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That vegan sloppy joe receipe sounds yummy. I've had an extra bag of TVP that I had no idea what to do with - but I think I'll try it!
As foods go, beans are one of the healthiest, cheapest options out there. High in protein and fiber and costing just pennies per serving, beans can be dressed up or down, served along with meat or as a protein source all their own, and kept on your pantry shelf for months.
I love beans. I also know, though, that if you aren't already a big bean fan, beans can seem pretty boring. Suggestions like "just toss them in a salad!" often aren't all that helpful. So instead, here is a big collection of recipes that you can use beans in, from dips to main dishes and more. (See also: 25 Things to Do With Rotisserie Chicken)
Also, it's a point of contention it's better to use dry or canned beans. Personally, I use dry — they're cheaper and don't have extra sodium in them. Canned beans, however, are a great convenience. Use what works for you.
Dips and spreads are a great way to use beans. They're also the main reason why I try to keep at least one can of beans around — if I have unexpected guests, it's easy to whip up a bowl of hummus or black bean dip from ingredients in the pantry.
1. Hummus
All right, yeah, you probably expected to see hummus on this list. But it deserves to be here. It's gosh darn good, and it's easy to make yourself. The paprika-topped hummus recipe from Zahav, one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia, is fantastic.
2. Hummusy Baba Ganoush
If you want a change from the normal hummus, try this baba ganoush recipe — while it isn't typical, this particular version of the eggplant dip includes chickpeas as well.
3. Balsamic Bean Dip
Chickpeas aren't the only beans that lend themselves to a good blended bean dip or spread — this balsamic bean dip uses cannellini beans and balsamic vinegar for a different twist.
4. Black Bean Dip
Oh man, looking at black bean dip recipes makes me want to go to some sort of sports-watching gathering so badly. I must confess, I have kind of an addiction to tortilla chips.
5. White Bean Spread With Garlic and Rosemary
Garlic and rosemary are two of my favorite flavors, which means I couldn't resist this white bean spread that, according to the recipe, can be refrigerated for up to two weeks.
In the winter, there isn't much that's better than a warm bowl of soup — and protein-filled beans can help make soup a complete meal.
6. Artichoke and White Bean Soup
This artichoke and white bean soup from EatingWell comes together super fast when you have canned beans and artichokes. Even though it's not your traditional brothy soup, I ate this the last time I was sick. I loved being able to throw it together so fast.
7. African Chickpea Stew
This African chickpea stew recipe is very similar to one I used to make for work lunches. With chickpeas, brown rice, sweet potatoes, and kale, it makes a warm and filling one-pot meal.
8. Quick Minestrone
If you need a fast dinner, this quick minestrone from Epicurious can help you out.
9. Black Bean Soup
I almost never think to make black bean soup — why not just make chili? — but whenever I have it, I'm reminded of how much I enjoy it. And it has a lot of great variations. There's this cumin and jalapeno black bean soup, a version topped with a fried egg, one that mixes black and white beans with sweet potatoes, and black bean soup with a generous flavoring of ham hock.
10. Ribollita
Adam at the Amateur Gourmet whips up Ribollita, a soup that combines beans and cheap veggies like cabbage and kale. He also throws in the rind from his Parmesean, which is a great way to flavor soup and use up ALL the cheese.
Beans' high protein make them an ideal (and super-frugal) stand-in for meat in meals.
11. Baked Beans
My mother's baked beans are one of my favorite recipes of all time. With just a little bit of salt pork, molasses, onion, and garlic, a $1.29 bag of white beans becomes a warm, delicious, and filling main dish that can feed a family and leave leftovers. I serve these with coleslaw and either brown bread or corn bread.
12. Socca
Okay, so this chickpea pancake uses somewhat-more-expensive chickpea flour. But it's just too good not to include. Every time I cook it, I'm amazed by how so few ingredients can quickly turn into a delightful, crispy, filling dish. The recipe from Mark Bittman talks about serving it as an appetizer, but my favorite way to serve it is as a main dish, topped with a warm salad of your choice.
13. Bean Burritos
When I think of bean burritos, I think of two different kinds. The first is like this refried bean burritos recipe — it's similar to one my mom made growing up, except we didn't include rice, added onion, and replaced the salsa with diced tomatoes. The second kind uses whole beans and more ingredients, like this bean burrito recipe from Martha Stewart.
14. Catalan Sauteed Polenta and Butter Beans
You might also know butter beans by their less-popular name — lima beans. In this Spanish-inspired recipe, they're paired with polenta (which you can easily make from scratch instead of buying the prepared tube recommended).
15. Cuban Black Beans
I've also made this Cuban black beans recipe with red kidney beans. They work well served over rice as a main dish (and a side of fried plantains, if you feel like it), or as a side dish.
16. Bean Burgers
There are tons of bean burger recipes out there, based on all sorts of beans and cuisines. This black bean burger recipe is pretty straightforward, while Heidi at 101 Cookbooks recommends a burger with chickpeas.
17. Vegan Sloppy Joes
My friend Ashley over at (never home) maker offers up this uber-quick vegan sloppy joes recipe that uses canned vegetarian baked beans as a base, although you could easily substitute your own homemade beans.
18. Chickpea Tikka Masala
Go Indian with this spicy chickpea tikka masala. If you have an Indian grocery nearby, visit it to find garam masala (and other Indian spices) on the cheap. You might be floored by how much you've been paying for "exotic" spices at your local grocery store.
19. Baked Tostones With Lime Tequila Black Beans
The blog 30 Bucks a Week follows the adventures of a couple, uh...well, you can probably guess what they're doing. Personally, I love (good) tequila, so I'm pretty excited by this lime tequila black beans recipe.
20. Marinated White Beans and Beets
I'm obsessed with anything that features a vinegar tang (except normal pickles — I know, I know, don't yell), which is part of the reason why I'm entranced by this healthy bean and beet dish.
All right, yeah, beans are a great stand-in for meat. But sometimes, you want meat too. In that case, use beans as a way to stretch costly meat with these recipes.
21. Beef Chili With Kidney Beans
Make a meaty chili serve more folks with the addition of kidney beans.
22. White Beans and Sausage
Make tasty (but not-quite-good-for-you) sausage go further by pairing it with white beans. Or, if you want more vegetables in there, here's a recipe with cannellini, Brussels sprouts, and sausage.
23. Shrimp and Black Bean Salad
Southwestern flavors blend in this shrimp and black bean salad dressed with cilantro, cumin, and lime.
Recently, my boyfriend's brother was talking about the secret to feeling full on his new low-carb diet — beans. Use these side dishes to round out your meal, whether you're eating low-carb or not.
24. Refried Beans
In this refried beans recipe, the classic Mexican staple gets a perhaps surprising addition — beer.
25. Chickpea "Fries"
If you already bought chickpea flour for the Socca mentioned above (do it — that recipe is fantastic), use some more of it on these chickpea fries.
26. Collard Greens and Red Beans
A tart side dish, collard greens and red beans pair well with Southern fare.
Because black bean brownies exist.
What are you favorite cheap bean recipes? Share in the comments!
Disclaimer: The links and mentions on this site may be affiliate links. But they do not affect the actual opinions and recommendations of the authors.
Wise Bread is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
That vegan sloppy joe receipe sounds yummy. I've had an extra bag of TVP that I had no idea what to do with - but I think I'll try it!
Enchiladas! Made with chicken or turkey and refried beans.


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HATTIESBURG – Top students and leaders at the Forrest County Center of Pearl River Community College received recognition Monday, May 6, during the annual Awards Day program.
Carol Byrd-Brown of Biloxi and William Wicks of Long Beach received the Citizenship Awards.
Andy Sims of Petal and Michaela Donohue of Hattiesburg were recognized for their selection to the 2013 Phi Theta Kappa All-Academic Team for the state. Sims, who also received the history award, was named to the first team, and Donohue to the second.
Louie Forsmark of Petal was recognized for his selection as PRCC's HEADWAE (Higher Education Appreciation Day-Working for Academic Excellence) honoree. He also recieved the biology award.
Subject area awards and the recipients were:
Chemistry – Robert Rogness of Petal.
Communications – Charles Thaggard of Oak Grove.
Computer science – Collin Powell of Purvis.
Criminal justice, academic track – Laken C. Arrington of Petal.
Criminal justice, career-technical track – Dalton M. Murphy of Hattiesburg.
Dental assisting technology – Hannah Louis Sykes Petal.
Dental hygiene technology – Jessica Gregory of Moss Point.
Developmental studies – Charmin Edwards of Meridian.
Electronics technology – Joshua Yates of Gretna, La.
English – Carolyn Lucas of Petal.
Geography – Zachary Dodge of Hattiesburg.
Heating, air conditioning and refrigeration technology – Kenneth Rayburn of Purvis.
Mathematics – Trevor A. Creighton of Hattiesburg.
Medical laboratory technology – Alexander Harvey of Ellisville.
Medical radiologic technology – Brandi Sticker of Picayune.
Occupational therapy assistant technology – Lee Ashley Moore of Laurel.
Office systems technology – Cortney Lankford of Hattiesburg.
Philosophy/religion – Joshua Fillingame of Sanford.
Physical therapist assistant technolgoy – Brittany Lewis of Kokomo.
Psychology – Maggie Brannon of Petal.
Practical nursing – Samantha Bond of Purvis.
Practical nursing, dual enrollment – Anna Smith of Petal.
Sociology – Lynell Powell of Purvis.
Spanish – Katelin Jackson of Sumrall.
Welding – Johnathan Scott of Petal.
Writing – Justin Tracy of Hattiesburg, first place; Trevor A. Creighton of Hattiesburg, second; and Jennifer Smith of Purvis, third.
Recognized for their inclusion in Who's Who Among American Community Colleges were Jameka Calcote, Michaela Donohue, Melissa Fahrenbruch, Tiffany Gragg, Kevin Grzenia, Arolyn Joiner, Brigit Lee, Donna Perry and Melissa Stuart, all of Hattiesburg; Louie Forsmark, Carolyn Lucas, Andy Sims and Taylor Stephens, all of Petal; Laci Bilbo, Kristen Myers and Sean Stasny, all of Poplarville; Anna Fowler and Justin Tuck, both of Purvis; Crystal Curtis and Brittni Prine, both of Sumrall; Annie Cardens of Liberty, Alton Curtis of Carriere, Tran Diep of Biloxi, Jessica Gregory of Moss Point, Alexander Harvey of Ellisville, Nikki Hughes of Tylertown, Mikka Knowles of Saucier, Alazai Lai of Ocean Springs, Jonna McGlaughn of Brookhaven, John Robinson of Vicksburg, Jessica Rousse of Lumberton, Jessica Walley of Richton and Amanda Whittington of Perkinston.
Students at the Pearl River Community College Forrest County Center who have been named to Who's Who Among American Community Colleges were recognized at Awards Day on May 6. They are, front row from left, Arolyn Joiner of Hattiesburg, Nikki Hughes of Tylertown, Tran Diep of Biloxi, Kristen Meyers of Poplarville, Jessica Gregory of Moss Point, Carolyn Lucas of Petal; second row, Michaela Donohue of Hattiesburg, Annie Cardenas of Liberty, Crystal Curtis of Sumrall, Alaxai Lai of Ocean Springs, Jessica Walley of Richton, Amanda Whittington of Perkinston, Melissa Stuart and Tiffany Gragg, both of Hattiesburg; third row, Alexander Harvey of Ellisville, Brittni Prine of Sumrall, Louie Forsmark and Andy Sims, both of Petal; and Kevin Grzenia of Chicago.
PRCC Public Relations photo

