text:
Senior guard/forward Matt DeHart (Greenville) of the Ferris State University men's basketball team has been chosen as the recipient of the FSU Athletics Department's Willie Bouyer Leadership Award for the 2010-11 campaign.
The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, which is regarded as the most prestigious of the FSU Athletics Department's four annual major honors, is named in memory of Ferris State's first All-America football student-athlete Willie Bouyer. Bouyer was tragically killed in his hometown of Detroit in 1977. The recipient is chosen by a FSU Athletics Department committee.
Candidates for the award are judged on their strong inspirational leadership and dedication to fellow Ferris State student-athletes. The nominees also should be involved outside of athletics in other college and community activities along with participating on a varsity athletics team for at least two years. The Willie Bouyer Leadership Award was reinstated upon the conclusion of the 2002-03 season following a seven-year absence.
"Matt is an exemplary young man, a natural leader and is very deserving of this award," said FSU Athletics Director Perk Weisenburger. "He was a big part of the success our men's basketball team achieved in making it to the "Sweet 16" this season plus he was a fixture on our Student-Athlete Advisory Board. Matt is a wonderful choice as the recipient of this leadership award in the name of Willie Bouyer."
A former walk-on, DeHart concluded his FSU career as one of the
program's all-time bests in three-pointers made and three-point
percentage. He tallied nine points and four rebounds a game
this past season while making the third-most three's (78) in school
single-season history. The 6-4, 185-pound DeHart
also picked up Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
(GLIAC) North Division Player of the Week honors this season and
finished the year as one of the league leaders in three-pointers
made and three-point percentage.
Behind the play of DeHart and three other members of the senior class, the Ferris State men concluded the 2010-11 season by reaching the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen and the Midwest Regional Championship Game in Louisville, Ky. The Bulldogs also captured the GLIAC North Division Championship and hosted the GLIAC Tournament Semifinals and Finals this past season. Ferris State earned runner-up laurels in both the conference and NCAA regional tournaments.
In addition to his success on the court, DeHart has also been active off the floor by serving as a member of FSU's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee. He was also involved as a student-athlete representative on the selection committee to hire a new athletics director last summer and has served as a basketball camp coordinator for Eagle Village. The two-time (2009-10 & 2010-11) GLIAC All-Academic Team honoree was a four-year letterwinner for the Bulldogs.
DeHart is the third men's basketball player in school history to receive the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award, following in the footsteps of Kurt Stevens (1985-86) and Jeffrey Shanahan (2005-06).
The other 2010-11 nominees for the Willie Bouyer Leadership Award included Zach Redmond of the men's ice hockey team, men's golf team member Joe Brown along with Jack Swan of the men's tennis squad.
Willie Bouyer
Leadership Award Recipients
2010-11 – Matt DeHart (Men's Basketball)
2009-10 – Casey Haines (Men's Ice Hockey) and Kurt Valley (Men's Golf)
2008-09 – Holly Bruntjens (Softball)
2007-08 – Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf) and Katie Kraai (Softball)
2006-07 – Danielle Baucher (Women's Volleyball) and Raquel Hansen (Women's Golf)
2005-06 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Jeffrey Shanahan (Men's Basketball)
2004-05 – Brittny Godlewski (Women's Volleyball) and Navreet Gill (Softball)
2003-04 – Melissa Worsley (Softball) and Derrick McIver (Men's Ice Hockey)
2002-03 – Steve Picucci (Mens' Cross Country and Men's Track & Field)
1995-96 – Benny Roe (Football)
1994-95 – Tim Christian (Men's Ice Hockey)
1993-94 – Jere Getzinger (Wrestling and Football)
1992-93 – Dave Morin (Baseball)
1991-92 – Erica Thomas (Women's Basketball)
1990-91 – Mark Kamppinen (Baseball)
1989-90 – Doug Mooney (Wrestling) and Jody Johnson (Softball)
1988-89 – Jim Beson (Football and Wrestling)
1987-88 – Sam Sweet (Men's Track and Field)
1986-87 – Paul Surmont (Cheerleading – Bulldog Mascot)
1985-86 – Kurt Stevens (Men's Basketball)
1984-85 – Steve Piotraczk (Football), Katy Kelley (Women's Basketball)
1980-81 – Fred Kirkland (Football and Men's Track & Field)


text:
Oklahoma City — Forty-eight individuals gathered in Oklahoma City earlier this month to see if they had what it takes to be one of the Navy's most elite, a Navy SEAL.
Held in conjunction with Oklahoma City Navy Week, the SEAL Fitness Challenge was held at the Oklahoma City Community College Aquatic Center. More than 20 U.S. cities will host Navy weeks in 2008 in an effort to increase awareness in metropolitan areas that do not have a significant Navy fleet presence.
Participants tested their fitness, strength and stamina in the challenge, which included a 500-yard swim, push-ups, sit-ups, pull-ups and a 1 1/2-mile run.
"The event went really well, including the results of the females who came out," says Chief Information Systems Technician Matt Pate of Navy Recruiting District Dallas. "Pull-ups present the biggest challenge for females."
The top three finishers and fastest swimmer received a medallion. All earned a T-shirt for participating.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
[Look for the podcast play button below.]
Alrighty then! It's time for our first Q&A show for the New Year. I have a whole bunch of very interesting correspondents vying for their moment in the sunshine, so to speak. Each one is ready to share his or her sex and relationship concerns with us. And I will do my level best to make my responses informative, enriching and maybe even a little entertaining.
- John is horny as hell and wants to jack off with other guys. I turn him on to Bateworld.
- Rocky is gettin' pounded pretty hard, afterward he can't pee.
- Holly hasn't had a date in 48 years. She's having problems connecting with a good man.
- Brian is lookin' to zap his hole.
- Conner thinks his BF is jerkin off too much.
- Michael has crystal dick.
- Lili describes, in great detail, her sex life with her hubby.
Check out The Lick-A-Dee-Split Connection. That's Dr Dick's toll free podcast voicemail HOTLINE. Don't worry people; no one will personally answer the phone. Your message goes directly to voicemail.
Got a question or a comment? Wanna rant or rave? Or maybe you'd just like to talk dirty for a minute or two. Why not get it off your chest! Give Dr Dick a call at (866) 422-5680.
Look for my podcasts on iTunes. You'll find me in the podcast section, obviously, or just search for Dr Dick Sex Advice. And don't forget to subscribe. I wouldn't want you to miss even one episode.
Today's Podcast is bought to you by: The Perfect Fit Brand!
Podcast: Play in new window | Download


text:
Accelerate workloads. Capitalize on hybrid cloud. Protect your data from all threats.
Your business is driven by data, and harnessing the power of your data is critical to your competitive advantage. IBM has everything you need to gain continuous insight, meet real-time demands, and drive innovation and growth.
Flash storage
New! Turbocharge flash access with NVME-oF for accelerated performance and lower latency. Deploy affordable, industry-leading flash backed by guarantees.
Software-defined storage (SDS)
Manage data growth and enable multicloud initiatives with file, block and object solutions to modernize your infrastructure and support next-generation applications.
Data protection software
Protect your critical business data with an integrated approach to backup and disaster recovery featuring quick installation, easy management and rapid data recovery.
Hybrid storage arrays
Control costs with an optimized mix of storage media at an affordable price. With nearly unlimited hybrid configuration options, you can tailor a system to your specific needs.
Storage area networks (SAN)
Capitalize on enterprise-wide data sharing and collaboration with intelligent SAN switches, directors and routers to connect servers and storage systems.
Tape storage
Improve data economics with tape storage solutions from the global market leader, including drives, autoloaders, libraries, virtual tape systems and IBM Spectrum Archive software, which makes tape as easy to use as disk.
Simplify your IT in any environment
Hybrid cloud storage
Build the right storage foundation for your hybrid cloud. As a recognized leader in both flash and SDS, IBM is uniquely capable of helping you architect, build, and deliver hybrid cloud storage solutions.
Converged infrastructure
VersaStack combines the power of Cisco compute and networking with the proven innovation of IBM Storage in one solution. This pre-tested, pre-validated infrastructure stack delivers a 293% ROI in a typical use case.
Virtual storage
Simplify data management by controlling all storage assets through one interface. Unify storage systems across multivendor on-premises and hybrid cloud environments.
The smart buyer's guide to flash
Is flash storage right for your business? This helpful guide contains information and answers to common questions about flash to help you make an informed decision for your business.
Powering the high-performing cloud
How should you select and implement the right storage solutions to support your cloud initiatives? Gain actionable insights from this white paper.
The case for SDS: the digital transformation imperative
Software-defined storage is a critical component of next-generation IT infrastructure. This infographic highlights the strategic advantages of deploying SDS.
Call us at +20235319600 | Priority code: Storage
Visit us
Visit us


