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Missouri Farmers Union Policy Statement
To represent, protect and enhance economic interests and way of life of Missouri family farmers and ranchers and to preserve their rural communities by supporting the sustainable production of food, fuel and fiber.
To grow membership so that MFU is heard throughout Missouri and influences state and federal policy while enhancing and stabilizing its financial position.
We, the members of the Missouri Farmers Union (MFU), strive to achieve and implement the fundamental agricultural principles necessary for a domestically produced food supply system and an independently owned family farm structure.
The goals of MFU come from our experiences as family farmers, rural residents, and democratically informed citizens, our understanding of nature, as well as deep respect for our country, and for past, present, and future generations.
We believe cooperation comes from knowledge of, and respect for, other people and cultures. Our spirit of cooperation must continue to grow and not have limits. Our challenge is to take this knowledge and spirit and incorporate it into meaningful policy through legislation on local, state, and national levels.
We believe justice demands an independently owned, family farm system as the foundation for healthy rural communities and proper stewardship of all natural resources.
We believe strong and productive family farm agriculture is essential to our national security and food safety, and should be a priority when formulating national security and effective food safety policy.
This document springs from the spirit of Missouri family farmers and ranchers, and all those that make up MFU.
MFU recognizes that food is a universal human right and must be made available for all people. We support agricultural policy that is directed towards and beneficial to independently owned and operated family farms. We recognize the role of all land and natural resources, and seek to promote policies and practices that enhance and preserve their intrinsic value and mitigate their misuse.
An agriculture program should provide stability and fairness as well as:
- Ensure access to the resources necessary for the continuation of sustainable family farms, to include land, seed, livestock, nutrients, fair markets, clean air and water, healthy soils, resilient local communities, and access to appropriate publicly available research and technology;
- Ensure an adequate and safe food supply system for all people;
- Promote links between family farm producers, and consumers;
- Enhance the potential for profitability through appropriate legislative and regulatory mechanisms while maintaining the integrity of state and federal constitutions;
- Direct farm program benefits toward family farming operations;
- Allow planting flexibility for farmers and ranchers;
- Promote adequate land stewardship and conservation practices;
- Enable producers to derive farm income from the market place;
- Provide an adequate economic safety net;
- Support livestock, pollinator and specialty crop producers through food and farm policy and programs;
- Support livestock, pollinators and specialty crops so as to be included in insurance, production or revenue loss payments.
- Promote effective supply management programs.
- Promote secure and sustainable food systems that minimize waste and maximize nutrition
- Promote programs that would allow the entrance of young and beginning farmers into family farming; and
- Protect the traditional and historical right of farmers to save their own plant and animal life for reproduction.
The National Labor Relations Act should be extended to workers on corporate and other farms that employ enough hired help to be subject to the federal minimum wage provisions applicable to agricultural workers.
Strengthen worker protection standards regarding wage rates, health, safety and housing conditions for migrant, seasonal, minority and other farm laborers and for the education of their children.
We oppose:
- Revisions to rules regarding persons under age 16 and 18 performing various farm jobs.
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) have created a series of ethical, environmental, food safety, legal, market, and structural issues that impact everyone in the food chain. Consumer and producer concerns must be addressed.
- Restrict the release of new biotechnology-based products predicated on the "precautionary principle" and release only those products that have proven beneficial effects for family farmers, consumers and the environment;
- Increase monitoring and surveillance by government regulatory agencies over biotechnology;
- Maintain genetic biodiversity and the purity of the gene pool;
- Support mandatory labeling that lists specific types of GMO's in a product;
- Oppose the release of biotechnology that has not been FDA approved for human consumption or that is detrimental to the export market;
- Oppose the release of GMO plant varieties or hybrids before they are approved for distribution through all major U.S. export markets
- Support legislation to exempt farmers from paying royalties on patented farm animals and technical fees on seeds which have been genetically modified;
- Support legislation to prohibit the patenting of heritage seed, animal and biological genetics;
- Support legislation to prohibit the further use of tax dollars in developing terminator technology, e.g., a gene to ensure that seed will not reproduce;
- Support legislation to prohibit the development and selling of seed that is sterile;
- Ensure the right of farmers to plant seed derived from proprietary organisms on their own land;
- Require new products involving GMOs, to include bio-pharmaceutical crops, to be certified as safe by the FDA in testing done independently of the patent holder, and before being allowed on the market. Such testing is to be done at the expense of the specific patent holders seeking to market such products;
- Oppose genetically modifying crops to withstand 2, 4-D
- Support legislation requiring that patent holders or owners of GMO technology be held strictly liable for damages caused by genetic trespass including safety, health, economic and environmental problems, and cross pollination related to the use of GMOs;
- Require patent holders maintain federal registration after the expiration of the patent to allow generic use.
- Require technology fees to be fully revealed and any agricultural seed or product upon which a technology fee is collected to be guaranteed for its performance
- Support congressional action to regulate the biotech industry's technology agreements. Farmers should not have to sign away their fundamental rights, including, but not limited to a jury of their peers in court, in exchange for the privilege of growing biotech crops. Grievances should be settled in the home state of the farmer, not the state of the biotech corporation;
- Reimburse farmers for any damages caused by lower prices, lost markets or genetic contamination, including legal fees, by the company producing the genetically engineered organism;
- Support legislation that protects family farmers from liability and awards them real and punitive damages resulting from biotechnology contamination due to industry negligence; and
- Support the recall of all genetically engineered products that have not met the "precautionary principal".
Anchored in science, data and analysis, MFU gives full recognition that global warming is taking place and that there are negative impacts from climate change on food, agriculture and the environment. These changes and impacts draw family farmers, ranchers and rural communities to recognize not only practical agricultural concerns, but to take the actions necessary to mitigate and/or stop negative impacts from further affecting food, agriculture and environment. It is imperative to draw on the moral and ethical values and principles that define our concern for neighbor and all of creation to aid us in the development of climate sensitive policies and practices, and to more clearly recognize the Earth as home to all people for all time and what must be done to preserve its soils, water, air, plants and creatures.
Continued research and analysis are essential to better understand the current impacts, as well as, the long-range effects of ongoing climate change. Immediate implementation of policies, programs, practices, and strategies to effectively manage, mitigate and stop climate change must be enacted at all levels of government, by the private sector and within local communities. MFU supports farmers, ranchers and all producers doing their part to employ practices and support policies that will stem the tide of negative climate impacts and change.
- Support farmer and rancher consultation at all levels of government and public policy, as the U.S. moves to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and create better conservation and farming practices
- Support carbon sequestration by agricultural producers
- Enhance research on effective methods for agricultural carbon sequestration
- Support implementation of green payments to agricultural producers for carbon sequestration as an agricultural conservation practice that protects the environment and enhances income for farmers through carbon credits
- Support research on agricultural practices to clearly identify those practices contributing to further global warming and those that would mitigate and reduce greenhouse gasses and climate change.
Consolidation of multi-national food/agribusinesses threatens the existence of family farmers and healthy rural communities as well as a safe food supply.
- Enact a moratorium on approval of mega-agribusiness mergers;
- Support Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration's (GIPSA) improved interpretation and enforcement of the Packers and Stockyard (P&S) Act of 1921 which support fair markets for family farmers and ranchers as well as consumers;
- Urge Congress to provide adequate funding for anti-trust and P&S enforcement;
- Prevent any company or cooperative, including farmer-owned coops, from requiring farmers to accept bundled grain and livestock input sources;
- Enact legislation that establishes a level of concentration that is prima facie proof of antitrust violation;
- Support legislation to amend the Clayton Antitrust Act to make it clear that a person who suffers indirect as well as direct harm can recover damages for any anti-competitive practice;
- Promote and enforce anti-trust remedies that prevent concentration on the global level for companies doing business in the U.S; and
- Oppose joint ventures or mergers between cooperative lenders and multi-national corporations.
Family farmers are conscious of their responsibility to preserve and conserve water resources for current and future use.
Call upon family farmers to conserve and preserve our water in their farming practices and in their rural communities.
- Assist family farmers in the mitigation of agricultural runoff in ways that lower levels of nitrates and pesticides in farm land runoff and that reduces erosion through the use of cover crops, no-till, site specific applications of farm chemicals, and other conservation practices.
- Assist family farmers at the local, state and federal levels with policy and regulatory tools in the mitigation of agricultural runoff.
Our society, including family farmers, has a responsibility to maintain and improve the quality of soil and water resources. MFU should work to achieve the mutually beneficial objectives of proper stewardship and the maintenance of family farm agriculture.
- Support full funding and implementation of the Conservation Security Program as passed in the 2002 Farm Bill, and reauthorized as the Conservation Stewardship Program in the 2008 Farm Bill;
- Encourage participation by family farmers and family farm advocates on the State Technical Committee;
- Support targeting of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) payments to small and medium sized farms and ranches
- Support making all farm and ranch programs readily and easily accessible by family farmers and ranchers;
- Support CRP land used responsibly for haying and grazing;
- Support statewide programs that promote and assist sustainable agriculture;
- Initiate a collaborative effort to develop an effective and balanced policy for the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers;
- Favor flood control as the number one priority of river management;
- Require enforcement of "tolerable soil loss" not to exceed 2T (T-value; as determined by NRCS) in order to receive crop insurance;
- Continue an effective Conservation Reserve Program that strengthens family farms, ranches and rural communities.
Currently production and marketing contracts contribute to the captive supply of agricultural products and threaten the existence of independent producers.
- Support policies that protect the rights of farmers who engage in contract agriculture;
- Support updating, clarifying, and enforcing Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) rules;
- Protect contracting livestock farmers' rights under GIPSA; GIPSA;
- Establish policy that protects seed purchasers from contract liabilities;
- Provide publicly open/posted contracts through USDA and the Dept. of Justice for all commodities and livestock to include poultry and private marketing agreements;
- Establish a legal defense fund to support independent family farmers and producers who engage in contract agriculture and/or utilize patented agricultural inputs, which is funded by a check-off on large-scale integrators and gene patent holders;
- Support agricultural fair practices through federal bargaining legislation;
- Provide a fair trial before a jury of peers rather than mandated arbitration;
- Award producers just compensation in the event a company and/or contractor cancels a contract through no fault of the producer.
- Oppose cooperative involvement in production agriculture in ways that put co-ops in adverse competition with their family farmer/producer owners;
- Urge co-op owners/members to provide the education, leadership and management necessary to effectively run local co-ops;
- Encourage the organization and growth of community credit unions as an effective means of rural reinvestment and re-vitalization;
- Enhance access to capital for community-based cooperatives and other farmer controlled entities that engage in value-added activity that sustains Missouri farm families and rural communities;
- Promote the development of broadband communication cooperatives that would provide the opportunity for access by all rural residents; Encourage the formation of value-added cooperative efforts that are formed for the welfare of the local community, that are producer owned, controlled through democratic processes and leadership, and whose business affairs are responsive to and for the benefit of all its members.
Dairy prices should sustain viable family farms.
- Support regional milk marketing compacts;
- Support developing a new basic formula for pricing (BFP) milk;
- Establish, through BFP, a floor price that applies to all classes of milk;
- Support mandatory dairy price reporting;
- Measure dairy policy fairness by its ability to:
- Produce reasonable profit for producers;
- Provide a high-quality, stable supply for consumers;
- Promote sustainable environmental practices; and
- Enable producers to enter and exit farming;
- Eliminate exclusivity practices by contract buyers toward dairy producers; e.g. canceling dairy producers' milk contracts when they hold back any portion of their milk to sell for any other purpose; and
- Support farmer and retailer rights to label milk BST free, and the consumers' right to know.
- Oppose state of Missouri giving Missouri tax incentives to out of state dairy conglomerates.
We support:
- Access to credit, technical expertise and markets as essential ingredients in securing opportunities for rural and agricultural enterprises;
- Appropriate utilization of the Community Reinvestment Act to support family farms and rural communities.
Estate Tax
We also support:
- An estate tax structure that enables and promotes the transfer of family farms to the next generation and oppose a full repeal of estate tax.
We support:
- A more equitable, progressive, and sustainable federal and state tax structures that allows the majority of people to pay less because those with the very highest incomes pay more;
- A tax system that fairly and adequately provides revenues for the programs and services that are essential to good governance and the general welfare;
- Full deductibility for individual payment of premiums for health care, long-term care, and disability;
- Provisions in the tax code that reduce concentrations of wealth and power, and promote equality of economic opportunity; and
- A refundable federal and state earned income tax that allows the working poor to keep more of their earned income.
1031 Exchanges
We support:
- Reform of the tax code to eliminate or restructure 1031 Exchanges in such a way that they do not work against the interests of family farmers, rural communities, and the common good.
Energy is the lifeblood of our mechanized society and intertwines with food security. Dependence on foreign sources of fuel threatens not only our way of life but also the ability of family farmers to raise the food, fuel and fiber on which our nation depends.
- Urge development of open market community-based, sustainable, alternative, and renewable fuel and energy production systems;
- Encourage research and utilization of alternative sources of energy for Missouri, to include wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, bio-diesel, hybrid technology, innovative battery technology and other alternative fuel sources;
- Continue prohibition on the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) in reformulated gasoline to be sold in the state of Missouri;
- Support labeling of all fuel products containing ethanol;
- Support efforts to establish refueling stations for alternative fuels i.e. E85 stations, bio-diesel capabilities at truck stops and card stations, and blender pumps;
- Strongly encourage and support energy conservation;
- Allow rural electrical cooperatives to provide utility service to new customers and local communities in areas in which they currently are prohibited due to population increase caps;
- Support net metering of utilities that target and benefit individual rate payers and family farmers;
- Support targeting government assistance for green energy programs to family farmers and community-based local businesses;
- Support education, research and development for production of cellulosic energy sources;
- Support regulation of utility companies;
- Support access to dependable, consistent, affordable, sustainable utilities for all rural areas;
- Support aggressive expansion and acceleration of the Renewable Fuels Standard, (e.g., 20% sustainable and renewable by the year 2020), open market net metering and other incentives that focus on the production of community-based, locally owned, renewable energy such as cellulosic, wind, solar, geothermal and biomass;
- Support the creation of a farm stored Strategic Renewable Energy Reserve, dedicated to the storage and production of community-based energy feedstocks to ensure a dependable long-term, uninterrupted supply of these raw materials.
- Support uniform state-wide taxation of renewable energy systems, established by the State Tax Commission, and based on project cost. Family farm renewable energy systems should not be taxed as corporate and/or public utilities.
- Oppose the process known as fracking in the state of Missouri.
Food security is anchored in local agriculture, family farming and ranching, use of sustainable food and farming practices, economic viability, ready access, affordability and availability for consumers.
The food system should:
- Eliminate poverty and hunger;
- Provide consumers with an adequate, high quality, safe food supply
- Support the decentralization of the food production, distribution and supply;
- Promote food sovereignty for individual countries.
- Support development of Missouri-local food, fiber and energy production
- Disallow any Missouri tax revenue and/or public institutions from supporting or subsidizing any industrialized food, fiber or energy exports from any non- Missouri corporation using Missouri land and resources.
Health Care
We strongly affirm the right of all Americans to have access to affordable, quality health care. Access to health care services is sorely deficient in many, if not most, of the rural areas of the state. Obtaining health care services is especially difficult for the rural elderly who can no longer drive and live in those areas where public and affordable transportation services do not exist. Family farmers notably are lacking in health care coverage. Being in an occupation considered more dangerous than most others increases health insurance rates for family farmers. Further, most health insurers have considerably higher rates for single family coverage, and there is no provision for group rates among family farmers.
Comprehensive health care should include:
- Universal single-payer health care access;
- Emergency services more accessible to rural residents;
- Legislation that would allow/facilitate the development of alliances between/among family farmers, small businesses and the self-employed that would help them secure affordable health care coverage;
- Publicly provided health care for all children 0 to 18 years of age;
- Elimination of control by insurance companies over prescription drugs;
- Removal of the so called, "donut hole";
- Full coverage for all prescription drugs;
- Expansion of Medicaid in Missouri as allowed in the ACA;
- Subscription drug prices based on Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved rates.
Immigration Policy
Immigration is a national issue and should be addressed at the federal level. State agricultural worker programs should operate in conjunction with federal immigration policies. Collectively, our federal and state immigration system must be flexible enough to address the needs of businesses while protecting the interests of workers and keeping families together. We support:
- A visa system responsive to geographic, economic and cultural factors and that recognizes the beneficial contributions of immigrant workers
- Enforcement of immigration policies that focuses on public safety and consequences to businesses, workers and consumers.
