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Bungie has a pretty good track record when it comes to pleasing its fans. The Halo series has been a prime example, as the community has enjoyed responsive and earnest interaction with the team, there's been plenty of post-release content, and user suggestions and testing have played a critical role in the development of the team's latest title, Halo 3.
As a thank you to fans, and in the hopes of creating new ones, Bungie has teamed up with leading U.S. retailer Best Buy to offer "Halo Free Gold Days." The promotion, which is slated to occur during the period following the release of Halo 3 (September 25-September 27), will allow anyone and everyone complete access to Xbox Live Gold. For those who don't know, Xbox Live Gold is a membership level for the Xbox Live service that contains premium content and the ability to play games online, among other things.
In addition, various contests will be going on during the window. Best Buy is giving away 144 prize packs of 8,000 Microsoft Points ($100). The winners of that give-away will be entered to win a Samsung-powered Home Theater system, and one lucky winner will walk away with a Halo-branded Pontiac G6 GXP Street Edition. Those looking to register can do so on the Best Buy contest website, providing that you live in the United States.


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(919) 815-6658
NC Science and Engineering Fair Announces 2013 Winners
Raleigh, N.C. – March 18, 2013 – Every basketball player competing in the ACC tournament this weekend knew how to put a backspin on a shot. Similarly, many of the young engineers and scientists (grades 3-12) at the 26th NC Science and Engineering Fair (NCSEF) understand how that backspin removes energy as the ball meets the backboard, thereby increasing the chances of scoring. Both the players and the students are using science to excel.
More than 300 students from throughout the state presented their original research projects in science and engineering at the NCSEF on Saturday at Meredith College in Raleigh.
"In an increasingly competitive global job market, hands-on experience and critical thinking in the areas of science and engineering are sought-after skills. We commend these students and their teachers for their commitment and the innovation their research projects demonstrate, and look forward to seeing the long-term educational dividends they will reap as a result," says Sam Houston, CEO and president of the NC Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center (NC SMT).
More than 70 awards from education, government and business partners were presented to students. "Our local and regional teachers and fair directors throughout the state continue to raise the standards for these student research projects across all STEM areas," says NCSEF Director Judy Day. "Our 130-plus judges continue to share their pride in the quality of our student research across all events in grades 3-12."
Meredith College has hosted the NCSEF competition for eight consecutive years. "We are thrilled to host the NCSEF once again and participate in recognizing the science potential of North Carolina's students and the dedication of their teachers," said Elizabeth Wolfinger, vice president of Academic Programs and Planning of Meredith College. "Investing in this type of partnership in science and engineering is important to Meredith's vision."
In the high school division, eight students were selected to compete in the INTEL International Science and Engineering Fair in Phoenix, Arizona from May 12-17, 2013. This event draws students from over 70 countries and states all across the U.S.
They include Cary residents Landon Carter, Tejas Sundaresan, and Jenny Wang; Alina Suedbeck of Greenville; Parth Thakker of Charlotte; Jaehyeong Lee and Arjun Raghavan of Chapel Hill; and Christopher Panuski of Davidson.
Selected award-winning students were also invited to attend the International Sustainable World Energy, Engineering, and the Environment Project Olympiad (I-SWEEEP) competition in Houston, Texas from May 9-13, 2013. The objective of I-SWEEEP is to increase student awareness of sustainability issues. The students that will go to
I-SWEEEP's Project Olympiad are Mary Yavelak of Gastonia and Christie Jiang of Cary.
NCSEF thanks the following sponsors for their support:
# # # #
Note to the Media: For a comprehensive list of all 2013 NCSEF winners, please see the attached Microsoft Excel document, or visit www.ncsciencefair.org.

subset: commoncrawl


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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 25 (UPI) -- BAE Systems' $2.5 billion training contract with Saudi Arabia's air force is a major coup for Europe's largest defense contractor and keeps the wolf from the door as Western defense industries face a sharp downturn because of hefty cuts in military spending.
The core of the deal involves the sale of 22 BAE Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft and 55 turboprop PC-21 aircraft built by Pilatus of Switzerland, both of which can be armed for counterinsurgency missions.
The deal also includes training equipment and support services.
BAE has been negotiating the contract for months as Western defense companies increasingly focus on exports to the Middle East, a key customer for several decades and currently raking in vast amounts of petrodollars from high oil prices.
Indeed, exports have become crucial to Western defense companies if they are to maintain production lines for their national armed forces at a time when domestic orders are slumping.
BAE showed in its last annual report orders fell from more than $50 billion in 2009 to just above $40 billion in 2010, although earnings advanced to more than $2.5 billion.
The Saudis figure prominently in BAE's efforts to sustain growth, however limited.
Earlier this month, BAE warned investors to expect little growth in sales in 2012 because of the cutbacks, particularly in the United States, a major market for the British defense giant.
The administration of U.S. President Barack Obama is slashing defense spending by $600 billion as he heads into a re-election campaign ahead of the November presidential race.
"BAE's trading statement shows just how tough a new world it now inhabits," the Financial Times reported.
"The U.S. will now make for a hair-raising ride this year as politicians take budget negotiations to the wire."
Whatever growth BAE is likely to achieve will hinge on supplying Saudi Arabia with more Eurofighter Typhoon fighter aircraft, the second phase of a mammoth 2007 deal for 72 Typhoons known as the Salam Contract, worth $7.3 billion.
The first 24 of those aircraft, to equip one squadron, have been delivered.
Negotiations to amend the contract regarding the final 48 jets are under way, with the price likely to change, possibly adding as much as $500 million to BAE's coffers.
The Saudis are believed to be seeking to upgrade those aircraft to Typhoon Tranche 3, the most advanced variant with MBDA Meteor beyond-visual-range air-to-air missiles and electronically scanned array radar.
However, the Saudis have reportedly been mulling the option of pushing back the order, possibly because of Riyadh's December 2011 purchase of 84 Boeing F-15s Eagles in a deal worth $29.4 billion.
That contract also includes upgrading 70 F-15s already in service with the Royal Saudi Air Force.
"The finalization of the Saudi deal is widely expected, but it may give some upside when it finally happens, though it is unlikely to outweigh the reality of a dreadful European sales market and a scary U.S. one," the Financial Times commented.
Some of the biggest defense cuts in Europe occurred in countries that have been hit the worst by the global meltdown, such as Greece, Spain and Italy, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported.
Meanwhile, it noted, military purchases by resource-rich states such as Saudi Arabia and Norway have emerged as a new avenue for growth that have boosted spending on the back of rising oil prices.
BAE had expected changes to the Salam Contract to be signed off in 2011, but officials say those talks are likely to continue this year and could thus affect 2011 profits. BAE earnings in 2011 fell 7 percent.
The proposed contract changes include assembling the final 48 jets in Saudi Arabia and developing a Typhoon maintenance and upgrade facility in the kingdom.
BAE has operated technical facilities in Saudi Arabia since it sold the kingdom 72 Tornado aircraft, 30 Hawk trainers and 30 Pilatus P-9 trainers in the al-Yamamah arms deal with BAE's predecessor, British Aerospace.
BAE said in 2005 the deal had earned it some $80 billion in 20 years and could bring in almost as much again over time.
The British company faced corruption charges over that contract. The full extent of the deal has never been fully clarified, but it has been described as "the biggest U.K. sale ever of anything to anyone."


text: Prepare to get a little weepy. After seeing Zach Wahls' moving speech about his two moms, 80-year-old Iowan Jean Argus decided to share the story of how she came to embrace her gay son and his husband. To the state legislators working to ban gay marriage, she says, "My son is not an issue. He's a person just like you."


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That was fast.
Keith Olbermann, who began his much-publicized tenure at Al Gore's Current TV this summer is apparently already on the outs with management there.
So much so, he is reportedly being left out of upcoming election coverage specials.
Brian Stelter at the New York Times writes that Olbermann will be notably absent from Current's upcoming two hours specials on the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary.
Instead they will be hosted by Cenk Uygur and former Michigan governor Jennifer Granholm with appearances by Al Gore, who the NYT notes, usually stays behind the scenes at Current.
Olbermann, who was hired to revamp the network, has a history of contentious relations with his employers. He unceremoniously departed MSNBC last January after falling out with the network. A month later it was announced he was moving to Al Gore's Current TV where he was named Chief News Officer, received equity in the company along with a rumored high seven figure paycheck, and launched a show this June.
Olbermann's large MSNBC audience, however, in large part failed to follow him to his new show.
The NYT reports Olbermann may not be fully aware of Current's political coverage plans. He tells Stelter his show is set to air live on Tuesday, the night of the Iowa Caucus, even though Current's TV schedule says it will be pre-empted by their caucus special.