text: Fire response shows Saint Michael's students at their best News Home 02.20.14 By: Mark Tarnacki There was no time to spare when student firefighters from Saint Michael's Fire and Rescue squad showed up in zero degree temperatures at 3:36 a.m. early Monday to fight the first major structure fire on the St. Mike's campus that any student or veteran town firefighters could remember. The fire, which investigators believe started accidentally in student townhouse 105 on the first floor, had potential to spread to an entire row of adjoining student townhouses, but everyone got out safe, and the fire was quickly contained thanks to fast action by residents and well-trained student responders. Such an outcome was the occasion for deep campus-wide gratitude that a scary close-call did not become a more profound tragedy. Ultimately, Saint Michael's put its best face forward on a long and challenging day with touching displays of bravery and compassion, as countless individuals met the urgent or longer-term needs of 22 students displaced by the fire. Dawn Ellinwood, vice president for student affairs, and Lou DiMasi, director of student life/assistant dean of students, were on the scene along with Director of Public Safety Peter Soons shortly after word of the fire came in to assist with students to assure their well-being, and to help them get in touch with families to let them know they were safe. In short order, all 22 had clothing, food and suitable alternative housing in a comfortable nearby hotel, along with the kind of moral support that is a signature quality of the college. Eight minutes – the Saint Michael's College Fire and Rescue squad's response time to the fire scene at Townhouse 105 from the moment the first call came in via 911 at 3:28 a.m. – was particularly remarkable, says St. Mike's Assistant Fire Chief Erik Haversang '11, considering that from the time their beepers went off as they slept in campus residences, these emergency-experienced students all drove or ran over to the station across Route 15 from main campus, donned air packs and fire-retardant gear, jumped on the new Engine 8 and old Engine 9 and roared over to the student 100-series Townhouses in the northeast corner of main campus, just a few hundred yards from headquarters. Since fire spreads so rapidly, every minute counts, said Haversang, a St. Mike's Fire and Rescue four-year alumnus. Having a college-based squad right on campus - and in this case, having Student Fire Captain Mike Bodreau living right near the working fire site - made incalculable difference in the outcome, Haversang is all but certain: "Most important is that every one of 22 residents from that block of townhouses got out safe, with only water damage to all but the one townhouse that burned," he said. Student Life staff and the Red Cross quickly found suitable housing, clothes and food for everyone. Dispatching for SMC Fire when the call came in was Patrick Mager '08, who also works as a Resident Director for the college's Student Life office and is a graduate education student after majoring in biology. "He did a good job at the switchboard, Johnny-on-the-spot – I was proud of him," said Haversang. Bodreau, a senior history/secondary education major from Quinebaug, CT, became the initial incident commander by default when, upon hearing the first beeper tone, he came out of his residence in Hodson Hall just yards from the burning townhouse, and saw the flames from every window. "He had his radio, and his initial update to dispatch was 'fire showing' -- so in the minutes until our first truck arrived, he came up with a plan, instructing our new Engine 8 to make a "fire attack,' which is what is sounds like: they go and attack the fire." explained Haversang. Amy McGann '15, an Information Systems major and second lieutenant from Hanover, MA, was at the wheel of Engine 8, immediately throttling up the engine on arrival to get pressure on the hose for the 1,000 gallons of water the equipment carries. She was one of four female responders on the trucks. "We put 300 gallons a minute out, then the second engine on the scene gives them their 1,000, and then a crew hits the hydrant, which fortunately was right on the corner in this fire," said Haversang. "It's miserable in the super cold weather and you freeze once the water starts, you're solid ice, unless you're inside the burning building where its 1,000 degrees - and then the cold's not affecting you." Senior Grey Switzer '14, environmental studies major from Shelburne, VT, led the attack into the building, flames roaring, carrying the "first line in," Haversang says, with junior Nate Richard '15, a junior political science major from Cape Neddick, ME, fast and fearlessly on his heels. "Basically, right away we requested Winooski to roll their ladder truck," Haversang said. Colchester and Essex crews soon followed with Winooski arriving in about 10 minutes from the first call they got, and the others shortly after. By the time those town crews arrived, the Saint Michael's first-wave attackers had been forced to back off into a more "defensive mode," when one of the crew put an axe in the stairs of townhouse 105 to test it and the stairs basically collapsed. "I have to do a big shout-out to the student members who fought the fire and their ability to stop it from spreading to adjacent apartments," said Haversang. "The other townhouses have a lot of water damage but it's still a remarkable accomplishment. They worked exceptionally hard." Two of the three male residents of townhouse 105 were able to escape down the stairs through the door upon hearing smoke alarms sounding, while the third exited his second-floor window and lowered himself from a porch roof, according to later reports. Safety personnel knocked on doors to evacuate the nearby townhouses efficiently. Once Haversang arrived on the scene from his home in Colchester he instructed one student crew to go next door to Townhouse 104 on the second floor and open up the ceilings, spraying water into the attic to stop it from spreading through a void space that reached clear down to Townhouse 101. "It probably took about half an hour to have the bulk of the fire knocked down," he said. "Basically the second floor of the fire-building structurally collapsed, which is never a good thing." On the scene from near the start was Battalion Chief Pete Soons '82, the college's director of public safety, who was primarily occupied with his public safety role and so left the firefighting primarily to his crew. While campus fires are rare except for the common burnt popcorn in a dorm room, the assistant chief said, squad members get plenty of useful experience "running rescue" or being a firefighter at Saint Michael's for neighboring towns. "On the average we respond to one real fire a month – some months none but some two or three," says Haversang," noting the recent bitter cold weather seemed to bring more calls. "The students are getting a ton of experience. We train to do what we did today." Even with those demands, most squad members do well in classes too, he says, with their experience typically becoming a central piece of their time at St. Mike's. "Part of it is the thrill and the rush you get when you're looking at a fire and say, "I'm going to go put that out!" he says. "The responsibility and experience you get as a college student doing this helps prepare you for a job in the real world, whether firefighting or something else." "And it's a big family, which is cool," Haversang said." "The new Fire and Rescue members come to realize there are a lot of people who actually care about them a lot, in and outside the fire house, and I think that draws a lot of people to the organization. Some folks just try it as something different and end up falling in love with it. We find lots of families take tours and are interested in checking us out.' For those who fought Monday's fire, it was a long day, but they're used to that. "We generally tell students, 'don't respond if it's within two hours of a class,' but in a case like this that's not going to be a factor," says Haversang. Later Monday afternoon, the crews planned to return to the fire site to be sure no embers were at risk of rekindling. "When all the cool stuff is done, that's when the work starts," he says. "Picking up our equipment, cleaning everything, checking the hose and air packs, nozzles cleaned, trucks washed." But he's fast to add that "everyone realizes they're students first and firefighters second. Still, on a call like this, they're firefighters first, with an entirely professional attitude till the job is done."