subset: commoncrawl


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It's day 15 of Banksy's New York residency "Better Out Than In," and the graffiti king's newest piece is a painting of the Twin Towers with a flower. Around 11:30 a.m. today, @banksyny posted this image on his Instagram with the caption that it is in Tribeca.
The piece depicts the original World Trade Center buildings with a bright orange flower that makes it look like there is an explosion in one of the towers (but the explosion has been replaced with a harmless flower), an allusion to 9/11. People are responding to the powerful work with praise, and while Banksy's other pieces have been painted over within hours, this may be one that other graffiti artists respect. As one comment reads, "No one will deface this and if they do they're not real New Yorkers..Beautiful piece Banksy...Never forget...9/11/01." We hope that this is the case.
While people seem to be battling the excitement around each new piece vs. their annoyance around all the hoopla, this may be one work that rises above the Banksy debate. Earlier today, the graffiti artist tweeted, "time to step it up," and with this work, he has taken his residency in New York to a new level.
time to step it up
UPDATE OCT. 15 12:12 P.M. ET: A tipster toldAnimal New York that the new Banksy is on the corner of Staple Street and Jay Street.
UPDATE OCT. 15 12:43 P.M. ET: According to Gothamist, there is a second Banksy 9/11 tribute in Brooklyn Heights that the artist may have started before he moved to Tribeca. Check out the first work here.
UPDATE OCT. 16 10:39 A.M. ET: Someone has written a note asking Banksy "haters" to respect his Twin Towers piece.
UPDATE OCT. 16 12:05 P.M. ET: Hyperallergicreports that overnight the Banksy 9/11 tribute became a memorial ringed in flowers and candlelight. Since it went up yesterday, @lastsuspect stole the flower on one of the towers and posted an image and super weird video of it on Instagram with a promise to distribute the petals around the city. The thief is receiving heated comments for disturbing Banky's work.
UPDATE OCT. 18 10:58 A.M. ET: The Twin Towers piece in Tribeca has been covered in plexiglass and blacked out with blue paint, reportsGothamist. Also, the Brooklyn Heights version of the piece has been buffed.
RELATED: 25 Things You Didn't Know About Banksy
RELATED: 25 People on Twitter Who Think They Know What #BanksyNY Will Do Next
RELATED: Banksy Announces Artist's Residency on the Streets of New York


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Dear friends,
we sincerely wish you that the coming year 2013 will be wonderful for you and your loved ones. Let your dreams and plans come true; we wish you good health, happiness, and love.
For your convenience, we will be open during our regular hours. We will be happy to serve you whenever you need us - and thank you for choosing our services!
Magnetic Exchange team.
© 2011–2023 Magnetic Exchange —
خدمة صرف العملات الإلكترونية


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The Day the Earth Caught Fire1962 Drama | Romance | SciFi/Fantasy
Despite its come-on title, The Day the Earth Caught Fire is an intelligent, disturbing piece of speculative fiction. Through the eyes of British reporter Peter Stenning (Edward Judd), we learn that both the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. have simultaneously set off nuclear explosions to test their efficiency. The twin blasts have caused the Earth to go off its axis. The result is a disastrous upheaval in the balance of nature; floods and fires being the principal plagues. With the end of the world staring everyone in the face, chaos reigns. The only hope lies in another massive nuclear explosion, which will hopefully rebalance the Earth. The film ends ambiguously, with viewers allowed to decide for themselves whether or not the world has been saved. In the original prints of The Day the Earth Caught Fire, the opening and closing reels were tinted yellow, representing the scorching heat beating down on the frightened populace.~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide


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One of my all time favorite fragrances ever: Burberry Brit. It's delectably deep and sensual, feminine, yet classy. I feel like I'm wearing a classic trench and oversized sunglasses as soon as I dab my wrists together.
Apparently, I'm not alone. Here are some famous celebrities who love Burberry Brit as much as I do and wear the scent themselves: Continue reading Celebrities Who Wear Burberry Brit


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January 2016: This excellent article from NPR explains the benefits of having doula support:
Women have complex needs during childbirth and the weeks that follow. In addition to medical care and the love and companionship provided by their partners, women need consistent, continuous reassurance, comfort, encouragement and respect. They need individualized care based on their circumstances and preferences.
Doulas are prepared to provide physical (non-medical), emotional and informational support to women and their partners during labor and birth, as well as to families in the weeks following childbirth. We offer a loving touch, positioning and comfort measures that make childbearing women and families feel nurtured and cared for.
Numerous clinical studies have found that a doula's presence at birth:
Tends to result in shorter labors with fewer complications
Reduces negative feelings about one's childbirth experience
Reduces the need for pitocin (a labor-inducing drug), forceps or vacuum extraction and cesareans
Reduces the mother's request for pain medication and/or epidurals
Research shows parents who receive support can:
Feel more secure and cared for
Are more successful in adapting to new family dynamics
Have greater success with breastfeeding
Have greater self-confidence
Have less postpartum depression


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Disney Consumer Products (DCP) has unveiled its fall lineup of TRON: Legacy-inspired electronics and toys, including action figures featuring impulse light projection technology. Walt Disney Pictures' TRON: Legacy will hit theaters December 17 in Disney Digital 3-D and IMAX 3-D.
Featuring dark finishes, neon lighting, and a cyber aesthetic, DCP's new TRON: Legacy line was developed in collaboration with Spin Master, Monster, Performance Designed Products (PDP), Razer, and more. TRON products will be available at retail beginning this October. In addition to the action figures, the line also features core and deluxe vehicles, the TRON Zero Gravity Light Cycle, and more.


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Not sure what's up with those cyborg-like purple pants, but I'm sure we'll find out...
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Simonson variant for Indestructible Hulk #1
Posted by Jason Shayer at 3:45 PM
Labels: Hulk, Incredible Hulk, Indestructible Hulk #1, Marvel Comics, Purple Pants, simonson, walt simonson
4 comments:
Jesus! re: cyborg purple pants. Man, as great as comic books are and the enjoyment i get out of them through the years, they'll try anything for an angle, or fresh storyline. that insults readers intelligence. cyborg purple shredded pants. what happened to character development? it started with spidey's black suit where will it end?ReplyDelete
man whats the story with does pants.and the Steven Seagal haircut...no wonder I've turned to DCReplyDelete
I guess nano tech pants makes more sense than stretchy pants!! :)ReplyDelete
y'know what your right ha ha!!ReplyDelete
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When the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) begins smashing protons together this fall inside its 17-mile- (27-kilometer-) circumference underground particle racetrack near Geneva, Switzerland, it will usher in a new era not only of physics but also of computing.
Before the year is out, the LHC is projected to begin pumping out a tsunami of raw data equivalent to one DVD (five gigabytes) every five seconds. Its annual output of 15 petabytes (15 million gigabytes) will soon dwarf that of any other scientific experiment in history.
The challenge is making that data accessible to a scientist anywhere in the world at the execution of a few commands on her laptop. The solution is a global computer network called the LHC Computing Grid, and with any luck, it may be giving us a glimpse of the Internet of the future.
Once the LHC reaches full capacity sometime next year, it will be churning out snapshots of particle collisions by the hundreds every second, captured in four subterranean detectors standing from one and a half to eight stories tall.* It is the grid's job to find the extremely rare events—a bit of missing energy here, a pattern of particles there—that could solve lingering mysteries such as the origin of mass or the nature of dark matter.
A generation earlier, research fellow Tim Berners-Lee of the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) set out to create a global "pool of information" to meet a similar challenge. Then, as now, hundreds of collaborators across the planet were all trying to stay on top of rapidly evolving data from CERN experiments. Berners-Lee's solution became the World Wide Web.
But the fire hose of data that is the LHC requires special treatment. "If I look at the LHC and what it's doing for the future," said David Bader, executive director of high performance computing at the Georgia Institute of Technology, "the one thing that the Web hasn't been able to do is manage a phenomenal wealth of data." Bandwidth alone is a major bottleneck. Bader said that for researchers running supercomputer simulations, it's cheaper to write the data to terabyte hard drives and ship them from one supercomputer center to another via FedEx than it is to transfer the gigantic data sets over the net.
The LHC Computing Grid handles data in stages, referred to as tiers. "Tier 0," located at CERN, is a massively parallel computer network composed of 100,000 of today's fastest CPUs that stores and manages the raw data (1s and 0s) from the experiments. It ships portions of data over dedicated 10-gigabit-per-second fiber-optic lines to 11 "Tier 1" sites across North America, Asia and Europe. Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y., for example, receives data from the ALICE experiment, which collides lead ions.
From those sites the data is parceled out for easier access among 140 Tier 2 computer networks based at universities, government labs and even private companies around the globe. Tier 2 is where scientists will actually access data and perform the kinds of hands-on numerical analysis needed to translate the raw 1s and 0s into energies and trajectories of particles.
The crucial element that will make the data accessible, said project leader Ian Bird of CERN's information technology (IT) department in Geneva, is a type of software known as "middleware". The information a user wants may be spread among petabytes of data on different servers and stored in different formats. An open-source middleware platform called Globus is designed to gather that information seamlessly as though it's sitting in a folder on one's own desktop PC.
The trial by fire that LHC programmers will be putting Globus through—and the modifications that emerge as a result—may be the first practical outgrowth of the LHC grid. If project scientists can tame massive, worldwide fields of networked data and computing cycles in particle physics, their solutions could well apply across the Internet—in much the same way that Berners-Lee's specialized HTML invention morphed into the very backbone of modern technological society.
Bader imagines future middleware allowing home computers to provide instant weather forecasts by accessing information from nearby environmental sensors. Or it might help sift through a life's accumulation of personal medical records or years of home video footage looking for dimly remembered events.
Ironically, CERN's next great contribution to the Internet could be all but transparent to the end user. In a perfect world, Globus or its successors would simply make everything on a given grid straightforwardly and transparently accessible from any computer. "If Globus is a success," Bader said, "then you won't hear about it."
*Correction (9/3/08): This article originally stated that the LHC will produce millions of snapshots of particle collisions; "millions" refers to the number of collisions, only a fraction of which will be recorded.


