve.
Finally, we begin the one that is destined to become my favourite: the grilled pear with blue cheese and walnuts. "The combination is a classic," says Andy, "but grilling the pears with honey adds an extra sweetness." The pears are sliced lengthways and cored with a melon scoop. Then they are placed flesh-down on a hot griddle pan to create some charred lines, drizzled with honey, sprinkled with thyme, and baked. Blue cheese is added, and walnuts: irresistible.
When the individual dishes are assembled on a "feasting plate", the flavours and textures create a harmony of parallels and contrasts. "The way I see it, antipasti pleases everyone," says Andy as we dig in. "When you serve it, you hope that every dish will be eaten at the same rate, with nothing falling behind." I become aware that I should hold back on the grilled pears. But I am unable to.
Purple sprouting broccoli wrapped in coppa
8 stems of purple sprouting or tender-stem broccoli
8 slices of coppa or any cured meat
Salt and pepper
Remove some of the leaves from the bottom of the broccoli stems. Blanch in boiling, salted water for a minute or so or until the stems have a little give in them.
Wrap each one in a slice of coppa. You can eat them straight away, but I like to chargrill them briefly to bring out the salt in the coppa.
Cheesy Arancini
500g cooked risotto, cold
100g mixed strong cheese
6 egg yolks, beaten
100g plain flour
100g breadcrumbs
Salt and pepper
Last night's risotto is best, as it is soft and easily moulded. If making a fresh batch, overcook it slightly and allow it to cool.
Add whatever you like into the risotto, from ham to hazelnuts. Just use lots of seasoning and strong flavours such as blue cheese and dried porcini. Roll into 20 ping-pong-ball-sized portions.
If you want to give the balls a filling, make a hollow with your thumb, fill with cheese or bolognese, and close up again.
Roll the balls first in flour, then in beaten eggs, and finally in breadcrumbs.
Deep-fry in small batches for four minutes at 170C/325F. Alternatively, pan-fry in a little oil and bake in the oven at 180C /350F/Gas 4 for 20 minutes.
Fritto Misto di Pesce (mixed fried fish)
1kg mixed white fish (skin removed, cut into 1cm strips)
100g flour
100g cornflower
70ml white wine
150ml sparkling water
Salt and pepper
To make the batter, combine the flour and cornflour and slowly mix in the white wine and sparkling water. It should be a fairly thin consistency. Season well.
Set a deep fat fryer to 180C/350F. In small batches, dip the fish into the batter and shake off the excess so you're left with a light coating. Gently place into the fryer for about three to four minutes, remove and place onto kitchen towel. Season to taste and serve with some good mayonnaise.
Grilled pear with blue cheese and walnuts
2 pears (not too ripe)
Drizzle of honey
Small bunch of fresh thyme
50g blue cheese
20g walnuts
Salt and pepper
Heat your griddle pan and oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4. Slice the pears lengthways and scoop out the core (a melon baller is good for this). Place flesh-side down onto the griddle pan and leave for four to five minutes until there are some nice grill lines on the pears.
Place onto a roasting tray. Drizzle with honey, add a sprinkle of thyme and cook until soft.
Place some blue cheese on each pear and return to the oven until it just starts to melt. Add some walnuts and season to taste.
Mussels, leeks and beer
800g cleaned mussels
1 sliced leek
Small bunch of chopped flat-leaf parsley
100ml good local beer
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Heat a large pot, lid off, until it is hot. Add a little olive oil, then cook the leek until soft.
Tip in the mussels and stir well, then pour in a good splash of beer.
Place the lid on the pan and leave to steam for a few minutes.
When the mussels are all open, add a handful of chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Stir well and serve straight away.