text:
Advertise with us
Newsletter Articles:
Note from Alice
A Special Wedding Announcement
LPGA Golfer Sarah Jane Kenyon Ties the Knot
An Invitation from NFCA and Navigenics
For the First Time - Personal Genomic Testing
Happy Hearts
Warm Breads for Winter Days
Recipes for Delicious GF Breads
Valentine's Day and You Celiac Child
Tips on Treats that are Safe to Eat
For the Sake of Love
Tips on Adjusting to the Gluten-Free Diet with Your Partner
This Month's Advocate for Awareness
Eliana Actor-Engel Raises Awareness
All Things GREAT
Updates on the Success of GREAT
2009 Webinar Series Continues
Information on the next session
Hot Products
The best gluten-free products
Celiac in the News
Recent news about celiac disease
Editorial Comments:
Emily Freedner
[email protected]
Volume 3 Issue 13
February 2009
Note from Alice
NFCA Executive Director
Will You Be Our Valentine?
Valentine's Day could not come at a more perfect time. Many of us are desperately in need of an infusion of warmth and love during these long, dark and chilly weeks of winter! With all the chocolate, flowers, and romantic gifts that so often define this holiday, it's important to remember that the sweetest things in life aren't "things," but the people who enrich our lives. The love we share with treasured family and friends is truly our reason for celebration.
Giving to the NFCA is a wonderful way to show someone in your life with celiac disease that you care about their health and want to better their lives by increasing awareness of their disease. This gift truly will help "restore health and reclaim lives!"
At the NFCA, we are so very grateful to all of those who donate not just their money, but their time and efforts. This Valentine's Day, you can also give the gift of awareness by promoting the airing of a powerful Public Service Announcement on your local television station. Your gift in bringing greater recognition to celiac disease shows the depth of your love and generosity; not only for the celiac in your life, but for the entire celiac community. To find out how you can give this gift of awareness and air one of the NFCA's PSAs in your area, visit our website.
The wise people in our midst tell us, "Love and kindness are never wasted. They always make a difference." At the NFCA, we are driven to make a difference in the lives of all those who live, diagnosed and undiagnosed, with celiac disease. But, we are not able to do it alone. Your labors of love and kindness are what fuel our efforts and fill our hearts with the passion and determination to continue on this mission.
Happy Valentine's Day!
Continue to support our cause, donate.
Alice Bast
Back to Top
Our warmest congratulations go out to the NFCA's "Athletes for Awareness" spokeswoman Sarah Jane Kenyon, on her January 10th wedding to long-time caddy, Duane Smith. After being together on, and off, the course for over 5 years, the couple tied the knot in front of a small gathering of family and friends at Sarah's home in Little Mountain, Australia.
Sarah and Duane are holding off on a honeymoon as she continues to prepare for the LPGA tour this spring. Sarah makes her debut under the name Sarah Jane Smith today in Australia's NSW Women's Open. Sarah will also appear in the New Zealand Masters and the ANZ Ladies Masters, taking place in early February, before she and her husband return to the states.
We hope you all look forward to following Sarah Jane Smith's progress on the NFCA's new "Athletes for Awareness" blog sponsored by Blue Diamond Growers. The blog is set to debut in February 2009!
An Invitation from NFCA and Navigenics
A Special Study: Personal Genomic Testing
For the first time in history, you can use your DNA to live healthier.
And right now you have the unique opportunity to be part of a special project that uses the latest advancements in technology and medicine to give you insight into your DNA, so that you can take powerful steps toward prevention.
The Scripps Genomic Health Initiative (SGHI) is a unique study designed to find out how personal genomic testing will improve health by motivating people to make positive lifestyle changes, such as exercising, eating healthy and quitting smoking, as well as decisions to seek further medical evaluation and preventive strategies.
With your participation in the Scripps Genomic Health Initiative, you will receive:
Scripps Health is proud to be able to offer Scripps community members and friends exclusive participation in this study, and a discounted rate for participation in Navigenics service.
This offer expires February 28, 2009.
$470 for orders between February 1 and 28, 2009
To enroll, please complete the simple online sign up.
Special instructions: During Step 1 of registration, please identify yourself as "Other" and enter your name and email address.
If you have questions about this opportunity please contact Navigenics Member Services by phone at (866) 522-1585 (US and Canada), +1 (650) 585-7743, or via e-mail at [email protected].
By Linda Simon, Registered Dietitian
Happy Hearts
February is a natural time to talk about love. Isn't it best when we start with a healthy heart? And, add chocolate?
There are good, but preliminary scientific studies that show the cardiovascular benefits of cocoa and dark chocolate. The studies have serious sounding names. Two examples are, "Effects of Low Habitual Cocoa Intake on Blood Pressure and Bioactive Nitric Oxide" and "Acute Dark Chocolate and Cocoa Ingestion and Endothelial Function." In everyday language, they say that a small serving of cocoa or dark chocolate lowers high blood pressure. And, there are reports of either no effect or an improvement on total, HDL, and LDL cholesterols (don't stop taking your medications though).
One ounce of cocoa is a very good source of fiber, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, copper and manganese. A 1-1/2 ounce serving of dark chocolate offers a similar amount of antioxidants as a serving of green tea, red wine, or blueberries. Both cocoa and dark chocolate are very low in sodium and have no naturally occurring cholesterol. It truly is a happy heart health food.
The most nutritious choice is natural cocoa powder because nothing is added to it. Dutched cocoa is a reasonable second choice for cocoa. It has been treated with alkali, has lighter color, milder flavor, fewer antioxidants, and mixes with liquids more easily. When choosing chocolate, choose dark, the darker the better. Look for at least 65% cacao. The higher the percentage of cacao, the lower the amount of added sugar. Sugar reduces the cardiovascular benefits somewhat. And white chocolate? It lacks the nutrition and flavor of dark chocolate, so it doesn't even count as chocolate to me.
To add five minutes of happiness to each day, pop a small piece of fine dark chocolate in your mouth. Close your eyes and savor the silky flavor as it slowly melts on your tongue. Quietly say "mmmmm." Or, try some other tasty ways to add cocoa.
And of course, make a treat. This is a so simple recipe that does not require any expensive or hard to find ingredients. Using brown sugar instead of white sugar increases the antioxidants.
Cocoa Bean Brownies (or Flourless Chocolate Cake) Makes 16 small brownies.
A thin batter puffs up during baking and then deflates a little as it cools.
The brownies are very fudgy and very yummy. They also stay amazingly moist for many days.
1/2 cup cocoa
1/3 cup canola oil
1-15 oz can beans, drained and rinsed (kidney, pinto, navy, or black beans all work well)
1 1/4 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Oil an 8x8 inch pan. Pour batter into the pan and bake for 35-40 minutes, or until brownies are just set. Cool, cut and serve. For a flourless chocolate cake, and a fancier presentation, use an 8" round cake pan. Cut into wedges and serve with raspberry or strawberry sauce.
Linda Simon [email protected]
Warm Breads for Your Hearty Winter Days
By Chritina Gentile, NFCA Volunteer Staff Writer
There is nothing more delicious than warm bread with a hot winter dinner. The delicacy of the bread complimenting the heartiness of the meal is a true experience! Making fresh, homemade gluten-free bread can be a challenge, but once you master the recipes and gather all the ingredients, you will find yourself making batches of bread all the time. There are many possibilities for gluten-free bread; some of my favorites include dinner rolls with sea salt and oregano, biscuits with cheddar cheese, and basic brown rice bread.
Gluten-free bread can compliment many hearty dinners. Dinner rolls with sea salt and oregano go great with hearty soups such as beef vegetable, stews, and black bean soup. They are also a great addition to any meat dish such as pork, beef, and chicken. These rolls taste amazing when paired with vegetables such as sautéed asparagus with lemon, herbed corn, or breaded cauliflower. These freeze well and can be stored for about 1 month. I usually make two batches; one for dinner and one to have on hand in the freezer!
Biscuits with cheddar cheese are definitely my favorite. When I make this recipe for a family meal, I always double the recipe because they disappear quickly by gluten-free and non-gluten free eaters! Like the dinner rolls, they freeze well, so you can always make them ahead and reheat them in the oven. You can even substitute the cheddar cheese for Parmesan cheese for a different taste. I love making these biscuits whenever pasta is being served for dinner. The taste of the tomato sauce paired with these cheesy biscuits makes me feel like I am in one of my favorite Italian restaurants! These biscuits also compliment many seafood dishes. If salmon, herbed fish, sautéed shrimp, or lobster is on your dinner menu, be sure to try these biscuits!
Basic brown rice bread is a staple to have on hand. I like to make a few loaves at a time and store them in the freezer when I have enough ingredients available. This bread can be used to make any type of sandwich you could dream up: turkey, ham, vegetable, meatball, tuna, or even peanut-butter and jelly! I even like to make garlic bread using the brown rice bread. I cut the loaf into slices, spread with butter, sprinkle with garlic powder, and let it warm in the oven at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. This easy garlic bread tastes great with virtually any Italian dish! For a variation, I have used sautéed onions and roasted tomatoes to compliment many chicken, beef, and stewed meals.
When baking gluten-free bread, I like to use flours that act as thickening agents such as cornstarch and potato starch, as well as bean flours in order to yield delicate bread that does not taste gummy. I have found that these flours yield a bread that is easy to work with, does not crumble when removing them from the loaf pan or baking sheet, and can be used in almost any bread recipe. I have also come to learn that making great gluten-free bread requires adequate mixing, a proper balance of wet to dry ingredients, and using room temperature ingredients. For example, if you store your flours in the refrigerator, let them sit out on the counter for about an hour to come to room temperature; for eggs, put them in a bowl of warm water for 5 minutes. If one of my recipes calls for milk or buttermilk, I warm it to about 100 degrees.
Below are the recipes for the gluten-free breads I have discussed. Make sure to use fresh ingredients and to correctly measure out the flours-too much or too little can cause the bread to be too dry or taste sticky. Most importantly, enjoy and savor every bite!
Gluten Free Dinner Rolls with Sea Salt and Oregano - Yields 9 Rolls
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons honey
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream
1 packet yeast
½ cup potato-starch
1 cup cornstarch
½ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
¾ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon vinegar
Sea Salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
1. Combine all ingredients. Mix well to remove all lumps (dough will be wet).
2. Wet hands to handle dough. Take about ¼ cup of dough and shape into a ball.
3. Drop into a greased muffin or cupcake tin. Repeat until all dough is used.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt and oregano.
5. Bake about 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle is clean.
1. Combine all ingredients. Mix well to remove all lumps (dough will be wet).
2. Wet hands to handle dough. Take about ¼ cup of dough and shape into a ball.
3. Drop into a greased muffin or cupcake tin. Repeat until all dough is used.
4. Sprinkle with sea salt and oregano.
5. Bake about 15 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in middle is clean.
Gluten-Free Biscuits with Cheddar Cheese - Yields 8 Biscuits
1/3 cup shortening
¾ cup cornstarch
½ cup potato starch
2 teaspoons xanthan gum
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
1 tablespoon sugar
¾ cup milk
½ teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ cup butter, melted, mixed with ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
1. In medium bowl, blend all ingredients except for last two and mix until there are no lumps (Dough will be soft and sticky).
2. Roll out dough that is ½ inch thick on a lightly floured surface (I dust with corn starch). Make biscuits by using a 2-½ inch biscuit/cookie cutter.
3. Place biscuits on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, brush with the melted butter mixed with garlic powder.
1. In medium bowl, blend all ingredients except for last two and mix until there are no lumps (Dough will be soft and sticky).
2. Roll out dough that is ½ inch thick on a lightly floured surface (I dust with corn starch). Make biscuits by using a 2-½ inch biscuit/cookie cutter.
3. Place biscuits on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes, or until lightly browned.
4. Immediately after taking them out of the oven, brush with the melted butter mixed with garlic powder.
Brown Rice Gluten Free Bread - Yields 2 Loaves
1-½ cups brown rice flour
1-½ cups bean flour
1 cup corn meal
½ cup sugar
1 teaspoon xanathan gum
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon yeast
½ teaspoon salt
2 cups buttermilk
1 cup molasses
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
1. lightly grease and flour two large loaf pans (I use white rice flour).
2. In a bowl, combine the flours, corn meal, sugar, baking soda, yeast, salt and the xanathan gum.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk, mixing well.
4. Add in the molasses and mix until blended.
5. Pour into the prepared loaf pans. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
1. lightly grease and flour two large loaf pans (I use white rice flour).
2. In a bowl, combine the flours, corn meal, sugar, baking soda, yeast, salt and the xanathan gum.
3. Make a well in the center of the flour and add the buttermilk, mixing well.
4. Add in the molasses and mix until blended.
5. Pour into the prepared loaf pans. Bake for 50-55 minutes. Cool on a wire rack.
Back to Top
Valenine's Day and Your Celiac Child
By Abby Schwartz, NFCA Volunteer Staff Writer
Valentine's Day is almost here. Unlike the ubiquitous pizza parties that pop up throughout the school year, this is one occasion that is easy for your celiac child to enjoy. If your child's class is having a party, ask the teacher to provide some suggestions to the parents who volunteer to bring in treats. Many mainstream, store-bought candies are gluten-free, including M&Ms, Hershey's Kisses, all flavors of Jelly Belly jelly beans, Snickers and Snickers Dark bars, Skittles, Starbursts, and the list goes on. A word about M&Ms. It was always my understanding that crispy M&Ms do contain gluten. My advice is to double-check the labels of any "crispy" versions to look for the presence of gluten (watch for malt).
Sweet Talk Your Kid
Remember when you were a kid and Valentine's Day meant the reappearance of those pastel-colored candy hearts with the fun sayings on them? Well, guess what? They are still around and they are gluten-free. Necco, the manufacturer of Valentine Sweethearts Conversation Hearts - the original candy hearts - confirms that this holiday treat is gluten-free. Another brand of candy hearts, Elmer's Small Talk Conversation Hearts, is also gluten-free.
Chocolate Treats
When I was a kid, I also liked the heart-shaped boxes of chocolate candy with the surprise fillings. Today, these can be found everywhere, including your local drugstore. I placed a call to several candy companies to find out which ones are gluten-free. The first two calls were disappointing: customer service representatives from both Godiva and Ghirardelli stated that while most of their chocolates were in fact gluten-free, there was still a risk of contamination from the manufacturing process.
On my third attempt, I contacted a classic Valentine's chocolate maker, Whitman's. By phone, they wholeheartedly endorsed their candy as safe for celiacs. The makers of the famous Whitman's Samplers, stated that all of their Valentine's candies are gluten-free with the exception of products containing cookies, such as S'mores and Cookies and Creams. However, on their website, they make the following statement:
"To the best of our knowledge, our products are gluten free - with the exception of products containing cookies, such as S'mores and Cookies and Creams. These products contain a small amount of gluten, and ingredient labels indicate clearly that they contain wheat.
Be aware that products containing wheat are produced on equipment that's also used to make other products. So we can't completely rule out the possibility of cross-contamination, despite efforts to prevent it."
Therefore, only you can decide if this product is, or is not, safe for your celiac child to consume.
Baked Treats
One of the easiest and tastiest treats you can make for your child to bring to school is gluten-free brownies. There are a number of very good baking mixes sold in supermarkets or online including those by Miss Robens, Pamela's Products, Bob's Red Mill, and our favorites: Gluten Free Pantry Chocolate Truffle Brownies. You can follow the recipes as is, or add mini chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, before baking. Not only are brownies a delicious treat for your child, they have the added bonus of being very close to the real thing when it comes to texture and taste. In other words, your child's classmates will be none the wiser that they are eating gluten-free.
For the Sake of Love
By Emily Freedner, NFCA Staff Writer
Being diagnosed with celiac disease is a big shock. Although I always try to encourage people to view the diagnosis in a positive light, it can be overwhelming when you realize you have to completely rethink your diet and your lifestyle. Often, you wonder how this new lifestyle will affect your significant other. You wonder how you'll share the kitchen, share food, and prepare meals that are healthy and enjoyable for both of you. I know from my own experience, I stressed about how this would play into my personal relationships. Luckily, I have a very supportive boyfriend and he made the transition an easy one. As February is the month of love, I thought I would share a few tips on how you and your partner can more easily integrate the gluten-free diet into your lives.
Consult a Dietitian
After being diagnosed, some people are very comfortable doing their own research to learn how they need to change their diet. However, some of us learn better in an environment where we are being taught. Consulting with a dietitian can be a great way to learn more about the gluten-free diet in a setting that is informative and comforting. It also offers the opportunity for you and your partner to go through the educational experience as a team, so that together, you can reflect on what you have learned as you adapt to your new lifestyle.
Join a Local Support Group
Joining a local support group will put you in touch with other individuals and couples that have gone through the same transition you are embarking on. You will also meet others who have just been diagnosed and, like you and your partner, are starting at the beginning. A support group is a great place to share stories, recipes and ideas. Most importantly, it is a place where you will see and hear, first hand, the benefits of sticking to a gluten-free diet, which will encourage you to stick to your own. You will also have the opportunity to forge new and lasting friendships.
Take a Romantic Trip to the Grocery Store
Spend a Sunday afternoon strolling through the grocery store and make a list of all the gluten-containing foods that you both enjoy. Jot down things that you know you will miss, and scope out products you commonly use, to identify any hidden sources of gluten. Once you have your list, spend a night together researching alternatives. Once you know exactly what you are looking for, it's easier to search for and identify a good replacement. Before you know it, you will be trying various brands of breads, cookies and pastas and identifying your favorites. The gluten-free marketplace is rapidly expanding and manufacturers of gluten-free items are learning new cooking techniques and recipes. Many of the gluten-free products on the market today are fantastic substitutes for mainstream ones. Today, I hardly think of a time I didn't eat gluten-free and I am perfectly satisfied with my diet. In fact, some of the gluten-free pasta is so good; my boyfriend actually prefers it to wheat pasta, even though he doesn't need to eat gluten-free. The more products you identify that you both enjoy, the easier it will be to share meals.
Divide and Conquer the Kitchen
When someone is diagnosed with celiac, one of the big transitions a co-habitating couple may go through is learning how to share the kitchen. Start by having a conversation with your partner about how you can organize the kitchen so that it is a mutually happy and healthy place. First, decide how you will prevent cross contamination. Whether it involves designating which side of the toaster is for whose bread, color coating your cutting boards, or labeling jars of peanut butter, you need to decide how to manage your kitchen in a way that suits your lifestyle as a couple. Shop for essentials and compromise on what things need to be kept on hand at all times and what things need to be isolated or discarded. In my pantry, I have two shelves that only hold items that are gluten-free. That way, all of my gluten-free food stays clean and organized. I also have a shelf in the fridge with sauces and dips I enjoy. It doesn't mean you can't share food. A good practice to get into is using a clean utensil to serve dips and sauces onto individual plates. That way you and your partner can each dip what you please, without contaminating the supply with gluten-containing crumbs.
Take a Cooking Class
Cooking classes are a fun and romantic way to learn how to make new and exciting dishes, and gluten-free cooking classes are becoming increasingly available. However, if you can't find one that's specifically for gluten-free cooking, don't let it discourage you. If you can find a facility that offers traditional cooking classes, call ahead and tell them your situation. They may be able to recommend ingredients you can bring to adapt the meal that's on the menu. For example, you could bring along your own gluten-free pasta for Italian dishes or gluten-free broth for soups and stews. You could also attend a traditional class and ask the head chef for tips on how to make the meal deliciously gluten-free! Take these tips home, try out the recipe and enjoy the new meal you and partner learned to make.
Make a Gluten-Free Recipe Book
Once you and your partner become more comfortable with sharing meals, try to identify gluten-free meals that you both enjoy and put together a recipe book that you can reference in the future. We all have nights where we just can't think of what to make for dinner and don't have the energy to be creative. Having a book like this that you can reference in those situations will take off some of the stress of planning. I also found a fantastic new website through MyFoodMyHealth, Inc. that allows you to submit your dietary needs and have a weekly menu automatically planned for you. Talk about taking the stress off! This will allow you and your partner to sort through the options and pick meals you think you will both enjoy. http://www.myfoodmyhealth.com/
The Gluten-Free Challenge
When I was diagnosed with celiac, I challenged my partner to try the gluten-free diet with me for a couple of months. It was fun to "be in it together" with someone I am close to. It also gave him the chance to wear my shoes for a while, experience the frustrations and the excitements and help brainstorm great ideas for meals. After that experience, he grew to like many gluten-free products and today, cooking together is a breeze. However, it doesn't end there. Asking your partner to do this for you is a big commitment on their part. To create balance in your commitments to each other, let your partner choose a goal that he or she would like to achieve and become a part of it. Whether is be going to the gym four times a week, learning how to ski or taking a class together, making a commitment to join your partner in a personal goal or need of their own will show them that you support their needs as well. This way, everyone wins!
February's Advocate for Awareness
By Emily Freedner, NFCA Staff Writer
Every month, the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness (NFCA) is pleased to recognize an individual in the community for her outstanding dedication to raising awareness of celiac disease. This month, the NFCA is pleased and proud to introduce you to Eliana Actor-Engel.
Eliana is a student, a current Bat Mitzvah candidate, and is now the NFCA's newest volunteer!
When Eliana was younger, she was almost always the shortest student in her class. Last year, her mother decided it was time to take her to the growth clinic at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. A series of tests showed that Eliana, in fact, had celiac disease.
Being young and attending school meant having to do a lot of explaining to her friends and teachers about what celiac is and why she can't eat certain foods. Camp was also difficult for Eliana because she had to have a special meal and couldn't enjoy the yummy desserts being served to the other campers.
Today, Eliana says, although she struggled with temptation in the beginning, her diet has made all the difference and she has grown about two inches since she began eating gluten-free. And, after experiencing the frustrations of having to explain celiac and her diet over and over, Eliana has decided to take the initiative. She has taken it upon herself to become involved with the NFCA so that she can help raise awareness about this disease that affects her, and millions of other Americans.
Eliana will be helping us streamline our database management system so that getting the word out is an organized breeze! She will begin her volunteer work in the coming weeks and we are so grateful to have her!
Thanks Eliana, you are truly a celiac awareness rock star!
Read the rest of Eliana's personal story. And, to learn how you, too can become involved with the NFCA, visit our website at www.beyondceliac.org.
All Things GREAT: Gluten-free Resource Education Awareness Training
Congratulations to GREAT trained restaurant Good Eatz cafe on all their success since opening 7 weeks ago! Located in West Reading, PA, Good Eatz offers an extensive gluten-free menu using all locally-sourced or Fair Trade ingredients that are over 85% organic.
From gluten-free bagels, waffles, wraps, homemade rolls and breadsticks to potato and even pasta salads- Good Eatz cafe gives you a great selection of gluten-free options for every meal! Daily gluten-free soups include creamy tomato bisque, Asian beef with watercress and jasmine rice, and mixed mushroom stew with a polenta crisp. For those with a sweet tooth, Good Eatz cafe carries gluten-free breads, pies, cookies, cakes, and brownies, all baked fresh and in house
Good Eatz cafe not only committed to being celiac friendly, but environmentally friendly as well. Using Energy-Star appliances, earth-friendly cleaners, recycled paper products, no-VOC paint on the walls, compostable take-out containers and trash bags- this place is as green as it gets!
Good Eatz cafe is located at 701 Penn Avenue in West Reading, PA. For more information or to order any of their gluten-free bakery items online, visit their website,http://www.goodeatz.org/.
GREAT making news is truly GREAT NEWS!
JJ Haywood, CEO of GREAT restaurant Pizza Luce, discusses plans to expand their gluten-free menu with the Pioneer Press. Read the entire interviewHERE .
GREAT program to shine in the Lone Star State.
As the NFCA and GREAT program strive to bring greater awareness, availability and accessibility of gluten-free products and menus in the marketplace, we are pleased to announce our participation in the Research Chefs Association (RCA) Culinology® Expo, to be held March 5th-8th in Dallas, Texas.
NFCA has partnered with Across the Board Resource Inc., a multi-unit restaurant chain account resource, for its Culinology® Expo presentation entitled "Rolling Out a Gluten-free Menu or Product." The slated presentation speaking lineup features: NFCA director of Education and Gluten Free Education Awareness Training (GREAT) founder Nancy Baker, Across the Board Resource Inc. president Sharon Fratilla, corporate executive chef of Biaggis Ristorante Italiano Peter Schonman, Tricia Hamilton of Godfather's Pizza, and senior culinary director of Maggianos Little Italy Keith Burnell. NFCA and GREAT representatives also heading to the event include: Whitney Ehret, Linda King, and Beckee Mooreland.
Through our presentation and presence, we hope to not only increase awareness and educate conference attendees on the special dietary requirements of those celiac disease and gluten intolerances, but to generate interest and participation in the GREAT program.
"Rolling out a Gluten-free Menu or Product" is one of 20 presentations scheduled for the three-day event. Over 200 industry establishments and organizations will be represented this year. The 2008 Culinology® Expo drew a record attendance of over 1600 attendees, attracting the top research and development professionals in the industry. The RCA Culinology® Expo has become the premiere venue to launch new and innovative products, gain insight on growing industry trends, and establish networking opportunities.
Our team is partnering with nearly 20 gluten-free food producers to give attendees samples of high-quality products that are available in commercial sizing, packaged to prevent cross-contamination, produced in compliance with gluten-free standards, and ultimately paired with our gluten-free process. Our strategy is to provide the gluten-free product AND gluten-free process for industry representatives. We hope by making the process and ingredients as simple and readily available as possible, establishments will commit to the gluten-free dining experience!
To learn more about the RCA and 2009 Culinology® Expo, visit www.culinology.org.
We are so excited about our trip and look forward to sharing our experiences with you when we return from Texas!
The NFCA's 2009 Gluten-Free Lifestyle Webinar Series Continues
The NFCA's Gluten-free Lifestyle Webinar Series is sponsored by Blue Diamond Growers Nut-thin Crackers.
Parenting the Gluten-free Child
February 27, 2009
9am PST or 12pm EST.
Registration limited to 200.
Elaine Monarch
Celiac Disease Foundation
Effective child programming and support groups for kids.
Nancy Baker, MEd
NFCA: Director of Education
Using the school curriculum to empower your child.
Loretta Jay, MA
NFCA : Director of Program Development
Emotional support for children.
Nancy Patin Falini,MA,RD,LDN
Author: Gluten-free Friends: An Activity Book for Kids
Social skill sets for kids.
Margaret Masiello RD
Kogan Celiac Center, St. Barnabas Health Care System
Menus that work and school lunch.
Jessica Hale
Kid Friendly Recipes.
Bakery on Main's Gluten-Free Granola
I recently discover the gluten-free granola by Bakery on Main and I absolutely love it! I really like having granola around the house to eat like cereal, mix into my yogurt or keep in my purse as a healthy on-the-go snack. The variety produced by Bakery on Main is not only gluten-free, but casein free, cholesterol free, dairy free and low in saturated fat. This company is dedicated to giving consumers a healthy snack that tastes like it isn't! The granola comes in Nutty Cranberry Maple (my personal favorite), Rainforrest, Apple Raisin Walnut and Extreme Fruit and Nut, to name a few. They also offer other gluten-free granola bars. Bakery on Main also makes products that are not gluten-free, so be sure to select the correct, gluten-free product. The granola is sold in stores and their website has a tool to help you locate the store nearest you. If you can't find one that's close enough to you, you can order online. http://www.bakeryonmain.com
Glutino's Vegetable Crackers
I have tried many varieties of gluten-free crackers, but I think I recently found my favorite. Glutino has a line of gluten-free crackers that have the texture and shape of a Ritz cracker. They are everything you would like a cracker to be, gluten-free! They come in several delicious flavors. My favorite is the vegetable, but they are also available in original, cheddar and multigrain. They are perfect for putting out with cheese or dip when company comes over, because unless you saw the box, you wouldn't think they are gluten-free. Now, I always keep some on hand. I've seen their products in many mainstream stores like Whole Foods, Trader Joes, Stop and Shop, and at several health food stores. If for some reason you can't find them locally, you can visit their website for more information http://www.glutino.com or check out theirpage on glutenfree.com, here.
Thai Kitchen Instant Rice Noodle Soup
Thai Kitchen's Instant Rice Noodle Soups are my favorite on cold days, for quick lunches, or a snack. They are prepared like Roman Instant Noodles, but a much healthier option, and gluten-free! I always keep them around the house and store some at the office. They are also perfect for kids that are off to college. They are easily stored under a dorm bed, individually packaged and ready from the microwave in 3 minutes. My favorite flavor is Lemongrass and Chili, but they also have other fantastic flavors like Garlic and Vegetable, Bangkok Curry, Spring Onion and Thai Ginger. If you are going to send some off to a college student, they are also available in packs of 72 on Thai Kitchen's website. Thai Kitchen's products are available in many mainstream stores like Giant. You can also order online at: http://www.thaikitchen.com
Pamela's Baking and Pancake Mix
I am a huge fan of delicious pancakes and Pamela's Products makes the best gluten-free pancake mix. Best of all, it's versatile! It can also be used to make waffles, breads, cakes and muffins. I used the mix to make chocolate chip muffins and they came out beautifully. Everyone enjoyed them, and couldn't even tell they were gluten-free. For many recipes, using this mix is as easy as adding eggs, water and oil. The pancakes, waffles and muffins come out light and fluffy, just the way they should be! Their website offers helpful hints for baking with this mix, to ensure the absolute best results, check it out here. Pamela's Products are readily available in stores like Whole Foods, Wegmans, Trader Joes and many others, or do your shopping online at www.pamelasproducts.com
Celiac in the News
Three More "Gluten-Free" Products Removed From Shelves
In a follow-up to last month's Chicago Tribune investigation of product mislabeling in Chicago area grocery stores, three more products, that were labeled gluten-free and in fact were not, have been pulled off the shelves. Grocer Hy-Vee, which operated 225 stores in the Midwest, said that it has removed Garrett County chicken bites, beef corn dogs and chicken corn dogs from its stores. The products were pulled after customer George Pitcher complained that his fiancé, who has celiac disease, became nauseous several times after eating them. However, "Pitcher, said he was 'thrilled' with Hy-Vee's response to his complaint. They responded to him within 24 hours and took the products off the shelf." Learn more...
Starbucks Thinking of Offering Gluten-Free Options
Starbucks, popular for sugary beverages and not so healthy baked goods, is considering the benefits of offering gluten-free snacks to customers. Considered a fresh new idea, Starbucks has started doing operational testing in a select number of stores and baristas to see the response. So far, participating customers have been very enthusiastic about the idea. One barista said, "Of all the tests we've done, this one feels like we're doing the most for the customer!" Over 400 responses so far have been in overwhelming supportive. Billions of dollars are at stake, but the gluten-free food and beverage market is growing by 25% annually and Starbucks would be smart to act before Peet's or Caribou Coffee do. Stay tuned! Read more...
Aetna Awarded $590,000 to Non-Profits in Pennsylvania
In 2008, the Aetna Foundation awarded community grants and sponsorships in Pennsylvania totaling $590,000, with a particular focus on promoting wellness and targeting health and economic disparities. One of the foundations that was fortunate enough to receive a gift was the NFCA. Since 1980, the Aetna and the Aetna Foundation have contributed over $334 million in grants, sponsorships and social investments. In 2007, Aetna and the Aetna Foundation contributed $24.5 million nationally. It was a fantastic gift to receive as it is gifts like this that enable the NFCA to continue in its efforts to raise celiac awareness. Read more about the contributions of the Aetna Foundation...
Entirely Gluten-Free Store to Open in Thousand Oaks, CA
On Saturday January 31st, Simply Gluten Free launched the grand opening of its first entirely gluten-free grocery store in Thousand Oaks California. This is the only store of its kind in the area. Aside from gluten-free food, the store will offer books, cookbooks, gifts and gift baskets, all related to the gluten-free diet. The store will carry products from several gluten-free manufacturers, including Shabtai, Yummy Bites, The Sensitive Baker and Laura's Wholesome Junk Foods. Services such as special ordering of products and free home delivery to local residents will also be offered. As if that wasn't amazing enough, all product shelves will be labeled with nutritional information and clearly mark which items are also casein free, soy free, nut free, dairy free, sugar free and kosher. Amazing! To learn more about the store, visit their website: http://simplyglutenfree.org


