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[ Wisconsin Elec. Power Co. v. U.S. 336 U.S. 176 (1949) ] [336 U.S. 176 , 177]
Mr. Van B. Wake, of Milwaukee, Wis., for petitioner.
Mr. William L. Ransom, of New York City, for Consolidated Edison Co. of N.Y., as amicus curiae, by special leave of Court.
Mr. Lee A. Jackson, of Washington, D.C., for respondent.
Mr. Justice REED delivered the opinion of the Court.
Petitioner, engaged in the business of supplying electric energy to the public, seeks the refund of taxes paid by it pursuant to 3411 of the Internal Revenue Code. That section, in pertinent part, provides for a tax ' * * * upon electrical energy sold for domestic or commercial consumption * * * equivalent to 3 per centum1 of the price for which so sold, to be paid by the vendor under such rules and regulations as the Commissioner, with the approval of the Secretary, shall prescribe.'2
Note that the statute taxes energy for domestic or commercial consumption. There is no provision for taxation of electrical energy used for industrial purposes. 3
The purchasers of the electric power here involved are 27 dairy plants which are engaged primarily in the collection, pasteurization, and distribution of fresh milk. The sole question presented by the case is whether the use of electricity by these dairies is commercial con- [336 U.S. 176 , 178] sumption within the meaning of the statute or industrial consumption, a use not covered by the statute.
The functions of the dairy plants are sufficiently similar so that they can be treated as one for the purpose of describing their methods of operation. The plants are buildings equipped with milk-handling machinery and facilities located either off the dairy farms, or on the dairy farm itself as an activity apart from milk production. Contracts for the purchase of raw milk are negotiated with nearby farms. 4 This milk is delivered in trucks of the producers or of the dairy plant, as the case may be, to the plant where it is received, weighed, tested for butterfat content, cooled, and mixed and standardized so as to achieve the proper butterfat content. Next it is pasteurized. Pasteurization consists of heating the milk to 143 -145 F., maintaining it at that level for about thirty minutes, and then subjecting it to sudden cooling to a point between 38 and 40 F. 5 The process is designed to kill pathogenic bacteria without destroying the natural creaming properties or the taste of the milk. Then the milk is drawn into bottles or cans which have been washed, sterilized, and cooled. Finally it is stored in refrigerated rooms to permit the cream line to form and to await delivery. 6 Most of it is delivered to customers in the dairy plant's trucks or wagons. In some instances a small proportion is sold at the plant itself. [336 U.S. 176 , 179] Electric power is employed by the purchasing dairy plants in a number of ways. It is used to light the plants, including the garage space for the collecting and distributing trucks. It drives electric motors which pump refrigerants, deliver milk to and from the pasteurizer and to the boltling machines, operate the homogenizer, the bottling machine, the cream separator, and the machinery used in washing sterilizing and conveying bottles. The electricity used by some of the plants is measured through a single meter, that of others through two or more meters, but in no case are the meters so connected to the incoming power line as to enable the energy supplied for one purpose to be differentiated from that supplied for another. We do not have before us a situation where pasteurization utilizes electrical energy that is measured by a meter exclusively used for pasteurization.
Pasteurization is accomplished by the use of special equipment designed for that purpose. Most of the electricity attributable to the process is devoted to the ice machines which perform the rapid cooling of the milk after the initial heating. Since the same cooling units perform the cooling which is necessary before and after pasteurization, however, the electricity which they consume for pasteurization alone cannot be ascertained. Pasteurization equipment, including the increased cooling equipment necessary therefor, accounts for about 15 or 20 percent of the total cost of plant equipment, excluding trucks and other vehicles. About one-tenth of the cost of plant operation, excluding the cost of the raw milk and costs attributable to distribution, is attributable to pasteurization.
Petitioner paid the tax on electrical energy sold to the dairy plants during the period from April, 1940, to July, 1943, and then brought suit to recover it on the ground that such energy was sold not for commercial but for [336 U.S. 176 , 180] industrial consumption. The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin held that the sales were for commercial consumption within the meaning of the statute, and therefore that the tax was valid. 69 F.Supp. 743. The United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit affirmed. 168 F.2d 285. It summarized its views as follows:
The United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit had held in United States v. Public Service Co. of Colorado, 143 F.2d 79, that electrical energy sold to dairy plants operating substantially as these was sold for industrial rather than commercial consumption, and consequently was not taxable under 3411. We granted certiorari in this case in order to resolve the apparent conflict between circuits and to settle the meaning of the statute as it applies to the business of this general type of dairy plant. 335 U.S. 842 .
The tax now embodied in 3411 was originally imposed upon the consumer of electricity by the Revenue Act of 1932, 47 Stat. 169, 266. This Act was amended in 1933 to make the burden of the tax fall directly upon the vendor. 48 Stat. 254, 256. No change of any significance for our purposes has occurred since the original enactment of this provision.
Although the language of the section does not include the word 'industrial,' it is clear from the legislative history that 'commercial' was used in contradistinction to [336 U.S. 176 , 181] 'industrial.'7 While electricity sold for commercial consumption is taxed, that sold for industrial consumption is not. Thus our task resolves itself to a determination of the category in which the consumption of electricity by these dairy plants should be classified. We shall not undertake the difficult and here needless task of general definition which differentiates for this statutory clause between industrial and commercial in other lines of business activity. That is a problem primarily for the administrators of the section, with knowledge of the specific and varying facts.
The legislativ history indicates that the term 'commercial' was meant to apply to the nature of the business in which the energy is consumed, and not to the specific purpose to which each measurable unit of electricity is devoted. 8 Where it is delivered through a single meter at one location, energy utilized to operate sewing ma- [336 U.S. 176 , 182] chines for a minor manufacturing unit, e.g., shirts, in a department store, would be deemed power sold for commercial consumption, although it might fall within the industrial category if sold to a consumer who did nothing but manufacture shirts. Since any other interpretation of the section would entail the almost insurmountable administrative difficulty of classifying all the electricity sold to a plant according to the specific operations to which such power was devoted by the consumer, the conclusion that the controlling factor is the general nature of a business at a location accords with the natural meaning to be given the words employed by Congress to express its purpose.
The regulations interpret the section in line with the legislative history. U.S.Treas.Reg. 46 (1940 ed.) 316.190 (as amended by T.D. 5099), presently applicable, provides in pertinent part:
The last sentence of this regulation makes it clear that all electrical energy furnished to a predominantly commercial establishment through a single meter is subject to the tax although portions of such energy are devoted to purposes which, considered separately, might be classified as industrial. 10 While the regulation does not deal with the point, we think it obvious from the last quoted paragraph that where the energy is furnished at a single location through various meters, although none of them [336 U.S. 176 , 184] are shown to carry current for predominantly industrial uses, the same rule would be applied. The last sentence of the regulation adds a qualification, however, which directs our attention, not necessarily to the nature of a business as a whole, but to the nature as a whole of the activities carried on 'at a given location.'
We accept the last sentence of the quoted regulation as proper under the statute. 11 As applied to these plants we think that the electricity furnished by the petitioner was 'sold for commercial consumption' and consequently was properly taxed. Admittedly the activities of these consumers would be considered commercial if they did not pasteurize the milk prior to its sale. Such business would accurately be called the distribution of fresh milk. The butter and cream extraction appears incidental. We are not dealing with a 'creamery' in the sense of a butter or cheese factory. We agree with the courts below that the addition of pasteurization to the other activities described above does not change the nature of the dairy plants' business from commercial to industrial any more than would the cooking of food for sale in a restaurant, or the cleaning of raw food products prior to distribution or sale. The District Court found that 'pasteurization plays a minor part in the total business of the dairies,' and that 'the predominant business of the dairies here involved * * * is, and was, that of fluid milk dealers and distributors.' 12 [336 U.S. 176 , 185] Petitioner argues that the test applied by the Court of Appeals, 'whether the predominant character of the enterprise carried on by such consumer is commercial', is erroneous and contrary to the regulation in that it directs attention to the business as a whole rather than to the activities at a given location. While the language quoted is susceptible to this criticism, the variation is harmless because the plant itself is the location or the focal point of all the relevant activities of each of these consumers of electricity. Pasteurization does not occur at a separate location, but at the same plant where the milk is received, weighed, tested, cooled, homogenized, separated and bottled. The milk is brought to this plant when purchased, and from the plant it is distributed to customers. The fact that most of the sales or deliveries occur off the premises does not alter the essential fact that all activities occur in or pivot around the plant.
Thus, though pasteurizing, we assume, is processing and though processing separately viewed may be conceded to be industrial,13 we conclude that the business conducted by these dairy plants is essentially commercial. The contrary conclusion reached in United States v. Public Service Co. of Colorado, 10 Cir., 143 F.2d 79, may be ascribed to the fact that there the court apparently looked to the use to which the electrical energy was devoted rather than to the nature of the business at a given location. 14 [336 U.S. 176 , 186] Rulings of the Bureau of Internal Revenue support our conclusion. In 1932, S.T. 518 stated that,
Apparently, however, the Bureau intended this ruling to apply only to those plants whose business was predominantly pasteurization and the manufacture of milk by-products, because S.T. 637, issued the following year, contained the following statement:
In clarification of these two rulings the Bureau explained:
Thus we hold that electrical energy supplied to these dairy plants through single meters, or through more than one but without differentiation as to use, is energy sold for commercial consumption.
[ Footnote 1 ] Amended by the Revenue Act of 1941, c. 412, 55 Stat. 687, 707, 521(a) (19), to change the three percent tax to three and one-third percent.
[ Footnote 2 ] 26 U.S.C. 3411, 26 U.S.C.A. 3411.
[ Footnote 3 ] See, infra, p. 4, et seq.
[ Footnote 4 ] A few of the consumers of electricity here involved produce their own milk.
5. One of the plants pasteurizes by the so-called 'flash method,' heating the milk to 161 F. for 16 seconds and rapidly cooling it to 32 F.
[ Footnote 6 ] A minor proportion of the milk purchased by these plants is manufactured into butter, cheese, or other by-products. An undisclosed amount of this milk is separated from the cream it contains; some is also homogenized.
[ Footnote 7 ] H. Conference Rep.No.1492, 72d Cong., 1st Sess., p. 22; Senator Harrison, 77 Cong.Rec. 3212Ä14, 3215.
[ Footnote 8 ] The legislative explanations treat of business consumers as units and do not differentiate as to use within the units.
Senator Harrison, Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, which reported the bill, said:
Senator Couzens, a member of a subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, which was constituted to consider the electrical energy tax, said: 'I mean they eliminated that feature of the tax; they eliminated the tax on electrical energy sold to manufacturing plants and left the tax on electricity used commercially, that is by stores and on electricity used for domestic purposes * * *.' 77 Cong.Rec. 3218.
[ Footnote 9 ] This regulation was substantially the same in its earlier versions. U.S.Treas.Reg. 42, Art. 40 (1932); T.D. 4342, XIÄ2 Cum.Bull. 495 (1932); T. D. 4393, XII-2 Cum.Bull. 322 (1933). The quoted version, however, omitted the word 'processing,' which was formerly included in the list of activities exemplifying industrial consumption. We do not consider this deletion significant for purposes of oCum.Bull. 495 (1932); T.D. 4393, XIIÄ 2
[ Footnote 10 ] Cf. St. Louis Refrigerating & Cold Storage Co. v. United States, 43 F.Supp. 476, 95 Ct.Cl. 694; Fulton Market Cold Storage Co. v. United States, Ct.Cl., 43 F.Supp. 485.
[ Footnote 11 ] We do not intend by these words of limitation to approve or disapprove other provisions. There are ambiguities in this section of the regulation. In the second paragraph, without reference to separate meters, it holds that energy used in the commercial phases of an industrial business is taxable. The reverse would seem to follow as to industrial phases of a commercial business. Yet the third paragraph allows the avoidance of such a tax on industrial use only by the employment of separate meters.
[ Footnote 12 ] For state cases to the effect that this business is primarily commercial, see e.g. City of Louisville v. Ewing Von-Allmen Dairy Co., 268 Ky. 652, 105 S.W.2d 801; People ex rel. Empire State Dairy Co. v. Sohmer, 218 N.Y. 199, 112 N.E. 755, L.R.A.1917A, 48; City of Richmond v. Richmond Dairy Co., 156 Va. 63, 157 S.E. 728. But see Michigan Allied Dairy Ass'n v. State Board of Tax Administration, 302 Mich. 643, 5 N.W.2d 516.
[ Footnote 13 ] See note 9, supra.
[ Footnote 14 ] 'The electrical energy was not used in the commercial phase of the dairying enterprise, but in the processing or industrial phase of the enterprise.' 10 Cir., 143 F.2d 79, 82.
[ Footnote 15 ] XIÄ2 Cum.Bull. 498 (1932).
[ Footnote 16 ] XIIÄ1 Cum.Bull. 409, 410 (1933).
[ Footnote 17 ] Bureau Letter, dated May 13, 1933 (symbols MT: ST: BHF) (333 C.C.H. 6266), 4 C.C.H.Tax Serv. 2633G. 175 (1949).
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In Project Syndicate (Worldwide Distribution), 20 November 2012
CANBERRA – The wisest words on the Second Gaza War may have come from an Israeli living in a kibbutz near the Gaza border. "If you want to defend me… Don't send the Israel Defense Forces for us in order to 'win,'" Michal Vasser wrote in Haaretz on November 15. "Start thinking about the long term and not just about the next election. Try to negotiate until white smoke comes up through the chimney. Hold out a hand to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. Stop with the 'pinpoint assassinations' and look into the civilians' eyes on the other side as well."
Israel is, of course, entitled to defend itself from rocket attacks. But the lesson of the last two decades is that attacks stop, and intifadas do not start, when there is a prospect of peace – and that, when there is no such prospect, Palestinian militancy is uncontainable.
The chances of a comprehensive and sustainable two-state settlement now being negotiated with Mahmoud Abbas's West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA) – and of its acceptance, albeit grudgingly, by Gaza's Hamas after a popular vote – may be slim and receding. But the only alternative is an endlessly recurring cycle of deadly violence between Israelis and Palestinians.
The immediate priority is to calm and stabilize the situation in Gaza. But if there are not to be more and even worse eruptions, Israeli policymakers need to ask themselves some fundamental questions. So, too, must their rusted-on supporters in the United States and countries like mine.
How is peace fostered if the elimination or dramatic diminution of Hamas's capability leaves Gaza in the hands of even more militant groups, and gives Islamists throughout the region another recruitment tool?
How is Israel's national security served when, by its action in Gaza and inaction with Abbas, it jeopardizes its longstanding and hard-won peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan (both now looking very fragile indeed in the aftermath of the Arab Spring)?
How can Israel's preferred Palestinian leaders, Abbas and PA Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, be left with any credible capacity to negotiate if talks cannot begin until, as Israel insists, they retreat on their minimum condition of a settlement freeze in the Occupied Territories?
For all that Israel downplays its significance, the Arab Peace Initiative of 2002 still offers a critically important deal: full normalization of relations by the entire Arab world in exchange for a comprehensive peace settlement. How long can this Arab League position be sustained with peace talks going nowhere?
Another big question for Israel is whether it can accept the consequences if a two-state solution disappears completely from the agenda. Israel, as founding father David Ben-Gurion warned, can be a Jewish state, it can be a democratic state, and it can be a state occupying the whole of historical Israel; but it cannot be all three.
According to the CIA World Factbook, Jews currently outnumber non-Jews, by 6.4 million to 5.6 million, in the total area of historical Palestine. But, with a much lower birthrate and declining immigration, it is only a matter of time before Jews are in a minority.
With Gaza still smoldering, yet another burning question is waiting in the wings. What are Israel and its supporters supposed to gain by bitterly resisting the United Nations General Assembly resolution recognizing Palestine as a non-member "observer state" (with a status like the Vatican), which now seems bound to be introduced, and passed by a huge international majority, on or around November 29?
The text of the draft resolution now in circulation contains no offensive language. It makes clear both that full UN membership remains to be determined and that final-status issues like borders, refugees, Jerusalem, and security all remain to be negotiated. True, passage of this resolution might give Palestine some standing that it now lacks to seek prosecutions in the International Criminal Court for alleged violations of international law. But the ICC is not a kangaroo court, and allegations without substance can be expected to be treated accordingly.
Palestinian statehood has always been an indispensable requirement of Israel's own long-term peace and security, and it is overwhelmingly in Israel's interest to defuse rather than further inflame the issue. This need has become more urgent than ever in view of the new realities of power in the region.
In short, Israel should treat the UN vote not as an excuse for renewed confrontation, but as an opportunity for a fresh start to serious negotiations. The US reaction is key: Rather than punishing the PA, and maybe the UN as well, it should use the resolution to propose the kind of diplomatic circuit-breaker for which the world has long been hoping.
Of course, to put on the table a comprehensive settlement plan that addresses all of the final-status issues, with compromises that all sides could be persuaded and pressured to accept, would require statesmanship. Unhappily, that quality has been agonizingly absent from Middle East diplomacy for almost as long as anyone can remember.
This article is available online at: http://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/israel-s-permanent-war-by-gareth-evans
Copyright Project Syndicate - www.project-syndicate.org