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About 511NJ Alerts
Q. How do I change my user preferences(s)?
A. Log into your New Jersey 511 Personal Traveler Profile account at www.511nj.org to change account or travel preference information.
Q. How often are alerts sent out?
A. Alerts are sent out as traffic management center staff enter or update event information.
Q. How do I receive alerts for other areas in your service areas(s)?
A. If you're in New Jersey, you can add additional roadway areas by adding / modifying a 'Traffic Profile' under 'Alert Profiles' in your New Jersey 511 'My 511NJ' account.
A. My 511NJ Personalized Alerts is a free service that helps you better navigate New Jersey's highways, in real time, where you want it, when you need it. My NJ511 Alerts will notify subscribers of accidents, incidents and construction on the state highways, toll roads as well as bridge and tunnel crossings they choose.
The information you receive is the same information you will find on the 511NJ phone system as well as the 511NJ.org website.
However you decide you would like to find out about traffic conditions in New Jersey, you will get the most up to date information available, where you want, when you want it.
A. Alerts are sent to subscribers' cell phones, PDAs (i.e. Blackberrys, iphones) and or e-mail accounts.
A. Subscribing to My 511NJ is easy! Follow these step by step directions:
For your protection, you'll need to confirm the account creation, by responding to an email that we'll send you. Once you have confirmed the e-mail, you may begin to create your profile.
The information gathered for this service remains private. For more information, please refer to our privacy notice.
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A. A Profile is a route that is used to reach a destination. A subscriber to My 511NJ Alerts can maintain up to 10 profiles. Each profile can contain a maximum of three roadways.
For example, if you lived in New Brunswick and commuted to Jersey City, your profile could be:
Under this scenario, you can select sections or roads, the time of day as well as the days of the week.
You will receive real time information on incidents, contruction and congestion delays during this timeframe.
Please note that the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) is not responsible for inadvertent errors, omissions or delayed delivery of My 511NJPersonalized Alert messages.
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Please note that each e-mail address registered to My NJ511 may be associated with only one account.
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The system will notify you by e-mail of your Password via the address you provided.The password can be readjusted after you log back into the system by accessing the "Change Password" feature.
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Check your profile(s) and ensure that the profile is active and covers your preferred alert area and time period. If the profile appears to fit these criteria, please provide specific information in the Feedback area of My 511NJ. NJDOT will investigate the situation.
If you viewed alerts in the Alert Log but did not receive the alerts in your notification account, your notification account may have rejected the messages. You may wish to contact your service provider and state that you did not receive alerts that were sent to your from email@example.com.
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Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Breast Pump Description
The mom-inspired, professional performance Ameda Purely Yours Ultra offers you the flexibility, convenience, and styling you need and deserve from your breast pump. The lightweight Purely Yours Ultra breast pump offers professional performance and easy care wherever you go. It can be accessorized with the new UltraTote, ultra-suede and faux leather bag, which compliments your wardrobe while discreetly storing all your pumping essentials. All pumping essentials can be neatly tucked in this sophisticated and stylish tote. This upscale and contemporary bag features easy-clean interior with pockets and dividers to keep you organized while on the go!
Ameda has been a trusted name in hospitals for more than 50 years. The Ameda Purely Yours Ultra combines innovative technology with 21st Century mom-friendly features. The ultimate mission is to help you with breastfeeding!
The Purely Yours Ultra uses the HygieniKit Milk Collection System, which is a closed system that features a patented diaphragm, which prevents milk and moisture from entering into the pump's tubing. The HygieniKit is the only milk collection system approved by the FDA to protect against cross contamination. It also safeguards the purity of expressed milk from bacteria and viruses by keeping milk and outside air separate from each other.
With its separate suction and speed dials, the Purely Yours Ultra gives you many different options to find the most comfortable and efficient pump setting for you. Its dual adjustability allows you to choose the combination that gives you the most milk (32 combinations in all). Also, since the controls are adjusted independently of one another, you can better mimic your baby's natural nursing rhythm. The Purely Yours Ultra breast pump gives you the advantage of finding your own settings so you can customize your pumping experience for the best results every time.
The Ameda Purely Yours Ultra includes 3 breast flange sizes. Try all three sizes to find the fit that's best for you at any stage of breastfeeding. Sizes included with Ameda Purely Your Ultra are standard, medium, and large. Four other sizes are sold separately, extra small insert, small insert, x-large, and, xx-large.
The pump's built-in bottle holders help to keep bottles and freezer storage bags upright during milk expression to prevent spilling. This pump can be operated via AC adapter, 6 AA batteries, or car adapter so you can pump anywhere you go. A car adapter is included with this model. The included Cool 'N Carry tote provides room for storing up to 6 bottles of expressed milk and fits into the stylish Ultra Tote. Cooler packs are also included to keep your milk cool for up to 10 hours.
Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Breast Pump Features
100% BPA and DEHP Free!
Closed System Milk Collection Kit
FDA Approved to Protect Against Cross Contamination
CustomControl Provides 32 Speed & Suction Combinations
Includes 3 Sizes of CustomFit Flanges
Built-in Bottle Holders
3 Power Options AC adapter, 6 AA batteries, or car adapter
Portable Milk Storage Cool 'N Carry
Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Breast Pump Accessories
What's in the Box
Purely Yours Ultra Breast Pump motor unit
Dual HygieniKit Milk Collection System includes: (2) 25.0mm breast flanges, 9(2) diaphragms, (4) valves, (2) tubing, (2) adapter caps, (1) white connector for single or dual pumping
Ultra Suede/FauxL:eather Stylish Tote
CustomFit Breast Flanges, (2) 30.5mm flanges and (2) 28.5mm reducing inserts
Cool 'N carry Tote:(1)insulated carry bag, (6) 4 oz. bottles bottles with lock-tight lids, (3) cooling elements, Milk Storage Guidelines Card
NoShow Premium Disposable Nursing Pads 2 pk Sample
Car Adapter
AC Power Adapter
Instructions for use
Instruction DVD
Questions and Answers for Ameda Purely Yours Ultra Breast Pump
Read More About Ameda
Ameda has been a leader in the breast pump industry, with over 60 years of dedication and commitment to nursing mother's everywhere. Today, Ameda features nearly a dozen breast pumps in their product line, dedicated to the comfort and efficiency needed for successful pumping.
At BreastPumps.com, the safety of you and your child is as important to us as it is to you that is why we provide each and every customer with our Automatic Recall Alert.
In the event that a manufacturer's recall is issued for any of the items that you purchased from BreastPumps.com, our Automatic Recall Alert (ARA) system will send you a recall notification email with details of the recall as well as instructions on what to do with the recalled item.


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This site is devoted to the great American automobiles chosen each year to lead the pack at the Indianapolis 500. Known as "The Greatest Spectacle in Racing", the Indy 500 is about much more than which driver will take the checkered flag. It also gives auto makers the opportunity to take a production car and make it worthy of the Indy 500 badge. The Indy pace car represents the best in American automotive technology. This website explores the rich history and tradition behind these prestigious automobiles.
Latest news:
2013 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 to pace the 2012 Indianapolis 500
Now available:
The Official Chevrolet Indy Pace Car Book, from 1948 to 1990
What's new at Indypacecars.com:
The site is currently in the process of being updated and the "what's new" section will be updated accordingly. For now, you can use the links below to quickly find featured content areas on the site:
Pace car diecasts: 1/18 scale, 1/24 scale, 1/64 scale, and Franklin Mint (1/24 scale) diecasts
Looking for replacement pace car decal kits? Direct links to purchase select kits from Amazon.com, plus links to additional replacement decal vendors.
Looking to buy or sell a pace car?
Administrative note: The address "webmaster [at] indypacecars.com" is NEVER used for outgoing mail. If you receive an email from this address, it is a forgery and may contain a virus.
Do you have personal photos or press release pictures of Indy 500 pace cars? Personal and non-copyrighted photos are always needed for this site. Please contact me at
Please support this website by visiting our sponsors!
All content
©1999- Indypacecars.com and may not be reprinted without permission.


