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FFRF 'Spotlight' airs thousands of times on public TV
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's inaugural feature production for use as educational filler on public television affiliates aired more than 1,430 times over three months in late 2012. This is the first such segment featuring discussion of freethought, atheism and focusing on the specific dangers of mixing state and church.
The four-minute "Spotlight on Freethought and the First Amendment" featured interviews with FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor. The longer version, over five minutes, included a bonus interview with "secularity" expert, sociologist and author Phil Zuckerman, professor at Pitzer University, Claremont, Calif. Local public TV affiliates were given the option to use either spot, or both, as fillers.
For the first time in the history of Spotlight Productions, more affiliates ran the longer version, "a compliment to Phil Zuckerman," says Gaylor. The longer version aired 731 times in 136 station airings. The short version aired 699 times with 142 station airings.
The two shows each reached more than 3.6 million public TV viewers, according to the Nielsen ratings. Markets airing one or both of the spots included high population airings such as New York City and Los Angeles, as well as a diversity of smaller markets nationwide. In the Salt Lake City area, for instance, served by five area public TV affiliates including in Provo, FFRF's spots ran 62 times last fall.
The broadcasts are audited by Nielsen only for the first 3 months after the show is released. But FFRF's two "Spotlights" may continue to air for years as filler.
View the videos at FFRF's YouTube Channel. The shorter "abridged" version is at bit.ly/WmTCP2.
The longer "TV" version with Zuckerman is at bit.ly/P8TZfT.
A "bonus track" version of nearly seven minutes, which includes additional footage with Dan Barker, is prominently featured at FFRF's website, ffrf.org and at bit.ly/V7kan5.
Making math and atheism friendly
Name: Hemant Mehta.
Where I live: Naperville, Ill.
Where and when I was born: Just outside of Chicago, 1983.
Education: University of Illinois-Chicago, 2004, double major in math/biology; DePaul University, 2010, master's in math education; national board-certified teacher, 2012.
Occupation: High school math teacher.
How I got where I am today: After leaving medical school in order to become a teacher, I had some free time and began working closely with the Secular Student Alliance and also started my website, FriendlyAtheist.com. Both of those experiences have helped me develop into an activist, and I hope to keep improving on that in a variety of ways!
Where I'm headed: Thankfully, not downward.
Person in history I admire: It's always inspiring to hear about those who challenge the status quo to make things better for various minority groups. I've been fortunate to meet a number of atheists who have done sort of consciousness-raising in our own movement.
A quotation I like: "If you want to get something done, ask a busy person."
These are a few of my favorite things: My students, great books, crossword puzzles, "The Daily Show," Twitter.
These are not: People whose sole purpose in life is to put other people down.
My doubts about religion started: When I started high school. It turned out my parents' religion (Jainism) couldn't withstand tougher scrutiny.
Instead of "thank God" or "God bless you," I say: Gesundheit.
Why I'm a freethinker: It's empowering when you know the truth about something the majority of the country is completely wrong about.
Ways I promote freethought: I blog at FriendlyAtheist.com to spread news and stories about atheism. I am a board member for the Foundation Beyond Belief and work to encourage other atheists to give money to secular charities.
I serve on the Advisory Board of the Secular Student Alliance because they focus on helping young atheists. To promote my ideas, I've written a few books, the most recent of which is called The Young Atheist's Survival Guide.
Over 150 legal victories for FFRF in 2012!
In 2012, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and its four staff attorneys impressively won more than 150 significant legal victories using education and persuasion, without having to go to court.
FFRF received more than 2,460 requests (whew!) last year for help from members, or members of the public, over entanglements between state and church. FFRF officially doubled its staff attorneys in 2012, going from two to four, to handle the caseload.
They or FFRF's co-presidents sent 1,005 formal letters objecting to state/church violations last year. It may take many follow-up letters to get results, and those follow-up letters are not included in the letter count.
The majority of FFRF legal letters involve religion in the public schools, followed by prayer at government meetings such as city council or county board meetings. Two-thirds of FFRF's victories involved ending violations in public schools, which FFRF prioritizes.
Prayer in schools is the largest subcategory within school complaints. FFRF also sent letters of complaint to more than 100 government bodies or departments over prayer. Most involve city or county board prayer, but there are also many complaints over city-hosted prayer breakfasts and prayer proclamations.
Top 10 states for violations
(most FFRF complaint letters):
1. Florida
2. Texas
3. Tennessee
4. Georgia
5. North Carolina
6. California
7. Wisconsin
8. Ohio
9. Alabama
10. Pennsylvania
Top ten issue areas:
1. Schools
2. Government Prayer
3. Miscellaneous
4. Holiday Displays
5. Religion in the Workplace
6. Election Law Complaints
7. Crosses
8. Prayer Breakfasts
9. Church Bulletins
10. National Day of Prayer
2012 legal victories
These include but are not limited to:
• The Federal Election Commission, in response to a complaint filed by FFRF in 2008, found that the Colorado group Informed Catholic Citizens violated election laws in issuing a robocall by a priest who advocated for the election of John McCain.
• The Kiel Area School District Board of Education (Wis.) voted down a proposal to teach "alternative theories of the origins of man within the science curriculum" after FFRF pressured the board to follow case law prohibiting such instruction in public schools.
• An FFRF complaint prompted Henrico County (Va.) officials to drop the 25-year-old tradition of offering meeting prayers before Board of Supervisors meetings.
• The Kannapolis City Council (N.C.) ended prayers before meetings, replacing the prayers with a moment of silence.
• FFRF secured the right of students at Walton High School in Marietta, Ga., to start a "FACT" group (Freethinkers for Cooperation Acceptance and Trust) after the school had denied their right to create the student group.
• After months of debate, the Ellwood City Borough Council (Pa.) voted to remove a long-standing nativity display in front of the borough's municipal building.
• Five Pennsylvania school boards (Big Spring, Octorara, Greencastle-Antrim, Eastern Lancaster, Grove City) dropped prayer before board meetings after letters from FFRF.
• FFRF stopped future religious assemblies by Dave Walton (braggingforjesus.com/) at a Tennessee middle/high school.
• FFRF's letter of complaint resulted in removal of a cross from a Nebraska state park and outside a park ranger's home in George Wyth State Park on Iowa state property.
• FFRF's letter of complaint resulted in Washoe County Libraries in Nevada remaining open on Easter Sunday.
• FFRF stopped mayoral sponsorship and coordination of monthly prayer breakfasts in Augusta, Ga.
• The City of Tucson, Ariz., rescinded a grant to the Catholic Church of $1.1 million to fix a building it had abandoned after FFRF's letter of complaint, records request, and action alert to FFRF members in Arizona.
• In another faith-based victory, the West Linn, Ore., City Council rescinded a $1,300 grant to a local church and removed paid, government employees from the church's advisory board after a letter from FFRF.
• Thanks to FFRF, Catholic Social Services of Augusta, Ga., will no longer receive free lawn maintenance from the U.S military.
• A family court in Jackson, Mo., has reprimanded a pastor for hijacking a secular class meant to teach divorced parents how to help their children and injecting it with his religious rant. The court is looking for other teachers and sites other than his church.
• Bret Harte Union High School (Calif.) will no longer release student information to the local Catholic diocese.
• Peach County senior center employees will no longer pray with their charges or read the bible to them at meal times and special occasions.
• The Assessment Appeals Board in San Francisco implemented procedural changes to eliminate the use of a religious oath when swearing in parties at hearings.
• COLT bus system in Scranton, Pa., discontinued the practice of displaying "God Bless America" on their electronic tickers after FFRF wrote to them in February.
• FFRF halted (or stopped for the future) illegal Gideon bible distribution in public schools in Magnolia, Ark., Boydton, Va., Robertson County, Tenn., and Grant County, Ky., among other public school districts.
• The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga discontinued its long tradition of prayer before its football games after continued pressure.
• FFRF persuaded the Cobleskill-Richmondville Central School district (N.Y.) from using school facilites for religious worship.
• FFRF was able to address several complaints regarding the inappropriate use of government emails, putting a halt to religious messages at four different agencies.
• FFRF stopped numerous prayer violations and other religious indoctrination at schools around the country.
• FFRF had a total of 11 victories in 2012 ending church bulletin discounts, in which restaurants or places of public accommodation were illegally discounting meals or tickets for those bearing church bulletins. These are violations of the Civil Rights Act.
Many complaints from 2012 and earlier are still actively being pursued, with other victories pending.
Although not all complaints can be acted on, FFRF's attorneys try hard to respond to bonafide state/church queries. FFRF also hosts an extensive State/Church FAQ: ffrf.org/faq/state-church
Before contacting FFRF, you may wish to check out the FAQ. Complaints over state/church violations may be sent via the online complaint form:
Ongoing litigation
These victories are in addition to FFRF's litigation. FFRF has filed well over 60 lawsuits since it began, winning many significant victories, and through December 2012 had nine ongoing lawsuits. In 2012, FFRF successfully settled two additional lawsuits: its challenge of a cross on a water tower and other city property in Whiteville, Tenn., and its challenge removing a Ten Commandments poster from a high school in Giles County, W. Va., brought with the ACLU of Virginia.
FFRF last year won an appeals court decision in Colorado state court in which a judge agreed with FFRF that the governor's Colorado Day of Prayer proclamations are inappropriate.
Last year, FFRF filed four new lawsuits: challenging Ten Commandments monuments in front of two schools in Pennsylvania (two separate federal lawsuits), challenging graduation prayer in a South Carolina high school, and its highly popular challenge of non-enforcement by the IRS of its ban on church electioneering.
FFRF works with a number of litigation attorneys, including some pro bono, with staff attorneys providing help.
Congratulations to FFRF's diligent and committed staff attorneys Rebecca Markert, Patrick Elliott, Andrew Seidel, outgoing attorney Stephanie Schmitt and new intake attorney Liz Cavell. Also deserving of much credit are FFRF's 2012 law clerks: Ken Earl, Susan Lund, Dustin Clark, Maddy Ziegler, JJ Rolling, Ben Zich, and undergraduate volunteer interns Svein Hoexter, Brendan Moriarity and Calli Miller.
Your membership and additional donations designated for the Legal Fund help pay for this substantial litigation and the work of staff attorneys. Special thanks to Board Member Lester Goldstein, who created an internship endowment with the help of other FFRF members setting aside a minimum of $5,000 a year to help pay for internships.
Many thanks to Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert for her very thorough legal report which provided the details for this article.
I have prayed before not to have another child, but the condom worked better.
Giselle Labadan, roadside vendor in Manila, on a new law opposed by the Catholic Church in the Philippines that provides public funding for contraception
Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 1-8-13
While I was younger, my father drank a lot. There was abuse in the home. My brother committed suicide in 2001. So at some point you start to say, "Why does all this stuff happen to people?" And if I pray and nothing good happens, is that supposed to be I'm being tried? I find that almost kind of cruel in some ways. It's like burning ants with a magnifying glass. Eventually that gets just too hard to believe anymore.
Rigoberto Perez, 30, raised as a Seventh-day Adventist, "More Young People Are Moving Away From Religion, But Why?"
NPR "Morning Edition," 1-15-13
Between banning gay marriage and requiring school prayer, too many legislators are intent on turning Indiana into a religious state as repressive, intellectually stultifying and ultimately insulting of their own God as any on the planet. It's time for them to learn a new R: Reality.
Columnist/reporter Phil Wieland, opposing a bill by the state Senate's Education Committee chairman to let public schools require daily recitation of the Lord's Prayer
Northwest Indiana Times, 1-11-13
Wise atheists make no moral claims, seeing good and bad randomly spread among humanity regardless of faith. Humans do have a hardwired moral sense, every child born with an instinct for justice that makes us by nature social animals, not needing revelations from ancient texts. The idea that morality can only be frightened into us artificially, by divine edict, is degrading.
Polly Toynbee, outgoing president of the British Humanist Association
The Guardian, 12-16-12
I noticed something interesting. Those two guys disagreed on everything, except the fact that I was going to hell.