text:
With the deepest recession since the 1930s, the decline in tax revenues, and the growing demand for emergency public services for unemployed workers and their families, state government budgets are in crisis.
Not surprisingly, many states are freezing or even cutting their funding for some of the greatest assets of the American education system — our public land grant universities.
All across the country, state universities are being forced to raise tuitions, cut faculty positions or rely on part-timers, and curtail courses of study and research programs. While these cutbacks may help to balance budgets in the short-term, the nation will pay dearly for years to come as our workers' skills, our scientific know-how, and our progress on urgent priorities, from food safety to childhood obesity and renewable energy all will be sacrificed for the sake of avoiding tough choices here and now.
Public land grant universities serve at least five essential functions: educating a cross-section of young Americans; conducting essential research in science and technological; engaging in "extension" (or outreach) efforts to the agriculture and food industries; and addressing urgent issues, such as improving children's nutrition and controlling climate change.
With their core mission of education, the land grant universities' contribution is unequaled. The top 10 public universities alone teach more than 350,000 undergraduate students — more than six times the total enrollments of the Ivy League institutions. Moreover, public universities are much more affordable and accessible for students from middle class and low income families — the great majority of the population.
When it comes to cutting-edge scientific and technological research, state universities are second to none. Some of this research is focused on the land grants' founding purpose of promoting agricultural know-how in the widest sense: finding new, better, and more sustainable ways to produce and use food, fuel and other necessities.
Far from being ivory towers, the land grant universities are dedicated to sharing this knowledge with all who need it. Through the U.S. Department of Agriculture's extension programs, the land grant universities disseminate state-of-the-art scientific and technological advances to the nation's farmers, the food industry, the restaurant industry, nutritionists, educators, and others who can make good use of this know-how.
The creation of new knowledge and new understanding through research is at the very soul of our land-grant universities. The day we abandon the search for new knowledge is the day we cease to be effective universities.
On many of the nation's most pressing challenges, the land grant universities are on the frontiers of discovering, developing, and disseminating important ideas. New ways to combat childhood obesity, to develop renewable fuels, and to reduce and respond to climate change are being devised by the land grant universities and shared by the extension programs.
But the USDA's research and education program receives only about $1 billion a year, a small share of total federal funding for research and development. Meanwhile, in their states, the land grant universities are on the budgetary chopping blocks.
It's time that the president and Congress provided the necessary resources through the annual appropriations process for the universities that are teaching the students and conducting the research to replenish the nation's skills and know-how. Shortchanging the land grant universities gives America's future short shrift. Every federal dollar dedicated to land grant universities represents a tremendous return on investment because of our commitment to fully link research and teaching and extension with the great expectations of our citizens.
* Mark R. McLellan is dean and director of Florida Agricultural Experiment Station, Institute of Food & Agricultural Sciences at the University of Florida.