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The Air Force has 149 main dining facilities at installations nationwide.[1] According to Air Force officials, most installations have their own individual contracts for food service, ranging from full-service contracts, providing cooking, cashiering, and cleaning services at Air Force dining facilities, to contracts that cover only basic cleaning services. The cost for these contracts, according to Air Force officials, ranges from $725,000 to $21.4 million per year, with a total cost of approximately $150 million per year for all Air Force installations. GAO has previously reported that, when contracting for services, properly defined requirements are a prerequisite to obtaining value for the department.
As GAO reported in July 2011, the Air Force recently undertook an initiative to improve food service at six pilot installations, with intentions to eventually expand this initiative to more Air Force installations in the United States over the next 5 years. This Food Transformation Initiative is primarily designed to improve the quality, variety, and availability of food. In the process, however, according to Air Force officials, the first group of pilot installations achieved cost savings compared to their previous contracts while increasing hours in the dining facilities and serving an additional 500,000 meals per year.
[1]The Air Force calls its main dining facilities mission essential feeding facilities. GAO uses the term main dining facilities to refer to these appropriated fund dining facilities in this report.
The Air Force has opportunities to reduce its overall food service costs at installations by reviewing food service contracts and adjusting them, when appropriate, to better meet the needs of the installation, including aligning labor needs with the actual number of meals served by the dining facilities. The Food Transformation Initiative contract was awarded to Aramark, a large company experienced in food service. The new contractor reviewed and adjusted staffing levels for contractor staff at the main dining facilities to better meet the needs of the facilities. As GAO reported in July 2011, the Air Force and Aramark anticipated reducing labor hours at five of the six Food Transformation Initiative pilot locations and using the savings to offset the costs of the Food Transformation Initiative contract. According to Air Force officials, savings for fiscal year 2010 were approximately 8 percent compared to the cost of the previous contracts. GAO compared the estimated amount of food service labor for which the Air Force contracted at the six pilot installations prior to the implementation of the Food Transformation Initiative to Aramarks projected work schedules under the initiative and found that, even with expanded hours of operation and anticipated increases in the number of meals served, Aramark reduced the total number of labor hours at five of the six pilot installations by 53 percent. For example, at Travis Air Force Base, the number of labor hours for the mess attendant contract decreased by more than halffrom approximately 2,042 hours per week to 920 hours per week. At Elmendorf Air Force Base, labor hours decreased from approximately 1,350 hours per week to 588 hours per week. The table below shows the change in the number of labor hours at all six pilot locations.
Comparison of Labor Hours under Previous Contract to Labor Hours under the Food Transformation Initiative Contract
Air Force base
Estimated weekly labor hours under the previous contract
Estimated weekly labor hours under the new contract
Little Rock
Source: GAO analysis of Air Force data.
Patrick Air Force Base was the only pilot base where the labor hours were not reduced and the only one of the pilot installations where the previous food service contract had recently been audited. The results of the audit, conducted by the Air Force Audit Agency in 2009, showed that the food service personnel did not align with the contract workload estimates with actual meals served. Specifically, meal counts were overstated, resulting in the installation paying more for contracted food services than necessary. As a result of this audit, in October 2009, Patrick Air Force Base renegotiated its workload estimates and pay rates, resulting in savings of approximately $77,000 annually.
Although it is unclear whether the opportunity for savings at the pilot installations is representative of the savings that could be realized by other installations, the potential exists for other Air Force installations that rely on contracts to meet their food service needs to achieve similar financial benefits. Prior to the implementation of the Food Transformation Initiative, the Air Force did not closely monitor the number of labor hours required to provide food services. Air Force officials told GAO that they did not realize how poorly their food service contracts were structured, in that these contracts might not be matched to the labor needs of the installation.
The Air Force has opportunities to significantly reduce its food service costs at Air Force installations that are not part of the Food Transformation Initiative pilot.[1] During GAOs review of the Air Forces Food Transformation Initiative, GAO discussed this potential opportunity for savings with Air Force officials. As a result, the Air Force issued a memorandum to the Major Commands directing a review of existing food service contracts to determine if the contracts meet current mission needs. For example, the memorandum indicates that special attention must be given to whether the food service contract workload estimates were properly aligned with the actual number of meals served. GAO believes that this is a good first step toward addressing this issue. GAO recommended in July 2011 that the Secretary of the Air Force should
[1]The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 contains a provision requiring the Secretary of the Air Force to submit certain information regarding the Food Transformation Initiative prior to further implementation. See Pub. L. No. 112-81, § 352 (2011). The report may provide an opportunity to evaluate the opportunities for reducing food service costs under the initiative.
The information contained in this analysis is based on findings from the product listed in the related GAO products section as well as additional work GAO conducted. GAO obtained documentation from the pilot installations regarding labor hours under the previous contracts, including memoranda showing how the contract prices were negotiated and contractor price proposals that estimated the number of labor hours for these contracts. Although these documents do not contain the precise number of labor hours for the main dining facilities, they provided the best estimates of labor costs available. GAO reviewed this information from the Air Force about the amount of labor included in previous food service contracts at the six pilot locations and compared this to information from the Air Force and Aramark presented in projected work schedules for the Food Transformation Initiative contract. Further, GAO talked with Air Force officials about opportunities for reducing food service costs outside of the Food Transformation Initiative. Finally, GAO spoke with Air Force officials about cost savings achieved from reviewing food service contracts.
GAO provided a draft of its July 2011 report to the Department of Defense for review and comment. The Department of Defense agreed with this recommendation and stated that the Commander of the Air Force Services Agency requested that each Air Force Major Command task its bases to conduct a 100 percent review of existing food service to determine if their current contract workload estimates meet current mission needs or if the contracts require modifications. According to Air Force officials, eight installations have recently reviewed and renegotiated their food service contracts for a total savings of over $2.5 million per year. Further, Air Force officials told GAO that the Air Force continues to review contracts for additional savings opportunities. The Department of Defense further noted that it intends to share the results of the Air Forces review of its food service labor costs to achieve cost savings with the other services, where similar reviews could result in substantial financial benefits. GAO agrees that the other services should similarly consider reviewing their food service contracts for potential cost savings where appropriate. As part of its routine audit work, GAO will track the extent to which progress has been made to address the identified action and report to Congress.
For additional information about this area, contact Brian Lepore at (202) 512-4523 or email@example.com.
To assess quality of life and identify areas for improvement, the Air Force conducts periodic surveys of its airmen. Recent surveys indicted that many of them were not satisfied with the quality, variety, and availability of food at Air Force bases. As a result, the Air Force implemented an initiative in 2010--the Food Transformation Initiative--to improve on-base food services. The Air Force pilo...


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Athletic Consortium
Editors' note: Space limitations prevent us from printing some of these heartfelt letters in full; please go to alum.barnard.edu/winter09letters to read more. We will address Barnard's intercollegiate athletic program prior to the Consortium in our next issue.
As a former Barnard College athlete, I enjoy reading any articles relating to the achievements of student athletes. So your article in the Fall 2008 issue about the Columbia-Barnard Athletic Consortium was great to see. Unfortunately, however, you have missed honoring the true heroes of Barnard College athletics—three students of the 1970s who fought for and helped create the college's intercollegiate program in the first place. They are Valerie Schwarz Mason '80, Lynn Moffat Wray '78, and Diana Wood Kutlow '80, and they each deserve a place in the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame. Athletic Directors Marian Rosenwasser and Margie Greenberg also deserve recognition. Without the tireless efforts of these women, it is doubtful Barnard would have had the "thriving NCAA Division III program" (referred to by Sharon Everson in the article) to merge with Columbia when it went coed in 1983.
—Shari Teitelbaum '79, P 11
Scarsdale, NY
As a student athlete who was involved in the formative years of the athletic program referred to in "Sports Builds Life Skills" you can imagine my disappointment when there was not even a nod to the Barnard women and faculty who helped put the program on the map. From my vantage point, no honor roll or list of the most influential women would be complete without the names of all of the Barnard women who participated on and built the teams and program in the years leading up to the Consortium. It was their dedication and spirit that laid the foundation for the 25 years of sisters who followed them.
—Valerie Schwarz Mason '80
New York, NY
As a former captain of the fi rst Barnard- Columbia Women's Cross Country and Track and Field Teams, I read with interest the article "Sports Build Life Skills." While I am glad to see women's sports highlighted, you have neglected to ... acknowledge the very athletes who were responsible for beginning the women's athletic program. While the very first Barnard athletes were making do with meager practice facilities and little funding, we were also actively planning a bigger and better future. The Committee on Intercollegiate Athletics, consisting of captains of all the teams, met monthly with Marian Rosenwasser. What exists today is in no small part testament to the efforts of this group.
—Merle Myerson, MD, EdD, '78
Thornwood, NY
[I am] someone who bridged the pre- Consortium and Consortium time periods (I was a Barnard Bear and then a Columbia Lion). To help in educating our current student-athletes on this wonderful history, perhaps Barnard could include another article about these pioneers.
—Philippa Feldman Portnoy '86
New York, NY
Fan Mail
I used to just flip through Barnard Magazine, but I just spent the past hour reading the articles and admiring the new layout. This new version feels not only more timely, but also, more personal. I especially enjoyed the article on Doris Miller—as memorable and vital as she was to my experience at Barnard, it was touching to read how many others her kindness and humor reached.
—Dana Lieb '90
San Jose Del Cabo, Mexico


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Offshore. Where no two moments are the same.
Offshore. Where the elements conspire to defeat the unprepared and the ill equipped.
Offshore. Where persistence is respected. And success is hard-fought.
Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts represent the ideal balance of design, construction and performance. Seaworthy and supremely fishable, each Rampage is built to take command of every challenge. After all, in the unpredictable world that lies offshore, dependability is a virtue of the highest order.
For more information about Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts call (920) 834-2211.