Doug Krueger, an atheist and professor at NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, on sharing an office with a Catholic and a Baptist when he was a Ph.D. student
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, 1-10-13
Commonly known to biographers but often surprising to most Christians, King James I was a well-known bisexual. Though he did marry a woman, his many gay relationships were so well-known that amongst some of his friends and court, he was known as "Queen James." It is in his great debt and honor that we name the Queen James Bible so.
Publisher's statement on new bible translation, "edited to prevent homophobic misinterpretation"
amazon.com, 11-27-12
This report confirms that the code is 10 times the size of the bible with none of the good news.
U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, R-Mich., chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, on a new study of the U.S. tax code
U.S. News & World Report, 1-10-13
Man, this is weird for me too — to be in a room where I don't recognize a single person. And you call yourself a Christian nation. . . . I am totally cool with hookers. Fishermen and hookers. I got a whole fishnet motif going.
Matt Gubser, portraying Jesus in the "Holiday Heathens" comedy show at the Punch Line in San Francisco
Religion News Service, 12-13-12
The bible has outsold Fifty Shades of Grey and Justin Bieber's autobiography to top the Norwegian bestseller charts this month for a second year in a row. The new Norwegian translation of the bible has held the top spot for 54 out of the last 56 weeks.
Christian Today, 12-18-12
I've explained to them that some people believe God is waiting for them, but I don't believe that. I believe when you die, it's over and you live on in the memory of people you love and who love you. I can't offer them the comfort of a better place. Despite all the evils and problems in the world, this is the heaven — we're living in the heaven and it's the one we work to make. It's not a paradise.
Julie Drizin, Takoma Park, Md., quote in "Atheist parents comfort children about death without talk of God or heaven"
Washington Post, 12-22-12
It's an opportunity to get out of the cold, have a cigar and learn some bible.
Larry Gilbert, member of a Missouri Synod Lutheran bible study group that meets at Cigar Cigars, Rocky River, Ohio
Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1-18-13
On their bare backs, the women had painted "In Gay We Trust" and "Shut Up."
News story about four women who went topless in St. Peter's Square during an appearance by Pope Benedict, who "appeared not to have been disturbed"
Belfast Telegraph, 1-13-13
An atheist is no more necessarily moral or better than a Christian or Muslim. The difference is an atheist isn't tied to an ignorant, dated and immoral religious text and therefore doesn't need to make excuses for such. An atheist doesn't claim that anyone who doesn't believe like they do will be punished forever. An atheist doesn't abandon reason for convenience or fear of death. An atheist doesn't dismiss science for childish myths. An atheist takes the universe as it is without magic.
James Kirk Wall, Wheaton, Ill., "Why be an atheist?"
ChicagoNow, 1-7-13
Barker grounded in reality while 'Adrift on a Star'
The Freedom From Religion Foundation released its third musical CD in January, "Adrift on a Star," featuring Dan Barker and friends. The title song is Barker's arrangement of a Yip Harburg poem.
The album's showpiece is "Poor Little Me," a collaboration between Barker, who wrote the lyrics, and Charles Strouse, the Broadway icon ("Annie," "Bye Bye Birdie"), who's also an atheist who received FFRF's Emperor Has No Clothes Award in 2011.
"I had the pleasure of sitting next to Charles at the 2011 FFRF convention dinner," says Dan. "We chatted about music, the many Broadway and other composers who are nonreligious, and he said if I sent him some lyrics, he would put them to music. So I did and he did. It's truly a collaboration, because Charles threw away about half of my lyrics, and it's a much better song for it!"
What's left are subtly humorous lyrics and rich music blended into a winning song.
Dan, who had a musical ministry as an ordained minister before "seeing the light" and is still receiving royalties for his Christian musicals for children, has now written scores of freethought songs in what he calls "reverse penance."
Other new songs in the album include "Get Off Your Knees (And Get to Work)," dedicated to "Gov. Rip Van-Perry Winkle, who has slept not 30 but 2,030 years," "Reason," inspired by the D.C. Reason Rally, and Dan's humorous "Unfaithful." Dismissing belief in a deity, the lyrics say: "I want you to know it isn't me — it's you."
Susan Hofer, a talented jazz vocalist in Madison, Wis., performs Dan's jazz ballad, a love song, "It's Only Natural," inspired by Richard Dawkins' book Unweaving the Rainbow, which makes a plea to integrate science and art. The song has been oft-requested since Dan wrote it in 2006.
He's also set to music several poems by Harburg from Rhymes for the Irreverent, a collection of verses reprinted by FFRF. Another musical icon, Harburg, a nonbeliever who openly scoffed at religion, wrote "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "It's Only a Paper Moon," among many, many enduring classics.
To showcase many of Harburg's witty rhymes about religion, Dan set them to music in "Somewhere Over the Paper Moon," performed as a duet with Hofer.
Dan also performs Harburg's song "One Sweet Morning," a lovely but rarely recorded peace anthem with a freethought perspective. The music is by Earl Robinson ("Joe Hill"). Dan set plaintive music to poet and lyricist Philip Appleman's cautionary "In a Dark Time," written in the mid-2000s. Dan also recorded "Experiment," a little-known paean to science and critical thinking by Cole Porter, who was nonreligious. By popular request of FFRF's staff, Dan recorded a G-rated version of "Merry F&*#ing Christmas" from "South Park."
Cameo appearances include Australian freethought/feminist troubadour Shelly Segal, who graciously gave FFRF permission to include her haunting song "I Don't Believe in Fairies," and Joe Taylor, formerly a Christian rocker, who recorded his first freethought song, "Be Still My Child," for the album.
Also included is "It Ain't Necessarily So," sung by Hofer and arranged by Dan with a local band. Bonus tracks include a few extras.
FFRF Rob Shepherd plays the saxophone on several songs, and FFRF member Buzz Kemper, announcer of Freethought Radio, engineered the album at Audio for the Arts in Madison.
FFRF members may order the CD "Adrift on a Star" for a discounted $15 postpaid ($20 postpaid for nonmembers). "Adrift on a Star" joins FFRF's two previous CDs, featuring Barker and friends. "Beware of Dogma" is also available for $15 to members.
The 34-song "Friendly Neighborhood Atheist," with many contemporary and historic freethought songs, also featuring Kristen Lems, is available for $20 to members via the mail or ffrf.org/shop/music. (Note: The online shop calculates postage based on weight and location, so final online price may vary slightly from mail catalog price.)
FFRF intern brings write stuff
Name: Sarah Eucalano.
Where and when I was born: Milwaukee, April 6, 1992.
Family: Mom, Patty; dad, Brian; and an older sister, Lara, 24.
Education: Pursuing a bachelor's in journalism and international studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
My religious upbringing was: Roman Catholic.
How I came to work at FFRF as a journalism intern: I belong to Atheists, Humanists & Agnostics at UW-Madison and answered an email FFRF sent about intern opportunities. I love being a part of AHA. The discussions that happen there and the awareness the organization raises are great. I sent FFRF an email hoping I'd be able to help them out with their mission and gain some writing experience.
What I do here: I write up legal victories and Freethought of the Day and do whatever else FFRF needs me to do.
What I like best about it: I love writing and working with the people at FFRF because they are all nice and intelligent. I also love all of the freethought stickers, comics, quotes and pictures that are all over the walls. Everyone at FFRF is a freethinker, and most people are tea drinkers, so I fit right in.
Something funny that's happened at work: At the Winter Solstice party, Dan sang a song from South Park with a chorus that inserted the f-word between Merry and Christmas. Also, FFRF still uses a typewriter for some tasks. I had to use it once and got a kick out of it.
My writing interests are: I write for the city news beat for the UW Badger Herald, which I enjoy. I also write short stories and poetry in my free time.
Three writers I admire: Mark Twain, Margaret Atwood and Douglas Adams.
These three words sum me up: Pragmatic, honest and passionate.
Things I like: People who think for themselves and have integrity. I also enjoy running, reading and riding my bike.
Things I smite: Dane Cook's stand-up comedy. I also hate it when people use the phrase "you know how they are." I hate it when people think they can look down on or make assumptions about people who aren't white, white collar, suburban or formally educated.
Fun fact: I ran my first marathon this summer, the Paavo in Hurley, Wis. My time was 3:43, a good 15 minutes faster than Paul Ryan's actual time.
Meet a Staffer: Scott Colson
Name: Scott B. Colson.
Where and when I was born: Neenah, Wis., 1984. I've spent most of my life in Appleton and Madison.
Education: University of Wisconsin- Madison, B.S. in philosophy.
What I want to be when I grow up: The Don, El Jefe, El Capo.
I spend a lot of time thinking about: Progressive politics, brewing beer, revolutionary economics, music.
I spend no time thinking about: I guess I haven't thought about it. No topic is off limits.
My religious upbringing was: Barely Catholic. My catechism teachers were parents of other students who had a hard time answering so many of my "gotcha" questions and double binds.
My doubts about religion started: Very early. I think it was during second grade that I told my parents I thought the whole thing was some weird power trip.
How I came to work at FFRF: An opening for website development and desktop publishing at an atheist foundation — how could I pass that up?
What I do here: If it's jammed, I unjam it. If the lights on a machine start blinking, I unblink them. I produce the newspaper (not the content, except for this gem). I build Web pages, manage the artwork for campaigns and occasionally work on ads. I help with the radio show and podcast.
What I like best about it here: Tea time, all of the time; random acts of jazz and baking.
What sucks about it: There are not enough hours in the day to fight all that's crazy out there.
Things I like: Peanut butter, postmodernism, prog rock.
Things I smite: Piety, papacy, pelf-tocracy. [pelf (n.) money, esp. when gained in a dishonest or dishonorable way]
Favorite quote about freethought: "Atheism is not a drama, but the philosopher's serenity and philosophy's achievement." (Gilles Deluze and Felix Guattari, What Is Philosophy?)
FFRF's 'Jackson Jesus' protest makes waves in Ohio
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's formal request that a middle school in Jackson, Ohio, remove a prominent painting of Jesus from its entrance has created shockwaves locally.
Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote a letter of complaint Jan. 2 to the Jackson City Schools on behalf of a complainant protesting the painting's presence at Jackson Middle School. Since sending the letter, FFRF has been contacted by other families with children in the schools distressed over the violation.
"Courts have continually held that public schools may not display religious messages or iconography. It is illegal for Jackson Middle School to post religious images on the walls of its schools. The district must remove the picture of Jesus at once," Markert wrote.
Her letter cited a 1994 decision by the 6th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, which ruled that an identical portrait of Jesus could not be displayed in a public school. Ohio is part of the 6th Circuit.
The Jackson School Board decided Jan. 8 to not remove the devotional image. Superintendent Phil Howard told more than 300 emotional backers of the painting who attended a board meeting that the picture would stay. He claimed it was lawful because it was a gift from a student group and "has historical significance."
Channel 10 News reported on the "tense" and heated meeting, with parents booing those who opposed the painting's presence, and cheering and applauding the board's decision.
"It is still violating the United States Constitution and must be removed immediately," said a parent, who was loudly booed.
Since FFRF wrote its letter, the ACLU of Ohio has joined the fight. ACLU litigation coordinator Drew Dennis said: "The fact that this portrait has been hanging for many years does not change the fact that it promotes one set of religious beliefs at the expense of all others. Public school displays that advance one particular religious tradition are neither welcoming, nor inclusive for those who may have other beliefs."
The "Jackson Jesus" painting is the focal point, segregated by itself, of a so-called "Hall of Honor" at the school. It reportedly was given to the school in 1947.
"I'm certainly not going to run down there and take the picture down because some group from Madison, Wis., who knows nothing about the culture of our community or why the picture is even there, wants me to take it down," Howard told WKKJ.
A Christian-right group based in Texas known as the Liberty Institute announced Jan. 11 that it had been "retained" by Jackson City Schools as legal counsel. A Facebook group was started to support the school board's position, garnering more than 11,000 "likes" by Jan. 7.
Joe Hensler, who started the Facebook page, dubbed himself president of Citizens of Jackson County for Jesus. "And it's good to see that there are still people in our community that are willing to stand up and speak out for Christ," he told a reporter.