text:
Veteran musical producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will produce the 2013 Oscars ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Thursday.
The announcement comes less than a month after Hawk Koch was appointed as the new academy president, and it follows the academy's failed attempt to recruit Lorne Michaels to produce and Jimmy Fallon to host the 85th Academy Awards.
Zadan and Meron executive produced the Oscar-winning musical "Chicago," and were behind "Hairspray" and the original and the remake of "Footloose." Most recently they produced the Jack Nicholson-Morgan Freeman film "The Bucket List."
PHOTOS: 2012 Oscar winners |Full coverage | Oscar Timeline
"When we filmed 'The Bucket List,' we made our own personal bucket list, and producing the Oscars was #1. It's truly a great honor," the two said in a statement, adding that they intend to utilize their experience producing films, theater and television shows to "bring something fresh and special" to the annual show.
Producing the Oscars is often considered a thankless task. The show is routinely criticized in the media, and the producers, no matter how original, are often hamstrung by the best picture selections. Years in which big box-office grossers are contenders in the race often result in bigger TV ratings for the show.
Zadan and Meron, who are currently executive producing the NBC Broadway musical series "Smash" and developing a miniseries around the story of Bonnie and Clyde for the History Channel, apparently will have to do a lot of juggling in the next six months as they prepare for what is frequently called Hollywood's biggest night."
Next year's Oscar host: We have our nominees