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A few weeks ago Gail and I had the pleasure of attending one of Ricki Carroll's day long Cheese Making 101 classes. Ricki has been running a mail order cheese making supply business since 1978 and is affectionately known as Ricki the Cheese Queen. She is featured in chapter 9 'Six Impossible Things Before Breakfast 'of Barbra Kingslover's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle as well as the supplemental recipes to that chapter. Her Cheese Making 101 workshops, which are taught in her Massachusetts home often have waiting lists longer then the 4o person-plus capacity of the classes and are generally sold out months in advance.
Over the course of an afternoon Gail, myself, and 40 others learned the basic concepts and ideas of beginners cheese making. Over the 7 hours we learned to make Farmhouse Cheddar, Queso Blanco, Whole Milk & Whey Ricotta, a 30-minute Mozzarella, Fromage Blanc, Creme Fraiche, and Marscapone. We indulged in countless samples of fresh made still warm soft cheeses and yogurts while we learned basic techniques to take home and start making our own cheeses.
We also learned the differences between raw, pasteurized, and ultra pasteurized milk in color, texture, and the differences to take into account when using them to make cheese. Here is a great shot of Ricki and her partner Jamie showing us 2 different methods for their 30-minute Mozzarella with a raw milk and a pasteurized milk:
Notice the teaching table and it's ingenious design. The overhead mirror allowed for everyone in the class to see exactly what we should be looking for in terms of curd formation as we watched the various cheeses get made. At the end of the class we purchased some cheese making supplies of our own so Gail and I could return home and make some soft cheeses as a way to get comfortable with the process.
We also decided if we wanted to make soft cheese we should try to acquire some raw milk. Current Massachusetts law calls for raw milk laws in Massachusetts are fairly strict. Raw milk cannot be sold if it is older then 5 days. Each container has to be labeled 'raw cow's milk' as well as a warning stating 'Raw milk is not pasteurized. Pasteurization destroys organisms that may be harmful to human health.' A similar sign must be placed where the raw milk is sold, which to date can only be directly on a farm, no retail sale of raw milk is permitted, even at farmer's markets. Farmers selling more then 20 quarts a day must obtain a vendor's license from the nearest town milk inspector, and any farm, no matter how small is legally required to obtain a certificate of registration from the Commissioner of Food and Agriculture.
I do not exclusively drink raw milk, and I don't believe I plan on doing so, but I feel that people should be afforded the choice to drink whatever kind of milk they want, and have easier access to raw milk if they choose to consume it. I think many states, including Massachusetts are overly cautious with raw milk producers. People the world over have been drinking raw milk for generations, and though it can make some people sick, I do not think there is a real danger to allow consumers to make their own educated choices.
Gail and I wanted to start making cheese, and wanted our first experiments to be with raw milk because from the class it seemed that the best results came from cheeses made with raw milk, we also wanted to support a small local farmer if we could. Gail remembered the person who sold her the beautiful new kitchen cabinets mentioned he was what amounted to a hobby farmer. He didn't raise livestock or produce for profit, but more for fun and to provide some very local, very fresh food for his family and friends. Gail contacted him to see if we could arrange a visit and to purchase some raw milk from him.
Per his request I am not using his name or location. Farmer X is not licensed in any capacity and out of respect for his desire for privacy I won't out him. This past Saturday Gail and I took a drive to Farmer X's house, where we saw his laying chickens, the chickens he raises for food, and his 3 cows. A pair of Jersey-Holstein mixes for milk and a Jersey-Holstein/Angus young bull which he is raising for beef.
Here are 2 great shots of Gail and I with the 2 Jersey-Holsteins and one of the young Jersey-Holstein/Angus bull:
We got to hang out with the 3 cows and learn about how they are raised (pastured right behind Farmer X's house!!) along with our very own up close anatomy and physiology lessons. After meeting the cows we headed inside to sample some milk, chocolate milk and fill up the containers we brought with milk, most of it fresh that morning, and some from the past few days. We departed with 5 gallons of delicious raw milk and a dozen multi colored eggs.
A huge thanks to Farmer X for opening up his home to us and showing us his beautiful home and animals . Thanks to his cows and milking efforts we were able to start our cheese making in style.
Stay tuned to the next post to see what came out of the 5 gallons of milk we took home!!


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- More Info
- Videos
- Product Info
- Testimonials
Related VideosHands Free ON/OFF Sensor 1:50Demisters 1:11LED Lighting Solutions 1:17
Related Videosk186 - Digital LED Slim Clock Mirror 0:43Slimline Shaver - Showcase Video 1:24Ambient Bathroom Mirror - Showcase Video 1:60RGB Mirrors - Showcase Video 0:34
All fixtures and fittings are included in the box so you can put your Mirror/Cabinet on the wall/table as soon as you receive it. If you need more information then please call or email for a full explanation on fitting and how the Mirror/Cabinet and its different features works.
Technical Info
- RGB Colour change LED waterproof light bar fitted to underneath of mirror.
- Remote control.
- Built in digital clock (White).
- Low energy and long-lasting LED white lighting (included)
- Built in Demister Pad that switches on and off with lights.
- SELF branded LED driver included.
- Infra red sensor switch positioned right side bottom of the frame. Please allow at least 10cm from nearest obstacle e.g Wall, etc.,
- Rear back box is made of mild steel powder coated white to a gloss finish.
- This mirror needs to be connected to an earth wire.
- Please ask a professional if you are not capable of fitting yourself.
- The mirror is in accordance with IP44, CE and RoHS regulations.
- Net Weight 11Kg.


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Lose inches secretly while you sleep! Firm your thighs and legs effortlessly too!
Powerful over–the-knee slimming socks that stretch all the way from the soles to thighs for thorough and complete firming results. Wake up each day to long and slender-looking legs!
• 180 denier tight compression for firm lifting and effective massage
• Strong/medium/weak 3-tier pressure weaving
• Enhanced length from soles to thighs for adequate leg slimming effect
• One-piece seamless tight knitting that feels smooth on the skin and prevents accidental sliding
There are four types of massage actions working discreetly while you sleep–From strong, medium to weak, three types of specific pressure that tighten and release, as if a massager is massaging you from your calves to thighs.
Lay-flat size: Total length–65.5 cm
Material: 82% Nylon + 18% Lycra
How to Wear:
Flip the socks and compress into a tight circle. Place foot into socks and slowly unroll socks upwards until they reach a comfortable fit.
Washing Instructions:
1. Neutral detergent and hand wash only.
2. After washing, squeeze dry gently and hang in a shady place to dry.
3. Bleach or alkaline washes must be avoided or else the fibre/colour will be damaged.
4. Do not wash or dry in a washing machine/dryer.
Consumer Advice
Beauty Bistro is the official distributor for BODYSLIM products sold in Singapore. We strongly advise our customers to purchase only from our list of approved retailers, as we will not undertake any responsibility for products purchased from unauthorized retailers.
* We do not accept returns or exchange on personal products such as bodyshapers, camisoles, innerwear and socks.


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I know diacritical marks have names in English: cedilla, umlaut, etc. Are there names for phonetic symbols too? How does one call the "sh" sound which is referred to by the integral sign /∫/? Or the /ch/ represented as /t∫/?
This may be unikely, but if the answer is a no, why are there no words for sounds, given we even have onomatopoeic words for alphabets (aitch, tee, ell, etc)?


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Cornell College Outcomes
Meet our alumni
Radio Success
In 2003 Ellen Horne '95 joined forces with Radiolab host Jad Abumrad to build Radiolab into a Peabody Award-winning podcast airing on 500+ public radio stations. In 2015 Horne began pushing the boundaries of spoken-word entertainment as executive producer for Audible.
A career in the arts
For Logan Schultz, the combination of theatre and arts experience meant a job before he'd even crossed the stage to accept his diploma. Schultz, a theatre major from Dubuque, Iowa, was finishing up a busy year of acting in productions when Orchestra Iowa discovered him and offered him the position of operations manager.
Why the liberal arts
Employers who have worked with Cornell College graduates know that Cornellians are resourceful, flexible, and capable professionals. Cornell College students learn how to present and write effectively, to juggle an ever-changing workload, and to respond to challenges.
"The purpose of college, for me, was to learn how to take control of my own education and explore wide-ranging interests in depth and with discipline. There's no rulebook for the job that I do now, and my employer had no expectation that I would know how to do it when I showed up on the first day. Instead, the expectation was that I would figure out how to do it, how to improve, and how to understand the world well enough to get better results for my clients. The only foundation for success, in any part of the workforce that requires flexibility, innovation, and a broader view, is a liberal arts education."
Eli Wade-Scott '10, Harvard Law School graduate and Skadden Fellow.


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Learning the ancient art of infant massage is easy and one of the most rewarding and loving activities you can share with your baby.
You will practice several massage techniques along with specific baby movement exercises and playful songs that are fun for you and your baby, and help to develop your infant's brain and nervous system, improve visual acuity and stimulate the senses.
Regular massage can help your child sleep better, enhance bonding and relieve gas and symptoms of colic.


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Building Construction Specifications Service in Tulsa
ARCHI-SPECS is your most trusted source for accurate, comprehensive technical specifications for your building project. Crafting quality construction specifications is often the last task that design teams complete since many don't have the proper time to allocate to the task before documents need to be completed. When you entrust your spec writing to ARCHI-SPECS, our editing interface console enables your drawings to communicate with our systems to create a detailed set of unique specifications for your project.
After reviewing the current protocol for writing specifications, we begin each project by creating a start-up document called a Project Checklist. This checklist includes:
- STEP 1: Create Project Checklist to determine scope and preferences
- STEP 2: Create Preliminary Table of Contents
- STEP 3: Create Specification Outline for Design Development Review (products only)
- STEP 4: Complete 95% Specification Review With Construction Drawings -- joint review of Binding/Model Validation Report
- STEP 5: Publish and print Final Specifications (Divisions 2-14) for incorporation into the Project Manual
Our Principles
1. Latest in building materials standards
2. Maintain the latest references to changes in building and energy codes
3. Promotion of basic sustainable best practices
a. Construction Waste Management
b. Regional Material Selections
c. Recycled Content Materials that are
proven performersOur quality control review is based upon a combination of the following sources:
- AIA's Best Practices Quality Control Checklist
- Automated Tools provided within Autodesk's software for Revit and AutoCadd
- Manual Checklists developed by ARCHI-SPECS
For your next building project, you can count on ARCHI-SPECS to help you deliver the vision of your design. To request a quote, contact us today!