The devotional painting in question, formally titled "Head of Christ," was painted by Warner Sallman in 1941. According to the Sallman official website, the painting has been reproduced more than 500 million times. The Gospel Trumpet County, later Warner Press, became the principal distributor of the painting and other Sallman images.
Sallman also painted popular images titled "Christ at Heart's Door," "Christ in Gethsemane" and "The Lord is My Shepherd." He enrolled in bible school and was encouraged to paint by a dean who said, "Sometime I hope you give us your conception of Christ. And I hope it's a manly one. Most of our pictures today are too effeminate."
Sallman said about his work, "I give God the glory for whatever has been accomplished by my efforts to bring joy and happinss to people throughout the world."
Dan Barker, FFRF co-president and a former evangelical minister, is familiar with the painting, having encountered it himself in countless Christian churches. "It boggles the mind that in 2013, a public school superintendent and school board would not understand that a devotional painting of Jesus, called 'The Head of Christ,' — identical to millions hanging in churches and Sunday school classrooms around the country — may not be part of a 'Hall of Honor' or be posted at the entrance of a middle school."
(Further developments in what will be an ongoing story will be reported in the March Freethought Today.)
FFRF sues IRS over preferential treatment of churches
Ending 2012 with a bang, the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a federal lawsuit Dec. 27 to challenge the Internal Revenue Service's preferential treatment of churches in applying for and maintaining tax-exempt status.
The IRS exempts churches and certain other religious organizations from paying expensive application fees and filing the onerous annual Form 990 required of nonchurch nonprofits. FFRF and Triangle FFRF v. the IRS was filed in U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin.
FFRF, a national state/church watchdog with more than 19,000 nonreligious members, and its chapter, the Triangle Freethought Society in North Carolina, are challenging the preferential application and reporting exemptions to churches.
FFRF and its North Carolina chapter are 501(c)(3) nonprofits that paid fees of several hundred dollars in order to apply for tax-exempt status and must annually file the annual Form 990.
The IRS requires nonchurch tax-exempt nonprofits to file "detailed, intrusive, and expensive annual reports to maintain tax-exempt status, but such reports are not required for churches and certain other affiliated religious organizations," the complaint notes.
"Why should churches be exempt from basic financial reporting requirements?" asks Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president. "Equally important, why would churches not wish to be accountable?"
Gaylor adds, "Having tax-exempt status is a great privilege, and in exchange for that privilege, all other groups must file a detailed report annually to the IRS and the public on how we spend donations."
"The unfairness of this is so overwhelming," says FFRF President Emerita Anne Nicol Gaylor, who in FFRF's early years personally prepared the annual forms. "Churches are allowed to play by different rules."
Form 990 requires detailed reports on revenue and functional expenses, activities, governance, management, how groups fulfill their mission and what proportion is spent on programs, management and fundraising.
The "preferential treatment of churches" directly benefits churches, while discriminating against other nonprofit organizations, including the plaintiffs, "solely on the basis of religious criteria," FFRF's complaint asserts. This "results in obligations imposed on secular nonprofits, including the plaintiffs, that are not imposed on churches."
FFRF asks the court to find the church exemptions a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution's First Amendment and the equal protection rights of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. FFRF seeks to enjoin the IRS from continuing to exempt churches and related organizations from the application and annual reporting required of all other 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
This is FFRF's third ongoing lawsuit against IRS practices involving preferential treatment of churches.
In January/February 2013, FFRF filed a high-profile lawsuit seeking to enforce the IRS' non-electioneering code against churches.
In late August, U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb ruled that FFRF and three of its directors have standing to proceed in a challenge of the 1954 "parish exemption" act of Congress. That law, enacted to reward ministers for fighting what the law's author, U.S. Rep. Peter Mack, called "a godless and antireligious world movement," permits "ministers of the gospel" to deduct payment designated as a housing allowance from taxable income.
All three lawsuits were filed in U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin, and were brought on behalf of FFRF by attorney Richard L. Bolton.
"We thank the Triangle Freethought Society for joining FFRF in this important challenge," adds FFRF Co-President Dan Barker.
Religion seduces a secular nation - Jemille Bailey
Fifth place: Graduate/mature student essay contest
FFRF awarded Jemille Bailey a $350 scholarship.
By Jemille Bailey
Modern America has an unhealthy love affair with religion. In recent years, U.S. government leaders have invoked God when addressing their constituents in speeches and writings. For those who don't believe in a deity, or don't agree with government's interpretation of or interference with religious matters, there exists an uncomfortable relationship.
While Americans generally have great respect for the fundamental ideals of the founders, it is obvious that the secular ideological underpinnings so eloquently codified in the U.S. Constitution are frequently contested, circumvented or disregarded for political gain.
Two issues in particular are of concern nationwide: The right of women to exercise physical sovereignty vis à vis their reproductive systems and capabilities are once again being hotly debated. In January, presidential hopeful Rick Santorum gallingly proclaimed in a CNN interview that victims of rape should "accept what God has given to [them]."
Despite that issue having already been addressed and settled by the U.S. Supreme Court for almost 40 years, Santorum dangerously and irresponsibly asserts his religious beliefs as justification for setting or changing public policy.
He also single-handedly reinterprets the Constitution, arguing that "life begins at conception." Santorum is free to argue his position, but his stance is based not on reason, science or social responsibility but on his religion.
Secondly, thinly veiled government promotion of religion has also seeped into the lives of ordinary Americans through their maltreatment of sexual minorities. The civil rights of lesbians, gays and bisexuals, as well as people who are gender nonconforming or transgender, are too frequently set aside, unrecognized or challenged.
Religion has frequently been a reason why the aforementioned Americans are marginalized and disenfranchised. Speaking to the graduating class of 2012 at Liberty University, a Christian university in Lynchburg, Va., Mitt Romney, then the presumed Republican nominee for U.S. president, reaffirmed his opposition to marriage equality:
"It strikes me as odd that the free exercise of religious faith is sometimes treated as a problem, something America is stuck with instead of blessed with." He went on, "Perhaps religious conscience upsets the designs of those who feel that the highest wisdom and authority comes from our government."
Using language such as "blessed" is a clear signal to Christian believers in the audience that they and Romney are on the same team. If he were running for president of Liberty University, he would be well within his bounds to use such language. This speech also doubled as a campaign event.
Such rhetoric implies a divide between religious and nonreligious citizens. Further, it's concerning that Romney doesn't trust legislators, judges and other public servants. We elected them presumably because of their perceived wisdom. Logically, as those leaders have been given responsibility through the ballot box or appointment, they are the highest authorities in the nation.
But Romney then shamelessly pronounced that "there is no greater force for good in the nation than Christian conscience in action." What disappointing news for the nation's many atheists, Buddhists, Hindus, Jews and Muslims.
Often, after all other ineffective social and moral arguments are exhausted, religion is the last, and incidentally, the most illegitimate justification for the restriction of rights or release of responsibilities. It is on the emotionally tempting but judicially irrelevant leg of religion that Romney stands to assert his opinion on what makes a family.
Every year in the U.S., a National Prayer Breakfast is held and televised, attended by Democrats and Republicans alike. While some may view it as mere tradition, its implicit nature makes clear that we are under an ever-growing threat of moving toward theocracy.
When reason and objective analysis are pushed aside or ignored and replaced with tribal and theocratic allegiances and dogma, the resulting separatism can provoke the same unseemly acts of marginalization or restrictions of civil liberties that have led toward slavery, genocide and other atrocities throughout modern history.
Those acts may, in turn, be irrationally justified as divinely inspired or even virtuous at the expense of the physical and intellectual sovereignty of dissenting citizens.
Jemille Bailey, 32, is a Los Angeles native pursuing an undergraduate liberal arts degree with a concentration in financial economics at Columbia University.
I'm a family values voter - Vicky Weber
FFRF awarded Vicky a $500 scholarship.
I'm an atheist, and this election year, I'm a family values voter. Families are one of the most important institutions in any society. The way we are raised as children influences our views on important issues such as morality, politics, sex, money and religion.
As an atheist, I vote to value the families in which we actually live: single parent households, LGBT partnerships, multigenerational homes and any other configuration that exists. My family values extend beyond families that are healthy and functioning to those that are struggling through poverty, domestic violence, mental illness and other issues.
My family values extend to those men and women who are not yet ready to start a family and want to protect themselves or terminate an unplanned pregnancy. I'm a family values voter because I support the rights of individuals to live in a safe, healthy family environment and make their own choices.
Some politicians, however, foist their religious ideology onto their legislation and decision making, telling the rest of us what we should want and how we should live our lives.
In Wisconsin, Sen. Glenn Grothman proposed Senate Bill 507, which named "nonmarital parenthood as a contributing factor to child abuse," a slam at single mothers.
In Michigan, Rep. Lisa Brown was censored for using the word "vagina" during a debate on an abortion bill, when she stated, "I'm flattered that you're all so interested in my vagina, but 'no' means 'no.' "
Fellow Rep. Mike Callton said in response: "What she said was offensive. It was so offensive, I don't even want to say it in front of women. I would not say that in mixed company."
On the national stage, presidential candidate Mitt Romney pledged to ensure that his version of marriage is practiced throughout the land. His platform includes support for the Defense of Marriage Act and for an amendment to the Constitution defining marriage as between one man and one woman.
These are people who could be making decisions about how all Americans, secular and nonsecular, live the most intimate parts of their lives. People like state Rep. Don Pridemore of Wisconsin, who told abused women that "If they can refind [sic] those reasons and get back to why they got married in the first place it might help."
Instead of suggesting a way for women to get out of their abusive relationships and providing support for them and their children, Pridemore encourages them to go back based on his definition of what it means to be a family.
It is one thing to espouse a view against abortion or gay marriage. It is another thing to tell someone else how they should live their lives, and it's completely unacceptable when it comes from our elected officials.
America cannot ignore these blatant attempts to enforce their religious viewpoints on everyone. The so-called "family values" espoused by the Religious Right are not the values of the families that actually exist. God and government are a dangerous mix in our schools, public meetings, legislation, health care and tax code.
It's time to fight back, and there's no place better than at the ballot box. It's time for the secular community to step up and reclaim "family values" for all families.
Perhaps we should pay more attention to what Brown, who is Jewish, said before her censorship-inducing use of the word "vagina." She explained her position on the bill, stating, "Judaism believes that therapeutic abortions, namely abortions performed in order to preserve the life of the mother are not only permissible but mandatory. . . . I have not asked you to adopt and adhere to my religious beliefs. Why are you asking me to adopt yours?"
She shouldn't even have to ask. Her Judaism, Grothman's Christianity and my atheism are all equally valid. The only way all people can maintain their freedom of choice is to separate god and government and elect those who will maintain this separation.
Therefore, this election year, I am an atheist voting for the values of all families. Are you?
Vicky Weber, 22, graduated with honors from Ripon College in Ripon, Wis., with a degree in communication and a double minor in politics and government and nonprofit business management. She's pursuing an M.A. in communication studies at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. At Ripon, she co-founded a Secular Student Alliance and plans to be active in the SSA chapter at Colorado State. Another laudable life goal she has set is to eventually enjoy a beer at all 30 Major League Baseball parks.