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I've been thinking lately about how would I label my cemetery obsession. A post on A Grave Interest inspired the question. Joy chooses to call herself a tombstone tourist, after Scott Stanton's book about visiting the graves of musicians. Joy has a lot of interesting thoughts along the way. Her original post is here.
An essay in the Association for Gravestone Studies Winter 2011 newsletter also considers the question. She says that the current nomenclature is "taphophile" ("taph" from the Greek for tomb and "philia" meaning an inordinate fondness), but I've always found the term too clinical. Professor Davies says her love for graveyards leans more toward bibliophilia (a love of books) than necrophilia "or any other equally gross or morbid derangement." In the end, she rejects the term taphophile and decides to call herself a cemeterian.
Doyle P. Glaze II has labeled his Facebook group as cemetery hunters, which puts a more masculine spin on the subject.
Of course, lovers of graveyards can't claim to be a movement officially until we all accept (or have thrust upon us) the same label. Perhaps we come to our fascination for these liminal spaces from so many different directions that no single word or phrase is going to encompass us all. I'm all right with that. It's just made me happy to know so many cemetery organizations are out there, doing the good work, researching and documenting and protecting these fragile places.
For myself, I'm tempted by the label "cemetery lady." I envision these women as the ones who plant flowers and tidy up and lead tours, although I only occasionally do any of those things. Unfortunately, my mental picture of the ideal cemetery lady looks like my silver-haired grandmother, so I haven't quite grown into the role yet.
In a way, though, I'm a cemetery collector. I collect vintage postcards from cemeteries, marveling over the comfort with which our ancestors visited graveyards. I have a library of cemetery books, gathered for research and their lovely pictures. I even have a half-dozen or so cemetery photographs framed and hung on my bedroom wall. I gather clippings about graveyards, along with brochures, maps, and other ephemera. All of those things are incidental to actually visiting graveyards themselves: to walk their paths, smell their flowers, see their statuary, and read their epitaphs. My love for cemeteries began and ends with standing in front of a tombstone.
I've gone beyond being a fan of cemeteries. Enthusiasm is closer to what I feel. Amateur has the right meaning, since I study cemeteries for the love of them, but it also has the connotation of being inexperienced, which I can't claim to be any longer. Maybe devotee is the best word for me. I am devoted to cemeteries.