- A sensible path for complying immigrants to become participating members of our society, and oppose the indentured servitude of a captive work force.
- Moving forward with a worker visa program for immigrants who are working on farms and ranches, including both seasonal and full time workers, and implementing the DREAM act.
- Freedom of speech. Targeting whistleblowers denies every citizen's right to know where their food came from, how and under what conditions it was produced. Secrecy imposed on photographs, writing, and investigative reporting prevents adequate transparency and impedes public welfare.
- The right of individual privacy balanced by the public's right to know.
- Laws, policies and regulations that equally protect the rights of all family farms.
- Contract growers not being subject to mandatory arbitration and non-disclosure of disputes.
- Use of unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) for agricultural purposes only after landowner approval;
- Opening up the National Airspace System to allow drones for agricultural purposes;
- Restriction on the use of drones for covert surveillance of agricultural operations that is not in the public interest.
Information Collection and Protection
We support the collection and use of detailed field data in a manner that:
- Protects the privacy of Personally Identifiable Information;
- Avoids consolidation of market power;
- Maintains competition;
- Prevents market manipulation; and
- Protects ownership of data.
We believe consumers should have the information necessary to make informed decisions about the origins of their food.
- Support mandatory country of origin labeling for all food products;
- In lieu of a mandatory country of origin labeling law, we support a voluntary label that preserves the product of the U.S.A. labeling standards;
- Allow consumers to make informed food choices through adequate product labeling;
- Label "Product of the U.S." only those products 100% produced/born/raised/ processed inside the U.S.;
- Ensure products coming into the U.S. are not being minimally processed and/or blended inside the U.S., thus making them eligible to obtain a "USDA Inspected" label and to be marketed as a U.S. product.
We oppose the insincere and abusive use of the terms sustainable agriculture, family farm, organic, natural and green by corporations for marketing purposes.
- Strengthen the Packers and Stockyards Act and Anti-trust laws;
- Urge the Secretary Of Agriculture to enforce Packers & Stockyards laws;
- Oppose vertical integration by processors into production agriculture;
- Support anti-trust legislation to limit the market-share percentage of captive supplies;
- Support ban on packer ownership of livestock feeding operations, including corporate ownership or corporate financing of non-farmer owned operations;
- Urge Congress to supply adequate funding for family farm based agricultural programs;
- Promote the development of local and regional livestock processing facilities that enhance the profitability of independent producers through open and competitive bidding;
- Support a meat inspection, grading, and labeling system that protects food safety and quality, and the integrity of the family farm food system;
- Support the right of processors to access domestic and international markets that demand source-verified or BSE tested livestock;
- Oppose any system of mandatory animal, or premise identification;
- Maintain and actively support the current effective state-by-state systems that are in place to identify animal disease and provide traceability;
- Oppose privatization of pet breeder inspections;
- Support fair and thorough inspection and regulation of pet breeders throughout the nation;
- Precede any rule change in the USDA Animal Welfare Act with an appropriate comment period and only then record it in the Federal Register;
- Support teaching animal welfare through educational programs and agricultural organizations;
- Support humane treatment of all animals;
- Provide all domesticated animals with proper food, shelter and water for survival;
- Support USDA inspected humane harvesting of livestock including horses for meat markets, and
- Support stringent federal and state oversight and regulation of "animal disease research laboratories," and that subject small and local communities to environmental and public health consequences of dangerous pathogens. Of particular concern are areas of significant livestock production and small and local communities, which could be devastated by a breach of quarantine and security.
- Support those measures that assure equal and fair treatment under the laws that guarantee soil, air, and water quality without exception.
In a democratic system of government, elected public officials make many decisions that have a profound impact on the lives and wellbeing of its citizens. We believe that people have a right to participate in decisions that affect them and that the best decisions of government, business or civil organizations are made when those affected participate in the decision-making process.
- Support county governments ability to maintain their democratic rights to enact health ordinances that protect the public health of their citizens;
- Support legislation that enables local government (i.e. municipal, township, county) to enact ordinances, planning, and zoning that serve the best interests of the local community and that are democratically enacted;
- Oppose state and federal government, or any international and/or quasi-governmental or private structure, from enacting laws, regulations or rules that give them the ability to put in place sanctions, or to otherwise impede or negate the right of local communities to enact labor, environmental, health, or safety laws, regulations, ordinances, planning, or zoning that serve the best interests of the local community.
- Support citizens of Missouri having the right to know the extent of foreign entities expressing interest in, and ownership of, Missouri farmland and commercial privileges.
- Oppose foreign entities from acquiring Missouri agricultural lands, or holding federal grazing allotments or commercial privileges in Missouri.
- Oppose the allocation of state tax incentives based solely on Agri-Ready compliance.
- Disallow any person to sell, distribute, or use a non-germinating, genetically engineered seed rendered incapable of naturally producing second-generation seed (including terminator and/ or suicide seeds);
- Oppose any new commercial patenting of life forms;
- Support the promotion of research in and commercialization of high quality, conventionally bred, and non-genetically modified seed.
Public Schools
- Oppose unfunded federal mandates to state and local school authorities;
- Support publicly funded, community based schools with reasonable child-to-teacher ratios;
- Support adequate and equitable funding of rural schools;
- Support adequate and equitable funding of public pre-K-12 and higher education;
- Support free and affordable public education from pre-K through bachelor's or technical degree.
- Support local level decision making regarding consolidation of school districts;
- Oppose forced school district consolidation by the Missouri General Assembly;
- Oppose giving control of public schools to private enterprises such as charter or contract schools, and all school voucher programs;
- Promote farm-to-cafeteria and other local food programs;
- Support serving only wholesome, nutritious food in public schools and other institutions;
- Support legislation that funds and requires all Missouri public schools to provide free breakfast, lunch and after school meals to low income children, with meals prepared solely from food produced in the United States.
State Assisted
We support funds and/or loan guarantees that are administered by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, as well as all other state-assisted programs that may benefit agriculture and be directed to the needs of independent family farmers/producers.
Social Security
We support:
- Active participation in developing a plan to help insure the solvency for Social Security for future years;
- Prohibition of using social security funds for anything other than its intended use;
- Preserving a major portion of any budget surplus for Social Security;
- Opposition to a freeze on the Social Security cost-of-living allowance;
- Social Security tax being applicable to all earnings by removal of the income cap;
- Opposition to any part of Social Security being invested in non-government-insured investments;
- Social Security being a mandatory, universal system to assure benefits in the future;
- Continued strengthening and protecting of the Social Security program;
- Opposition to proposals that would privatize the system;
- Continuation of efforts made to correct an inequity in Social Security benefits for recipients born during "notch" years, which results in reduced entitlements for basically the same level of contributions;
- Congress changing laws so that a husband and wife who are equal business partners in a farming operation are able to collect equally on the Social Security tax that was paid in as a result of that business;
- Congress changing the eligibility requirements for individuals who haven't worked off the farm long enough to qualify for benefits.
All societies need to retain a connection to food, the land, and agriculture. Research and education involving farm and food issues should be carried out in the public interest and for the common good.
- Support increased funding for research, education and development of unbiased information that under girds family farming, organic and sustainable agricultural methods;
- Increase research that protects a family farm/sustainable system of agriculture;
- Support intellectual property rights, paid for by taxpayer monies, remaining in the public domain;
- Strengthen consumer education regarding nutrition, food security, and issues impacting independent family farmers and ranchers and its relevance to consumer health and safety;
- Encourage public participation in the development of university research goals;
- Support development of agriculture curricula at all educational levels that build and support family farming and sustainable agriculture methods;
- Support nutrition education that focuses on sustainability and community development;
- Support practices and policies that reduce and eliminate pesticides found on pollen used by honeybees;
- Support further research into those issues challenging bee populations such as colony collapse syndrome;
- Support a reformation of public education systems, including university extension, to serve the needs of local people and their communities
We support a comprehensive rural development policy, including:
- Educational institutions providing courses that promote entrepreneurship, rural communities and retention of young adults in rural areas
- Support strong relationships between local producers and consumers
- Support state and local government enactment of bond financed agricultural loans for Young and Beginning Farmers as allowed under federal law;
- Promote a "Farm Link" program to join beginning farmers with established farmers;
- Support development of social and political infrastructures that will allow the targeting of agriculture policies, programs, and benefits necessary to encourage the entrance of young people into family farming;
- Support any effort to assist and encourage rural entrepreneurship by youth;
- Support the creation of a state farm-to-cafeteria program that includes opportunity and funding for Missouri schools, hospitals, institutions and small businesses to purchase from community-based Missouri producers;
- Support law enforcement and prevention agencies in halting illegal drug production and trafficking in rural Missouri;
- Support legalization of medical marijuana;
- Support providing state and federal assistance and resources to Missouri family farmers and rural communities to compensate for damages incurred by drug trafficking and/or the law enforcement activity designed to counter it, and to implement prevention, treatment, and educational programs;
- Oppose taking private property by eminent domain for, or by, private entities or private development;
- Require legal search warrants and official law enforcement representation before any corporate investigation of farm fields and/or animal facilities.
- Support nonpartisan redistricting processes and the establishment of redistricting commissions by states
- Oppose sitting legislators drawing district lines and gerrymandering of voting districts
- Promote creating districts based on standardized population and common geographic location
- Support a federal transportation policy that fosters a well-maintained competitive national transportation network comprised of an integrated system of railways, waterways, and roads, and that takes action to avoid transportation shortage for transporting grain, livestock and other perishable commodities
The future of agriculture is in creating interest in agriculture, inspiring farming as a profession, supporting new farmers, and integrating them into the decisions made effecting agriculture.
- Support new and young farmers serving on agricultural advisory boards and thereby provide input on, and guidance for reviewing, existing and future county, state and federal agricultural programs
- Support incorporating new and young farmers into all types of farming systems, geographic locations, and farm products
We believe all international trade agreements should be based on principles of fair trade. Future trade agreements should not be encouraged until issues of past agreements that have resulted in adverse impacts for Missouri family farmers are resolved. It is crucial to fair trade negotiations that imported products adhere to standards found in the U.S. with respect to worker safety, environmental protection, consumer safety and public liability.
- Support fair trade agreements that address currency manipulation and appropriate health, labor, environmental and safety standards;
- Exempt U.S. agriculture from WTO trade sanctions;
- Orient trade policy to the domestic producer;
- Establish the needs of the U.S. family farmer and rancher as a priority issue;
- Utilize agricultural exports to enhance family farmer and rancher price and
- Oppose Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) evaluation for the
regionalization of Brazil that would allow exempting specific locations from
quarantine within a country known to harbor livestock disease.
- Oppose Trans-Pacific Trade Partnership, Trade Promotion Authority (Fast Track),
and Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.
U.S. Border Safeguards to Domestic Livestock Health and Safety
We support:
- Allowing only beef from animals under 30 months of age to enter from any nation
where a case of BSE has been confirmed;
- USDA maintaining the health and integrity of the US livestock industry by
promoting policy that protects US borders from penetration by foreign and
contagious diseases;
- USDA advocate for US livestock producers and not the international marketplace;
- USDA issuing directives that protect the integrity of the US livestock industry and the sovereignty of the United States border.
Whereas agriculture's role should be promoted on conservation, natural resource management, and the like.be it hereby resolved that clean air initiatives should include offsets for agriculture such as carbon sequestration, no-till, timberland, methane capture, and other proven methods of storing carbon from the atmosphere, including gradual replacement of coal fired electrical generation with renewable resources such as wind, solar, and biomass
Whereas farmland acreage for food production is and has been in decline due to increased urbanization and whereas that urbanization has created greater interest in and control of farmland by the wealthy and multi-national corporations be it hereby resolved that state concessions to land ownership by foreign entities and corporations are misguided and detrimental to family farming in Missouri.
Whereas eating is a moral act and whereas consolidated corporate food production can result in long term animal and contract farmer abuse through the pursuit of short term monetary gain by corporations be it hereby resolved that Ag Gag laws encourage abusive behavior detrimental to family farms and a wholesome food supply, and should not be allowed.
Whereas clean water and air are important to a healthy population and healthful food production, be it hereby resolved that clean water and air rules are important to family farms and all citizens of Missouri and should be implemented in ways that both protect and benefit citizens and family farmers.
Whereas access to the World Wide Web is crucial to businesses and farming around the world and whereas Missouri family farmers have an unprecedented opportunity to grow consumer direct markets for food and produce be it hereby resolved that federal and state government should encourage development through tax incentives and grants by Missouri RECs, telephone cooperatives, and farm cooperatives, of hard wired and wireless internet access across all of rural Missouri.
Whereas the TPP and T-TIP trade deals would have wide-ranging implications for agriculture, agricultural workers, and consumers of food products, be it hereby resolved that transparency in international agreements, inclusion of workers and consumers in the planning and decision-making processes, safeguards for the quality of products and for the environment, protection of American jobs, workers and consumers around the world, should be the hallmarks of the US position.
Whereas decisions made by delegates at national conventions are to represent the preferences of the membership in their states, the voting process should be executed in a manner that insures membership approval. Challenging decisions made at national conventions should be allowed as a point of order, thus providing a mechanism to preserve the use of a weighted vote only for the most important issues. Further, a weighted vote should require a minimum of 5 states support before use.
Whereas the Agriculture Risk Coverage Program currently has a choice between a county or individual policy which has resulted in confusion, be it hereby resolved that the program should be changed to one policy.
Among issues informing the 2018 Farm Bill Debate, the following three issues deserve further analysis;
- Rapidly changing technologies favor larger scale participants,
- Insurance as actuarial based programs are inherently scale neutral, and
- Supply chain contracting occurs with decreased system transparency and loss
of markets viability.
These areas have relevance to agricultural systems' present and future structure.
Whereas some candidates for federal office fail to release their federal tax information, be it hereby resolved that new legislation is needed requiring all candidates for federal office to release their federal tax information.
Whereas clean water and air are essential to all people wherever they are, and whereas geography and climate vary among states, and whereas climate and soil diversity may create very different situations among farms in different states, and whereas clean water and air is essential to all people wherever they are, and whereas Waters of the US (WOTUS) rules create hardship to greater or lesser degrees in different states, and whereas litigation of EPA rules and actions has become common among special interest groups, and whereas effective regulation should never be politicized at the expense of the greater good, therefore be it resolved that the mission of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is not at the discretion of the Administrator or any sitting president but is based upon the will of Congress.
2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) - is an organic compound with the chemical formula C8H6Cl2O3. It is a systemic herbicide which selectively kills most broadleaf weeds by causing uncontrolled growth in them, but leaves most grasses such as cereals, lawn turf, and grassland relatively unaffected.
1031 exchange – also known as a Starker exchange or a tax-deferred exchange; permits investment property owners to sell a property and defer tax payments by reinvesting the proceeds into a "like-kind" investment property or properties. A 1031 exchange is enabled by Section 1031 in the Internal Revenue Code.
Affordable Care Act (ACA) – the comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010.
BSE – bovine spongiform encephalopathy; a progressive neurological disorder of cattle that results from infection by an unusual transmissible agent called a prion
CRP – USDA's Conservation Reserve Program, administered by the FSA; the long-term goal of the program is to re-establish valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat.
Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors (DREAM Act) - an American legislative proposal for a multi-phase process for undocumented immigrants in the United States that would first grant conditional residency and upon meeting further qualifications, permanent residency.
E85 – gasoline blend consisting of 85 percent ethanol, approved for use in newer vehicles.
U S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) – a federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services
Genetically engineered organism (GEO) - See genetically modified organism (GMO).
Genetic modification (GM) - The technique (or process) of removing, modifying or adding genes to a living organism via genetic engineering or other more traditional methods. Also referred to as gene splicing, recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology or genetic engineering.
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO) – A genetically modified organism (GMO) is any organism the genetics of which have been altered through the use of modern biotechnology to create a novel combination of genetic material. GMOs may be the source of genetically modified food ingredients and are also widely used in scientific research and to produce goods other than food.
NRCS – Natural Resources Conservation Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; provides America's farmers and ranchers with financial and technical assistance to voluntarily make conservation improvements.
Waters of the United States (WOTUS) - rule is largely a technical document, defining which rivers, streams, lakes and marshes fall under the jurisdiction of the Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers.