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Why is change so difficult to achieve, even when it seems to be the best solution for a certain problem? We could start by recalling human nature that is usually risk adverse. Probably this derives from our genetic memory going back thousands of years when deviating from a known routine and venturing into the unknown could jeopardize one's life. Currently, we still tend to be more comfortable with what we know rather than entering uncharted waters. Hesitation and uncertainty that typically accompany changes are also often coupled with a degree of "mental laziness", as it always takes an extra effort to change old habits in favor of new ones.
Many development managers, and even some professional communicators, tend to think that media and messages can be very effective in promoting change. At the basis of such belief are two basic assumptions 1) the power of media and 2) the over-rated belief that human beings act rationally. I tend to disagree with both assumptions. Media are certainly powerful in "framing" issues and ways of thinking, but not in bringing changes in behaviours. I also fail to see humans as fundamentally rational beings and I concur with my high school philosophy professor who used to say "there is nothing more irrational than to think that humans are rational beings." Or maybe they could be defined as rational, if rational can be considered to be something in the best interest of each individual. But if different individually-based rational behaviours are not complementary with each other, or, even worse, conflict with each, how can they still be considered rational?
For example, at the onset of the current housing market collapse in several countries, a few homeowners started to default on their mortgage payments and a few others started to sell their houses, bringing down the prices. It became clear that the housing market would take a hit and that individuals had to sell as soon as possible to minimize their losses. But if that made sense at an individual level, it could hardly be considered rational behavior at a collective level, since it would further worsen the housing crisis, causing even further losses many homeowners.
The acknowledgment that human behaviours cannot always be considered rational helps to take into account a broader range of possible motivations and appeals, thus designing more effective communication strategies and messages. It is not enough to design messages appealing to the rational side of the mind, as it is often done when disseminating factual information. Even when they are effectively crafted and packaged in the appropriate media and they reach the intended audiences, such messages might not achieve the intended change. For example, if we know that poor hygiene causes many diseases and that by washing hands we can eliminate at least 50% of such illnesses we should not assume that simply passing this information through nicely packaged messages would be enough to have audiences adopt safe practices. If that was indeed enough to achieve change we should wonder why after 30 years of message bombardment very little has changed in term of key behaviours in water and sanitation (as well as in other areas). The reason for this is what I have been discussing above, plus a few other factors which I intend to discuss in my next posting.
Photo Credit: Flickr user David Reese