text:
Please note: You are viewing an archived Bucknell University news story. It is possible that information found on this page has become outdated or inaccurate, and links and images contained within are not guaranteed to function correctly.
Computers and TV monitors line the walls, and a 3-D printer buzzes quietly in a corner. A Google Glass sits perched on a shelf next to a camera-equipped drone. There is also a circle of low-slung lounge chairs, and at the center of the room rests a collaborative work table. This is not your typical computer lab.
Opened in February and located just off the entryway to the Ellen Clarke Bertrand Library, Bucknell's new Digital Scholarship Center (DSC) is the heart of a strategic digital scholarship initiative at the University, which also include efforts to improve access to scholarship published by Bucknell faculty and students, increase student and faculty use of GIS technology, and to develop new and innovative teaching methods. Funded in part by a $700,000 grant from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the center aims to find novel uses for emerging technologies in teaching and scholarship, with an emphasis on collaboration.
To foster that collaboration, Library & Information Technology has hired two digital scholarship coordinators: Andy Famiglietti and Diane Jakacki, as well as a post-doctoral fellow, to partner with faculty in integrating technology in their teaching and scholarship. The coordinators work to inspire innovation in teaching and scholarship, and to partner with faculty and students in finding the most appropriate tool for their educational goal or method of inquiry.
"Our job is to engage intellectually with faculty and students and help them get on the path they want to be on," Jakacki said.
To spread the word about the services the center offers, the digital scholarship coordinators have begun hosting regular demonstrations to show off the center's tools and engender curiosity among faculty and students.
Faculty have already taken note of the support the center provides. Professor Virginia Zimmerman, English, worked with the DSC on an online annotated edition of Wilkie Collins' mystery novel The Moonstone that she is assembling with students. Zimmerman also directed a student to the center to borrow its drone copter, which the student used to shoot aerial footage for a video project.
Art Professor Joe Meiser, a sculptor who uses 3-D rendering software to build models, stopped by to learn more about developing technologies like photogrammetry software, which constructs 3-D models from two dimensional images, and the Xbox Kinect Sensor. The digital scholarship coordinators also noted, though, that using technology in scholarship doesn't always require the most cutting-edge solution. Educators can find new use for technology that has become ubiquitous.
"I'm working with Professor Mike Toole in civil engineering on wiki-based assignments to encourage his students to think about writing for an audience," Famiglietti said. "It teaches that if an engineer can't communicate his or her findings, then it doesn't matter how good the math is."
The important thing, Famiglietti said, is finding technology that best fits the goal the researcher or teacher wants to achieve. To emphasize that point, Famiglietti and Jakacki said the center was designed to de-emphasize technology as much as possible. The technology is kept to the sidelines, while a table, a space for people, sits at its center.
"In the traditional campus computer lab, you're focusing on a desktop computer away from everybody else," Jakacki said. "It's very hard to collaborate in those spaces. "It's equally difficult if you're a faculty member in that environment because there's no way to look at the people with whom you're collaborating. Here the technology is all on the side of the room, and the physical connection of people is what's centralized."
Kasha Scott, a senior and executive intern to the vice president for Library & Information Technology, said it's easy to see how an innovative use of technology in the classroom can ignite a spark of interest in her peers. While using technology in the university classroom today evokes the trend of massive online open courses, she appreciates Bucknell's more personal approach.
"I think this is one factor that really differentiates a university like Bucknell from a typical research university, and even from other liberal arts institutions," Scott said.
Jakacki added that other colleges and universities have taken notice of Bucknell's approach.
"Even just a few months in, we are ahead of the curve," Jakacki said. "Other liberal arts colleges as well as R-1 institutions are really intrigued by this. We're not the only ones out there doing it, but we are demonstrating a progressive approach."


text:
screen protectors for Samsung Infuse 4G
The first thing you'll want to do after getting your new Infuse 4G is to protect your screen from all the elements that can cause scratches and dents. Why not protect your investment by picking up a screen protector for Infuse 4G that will not only enhance the quality of your display, but keep it out of harms way as well.
Samsung Infuse 4G Screen Protectors
Screen protectors for the Infuse 4G allow you to go about your daily business without having to worry about your device getting scratched by the keys in your pocket or other abrasive materials that your Infuse 4G may come in contact with.
Cleaning Cloths for Samsung Infuse 4G
Microfiber cleaning cloths are a great way to keep the screen of your Infuse 4G looking clean and pristine at all times. These microfiber cloths are the perfect size to carry with you wherever you go, ensuring that your Infuse 4G looks as good as the day you purchased it.


text:
Hi Fancy Friends!
We are so happy you have found our blog. To shop at our online store, browse our unique recipes and check out our new products, please visit us at www.fancyflours.com.
Happy baking,
Fancy Flours, Inc.
E-mail: email@example.com
Phone: (406)587-0118
Fax: (406)522-0668
Business Hours:
Our business hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm MST.
We are closed Saturdays, Sundays and for the following holidays: Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Memorial Day.
Join Our E-List!
Baking inspiration from our in-house bakers! Sign up to recieve our twice weekly emails that are full of inspiration, newly added products & special sales! SIGN UP NOW >>


text:
GLENDALE — For the second time in as many years, a veteran major leaguer with local ties has retired. Just as St. Francis High graduate Mark Loretta hung up his cleats before the 2010 season, Loretta's former high school teammate and Glendale resident Gregg Zaun called it a career in early March after 16 years in the big leagues.
As Opening Day approaches on Thursday, the number of area products set to occupy major league rosters has dwindled to its lowest number in years.
Crescenta Valley High product Trevor Bell figures to be back up with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sooner than later, but will begin the season in the minor leagues and Glendale Community College product Marco Estrada has an outside shot at cracking the Milwaukee Brewers' Opening Day roster after impressing as an invitee from minor league camp.
But as it currently stands, the area will be represented by a trio of players — one looking to build on a resurgent year, another looking to make a comeback and one looking to defend the biggest prize in the game.
It might not have been evident in his solid overall statistics or the valuable role he played in helping the San Francisco Giants beat the Texas Rangers to capture their first World Series title since 1954, but Freddy Sanchez was far from full strength last year.
Dealing with the residual effects of preseason left-shoulder surgery, which caused him to miss the first 38 games of the 2010 campaign, Sanchez told mlb.com that last year his left arm wasn't strong enough to bench press a five-pound dumbbell.
It's a different story this spring for the Burbank High graduate and former Glendale college standout, who last year became the first area player to compete in a World Series since Zaun did so with the Florida Marlins in 1997.
Despite an arthroscopic procedure on his shoulder in December, the ninth-year man was healthy enough to make his spring debut on time on Feb. 24 and has posted a .269 (11 for 49) batting average with two home runs, seven runs batted in and five extra-base hits in 15 games played.
Now, the key is staying healthy and staying on the field, a prospect Sanchez, who won the National League batting title in 2006, feels good about.
"If you feel good and you feel strong and you feel confident, you take that out onto the field," Sanchez, who was traded to the Giants from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009, told mlb.com. "Last year, I went out and played with what I had. …So, I feel like I'm ahead dramatically."
Sanchez, who batted .292 with seven home runs, 47 RBIs and 55 runs scored last year, will man second base for the Giants once again this year and will likely return to the No. 2 spot in the batting order when the team kicks off its season at 5:00 p.m. Thursday against the host Los Angeles Dodgers.
His most recent spring outing notwithstanding, Glendale native Brandon McCarthy has made big strides toward a career resurgence with his new club, the Oakland Athletics.
After battling shoulder and elbow problems for much of his career and being out of the majors last season, the 6-foot-7 right-handed pitcher is considered to have the inside track on pinning down the fifth spot in Oakland's starting rotation. He posted a 1-0 record with a 3.05 earned-run average over his first five appearances in spring training, including starting two games, both of which were quality starts.
"At this point, it's just pitching," McCarthy told mlb.com on Friday of his focus. "Any role, anything, I'm going to do the same thing, whether it's here or the Mexican League or the bullpen. I'm just going to focus on pitching."
McCarthy hadn't issued a walk all spring in 20 2/3 innings until his start Friday against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, in which he was roughed up for six earned runs on seven hits and one walk in 5 1/3 innings en route to taking a loss in the 10-3 affair.
But A's manager Bob Geren told mlb.com on Friday that McCarthy's one shaky outing won't outweigh his previous strong performances when it comes to deciding between McCarthy and other top candidates for the rotation, Tyson Ross and Bobby Cramer.
"We'll look at everything, the whole body of work," Geren said. "He's had a great spring."
In limited time with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Redhawks last season, McCarthy, who was once considered a top prospect in the Chicago White Sox organization, went 4-2 with a 3.36 ERA. The Texas Rangers, whom McCarthy joined in 2007, sent McCarthy outright to the minors following the end of last season and he refused the assignment, becoming a free agent.
McCarthy signed a one-year $1 million contract with Oakland in December that contains further incentives for health and performance.
Even if McCarthy fails to win a spot in the rotation, he appears to be a lock to be on the 25-man roster when Oakland opens its season at 7:05 p.m. PDT on Friday at home against the Seattle Mariners.
As a key component of the Washington Nationals' bullpen last season, former Glendale college pitcher Doug Slaten had one of the most productive seasons of his five-year major league career, posting career highs in innings pitched (40 2/3), wins (four) and strikeouts (36), while compiling a 3.10 ERA, his lowest since 2007, when he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
As the Nationals, who finished last in the National League East Division last season, prepare to break camp this spring, Slaten looks poised to pick up where he left off last year, with a 1-0 record, a 2.53 ERA and an 8:0 strikeouts-to-walks ratio over 10 2/3 innings.
As one of just two left-handers currently on the 25-man roster, Slaten, who signed a one-year deal for $695,000 in January, figures to continue to get plenty of work once the season begins at 1:05 p.m. on Thursday against the visiting Atlanta Braves.