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NYNEX CORP. v. DISCON, INC.
- Syllabus [Syllabus] [PDF]
- Opinion, Breyer [Breyer Opinion] [PDF]
NYNEX CORP. et al. v. DISCON, INC.
certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the second circuit
Respondent Discon, Inc., sold "removal services"—i.e., the removal of obsolete telephone equipment—through petitioner Materiel Enterprises Company, a subsidiary of petitioner NYNEX Corporation, for the use of petitioner New York Telephone Company, another NYNEX subsidiary. After Materiel Enterprises began buying such services from AT&T Technologies, rather than from Discon, Discon filed this suit, alleging that petitioners and others had engaged in unfair, improper, and anticompetitive activities. The District Court dismissed the complaint for failure to state a claim. The Second Circuit affirmed with an exception, holding that certain of Discon's allegations—that Materiel Enterprises paid AT&T Technologies more than Discon would have charged because it could pass the higher prices on to New York Telephone, which could then pass them on to telephone consumers through higher regulatory-agency-approved service charges; that Materiel Enterprises would receive a year-end rebate from AT&T Technologies and share it with NYNEX; that Materiel Enterprises would not buy from Discon because it refused to participate in this fraudulent scheme; and that Discon therefore went out of business—stated a claim under §1 of the Sherman Act. Noting that the ordinary procompetitive rationale for discriminating in favor of one supplier over another was lacking in this case, and that, in fact, the complaint alleged that Materiel Enterprises' buying decision was anticompetitive, the court held that Discon may have alleged a cause of action under, inter alia, the antitrust rule set forth in Klor's, Inc. v. Broadway&nbhyph;Hale Stores, Inc., 359 U. S. 207, 212, that group boycotts are illegal per se. For somewhat similar reasons the court believed the complaint stated a valid conspiracy to monopolize claim under §2 of the Act.
Held: The per se group boycott rule does not apply to a single buyer's decision to buy from one seller rather than another. Pp. 4–11.
(a) Precedent limits the per se rule in the boycott context to cases involving horizontal agreements among direct competitors. See, e.g., Business Electronics Corp. v. Sharp Electronics Corp., 485 U. S. 717, 734. The per se rule is inapplicable here because this case concerns only a vertical agreement and a vertical restraint, in the form of depriving a supplier of a potential customer. Nor is there a special feature that could distinguish this case from such precedent. Although petitioners' behavior hurt consumers by raising telephone service rates, that consumer injury naturally flowed not so much from a less competitive market for removal services, as from the exercise of market power lawfully in the hands of a monopolist, New York Telephone, combined with a deception worked upon the regulatory agency that prevented the agency from controlling the exercise of monopoly power. Applying the per se rule here would transform cases involving business behavior that is improper for various reasons into treble-damages antitrust cases and would discourage firms from changing suppliers—even where the competitive process itself does not suffer harm. Moreover, special anticompetitive motive cannot be found in Discon's claim that Materiel Enterprises hoped to drive Discon from the market lest Discon reveal its behavior to New York Telephone or to the relevant regulatory agency. That motive does not turn Materiel Enterprises' actions into a "boycott" under this Court's precedents, and Discon's reasons why the motive's presence should lead to the application of the per se rule are unconvincing. Finally, Discon's allegations that New York Telephone (through Materiel Enterprises) was the largest buyer of removal services in the State, and that only AT&T Technologies competed for New York Telephone's business, are not sufficient to warrant application of a per se presumption of consequent harm to the competitive process itself, absent a horizontal agreement. Discon's complaint suggests that other actual or potential competitors might have provided roughly similar checks upon "equipment removal" prices and services with or without Discon, which argues against the likelihood of anticompetitive harm. Pp. 4–10.
(b) Unless petitioners' purchasing practices harmed the competitive process, they did not amount to a conspiracy to monopolize in violation of §2, and Discon cannot succeed on this claim without prevailing on its §1 claim. Pp. 10–11.
(c) Petitioners' argument that Discon's complaint should be dismissed because it fails to allege that petitioners' purchasing decisions harmed the competitive process itself lies outside the questions presented for certiorari, which were limited to the application of the per se rule, and cannot be raised in this Court. P. 11.
93 F. 3d 1055, vacated and remanded.
Breyer, J., delivered the opinion for a unanimous Court.
NYNEX CORPORATION, et al., PETITIONERS v. DISCON, INCORPORATED
on writ of certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the second circuit
Justice Breyer delivered the opinion of the Court.
In this case we ask whether the antitrust rule that group boycotts are illegal per se as set forth in Klor's, Inc. v. Broadway&nbhyph;Hale Stores, Inc., 359 U. S. 207, 212 (1959), applies to a buyer's decision to buy from one seller rather than another, when that decision cannot be justified in terms of ordinary competitive objectives. We hold that the per se group boycott rule does not apply.
Before 1984 American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) supplied most of the Nation's telephone service and, through wholly owned subsidiaries such as Western Electric, it also supplied much of the Nation's telephone equipment. In 1984 an antitrust consent decree took AT&T out of the local telephone service business and left AT&T a long-distance telephone service provider, competing with such firms as MCI and Sprint. See M. Kellogg, J. Thorne, & P. Huber, Federal Telecommunications Law §4.6, p. 221 (1992). The decree transformed AT&T's formerly owned local telephone companies into independent firms. At the same time, the decree insisted that those local firms help assure competitive long-distance service by guaranteeing long-distance companies physical access to their systems and to their local customers. See United States v. American Telephone & Telegraph Co., 552 F. Supp. 131, 225, 227 (DC 1982), aff'd sub nom. Maryland v. United States, 460 U. S 1001 (1983). To guarantee that physical access, some local telephone firms had to install new call-switching equipment; and to install new call-switching equipment, they often had to remove old call-switching equipment. This case involves the business of removing that old switching equipment (and other obsolete telephone equipment)—a business called "removal services."
Discon, Inc., the respondent, sold removal services used by New York Telephone Company, a firm supplying local telephone service in much of New York State and parts of Connecticut. New York Telephone is a subsidiary of NYNEX Corporation. NYNEX also owns Materiel Enterprises Company, a purchasing entity that bought removal services for New York Telephone. Discon, in a lengthy detailed complaint, alleged that the NYNEX defendants (namely, NYNEX, New York Telephone, Materiel Enterprises, and several NYNEX related individuals) engaged in unfair, improper, and anticompetitive activities in order to hurt Discon and to benefit Discon's removal services competitor, AT&T Technologies, a lineal descendant of Western Electric. The Federal District Court dismissed Discon's complaint for failure to state a claim. The Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed that dismissal with an exception, and that exception is before us for consideration.
The Second Circuit focused on one of Discon's specific claims, a claim that Materiel Enterprises had switched its purchases from Discon to Discon's competitor, AT&T Technologies, as part of an attempt to defraud local telephone service customers by hoodwinking regulators. According to Discon, Materiel Enterprises would pay AT&T Technologies more than Discon would have charged for similar removal services. It did so because it could pass the higher prices on to New York Telephone, which in turn could pass those prices on to telephone consumers in the form of higher regulatory-agency-approved telephone service charges. At the end of the year, Materiel Enterprises would receive a special rebate from AT&T Technologies, which Materiel Enterprises would share with its parent, NYNEX. Discon added that it refused to participate in this fraudulent scheme, with the result that Materiel Enterprises would not buy from Discon, and Discon went out of business.
These allegations, the Second Circuit said, state a cause of action under §1 of the Sherman Act, though under a "different legal theory" from the one articulated by Discon. 93 F. 3d 1055, 1060 (1996). The Second Circuit conceded that ordinarily "the decision to discriminate in favor of one supplier over another will have a pro-competitive intent and effect." Id., at 1061. But, it added, in this case, "no such pro-competitive rationale appears on the face of the complaint." Ibid. Rather, the complaint alleges Materiel Enterprises' decision to buy from AT&T Technologies, rather than from Discon, was intended to be, and was, "anti-competitive." Ibid. Hence, "Discon has alleged a cause of action under, at least, the rule of reason, and possibly under the per se rule applied to group boycotts in Klor's, if the restraint of trade ' "has no purpose except stifling competition." ' " Ibid. (quoting Oreck Corp. v. Whirlpool Corp., 579 F. 2d 126, 131 (CA2) (en banc) (in turn quoting White Motor Co. v. United States, 372 U. S. 253, 263 (1963)), cert. denied, 439 U. S. 946 (1978)). For somewhat similar reasons the Second Circuit believed the complaint stated a valid claim of conspiracy to monopolize under §2 of the Sherman Act. See 93 F. 3d, at 1061–1062.
The Second Circuit noted that the Courts of Appeals are uncertain as to whether, or when, the per se group boycott rule applies to a decision by a purchaser to favor one supplier over another (which the Second Circuit called a "two-firm group boycott"). Compare Com-Tel, Inc. v. DuKane Corp., 669 F. 2d 404, 411–413, and nn. 13, 16 (CA6 1982); Cascade Cabinet Co. v. Western Cabinet & Millwork Inc., 710 F. 2d 1366, 1370–1371 (CA9 1983), with Construction Aggregate Transport, Inc. v. Florida Rock Industries, Inc., 710 F. 2d 752, 776–778 (CA11 1983). We granted certiorari in order to consider the applicability of the per se group boycott rule where a single buyer favors one seller over another, albeit for an improper reason.
As this Court has made clear, the Sherman Act's prohibition of "[e]very" agreement in "restraint of trade," 26 Stat. 209, as amended, 15 U. S. C. §1, prohibits only agreements that unreasonably restrain trade. See Business Electronics Corp. v. Sharp Electronics Corp., 485 U. S. 717, 723 (1988) (citing National Collegiate Athletic Assn. v. Board of Regents of Univ. of Okla., 468 U. S. 85, 98 (1984)); Standard Oil Co. of N. J. v. United States, 221 U. S. 1, 59–62 (1911); 2 P. Areeda & H. Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law¶ ;320b, p. 49 (1995). Yet certain kinds of agreements will so often prove so harmful to competition and so rarely prove justified that the antitrust laws do not require proof that an agreement of that kind is, in fact, anticompetitive in the particular circumstances. See State Oil Co. v. Khan, 522 U. S. 3, 10 (1997); Northwest Wholesale Stationers, Inc. v. Pacific Stationery & Printing Co., 472 U. S. 284, 289–290 (1985); 2 Areeda & Hovenkamp, supra, ¶ ;320b, at 49–52. An agreement of such a kind is unlawful per se. See, e.g., United States v. Socony-Vacuum Oil Co., 310 U. S. 150, 218 (1940) (finding horizontal price-fixing agreement per se illegal); Dr. Miles Medical Co. v. John D. Park & Sons Co., 220 U. S. 373, 408 (1911) (finding vertical price-fixing agreement per se illegal); Palmer v. BRG of Ga., Inc., 498 U. S. 46, 49–50 (1990) (per curiam) (finding horizontal market division per se illegal).
The Court has found the per se rule applicable in certain group boycott cases. Thus, in Fashion Originators' Guild of America, Inc. v. FTC, 312 U. S. 457 (1941), this Court considered a group boycott created by an agreement among a group of clothing designers, manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers. The defendant designers, manufacturers, and suppliers had promised not to sell their clothes to retailers who bought clothes from competing manufacturers and suppliers. The defendants wanted to present evidence that would show their agreement was justified because the boycotted competitors used "pira[ted]" fashion designs. Id., at 467. But the Court wrote that "it was not error to refuse to hear the evidence offered"—evidence that the agreement was reasonable and necessary to "protect … against the devastating evils" of design pirating—for that evidence "is no more material than would be the reasonableness of the prices fixed" by a price-fixing agreement. Id., at 467–468.
In Klor's the Court also applied the per se rule. The Court considered a boycott created when a retail store, Broadway-Hale, and 10 household appliance manufacturers and their distributors agreed that the distributors would not sell, or would sell only at discriminatory prices, household appliances to Broadway-Hale's small, nearby competitor, namely, Klor's. 359 U. S., at 208–209. The defendants had submitted undisputed evidence that their agreement hurt only one competitor (Klor's) and that so many other nearby appliance-selling competitors remained that competition in the marketplace continued to thrive. Id., at 209–210. The Court held that this evidence was beside the point. The conspiracy was "not to be tolerated merely because the victim is just one merchant." Id., at 213. The Court thereby inferred injury to the competitive process itself from the nature of the boycott agreement. And it forbade, as a matter of law, a defense based upon a claim that only one small firm, not competition itself, had suffered injury.
The case before us involves Klor's. The Second Circuit did not forbid the defendants to introduce evidence of "justification." To the contrary, it invited the defendants to do so, for it said that the "per se rule" would apply only if no "pro-competitive justification" were to be found. 93 F. 3d, at 1061; cf. 7 P. Areeda & H. Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law ¶ ;1510, p. 416 (1986) ("Boycotts are said to be unlawful per se but justifications are routinely considered in defining the forbidden category"). Thus, the specific legal question before us is whether an antitrust court considering an agreement by a buyer to purchase goods or services from one supplier rather than another should (after examining the buyer's reasons or justifications) apply the per se rule if it finds no legitimate business reason for that purchasing decision. We conclude no boycott-related per se rule applies and that the plaintiff here must allege and prove harm, not just to a single competitor, but to the competitive process, i.e., to competition itself.
Our conclusion rests in large part upon precedent, for precedent limits the per se rule in the boycott context to cases involving horizontal agreements among direct competitors. The agreement in Fashion Originators' Guild involved what may be called a group boycott in the strongest sense: A group of competitors threatened to withhold business from third parties unless those third parties would help them injure their directly competing rivals. Although Klor's involved a threat made by a single powerful firm, it also involved a horizontal agreement among those threatened, namely, the appliance suppliers, to hurt a competitor of the retailer who made the threat. See 359 U. S., at 208–209; see also P. Areeda & L. Kaplow, Antitrust Analysis:Problems, Text, and Cases 333 (5th ed. 1997) (defining paradigmatic boycott as "collective action among a group of competitors that may inhibit the competitive vitality of rivals"); 11 H. Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law ¶ ;1901e, pp. 189–190 (1998). This Court emphasized in Klor's that the agreement at issue was
"not a case of a single trader refusing to deal with another, nor even of a manufacturer and a dealer agreeing to an exclusive distributorship. Alleged in this complaint is a wide combination consisting of manufacturers, distributors and a retailer." 359 U. S., at 212–213 (footnote omitted).
This Court subsequently pointed out specifically that Klor's was a case involving not simply a "vertical" agreement between supplier and customer, but a case that also involved a "horizontal" agreement among competitors. See Business Electronics, 485 U. S., at 734. And in doing so, the Court held that a "vertical restraint is not illegal per se unless it includes some agreement on price or price levels." Id., at 735–736. This precedent makes the per se rule inapplicable, for the case before us concerns only a vertical agreement and a vertical restraint, a restraint that takes the form of depriving a supplier of a potential customer. See 11 Hovenkamp, supra,¶ ;1902d, at 198.
Nor have we found any special feature of this case that could distinguish it from the precedent we have just discussed. We concede Discon's claim that the petitioners' behavior hurt consumers by raising telephone service rates. But that consumer injury naturally flowed not so much from a less competitive market for removal services, as from the exercise of market power that is lawfully in the hands of a monopolist, namely, New York Telephone, combined with a deception worked upon the regulatory agency that prevented the agency from controlling New York Telephone's exercise of its monopoly power.
To apply the per se rule here—where the buyer's decision, though not made for competitive reasons, composes part of a regulatory fraud—would transform cases involving business behavior that is improper for various reasons, say, cases involving nepotism or personal pique, into treble-damages antitrust cases. And that per se rule would discourage firms from changing suppliers—even where the competitive process itself does not suffer harm. Cf. Poller v. Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., 368 U. S. 464, 484 (1962) (Harlan, J., dissenting) (citing Packard Motor Car Co. v. Webster Motor Car Co., 243 F. 2d 418, 421 (CADC 1957)).
The freedom to switch suppliers lies close to the heart of the competitive process that the antitrust laws seek to encourage. Cf. Standard Oil, 221 U. S., at 62 (noting "the freedom of the individual right to contract when not unduly or improperly exercised [is] the most efficient means for the prevention of monopoly"). At the same time, other laws, for example, "unfair competition" laws, business tort laws, or regulatory laws, provide remedies for various "competitive practices thought to be offensive to proper standards of business morality." 3 P. Areeda & H. Hovenkamp, Antitrust Law ¶ ;651d, p. 78 (1996). Thus, this Court has refused to apply per se reasoning in cases involving that kind of activity. See Brooke Group Ltd. v. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., 509 U. S. 209, 225 (1993) ("Even an act of pure malice by one business competitor against another does not, without more, state a claim under the federal antitrust laws"); 3 Areeda & Hovenkamp, supra, ¶ ;651d, at 80 ("[I]n the presence of substantial market power, some kinds of tortious behavior could anticompetitively create or sustain a monopoly, [but] it is wrong categorically to condemn such practices … or categorically to excuse them").
Discon points to another special feature of its complaint, namely, its claim that Materiel Enterprises hoped to drive Discon from the market lest Discon reveal its behavior to New York Telephone or to the relevant regulatory agency. That hope, says Discon, amounts to a special anticompetitive motive.
We do not see how the presence of this special motive, however, could make a significant difference. That motive does not turn Materiel Enterprises' actions into a "boycott" within the meaning of this Court's precedents. See supra, at 6–7. Nor, for that matter, do we understand how Discon believes the motive affected Materiel Enterprises' behavior. Why would Discon's demise have made Discon's employees less likely, rather than more likely, to report the overcharge/rebate scheme to telephone regulators? Regardless, a per se rule that would turn upon a showing that a defendant not only knew about but also hoped for a firm's demise would create a legal distinction—between corporate knowledge and corporate motive—that does not necessarily correspond to behavioral differences and which would be difficult to prove, making the resolution of already complex antitrust cases yet more difficult. We cannot find a convincing reason why the presence of this special motive should lead to the application of the per se rule.
Finally, we shall consider an argument that is related tangentially to Discon's per se claims. The complaint alleges that New York Telephone (through Materiel Enterprises) was the largest buyer of removal services in New York State, see Amended Complaint, ¶ ;¶ ;2, 29, 99, App. 75, 83, 110, and that only AT&T Technologies competed for New York Telephone's business, see ¶ ;¶ ;2, 26, 29, id., at 75, 82–83. One might ask whether these accompanying allegations are sufficient to warrant application of a Klor's-type presumption of consequent harm to the competitive process itself.
We believe that these allegations do not do so, for, as we have said, see supra, at 6–7, antitrust law does not permit the application of the per se rule in the boycott context in the absence of a horizontal agreement. (Though in other contexts, say, vertical price fixing, conduct may fall within the scope of a per se rule not at issue here. See, e.g., Dr. Miles Medical Co., 220 U. S., at 408.) The complaint itself explains why any such presumption would be particularly inappropriate here, for it suggests the presence of other potential or actual competitors, which fact, in the circumstances, could argue against the likelihood of anticompetitive harm. The complaint says, for example, that New York Telephone itself was a potential competitor in that New York Telephone considered removing its equipment by itself, and in fact did perform a few jobs itself. See ¶ ;27, App. 83. The complaint also suggests that other nearby small local telephone companies needing removal services must have worked out some way to supply them. See ¶ ;53, id., at 91. The complaint's description of the removal business suggests that entry was easy, perhaps to the point where other firms, employing workers who knew how to remove a switch and sell it for scrap, might have entered that business almost at will. Cf. ¶ ;27, id., at 83. To that extent, the complaint suggests other actual or potential competitors might have provided roughly similar checks upon "equipment removal" prices and services with or without Discon. At the least, the complaint provides no sound basis for assuming the contrary. Its simple allegation of harm to Discon does not automatically show injury to competition.III
The Court of Appeals also upheld the complaint's charge of a conspiracy to monopolize in violation of §2 of the Sherman Act. It did so, however, on the understanding that the conspiracy in question consisted of the very same purchasing practices that we have previously discussed. Unless those agreements harmed the competitive process, they did not amount to a conspiracy to monopolize. We do not see, on the basis of the facts alleged, how Discon could succeed on this claim without prevailing on its §1 claim. See 3 Areeda & Hovenkamp, supra, ¶ ;651e, at 81–82. Given our conclusion that Discon has not alleged a §1 per se violation, we think it prudent to vacate this portion of the Court of Appeals' decision and allow the court to reconsider its finding of a §2 claim.
Petitioners ask us to reach beyond the "per se" issues and to hold that Discon's complaint does not allege anywhere that their purchasing decisions harmed the competitive process itself and, for this reason, it should be dismissed. They note that Discon has not pointed to any paragraph of the complaint that alleges harm to the competitive process. This matter, however, lies outside the questions presented for certiorari. Those questions were limited to the application of the per se rule. For that reason, we believe petitioners cannot raise that argument in this Court.
For these reasons, the judgment of the Court of Appeals is vacated, and the case is remanded for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.
It is so ordered.
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Prevention and Control of Meningococcal Disease
Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
This report summarizes and updates an earlier published statement issued by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices concerning the control and prevention of meningococcal disease (MMWR 1997:46[No. RR-5]:1--21) and provides updated recommendations regarding the use of meningococcal vaccine.
Each year, 2,400--3,000 cases of meningococcal disease occur in the United States, resulting in a rate of 0.8--1.3 per 100,000 population (1--3). The case-fatality ratio for meningococcal disease is 10% (2), despite the continued sensitivity of meningococcus to many antibiotics, including penicillin (4). Meningococcal disease also causes substantial morbidity: 11%--9% of survivors have sequelae (e.g., neurologic disability, limb loss, and hearing loss [5,6]). During 1991--1998, the highest rate of meningococcal disease occurred among infants aged <1 year; however, the rate for persons aged 1823 years was also higher than that for the general population (1.4 per 100,000) (CDC, National Electronic Telecommunications System for Surveillance, unpublished data).
In the United States, 95%--97% of cases of meningococcal disease are sporadic; however, since 1991, the frequency of localized outbreaks has increased (7--8). Most of these outbreaks have been caused by serogroup C. However, in the past 3 years, localized outbreaks caused by serogroup Y and B organisms have also been reported (8). The proportion of sporadic meningococcal cases caused by serogroup Y also increased from 2% during 1989--991 to 30% during 1992--1996 (2,9). The proportion of cases caused by each serogroup varies by age group; more than half of cases among infants aged <1 year are caused by serogroup B, for which no vaccine is licensed or available in the United States (2,10).
Persons who have certain medical conditions are at increased risk for developing meningococcal disease, particularly persons who have deficiencies in the terminal common complement pathway (C3, C5-9) (11). Antecedent viral infection, household crowding, chronic underlying illness, and both active and passive smoking also are associated with increased risk for meningococcal disease (12--19). During outbreaks, bar or nightclub patronage and alcohol use have also been associated with higher risk for disease (20--22). In the United States, blacks and persons of low socioeconomic status have been consistently at higher risk for meningococcal disease (2,3,12,18). However, race and low socioeconomic status are likely risk markers, rather than risk factors, for this disease.
A recent multi-state, case-control study, in which controls were matched to case-patients by age group, revealed that in a multivariable analysis (controlling for sex and education), active and passive smoking, recent respiratory illness, corticosteroid use, new residence, new school, Medicaid insurance, and household crowding were all associated with increased risk for meningococcal disease (13). Income and race were not associated with increased risk. Additional research is needed to identify groups at risk that could benefit from prevention efforts.
The quadrivalent A, C, Y, W-135 vaccine (Menomune®-A,C,Y,W-135, manufactured by Aventis Pasteur) is the formulation currently available in the United States (23). Each dose consists of 50 µg of the four purified bacterial capsular polysaccharides. Menomune® is available in single-dose and 10-dose vials. (Fifty-dose vials are no longer available.)
Primary Vaccination
For both adults and children, vaccine is administered subcutaneously as a single, 0.5-ml dose. The vaccine can be administered at the same time as other vaccines but should be given at a different anatomic site. Protective levels of antibody are usually achieved within 7--10 days of vaccination.
Vaccine Immunogenicity and Efficacy
The immunogenicity and clinical efficacy of the serogroups A and C meningococcal vaccines have been well established. The serogroup A polysaccharide induces antibody in some children as young as 3 months of age, although a response comparable with that occurring in adults is not achieved until age 4--5 years. The serogroup C component is poorly immunogenic in recipients aged <18--24 months (24,25). The serogroups A and C vaccines have demonstrated estimated clinical efficacies of >85% in school-aged children and adults and are useful in controlling outbreaks (26--29). Serogroups Y and W-135 polysaccharides are safe and immunogenic in adults and in children aged >2 years (30--32); although clinical protection has not been documented, vaccination with these polysaccharides induces bactericidal antibody. The antibody responses to each of the four polysaccharides in the quadrivalent vaccine are serogroup-specific and independent. Reduced clinical efficacy has not been demonstrated among persons who have received multiple doses of vaccine. However, recent serologic studies have suggested that multiple doses of serogroup C polysaccharide may cause immunologic tolerance to the group C polysaccharide (33,34).
Duration of Protection
In infants and children aged <5 years, measurable levels of antibodies against the group A and C polysaccharides decrease substantially during the first 3 years following a single dose of vaccine; in healthy adults, antibody levels also decrease, but antibodies are still detectable up to 10 years after vaccine administration (25,35--38). Similarly, although vaccine-induced clinical protection likely persists in school-aged children and adults for at least 3 years, the efficacy of the group A vaccine in children aged <5 years may decrease markedly within this period. In one study, efficacy declined from >90% to <10% 3 years after vaccination among children who were aged <4 years when vaccinated; efficacy was 67% among children who were >4 years of age at vaccination (39).
Current Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) guidelines (1) suggest that routine vaccination of civilians with the quadrivalent meningococcal polysaccharide vaccine is not recommended because of its relative ineffectiveness in children aged <2 years (the age group with the highest risk for sporadic disease) and because of its relatively short duration of protection. However, the vaccine is recommended for use in control of serogroup C meningococcal outbreaks. An outbreak is defined by the occurrence of three or more confirmed or probable cases of serogroup C meningococcal disease during a period of <3 months, with a resulting primary attack rate of at least 10 cases per 100,000 population. For calculation of this threshold, population-based rates are used and not age-specific attack rates, as have been calculated for college students. These recommendations are based on experience with serogroup C meningococcal outbreaks, but these principles may be applicable to outbreaks caused by the other vaccine-preventable meningococcal serogroups, including Y, W-135, and A.
College freshmen, particularly those living in dormitories or residence halls, are at modestly increased risk for meningococcal disease compared with persons the same age who are not attending college. Therefore, ACIP has developed recommendations that address educating students and their parents about the risk for disease and about the vaccine so they can make individualized, informed decisions regarding vaccination. (See MMWR Vol. 49, RR-7, which can be referenced in the pages following this report.)
Routine vaccination with the quadrivalent vaccine is also recommended for certain high-risk groups, including persons who have terminal complement component deficiencies and those who have anatomic or functional asplenia. Research, industrial, and clinical laboratory personnel who are exposed routinely to Neisseria meningitidis in solutions that may be aerosolized also should be considered for vaccination (1).
Vaccination with the quadrivalent vaccine may benefit travelers to and U.S. citizens residing in countries in which N. meningitidis is hyperendemic or epidemic, particularly if contact with the local population will be prolonged. Epidemics of meningococcal disease are recurrent in that part of sub-Saharan Africa known as the "meningitis belt," which extends from Senegal in the West to Ethiopia in the East (40). Epidemics in the meningitis belt usually occur during the dry season (i.e., from December to June); thus, vaccination is recommended for travelers visiting this region during that time. Information concerning geographic areas for which vaccination is recommended can be obtained from international health clinics for travelers, state health departments, and CDC (telephone [404] 332-4559; internet http://www.cdc.gov/travel/).
Revaccination may be indicated for persons at high risk for infection (e.g., persons residing in areas in which disease is epidemic), particularly for children who were first vaccinated when they were <4 years of age; such children should be considered for revaccination after 2--3 years if they remain at high risk. Although the need for revaccination of older children and adults has not been determined, antibody levels rapidly decline over 2--3 years, and if indications still exist for vaccination, revaccination may be considered 3--5 years after receipt of the initial dose (1).
Precautions and Contraindications
Polysaccharide meningococcal vaccines (both A/C and A/C/Y/W-135) have been extensively used in mass vaccination programs as well as in the military and among international travelers. Adverse reactions to polysaccharide meningococcal vaccines are generally mild; the most frequent reaction is pain and redness at the injection site, lasting for 1--2 days. Estimates of the incidence of such local reactions have varied, ranging from 4% to 56% (41,42). Transient fever occurred in up to 5% of vaccinees in some studies and occurs more commonly in infants (24,43).
Severe reactions to polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine are uncommon (24,32,41--48) (R. Ball, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, personal communication). Most studies report the rate of systemic allergic reactions (e.g., urticaria, wheezing, and rash) as 0.0--0.1 per 100,000 vaccine doses (24,48). Anaphylaxis has been documented in <0.1 per 100,000 vaccine doses (23,47). Neurological reactions (e.g., seizures, anesthesias, and paresthesias) are also infrequently observed (42,47).
The Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) is a passive surveillance system that detects adverse events that are temporally (but not necessarily causally) associated with vaccination, including adverse events that occur in military personnel. During 1991--1998, a total of 4,568,572 doses of polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine were distributed; 222 adverse events were reported for a rate of 49 adverse events per million doses. In 1999, 42 reports of adverse events were received, but the total number of vaccine doses distributed in 1999 is not yet available (R. Ball, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, personal communication). In the United States from July 1990 through October 1999, a total of 264 adverse events (and no deaths) were reported. Of these adverse events, 226 were categorized as "less serious," with fever, headache, dizziness, and injection-site reactions most commonly reported. Thirty-eight serious adverse events (i.e., those that require hospitalization, are life-threatening, or result in permanent disability) that were temporally associated with vaccination were reported. Serious injection site reactions were reported in eight patients and allergic reactions in three patients. Four cases of Guillain-Barré Syndrome were reported in adults 7--16 days after receiving multiple vaccinations simultaneously, and one case of Guillain-Barré Syndrome was reported in a 9-year-old boy 32 days after receiving meningococcal vaccine alone. An additional seven patients reported serious nervous system abnormalities (e.g., convulsions, paresthesias, diploplia, and optic neuritis); all of these patients received multiple vaccinations simultaneously, making assessment of the role of meningococcal vaccine difficult. Of the 15 miscelleneous adverse events, only three occurred after meningococcal vaccine was administered alone. The minimal number of serious adverse events coupled with the substantial amount of vaccine distributed (>4 million doses) indicate that the vaccine can be considered safe (R. Ball, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, personal communication).
Studies of vaccination during pregnancy have not documented adverse effects among either pregnant women or newborns (4951). Based on data from studies involving the use of meningococcal vaccines and other polysaccharide vaccines during pregnancy, altering meningococcal vaccination recommendations during pregnancy is unnecessary.
In the United States, the primary means for prevention of sporadic meningococcal disease is antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis of close contacts of infected persons (Table 1). Close contacts include a) household members, b) day care center contacts, and c) anyone directly exposed to the patient's oral secretions (e.g., through kissing, mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, endotracheal intubation, or endotracheal tube management). The attack rate for household contacts exposed to patients who have sporadic meningococcal disease is an estimated four cases per 1,000 persons exposed, which is 500-800 times greater than for the total population (52). Because the rate of secondary disease for close contacts is highest during the first few days after onset of disease in the index patient, antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis should be administered as soon as possible (ideally within 24 hours after identification of the index patient). Conversely, chemoprophylaxis administered >14 days after onset of illness in the index patient is probably of limited or no value. Oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal cultures are not helpful in determining the need for chemoprophylaxis and may unnecessarily delay institution of this preventive measure.
Rifampin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftriaxone are all 90%--95% effective in reducing nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis and are all acceptable alternatives for chemoprophylaxis (53--56). Systemic antimicrobial therapy of meningococcal disease with agents other than ceftriaxone or other third-generation cephalosporins may not reliably eradicate nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis. If other agents have been used for treatment, the index patient should receive chemoprophylactic antibiotics for eradication of nasopharyngeal carriage before being discharged from the hospital (57).
Serogroup A, C, Y, and W-135 meningococcal polysaccharides have been chemically conjugated to protein carriers. These meningococcal conjugate vaccines provoke a T-cell-dependent response that induces a stronger immune response in infants, primes immunologic memory, and leads to booster response to subsequent doses. These vaccines are expected to provide a longer duration of immunity than polysaccharides, even when administered in an infant series, and may provide herd immunity through protection from nasopharyngeal carriage. Clinical trials evaluating these vaccines are ongoing (58--60). When compared with polysaccharide vaccine, conjugated A and C meningococcal vaccines in infants and toddlers have resulted in similar side effects but improved immune response. Prior vaccination with group C polysaccharide likely does not prevent induction of memory by a subsequent dose of conjugate vaccine (61).
In late 1999, conjugate C meningococcal vaccines were introduced in the United Kingdom, where rates of meningococcal disease are approximately 2 per 100,000 population, and 30%--40% of cases are caused by serogroup C (62). In phase I of this program, infants are being vaccinated at 2, 3, and 4 months concurrently with DTP, Hib, and polio vaccines. Children aged 4--13 months are receiving "catch-up" vaccinations. Children aged 15--17 years are receiving one dose of conjugate C vaccine, and entering college students are receiving one dose of bivalent A/C polysaccharide vaccine. In phase II, scheduled to start in June 2000, a dose of conjugate vaccine will be administered to children aged 14 months--14 years and to persons aged 18--20 years who are not enrolled in college (62).
Conjugate meningococcal vaccines should be available in the United States within the next 2--4 years. In the interim, the polysaccharide vaccine should not be incorporated into the routine childhood immunization schedule, because the currently available meningococcal polysaccharide vaccines provide limited efficacy of short duration in young children (39), in whom the risk for disease is highest (2,3).
Because the group B polysaccharide is not immunogenic in humans, immunization strategies have focused primarily on noncapsular antigens (10,63). Several of these vaccines, developed from specific strains of serogroup B meningococci, have been safe, immunogenic, and efficacious among children and adults and have been used to control outbreaks in South America and Scandinavia (64--68). Strain-specific differences in outer-membrane proteins suggest that these vaccines may not provide protection against all serogroup B meningococci (69). No serogroup B vaccine is currently licensed or available in the United States.
N. meningitidis is a leading cause of bacterial meningitis and sepsis in older children and young adults in the United States. Antimicrobial chemoprophylaxis of close contacts of persons who have sporadic meningococcal disease is the primary means for prevention of meningococcal disease in the United States.
The quadrivalent polysaccharide meningococcal vaccine (which protects against serogroups A, C, Y, and W-135) is recommended for control of serogroup C meningococcal disease outbreaks and for use among persons in certain high-risk groups. Travelers to countries in which disease is hyperendemic or epidemic may benefit from vaccination. In addition, college freshmen, especially those who live in dormitories, should be educated about meningococcal disease and the vaccine so that they can make an educated decision about vaccination.
Conjugate C meningococcal vaccines were recently introduced into routine childhood immunization schedules in the United Kingdom. These vaccines should be available in the United States within 2--4 years, offering a better tool for control and prevention of meningococcal disease.
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BTS J-Hope's Older Sister Is Drop Dead GORGEOUS
BTS J-Hope and his sister have the best sibling visuals and sense of style!
Meet J-Hope's older sister, Jung Dawon.
She's four years older than J-Hope but still looks youthful as both her and her brother have baby faces.
Dawon has her own clothing line that she also models for, called MEJIWOO.
As the great younger brother he is, J-Hope helped promote his sister's clothes before.
Like his sister, J-Hope is known for his unique sense of style and his striking modeling poses.
These two siblings share the utmost amazing genes!
What a beautiful-looking family!