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MODERN ART Per Spective, the Scandinavian artist, has once more underwhelmed his audience and critics with his latest piece, Merkelapp No:1760. Critics have leapt out to say that the title is too unimaginative and derivativeRead more
Category: Art As Exhibition
Art As Exhibition 1&2 – Issue 20
WAITING FOR THE LIGHTRead more
Art As Exhibition 3&4 – Issue 20
ART AS EXHIBITION NOS 3 & 4 GRAVY TRAIN – the point is who's being misled We all know how natural it is to want to sleep with ideas in close attendance: thisRead more
Art As Exhibition 5&6 – Issue 20
ART AS EXHIBITION NOS 5 & 6 SELF PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A MILLIONAIRE INDUSTRIALIST The symbolising of the impulse of the starving artist as a pillar of the community. The modernity of wantingRead more
Art As Exhibition 7&8 – Issue 20
ART AS EXHIBITION NOS 7 & 8 ASPIRING ARTIST These two pieces investigate the relationship of art and commercial approbation in monetary terms. Rather than sharpening the art, the commercialisation serves to make aRead more
Art As Exhibition 9&10 – Issue 20
ART AS EXHIBITION NOS 9 &10 The enigma that was, and still is, celebrity culture. Inferred in these simple, naive lines, are such human considerations as, who am I, who is anybody, and whyRead more