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Secrets of a Killer Blog Post: Images
It can be hard to run a successful blog. Here at Cool Infographics, we strongly believe in graphics and images (big surprise right?). But if you still need a little persuading, the Secrets of a Killer Blog Post: Images infographic can tell you more great things about images and what they can do for your blog.
You already know that well-researched, high-quality content is the backbone of a killer blog post. But don't underestimate the importance of a strong visual component when you're composing your latest and greatest update for your audience
The human brain processes images in as little as 13 milliseconds—less than the blink of an eye.
A post with an image is far more enticing to the bounce-happy readers of the Internet than one without, and is more likely to be shared on social media as well.
There's a lot of information in this one! Everything this design mentions about photos and images applies to posting infographics as well.
Published by whoishostingthis.com


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Recent Headlines
Crop, Soil & Pasture
Supporting farmers through research, workshops and in-person assistance in the areas of forage, pasture and grazing; hay, corn and grain; hops; soil and nutrient management.
Ag Business
Supporting the business sector by providing education and technical assistance in finance, insurance, labor management and more.
Ag Engineering
Assisting food entrepreneurs in a changing competitive industry through analysis, design, evaluation and adoption of improved infrastructure and technology.
Farm Worker Resources
Providing assistance to migrant and other farmworkers to improve access to healthcare, education and food security.
Supporting maple producers by providing research-based educational solutions to maintain sustainable operations with above-average yields of high quality syrup.
Farm Health & Safety
Working to reduce farm injuries through workshops, farm safety audits and improving safety strategies.


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All Wines
Feel free to browse through our entire wine list, but with around 250 to choose from, you'd probably need to set aside a whole evening. Much better to use the filters below, which allow you to sort the wines alphabetically or by price, or filter them by type, grape, country, style, price range or even the dishes you're planning to drink them with.
Remember also to check out our wonderful wine deals, which offer seasonal wines at VIP prices whether you're a member or not. Or browse our unique selection of fine wines from around the world. We hope the quality of our wines proves that great wines can be reasonably priced – if you know where to look.
Klippenkop Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, Robertson1 review(s)
A stand out soft, fruity Cabernet from the Robertson region of South Africa where vines grow alongside fields full of roses. Meet your new everyday quaffer. Read More.£7.49
Dandelion Vineyards Pride of the Fleurieu Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, Australia
Dandelion Vineyards Pride of the If you think Australian wines are pretty much the same, you really should treat yourself to a bottle of this delicious Cabernet Sauvignon red wine. Coming from the small Fleurie Peninsula region, it's a powerhouse of ripe blackcurrant, blueberry flavours showing just how good Aussie wine can be. Read More.£13.99
- ADD 3 - SAVE 11% - £12.50 a bottle
Château Mondain 2015, Bordeaux
Bordeaux may produce some of the most expensive red wines in France, but you can still find top value wines if you know where to look. This Merlot-based red is the kind of claret you could happily enjoy and never have an inkling that it's so reasonably priced. Try with a traditional Sunday roast. Read More.£9.99
Château La Chapelle du Couvent 2016, Blaye Côtes de Bordeaux
Blackcurrants and raspberries, leather and spice. These are just some of the flavours you'll find in this highly recommended red Bordeaux wine. Andreas Larsson, Sommelier of the World 2007 endorsed this wine and said of it 'Density, fruits and pleasure...at the same time concentration, density and volume. Round, supple and juicy in the mouth, this wine is already very pleasant to drink' Read More.£9.99
- ADD 3 - SAVE 11% - £8.99 a bottle
Max & Alex Sichel Les Jardiniers 2016, Bordeaux
If the future of Bordeaux wine lies in the hands of guys like Max and Alex Sichel, then things are only going to get better. The two bros bought a small one-hectare vineyard, embraced organic grape growing, and poured heart and soul into Les Jardiniers ('the gardeners'). Brilliant Merlot-Cabernet Sauvignon blend Read More.£14.99
- ADD 3 - SAVE 14% - £12.99 a bottle
Rude Reserve Rouge 2016, Languedoc7 review(s)
Top 10 Best-Selling Red Wine
Just back from France Pays D'Oc area, to find your two reserves. This red truly excellent and value for money. Will order a case as our standard red. Well done the whole team. Jerry Read More.£8.99
Peter Lehmann Wildcard Shiraz-Cabernet 2017, South-Eastern Australia
There's something really special about the Australian Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon blend. It's the 'great Australian red', and a style of wine you should really try if you want to taste some of Australia's best red wines Read More.£9.99
- ADD 6 - SAVE 11% - £8.99 a bottle
Le Rosé de Cassagnau 2017, Languedoc1 review(s)
Light, floral, citrusy and very moreish - close your eyes and transport yourself to the Med! Read More.£8.99
Château L'Argenteyre Cru Bourgeois Médoc, 2014
Philippe and Gilles Reich have produced this rich while structured wine from their family vineyard. It has generous black fruits that are supported by wood-ageing flavours and finely balanced tannins. The majority Cabernet Sauvignon blend gives juicy black-currant fruit. 90 points Wine Enthusiast Read More.£17.49
- ADD 2 - SAVE 21% - £13.99 a bottle
Clos de Gat Har'el Cabernet Sauvignon 2013, Judean Hills1 review(s)
Available to buy as a single bottle
Ripe blackcurrant fruit served up with a liberal sprinkling of Mediterranean herbs - jaw-droppingly good Cabernet. Read More.£18.99
- ADD 6 - SAVE 11% - £16.99 a bottle
Paul Jaboulet Evidence par Caroline 2010, Bordeaux & Rhône
Available to buy as a single bottle
Impress your friends with this extraordinary blend of Bordeaux and Rhône grapes in this dark, full-bodied wine. Read More.£21.99
- ADD 2 - SAVE 16% - £18.50 a bottle
Château Saint Hilaire Cru Bourgeois Médoc, 20121 review(s)
We love this Cru Bourgeois for its classic Bordeaux style, fragrant berry fruit and sweet spice. Read More.£16.99


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Movie Screening and Panel Discussion- The Rwandan Genocide: 20 Years of Hindsight
ONU's Center for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law explores the 20th anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda with events on Thursday, April 10, and Friday, April 11.
A screening of the movie "Hotel Rwanda" will be held on Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. in the Dicke Forum. The movie follows one man's experience saving his family and others during the 1994 Rwandan genocide. After the movie, there will be a question-and-answer session with two people present during the genocide and its aftermath: Jean-Marie Kamatali, ONU assistant professor of law, and Kofi Nsia-Pepra, ONU assistant professor of political science.
After the 1994 Rwanda genocide, Kamatali was appointed dean of the only law school in Rwanda at that time. In this position, he oversaw the rebuilding of the legal education in Rwanda and was involved in the institutional and legal reform of the post-genocide Rwanda, including Gacaca system, constitutional and legal reform, as well as national reconciliation. At ONU, Kamatali teaches International Human Rights Law, Legal Issues in Transitional Democracies, and International Comparative NGO Law.
Prior to his academic career, Nsia-Pepra served in the Ghanaian military and as a peacekeeper for the United Nations in Rwanda and Sierra Leone. He is a leading researcher and expert in the concept of "robust peacekeeping" and teaches in the areas of international relations, comparative politics, human rights and conflict resolution.
A panel discussion, "The Rwandan Genocide: 20 years of Hindsight," will be held in the Celebrezze Moot Court Room on Friday, April 11, at 1:30 p.m. The four-member panel will reflect on the events of the 1994 genocide in Rwanda and the social, political and legal lessons learned. Featuring David Rawson, former U.S. ambassador to Republic of Rwanda, the panel also includes Kamatali, along with Brian Anderson, ONU reference librarian and assistant professor, and David Pimentel, director of the Center for Democratic Governance and Rule of Law and visiting associate professor of law at ONU.
Rawson is a professor of political economy at Spring Arbor University. He served as United States ambassador to the Republic of Mali from 1996 to 1999, and to the Republic of Rwanda from 1993 to 1996. He joined the U.S. Foreign Service in 1971, serving in Rwanda, Mali, Senegal, Madagascar, and Somalia as well as various postings in the United States. His current research explores the Rwandan case in international humanitarian intervention. He has been chair of the UN Advisory Group on the West African arms moratorium and consultant to the Partnership to Cut Hunger and Poverty in Africa.
Before commencing his academic career in 2007, Pimentel headed the Rule of Law efforts in South Sudan for the United Nations Mission in Sudan. He spent four years as the chief of court management at the United Nations' International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia, where he collaborated closely with his counterparts at the ICTY's "sister" court, the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda.
Before commencing his academic career in 2011, Anderson served as a legal adviser to the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Rwanda. In that capacity, he also assisted with the MCC Rwanda Justice Strengthening Project on legal education reform in Rwanda, and overall justice sector support. Anderson's research is in the area of creating legal information systems in developing states to promote democracy.
Please Join Us!


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Product 153/153
New Arrival Michael Kors Jaryn Large Leather Shoulder Tote Rose
Designed in luxe sueded snakeskin with minimalist hardware, our Jaryn tote elegantly ups the ante on the everyday carryall. A generous shoulder drop allows for slinging it over your shoulder or letting it dangle on your arm. Pair it with the season's powdery pieces for a modern mix


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Officials Raid Butterball Turkey Facility To Investigate Claims Of Animal Cruelty
A North Carolina Butterball facility was raided recently by officials, who were investigating claims by an animal advocacy group that the company has been abusing fowl on the premises. Mercy for Animals sent law enforcement video they'd collected from hidden cameras at the plant.
In the film shot at Butterball's semen collection factory in Shannon, N.C., the activists claim birds were kicked, stomped on, dragged and beaten. It's said to show turkeys suffering from "bloody open wounds and infections as well as severe feather loss and broken bones," reports the L.A. Times.
It's bad enough they have to live at a semen collection factory, but to be treated cruelly while providing food for human consumption? That's just nasty.
Mercy For Animals has been in the headlines lately, as they previously employed a successfully campaign against one of McDonald's egg suppliers, Sparboe, that they said were treating chickens poorly. Celebrities got involved and sent off an angry letter to McDonald's urging them to implement broad changes in their chicken-culling ways.
Butterball turkey plant raided on animal cruelty [L.A. Times]
Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.