text:
kcannone needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 158 designs submitted by 52 freelance designers.
We need a logo for a health and fitness website. Not looking for anything to creative, anyone that knows good fonts should be able to win this one with ease.
Im looking for a text based logo that is simple, clean and is suitable for a health website...
The website is called LivePainFree.com
It is mainly about natural pain relief not about drugs, doctors and surgery.
Here are some of our other logos (from our other websites) for reference.
- clean simple text based logo
- we like web2.0 type fonts
- not sure about color schemes yet but probably blues, maybe blue greens, etc.
- no cheezy clip art
- no icons unless it fits with
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


text:
July Sobriety Checkpoints Planned in South Dakota
The Sioux Falls area will again be one where South Dakota Highway Patrol troopers will watch for drinking drivers in July.
The Department of Public Safety says sobriety checkpoints will be held in both Lincoln and Minnehaha Counties.
Checkpoints also are planned in Brown, Codington, Davison, Day, Hughes, Kingsbury, Miner, Moody, Perkins, Roberts, Tripp and Yankton Counties.


text:
This event has passed.
Advanced Recreational Girls (6-9yrs)
April 13 @ 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm
| $875
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 1:00 pm on Saturday, repeating until June 8, 2019
These classes are for gymnasts who are ready to start working on more difficult skills while staying in the recreational program. If the coach feels that they are ready they may be invited into the pre-competitive / competitive program.


text:
Editors »Post and Page Screen
When creating or editing a post or page on WordPress.com, you'll see a space for entering your content, along with a variety of boxes with other settings and options, known as modules. These modules help you customize your post or page — you can schedule it, add tags or a featured image, decide whether to allow comments on the post, and more.
Post Screen
The Post Screen is used to create new posts or edit existing posts. The default post screen (My Sites → Blog Posts → Add) will look similar to the following image:
You will notice in the screenshot that the status of the screen is ⚙ New Draft. If you were editing a previous post, the title would be ⚙ Published, but everything else on the screen is essentially the same.
The screen is broken down into modules, each with their own purpose. The three most important parts of the post screen are the Title of your post, the Editor (where you type your content), and the options module (on the left hand side).
The options module is very important because it's where you save your posts, publish them, and preview changes. The module will change depending on the status of your post. Clicking on the post' status will bring up a few more options, such as the calendar, previous revisions and the option to make your post a Sticky Post.
The post screen comes with several other modules:
- Categories & Tags will allow you to add and edit the categories and tags of your post
- Featured Image allows you to display unique custom header images for specific posts and pages or set thumbnails for special features of your theme.
- Sharing allows you to do different things, such as displaying sharing buttons at the bottom of your posts and automatically share your new post on social media with our Publicize feature. This is also where you can get the shortlink of your post.
- Post Format works great is your theme allows several type of templates for photos or audio files for example.
- More Options allows you to geolocate your post, write an excerpt, update the slug, and allow comments and pingbacks.
Page Screen
The Page Screen is similar to the Post Screen and is where you create a new page or edit an existing page. The default page screen (My Sites → Pages → Add) looks like this:
The screen is broken down into sections, each with their own purpose. The three most important parts of the page screen are the Title of your page, the Editor (where you type your content), and the Publish box.
The Publish box is very important because it's where you save your pages, publish them, and preview changes. Here is how the Publish box looks when you create a new page:
After publishing a page, the box will look like this:
Notice how the Publish button now says Update.
For more information, check out Page Options.
Still confused?
Help us improve:
We're always looking to improve our documentation. If this page didn't answer your question or left you wanting more, let us know! We love hearing your feedback. For support, please use the forums or contact support form. Thanks!


text:
Search Engine OptimizationSolutions that fit !
Progressive Ranking Technology Read Search Engine NEWS! We are one of the oldest Search Engine Optimization Services on the Internet! Our company is in Business since 13 years, just when the Internet started.
Search Engine Placement Company your TRUE choice!
Learn more about Search Engine Placement Company : Learn how to prepare your site for the search engines. Read about the use of META tags and the importance of having keywords present on your site.
Call 1-888-398-4703 or International ++1-760-736-3700
Search Engine Placement Company by 101topranking.com
Search Engine Placement Company by 101searchengine.com
Search Engine Placement Company by 101registerme.com
Search Engine Placement Company by searchfit.us
Search Engine Placement Company by searchfit.cc
Search Engine Placement Company Resources:
Search Engine Placement Company by 101addurl.comSearch Engine Placement Company. Search engine optimization will drive your website to the top of the best search engines on the Internet including Google, Yahoo, MSN, AOL, and more. We are a search engine optimization company committed to high search engine rankings for your website. We handle search engine optimization for large corporations and for small local businesses with the same commitment to detail. Our search engine optimization company will work to make your website profitable.
Search Engine Placement Company by rwg.bizSearch Engine Placement Company. Tired of searching on the Internet for your top keywords and seeing your competition show up on top every time while your website is nowhere to be found? We can help. We have developed a strategy to help your website attain top 10 and usually higher rankings for your top keywords. All work is handled in a professional and ethical manner ensuring your website will achieve high search engine ranking for the LONG TERM.
Search Engine Placement Company by 101topranking.biz
Search Engine Placement Company. Our search engine optimization service will get your website tuned up to answer to the search engine algorithms and set your website apart from the competition. By researching your industrys top keywords and focusing on high search engine ranking for these keywords we achieve our goal of your target market being able find your website on the major search engines.
Search Engine Placement Company by 101topranking.usSearch Engine Placement Company. Search Engine Optimization is not cheap, it requires hours of analysis and investigation by the optimization expert. But the results can be astounding. Your website visibility can increase dramatically.
Search Engine Placement Company by 101searchengine.usSearch Engine Placement Company. Search engine optimization & submission is a basic part of the success of your Web site! Anyone can have a well designed web site, but without professional search engine submission the world will never know about it. If you don't promote, nobody will see your site. We offers several URL registration and promotion tools that will allow you to increase your exposure on the internet and draw more traffic to your Web Site.
Search Engine Placement Company by 101worldsubmit.netSearch Engine Placement Company. Secrets for higher ranking. There are four important keywords present in this link. Some search engines will boost your ranking for keywords that are present in links to your site. It is also important that your keywords are present in internal links, because some engines count them as well.
Search Engine Placement Company by searchengine.us.comSearch Engine Placement Company. With our service, your target market will search for your unique products on the major search engines and your website will be among the top choices consistently. This solution will increase targeted traffic to your website increasing inquiries and ultimately sales for your business. We offers solutions for high search engine ranking in both the natural and pay per click or sponsored sections of the major search engines. read about more Search Engine Placement Company
Search engine positioning service - Search Engine Keyword Resources.
search engine marketing
search engine marketing firm
search engine service
search engine marketing company
search engine company
search engine registration
search engine promotion
search engine registration service
search engine promotion firm
search engine registration company
search engine optimization
search engine promotion company
search engine optimization firm
search engine optimization company
search engine optimization seo
search engine optimization services
search engine placement
search engine optimization service
search engine placement firm
search engine placement service
search engine ranking
search engine placement services
search engine ranking firm
search engine placement company
search engine ranking service
search engine top ranking
search engine ranking company
search engine top ranking service
top ranking service
seo search engine ranking service
seo ranking service
search engine positioning
search engine rank
search engine positioning company
search engine positioning firm
search engine positioning service
search engine submission
search engine tips
search engine submissions
search engine submission service
search engine rankings
search engine submission services
search engine secret
search engine submission campaign
search engine secrets
search engine position report
search engine position
search engine listing services
search engine listing
search engine listing advice
register with search engines
search engine submit
search engines
search engine optimizer
search engine advertising
search engine traffic
top search engine placement
Website Submission - Promotion and Optimization Resources.
web optimization
website optimization
web site optimization
web site optimization company
website submission
website optimization company
web site submission
web site submission service
website promotion
website submission service
web site promotion
web site promotion service
web submission
website promotion service
web site ranking
website promotion company
website ranking
web site promotion company
web site top ranking
website register service
website top ranking
register your website
website register
web site marketing
web site register
website marketing company
website positioning
web site positioning firm
website position
web site registration
website registration
website registration service
web submission service
web site registration service
website placement
website placement service
Searchfit Inc. 3638 North Rancho Drive Suite 6-S USA Las Vegas NV 89130 Phone: Toll Free US 1-888-398-4703 Phone: International ++1-760-736-3700 Fax: 1-760-736-3701 Fax: 1-702-839-2573 Copyright © 2006 All Rights Reserved
We are very praud to offer our Customers the best Email Filtering
Service on the Internet SearchFit
Email Filter Service includes:
POP3 Email
Web Email
Access to Quarantine Area. Ability to block and unblock emails manually.
Spam Email Filtering
Virus Filtering
Attachment Filtering
91.5 % of
all Incoming Email Filtered As Spam
1.4 % of all Incoming
Email Infected wit Virus
7.5 % of all Incoming Email
is Legitimate
Advertisement Sponsored Links
© By SearchFit Terms of Use Last Update Monday, 03 April, 2006
|Search Engine Submission| |Shopping Cart Software| |Domain Registration| |Web Hosting| |Web Design|
|Search Engine Optimization Home| |SEO Service Overview| |Contact Search Engine Expert| |Search Engine Secrets| |HTML Tag Optimization| |Search Engine FAQ| |Major Search Engines| |Marketing Services| |Search Engine Optimization Order|