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The website Afrikagora.com offers a service for posting and browsing listings of Afro-related Businesses, Events and Classified Ads on the Internet. Vendor verified accounts can sell goods or event tickets via their Business or Event listing. All the Events tickets or items for sale are available on the Afrikagora Marketplace.
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· The "Vendor" Advertiser who acts exclusively for professional purposes. Any "Vendor" Advertiser must imperatively hold a "vendor" account to post and manage their listings, orders and products. Users must apply and accept the Vendor Terms of Sale in order to become a vendor. The following activities can be assimilated to a professional activity:
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Personal Account: Space accessible from the Website and the Applications, where all Individual Advertisers can post, edit, manage, view their listings, contribute to the forum, subscribe to one or more paid options, buy items on the Marketplace.
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Site: refers to the website operated by Bangwa Seeds LLC accessible mainly from the URL afrikagora.com and allowing Consumers and Advertisers to access the AFRIKAGORA Service via the internet.
Transaction: Act by which the property of a Good is transferred from a Seller to a Buyer, after validation of the payment and reception of the Good by the Buyer, per the agreement between the seller and the buyer (transaction via a classified ads) or per the Afrikagora terms of Sale (transaction via the Secure Payment System).
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The conditions of subscription by Advertisers to paid options (hereinafter referred to as "Paid Options") are set out in the following terms of sale:
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These Terms are therefore fully enforceable against Consumers, Contributors, Advertisers, Buyers and Sellers. The Terms of Use outlined here apply as soon you access the AFRIKAGORA service and continue in effect until their termination. The terms cease to apply after you stop using the AFRIKAGORA service.
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All provisions of our Terms of Use that should survive the termination of these Terms of Use will survive.
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Users are informed and accept that in order to access the AFRIKAGORA service they must have an internet connection with a provider of their choice. Slowness, performance issues or outages may occur with the internet connection.
Users must take all appropriate measures to ensure the security of their equipment, personal data, and software, in particular against contamination by any virus and / or intrusion attempt. All equipment connected to the website remains under the entire responsibility of the user. Bangwa Seeds LLC will not be responsible for any direct or indirect damage that may occur as a result of the connection to the website.
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Any loss, misappropriation or use of the login credentials and the subsequent consequences are the sole and entire responsibility of the user.
The Advertiser is informed and accepts that for technical reasons, his listing will not be published as soon as it is posted on the website. The Advertiser is informed that by publishing his/her listing on the website, it may be shared by any user on Social Media platforms.
Any listing published will be posted on the webite and applications. All Advertisers are informed that Bangwa Seeds LLC may publish the listing to one or more listing categories. Any Advertiser accepts that Bangwa Seeds LLC may distribute any active listings.
2.3. Personal Data
Personal data processing, dissemination and retention are subject to the provisions of our privacy policy, which is an integral part of these Terms