subset: commoncrawl


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The HKBU Century Club Citywide
English Poetry Competition & Exhibition 2020
Judge: Srikanth Reddy
The HKBU Century Club Citywide English Poetry Competition is inviting submissions of poetry, in partnership with the HKBU Century Club, Department of English Language & Literature, Department of Humanities & Creative Writing, and the International Writers' Workshop at Hong Kong Baptist University in association with the Hong Kong Poetry Festival Foundation. The esteemed judge this year is Srikanth Reddy, whose poetry collection – Facts for Visitors won 2005 Asian American Literary Award for Poetry.
This competition is open to all current full-time undergraduate students enrolled in one of the eight UGC-funded universities. Only one entry per student is allowed. Graduate students, exchange students, and part-time students are not eligible. The eight UGC-funded universities are:
- City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
- Lingnan University (LU)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Prizes include $5,000 HKD for 1st place; $3,000 HKD for 2nd place; and $1,000 HKD for 3rd place. The submission period runs from 1 November 2019 to 14 February 2020, and the finalists will be announced in early-April 2020. HKBU will organise the Century Club Citywide English Poetry Exhibition and Reading in late-April 2019 to celebrate the winning poets. There is no fee to submit a poem, and all submissions will be read anonymously by the judge. Please note there is no theme for this poetry competition. You are welcome to write a poem on any topic, but the poem must not have been published previously, either online or in print. Award-winning poet Srikanth Reddy will serve as the judge for the 2020 competition.
Reddy is the author of Voyager, which was named one of the best books of poetry in 2011 by The New Yorker, The Believer, and National Public Radio; and his first collection, Facts for Visitors, won the 2005 Asian American Literary Award for Poetry. The recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Creative Capital Foundation, and the Guggenheim Foundation, he is currently an Associate Professor of English at the University of Chicago. His next book of poetry, Underworld Lit, will be published by Wave Books in Spring 2020.
Submissions must include 2 PDF files:
Photocopy of your valid student ID;
Your contact information, including your full name, email address, phone number, degree programme, and year of study.
One poem of no more than 1 A4-size page in 12-point Times New Roman. Please DO NOT include your name in this document.
Email your submission to email@example.com during the open submission period (1 November 2019 to 14 February 2020, HKT 11:59PM). The finalists will be announced in early-March.
HKBU will host the Century Club Citywide English Poetry Exhibition and Reading in April 2020 to celebrate the winning poets. The date, time, and venue will be announced by end of March 2020.
|Important Dates
|1 November 2019 to 14 February 2020 (HKT 11:59PM)
|Submission Period
|Early-April 2020
|Finalists announced
|Late-April 2020
|Century Club Citywide English Poetry Exhibition and Reading
Please direct any queries to this email address: email@example.com.
We look forward to your submission!
Organisers: Dr Tammy Lai-Ming Ho (HKBU) and Mr James Shea (HKBU)