subset: commoncrawl


text: Value Added Tax (VAT) at Central and State level means Posted on 02 May 2018 Category : Indian Tax Terms Meaning of Value Added Tax (VAT) at Central and State level This post explains about Value Added Tax (VAT) at Central and State level. Value Added Tax at the Central and the State level Introduction of State VAT is an important and recent reform measure at State level. The State VAT has replaced the earlier Sales Tax systems of the States. VAT, being a 'tax on sale or purchase of goods within a State' is a State Subject by virtue of Entry 54 of State List of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India. Since VAT/Sales tax is a State subject, the Central Government has been playing the role of a facilitator for successful implementation of VAT. Some of the steps taken by the Central Government in this regard are as follows: A package for payment of compensation to States for any revenue loss on account of introduction of VAT has been implemented. Financial support under Mission Mode Project (MMP) is being provided to States/UTs in order to enable them to take up computerization of their Commercial Tax Departments. A separate project for computerization of Commercial tax administration of Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir has also been sanctioned. 50% funding is being provided to the Empowered Committee of State Finance Ministers for implementation of the TINXSYS Project for tracking of inter-State transactions. The information on Value Added Tax (VAT) at Central and State level is detailed above. Comment below your thoughts on Value Added Tax (VAT) at Central and State level.


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Money. Does anyone stand to make money by conducting such studies? Scientists aren't gonna do it just for fun or even to learn something. They'll only do it if they get paid. And the people paying them will only do it if they get paid even more.
Here in Mexico bromated flour is banned so Azodicarbonamide is used in just about every flour brand I've used or looked at expect for cake flours, finely ground low protein flours. I've wondered why it's not more widely used North of me.Don
My question is, why haven't there been any studies done where they do chemical analysis of actual baked goods to determine how much KBrO3 is actually still present after baking? AFAIK, there haven't been any such published studies
Don,There have been such studies. I recall that I found a document that addressed the remnant bromates in bread when I had an exchange with Buddy's, the Detroit pizza operator, and reported on same at Reply 125 at http://www.pizzamaking.com/forum/index.php/topic,3783.msg81422/topicseen.html#msg81422. When I tried to call up the pdf document referenced in that post, it was unavailable or else I would have to register or maybe even pay to look at relevant documents. However, I went to the Wayback Machine and found the document in their archives at http://web.archive.org/web/20100508190221/http://www.aaccnet.org/cerealchemistry/backissues/1960/chem37_573.pdf. Hopefully, that link will work (you should click on the Impatient link).To Pappy's point, you will be hard pressed to find any cookbook author advocating that its readers use bromated flours. Cookbooks are directed to ordinary people, and publishers won't let authors publish books that call for ingredients that ordinary consumers cannot find at their local supermarkets.Peter
Peter, is this the article?http://www.aaccnet.org/publications/cc/backissues/1960/Documents/chem37_573.pdfThat link should work.
Cookbooks are directed to ordinary people, and publishers won't let authors publish books that call for ingredients that ordinary consumers cannot find at their local supermarkets.
I will be making my first pizza with AT bromated in about an hour. Oven is pre-heating right now. Fingers crossed.Mine are 58% hydration. 2% of each salt, sugar and oil.
I also agree,excellent stuff! I ordered 2 Bags(5lbs each) of AT flour,one bromated,the other not.They made some of the best pies I ever eaten.I plan to order a 50 lb bag eventually.Im using Bouncer and sometimes KABF,but I really love the AT.
I'm sorry, and I hate to be contrary, but I've used both AT bleached and bromated and KASL, and I'd be hard pressed to tell them apart. I use KASL now, just because I've had lung cancer once already and would just as soon not have to deal with that again if I can help it. I'd put my KASL pies up against anyones AT pies for handling, workability, oven-spring or flavor. Just sayin'
From a performance standpoint, Steve's (Ev's) experience with the All Trumps bromated flour seems to mirror that of Tom Lehmann, as discussed in the following PMQ Think Tank thread started by one of our members (franko9752): http://thinktank.pmq.com/viewtopic.php?p=78733#p78733.Peter


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Wesley So
|Photograph copyright © 2017, used by permission.
NOTABLE GAMES: [what is this?]
W So vs Ding Liren, 2015 1-0
W So vs Kasparov, 2016 1-0
W So vs Akobian, 2016 1-0
J Xiong vs W So, 2017 0-1
W So vs M Mahjoob, 2007 1-0
W So vs Kamsky, 2016 1-0
W So vs M Prusikin, 2006 1-0
W So vs F El Taher, 2006 1-0
Caruana vs W So, 2015 0-1
Ivanchuk vs W So, 2015 0-1
NOTABLE TOURNAMENTS: [what is this?]
Dubai Open (2008)
Corus Group C (2009)
Leon Masters (2018)
9th Edmonton International (2014)
Reykjavik Open (2013)
US Championship (2015)
Tata Steel (2015)
World Cup (2017)
Millionaire Chess (2015)
Chess Olympiad (2016)
French Team Championship (2015)
World Cup (2009)
World Cup (2015)
World Junior Championship (2007)
43rd Chess Olympiad (2018)
GAME COLLECTIONS: [what is this?]
wesley so and other gm s well games by DIONPOGIME
Wesley So's best games by shintaro go
WESLEY SO's best games by iking
Wesley So: The Road To Top by penismightier
So: the future Champion by Zhbugnoimt
Match So! by amadeus
Wesley So by lester47
RPaterno1's favorite games by RPaterno1
Nina Myers' collected Sogasms by Nina Myers
Manuel G. Vergara's favorite games by Manuel G. Vergara
World Cup 2009 by GM Wesley So by LaFreak III
🏆 Isle of Man Masters Sarin Nihal vs W So (Oct-28-18) 1/2-1/2
W So vs Shirov (Oct-27-18) 1/2-1/2
W So vs S Sevian (Oct-26-18) 1/2-1/2
Short vs W So (Oct-25-18) 1/2-1/2
W So vs H Melkumyan (Oct-24-18) 1/2-1/2
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text:
I bought the Pillsbury Best of the Bake-Off Cookbook a few months back and have had my eyes on this particular recipe for some time. As soon as I get a chance, I would definitely try out more recipes from the book and share them with you.
Recipe (Makes 4 - 1 1/2 cup servings) :
Beef tip steaks - 1 lb, cut crosswise into 1" wide strips
Garlic cloves - 2, minced
Sesame oil or Vegetable oil - 1 tbsp
Cayenne pepper - 1/4 tsp
Oriental Ramen Noodle soup - 1 package (3oz)
Water - 2 cups
Frozen broccoli, Carrots, Waterchestnuts and Red peppers - 1 (1 lb) package
Sesame oil or Vegetable oil - 1 tsp
Whole mushrooms - 1 (4.5oz) jar, drained
Soy sauce - 1 tbsp
Green onions - 4
In a medium bowl, combine beef strips, garlic, 1 tbsp sesame oil and ground red pepper.
Toss to coat and set aside.
Remove noodles from the package.
Bring water to a boil in a large saucepan.
Break block of noodles into 3 pieces and add to water with frozen vegetables.
Return to a boil.
Reduce heat, simmer uncovered for 2-3 minutes or until vegetables are crisp tender, stirring occasionally. Drain well.
Return vegetable mixture to the saucepan.
Cover and keep warm.
Rub 1 tsp sesame oil over a large skillet or wok.
Heat over medium-high heat until hot.
Add steak, cook and stir 1-2 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.
Stir in vegetable mixture, mushrooms and soy sauce; heat thoroughly.
Garnish with green onions.
Source: Recipe by Linda Morten, Pillsbury Best of the Bake-off Cookbook.
- I used fresh vegetables like carrots, broccoli and mushrooms for the stir-fry.
- I didnt use water chestnuts because I am not crazy about them. I would believe green peppers would work as well as the red peppers, both of which I havent used for this trial. I also havent garnished with green onions.
- The fresh vegetables can either be cooked either by boiling or in a microwave (which I did) - except the mushrooms.
- Experiment with additional veggies like celery, peapods, baby corn, onions and chopped cabbage.
I am sending this Ramen Noodle Stirfry to Presto Pasta Nights guest hosted by Aquadaze of Served With Love. Check out the event announcement.