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Apple's new iPad is the best tablet on the planet, and we have a brand new one to give away courtesy of Telenav and their new app Scout! It's a 16GB Wi-Fi iPad, and you can even choose the color. To enter, simply drop in a comment below. Here are the full rules:
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text:
- 0 Incorrect (10 allowed to pass)
- 0 Correct
Free FL Motorcycle Practice Test [Fines and Limits] 2023
If you are going to get your FL motorcycle permit or license, you have to pass an exam that goes over the various fines and limits. If you fail to pass this test, you won't get your license or permit. What that means is you need to preparing before the big day. Don't just waltz into the Florida DMV on test day and think you'll ace it. Instead, take our Fines and Limits Motorcycle Practice Test so you'll be prepared.
Test Your Knowledge
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Make sure you use the hints as you take the practice exam. The hints will provide you with some help you can use as you move from one question to the next. In addition, if you get a question incorrect, the test will highlight the correct answer and provide an explanation. Read over the explanation very carefully so you will be ready to answer that question on exam day.
Taking the Official Test
When you sit for the official FL DMV test, you'll be surprised by how close it is to the practice test. That's because every question is based on the official Florida Motorcycle manual. This should give you the confidence you need to ace the test. You'll notice that the questions are worded slightly differently, but the meaning is always identical. Because of that, you shouldn't have any trouble on exam day.


text:
Several U.S. senators questioned Wednesday whether AT&T's proposed acquisition of rival mobile carrier T-Mobile USA would be good for customers, as the companies have claimed, with critics saying the deal would create a duopoly in the U.S. mobile telecom business.
Leaders of the two companies championed the US$39 billion deal as enabling AT&T to bring high-speed 4G service to more corners of the country while passing on cost savings from the merger to customers. The proposed acquisition, announced in March, will give AT&T the wireless spectrum it needs to meet explosive growth in mobile data use, Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and CEO, told the antitrust subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
AT&T has seen an 8,000 percent increase in mobile data volume in the past four years, he said. The acquisition will mean fewer dropped calls and faster mobile broadband speeds for customers, he added.
"First and foremost, this transaction is about consumers," Stephenson said. "It's about keeping up with consumer demand specifically. It's about having the capacity to drive innovation and competitive prices."
But some senators raised doubts about AT&T's focus on customers. The acquisition would allow AT&T to raise prices and "cut thousands of jobs," said Senator Al Franken, a Minnesota Democrat.
The merger of the nation's second-largest and fourth-largest mobile carriers would give AT&T a 43 percent share of the U.S. mobile market, said Senator Herb Kohl, a Wisconsin Democrat and subcommittee chairman. AT&T and Verizon Wireless would share about 80 percent of the market, he said.
"This is a business deal to make your company more successful and more profitable," Kohl told Stephenson. "We should discuss it in that context, not that this is in the national interest."
Stephenson disputed allegations that the deal would cost jobs. In the short term, AT&T would eliminate some redundant support jobs, but the acquisition would allow AT&T to roll out its 4G LTE (Long-Term Evolution) network to about 97 percent of the U.S. population, which will require additional workers, he said.
Without the merger, T-Mobile doesn't have the resources to roll out its own LTE network, added Philipp Humm, T-Mobile USA's president and CEO. T-Mobile has been losing customers and lacks the spectrum to improve its mobile data services, he said.
But Senator Amy Klobuchar, a Minnesota Democrat, noted that T-Mobile now boasts of having the nation's largest 4G network in its advertisements.
AT&T's claims that the merger will allow it to roll out 4G service to rural areas doesn't make sense, added Gigi Sohn, president of Public Knowledge, a consumer rights group. AT&T already has the largest spectrum holdings among U.S. mobile providers, and the company is operating three generations of wireless technologies, resulting in inefficient use of its spectrum, she said.
"There is no spectrum shortage in rural America," Sohn said. "AT&T is planning to spend $39 billion on this merger, money that could instead be spent investing in its network and bringing better service to more Americans."
Sohn called the deal a "pivotal moment" in U.S. antitrust law. She urged the U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. Federal Communications Commission to kill the deal.
"There are no conditions or divestitures that make this deal acceptable," she said. "This merger is unfixable."
In addition, the merger would make it more difficult for Sprint Nextel, the third-largest mobile carrier in the U.S., to compete against AT&T and Verizon, said Dan Hesse, Sprint's CEO. If the merger happens, Sprint would likely be a candidate for acquisition by the two larger carriers, reducing competition even further, he said.
But about three-quarters of U.S. residents have a choice of five or more mobile carriers, counting regional carriers, Stephenson and Humm said. They called on the DOJ and FCC to look at competition at the regional and local levels when examining the deal.
"At the local level, these are intensely competitive markets," Stephenson said. "These purchasing decisions are made at the local market level."
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantGross. Grant's e-mail address is firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Grades of Green's First Waste Campaign a Major Success
This new Campaign included 80 teams from 77 cities and 13 countries. Collectively, Grades of Green Waste Campaign teams diverted over 229,000 pounds of waste (114 tons) from the landfill and educated over 25,000 leaders and community members around the world! These numbers will continue to grow as the student teams expand on their waste reduction projects.
We are proud to announce the 2019 Spring Waste Campaign Finalist Campaign Teams, who achieved exceptional results. Please watch and share their campaign videos to get inspired by their innovative waste solutions.
Mira Costa High School (California)
Mira Costa's team led 3 beach clean ups in their community during the month of March. They recruited volunteers by reaching out to their community through social media and local news outlets. The team educated participants about the effects of plastic and litter in our oceans and on our marine life. The result of the 3 beach clean-ups was about 250 lbs of trash; crushing their goal of 100 lbs. The team plans to continue hosting beach clean ups once per month. See their video HERE.
Human Environmental and Animal Rights Club at CAMS (California)
The HEAR Club at CAMS high school was driven by the knowledge that people, on average, throw out 70 lbs of clothes every year and that the textile industry is the second highest contributor of waste. This team hosted several used-clothing drives as well as workshops that taught others how to upcycle used garments. They exceeded their goal to collect 10 bags during the clothing drives by collecting 11 bags. Some clothes were donated and some were upcycled into new garments. See their video HERE.
Whitney High School (California)
At Whitney, the Waste Campaign Team members recognized that everyday a considerable amount of food waste was going to the landfill. By implementing a compost collection at lunchtime, the team collected about 30 lbs of food waste to put into their tumbler composter bin during the campaign. They continue to collect compostable scraps at lunchtime, educate the students and staff at their school and fundraise in order to buy a second (much needed) compost bin. See their video HERE.
Bridgeport Elementary School Green Team (California)
During the Waste Campaign, the Team working at lunch noticed the large number of good food items being thrown into the landfill bin. They were appalled, and wanted that food to go somewhere it could be eaten. The team decided they wanted to donate the food to the local Food Pantry and Homeless Shelter, and the Grades of Green mentors provided resources and guidance to help best put ideas into action. In order to raise awareness and encourage other schools in their community to start a Food Rescue program, Bridgeport shared their video and program with all the families at their school and with all the schools in their district. See their video HERE.
Daves Avenue Elementary School (California)
Daves Avenue uses approximately 12,000 crayons every school year and as the Waste Campaign students discovered, crayons do not break down well in the landfill. With a goal in mind of diverting 120 lbs of crayons from the landfill, the team joined the Crayon Initiative. The Crayon initiative recycles old crayons into new crayons and donates them to children's hospitals. The team set up boxes to collect the crayons to send them in to get recycled. See their video HERE.
Bryant Ranch School Green Team (California)
The team of 30 students recognized their school was wasting a lot of paper. They analyzed one class per grade level to get an estimate of how much paper is used and wasted. They collected boxes that were filled up completely to sort out those that are only 1-sided to be used again. For the paper that could not be reused, they put 3 actions in place: 1. find a paper recycling agency to take the bulk paper goods 2. shred them for packaging at school and 3. turn scrap paper into art projects for classrooms, including origami, bookmarks, and paper mache. See their video HERE.
Boys and Girls Club at Towne Avenue Elementary (California)
The Boys and Girls Club at Towne Elementary estimated that 100 milk cartons are destined for the landfill from their school everyday. They learned that it takes about 5 years for a milk carton to break down in the landfill and wanted to start recycling cartons at their school. They educated all the students and staff and created a fun basketball game as a way to encourage students to recycle their cartons and have fun with it. See their video HERE.
Will Rogers Learning Community (California)
The team at Will Rogers recognized a huge issue at lunchtime: 25 bags of landfill waste everyday. With the help of a few dedicated parents, the team set up sorting stations at lunch to separate liquids, recyclables, organic waste, landfill and trays. Since implementing the stations, over the course of the Waste Campaign, they decreased lunch time landfill waste by 85 trash bags by implementing sorting stations. They also decorated recycling boxes for all classrooms to increase paper recycling on campus.
Deep Creek Middle School (Virginia)
This innovative team created a virtual "Escape Room" to inform students about tackling waste. Specifically focused on single use plastics. Along with the Escape Room, they implemented "Plastic Free Fridays" encouraging fellow students to replace single use items with reusable items. They had the opportunity to present to their school board about the excess waste created by the food provider, including wrapping oranges in plastic wrap! See their video HERE.
PSGR Krishnammal Nursery and Primary School (India)
Students at this school took food waste VERY seriously. This team made sure that all food on campus was eaten or composted. In addition, the school made presentations and a song to show the importance of not wasting food. They involved their entire community including all students, parents, administration, school board, and government representatives. The team also had goals to limit plastic, reduce all waste going to the landfill – not just food waste, and to store food properly to reduce spoiled food.
Meadows Elementary (California)
This team made a series of "how to" videos that taught their fellow students and community how to reduce waste, pack trash free lunches, and how to properly sort their waste at lunch. They also added on the Food Finders program so that any unopened cartons of food or beverages or unpeeled fruit could be donated to local families in need of food. The students have been dedicated to educated staff, administration, and parents through their "how to" videos. See their video HERE.
Bottega Delle Arti Creative (Italy)
Like to dance? Bottega Dance School has made public performances to educate others about Rome's environmental issues and infrastructural problems. The main issue the high schoolers focused on was overflowing garbage bins throughout the city. Along with their innovative video, they have presented the problem through conferences and art exhibitions. See their video HERE.
Hughes Green Team (California)
The Hughes team found that the use of single-use condiment packets was a big waste issue on their campus. The packets end up becoming litter and often ends up in the ocean. The students prepared a proposal for the LBUSD Nutrition Services Department to switch from single-use condiment packets to sauce dispensers. They met with their district's Nutrition Services Manager to discuss the solution even further!
Feeling inspired?! Join Grades of Green for our 2019 Fall Water Campaign here. And stay tuned for an update on the new theme for our Campaign teams!