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Published in: IVT Jr GXP Compliance Vol 22 Issue 6
Published on: May 30, 2017
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48 pieces from ABRSM's new 2021 & 2022 Piano syllabus available to buy as digital downloads
For the first time, ABRSM will make a selection of pieces from its Piano syllabus available as digital sheet music downloads. ABRSM's Piano syllabus 2021 & 2022 was launched on 9 July, and comes into effect on 1 January 2021. The new syllabus has completely revised repertoire choices and list structure, with lists defined by musical characteristics rather than period of composition. 48 pieces are now available as downloads, and will provide a broad selection of the diverse choice of inspirational pieces from the lists for Initial to Grade 8. As the new repertoire lists are the same for the long-standing Practical Grades and ABRSM's new remotely-assessed Performance Grades, downloaded pieces can be used to prepare for both exams.
Digital downloads can be viewed on any device or printed, and are available from ABRSM's online shop and all major digital retailers including Sheet Music Direct, Musicroom.com, Sheet Music Plus, and an extensive network of online and in-store digital retailers. The downloads complement ABRSM's best-selling printed editions of its supporting resource, Piano Exam Pieces, which was published on 9 July, and is available worldwide.
Michael Elliott, ABRSM's Chief Executive, said
"The introduction of digital sheet music downloads is part of ABRSM's organisational response to changing customer needs, and one that is especially relevant in the context of an growing landscape of remote teaching and learning. We are excited that our future offer will also include online Theory exams and new remotely-assessed Performance Grade qualifications, that will provide access, consistency and greater flexibility in an increasingly virtual world."
Robin Barry, ABRSM's Publishing Director, said
"This new service is a collaboration between ABRSM and Hal Leonard Europe, as well as Faber E-Partners and Boosey & Hawkes, enabling us to offer a varied selection from our new Piano syllabus lists via both ABRSM's long-established online shop, which is operated by Boosey & Hawkes, and through Hal Leonard Europe's extensive retail channels and networks. With the choice and added convenience of digital sheet music, ABRSM can support teachers and learners exploring our new Piano syllabus more fully than ever before as they progress on their musical journeys.'
Notes to editors:
About ABRSM
Established in 1889, ABRSM is the UK's largest music education organisation, one of its largest music publishers and the world's leading provider of music exams, offering assessments to more than 600,000 candidates in over 90 countries every year. ABRSM's mission is to inspire achievement in music. It does this globally by supporting music teaching and learning worldwide in partnership with four Royal Schools of Music: Royal Academy of Music; Royal College of Music; Royal Northern College of Music and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Everything ABRSM does supports musical journeys by giving people the tools they need to teach, learn, make and enjoy music, from music assessments and books to digital resources and events. As a charity, ABRSM's donations, scholarships and sponsorship programmes provide financial support for a wide range of organisations and individuals around the world.
About Boosey & Hawkes
Boosey & Hawkes is a leading provider of services for the music community, with a retailing history stretching from 1792, when its first shop opened, to today's digital shopping technology. The development of The Shop at Boosey.com from 2004 witnessed a strategic move from bricks and mortar to ecommerce operations. The inventory now features music from all international publishers with over 500,000 products, including the 5,000 specially selected to appear in the ABRSM online music shop, operated by Boosey & Hawkes since 2010.
Boosey & Hawkes, a Concord company, is the world's leading publisher of modern classical music, with a blue chip catalogue of 20th century masters alongside an eminent front list of leading contemporary composers.
About Faber e-Partners
Founded in 1965 as a sister company to the distinguished book publisher Faber and Faber, Faber Music is a leading independent British publisher of classical, contemporary, Film & TV, pop and printed music. With a performance catalogue comprising a distinguished list of composers that includes Thomas Adès and George Benjamin, the company has gained a reputation as one of the most influential publishers of serious contemporary classical music in the world.
The 'E-Partners' scheme launched in 2009 as a digital distribution service designed to enable clients wishing to create and sell digital sheet music via their website or App to do so with full authority from the respective rights holders. E-Partners receive professional publishing support from Faber Music's in-house copyright, editorial, royalties and technology specialists. The scheme hosts downloads for a growing network of music shops, publishers, exam boards, professional and amateur performers, teachers and music arrangers worldwide.
About Hal Leonard Europe
Hal Leonard Europe is part of the Hal Leonard group of companies – the world's largest source of music publications, representing many of the world's best-known and most respected publishers, artists, songwriters, arrangers and instrument manufacturers. Hal Leonard Europe companies publish and distribute an extensive catalogue of printed and digital publications, sheet music, music education resources, instruments, gifts, accessories and pro audio in Europe and around the world.
There are Hal Leonard Europe offices and distribution centres located in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy and the United Kingdom.