text:
Sitrin is reaching out to the entire community for its 1st Annual Stars and Stripes Run/Walk in an effort to raise awareness and money for the Sitrin's Military Rehabilitation Program. Come out in honor or in memory of a loved one who has served our country. This year we're making it easier than ever to let all of our participants and supporters get involved.
We've partnered with Crowdrise to encourage all participants to unite and fundraise for the Sitrin Foundation. Just imagine the impact the entire community can have when harnessed to give back in a fun and compelling way! Your generosity and fundraising efforts will support Sitrin's Military Rehabilitation Program, which provides care for wounded warriors who have post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injuries, post-acute substance abuse, and other combat related conditions.
Anyone can walk or run as as individual by clicking here to register for Sitrin's Stars and Stripes Run/Walk, or create your own team by clicking the REGISTER button above to get started and pay the $25 entry fee.
Click Here to Visit the Stars and Stripes Run/Walk Website.


text:
Cross Bar Roof Rack for raised rails - 46" bars, locking feet
This Kit Includes the following Items:
I needed a way to mount an ARB shade awning off the side of my vehicle. The Inno cross bars helped me acheive my goal. I was able to mount the bits that grab the factory rails and had enough extra length of square tubing to be able to drill and mount the ARB mounts and then attach the awning. I'm very satisfied with the quality of the product.
Used it to mount a 95# roof top tent. - Mounted up easily and feels very sturdy. - Not sure what else to say. Money well spent.
Ordered to place on 2014 GMC Acadia. The roof rack system arrived within 6 days. Very easy to install, but definitely helps to have a second person for keeping rails aligned. Some increased wind noise noted, but that is to be expected. Placed an XL Thule cargo box on bars, with 2 pair of skis and 3 snow boards. Again noticed some increased wind noise (as expected), but cargo box didn't rattle or shift at all, very snug fit. - - Overall, I highly recommend these cross bars for anyone needing the roof access for large cargo boxes. Worked exactly as expected. - - Thanks.
Bought a set for our 2015 Ford Flex. The factory roof rails are a bit odd shaped, and I had a hard time finding a set of cross rails that could be securely clamped to them without spending $300 . I tried a cheaper set, and ended up ruining them in my attempt to "make them work". Finally I found the Inno set, which has an adjustable strap that wraps around the roof rail for about $225. Perfect! Just returned from a 3600 mile round trip with a cargo box on the roof, and zero troubles. The Inno rails held securely with no vibrations etc. Wish I had found the earlier. Highly recommended.
This product was easy to install, well constructed, got the job done highly recommend,


text:
Patricio Marquez's post correctly identifies lack of access to quality medicines as one of the constraints to poor people's health in Africa. But the solutions he recommends—more public money for "essential drugs benefits", building resilient institutions, and providing physicians with better scientific information and guidelines about drug prescriptions—are unlikely by themselves to improve poor people's health outcomes.
More public money. Patricio notes that out-of-pocket expenditures are about 40 percent of total health expenditures and most of this is spent on outpatient drugs. He assumes the reason is that countries have not adopted a program of essential drugs benefits, and the reason for the latter is lack of public resources. But consider the following facts.
- Money that is currently spent on drugs and other materials "leaks" before it gets to the ultimate beneficiary—sometimes at alarming rates. In Chad, the leakage rate is 99 percent.
- Health workers in public primary clinics in Senegal and Tanzania are absent 20 and 21 percent of the time, respectively. When present, they spend a total of 39 and 29 minutes a day counseling patients.
- In most countries, when doctors do treat patients in public clinics, low competence and low effort seriously impede the provision of correct diagnoses and treatment.
These facts suggest that there are serious problems with the way public money is currently being spent. And the reasons have to do with incentives. Drugs are worth a lot in the open market, and they are easy to steal—which is why poor people don't get them for free. Likewise, doctors are paid regardless of whether they show up for work. And when they are at work, they give low quality service that encourages patients to go to their private clinics, where they are charged. Furthermore, in Indonesia, India and Tanzania, there is no correlation between measures of structural quality (like the availability of medicines) and the quality of medical advice.
In such a setting, how would allocating more public money for drugs improve poor people's access to quality health care?
Building resilient institutions. Acknowledging that there are "institutional weaknesses in the health system", Patricio suggests building "resilient institutions and systems to facilitate access to and promote the rational use of medicines." Some of the proposals do not address the fundamental problem of incentives to deliver quality services to the poor. For instance, he cites the use of a scratch-off labeling system in Nigeria that reduces the flow of counterfeit drugs. That's fine, but how will this reduce the leakage rate? Or absenteeism among doctors? Likewise, giving physicians more knowledge and adopting clinical guidelines may improve the quality of care, since they don't seem to be using the knowledge they already have.
He mentions a pilot project in Zambia where district-level planners manage orders and deliver drugs more efficiently. But this suggests the problem was lack of planning, rather than one of incentives. When the pilot is scaled up, what incentives will the district-level planners have to deliver drugs efficiently? And why would we favor such a system to logistics run by private sector pharmacies (Coca-Cola appears in every village in Africa with no problems) combined with direct fiscal subsidies to households for particular drugs?
Patricio's example of using Coca-Cola's distribution system to deliver anti-AIDS drugs in Tanzania begins to get to the heart of the matter. The reason Coca-Cola has such an efficient supply chain is that customers pay for their drinks, so the "providers" have an incentive to deliver. Most drugs too are private goods (in that the only beneficiary is the patient) but, in our effort to make sure poor people get access to them, we provide them for free—to everybody. This creates a huge "rent"—the difference between the value of the drug and its market price—that is then captured by the non-poor—including the people who steal the drugs from the clinic and the doctors who are absent. As a result, the poor—the very people the policy was intended to benefit—lose out.
The solution therefore is not to pour more money into a leaking bucket—or provide absentee doctors with better information—but to empower poor people with the ability to hold health workers and drug providers accountable. One way would be to charge market prices for drugs*, but give poor people (and only poor people) vouchers or additional cash to buy the drugs. And why not do the same for clinical services? The details will depend on country circumstances, and such schemes will face political resistance from those whose accountability is increased, but the simple principle of "money following the patient" (rather than the doctor or drug provider) could go a long way to improving poor people's access to drugs.
* In 1982, two researchers in the Dominican Republic noticed something funny going on in the country's primary health care centers1. Not only was the number of daily consultations very low (14), so that doctors spent 56 minutes per day seeing patients, but the utilization of the clinic was erratic, with 20 consultations some weeks and 140 in others. The reason?
"According to the attending physician, when people knew the monthly supply of medicines had arrived, they hastened to the clinic, not in search of diagnosis but to request free medicines. In conversations with villagers we found that it was not infrequent to given chickens the antibiotics received at the clinic."
The researchers went ahead and bravely introduced a user-cost for medicines after ensuring that particularly poor people were exempt. Subsequently,
- The number of consultations was minimally affected (declines of 5.7%).
- The fluctuations died out and consultations became more even.
1. Ugalde A and N Homedes. Medicines and Rural Health Services: an Experiment in the Dominican Republic. In S. van der Geest and R. Whyte (eds). The Context Of Medicines In Developing Countries: Studies In Pharmaceutical Anthropology. Kluwer Academic Publishers. Pp: 57-79.
chronic patients and management of hospital discharge
Chronic illness v. communicable diseases
I agree with the principle
Equity in drug prices
Andreas, we could not agree more that there is something fundamentally immoral with the way drugs are priced in different countries, and one of the major roles of international agencies should be to make drug prices more equitable (as was done for HIV/AIDS).
This really struck us when we started looking at the excellent work put together by health action international (www.haiweb.org), which collects drug-prices for the same drug in multiple countries. For instance, in their global briefing note on insulin (http://www.haiweb.org/medicineprices/07072010/global_briefing_note_final.pdf ), the lowest prices for a 10ml vial of soluble human insulin ranged from $2.57 to $5.87, and among the six countries with the lowest prices, 3 were in South Asia (India, Pakistan and Nepal)---all of which are fed by competition from the huge generic drug industry in India. The highest prices are in Congo with $47.60, West Bank/Gaza with $42.67, and Indonesia with $39.50.
Why do we ask poor people in Congo to pay 15 times more than in Nepal?
Tried before and failed dismally
Lessons from research
Given the multiple factors
Disentangling the multiple factors
Yes I would be delighted to
Access to, and rational use of medicines
I agree with the principle...partially.
By focusing on the "leakage"
Unnecessary treatment and systems
Comment on unnecessary treatment and systems
Userfees indeed punishes the poor
According to the World Health
Financing policy is not a magic bullet
Problems and Barriers of Access to Essential Medicines
he blog also presents various
Yes more it is available,
correctly identifies lack of
correctly identifies lack of access to quality medicines as one of the constraints to poor people's health in Africa. But the solutions he recommends--more public money for "essential drugs benefits", building resilient institutions, and providing physicians with better scientific information and guidelines about drug prescriptions--are unlikely by themselves to improve poor people's health outcomes.