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Let's get dangerous!
Joe Danger was the definition of a perfect downloadable game. It was reasonable priced, it was tons of fun, and it was packed with content.
Naturally, since a lot of other people felt the same, a Special Edition version of the game and a full sequel were produced — now, we're onto Joe Danger Touch, as Hello Games seeks to resonate with the non-console crowd.
The real test for the studio, however, is to make the game not only appealing to newcomers, but to fans of old as well.
Joe Danger Touch (iPad, iPhone [reviewed on an iPhone 4])
Developer: Hello Games
Publisher: Hello Games
Released: January 10, 2013
MSRP: $2.99 (Universal App)
To be clear, this is a new Joe Danger game. It's not a port, and the levels and controls are built from the ground up for iOS (what a novel idea!). Since the game is built with mobile platforms in mind, it does not contain the ability to manipulate your movement like the core game series, by means of speeding up and slowing down.
As you can imagine, without the ability to change your speed, Joe Danger is fundamentally different. While people may feel like the game has been "dumbed down" as a result, it ramps up considerably after the first few levels, and you become acclimated to the new style fairly quickly.
The fact is, if Hello Games had added too many virtual buttons, people would just yearn for a better control option. Simplicity is key with iOS games — just look at Rayman Jungle Run — but the controls aren't simply "let Joe drive, press the screen occasionally."
Despite the aforementioned changes, that doesn't mean the game doesn't take advantage of the touch screen. There are gestures involved, like swiping Joe out of the entry gate to earn a timed boost, swiping to switch tracks, tapping to grab items, or dive bombing out of the sky for an early landing.
Despite my initial reservations of my inability to change Joe's speed, I ended up liking some of the changes more than the original. For instance, there's nothing more fun in my experience with the game than rushing through a level, judging jumps and obstacles, and hunting for hidden objects simultaneously. This adds a new dimension, and gives the touch version a unique feel to it.
The tried-and-true "three star" ranking system is present, which allows you to rank up and unlock new content. How you actually earn said stars is different depending on the stage, and is reminiscent of the Tony Hawk series (spelling D-A-N-G-E-R, for instance). I like this setup, as it mixes things up a bit and keeps you on your toes.
In App Purchasing (IAP), an avenue that lets you pay money to unlock content is an option, but thankfully I never really felt like I was hitting a paywall (a point where you essentially can't progress without spending money), like a lot of other mobile games on the market.
Similar to the console versions, I had the drive to keep pursuing my goals until I earned them — the fact that you earn coins even when you die also helps, as you always feel like you're working towards some sort of goal. There are bonus levels where you need to buy a costume with in-game coins to play them, but you can skip past them and continue on your path.
Sadly, there is no multiplayer support (which would have been amazing), but social Game Center challenges are offered in lieu of that. Thankfully, they're fairly well done, and the challenge system allows players to challenge others and ride through stages they haven't even unlocked yet, in favor of having fun with a buddy.
Like Rayman Jungle Run, Joe Danger Touch really "gets it" when it comes to iOS gaming. You don't need to 100% replicate console experiences, and "simplified" doesn't have to always mean "dumbed down." All in all, Hello Games did a great job bringing the Joe Danger franchise to your pocket, and I highly recommend it to anyone — former fan or not.


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text:
FIFA hand Barcelona one-year transfer ban
FIFA has imposed a year-long transfer ban on Barcelona for breaching its rules on the transfer of players aged under 18.
The Spanish club has been sanctioned for breaking the rules in the case of 10 minors and been punished with a transfer embargo for two transfer windows and a fine of 450,000 Swiss francs.
The Spanish FA has also been fined for rule breaches in terms of registering the players and fined 500,000 Swiss francs.
FIFA said in a statement: "FC Barcelona has been found to be in breach of article 19 of the regulations in the case of 10 minor players and to have committed several other concurrent infringements in the context of other players.
"The disciplinary committee regarded the infringements as serious and decided to sanction the club with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods, together with a fine of 450,000 Swiss francs.
"Additionally, the club was granted a period of 90 days in which to regularise the situation of all minor players concerned."
The sanctions follow investigations conducted by FIFA's transfer matching system officials into under-18 players who were registered and participated in competitions with the club between 2009 and 2013.
FIFA's rules state international transfers of minors are only permitted under limited circumstances, and have to be ratified by FIFA's players' status committee.
The FIFA statement added: "The disciplinary committee emphasised that the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football.
"The committee highlighted that while international transfers might, in specific cases, be favourable to a young player's sporting career, they are very likely to be contrary to the best interests of the player as a minor.
"Young football players are vulnerable to exploitation and abuse in a foreign country without the proper controls. This particular fact makes the protection of minors in football by the sport's governing bodies, especially by FIFA, even more important."
The Spanish FA, which violated article 19 of the regulations regarding the first registration of the players, has been given a period of one year in to "regularise their regulatory framework and existing system concerning the international transfer of minors in football".
Barcelona will almost certainly appeal against the transfer ban, which has cast a shadow of doubt over moves already agreed for Borussia Monchengladbach keeper Marc-Andre ter Stergen and Croatian 17-year-old Alen Halilovic, who turns 18 in June.
Barcelona have a trio of youth players from South Korea, including much-sought after 15-year-old striker Lee Seung Woo, plus other players from Africa.
FIFA only allows international youth transfers when one of three situations apply: the player's parents have moved country for their own, non-related reasons; the move takes place within the European Union if a player is aged between 16 and 18; or the player's home is less than 50 kilometres from the national border being crossed.