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The Confusing Moral Logic of ESCR
The embryonic stem cell research debate is remarkable because neither side—pro-life or pro-abortion—seems to understand the moral logic of its views. Presumably, people who are pro-life hold their views for a reason and are not just emoting. The same could be said of pro-choicers. I've long suspected that's not always the case, though. The recent debate about embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) confirms my doubts.
When Compromising Is Not a Compromise
Eight years ago an election-year slogan circulated among Christians that sparked considerable controversy: "It's a sin to vote for Clinton." The same slogan returned with vigor four years later. This year's election slogan is different. Bill Clinton is not on the ballot and his successor, Al Gore, offers little enticement to Evangelicals. Something else is at stake, though, captured in a new slogan: "It's wrong to vote for anyone who is not consistently pro-life."
Take a Tip from Lt. Columbo
Have you ever taken a verbal beating when trying to talk about Jesus? If so, I've got a tip for you. It's the simplest tactic imaginable to help stop a challenger in his tracks, turn the tables, and put you back in the driver's seat. And it can be done almost effortlessly. Here's an example.
The Perils of Proof-Texting and How to Avoid Them
Virtually every Christian with a theological point of view thinks his view is scriptural. Why shouldn't he. He has a prooftext he can quickly quote in his defense.
Arguing Is a Virtue
Imagine living in a world in which you couldn't separate truth from error. You wouldn't be able to tell food from poison, or friend from foe. You couldn't tell good from bad, right from wrong, healthy from unhealthy, or safe from unsafe. Such a world would be a dangerous place. You wouldn't survive long.
The American Holocaust
Lynching of Blacks by the KKK. Jewish genocide under the Third Reich. Abortion in America. Do these three have anything in common? Early this fall, the campus of the University of Kansas was rocked by a controversy that made headlines in the national press. Two pro-life groups--the Center for Bioethical Reform and Heartland Life Network--had posted a "pictorial essay" at a prominent crossroads on campus.
Relativism Interview with Summit Ministries
How do Christians answer the present spirit of the age, currently the most insidious challenge to Christianity: relativism? The following discussion is adapted from an interview with Summit Ministries, Manitou Springs Colorado, July 1998. Summit is a Christian educational organization training young people in Christian worldview leadership. Summit Ministries: What exactly is moral relativism?
Why Settle for Merely Reading a Book When You Can Master It?
How to Read Less More, and Twice as Fast If you're like me, you really want to read more effectively, but you don't know how and can't find the time. Solomon wrote, "The writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body."* I agree. The stacks of unopened volumes in my own library weary me just looking at them.
Can a Soul be Cloned?
The cloning confusion continues. Doctor Richard Seed, a cum laude graduate from Harvard with a Ph.D. in physics, has promised to produce the first human clone in less than two years in a clinic in the Chicago area, if he gets funded. "We are going to become one with God," he boasted. "We are going to have almost as much knowledge and almost as much power as God."[1]
When It Comes to Abortion, No One Talks about the One Question that Matters. It's the One Question the President Never Asks.
Answering this One Question Solves the Abortion Controversy.... When President Clinton vetoed the ban on partial-birth abortion for a second time on October 10, there's one thing he didn't discuss: abortion. The President talked about choice and privacy. He mentioned the risk to the mother of carrying a child to term, and the trauma of delivering an infant with serious congenital defect.


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- 3 beds
- 1 baths
- $100,000 price
- 321538 mls id
- Square Feet: 1,637 sqft
This elegant older home has the high ceilings and wide wood trim of days gone by, yet the mechanical systems have all been upgraded for your modern-day comfort. The huge kitchen faces East, so gets morning sun and the cupboards go to the ceiling for massive storage. A wide porch wraps two sides and is fitted with vinyl windows for 3-season comfort. The nicely landscaped yard has many different perennials and fruit trees. Theres even a she-shed (or man cave) in the back yard. The basement is very nice for an older home and could be made into additional living space, if needed. Above grade square footage = 1224 sq. ft. for house and 413 sq. ft. enclosed porch
- Site Link
- Style Other Style
Courtesy of: Coldwell Banker Schmidt, Realtors
Office Phone: +19897326777
Listing Agent: Susan Pillsbury
Updated: 29th March, 2020 12:18 PM.
210 S State Street Hillman, MI


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Doctor Who: The Bells of Saint John (BBC1)
It's good to get back underway once more with the stop-start drip-feed of new Doctor Who. "The Bells of Saint John" is actually episode 7 of series 7, which follows on from the final instalment of the Ponds ("The Angels Take Manhattan") six months ago by way of the one-off Christmas Day special "The Snowmen", so this is already feeling like the most protracted season of the show of all time.
Still, such a prolonged wait only adds to the anticipation of a new run of episodes – which is all well and good when they deliver against the raised expectations. This one had a lot to do to achieve that, considering the Christmas special was such a very impressive affair, but by and large it managed to do so and was a very positive and enjoyable way of getting back underway.
One of the most anticipated parts of this episode was the arrival of new companion Clara Oswald, played by the truly delightful and talented Jenna-Louise Coleman. We've seen Coleman twice before but in both cases her character died, so this is the first time we get to see the version of Clara who will actually be the Doctor's companion. She certainly didn't disappoint, instantly reviving her snappy repartee with Matt Smith who seems thoroughly reenergised by the new company on board the Tardis.
The episode that (re-)introduced her was a surprisingly different style of story for show-runner and chief writer Steven Moffat. The Amy Pond era had a more fantasy or fairy-tale feel to its two-and-a-half year run, but "The Bells of Saint John" seemed to snap back to the realistic modern urban setting that Moffat's predecessor Russell T Davies favoured during his tenure running the show. In fact while watching this episode I kept feeling reminded of the 2008 episode "Partners in Crime" which kicked off season 4 and re-introduced Catherine Tate as new companion Donna Noble to David Tennant's incarnation of the Doctor.
"The Bells of Saint John" had much the same sort of bright, breezy, knockabout and fun feel to it as that story did, and overall I'd describe this latest episode as the most RTD-ian thing Steven Moffat has ever written. And that's not intended as a criticism, either – one of the things that I think the show has been missing in recent times is a sense of flat-out fun, of enjoying itself without feeling it has to be conspicuously, achingly clever at the same time.
That's not to say that there weren't plenty of smarts in this episode, however – just that they blended in better, felt more natural and never imposed themselves onto the viewer in such a fashion that got obtrusively in the way as has been the case too many times in the recent past. The alien menace lurking in the WiFi crowd is a great idea and the Apple-inspired network base stations are an inspired and really unnerving execution that might have been genuinely too scary for kids viewing in the pre-7pm time slot.
There were some great lines relating to social media (Twitter did not come out of it well), and plenty of other humdingers as well. Even the title was a terrific twist, with the St John of the title relating to an aspect of the show that's been present since the start in 1963; the early teaser sequence set in the Middle Ages monastery was beautifully done, as was all the London location filming – something you don't realise how much you've missed until you see it done so well. And the end of the episode with its twist reveal of a returning adversary felt just right and entirely welcome.
If the rest of the series can live up to this start, I think we'll all be pretty happy. And the signs are good, seeing as Moffat seems to have done his utmost to line up a formidable array of writers that includes two stories each from Mark Gatiss and novelist Neil Cross (a newcomer to Doctor Who) and the return of fantasy author Neil Gaiman after his brilliant "The Doctor's Wife" in 2011. Yes, there's been a fuss about the lack of female writers and that should certainly be a matter of concern to the show, but that's a topic for another time.
From the trailers and the teaser details about the upcoming episodes it appears that this year the show is planning to celebrate its 50th anniversary with thrills, chills and impressive big-budget spectacle. It all looks and sounds terrific; and on the evidence of this first instalment I think it might just succeed in knocking it out of the park.
Doctor Who continues on BBC1 on Saturday evenings starting around 6.15pm, with repeats on BBC and also available on the BBC iPlayer. Series 7 part 2 is out on DVD and Blu-ray on May 20.
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DENTAL NURSE, FARINGDON, OXFORDSHIREDental Nurse required for busy, mixed dental Practice located in Faringdon, OxfordshireThis opportunity is to work Tuesdays 9.30 - 8.30 and Fridays 8.30 - 5.30They are looking for a qualified and GDC registered Dental Nurse, you will be motivated, organised, and a good communicator who thrives upon maintaining good standards.Practice informationThe practice provides a wide range of private, NHS and specialist dental treatment led by distinguished clinicians. They are a large, modern Practice with excellent equipment and lovely working environment with large spacious treatment rooms. Both NHS and a huge amount of private work due to affluent area. Location informationThe practice has fantastic and long-standing reputation in the area. Located right in the centre of beautiful Faringdon and have been established here for more than 20 years. Large and free car park onsite so it is easy to commute here from Wantage, Swindon or Oxford. Faringdon has been voted as one of the 3 most sought after villages in England to live in. Excellent benefits includeGDC and indemnity coveredPaid CPD provided via our online portal. Infection control and safeguarding training providedAnnual Bonus scheme – discretionary bonus scheme shared within the Practice based on revenue targetGenerous Practice social budget – each quarter the Practice goes out on a fully expensed social eventAdditional Special days holidays for life events such as your birthday, moving houseOption to purchase 3 additional days' holidays per yearIndustry leading flexible benefit platformWinner of the Outstanding Business of the Year at the Dental Industry Awards for the past 3 years - They can offer you unrivalled opportunities to progress and develop your skills, and industry leading benefits and support.*Salary will be discussed further at an interview*
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This service would not be possible without the support and information provided by backstage.bbc.co.uk
> BBC One
> BBC Two
> BBC Four
> CBeebies
> Omnibus: Cracked Actor, David Bowie on BBC Four at 2008-01-12 00:30:00
Part of Pop! What Is it Good For? David Bowie talks about life on the road during his 1974 Diamond Dogs tour, including live performances of Space Oddity and Aladdin Sane.