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Drives: 2G1FT1EW9A9100666
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U.S. plans to require stability control on all new cars
News bulletin
U.S. plans to require stability control on all new cars
September 13, 2006
By KEN THOMAS
Associated Press
WASHINGTON The government, impressed by the promise of anti-rollover technology, is planning to require automakers to include electronic stability control devices on all new vehicles in the coming years.
The technology has been hailed by automakers, suppliers and safety advocates for its potential in reducing traffic deaths and rollovers. The governments top traffic safety official has said it could have the greatest impact on auto safety since the arrival of seat belts.
About 40% of new vehicles have it as standard equipment and auto industry officials expect it to be available on all vehicles by 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to unveil proposed rules for stability control on Thursday that also will include testing standards for auto manufacturers. NHTSA officials have declined to release details.
One study found that stability control could lead to a reduction of 10,000 deaths a year if all vehicles had the technology, a significant chunk of the more than 43,000 people killed on the roads annually.
These are staggering statistics compared to most safety technologies that are installed on the vehicles today. This technology will save lives, said William Kozyra, president and CEO of Continental Automotive Systems, North America, a leading supplier of stability control.
Kozyra called it the most important automotive safety technology of our generation. The crash avoidance technology senses when a driver may lose control, automatically applying brakes to individual wheels to help make it stable and avoid a rollover. Many sport utility vehicles, vans and pickups have the equipment.
NHTSA Administrator Nicole Nason has said the agency will mandate the equipment, estimating it would save 10,600 lives when fully implemented into the fleet. During a July hearing before Congress, she said it could be the greatest safety innovation since the safety belt.
Rollovers have had particularly fatal consequences, leading to more than 10,000 deaths a year despite accounting for only about 3 percent of all crashes. SUVs and other vehicles with high centers of gravity have been susceptible to rollovers.
Automakers have been receptive to the technology and have indicated little resistance in the decision to mandate the equipment because they have been implementing it onto their vehicles.
Ford Motor Co. announced Wednesday that it would make it standard equipment in all new vehicles by the end of 2009 while General Motors Corp. has said it will be included in all vehicles by the end of 2010. Virtually all Toyota Motor Corp. vehicles have it as an option and it has been standard on all Toyota SUVs since the 2004 model year.
Joan Claybrook, a former NHTSA administrator and head of Public Citizen, a consumer watchdog, called electronic stability control breakthrough technology but said it would be difficult to predict how many lives it could save.
Early in the development of the air bag, she said initial studies predicted it could save about 9,000 people a year, much higher than the 2,300 lives it saves annually. Until you get it into production and onto vehicles, you dont know how large the numbers are going to be, Claybrook said.
A study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earlier this year predicted 10,000 deaths could be prevented a year if passenger vehicles had the technology. The study found stability control reduced the risk of single-vehicle rollovers involving SUVs by 80 percent.
One of the benefits of stability control is that it doesnt require anything from the driver. While other crash avoidance technologies, such as lane departure warning, require the driver to react, stability control senses the vehicle veering out of control and stabilizes it.
There really isnt any downsides that were seeing, said Russ Rader, an IIHS spokesman. ESC is in a unique club with only seat belts and air bags for its lifesaving potential.
Automakers caution that seat belts will remain the most essential tool in avoiding death or injury in a crash. Seat belts save an estimated 15,000 motorist a year, prompting the government to push primary enforcement laws across the nation.
Robert Yakushi, Nissan North America Inc.s director of product safety, environmental, said the technology shouldnt be characterized as a cure-all for all handling situations but something that helps drivers maintain control in some situations.
If everyone depends on vehicle stability control, I think, to save them in every situation, I think that builds overconfidence in the driver, Yakushi said, stressing that the driver is key to vehicle safety.
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Auto news
ROLLOVER PROTECTION: Ford embraces stability control
Action is ahead of U.S. standard
September 13, 2006
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is set to unveil on Thursday its rule to require stability control, which has been shown to dramatically reduce crashes. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety said earlier this year ESC could prevent 10,000 fatal crashes a year if it came standard in every vehicle.
Ford has built 4 million vehicles globally with electronic stability control systems. Such systems sense when a vehicle is on the verge of skidding, applying the brakes and slowing the engine to keep the driver in control.
General Motors Corp. has said it will make stability control standard by 2010, and most automakers offer the system as standard equipment on SUVs.
Electronic stability systems can reduce the chance of a rollover by 80%, the insurance institute says.
While the optional systems can cost as little as $200, ESC sometimes is sold only as a bundle with other options that can push the price to $2,000.
NHTSA has declined to discuss the rule before its release, but the agency is expected to require stability control on all vehicles by 2010 or 2012.
The proposed rule also is expected to address testing standards for stability control systems and might say whether automakers have to refer to their systems by a standard name to reduce confusion.
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GOOD. 10,000 lives saved per year is a huge impact. That's some excellent news if you ask me. I bet more than a few of us either have been, or know someone who's been in a rollover. My brother was in one years ago. Luckily, he was wearing his seatbelt and he had a roll cage installed. His passenger lost a finger, though.
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Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Philadelphia
Posts: 174
Stability control systems are a must, its too bad for the luxury car makers that everyone will have that technology, but its good for the rest of us. Probably one of the best inventions since the seatbelt in my opinion.
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text:
The Saab 9-4X has barely been around long enough to be known for much. This crossover SUV from the Swedish automaker has only been in production for two short model years. Like many of Saab's latest offerings, the 9-4X meets with varying opinions.
It's hardly uncommon to find many of the well-known automakers started out in different fields. For example, several of the U.S. carmakers participated in the carriage and buggy manufacturing community, originally. In Europe, things differed a bit, and many of the car companies started as part of the World War II war effort. This is the case for Saab. The Swedish company first started producing airplanes in both the bomber and fighter designs, in 1938. After basing its airplanes on German and American designs, Saab offered the first completely Swedish-designed aircraft, the Saab 17.
After the war ended, the company needed a new direction, and making high-quality automobiles seemed like a good way to go. The executives at Saab decided to offer the public affordable, safe cars. Up to this point, this particular market had been largely ignored by the other car manufacturers. As it turns out, Saab made a good choice. The company quickly became known for its quality cars offered at reasonable prices.
Saab has continued to offer its various lines of vehicles in several of the world's markets including the U.S. The 9-4X series provides just one example of the quality cars available.
Some industry analysts feel the SUV carries too high a price and lags behind its competition. Others feel it gives the SUV market exactly what it needed, with its classic Saab exterior design and good handling. So far, the 9-4X has received good attention from Saab fans.
Pros of the Saab 9-4X include its powerful turbocharged engine and quiet cabin. Those two things don't seem to go together, but this crossover seems to handle both easily. As noted, the exterior of the vehicle with its smooth lines and attractive appearance wins it favor as well.
Every rose must have its thorn, and the 9-4X has a couple. Many test drivers find the brake petal very stiff. Some call the vehicle's steering sluggish at the lower speeds. Highway driving and similar circumstances don't seem to be affected.
Saab decided to offer the crossover SUV 9-4X for the second time in the 2012 model year. This model remains similar to the previous year's offering, and interested consumers will find a great deal to appreciate about this vehicle.
The exterior and body style of the 2012 9-4X enjoys a lot of attention. This SUV looks like a Saab with its classic lines and good looks. The front end, especially, has that distinctive look Saab vehicles often flaunt. Inside the cabin, the driver and passengers can expect comfort and sophistication as well. Though not a large SUV, it still offers plenty of space for the vehicle's occupants. The dashboard has a nice design with easy-to-use and easy-to-see gauges.
Under the hood, Saab pulls out all the stops when it comes to creating the powertrain for this SUV. The 9.4X offers a choice of a 3.0-liter V-6 engine capable of 265 hp, or a 2.8-liter V-6 engine producing 300 hp. Both perform well in test drives, and both engines pair with a six-speed automatic transmission system for high performance.
The Saab 9-4X has only been offered for two years, making the 2011 edition the only previous model. This particular SUV remains very much like the most recent model in looks and performance. In this model year, the 9-4X comes in three trim levels: the 3.0i, 3.0i Premium, and Aero. Each trim level keeps the needs of the consumer in mind. Even the lower-end 3.0i and 3.0i Premium offer several exceptional features such as reclining rear seats, satellite radio, and a rear-view camera, just to name a few. The 3.0i Premium package also offers the consumer features such as keyless entry and ignition, as well as headlight washers.
Under the hood, the 3.0i and 3.0i Premium 9-4X SUV have plenty of power with a 3.0-liter V-6 engine coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission. These editions of the 2011 use front drive. All-wheel drive comes as an option, however.
The Aero models are a bit different. These vehicles come equipped with a 2.8-liter turbocharged motor with the same transmission system as the lower trim levels. Also unlike the other models, the Aero offers standard all-wheel drive.
2011 Saab 9-4x
SUV, Utility/Offroad
The 2011 Saab 9-4X is a midsized, crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) that was manufactured by General Motors and sold under the marquee of Swedish automaker, Saab Automobile.


text:
Territorial A-ZA | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z | 0-9
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Authors: Reeder, Andrew H. (Andrew Horatio), 1807-1864
Date: July 3, 1855
This printed version of Reeder's address included a review of how the land that became Kansas was acquired by the United States and of various legislation and treaties that applied before the passage of the Kansas Nebraska Act. Reeder also identified some of the responsibilities of the Legislature including establising a means of determining if Kansas was to be slave or free, establishing counties, setting up a judicial system, levying taxes, organizing a militia, determining a permanent seat of government, and creating a constitution. He also included some statistics from the first official census, which recorded 2,904 qualified voters out of 8,521 residents (only free males could vote). Reeder indicated the need to resolve the issue of selling intoxicating liquors to Native Americans.
Keywords: American Indians (see also Native Americans); Census; Courts; Kansas Territory. Council; Kansas Territory. Governor; Kansas Territory. Legislature; Native Americans; Reeder, Andrew H. (Andrew Horatio), 1807-1864
Veto Message of Andrew H. Reeder, Governor of Kansas Territory together with A Memorial from the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Kansas to His Excellency, Franklin Pierce, President of the United States
Authors: Kansas Territory, Legislature ; Reeder, Andrew H. (Andrew Horatio), 1807-1864
Date: July 26, 1855
This printed pamphlet contained Andrew Reeder's veto messge for two bills passed by the territorial legislature. He based his veto not on the content of the bills but on the argument that the legislation was not passed at the official "seat of government." He explained his position in detail citing federal legislation and acts of the territorial legislature. The "Memorial" from the territorial legislature included a request that Reeder be removed as territorial governor with explanations of their grievances against Reeder. The item included the names of the members of the Council and members of the House.
Keywords: Johnson, Thomas; Kansas Territory. Council; Kansas Territory. Governor; Kansas Territory. Legislature; Reeder, Andrew H. (Andrew Horatio), 1807-1864; Stringfellow, John H.
Letter, H. [Hiram] J. [Jackson] Stickler to Col. [Thomas N. Stinson]
Authors: Strickler, Hiram Jackson
Date: February 12, 1857
Hiram Jackson Strickler, writing from Lecompton, Kansas Territory to Thomas N. Stinson of Tecumseh, Kansas Territory, described his attempts as a Territorial Council member to advocate on behalf of Tecumseh. He commented upon an unsuccessful effort to have the penitentiary located at Tecumseh. He also mentioned his opposition to issuing bank charters due to his concerns that the banks would issue "wild cat shin plasters" (devalued paper money).
Keywords: Banks and banking; Kansas Territory. Council; Kansas Territory. Legislature; Paper money; Prisons; Stinson, Thomas N.; Strickler, Hiram Jackson; Tecumseh, Kansas Territory; Territorial Council (see Kansas Territory. Council)
Photograph, Oscar E. Learnard
Authors: Mettner Studios of Lawrence
Oscar E. Learnard came to Kansas from Vermont in the fall of 1855. He first settled in Lawrence, Kansas Territory, but later was one of the founders of Burlington in Coffey County, Kansas Territory in the spring of 1857. He served on the territorial council. He was president of the May 18, 1859, convention at Osawatimie where the Republican Part was organized. This photograph was taken later in his life by Mettner's Studio, Lawrence, Kansas.
Keywords: Burlington, Kansas Territory; Coffey County, Kansas Territory; Douglas County, Kansas Territory; Kansas Territory. Council; Kansas Territory. Legislature; Lawrence, Kansas Territory; Learnard, Oscar E., 1832-1911; Photographs and Illustrations; Republican Party (U.S.: 1854- )
Photograph, W. W. Updegraff
Authors: Siewert
W. W. Updegraff was involved in territorial politics. He served as the last president of the Territorial Council and as the first speaker of the Kansas House of Representatives. He was a physician who located in Osawatomie, Lykins County, Kansas Territory. He was a free state supporter.
Keywords: Card photographs; Kansas Territory. Council; Kansas. Legislature; Lykins County, Kansas Territory (see also Miami County, Kansas); Miami County, Kansas (see also Lykins County, Kansas Territory); Osawatomie, Kansas Territory; Photographs and Illustrations; Siewert; Updegraff, W. W.
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armeabi + armeabi-v7a + x86
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Fusion 2017 - 9th Annual Women's Pool Party
Saturday August 5, 2017
Fusion returns in 2017 for it's 9th Annual Women's Pool Party!
Every year at Fusion we feature different dj's, live entertainment, games, activities, and more. We've had many guest over the years, including Whitney Mixter (the Real L Word), Hunter Valentine, Pepper Mashay; comedians Mimi Gonzalez, Susan Westenhoeffer, Chantel, Jackie Monahan; local musicians Karen Grenier, Lauren Bateman, and the Candance Brooks Band just to hi-light a few of the people and performers who have been to Fusion.
This year we've changed the day - and Fusion will be on Saturday August 5, 2017!
Online tickets for Fusion 2017 will be on sale Spring 2017. Visit www.lesbiannightlife.com/fusion to purchase.