text: Snow White and the Huntsman, in theaters today, has no shortage of fashion: costume designer Colleen Atwood created gowns for Charlize Theron that rival Paris couture with their intricate embroidery, hand-trimmed feathers in the thousands, and sewn-on beetle wings. To celebrate the film's distinctive look, Atwood, as well as brands like Deborah Lippmann and Loree Rodkin, have teamed up with HSN to create an exclusive, Snow White-inspired collection of fashion, accessories, beauty, and home products. See 15 of our favorite pieces here.


text:
September 8, 2014
YA Fusion
It is with a heavy heart that we say good-bye to YA Fusion. Katie McGarry brought together this enthusiastic group of bloggers who wrote and cheered each other on for over three years in the blogosphere and beyond. They leave behind a legacy of wit and wisdom, and pass the torch to a new crop of writers entering the publishing world.
YA Fusion will rest in peace, but the blog team will continue on their own paths in the company of friends and fellow readers, writers, and bloggers. They'd love to hear from you.
Hop over to Collette Ballard's blog to read the Publishers Marketplace announcement for her second book, TEMPORARY HIGH. This book is Kat's story, and there's a sneak peek chapter in the back of RUNNING ON EMPTY.
Tracy Bilen's new YA thriller, WATCH YOUR BACK, will be released on April 27, 2015, and is available for pre-order.
Kristin Lenz doesn't have her own personal blog, but she's the editor of the newly created blog for the Michigan chapter of SCBWI. It's open to anyone interested in reading and writing for children and teens. Stop by and say hi: http://scbwimithemitten.blogspot.com/
Please visit the ABOUT US page to see where the rest of the blog team is hanging out. They're looking forward to staying connected.
So long, farewell!


text:
1 Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?
2 Through the pride of the wicked the poor is hotly pursued, they are taken in the devices that they have imagined.
3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and the covetous vaunteth himself, though he contemn the LORD.
4 The wicked, in the pride of his countenance [, saith]: 'He will not require'; all his thoughts are: 'There is no God.'
5 His ways prosper at all times; Thy judgments are far above out of his sight; as for all his adversaries, he puffeth at them.
6 He saith in his heart: 'I shall not be moved, I who to all generations shall not be in adversity.'
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8 He sitteth in the lurking-places of the villages; in secret places doth he slay the innocent; his eyes are on the watch for the helpless.
9 He lieth in wait in a secret place as a lion in his lair, he lieth in wait to catch the poor; {N}
he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him up in his net.
10 He croucheth, he boweth down, and the helpless fall into his mighty claws.
11 He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see.'
12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand; forget not the humble.
13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God, and say in his heart: 'Thou wilt not require'?
14 Thou hast seen; for Thou beholdest trouble and vexation, to requite them with Thy hand; {N}
unto Thee the helpless committeth himself; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break Thou the arm of the wicked; and as for the evil man, search out his wickedness, till none be found.
16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations are perished out of His land.
17 LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt direct their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to attend;
18 To right the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may be terrible no more. {P}