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Yes, that's right… for those of you who don't know, October is National Pizza Month. If you've eaten pizza during the past four weeks then congrats… you've done you're duty! If you haven't, you still have a couple of days ...Read More »
Monthly Archives: October 2009
Motorino Update – Longer Hours
According to Grub Street, Motorino's new East Village location has a new lunch special — $12 for pizza and a salad or soft serve. I can't decide if this beats the lunch special at Veloce Pizzeria down the block — ...Read More »
Billy Mays New Pizza Stone!
Billy Mays might be dead, but that hasn't stopped him from promoting his newest product — a different take on the pizza stone:Read More »
Skip The Brooklyn Commute? I Think Not.
In Ryan Sutton's new piece about pizza on Bloomberg.com, he raves about Motorino's new East Village location, but he didn't have any accolades left for Lucali, Di Fara, and Grimaldi's which he repeatedly trashes. Since I haven't been to the ...Read More »
Jersey's Finest: A Worthwhile Trip Out To Nomad Pizza Company
Saturday afternoon, I had the pleasure of heading out to the quaint town of Hopewell, New Jersey for a pizza meet-up at Nomad Pizza Company. It was organized by "Pizza Madman" Paulie Gee and Adam from Slice — the holy ...Read More »
$5 Pies @ Fornino In Williamsburg This Week
I've always thought that Fornino in Williamsburg was underrated, especially for a place in such a prime spot on Bedford Avenue. It might not be worth trekking out to Avenue J for, but there are few places to get pizza ...Read More »
A Throwback To 1950s @ Charlotte's Fuel Pizza
Last weekend, I went down to Charlotte, North Carolina to visit a friend. The region is probably better known for its fried chicken than its pizza, but a little pre-trip research indicated that there are a number of beloved pizza ...Read More »
A Space Saving Pizza Contraption
Today, a quick note about a great new product called The Pizza Butler. There are so many times I sit down for dinner at a pizza place and when my pie comes out there is nowhere to put it. Glasses ...Read More »
Pizza With… Rats?
I've heard of some pretty crazy pizza concoctions… but pizza with rats? Well sort of… only in New York! But beware… after you watch this video, you may never want to eat pizza again!Read More »
Artichoke Basille's Expanding… Finally
It's been close to a year since Artichoke announced plans to expand [Artichoke Basille's Pizza To Expand]. Since December though, there have been very few updates. Well last week we finally learned that Artichoke has acquired the space at 17th ...Read More »