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Mount Compass
58 kilometres from Adelaide
Mount Compass is a popular service stop for those travelling to Victor Harbor. It is an authentic rural hub surrounded by rolling hills, meandering country roads and agricultural farm land.
A bounty of local produce can be found, ranging from blueberries and strawberries to cheese, pheasants and venison – much of which can be found on a trail through hamlets such as Nangkita, Tooperang, Yundi and Ashbourne.
fast fact
The local sense of humour shines through each January at the Compass Cup - Australia's only dairy cow race, which is a fun way of celebrating the dairy heritage of the region.
See what people are posting about Mount Compass.
Search & Book Accommodation
Contacts for information & bookings
Five Visitor Information Centres are spread across the Fleurieu Peninsula. Each has a dedicated team of locals and resources to support you during your stay.
They can provide you with assistance in booking your trip, planning details for your visit, or give advice on what is happening in the region during your stay.


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- Track Order
- Shipping flat rate of only $9.99
Australia's BIGGEST Weddings & Party Sale STARTS NOW! Hurry, while stock lasts! >Shop Now
Wooden Wedding Signs
These stunning new wooden wedding signs are custom made just for your wedding day! What an elegant wedding decorations for the head table, candy buffet or cake table - your names and your design created into a very special decoration that your guests will adore. To top it off, you have the wooden wedding sign to take home with you afterwards and display as a special keepsake for every day.
These wedding signs allow you to create a unique look at your wedding reception. We love the way you can use them as a versatile wedding decoration - paint them in your own colours or theme with creative uses of glitter, sequins, fabric and other embellishments - and because they are in your own names, they add a real unique element to your wedding tables and wedding table decorations. Beautifully crafted, you can also use them as a wedding gift for the bride and groom to use as a decorative centrepiece at home. Simply gorgeous!


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Salesmen and Tire Kickers
Salesmen get a bad rap.
For some common folk, the mere mention of the word "salesman" conjures up an image of slick used car salesman (in a hideous suit) who would sell a lemon to his grandma to make a quick buck.
Guess what, business owner…you ARE a salesman (or saleswoman, depending on your X chromosome count).
Like it or not, sales are the oxygen of business, and if you're not making sales you are suffocating.
But hear ye this: you don't need to grease up your hair and wear a blue leisure suit for your business to breath.
Oh, goodness no.
Effective marketing makes selling easy. Sometimes effortless, in fact.
There's a quote somewhere about how marketing can make selling unnecessary (I think this was from good ol' Peter Drucker, but I'm not gonna Google it right now).
Part of being an effective marketer is knowing who to market to.
You surely don't want to fill your used car lot with folks who ask endless questions, never buy anything, and find it necessary to kick the tires of every car they're scoping out.
Tire kickers.
I don't know if that's where the term came from, but I assume it has something to do with that. People who literally kick tires.
In the figurative sense, these tire kickers can suck the salesmanship right out of you. They drain your energy and take your time away from real buyers.
A good AdWords campaign eliminates as many tire kickers as possible.
There are numerous settings in AdWords that let you filter out the riffraff. If you're not taking advantage of these settings, you're wasting money (money you could be using to buy your granny – or granddaughter – a nice car).
In this video, I show you some ways to stop paying for traffic from tire kickers and focus on real buyers.
Watch it now:


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Possible approach that needs to be discussed: making telemetry compliance for KDE projects OPT-IN so the whole process is incremental.
For now not many projects seem to be actively interested in the topic and even if there was voting, results can be anything, given many would just do not care.
Mentioned as one option forward here https://mail.kde.org/pipermail/kde-community/2017q4/004172.html.


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CHATHAM - Margaret "Peg" (Blake) Storer, 95, died peacefully on Sunday, May 6, 2018. She was the wife of the late Alfred C. Storer and the daughter of the late Charles and Edith Blake.
Peg graduated from West Orange High School in New Jersey in 1940 and Katherine Gibbs School in 1943. She later received a B.A. degree from Douglass College in 1974. Peg and Al married in 1943. He predeceased her in 2002. They lived for many years in Mendham Township, NJ, where they raised their family. Peg wrote advertising and publicity for the Morris Museum and Fabricated Plastics and wrote a food column in a weekly newspaper. While living in France from 1963 to 1965, she contributed "Letters from Paris" to the weekly newspaper. In 1998, Peg and Al sold 45 acres to the township to be used for open space. The area is now known as the Cold Hill Preserve.
She moved to Chatham full-time in 2002, where she was active in St. Christopher's Church, the Chatham Writers, and the Atwood House Museum. Since 1968, she was a member of Eastward Ho!, where she played with the 9-hole group.
Peg is survived by five children: Charles, Tobin, Cynthia, Jeffrey, and Meredith; eleven grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. She is also survived by a sister, Joan Purdom, and nephew John Strasburger.
A memorial service will be held at St. Christopher's Church in Chatham, on Saturday, May 19 at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Peg's memory to Chatham Conservation Foundation at chathamconservationfoundation.org. For online condolences, please visit www.nickersonfunerals.com.
Nickerson Funeral Home


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Awaiting the first pages of my novel The Kleptocracy to present themselves, I have faith in these two poems:
She is as a scroll of fervent Thuluth.
Not adorned but is ornamentation
Of Life; flitting through perilous existence.
A Minaret scene through and above the spandrels,
Gilt and wondrous!
(Of Maria Callas)
-unfinished fragment-
Especially sharp in absence while,
Ornamented by the environmental totality, we recline in a slow brooding splendour.
And I saw Maria Callas through a lens, a swaying torrent indistinct and shrouded
the world's last Diva: "very nearly silvery", as a Bel-Canto reprise.
Madness in soft outrages.
Through timeless winters' generation of dull principles
—the delirium of interred ashes wrought with the keen illustrations of antiquated martyrdom—
As the winds inundate, ceaseless impressions,
wiling with indecision, press upon us the shallow theft of carbon remnants;
Her ashes adrift.


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Time: September 20, 2009 from 2pm to 4pm
Location: Lucky Gallery
Street: 176 Richards Street
City/Town: Brooklyn
Website or Map: http://luckygallery.com
Phone: 6174173899
Event Type: workshop
Organized By: Laura Arena
Latest Activity: Sep 10, 2009
Hannah Kasper will be hosting a Lucky Sunday workshop, "Build Your Own Shoebox Theater", Sept 20, from 2-4 pm. Hannah will discuss her influences, including the history of traditional peep boxes, and of our fascination with the miniature. Hannah will demonstrate how to make a simple shoebox theater out of a cardboard box. Everyone is encouraged to make their own.
A shoe box theater is a box that has a hole cut in one side of it (to view into) and another one cut into the top of it (to allow light to come into the box). Inside of the box is usually a still scene or environment that depicts a picture.When viewed through a peephole, perspective is created and it's as though you're looking into a private little world.
Hannah will provide materials but supplies are limited so it's first come first serve. Food and drink will be provided.