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I thought my plan was flawless, but Grandma had something else in mind.
"Grandma, I'm so sorry, but I can't go to church with you. I forgot to bring a dress and shoes," I told her in my most regretful voice. Not wanting to go to a ward of strangers, I had purposely left my church clothes home when I visited Grandma. I hadn't washed my hair nor put on any makeup, and I waited until a half hour before church to give Grandma the news. I was positive Grandma would agree I was not fit for church.
Smiling, Grandma quickly appraised my condition: "Rachelle, this isn't a problem. We're close to the same size, and I have the perfect outfit for you." She opened her closet and pulled out a blue paisley grandma-skirt with a coordinating pink blouse. The sleeves were too long, and the skirt's hem swished around my ankles. Not only was Grandma taller than me, but she also had long, narrow feet. After attempts with different shoes, she helped me stuff tissues in the toes of some colorful beaded loafers.
"You look beautiful," Grandma beamed. I pasted on a smile, but I was aware I couldn't look anything but ridiculous in an old-lady dress with flat, greasy hair. Grandma was optimistic, and with her sweet prodding, we headed out the door for church.
I had been so worried about attending an unfamiliar ward that I had given no thought to remembering God, His Son Jesus Christ, and what They have done for us.
"Bishop," Grandma said as we entered the foyer, "I'd like you to meet my granddaughter Rachelle. She's come to visit me for a few days." I shook hand after hand as Grandma proudly introduced me to practically everyone in her ward.
It was a relief when sacrament meeting began and we were seated quietly on the bench. I was so embarrassed I couldn't concentrate on any of the announcements or songs. I kept my head down, hoping none of the young men had seen me. I was seriously wishing I were in my own dress, wearing makeup, with stylish hair.
The priests began to reverently bless the sacrament. It wasn't until the priests began to bless the water that I finally started to listen and realized what I had done. I had been so worried about attending an unfamiliar ward that I had given no thought to remembering God, His Son Jesus Christ, and what They have done for us. I realized that I had even planned to break His commandment by not coming to church. I had also lied to my grandmother about forgetting my clothes. I felt ashamed.
As I thought of our Savior and His love for us, my heart lifted. I had planned to not come to church, but here I sat. This made me smile. I was grateful for Grandma, for the borrowed dress, and that Grandma loved me enough to bring me to church. She had helped me put God first and keep His commandments.
I never "forgot" my church clothes again.
Five Ways to Prepare for Church Meetings
- Get dressed and ready early enough that you don't feel rushed.
- Avoid media that do not invite a spirit of worship.
- Arrive at the church in time to listen quietly to the prelude music.
- Prepare your mind for the sacrament by reading or thinking about the Savior, the Atonement, and the covenants you have made.
- Pray to receive insight and direction that you need in your life right now.


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Donations are tax deductible
An organization of concerned citizens who exercise the right to investigate community conditions and work to improve those areas which are deemed to be unacceptable.
Click here to view the series of videos "Why Youth Join Gangs". It comes from the National Gang Center.
GangFreeWichita.org© is an initiative of the Wichita Metro Crime Commission, the Make Good Choices Program, Crime Stoppers of Wichita/Sedgwick County and Safe Streets Wichita with special thanks to Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising and George Lay Signs.
Gangs, which are fueled by drugs, are violent criminal organizations that prey on young people. They encourage children to join by promising them money, jewelry and status among their peers. This website is designed to provide members of the community with information about street gangs and their impact on society.
This web page also has information about what parents and grandparents should look for in a child's behavior that might indicate he or she is either in a gang or is being recruited by gang members.
Young people and the adults in their lives can also find information here about how to get help getting out of gangs.
There are resources on this page, such as links to helpful informational websites, gang prevention flyers, the Wichita Police Department's Gang Hotline, the Crime Stoppers tip phone line and text-messaging number, and information about the Crime Stoppers/Wichita Public Schools Speak-Up program which allows students to anonymously and safely report gang and other criminal activity.
If you have any questions or suggestions about how to improve this site, please send an email to email@example.com.
To receive information about the Gang Tattoo Removal program, click here or call:
Officer J. A. Biagini #1980
East High School SRO
Patrol East Bureau
Field Services Division
(316) 973-7225
(316) 350-3420
350 S. Edgemoor
Wichita, KS 67218
Click here to view Community Service Rules and Expectations
In 2012, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt launched the Gang Free Kansas website which is modeled after Gang Free Wichita. To go to the website, click here.
Pro football player Ray Lewis works with young people to motivate them toward excellence. To view a motivational talk he had with some young basketball players, click here.
For answers to frequently asked questions about gangs, click here.
Parents or grandparents looking for information about how to get young people out of a gang should click here.
To learn more about gang signs and tattoos, click here.
For a quick reference guide on what parents or grandparents can do to keep a child out of a gang, click here for the English version, click here for the Spanish version, and click here for the Vietnamese version.
To view and download the National Gang Center's Parent's Guide to Gangs, click here.
To visit the Wichita Police Department Gang Section on the WPD website, click here. To view the Wichita Police Department Gang Unit's PowerPoint show, click here.
To submit an anonymous tip to Crime Stoppers, click here.
To visit the Wichita Public Schools/Crime Stoppers in Schools Speak Up Program web page, click here.
Phone number for WPD Gang Unit: 316-268-4191
SCAT Hotline: 316-267-SCAT (7228)
Phone number for Sedgwick County Sheriff's Office Gang Unit: 316-522-2610
Phone number for Crime Stoppers: 316-267-2111
To submit an anonymous text message tip to Crime Stoppers, call CRIMES (274637) from your cell phone and begin your tip with TIP217.
In 2012, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt created the Gang Free Kansas program, modeled after the Wichita Crime Commission's Gang Free Wichita program. To visit the Gang Free Kansas website, click here.
To visit the Wichita Public school's Speak Up website, click here.


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This brightly coloured poster provides ten top tips for practitioners and parents to support children's speech, language and communication in the early years. Top Tips include: - Use a full range of expression - Be careful with questions - Give the child time to respond Size: approximately 36cm x 36cm.
How to get this: http://www.icancharity.org.uk/resources/top-techniques-poster
This poster contains information about children's speech and language development up to five years old. It covers the areas of: - Listening and attention - Understanding - Speech sounds and talk - Social skills Size: approx 54cm x 60cm You can order this poster as a single copy, or in packs of 25 or 100 below.
How to get this: http://www.icancharity.org.uk/resources/stages-development-poster
This A3 poster is folded into a leaflet format and can be placed in a dispenser or featured on the wall. Designed for reading material in health centre waiting rooms, this colourful leaflet is informative and clearly maps out children's communication development from birth to five years of age. It is aimed at parents and particularly suitable for display in a GP surgery and/or children's centre. At each year, three characteristics of developing communication are listed highlighting how to follow the progress of children's speech, language and communication development. Top tips and signposting are listed if parents are worried about their child's development.
How to get this: http://www.icancharity.org.uk/resources/first-words-poster
Ready Steady Talk! is an activity book of great games to help children get ready for pre-school and beyond.
Are you and your child ready for pre-school?
Going to and moving through pre-school are big steps for any child, and you play a vital role in helping your child to develop the speech and language skills they need. Ready Steady Talk! is a fun-filled activity pack developed by I CAN's speech and language specialists and comes highly recommended by early years professionals.
The games and activities in Ready Steady Talk! help your child by developing five core skills:
The book includes eight pages of invaluable information for parents and carers. Ready Steady Talk is sponsored by Openreach. Take a look at the Corgi Openreach Van here -https://shop.ican.org.uk/corgivan
How to get this: https://shop.ican.org.uk/readysteadytalk_welsh


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dark(redirected from film dark spots)
Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Legal, Encyclopedia.
approaching black; reflecting little light.
dark cutting beef
the meat is much darker than normal on its cut surface; caused by preslaughter stress. Called also dark, firm dry muscle, DFD.
dark firm, dry muscle
see dark cutting beef (above).
dark film
x-ray film that has been overexposed, or grossly overdeveloped.
film dark spots
caused by developer splashing on the x-ray film causing prolonged local development.
dark room
a room dedicated to the processing of film; must be light-proof, temperature stable and fitted with water and power.
Patient discussion about dark
Q. What health condition would produce blood and dark colored semen?
A. any inflammation in that area can cause that. from the urethra to the testis. here is a symptom checker that show you all the conditions that causes blood to show up in your semen and their other symptoms:
Q. very dark blood clots @ first sight of period? At first sight of period, instead of normal rosy spotting it's brownish spotting followed by small clots.
A. totally agree with hottie, most likely that will be in normal range of variation. unless you feel some unusual pain, then you need to find medical advice. but it is also suggested for you to go to your ob-gyn doctor for a regular checkup anyway.
stay healthy always..
stay healthy always..
Q. after a pedicure, the soles of my feet are dark w/freckles, skin is itchy/thick, my derm says its eczema,help! the pedicure was in fall, 2002. I mad a mistake and wore nylon boots during a storm, the dye never fully disappeared. I would scrub the soles of my feet until I couldn't walk. However, within the last 4 months both heels are itchy, thick, dark-er and now they both have dark legions/ freckles have formed.
A. Are you sure you are going to a clean sterile saloon? It is very important to make sure they use sterile tools for a pedicure because they can transfer fungal infections very easily. Either way you should see a dermatologist to get the right kind of cream treatment for your feet.More discussions about dark