text: Nautical Navy – Standard Size Bow Nautical Navy – Standard Size Bow Nautical Navy – Standard Size Bow Nautical Navy – Standard Size Bow Classic Nautical Theme Bow – Navy & White "Nautical Navy" Navy anchors on white & navy and white stripped fabric backed with felt to hold beautiful shape Matched perfectly with navy luxury chunky glitter Bow measures 3.5 inches across approx. Attached to silver coloured clip Please note, due to the nature of these fabrics every bow will differ slightly – ie no two bows will be the exactly the same All bows are handmade and made to order with a 3-5 business day lead-time before dispatch *SAFETY WARNING Hair accessories are not toys and should only be worn under adult supervision. Small children must not be left unattended whilst wearing and must be removed when children are sleeping *Please note actual colours may vary. This is due to the fact that every computer monitor, laptop, tablet and phone screen has a different capability to display colours and that everyone sees these colours differently. We try to edit our photos to show all of our products as life-like as possible, but please understand the actual colour may vary slightly from your monitor/screen


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HONG KONG/TAIPEI (REUTERS) - As Beijing intensifies its effort to further isolate Taiwan diplomatically, Taipei is actively but discreetly broadening security ties with regional powers beyond its long-standing relationship with the United States.
From efforts to share intelligence on China's military with India and the prospect of engaging Japanese experts in its submarine programme, Taipei's push is gradually bearing fruit despite sensitivities surrounding relations with Taiwan, according to government officials, military attaches and diplomats.
As well as India and Japan, Taipei has targeted Australia and Singapore.
While the effort is being kept low-key to avoid further inflaming Beijing and adding to pressure on countries aiding Taipei unofficially, the moves mirror Taiwan's more public "Southbound" policy to deepen commercial and cultural links with the region.
It also comes amid several recent successes by China in luring away some of the few nations that diplomatically recognise the democratically self-ruled island.
While Taipei battles to keep its remaining formal allies, it is keen to deepen strategic ties with larger regional powers, sensing an opportunity as they too seek to cope with a rising China, Taiwanese officials say.
"We want Taiwan and those countries to have more in-depth understanding of the strategic or secruity environment we are in," Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu told Reuters.
As China grows more powerful and assertive, he said "many of these countries feel the pinch and they might want to know more about Taiwan as an interest to them, rather than something they want to avoid."
China considers democratic Taiwan to be a wayward province and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. It has intensified military activity surrounding Taiwan in recent years.
El Salvador switched ties to Beijing last month, while the Dominican Republic did so in May and Panama changed sides last year - leaving Taiwan with just 17 diplomatic allies, six of which are small Pacific island states.
"None of the other regional powers will come close to what Taiwan is doing with the US," said Bonnie Glaser, a security expert at Washington's Centre for Strategic and International Studies. "But it is clear that there are intersecting interests, and that these are being actively explored."
Washington, like other major powers, maintains a "one China" policy that thwarts formal diplomatic relations with Taipei but remains by far Taiwan's largest weapons supplier and most powerful international backer.
That relationship has been boosted under US President Donald Trump, whose administration is eyeing more weapons sales and is encouraging official exchanges.
According to US estimates obtained by Reuters, on average 100 US officials, including military personnel, visit Taiwan each week.
Anecdotally, the intensity of interactions is rising under the administration of Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen.
While security ties with Tokyo, including some intelligence sharing, have been evolving for some time, Taipei's ties with New Dehli are rapidly growing, according to people familiar with discussions.
Unofficial military attaches have been placed within Taiwan's new de-facto embassy, the Taipei Economic Cultural Centre, while senior Indian military officers regularly visit Taipei on ordinary rather than official passports.
Taiwan also fields military attaches unofficially in Tokyo and Singapore as well as Washington.
Taiwan's knowledge of Chinese military deployments, including troop movements in the west of the country are of particular interest, said an Indian source familiar with ties.
"We are dependent on Taiwan because they are watching the Chinese," the source said. "Indian serving officers regularly go to Taiwan, they go on so-called study leave."
When asked for a formal Indian government response, a source familiar with the government's thinking declined to comment on security cooperation, but said India's "engagement with Taiwan is limited to economic and commercial links. And people to people contacts."
Taiwan is also pushing Australia, a major US ally, for closer co-operation, regional diplomats told Reuters. Discussions remained largely in the exploratory stage over shared interests over watching Chinese manoeuvres in South-east Asia and the Pacific, where China's presence is growing.
Like the Indian relationship, it is most likely to evolve into information sharing on Chinese activities, deployments and intentions rather than hard weapons' programmes.
An Australian government spokesman declined to comment.
Euan Graham, a regional security analyst at the Sydney-based Lowy Institute, said Australia would likely remain cautious, despite deepening understanding in Canberra of Taiwan's strategic importance.
"It might be a bit ambitious of the Taiwanese to think Australia would go as far as say Japan," he said.
"Directly taking on a military-to-military relationship with Taiwan would be very uncomfortable for Australia."
Singapore, however, has repeatedly signalled to Taiwanese officials it intends to maintain its low-key military presence on the island despite pressure from Beijing, according to people close to discussions.
That decades-old presence - revolving detachments of troops for infantry and heavy armour training - faced Chinese criticism in late 2016 when Hong Kong authorities temporarily seized armoured personnel carriers being shipped from Taiwan to Singapore.
"Taiwan is pleased that Singapore has resisted Chinese pressure and, beyond the training elements, exchanges between senior officers are broad and deep," said one Singaporean scholar familiar with the relationship, speaking privately due to sensitivity that surrounds it.
"In the current environment they have plenty to talk about."
Speaking privately, other Singaporean academics say that state-linked Chinese counterparts frequently complain about Singapore's on-going military relationship.
"They inevitably ask: when is Singapore going to finally give this up?... The hint is clear," one veteran scholar said.
Singapore's Defence Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Taiwanese scholars said retired Japanese engineers have been coming to Taiwan to assist with research and development in its nascent submarine programme.
The Taiwanese defence ministry referred Reuters to a previous statement by the navy in which it said reports of Japan's assistance with Taiwan's submarine programme was "completely conjecture."
A Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman said they had no knowledge of any involvement of Japanese engineers in the project.
"Our stance towards Taiwan is based on the 1972 joint communique by Japan and China, meaning our relationship is not an official one between governments but is conducted at a working level," the spokesman said.
More broadly, a Taipei-based think-tank close to the office of the president forms a key part of the growing semi-official effort.
The Prospect Foundation, in part funded by Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with close ties to President Tsai's National Security Council, reaches out to a wide range of scholars, retired officials and military brass and sometimes still-serving officials.
As the foundation helps Taiwan create reciprocal exchanges, scholars have noted if serving military officers are involved, no uniforms are worn on foreign trips, underscoring the discreet nature of the missions.