text:
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Top Gun's Trials-Winning .308
John Whidden's Home-Built Palma Rifle
Other Guns of the Week
John Whidden is an inspiration for all of us who aspire to represent the USA in international competition. Campaigning a home-built rifle with a Winchester Model 70 action, John racked up the
top score
(2232-93X) at the recent U.S. Palma Team Trials. Shot prone, with sling, at multiple distances, Palma competition demands great marksmanship and wind-reading skills, along with a superbly accurate rifle. In this week's feature story, John explains the Palma game and gives tips on getting match-winning accuracy out of the popular .308 Winchester cartridge. John also provides a starter guide for the home gunsmith.
Long-range Shooting and the U.S. Palma Team Try-Outs
by John Whidden
The world of competitive shooting opened for me when I was 12 years old. I found out our 4-H club had a BB gun team and I joined up. This is where I first learned about positions and sight alignment and such. My father has always been a shotgunner and this lead me to shoot in the state Junior Olympic programs. Starting when I was fifteen, I won the state junior championships for trap a couple of times and got to travel to the Olympic Training Center. This was to shoot the junior nationals. Not having a good place to practice, I got crushed. My first experience that allowed me to see the value of serious and frequent practice was my high school JROTC rifle team. We shot 3-position air rifle. I had some success there placing second individual in the state my senior year. After graduation, I moved on to North Georgia College and shot on their rifle team. We were a College Club team, which is for schools that are smaller than NCAA schools. We were pretty strong in air rifle, but a little less so in small bore. While in college, I also managed a little time to shoot tactical pistol matches. After graduation, I got married and started into the working world. After about two years, I started missing the challenges of regular competition. Long range shooting has always held a little mystique with me, as it does for a lot of people, so I thought I'd give it a try. Luckily, I had enough gear to get my foot in the door and try it using a basically stock AR-15. I was hooked immediately and can't seem to get enough!
Soon after getting into long-range Highpower, I learned about the Palma team, which is the U.S. National team for long-range shooting. Tryouts for the Palma team come around every four years. The most recent Palma tryouts were shot at Phoenix, Arizona at the Ben Avery range in October, 2005. I managed to place first among the team candidates. It was a great place to hold such an event and is a very challenging place to shoot. While out there, we had scheduled a practice day, four days of competition to actually make the Palma team, and two days of practice for those who made the team. Each day, we shot four strings of 15 shots each (all at 1000 yards) for the tryouts. One factor that helped my success was the accuracy of my gun and ammo combination. I had seen it drive nails enough times that my confidence in it was very high. I would suggest to a new shooter wanting to make the next team to get ones equipment shooting very well and work on shot execution. The shots going down range must be good to even begin to do well with the wind.
A Palma Gun that Started as a Varminter
The Palma gun that I shot at the tryouts started its life as my wife's prairie dog rifle. It was a Winchester Model 70 Heavy Varmint in .222, with a post-64 push-feed action. It shot well, but with all the traveling I was doing to compete, I didn't have time to hunt prairie dogs, so it became the action donor for the Palma gun. This Palma rifle is in the Robertson Original prone stock that I prefer. I installed an Anschutz trigger in a Briley adapter. I really like the adjustability of the Anschutz and it has proven to be very reliable in a couple of my other rifles. I pillar bedded the action to the stock using only the front and center screws. This allowed me to get by without most of the modification to the Anschutz trigger that the adapter usually requires. I use a Warner rear sight and an RPA 22mm ladder for the front. I do not shoot a lens in either sight, but I do use prescription glasses from Decot. I have a Pearson scope/sight base installed on a cant of 12.5 degrees so that the sights are level when I'm in position. The stock is painted with gel coat by David Fullerton. It is an extremely durable finish and has some texture so it's not too slick when you're sweating. Some of the cheek-piece hardware I built from scratch. The three-way adjustable buttplate is the basic Robertson Composites' unit, but the articulated hook that sits over the top of my shoulder is a MEC Contact II unit from Centershot Sports.
An Unconventional Twist Rate for a Palma Rifle
The most unusual thing about this rifle is the 10-twist barrel. Conventional Palma wisdom is to run a slower twist rate, such as 1:12" or 1:13". Tim North at Broughton supplied me with a 1:10" twist light Palma contour that I finished at 32" of length. I chose Broughton because their barrels have proven to be a step above others in the accuracy department. The Broughton crew really does an exceptional job of lapping and quality control and the results show on the target. I chambered the barrel with a '95 Palma reamer and throated it out an additional .100" for longer seating depth. I intended this barrel to shoot the 210 grain Berger VLDs and it shoots them well. During this time period, I had become intrigued by some results my friend Burke Lott was getting with 155 grain bullets. I built Burke an F-Class gun this past spring. His barrel is a Broughton 1:10" twist that I chambered in .308 at his request. Burke tried the 155 grain Lapuas and his results were very good. At this time, I thought it was interesting that his 10-twist would shoot the 155s so well. After he brought the gun to the range about five weeks in a row and consistently shot at or under a half minute at 1000 yards, he really had my attention! I tried the Berger 155s in my 10-twist and they shot fantastically well. After considerable testing and shooting this combination at Camp Perry, I am confident that this is one of the very best shooting guns I've ever had.
Load Development--Reasonable Pressures and Neck Tension are Key
My load development process is a little backwards from what is proposed in the gun magazines. I will load some rounds one at a time working up quickly in powder charge and go shoot them in the yard (luckily I can do this at home). What I am looking for is some signal when I get to the upper end of workable pressures--usually primer cratering or stiff bolt lift. Now that I know where the top is, I will back off until I am comfortable that the pressure signs have gone away. This is usually about where I start with powder charge for accuracy testing. I like CCI BR2 primers and have a lot that gives me good results, so I usually don't bother to test any others. I soft seat all of my ammunition. This means that when I take a loaded round and chamber it, the bullet is pushed back into the case. Soft seating eliminates the variable of seating depth--just set it about .040" long on a new chamber and forget about it. There is definitely some experimentation required to find the right neck tension for soft seating. I have found that when you get the neck tension worked out, the end result is worth the effort. Since I started soft seating, there is no doubt that I have had consistently good ammo.
My current match load consists of 47.0 grains Varget, with CCI BR2 primer, Winchester brass, and 155gr Berger bullets. For most of my reloading I de-cap, full-length size, prime, and seat bullets with a Dillon progressive press. However, I've removed the Dillon powder measure and replaced that with a funnel. I throw the charges with an RCBS UniFlow, then trickle to 0.1 grain, and weigh each charge with a Denver Instrument APX-200, a milligram lab scale. Once I'm satisfied with the charge, I pour it through the funnel into the re-sized case. Then the loading procedure returns to progressive mode.
Seating is usually done with a Forster Ultra Seater. I find this normally produces ammo that holds within .0015" in length measured from base to bullet ogive. I also sometimes use a Wilson hand seater. I'll use the Wilson die if I sense I'm getting inconsistent neck tension. The Wilson has a very good feel, so it sort of serves as a diagnostic tool for neck tension. It is also useful for loading when I'm away from home at a match.
Elements of Accuracy--What Works
To me, accuracy is all about bullets and barrels. Everything else is secondary. Berger Bullets have been shooting better than anything else I've tried. I take them out of the box, set them on a case, and seat them. I don't weigh or measure anything. If you have to take a bullet, sort this, measure that, trim here, and weigh to get results, why not just buy better bullets? If you can measure these inconsistencies on the outside, why should you think the inside (balance and concentricity) is any better?
I am lucky to get to test my ammo at 1000 yards, and that's what I do. If you don't have 1000 yards to test on, remember that the best predictor of long range accuracy is short range accuracy. The numbers over the chrono need to be acceptable (Extreme Spread less than about 25 for 10 rounds), but don't choose a less accurate load because it looks better on the chrono. Do, however, always test at the longest distance possible. If you have 1000 yards, you can leave the chrono at home. If you're shooting a powder charge that's in the same range as everyone else, your velocity will be competitive with theirs. Some of the worst ammo I ever loaded happened when I was paying too much attention to the chrono. Look at the group on the target because that is what determines your score.
I shoot my Palma gun quite a bit. A Palma gun has to be a .308 with iron sights. I enjoy shooting sights and shoot them frequently in practice. The rifle is a Winchester action with a 1:10" twist barrel from Broughton. I have played with a number of different load combinations and twist rates in these guns, everything from 210gr VLDs to 155s. Right now I'm using Varget, but have shot a lot of N550 in the .308. Primers are CCI BR2 and the brass is Winchester. The big bullets are a lot better in the wind, but the recoil is significant. I have seen that I shoot better with less recoil, and have recently shot a lot of 155s in preparation for the Palma tryouts. Let me say here that 155 grain bullets are required at the Palma tryouts, but at other matches the shooter can usually shoot whatever they wish. The 155 Berger VLDs that I shot at the Palma tryouts are the most accurate thing I have ever shot from a .308, and I have used them exclusively since I tested them.
Being Competitive--Pure Accuracy Always Helps
Prone rifles these days need to shoot .75 MOA at 1000 for 10 shots to be competitive. The best guns I have will shoot about .4 MOA. I think anything under .6 MOA is a competitive advantage, anything over .8 MOA needs further work. Rest assured your top competitors will be at that level or better.
Future Plans
There aren't any really ground-breaking rifle projects coming down soon for me. I have made a serious effort in the last two years to reduce the weight of my rifles and have also seen the benefits of reduced recoil. Consequently, I will be shooting my Winchester-actioned .243 quite a bit this coming year. I don't plan to change much before next year with my loads or equipment.
Basics of Palma Shooting -- The Rules and the Tools
The US Palma Team represents the USA in international long-range competitions. Long-range shooting is not an Olympic sport, so it's fair to say that the Palma team is comparable to the Olympic team, but for long-distance events. At Palma events, we shoot under generally more restrictive rules than under NRA Long Range. For example, a Palma rifle has to be a .308 with a bullet less than 156 grains, has a minimum trigger pull weight of 1.5 kg (3.3 pounds), and the rifle can't be heavier than 6.5 kg (14.3 pounds). For most NRA competitions, these rules don't apply.
The next Palma International Match and World Individual Championships takes place in Canada in 2007. These matches are held every four years, so naturally the team tryouts are on a four year cycle.
Most Palma rifles are built on custom single-shot actions. All Palma rifles are required to be shot with iron sights only. Any of the repeatable rear sights will work, but team members are required to have half-MOA clicks. RPA ladder front sights are popular because of the need to shoot at 800, 900, and 1000 yards. Barrels are usually 30" or longer to keep the bullet supersonic to 1000. A wide variety of stocks and triggers are used depending on the preference of the shooter.
Of course, there are a lot of things besides the rifle that contribute to success in Palma shooting. For example, I work hard to be efficient on the shooting mat while I am in position. By this I mean that my ammo is very close, my spotting scope is very close, and my movement between shots is kept to an absolute minimum. I do not remove the rifle from my shoulder between shots. For regular visitors to this site, I will say that my shooting style is similar to German Salazar's in these respects. See the 6mmBR.com article by German Salazar and Scott Parker on
Prone Shooting
. This offers the advantage of being able to shoot quickly when conditions dictate.
Palma shooters also require a jacket, sling, glove, mat, and spotting scope. Selecting this gear involves personal preference. Most brands and styles of it are quite workable, but be sure to buy quality when you buy. I use a Kurt Thune jacket and sling, and the fit of the jacket is unparalleled. This is important to keep the jacket in place while in position. My spotting scope is a Kowa TSN-822M on a Freeland tripod. I have a shooting bag with all of the necessary tools and my ammo beside me while I'm shooting. I can solve most common problems using the tools in the bag while I am on the firing line. Anything more serious will probably require attention in the shop anyway.
For more information on Palma competition or the U.S. Palma team, visit
Contributions in support of the United States Palma Team should be made to
Palma Promotions, Inc.
, P.O. Box 3124, Fairfax, VA 22038-3124
Whidden's "Golf Bag" of Guns for Different Disciplines
Since becoming a long-range competitor, I have managed to acquire a couple of prone rifles. I am a cartridge junkie at heart, so shooting long range has given me an opportunity (read excuse) to play with several different cartridges. Right now, I'm seriously shooting four cartridges and each of them has a place. It's a lot like golf where you have different clubs for different purposes.
Since this site attracts a lot of 6mm BR shooters, let's start there. My 6BR is a Winchester-actioned gun with a Schneider 1-8" twist polygon barrel. It shoots pretty much anything I put in it except Lapua bullets. [Editor's note: Lapua Scenars measure a couple ten-thousandths smaller in diameter than Sierras or Bergers.] For a load, I have settled on the typical Varget with CCI BR2 combination under a 105gr Berger VLD. I also shot a number of the JLK 105s when they were available. I shoot the BR a lot for practice because it's economical and accurate. The feedback that I get from the shots is very good. It's a more challenging cartridge to shoot in the wind and I don't consider it competitive at 1000 yards for that reason. I shoot 600-yard monthly matches with it fairly often, and the wind handicap at that distance isn't too big. I wouldn't shoot the 6BR in difficult wind conditions at a big match.
When I do expect big wind at 600 or am shooting a 1000-yard match, I usually shoot a cartridge of my own design. I wanted a shorter, fatter 6.5-284, so I came up with the 6.5 Blister. It's called the Blister because that's what you get on your hands when you form them. I took a .270 WSM, necked it down to 6.5mm, and pushed the shoulder back about .225". The capacity is only a tiny bit larger than a 6.5-284. I shoot N165 over a CCI BR2 and drive a Berger 140 VLD at about 3050 fps. I shoot the 6.5 Blister in a Gilkes-Ross actioned rifle with a Broughton 1:8" twist barrel. It is very accurate. In the wind it is inside anything else I shoot. The recoil is very manageable, though somewhat more than a 6mm cartridge. I gave it a long neck hoping to help the barrel life. Judging what I see in the borescope at 600 rounds, I don't think there is much difference versus a 6.5-284. I am very happy with the cartridge, but making brass is a real job.
The cartridge that I may be most enthusiastic about right now is my plain old .243. This gun is also a Winchester action with a Broughton 1:8" twist barrel. I shoot the 105 Berger VLDs on top of a charge of N165. I break from the CCI BR2s here and use Federal 210Ms. My testing time was limited this summer and I tried the 210Ms because I'm low on my favorite lot of BR2s. They shoot very well, but I will probably go to the BR2s when I can get to the range and wring out this combination. I am currently using Winchester brass. This gun is a little behind the really hot cartridges in the wind, but there is a good deal less recoil. I tend to shoot very good quality shots down range with it because I don't anticipate the recoil. It scored well at a monthly match recently, shooting 200-14x with iron sights at 1000 yards, just 2xs under the national record. I will definitely be shooting this gun a lot in 2006.
I will briefly mention some other cartridges that I have used. A barrel is still around for most of these, but I'm not actively shooting them. I have a .300 WSM that is unbelievably accurate at 1000 yards. I shoot the 210 grain VLDs, and have found that I anticipate shots due to the recoil. I have shot the 6.5-284 and it is great. Everyone has one of those, and I like things that are a little different. I have tried .284 and 7mm WSM in years past. I couldn't get consistently good results and passed on them (guess I should talk to Jerry Tierney).
Each of these guns has a place and I wouldn't want to be without any of them. If a shooter is just getting into the prone game, I would suggest they go with a .308 with a 1:10" twist. Since it qualifies as a Palma gun, this gun will let them shoot the whole Long Range National Championships at Camp Perry. This is a very easy cartridge to work with and there is plenty of load data. The 10-twist will allow the flexibility to shoot most any of the match bullets available with good results. This is the most versatile of the cartridges that I work with.
Building Your Own Match Rifle -- How to Get Started
Shooters share a natural curiosity about why some guns shoot better than others. Pretty soon, the more mechanically inclined will start to tweak something. Usually the results are encouraging, and we tweak something else. A few slip all the way down the slippery slope and begin to build their own rifles.
Stock work is where a lot of people get their start on more serious projects. Those who are interested in wood may refinish something. Those folks who are interested in accuracy may try to bed an old hunting gun. Having a Dremel type tool and some good bedding epoxy will go a long way to letting someone bed their action into the stock. Bigger jobs such as starting with an un-inletted stock are best done on a milling machine. The small mill-drills are quite workable for these projects, but a full size milling machine with significant travel on all three axes is better. Stock work doesn't require extreme precision from the milling work, and so an older milling machine that shows wear is usually quite acceptable.
A lathe will open up possibilities with barrel and action work. The barrel is where the bullet lives and is the most important part of the rifle for accuracy. My first lathe wasn't much at all, but it still did good work. I won a couple of state championships with barrels from that lathe. It was an old Craftsman and was so light that I could almost pick it up by myself. I had to go slow with it, but it shows that quality work can be done with a relatively inexpensive lathe.
There are two methods of chambering a barrel in a lathe. One method is to put the barrel in the chuck. This will require a lathe with a hole through the spindle that is big enough to stick the barrel through. The other method is to use a steady rest. This will require a lathe long enough to put the barrel out over the bed. Either method can produce match-winning barrels. As for a minimum size, the spindle of the lathe must be large to accept the barrel through the chuck, or the bed must be long enough to hold a barrel between centers. Lathes are measured by the largest diameter work they will accept and the length between centers. An example would be 12x36 inches, which is a popular size for home rifle-barreling.
There is considerable debate as to whether a home shop is best outfitted with new imported machines or old American iron. There is no doubt that the old American machines offer features and quality that are not found in new imports. The problem is that most home shop machinists to be are not knowledgeable enough to shop for used equipment. If they don't know enough about buying it, they probably don't know anything about repairing it. If you go this route, find someone with experience to help you shop for a machine.
I have purchased a couple of newer, imported machines. I will admit that the quality of them is generally better than I expected. They are mostly ready to use when they arrive. There is also a company standing behind them with a warranty should anything be wrong. Certainly I would rather have an old Monarch lathe than my Chinese-made Enco, but the Enco has so far served me well.
Getting into this sort of thing is not for everyone. If you like handloading and do well with it, you will probably do fine with this sort of work. When getting started, finds a mentor if you can and just get some cheap materials to learn on. You can practice your stock inletting on a 4x4 post and you can thread and fit a steel bar to your action. This will reduce the cost of mistakes until you are comfortable working on stocks and barrels.
Home rifle-smithing is very rewarding and I encourage anyone who is interested to get started!
A comment from a fellow shooter:
I must admit that I am proud to call John Whidden my friend. Outside of being a great shooter, he is one of the most enjoyable and pleasant people to speak with that I have ever known -- not to mention that John is a fine family man.
You will notice that those who rise to the top in long range prone matches this day in time MUST have more than just shooting skills -- they must have a vast knowledge of accuracy loading techniques with none of the "just load and shoot" mentality. John is not only a precision loader, but has a great analytical mind when addressing everything in his "shooting package" -- from ammo to gun prep to NPA -- and barrel twist. John thinks outside the box, which assists him in keeping his shots inside the high value circles.
Oh yes, John shoots all the time at 1000 yards which has given him a great education on reading the wind. I saw John shoot in the Stars and Bars (River Bend Gun Club, Georgia) at 600 yards during wind gusts up to 40 mph and just drill them in there as if it were dead calm (beat the heck out of all us F-Class shooters).
Planning, hard work, determination and more than a little skill has placed John Whidden up there with the "Best of the Best" and the international shooting community is just learning what we all knew about this South Georgia country boy. I am very pleased that 6mmBR.com has, once again, scored a 10-X by allowing John to share his shooting techniques and story with all of us. -- Jim Hardy
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Topics: Palma, U.S. Palma Team, .308, 308 Win, Winchester, 155 Lapua, 155, 6mm, 6mm BR, 6BR, 6.5-284 BS, 7mm, 300 WM, 6.5 Blister, .243 Winchester, 6.5-284, 300 WM, 270 WM, Model 70, Push-Feed, Ladder Sight, Warner Tools, USPalma.com, Norma, Hart, Lilja, Krieger, Shilen, 1000 yards, IBS, NBRSA, F-Class, Benchrest, 1000-yard, 1000, 1K, thousand-yard, Nationals, Jewell trigger, Benchrest, BR, Bench Rest, Single-shot, competition, rifle accuracy, Norma, Hodgdon Powder, Varget, Nosler, Berger, Lapua Scenar, Sierra, MatchKing, Competition Shooting, stocks, Master Class, MasterClass, Robertson Composites, gunsmith, gunsmithing, stainless barrel, reloading, powder, case forming, neck-turning, Lapua Brass, Scenar, bullets, precision.