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February 1, 2009
First published in Food Technology Magazine, February 2009. (Download PDF version)
What is causing the sticky film on that melon? Or the dull varnish of that apple? Might it be a layer of gooey goodness akin to that of a glazed donut? Not likely, but it could be a biofilm. A biofilm is a thin layer of densely packed microorganisms encapsulated within an aqueous matrix of proteins, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides. Microbes in biofilms tend to flourish on moist surfaces, aggregating and forming colonies.
The plaque that forms on the teeth of a person with poor dental hygiene is a type of biofilm as is the slime that coats rocks near a stream or pond. Other types of biofilms serve as nourishment for larger organisms or as a component of sewage treatment systems that clean wastewater (MSU, 2008b, 2008c). In essence, any surface that combines an abundance of moisture and nutrients is susceptible to biofilm formation if microorganisms are present. This means that biofilms can affect virtually any industry that involves a water-based process: nautical shipping, paper manufacturing, cooling systems, drinking water facilities, health care, medical devices, and food processing (MSU, 2008a, 2008b).
Although biofilms can contain only one single-celled species, it is more common for them to comprise many bacterial species. Unlike humans from different ethnicities who often struggle to understand each other, the different bacteria forming a biofilm communicate well with each other. Through cell-to-cell signaling known as quorum sensing, bacterial cells coordinate biofilm formation. Biofilms enable bacteria to survive unpredictable environmental stressors such as temperature changes, desiccation, ultraviolet rays, and so on.
How Biofilms Form
The formation of a biofilm occurs in five stages. In the first stage, bacterial cells use van der Waals forces to attach to a surface (MSU, 2008a). In stage 1, cell attachment is still reversible, but in stage 2 the cells affix themselves more securely by forming exopolymeric material, which is a stronger adhesive compound. In stage 3, micro-colonies begin to form, and the biofilm begins to mature. Stage 4 involves more maturation, and the biofilm becomes a three-dimensional structure containing cells packed in clusters with channels running between them. And lastly, in stage 5 the biofilm disperses cells so that they can move on to initiate the formation of new biofilms. It is important to note that cell division is uncommon in mature biofilms. In the mature state, biofilm cells use energy predominantly to produce exopolysaccharides, which the cells use as nutrients (Watnick and Kolter, 2000).
Quorum sensing allows bacterial cells to collaborate in a way that benefits an entire biofilm population (Smith et al., 2004). The characteristic structure of micro-colonies affords biofilms a complex network of cells performing collectively as a living system. The channels between cell clusters deliver water and nutrients to each cell and facilitate waste removal. These characteristics combined with strong cohesive properties and sophisticated collaboration make biofilms highly resistant to conventional cleansing agents such as biocides and disinfectants. Biofilms also exhibit resiliency in the presence of chemical and physical stressors such as pH values, oxygen, pressure, heat, and cold. Moreover, biofilm cells can detach and inoculate other model food systems (Midelet and Carpentier, 2004). Not surprisingly, once biofilms form, they are difficult to eliminate.
Besides causing tooth decay, slippery rock surfaces, and contaminated water, these colonies of microbes may also cause persistent low-level food contamination (Annous et al., 2009). In fact, biofilms containing human pathogens can impair food safety. Capable of surviving for extended periods in water, animal manure, and various agricultural soils, human pathogens can attach to and colonize the surfaces of plants (Annous et al., 2009). Once they attach to plant surfaces, human pathogens can and often do form biofilms on plant tissues. Because biofilms are hearty and not easily removed with simple washing techniques, foodborne illnesses associated with fresh fruits and vegetables have increased dramatically over the past 30 years (Fett and Cooke, 2003; Sivapalasingam et al., 2004). In fact, up to 80% of bacteria on plant surfaces constitute biofilms (Lindow and Brandl, 2003). More than likely, the bacteria form biofilms to survive the unpredictable environmental stressors on the plant surface: temperature changes, desiccation, ultraviolet rays, etc. Three produce items—cantaloupe melons, apples, and leafy greens—have been identified as biofilm carriers as well as recurrent culprits for foodborne illness outbreaks.
Biofilms on ProduceAs an excellent source of beta carotene and vitamins A and C, cantaloupe melons are a popular choice for a nutritious, mildly sweet snack. But on at least six different occasions, cantaloupe melons contaminated with Salmonella enterica have been the source of salmonellosis outbreaks. Although most victims recover without treatment, the symptoms of salmonellosis—abdominal cramping, diarrhea, and fever—last 4–7 days (CDC, 2008b). Cattle and poultry are usually infected with S. enterica, but some domestic animals such as cats and hamsters can also be sources of infection. Regardless of the source of transmission, after S. enterica attaches itself to cantaloupe melons, it begins forming biofilms after 24 hr when stored at temperatures between 10° C and 20° C (Annous et al., 2004, 2005). Sanitizers are ineffective at removing or inactivating S. enterica biofilms on cantaloupes, especially if the bug has remained on the rind for more than 24 hr (Ukuku and Sapers, 2001).
The adage "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" may not always ring true. Even though there have been no foodborne illness outbreaks associated with fresh apples, there have been seven instances of either apple juice or apple cider contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 (Rangel et al., 2005). E. coli O157:H7 normally resides in the intestines of ruminant animals such as cattle, goats, and sheep. The symptoms of E. coli infections are usually mild and frequently involve severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, but some victims suffer more severe—and even life-threatening—complications (CDC, 2008a).
E. coli O157:H7 pathogens present on the surfaces of apples compromise the safety of the raw materials used for fresh juice and fresh-cut fruit. For this reason, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) imposed a mandatory HACCP program for juice processors. Research indicates that washing apples with water and detergents or sanitizing agents measurably reduces the amount of E. coli on apples (Sapers et al., 2002). But industrialized washing techniques such as flatbed brush washers may not have the same effectiveness (Annous et al., 2001). The reason for the difference could be attributed to bacteria attaching to inaccessible regions such as the stem, core, and calyx of apples and to the formation of E. coli biofilms on apple surfaces (Fatemi et al., 2006).
In the never-ending quest to trim waistlines, many individuals rely on the consumption of fresh salads for slimmer physiques. Pre-packaged salads and minimally processed leafy greens may be important for a reduced calorie lifestyle, but as of late, they have also been the most frequent source of foodborne illness. The FDA has linked 18 outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 to lettuce and one outbreak to spinach. Basil, cabbage, cilantro, green onions, and parsley are also responsible for recent occurrences of foodborne illnesses (MMWR, 2005). Hundreds of illnesses and even some deaths have resulted from these outbreaks. Commercial operations typically use triple-wash treatments and disinfectants to clean leafy vegetables. Nonetheless, conventional sanitation processes for cleaning leafy products reduce pathogen levels by an amount that is inadequate to ensure microbiological safety (FDA, 2001; Sapers, 2005). The cause for this inadequacy is attributable to strong microbial attachment via biofilms. For example, E. coli O157:H7 was able to colonize and form biofilms on lettuce leaves submerged in water and incubated for one week at 4° C (Keskinen and Annous, 2008). To reduce the presence of biofilms on leafy products, more thorough washing and sanitation strategies are necessary to overcome the substantive cohesive properties of biofilms, which quorum sensing facilitates.
Interfering with Quorum Sensing Quorum sensing plays a key role in the formation of biofilms in foodborne pathogens. It enhances access to nutrients and favorable environmental niches, and it produces a unified response that enables cell survival under hostile conditions (Asad and Opal, 2008). The communication signals in quorum sensing transcend barriers of disparate species and occur in both gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Essentially, this highly effective system of cell-to-cell communication allows bacteria to accomplish tasks that benefit every cell within the structure. It may also influence the virulence and antimicrobial resistance of biofilm communities. For this reason, perhaps the key to controlling biofilm formation on industrial, medical, food, and food processing surfaces is interfering with quorum sensing.
To reduce the pathogenicity of biofilms and retard the benefits of quorum sensing in general, various countermeasures such as enzymatic degradation of signaling molecules, hindering the generation of signals, and blocking the receipt of signals have been explored (Hentzer and Givskov, 2003; Kjelleberg et al., 2008). Also under investigation are novel compounds that inhibit quorum sensing (Kjelleberg et al., 2008). The tricky part of these solutions is that one inhibitory compound or method that exhibits effectiveness against one type of biofilm may end up being useless against another. Moreover, most of the compounds and methods identified as inhibitors of quorum sensing and biofilm formation (such as biocides and disinfectants) are conducive to clinical settings, not food processing. The Scientific Status Summary "Quorum Sensing in Biofilms: Why Bacteria Behave the Way They Do" delves more deeply into specific compounds and methods that have exhibited some effectiveness against biofilms in foodborne pathogens. However, it is obvious that the amount of research in this area is inadequate for identifying definitive strategies that impede quorum sensing and the formation of biofilms on food and food processing equipment.
The Bottom Line A wide range of microorganisms are capable of forming biofilms, and as a result, biofilms exist in a variety of environments. Some biofilms play a beneficial role in nature by serving as nourishment for larger organisms in the food chain. However, those formed by human and foodborne pathogens pose a significant threat to food safety. Several recent outbreaks of foodborne illness can be attributed to biofilms. The ability of biofilm microbes to act collectively to make a microbial colony stronger and more resistant to conventional sanitation and food safety methods is daunting. In addition, a sophisticated network of cell-to-cell communication—quorum sensing—enhances biofilms' access to nutrients and favorable environmental niches such as fresh fruits and vegetables. To reduce the risks that biofilms pose to the food industry, further research is needed not only to understand biofilm formation in pathogenic organisms but also to determine effective techniques for impeding quorum sensing and inactivating biofilms on foods.
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We've got to thank Mother Nature for these remarkable Samsung Galaxy 7 wood phone cases. Sure we've been busy sanding, polishing and cutting, but She's spent decades growing the Koa trees in the higher elevations of Hawaii island. The result of our combined efforts is a one of a kind, handmade wood phone case that literally brings a bit of the islands home to you.
We are proud to say our Koa wood cases are carried in over 50 stores throughout the Hawaiian Islands. We use only the most beautiful (and expensive) curly grained Koa which I personally sand, finish, etch, cut and assemble. The cases are a combination of hard plastic backer and soft TPU sides which will bounce when dropped...we don't recommend testing that although we're pretty sure you'll find out eventually. All this work to create a one of a kind reminder of where you'd rather be...on a beach in Hawaii of course. The Islands are calling.