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Message Board
Andrey Kurkov Message Board
Talk about the novels, new and used books that Kurkov has written!
Author Kurkov's Book Reviews
Death and the Penguin
Set in the Ukrain just after the the collapse of the Soviet Union, Death and the Penguin tells of the story of an author named Victor and his depressed penguin, Misha. In their struggle to make a living, Victor gets a job writing obituaries for a city newspaper, all seems to go well at first... until the unexplained letters and parcels start arriving, and the requests for obituaries just keep coming and Victor finds himself wrapped up in something far mo...


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Blue Hill webcam
A view of downtown Blue Hill from The Weekly Packet office.The image will reload approximately every 20 seconds . Please do not refresh your browser.
If you do not see an image or you see an incomplete image, just wait until the next refresh and the problem should fix itself.
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Thursday, December 29
Thursday Farm Photo: Light To Do Evening Chores By. . .
4 comments:
That is really beautiful! I am from Southern California, but I live in Kansas now, and the sunsets here are some of the most beautiful I have ever seen. :)ReplyDelete
That is definitely a WOW picture!! Love the tree silhouetted against the sky!ReplyDelete
Wow, this is absolutely splendid and very inspirational for the new year. May you have a glorious colour filled and positive 2012!ReplyDelete
December 2015 update: Hi! For some reason I can't figure out, Blogger hasn't been letting me leave comments on my own blog (!) for the last several months, so I've been unable to respond to your comments and questions. My apologies for any inconvenience! You're always welcome to email me: farmgirlfare AT gmail DOT com.
Hi! Thanks for visiting Farmgirl Fare and taking the time to write. While I'm not always able to reply to every comment, I receive and enjoy reading them all.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and I especially love hearing about your experiences with my recipes. Comments on older posts are always welcome!
Please note that I moderate comments, so if I'm away from the computer it may be a while before yours appears.
I try my best to answer all questions, though sometimes it takes me a few days. And sometimes, I'm sorry to say, they fall through the cracks, and for that I sincerely apologize.
I look forward to hearing from you and hope you enjoy your e-visits to our farm!


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Shoppers on their initial Black Friday excursions found good deals, but many did not seem to think it was worth braving the crowds. The NYT reports.
Retailers are counting on shoppers to return to an old holiday tradition: buying gifts for themselves.
For bargain hunters on the prowl for the best deal, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are no longer an either-or proposition — and that's a huge plus for consumers.
Wealthy Americans may appear to the masses as a unified group, but there is divergence in the attitudes of the rich toward holiday spending this year – which means that the key to how the holiday season unfolds may rest in the hands of the wealthiest.
As shoppers hunt down bargains and gift ideas for the holidays, it will be hard for some to remember a time when they couldn't pull out their smartphone and hunt down a store location, compare a product's price, or scan customer reviews.
Here are some guidelines to help you get through the holiday-tipping season with your wallet and manners intact.
With declining categories such as GPS devices and computers, no new must-have videogame console, and little buzz beyond tablets as the next big must-have gadget, consumer electronics is poised to have a blue holiday.
We've scanned the hot holiday toy lists from retailers, trade publications and blogs, and did a little digging ourselves to bring you a collection of toys that is sure to please.
To make your shopping easier, here's a guide that offers up ideas that should suit you if you want to give something trendy or something practical, or a little of both.
The holidays are a great time to show your loved ones how much you care, but why limit these sentiments to once a year?
If you're looking for the perfect tech gift for a friend or loved one, here are a few can't miss suggestions!
We've gathered up 10 of the best apps to help you save money this holiday season. All the apps listed here are free and widely available across multiple smartphone platforms, such as iOS and Android.
Holiday tipping time is here. If you're looking for advice on how much to give and who should be on your list, we've got you covered.
We've rounded up gift ideas that will be enjoyed by a range of recipients — from women to men to the kiddos — that also donate to a wide array of charitable causes.
This holiday season companies are shying away from traditional pricey holiday gift giving, and sticking to an economical approach.
If you've left your holiday buying until the last minute, see these gift ideas that may save the day.
Although you may have plenty to be thankful for this year, the cost of Thanksgiving dinner may not be one of them, as the cost has increased from 2010.
For those who want to spare no expense, there are plenty of fashionable items that are on trend. Click for some luxurious gift ideas.
The holiday season is typically loaded with must-have videogames, but the number hitting shelves this year is unprecedented. Here are ten videogames that won't miss their mark.
After several years of dealing with thrifty consumers, retailers have gotten the message Check out some great gift ideas that cost less than $25.


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LA QUINTA, Calif. – Jhonattan Vegas isn't exactly sure how his Venezuelan parents came up with the unusual spelling of his first name.
If the 26-year-old rookie manages to keep up his swift start at the Bob Hope Classic, the golf world will have to memorize it quickly.
Vegas shot a 5-under 67 in windy conditions Thursday for a share of the second-round lead with Boo Weekley.
Weekley had a 66 to match Vegas at 13-under 131 in the 90-hole tournament on four Palm Springs-area courses. Charles Howell III (66) and Chris Couch (65) were a stroke back.
Although Vegas bogeyed his final hole on the Nicklaus Private course, he leads the field with 17 birdies. With power and accuracy off the tee, Vegas used an improved short game to get on top early in just his fifth PGA Tour event.
"It's good to be hitting the ball well and putting well, especially on a course like these ones where you've always got a lot of birdie opportunities," said Vegas, who played at the University of Texas before excelling on the Nationwide Tour last year.
Although many pros still don't know him — Weekley had never met Vegas before they shook hands in the media tent after the second round — others already call him "Jhonny Vegas." As for the unique spelling on his birth certificate, Vegas realizes it might take a while to catch on.
"I'm happy they did it that way, because it's something different," Vegas said. "I mean, you only see one Jhonattan spelled that way, so once you see it, you know that it's me."
Vegas moved to the United States in 2002, spending nearly two years improving his English enough to attend college. He became the first Venezuelan to earn a PGA Tour card last year.
The sport is viewed with a raised eyebrow in Venezuela by President Hugo Chavez, who calls it a pastime of the rich. In hilly Caracas, the government has threatened to replaced golf courses occupying valuable areas of flat land with housing that will be less vulnerable to rain and mudslides.
"I'd love the chance to tell people about golf in Venezuela," said Vegas, whose father runs a catering company. "(Chavez) has always said that golf is for elite people, I guess, and as we all know here, it's not that way. But I guess he's got that mentality, so I really hope to sit down with him and talk to him, and tell him it's not that way."
Chavez made the cut at last week's Sony Open in Hawaii, although he didn't get to play Sunday due to the weather-shortened field. He got off the islands in time to survey all four courses in Palm Springs before Wednesday's opening round.
The Hope Classic typically is dominated by low scores, and both leaders won't be surprised if the winner of the five-round event checks in at 30 under.
"We've played two of the easier courses, me and Mr. Vegas, so it just all depends on what can happen tomorrow," Weekley said. "I feel like I can go out there and shoot 3 or 4 under, keep myself in the hunt ... and still have a chance somewhere down the line there."
Weekley birdied his final two Nicklaus holes, wrapping up a sharp round on perhaps the tournament's easiest course. The veteran changed putters after finishing in 27th-place tie at the Sony Open in Hawaii last week, and the switch already has produced remarkable results.
"To 12 feet, 15 feet, I feel like I can make it," Weekley said. "I would say for about the last year, I ain't felt that in a while. I was hoping that this would happen."
Howell shot his second 66 of the tournament, while Couch made three birdies on his final four holes. Keegan Bradley and Brian Davis are two strokes off the lead at 133, while 29 players — including David Duval and Matt Kuchar — were within five strokes of the lead.