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Fall Guys offers tons of game playing options for users
California – January 11th, 2022 – Fall Guys is one of the popular websites for all those who are on the lookout to play some of the different games. The site is well known among players as it allows them to try their hand at lots of different types of game. One can find action games and even arcade ones and tons of other great options as well.
One of the key spokesmen for the company was quoted as saying, "We always wanted to have the kind of site wherein we could keep an eye out on the varied games and offer the players the right options. We wanted to infuse a massive amount of variety and this has helped us reach out to a larger category of gamers out there."
Fall Guys is very popular as the different games offered can be played with ease. The site is very easy to navigate and one can check out the different themes and options and choose the preferred game with remarkable ease. The site has done a stupendous job so far and they are hopeful that in the times to come, they will be able to further increase their gamer and they will be able to boost their popularity in the right manner. They have a lot of future plans too and the site wishes to increase their overall growth and grow into one of the most popular websites out there.
Those who are on the lookout to find some of the best games and indulge in the right kind of easy and fun gaming experience, they should make it a point to visit https://fall-guys.co/
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Media Contact
Company Name: Rhythm Media
Email: Send Email
Country: United States
Website: https://fall-guys.co/


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In Passing
|In Passing
|Donald J. Coffin
|By Phillip R Smith
|April 6, 2010
Donald J. Coffin [1930-2010]
Mr. Donald J. Coffin, age 79, of New Castle, DE, died on Sunday, April 4, 2010, at his home after a long illness.
Born in Laurel, DE, on November 2, 1930, Mr. Coffin was a son of the late Harvey Coffin and Rebecca Moore Coffin. He was a lab technician by profession and retired from the DuPont Company after 35 years of service.
A devout Christian, Mr. Coffin had been a member of Hope Lutheran Church since 1959, only one year after the church's founding. He was a talented chess player throughout his life and belonged to several local chess clubs He was a devoted family man most of all and especially enjoyed watching his grandsons play sports.
He is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Joan L. Outten Coffin; son, Donald J. Coffin, Jr. and his wife, Bonnie, of Statesville, NC; grandsons, Tyler Coffin and Jacob Coffin; sister, Mary Frances Luzier of Millsboro, DE; sister-in-law, Shirley McCabe; and many nieces and nephews, including Barbara Ellis. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings, Granville Coffin, Pauline Helms, and Betty Wilson.
Visitation will be held from 9:30-10:30 am on Thursday, April 8, at Hope Lutheran Church, 230 Christiana Road (Rt. 273) at Edinburgh Drive, New Castle, DE. A funeral service will follow at 11 am. Interment will be in Gracelawn Memorial Park, 2220 N. DuPont Parkway, New Castle, DE.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Mr. Coffin may be made to Hope Lutheran Church, 230 Christiana Rd., New Castle, DE 19720; or Helen F. Graham Cancer Center, c/o Christiana Care, PO Box 1668, Wilmington, DE 19899; or Compassionate Care Hospice, 702 B Kirkwood Highway, Wilmington, DE 19805.
To sign guest book, visit spicermullikin.com
[published 04/06/2010]
Donald J. Coffin - may you rest in peace.