text: TV viewing has become part of everyday life but the way we view it has come a long way from the days of black-and-white sets. Now there is a continuing flow of new products hitting the market. This year manufacturers are setting a new standard for picture quality. VOA's Arash Aalaei has the story.


text:
No Panic on Wall Street After Government Shuts Down
Chris Dieterich takes a look at today's market action, including three stocks to watch. Photo: Getty Images.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... the the ... look it's now helpless Christina ... pajama ... like the thing itself ... so what stocks doing on the back of this shutdown well novel though a panic on Wall Street this morning lot of muttering about a lack of leadership in Washington but certainly not a lot of panic actually Dow Jones industrial average futures were modestly higher due to falling indices across the globe that the Nikkei win ... which was operational one when then when the shutdown one please pared gains little bit finished higher Europe's hires well ... on the dollar is getting a business with them the most severe reaction falling against most major currencies but not ... come the non reaction actually so far so far ... we will stay tuned though I'm will have more on what's actually happening ... at ten thirty am now in so that all the Muppets oven to three stocks ... you're watching today but some a month ... mark ... Global farms who company just announced ... another wave of layoffs to go ... way off the five hundred people ... aam combined with previously announced layoffs that's can it be twenty percent of their global workforce of stocks higher ... I'm looking at him the gains today for for for Merck and other global pharmaceutical companies are still so grappling with cost cutting a deal with the last excludes the city for some their dogs so ... what what is a generic but sadly I ... can't adjust to merit a double s price ... for it okay Walgreen's and interesting symmetry here Walgreen is still ... grappling for correction will that that that ... first Easter can actually in the reported a lot higher ... earnings from the earlier part of that is to increase margins due to the selling of generic drugs ... um so that that stock is the isthe some traveling for correction started tires and lower but both of profit ... and after their quarterly earnings report ... and that is done through disconnect ahead of a yes a windstorm to resign ... than food is is looking like it's can have more trouble with its with the stock's there ... after reporting ... a loss in part because people are buying fewer nuts but then in part because of some of the accounting ... issues related to the walnut related accounting scandal that you wouldn't use a lot of time in this town fell


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The six-year, $100 million contract that never really was a six-year, $100 million contract will ultimately be not even a three-year deal.
With Eagles quarterback Mike Vick due to earn a base salary of $15.5 million in 2013 and with $3 million of it due to become fully guaranteed only days after Super Bowl XLVII, the Eagles have a decision to make, quickly.
As we reported five days ago on NBC's Football Night in America, Vick won't renegotiate the deal. As a result, this limits the Eagles' options, significantly.
Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer echoes the notion that Vick won't reduce his 2013 pay, and then McLane lays out the theoretical options. The Eagles could cut Vick before the $3 million becomes fully guaranteed. Or they could keep him into the new league year, carrying the guarantee and the cap number while attempting to trade him. Finally, the Eagles could squat on Vick through offseason workouts and into training camp and the preseason as insurance against an injury to Nick Foles, since the rest of Vick's salary would not become fully guaranteed until the first day of the regular season.
But no option other than cutting Vick is particularly viable. A torn ACL or a ruptured Achilles or any other significant injury to Vick while participating in training camp, the preseason, offseason practice, or even weightlifting at the team's facility would potentially put the Eagles on the hook for the full $15.5 million. And with Vick unwilling to take less money, no one will trade for Vick's contract.
Besides, as the Eagles move forward, presumably with a new coach, they can't afford the distraction that would come from keeping Vick. So while the Eagles have options, the only option that makes sense is cutting Vick loose before that $3 million guaranteed vests in early February.
"I have to just sit back and think about what has transpired and look at the situation as a whole," Vick said Friday regarding his future, per McLane. "Of course, you would like to come back and play. I love the organization and I love what they've done for me. . . . But if not, it's been wonderful and I understand the nature of this business. At some point, we all got to move on."
Amen to that. And Vick most likely will be moving on, and moving out, sooner rather than later.


text:
Your Golf Travel
Your Golf Travel
Close military connections are just one reason why Your Golf Travel has been, and continues to be, a proud supporter of Help for Heroes. Once again, we are delighted to have Involvement in making the Heroes National Celebrity Golf Day a success and help towards fund raising.
Meet Ross Marshall (L) and Andrew Harding - Founders of YourGolfTravel.com
About Your Golf Travel
Your Golf Travel is the world's largest golf travel company, facilitating the travel needs of more than 175,000 golfers annually. Based in Farringdon, Your Golf Travel is proud to be a privately owned British business that has enjoyed considerable success in its journey to becoming the market leader; four consecutive inclusions in the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100 are just one highlight.
The unique position that Your Golf Travel enjoys as the largest company of its kind ensures that the benefits of buying power are translated to the consumer. Golf breaks and golf tours throughout the UK and Ireland provide the opportunity to play at leading resorts and championship courses, including Open Championship and Ryder Cup venues, while the overseas programme spans short haul escapes to Spain, Portugal and Turkey, luxury holidays in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean plus the chance to experience the US Masters in person.
The Most Choice and Best Price, Guaranteed
Your Golf Travel offers a choice of more than 3,000 destinations worldwide and a Best Price Guarantee that ensures that you will hit the fairways without hitting your pocket.
For more information, contact Your Golf Travel at 0800 043 6644 or visit www.yourgolftravel.com.


text:
Maryland emergency management officials are asking lower Eastern Shore residents to report damage to their property that occurred during Superstorm Sandy as part of an effort to appeal denial of federal storm cleanup money.
Residents of Dorchester, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties with damage to report are asked to call the Maryland Department of Human Resources Relief Hotline for Superstorm Sandy at 888-756-7836.
State officials are seeking to gather as much information on damage as possible to boost Maryland's application for federal relief funds. The Federal Emergency Management Agency on Tuesday denied the state's request for assistance to individual state residents in repairing $27 million in damage, saying it was not severe enough to justify the federal expense.
State leaders quickly challenged the decision and vowed to appeal it. While the storm hit New Jersey and New York particularly hard, state officials say damage in areas such as Crisfield is equally as devastating.
Local, state and federal teams have returned to the lower Eastern Shore to ensure all damage has been surveyed and are seeking to collect as much information as possible from residents.
If residents call the toll-free number and get a recorded message, they are being asked to leave their name, phone number, address and the reason for the call.
Have a weather question? E-mail me at email@example.com or tweet to @MdWeather.


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This is not an offer for credit and should be used for estimation purposes only based on the information you provided. You should not base your decision on this estimate alone. Title, registration, tax and other fees, and personal circumstances such as employment status and personal credit history, were not considered in the calculations.
Steering - Hydraulic
Service - Mechanical
Pressure - 2.5 psi (17.2 kPa) using tires
Tires - 9.5 in. - 240 mm
Tracks - 10.5 in. - 265 mm
CLASSIC with High and Low range; Forward, Neutral, Reverse.
Options - STD or HT
Chains drive machined sprockets. 1 1/4" diameter axles with triple sealed greaseable outer bearings.
Final - RC60 roller chain drive to all 6 axles
Belt - Optional
One-piece ergonomic handlebar steering control with mounted brake lever. For safety and ease of handling, the ARGO steering transmission provides continuous torque to all axles.
Right-hand twist grip throttle.
On Land - 640 lbs. / 290 kg total
Rear Compartment - 140 lbs. / 64 kg max.
On Water - 440 lbs. / 200 kg total
On Land - 22 mph / 35 km per hour
On Water - 3 mph / 5 km per hour
Formed steel channel construction, welded for high strength and durability. Polyester powder coated for lasting protection.
Body - Vacuum formed High Molecular Weight Polyethylene
Mossy Oak Infinity Camo
*Price, if shown, does not include government fees, taxes, dealer freight/preparation, dealer document preparation charges or any finance charges (if applicable). Final actual sales price will vary depending on options or accessories selected.
NOTE: Models with a price of "Request a Quote" are always included in a $0 search, regardless of actual value.


text:
NEW YORK – There is a way to crunch the numbers so that Jim Johnson's 2013 season looks palatable.
The Orioles closer is still leading the majors with 29 saves. He has made 43 appearances in the first half – tied for fourth most in all of baseball and most by any closer -- and has been scored on in just three of his past 18 games.
But after Friday's 3-2 loss at Yankee Stadium, in which Johnson allowed two runs on two singles, a four-pitch walk, an intentional walk and his own fielding error, the positives are hard to accentuate.
Bottom line is that Johnson has now blown six saves in the first half of this season compared to three in his All Star...