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- Events Home
- Clemson Deaf Awareness Week
- Declamation
- Film Festivals
- German Events
- Hispanic Series
- Italian Summit
- X L&IH Symposium
- Special Events
The contest is open to students regularly enrolled in middle and high school language courses. Students may compete only in languages and levels for courses in which they are currently enrolled (except for Native Level where students do not have to be currently enrolled in a course--see below). In the case of block scheduling, a student who has completed a language course in the spring (e.g. Level II) and who is not currently enrolled in that language may compete at the level most recently completed.
LANGUAGE - Contest competitions are offered in the following languages: American Sign Language, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish.
These categories include Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Latin, Russian and Spanish.
Entrants must specify their Language, Level, and Class, as described below, except for students with native language speaking ability. Native speakers, regardless of their year level in school or in a foreign language class, must compete in the "Native" category AND must recite Level IV poems.
LEVEL - This indicates the year level of the foreign language course the student is enrolled in.
CLASS - This indicates experience.
NATIVE CATEGORY - Students at ANY language level, who have a speaking proficiency equivalent to that of a native speaker, must enroll in the Native Category AND recite Level IV poems. This is regardless of their year in school or their year in a foreign language class. Native entrants must be current middle or high school students, but not necessarily enrolled in a language course.
CLASS A: Students of ASL and CODAs (children of deaf adults) who are not fluent.
CLASS B: Native ASL users and CODAs with proficiency equivalent to native users.
Teachers should make a careful distinction among Classes A, B, and Native categories.
Students may be disqualified if, in the opinion of the judges, they are in the wrong level or class.
If there are questions, please call 864-656-2852 or e-mail Su-I Chen (email@example.com).
1. Each participant will recite two selections from memory:
(1) The Mandatory Selection and
(2) a Second Selection chosen from the other three selections given.
IMPORTANT: No change or variation of the text as given will be accepted. Students must recite the selections as they are posted.
2. An attempt will be made to place students of the same teacher into different contest groups. However, this placement is not always possible and students of the same teacher may compete against each other. The placement into contests is dependent upon the number of students registered for a level.
3. A prompter will be available in each contest room and will be seated near the front of the room. Contestants should check with the Contest Room Supervisor as to the exact location of the prompter as they enter the contest room to recite their poems. Contestants should signal the prompter (for example, by looking at him/her) if they need help.
4. Contestants in the same contest will not be permitted to hear other contestants reciting the Mandatory Selection. Contestants may, however, listen to their competing peers' Second Selection.
5. Teachers, parents, and friends of the contestants are invited to join the audience in the contest rooms, but we do ask that no one enter or leave a room while a recitation is in progress. Please remember, however, that contestants in the same contest will not be permitted to hear other contestants reciting the Mandatory Selection. Contestants may, however, listen to their competing peers' Second Selection.
6. Judges base their decision on pronunciation, interpretation of text, smoothness of delivery and textural accuracy. All results are final.
Scoring for ASL Poems
7. First, second and third place prizes will be awarded at the discretion of the judges. Prizes will be presented at the Awards Ceremony which follows the completion of all contests (approximately 1:30 p.m. in Tillman Hall Auditorium).
8. Use of Props: Props of any kind are not permitted. Singing is also prohibited. While the use of gestures is permitted, they should not detract from the presentation of the poem.
9. Hallway noise and congestion: Please remind your students, their parents and yourselves to refrain from talking or congregating in the hallways while the contest is in session. We want to ensure that noise does not interfere with the contestants' recitations or the judges' ability to hear them. We are planning on designating rooms on the different floors as waiting rooms for parents, teachers and students who have finished their recitations. Once students have completed both selections, please arrange to meet your students in the designated waiting areas so that we can keep the hallways free of noise and congestion.


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MS Azure Fundamentals (Course 1)
January 6 - January 7
Two days from 8:30am–4:30pm.
During this course, you will be introduced to the principles of cloud computing and will become familiar how these principles have been implemented in Microsoft Azure. You will walk through the process of implementing the core Azure infrastructure, consisting of virtual networks and storage and learn how to create the most common Azure services, including Azure virtual machines (VMs), Web Apps, and SQL Databases. You will conclude the course by describing features of Azure AD and methods of integrating it with on-premises Active Directory.
For more information or to register, contact Autumn Becker.


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Fates & Fortunes
What's your fate?
Send it to Melanie M. Clarke, editorial assistant, Broadcasting & Cable (e-mail: firstname.lastname@example.com; fax: 646-746-7028; mail: 360 Park Ave. South, New York, NY 10010).
Broadcast TV
At KPIX San Francisco: Stephanie Nelson, sales assistant, KBHK San Francisco, joins as account executive, new business development team; Russell Garcia,
director/technical director, KLAS Las Vegas, named studio operations technician.
At KPTV/KPDX Portland, Ore.: Michael Brostek, general sales manager, WNEM Saginaw, Mich., joins in the same capacity; Patrick McCreery, assistant news director, KPTV, promoted to news director.
Robert Hayes, VP, new media, Showtime Networks, New York, promoted to senior VP.
Matthew Palmer, VP, strategic marketing, Discovery Communications Inc., New York, named senior VP, marketing, Disney Channel, Burbank, Calif.
Kevin M. Egan, VP, finance, MSNBC, Secaucus, N.J., named VP/chief financial officer, CNBC/CNBC International, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.
At Hallmark Channel, Los Angeles: Sean McCreary, director, creative services, promoted to VP; Leslie Len, senior manager, on-air promotion and creative services, promoted to director, creative services.
At CMT, Nashville, Tenn.: Suzanne Norman, accounting manager, CBS Cable, Nashville, named VP, finance; Sarah Brock, director, program development and production, promoted to VP, production.
Paul Iaffaldano, senior VP, national sales and advertising product development, TWC media solutions group, The Weather Channel, Atlanta, named executive VP/general manager.
Farley Lafferty, president/ founder, Forte Services, San Diego, joins The Inspiration Networks, Charlotte, N.C., as director, print and new media production.
Edward Printz, division president, The MasterLink Group, Dallas-Fort Worth, appointed VP, network operations, Houston Regional Sports Network, Houston.
Adriana Varela, promoted from morning anchor to main evening anchor, KUVS Sacramento, Calif.
Michael Hill, morning anchor, KTVT Dallas, joins WGNO New Orleans, as co-anchor, 5 and 6 p.m. weekday newscasts and 10 p.m. weeknight newscast.
Candra McGee, reporter/fill-in anchor, KMID Midland, Texas, joins KCEN Temple, Texas, in the same capacity.
Rex D. Conklin, manager, broadcast media, Sears, Roebuck and Co., Hoffman Estates, Ill., named corporate media director, Univision Radio, Chicago.
Advertising/Marketing/ PR
Bob Curcuruto, VP/controller, WCBS New York, and senior VP, Viacom station sales, Westinghouse Electric (Group W)/Viacom, New York, named chief financial officer, National Cable Communications, New York.
Marc Grossmann, senior press manager, NBC, Burbank, Calif., named senior director, Pryor & Associates LLC, Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Allied Fields
Roger Miller, senior director, performing rights, BMI, New York, promoted to assistant VP.
Paula A. Kerger, executive VP/COO, Educational Broadcasting Corp., New York, named vice chair, board of trustees, American Public Television, Boston.
Ross Becker, news anchor, KTNV Las Vegas, elected representative, board of directors, The Associated Press Television and Radio Association, Nevada and California.


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tests: Use temporary file for known_hosts
Previously, the tests were sharing the same file path to create the
known_hosts file, which can create a race condition if the tests run in
parallel. Such file was deleted between tests.
By using different different files for each test, the risk of race
conditions is eliminated. Moreover, it makes unnecessary to destroy the
file between tests.
Signed-off-by: Anderson Toshiyuki Sasaki <email@example.com>
Reviewed-by: Andreas Schneider <firstname.lastname@example.com>


text:
Insects and other foods the trout may be eating:
1. Blue-winged Olives
2. Great Brown Autumn Sedge
3. Slate Drakes
4. Little Yellow Quills
5. Needle Stoneflies
6. Crane Flies
7. Helligramite
8. Streamers - matching sculpin, baitfish and small crawfish
9. Midges
New - Old Flies
Continuing on from yesterday's article about the new Streams Section of our
Perfect Fly website, I thought we would mention and show some of the new to the
site, old standard flies we have added. I probably know as little as anyone that has
ever fly fished about the history of various fly patterns, so this will be short. We
recently added several standard, generic, attractor type flies to our store simply to
accommodate those that want to use them and to show that our prices are as low
as anyone that sells flies.
The Bitch Creek:
All I can determine for certain about this fly, is that the
Bitch Creek
was originated in
Montana. Some say it was designed to imitate the Little Brown Stonefly and others
say it isn't suppose to imitate something good to eat. That is close to the definition
of an "attractor" fly, so I guess that is what it is. There are still some of them in one
of my original fly boxes that I have had for a few years and I really don't think I have
ever used one. It is a woven fly pattern, which is not the easiest to tie fly there is, so
our price of $.79 each (no shipping) should be a very good price for this fly.
Elk Hair Caddis:
Mr. Al Troth, a very famous Dillion, Montana guide and commercial fly tier came up
with the
Elk Hair Caddis
. It is probably the most famous of all caddisfly patterns. I
have used them and will go so far as to say that if they are used at the right time
and place, they can be effective. They work better in fast moving water than
moderate to slow moving water. We have them in several colors (yellow, green,
brown, olive, tan and black) and hook sizes of 14, 16 and 18. They are only $.79
each delivered right to your front door.
Royal Trude:
Royal Trude
is a modification of the famous Royal Coachman Wet fly. It was
originated for grayling and trout but has been used for about everything that swims
at one time or another. No sense in me repeating the $.79 price, since all of the
flies I will mention in this article are that same low price, and again that is delivered,
mind you.
Royal Coachman Wet Fly:
Yes, we have the original one, the
Royal Coachman Wet
also. There doesn't
appear to be very much difference in it and the Royal Trude as far as I can tell,
except that one is a dry fly and the other a wet fly. I did fish with a gentleman from
Knoxville that caught several trout on the North River on this fly a few years ago, so
I am aware that they can fool a hungry trout.
We have added several new, old midge flies to the lineup, such as the Brassie,
Serendipity, Disco Midge, WD 40 and others. I will get into the other new old flies in
the upcoming articles. Meantime, if any of you want to help me out and add some
information about any of these new old flies, please let me hear from you.
If you want to use the very best flies available, then you should try our Perfect Flies.
Copyright 2009 James Marsh
Click Here For:
Chart with Fly Selection
Flies You Need
Flies You Need


text:
Dear Editor:
Our family is so very grateful for the support of our friends and neighbors as we mourned the loss of and celebrated the life of Julius.
To all those who helped in so many ways, we thank you for your thoughtful gestures, kind words, delicious food, beautiful flowers and heartfelt prayers.
With sincere appreciation,
The Family of Julius Poole