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Home Page Chess Life Online 2009 January Best of CLO 08: #10
|Best of CLO 08: #10
|January 7, 2009
2008 Best of Chess Life Online competition is
"Evan Rosenberg on Breaking 2200." Judges praised Evan's sense of humor
and practical tips for players striving for the big 22. Rosenberg was born and raised in New York, attended University of Texas at Dallas, and now lives in New York again, where he is an alternate for the New York Knights. The lavish praise for this article may raise questions as to why it didn't place even higher. Indeed, the race for 6-10 was very tight, with all the articles within a few points of each other. Evan also wrote a piece on the 2008 Marshall Chess Club Championships and plans to contribute more articles in 2009.
The #10 article in the
The Judges Sound Off
Read more about the judges here.
"What else can you say about this article besides praise? It's very instructive, for much of the population, as many people aim for 2200 these days. I also think this article will be helpful not just for experts and A players. All these suggestions are also excellent for struggling 1200 players who just try to get a little bit better and stop blundering. The games included were also very instructive, and the article brought up a lot of discussion in comments."- IM Alex Lenderman
"Kudos to another young man who made it to the big time! Hopefully this article inspires some other juniors to reach for the stars (or at least for a 2200 rating.)"- Michael Aigner
"Even if you haven't improved in years and are down to your last $3.50, there is still hope for you, says our author, in a valiant attempt to rescue the USCF from the ailing economy and robust lawsuits. Seriously, buying a notation pad is one of Evan's excellent recommendations. After skipping through Sam's annotations and smiling uncomfortably at Evan's advice, I've resolved to now analyze every third game of mine (so long as they are easy wins.)"—IM Irina Krush
"Funny and revealing look at moving from 2100 to 2200 buy scrapping what you know in favor of learning new things. Great comments by the peanut gallery too."- Mike Atkins
"Excellent, a rare kind of article: honest, clear, and true words by a 2200 player. I like the practical approach and the article finishes nicely, too."- Peter Doggers


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Purple has always been deemed as the color of royalty in western and chinese worlds. Do you know that The Forbidden City in China has purple in its chinese name 紫禁城 despite the building is actually in red color? Purple has always been associated with emperors and gods in ancient chinese till the places of these honorable figures stay is named starting with purple.
So when I was creating this marbled textured violet, I thought of adding flowers and adorning it with Swarovski crystals in the middle. Some of them even have freshwater pearls! With the combination of gorgeous stones and timless pattern, I hope you enjoy wearing these luxurious pieces!
- 100% handcrafted using polymer clay
- Lightweight
- As this piece is fully handmade, there may be some imperfections visible due to the organic nature of production. Please note that colour may vary due to different monitor colour settings.
- Measurement: approx. 1.2 x 2cm (Width x Length)
- 18k Gold plated brass hook
- When not in use, store your jewellery in a clean, dry place away from direct sunlight and other sharp objects.
- Avoid getting oils, aerosol sprays, perfumes, or chlorinated water on your jewellery, as this may discolour or deteriorate the finish.
- To clean your clay jewellery from make-up stains, very gently buff the surface with rubbing alcohol.


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Johnson to hold off on Iran sanctions
The Senate Banking Committee will hold off on passing a new Iran sanctions bill, Chairman Tim Johnson said Tuesday.
The announcement is a victory for the Obama administration, which has pressed lawmakers to hold off on imposing additional sanctions on Iran to see how a temporary nuclear deal will play out. Johnson (D-S.D.), who would play a key role in crafting sanctions legislation, said he made his decision after hearing from President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry.
"The President and Secretary Kerry have made a strong case for a pause in Congressional action on new Iran sanctions, so I am inclined to support their request and hold off on Committee action for now. I'll have more to say on this at Thursday's Banking Committee hearing," Johnson said in a statement provided to POLITICO.
The decision to hit the pause button comes as Kerry prepares for the next round of talks with Iran on implementing a six-month nuclear deal and forging a more permanent agreement. The interim agreement scales back Iran's nuclear program while lifting some of the harsh global sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy.
That deal's implementation is expected to begin at the end of December or in January. Johnson and fellow Democratic Sens. Carl Levin of Michigan and Dianne Feinstein of California have requestedperiodic updates from the administration on enforcement of the deal as well as a public report on how new sanctions could upset diplomatic talks with Iran.
If Iran reneges on its end of the deal, aides expect Congress will likely act quickly to ramp up economic pressure on the country.
Kerry testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, facing down a skeptical group of lawmakers who believe a new round of sanctions could provide impetus for Iran to strike a permanent deal. Foreign Affairs Chairman Ed Royce (R-Calif.) said imposing additional sanctions is "a pretty responsible way to make certain that the Iranians do indeed negotiate in good faith."
The House GOP is also upset that the agreement allows Iran to continue to enrich uranium under the temporary agreement, albeit not at levels that can be used to manufacture a nuclear weapon.
Johnson's decision does not mean the White House is fully in the clear, however. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) continue to pursue a bipartisan sanctions bill that would likely give a six-month window for further negotiations before taking effect. That bill has not been introduced yet — and most in Senate leadership believe there's not enough time in December to pass a standalone sanctions bill.
"The next step is to see if the folks who are working on [the bill] can get agreement on it," a senior Democratic aide said on Tuesday.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has yet to endorse a particular approach when it comes to Iran, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) blasted Reid on Tuesday for not allowing open amendments on a defense bill and concentrating instead on nominations.
A supporter of further economic penalties on Iran, McConnell called this strategy a "transparent attempt" to skirt Iran votes on the Senate floor.
Both Kerry and Treasury Secretary Jack Lew will give a closed-door briefing to all senators on Wednesday afternoon to update them on developments in Iran, Senate sources said. Kerry and Lew will lay out the administration's interim nuclear agreement with Iran a day before top Treasury and State department officials testify before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday.
Edward-Isaac Dovere contributed to this report.


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Tracks 1-11: 'Gloss', compiled by Mat Spisbah for Fallopian Tunes
Tracks 12-22, 'Moss', compiled by Stuart Buchanan for New Weird Australia
Sleeve Notes by Mat Spisbah, Fallopian Tunes:
The idea of Gloss & Moss had seduced me from the beginning; two texturally different sounds with a similar headspace between them. When Stu and I first started talking about this compilation, a whole host of different ideas came up – synthetic nature, granular treetops etc…
It was always going to be interesting collecting the sonics for it. Its hard to really call anything on this compilation experimental music, all the artists have their shit locked down and know exactly what their doing. The experimenting is done well before anything is made. But all the same, experimental music in Australia is starting to gain a foothold and it's exciting to see the scope of different things people are doing.
This collection of tracks really brings the assorted flavours of what people are up to in and around Australia and the little soundworlds they create for themselves. Everything from glacial ambience to typewriting textures is represented here, its a small cross section of the lush pool of ideas floating around the Ausmos (Australian cosmos).
Sleeve Notes by Stuart Buchanan, New Weird Australia:
Finding Fallopian Tunes' early release 'Berlin Mixtape' was nothing short of a godsend. Hunting down music to play on the weekly New Weird Australia radio show is never a chore, the hunt can be both exhilarating and frustrating. Yet, finding one relevant new release may take hours, and only yield a single track. Hence the night when 'Berlin Mixtape' was discovered remains firmly etched in memory – sixteen tracks of new, eclectic and experimental Australian music, and all of them gems. The concept seemed eerily, and generously, familiar.
Naturally enough, the mixtape received a ritual flogging on the radio show – I simply couldn't get enough of it – and it also conveniently led to the first release on the then nascent label, the stunning debut from Yolke, titled Poppy Wash. Yet, at the same time led nowhere – Fallopian Tunes had no web site, and little web presence – which, contrary to what a manager might tell you, simply added to the allure of the label.
Many months later, we finally met each other virtually, complemented each other for our respective output, and danced around the idea of perhaps linking arms and working on a shared release. 'Gloss & Moss' is the result: 22 tracks, 11 a-piece, representing precision and imprecision – controlled chaos and chaotic control. In splitting hairs over definitions, this 'Australia Mixtape' has both its cake and devours it – we can pay attention to the difference, or ignore it all together. Like Fallopian Tunes and New Weird Australia, it's two sides of the same coin – a collection of exceptions that prove the rule.