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Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer insists any move for Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara is far from a done deal.
The Bundesliga champions appear to be in pole position to lure the highly rated 22-year-old away from the Nou Camp, despite interest from Manchester United.
Reports earlier this week claimed the player had agreed a four-year contract at the Allianz Arena, but Sammer today insisted such suggestions were premature.
"Why would we not communicate it if something was signed? No, of course that is not the case," the 45-year-old told German newspaper Bild am Sonntag.
If the transfer did go through, it would see Thiago reunited with his former Barca boss Pep Guardiola.
New Bayern coach Guardiola confirmed on Thursday that Thiago, who came to the fore in Spain's triumphant Under-21 European Championship campaign with several fine performances including a stunning hat-trick in the final against Italy, was his number one transfer target this summer.
When asked at a press conference at the Bayern training camp if he was interested in Thiago, the 42-year-old said: "Yes.
"I don't know what's going to happen. We have to wait. I know him very, very well. He is a super, super player. He can play in three, four or five positions."
When asked about other transfers, Guardiola added: "It is either Thiago or nothing."


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Robert B. Reich, a co-founder of The American Prospect, is a Professor of Public Policy at the Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley. His website can be found here and his blog can be found here.
The key to understanding the rise in inequality isn't technology or globalization. It's the power of the moneyed interests to shape the underlying rules of the market.


text:
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This unit investigates asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, focusing on Vesta, a prominent asteroid in the asteroid belt. The unit of eleven lessons culminates in having students use engineering practices to design, build, and test devices that will... (View More) land on Vesta, collect and separate natural resources found there, and deliver a payload to a target. Teachers and students are also introduced to the Asteroid Mappers-Vesta Edition citizen science project that is part of the CosmoQuest online community. Lessons include background information for educators, reviews and assessments, and links to supplemental videos and websites. Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and Common Core Standards are listed. (View Less)
This is a series of seven brief activities about Jupiter's atmosphere and weather. Learners will look at Jupiter's distinct banded appearance, violent storms, and clouds of many different colors. The activities are part of Explore! Jupiter's Family... (View More) Secrets, a series designed to engage children in space and planetary science in libraries and informal learning environments. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
This 12-lesson unit includes inquiry-based lessons about the surface features of the Moon and the Earth and how these two worlds formed and continue to evolve. Students participate in real science as they help lunar scientists map the surface of the... (View More) Moon with MoonMappers, an online citizen science project that lets the public analyze real data from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. The lessons in this unit follow the 5E instructional model. Includes an overview of citizen science, glossary of lunar feature vocabulary, alignment to NGSS and NSES, and featured links. Each of the lessons addresses different topics and can be used together as a unit, or independently. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
Learners will build an open spectrograph to calculate the angle the light is transmitted through a holographic diffraction grating. After finding the desired angles, the students will design their own spectrograph using the information learned. The... (View More) activity is part of Project Spectra, a science and engineering program for middle-high school students, focusing on how light is used to explore the Solar System. (View Less)
This is a lesson about light in the outer solar system. Learners will demonstrate the effect of the inverse square law of illumination with distance and connect this to the functioning of solar panels at Saturn. Requires a silicon solar cell... (View More) (available at an electronics parts store) and a multimeter. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
In this hands-on experiment, students will investigate the basic principle of photosynthesis and learn how light intensity diminishes as a function of distance from the light source. Questions help learners connect these two ideas to determine if... (View More) photosynthesis could occur at Saturn. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
This activity is about the kinds of rocks on the Moon. Learners will carefully look at, describe, and learn about the origins of the six lunar samples contained in the disk. This activity is in Unit 2 of the Exploring the Moon teachers guide, which... (View More) is designed for use especially, but not exclusively, with the Lunar Sample Disk program. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students


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That was the case with a recent column about the perils of marketing the 2001 crops. The column said some experts were suggesting that producers place their cotton in the CCC loan and redeem it with marketing certificates if they expect to exceed the limit on marketing loan gains.
It also said: "While the emergency assistance legislation signed by President Bush doubles the payment limit on marketing loan gains, it does not provide for LDPs (loan deficiency payments) on non-base acres. With so many farmers planting cotton on 'non-traditional' acres this year, the inability to receive a LDP on those fields could be devastating."
Several readers e-mailed us because they planted cotton in 2001 although they did not have a cotton base. One Texas grower took the article to his county Farm Service Agency office.
"They told me that if I am a participating farm and have certified my acres there is no problem," he wrote. "Several other farmers in my area also interpreted the article as I did."
Why the confusion? Well, it comes back to a misunderstanding about the use of the word "base." The Farm Service Agency person who reviewed the original article said that he considered "non-base" cotton to be cotton on a farm with insufficient base.
"What I meant by 'non-base' cotton was cotton not backed by 'base' or payment acres," he said. "The farm has 100 acres of payment base (corn, wheat or another program crop), but has 150 acres of cotton. Fifty acres of cotton are non-base and can't go into the CCC loan."
Others have interpreted the rules to mean that a payment base qualifies the farmer for LDPs on all his acreage no matter how small that base might be. Who's right? The folks in the county FSA office have the last word, so I would go with them.
The Senate Agriculture Committee attempted to pass language waiving the base requirement for farmers without a production flexibility contract or PFC, as was the case in 2000. It was not successful, but National Cotton Council officials say they will continue to ask Congress for a waiver this fall.
The waiver could be doubly important for farmers this fall as December cotton futures and other commodity prices continue to fall in the wake of the economic uncertainty following the terrorist attacks.
As noted here earlier, it appears increasingly unlikely that Congress will write a 2001 farm bill given the emergency measures now being considered. Some farm-state lawmakers reportedly are putting disaster assistance legislation together to help producers who face weather problems and plummeting commodity prices.
Footnote: On a day following the attacks, a national radio commentator criticized administration officials for planning to send 100,000 metric tons of U.S. wheat to Afghanistan. What better way could our government send a message that we have no quarrel with the Afghans, only with the cowards who are hiding among them?
e-mail: [email protected]


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Pretty & Yummy-Licious Eds Jelly Hearts...-made by HIMLike us in FaceBook www.facebook.com/edsjellyhearts
Notification : During Festive Seasons
Please pre-order : 8188 5905 before "walking-in" to our shop.
Walk-in will be based on a first come first serve, priority will be given to those who had pre-ordered/reserved.
We do not want you to make a wasted trip. Alternatively, you can like our facebook page: www.facebook.com/edsjellyhearts to receive latest updates. Usually we will post once we are "sold out" for that day/close our order for a particular day ...
Appreciate your understanding.


text:
Noticing the regular movement of the Sun and the stars has led to a desire to measure time. This article for teachers and learners looks at the history of man's need to measure things.
Can you place these quantities in order from smallest to largest?
Can you rank these quantities in order? You may need to find out
extra information or perform some experiments to justify your


text:
Plants, even low maintenance ones, benefit from being planted in favorite soil conditions and that includes knowing how much, and when, to fertilize. Second to pesticide use, most homeowners over-fertilize, which can be worse than too little.
Plants, even low maintenance ones, benefit from being planted in favorite soil conditions and that includes knowing how much, and when, to fertilize. Second to pesticide use, most homeowners over-fertilize, which can be worse than too little.
Plants need a combination of sun energy, water and soil nutrients. Soil that is well-drained, fertile and regularly compost-enriched will offer a reasonable supply of plant nutrients.
Newly cultivated soil, although seemingly attractive, is low in organisms. Micro-organisms that should live there may not, and are certainly not, generating plant nutrients.
Soil is an amazing ecosystem. There are more living individual organisms in a teaspoon of soil than there are currently living on earth.
Soil micro-organisms, including bacteria and fungi, cycle nutrients and water to plants. Along with earthworms, among others, bacteria digest nutrients, providing nitrogen, phosphorus and many other nutrients in a form plant cells can assimilate.
A teaspoon of productive soil generally contains between 100 million and 1 billion bacteria. One reference notes that is as much mass as two cows per acre.
Part of that ecosystem includes compost, which is decomposing matter that feed all of those teeny tiny little cows…ok, just checking if you were still with me.
One of the reasons it is not recommended to plant immediately after composting is that compost is food for all of those micro-organisms.
To break down into nutrients, they need a little time so the best time to compost is after the growing season. In mid-Missouri, fall composting will give soil micro-organisms time to provide increased plant nutrients by spring.
For those gardens already started this year, let's go over plants' appetite and get a feel for what kind of feeding to provide them.
In general, light-feeding plants benefit only from a small amount of starter fertilizer. They won't need anything else, assuming they are growing in compost-enriched soil: bush beans, turnips, mustard greens and peas.
Moderate feeders need good drainage and moisture-holding mulch more than they need fertilizer. These are root crops so don't use processed manure fertilizers: beets, carrots, okra, pole beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes. In mid-Missouri, adding potassium in recommended doses will help with potato production since this is one of the minerals often missing.
Heavy feeders are the ones you should add fertilizer into soil before planting. These plants also may appreciate a second helping later in the season: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cantaloupe, cauliflower, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, kohlrabi, onions, peppers, rhubarb, squash, tomatoes and watermelon.
Anything growing in a pot or hanging basket needs to have regular doses of fertilizers to keep micro-organisms fed. Often watering removes nutrients that keeps micro-organisms fed.
Most fertilizers have recommended doses. Follow recommended rates. I tend to cut the rate in half to see how my plants respond, then adjust accordingly.
If your plants are growing big but bearing a light crop late in the season, you are overfeeding. They do make a great conversation piece, as in "I have a six-foot tomato plant growing off my deck.
But sadly you're missing the best part: enjoying your garden bounty.
Charlotte Ekker Wiggins is a certified gardener sharing gardening tips in a changing climate. Copyright 2014 used with permission by Rolla Daily News and Waynesville Daily Guide. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Contact Charlotte at email@example.com.