text:
1735 Market Street43rd FloorPhiladelphia, PA 19103
firstname.lastname@example.com office
SpecialtiesAsset Management
EducationB.E. in Electrical EngineeringCity College of New York
Professional Designations or LicensesChartered Financial Analyst (CFA)
Started with PFM: 2012
Started in the Field: 1986
Dr. Biagio Manieri joined PFM in 2012 as the director of research. He has more than 30 years of experience in economics research, finance and investment management. In 2018, Biagio expanded his responsibilities to become PFM's Global Chief Multi-Asset Class Strategist.
In his current role, he is responsible for leading PFM's economic and capital markets research. As chair of the Multi-Asset Class Investment Committee, he leads the discretionary investment management of clients' multi-asset class, multi-manager portfolios. Biagio is also responsible for leading PFM's thought leadership, writing white papers and presenting at investor conferences.
Prior to joining PFM, Biagio was the Investment Officer at the Federal Reserve overseeing the investment management of over $13 billion in defined benefit and defined contribution plan assets. He reported to the Federal Reserve's Investment Committee, consisting of Federal Reserve Presidents and Board of Governors. He was responsible for setting the asset allocation of the pension plans and oversaw a team of manager due diligence analysts. Prior to his tenure at the Federal Reserve, he was a portfolio manager and investment analyst at several asset management firms, including Lord Abbett & Co., FP Asset Management, Inc., and Goldman Sachs & Co.
Biagio graduated summa cum laude from the City College of the City University of New York. He went on to receive a doctorate from Columbia University, where he also taught for five years from 1991 to 1996.
PFM Asset Management LLC
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text:
Faithful Mercies
Isa 55:1-9; Lk 13:1-9[1]
I think most people at one time or another will run headlong into the question, "God, how could you let that happen?" Usually it is in the context of something like your worst nightmare coming true. Whether it's the loss of a child, or the loss of a marriage, or some tragedy on a broader scale than the individual, I think at one time or another we will all face that troubling question. It is a natural thing to ask when you're in the depths of despair. After all, if God is truly infinite, truly beyond all that we can comprehend, it would only seem reasonable to assume that God has the ability to prevent tragedies from happening. For some, this becomes proof positive that there must not be a God, since the world is full of tragedies both individual and widespread, from Holocaust gas chambers to genocide in Rwanda, from the tsunami in Myanmar to the earthquake in Haiti.
This seems to be what was on the minds those who approached Jesus to ask him about a tragedy that apparently affected them deeply. Although our Gospel lesson doesn't spell it out, I think we have to assume that they were troubled by this tragedy—the Roman Governor Pilate had not only executed some of their friends and neighbors, but also had desecrated their sacrifices. It would seem that what troubled them were questions about God's character. "Couldn't God have prevented this from happening?" "If so, why didn't God prevent it?"
Jesus' answer is a strange one, to put it mildly. He implies that they assumed the victims of that tragedy must have committed some horrible sins, whether publicly or in secret. That approach to God and tragedy was a traditional way of looking at things for the Jewish people, and it still is for many people of all faiths. If a tragedy befalls you, but I'm spared, you must be a "worse sinner" than me! But Jesus explodes the foolishness behind that assumption. One of the hard truths of life in this world is that tragedies simply happen. "Bad Things Happen to Good People," to borrow the title of Rabbi Harold Kushner's book. All the time, in fact. So letting God off the hook by "blaming the victim" just doesn't work.[2] At first glance it would seem that Jesus doesn't even address their question at all. It would seem that they come to him questioning God's justice, and Jesus responds by rather bluntly reminding them that everyone must stand before a holy and just God someday, where God will do the questioning![3]
But in fact, I would say that Jesus does give an answer of sorts in the parable that follows. It is a story about a farmer and a fig tree. Now this probably wasn't a single-crop farmer, like many we have in this country. This farmer probably owned a piece of land and grew several crops—in that day and time, probably some kind of grain, a variety of fruit trees, probably an olive grove and a vineyard. But water and soil were precious commodities, so the farmer checked the crops regularly to ensure that they were producing as they should. Apparently this particular fig tree was not. So the farmer tells the hired hand to cut it down. But the "vine-dresser" urged patience, promising to fertilize and cultivate it yet another year.
On the surface, it would seem fairly straightforward, as parables go. But the question this parable raises is where we find God in the story.[4] Do we see God reflected in the farmer who has every right to expect that the crops planted make good use of the soil and water invested in them, and demands that the tree be cut down? Or do we see God reflected in the worker tending the vineyard, who urges patience and promises to pay special attention to cultivate the tree and try to make it fruitful? To some extent, perhaps Jesus was trying to illustrate for us the truth that God is found in both. When we hear of tragedy that makes us wonder what someone must have done to deserve such heart break, Jesus urges us to remember that God has a right to expect us all to be the kind of people and live the kind of lives that we were meant for.
But when we hear of tragedy so terrible that it makes us question the goodness and mercy of God, Jesus reminds that God's mercy is never failing, God's goodness is inexhaustible, God's compassion never gives up on us. God doesn't "send" tragedies into our lives to punish us. God is the one who is always working to bring good out of evil, always working to bring life out of death.[5] God is the one who, even when dealing with those who are wayward, says, "come to me, you who have no money, come, buy and eat," "listen to me and your soul will delight in the richest of food," "come to me, that your soul may live" (Isa. 55:1-3).[6]
During this season of Lent we've been looking at what it means to take the steps of faith. It is important to confess "Jesus is Lord" for Christian faith because it is the first step toward moving out of the prison of our own selfishness.[7] And it is important to embrace faith because it enables us to move out of the essential hopelessness of our world and into the joy and freedom of God's hopeful future.[8] When we struggle with faith in a world that can be heartbreaking, Jesus reminds us that God is the one who is with us in all our tragedy and our pain, sustaining us with mercies that are always faithful.[9]
[1] © 2010 Alan Brehm. A sermon preached by Rev. Dr. Alan Brehm on 3/7/10 at First Presbyterian Church, Dickinson, TX and at A Community of the Servant-Savior Presbyterian Church, Houston, TX.
[2] See Barbara Brown Taylor, "Life Giving Fear," The Christian Century (March 4, 1998): 229.
[3] Jesus was pointing out that "it is … God who questions the questioner" (cf.
E. Schweizer, Good News According to Luke, 219).
[4] In a very real sense, Charles Hedrick, in "An Unfinished Story about a Fig Tree in a Vineyard," Perspectives in Religious Studies 26 (Summer, 1999): 169-192, suggests the parable takes a "secular" approach to tragedy. He views the farmer and the "vinter" as incompetent at cultivating fig trees, the one through faulty judgment and the other through neglect. From this perspective, he suggests that the point of the parable is "as long as there is life, there is hope."
[5] Cf. Barbara Brown Taylor, "Life Giving Fear", 229: "for those of us who have discovered that we cannot make life safe nor God tame," Jesus' answer "is gospel enough." She continues, "What we can do is turn our faces to the light. That way, whatever befalls us, we will fall the right way."
[6] Cf. Tom Long, "Breaking and Entering," The Christian Century (March 7, 2001):11. He interprets this Gospel text in light of the previous context in Luke, where Jesus chides the people for their inability to read the signs of the in-breaking Kingdom of God. He says, "the sign of the times, the clue to the breaking in of God's reign" is "not the Hale-Bopp Comet, not invaders from space, not Clinton as King Belshazzar redux, not wars or rumors of war, but instead the gracious and patient hand that reaches out to halt the ax, the merciful gesture woven into the fabric of life that stays all that would give up on the barren and the broken, the merciful voice that says, 'Let's give this hopeless case one more year.'" Cf. also James A. Sanders, "Expository Article: Isaiah 55:1-9," Interpretation 32 (July, 1978): 291-95, who reminds us that the setting for this lavish banquet in antiquity would have been a celebration of the enthronement of a new king (i.e., in this case God!).
[7] See Thomas Merton, New Seeds of Contemplation, 38: "To be 'lost' is to be left to the arbitrariness and pretenses of the contingent ego, the smoke-self that must inevitably vanish. To be 'saved' is to return to one's inviolate and eternal reality and to live in God."
[8] See Walter Brueggemann, Genesis, 145, where he says that faith means "to trust God's future and to live assured of that future even in the deathly present." See also Jürgen Moltmann, Theology of Hope, 31-32: "Where in faith and hope we begin to live in the light of the possibilities and promises of this God, the whole fullness of life discloses itself as … a life to be loved."
[9] Moltmann, Theology of Hope, 24-25: "Neither in presumption nor in despair does there lie the power to renew life, but only in the hope that is enduring and sure." It would seem to me that the "faithful mercies" of God are the only true ground for that kind of faith and hope.


text:
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text:
Stefanie Galvin says
I love these games, Casey! I may have to borrow some of these ideas for my Numeracy Rotations with my preps! Thanks for the fabulous ideas!
Lauren Kuhn says
Hi Casey,
I love your lolly jar game – so cute! I downloaded a few freebie playdough mats to use in my Maths rotations. Both sets show the numeral, one shows the matching number of pictures (cars, cupcakes etc.) while the other shows dots. I like your idea of a ten frame too!!
Claire Heyne says
Hi, I love rotations too. You are using some great games, I may have to borrow some and change up for my 1/2s.
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