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Ed Sullivan Comedy Special
Ed Sullivan Comedy Special Previous Broadcasts
KQED Plus: Sun, Feb 17, 2013 -- 7:00 PM
For 23 years, The Ed Sullivan Show featured America's premiere comedy legends performing their acts for millions of Americans every week. This special from the Sullivan archives brings back the original stars that defined the history of comedy, in their prime doing their original acts. The talent line-up includes classic bits from Jack Benny, Bob Hope, Red Skelton, George Carlin, Richard Pryor, Flip Wilson, Joan Rivers, Alan Klein, Jack Paar, Jackie Gleason, Victor Borge and many more.
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Jumpstart Your Business Practice with Online Marketing: Authentic Marketing for Holistic Practitioners ONLINE ONLY
This online course is currently not being offered. Please subscribe to our e-newsletter via the homepage at www.opencenter.org to be informed when the course is offered again.
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Robert Notter
In this 3-week online course, marketing expert Robert Notter shares the essentials of developing and implementing basic and intermediate online marketing strategies for successful business development. The course covers how to: clarify your business intentions and goals; identify your most lucrative target market and ideal client; build your client base; develop an outreach strategy; turn prospects into paying clients; and generate more income, in whatever field you desire. We'll cover e-newsletters, websites, social media, and the essential approaches and technologies for staying in touch in this online world.
NOTE: This course is primarily audio-based. In addition to the interactive community features of the course website, it includes one video and three 1-hour-long audio lessons from marketing expert Robert Notter and provides a variety of handouts, templates, exercises and resources lists with the tools you need to implement the Robert Notter's online marketing strategies for your business practice.
NOTE: Students must have access to a computer with a web browser for this ONLINE ONLY course, and may need to download free software to use some course features. Password-protected access to the course website is permitted only during the dates that this course is being held; PASSWORDS WILL BE ISSUED THE NIGHT BEFORE THE COURSE BEGINS; and user accounts will be deleted once the course is over. Audio-visual materials on the website are not downloaded but streamed through the web browser. Open Center Online Learning courses give students access to teachers and other students through several interactive tools on the course websites.
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Jos. A. Bank Rejects Bid from Men's Wearhouse
Men's Wearhouse Replies by Saying it May Seek Seats on Rival's Board
Men's Wearhouse Inc. is getting hot under the collar.
The suit seller said on Monday it may seek board seats at rival Jos. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. to press a $1.5 billion takeover bid. But the move leaves several levers unpulled and still faces an array of defenses at Jos. A. Bank, suggesting that any combination of the companies remains far from certain.


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As one of the hallmarks of Jesuit education is to "meet the students where they are," 27 credits of the 33-credit program will be online. A one-week (45-hour) content creation seminar and a one-week (45-hour) seminar in ethical issues in new media will be offered in residence at Loyola's Evergreen campus in Baltimore, MD.
The campus is within a short drive of downtown Baltimore and can easily be reached by train from the New York City, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. metro areas. The Thurgood Marshall/Baltimore-Washington International Airport is approximately a 30-minute drive from Loyola. Visit our directions page to learn more.
As a Loyola student, you will have access to all Loyola's facilities including classrooms, bookstores, computer labs, Fitness and Aquatic Center, and library. Housing may be provided for students traveling to Baltimore for the residency courses.


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Farm bill shows Capitol's dysfunction
Maybe it's time to admit that whatever comes out of the great Farm Bill Wars in Congress will be — an experiment.
Indeed, it's a whole new world already compared to the last enacted bill in 2008, which passed by veto-proof margins and was helped along then by added money for nutrition and continued direct cash payments to farmers.
Story Continued Below
This time the mandate is entirely different: requiring a major rewrite of the commodity title while also tackling food stamps — all in the name of reform and deficit reduction.
( Also on POLITICO: Full agriculture policy coverage)
Ignored by the national press, it's one of the great untold policy battles of this Congress. But it's also now reached a breaking point, where each side has tied itself in such knots that Washington will soon enter its third year of debate on a five-year bill — an apt symbol of the Capitol's dysfunction.
The Nov. 1 rollback in food stamp benefits — for which President Barack Obama shares responsibility — has greatly complicated the partisan debate over nutrition funding. A compromise still seems possible in the range of $10 billion in savings. But the White House dug in deeper Tuesday when Cecilia Munoz, director of the president's Domestic Policy Council, told reporters that she saw "no reason" for any further savings from the nutrition program.
If that's really the administration's position, it could kill the farm bill outright. Then again the warring commodity groups are doing a pretty good job themselves — frustrating hopes of a deal before the House goes home Dec. 13.
Matched against this bleak picture is the fact that farmers back home are waking up to the price of inaction as corn cash sales have dropped to the $4 per bushel range — down dramatically from a year ago. And after last week's historic Senate blow-up over filibuster rules, members of both parties see the farm bill as a last beacon of sorts in Congress for bipartisan action.
"We have to make this place work, and the farm bill is one of those things we can still do together," Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) told POLITICO. "It's even more important now after what's been happening here."
So why is it so hard?
One big reason is that everyone seems to have underestimated the challenge of replacing the current system of direct cash payments that's been the backbone of the commodity title since 1996.
The checks have been going out at a rate of $4.5 billion a year — regardless of what's planted, if anything at all. This is impossible to defend as farm income has grown. But the catch-22 is that no replacement will be so direct or simple.
What's more, any new safety net must fit a tangled agriculture landscape that's seen dramatic changes from 1997 to 2013 — often facilitated by the same direct payments.
This is because the cash subsidies are based on the past production history of a farm — not its current or future plantings. Thus fields can be put into grass and still generate government aid. Wheat and cotton payments go out to farms, which long ago shifted to corn and soybeans to capture the higher returns driven by the federal renewable fuel standard.
In fact, corn plantings have grown by 21 percent or more than 17 million acres since 1997. Soybeans jumped by another 7 million acres. Wheat, cotton and rice plantings fell by a combined 18.6 million acres, even as 3.3 million acres were pulled out of the Conservation Reserve Program.
The new farm bill will include two options in its commodity title: a Senate plan geared to revenues, a House alternative keyed more to production costs. Both promise to save money on balance and are accompanied by tighter payment caps. But each runs into trouble for trying to be more honest than the artificial "base acre" formula that has guided direct payments.
The great flashpoint is the World Trade Organization and fears that American producers will face complaints if government payments are tied too closely to what a farmer actually plants.
The two most powerful lobbies here are the National Corn Growers Association and the American Soybean Association. Together, they have the greatest stake in export markets and tend to operate in tandem — both on the farm and in Washington, where each holds immense influence with Senate Republicans.
Both backed the Senate's revenue protection program with the hope that any WTO concerns could be placated by making the subsidies temporary and tied to a rolling average of market prices. So much so that the Senate felt free to promise payments on a farmer's recent planted acres — a boon to those in the Midwest and Great Plains who have expanded beyond their historic farm base.
But in talks with the House, the farm debate has suddenly come full circle with NCGA and ASA now promoting solutions akin to the old "base acre" formulation of direct payments.
"If agreement cannot be reached on this or some other approach that avoids tying payments to current-year planted acres, we would reluctantly oppose a new farm bill," the two lobbies wrote in a toughly worded, even threatening letter to negotiators Tuesday.
Two forces help explain this response.
First, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) is insisting that the final bill give producers the choice of price supports calculated on the basis of a farmer's production costs. This reflects Lucas's personal convictions and the influence of Southern growers like the rice lobby. But it also sets up a surprising level of conflict between a chairman and the corn-and-bean forces so prominent in agriculture.
Second, the market itself has turned against corn at the worst point, bringing down prices and increasing the chances that the NCGA's own favored Senate plan will be paying out at double the per-acre-rate of direct payments in 2014. Critics contend this embarrassment is what's behind the escalated fears of WTO complaints. Certainly the pressure has increased to "decouple" commodity payments from whatever a farmer plants for that year.
At one level, it can seem pure power politics. The corn-soybean alliance is an immense, centralized national force. The wheat lobby, by comparison, is less organized and more divided regionally. Southern rice and peanut growers are small by comparison. Cotton took itself out of the commodity debate early and is focused instead on securing a new revenue insurance program tailored to its needs.