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Tomorrow: Michigan State vs. Stanford in the granddaddy of all them bowls, the Rose Parade from Pasadena, and lots of good snacks and candy thanks to Santa's bounty (and Wisconsin Cheese Company). Headlong we dive into a new one of those things called a "year." Ready or not, a new, clean page in the calendar to make promises to ourselves about change we know simply are too unrealistic to achieve. I am going to lose weight. I am. Really. I am. I even have a plan to start dieting…Continue Reading
A Gallup poll was released in early December that asked Americans to rank professions they believe are the most honest and trustworthy. The top profession was nurses with 85% saying they are very honest – 15% above doctors who scored 70%. Not surprisingly at the bottom of the list were members of Congress with 10%. Even bankers, journalists (yes, journalists), business executives, lawyers, stock brokers, and advertisers all ranked higher than members of Congress. The only profession…Continue Reading
You know Nostradamus. The reputed seer living in 1500s France published a collection of prophecies that have since become famous. Of course, most folks attribute any resemblance of Nostradamus predictions to real life happenings as tenuous at best, but still, his often cryptic predictions have captured the imaginations of many. Well, in the spirit of the infamous seer, I have looked long and hard into my own pastures for inspiration, hoping to make predictions for the coming year that are just…Continue Reading
In November, I was stopped at a railroad crossing in Leeds, N.D., as a mile-long oil train roared by. I wondered then when a North Dakota would have an oil train disaster like the one in Quebec. It didn't take long. An oil train collided with a derailed grain train outside of Casselton, N.D. on Dec. 30 and several of the oil tankers exploded. The oil is still burning a day after the collision and the town of Casselton is evacuated. Fortunately, the accident occurred about ½ mile…Continue Reading
Well. It's the end of 2013. And while many of my social media and blogger friends are posting fabulous lists highlighting the highs and lows of 2013 and all that they wish to happen in 2014, I have but two things I'd like to see happen in 2014: 1/ Normal weather. Seriously. Is it asking so much to plant in April, spray in June, have nice rainfall and heat units through the summer and a harvest that starts in September and ends in October, with a lovely November for tillage and tiling…Continue Reading
After a little more than a year of marriage, I happened upon one of the sweetest deals ever. Unfortunately, my wife didn't think it was so sweet. A coworker was moving to Chicago. In the process, he was clearing out his garage, i.e. he was selling all of his tools. Rather than have a garage sale, he needed to get rid of this stuff fast. I was definitely interested. One Saturday, I borrowed dad's truck and headed over to his house. Several years of suburban living meant he…Continue Reading
As hokey as this sounds, I have feelings for machinery. Maybe some farmers can relate. You've got this favorite, dependable, sentimentally-valued tractor or implement in your machinery shed. It's not efficient or fast anymore at all. Yet, you hang onto it because you share some history. It has been there for you through the seasons. It's been reliable. It's your go-to bud and you feel secure in how it operates. When it needs repairs, they are basic. Tweaks are done with what…Continue Reading
I was a youngster during the 1950s on our farm in northeast Nebraska. I hold no special memories of 1956, although my father did buy a blue 1956 Chevy, a car I wished I had today. I bring up that particular year because during a noon break in our small office library recently I happened to pull from the shelves the 1956 bound volume of Nebraska Farmer. I lost track of time leafing through the pages, reading about Nebraska agriculture trends and issues the staff reported on back then. It's…Continue Reading
What would you like to happen around your farm and in your community during the New Year? Here are a few ideas. Even though I mainly raise sheep, I've thrown in a few ideas of my own too. The caution word for this list probably should be to be careful what you wish for. If some of these things really happened, things might not turn out as rosy as you might think. And it's quite possible that maybe one or two of these things will happen. One. The fertilizer dealer calls you up and…Continue Reading
Has anybody else noticed that time goes faster and faster the older you get? My 6-year-old grandson just said, "Grandma, you know what? It is 363 days until next Christmas. If I got a calendar big enough to hold all the days, how tall would it be?" When I was his age, it seemed that Christmases were far, far apart. Now, I think that maybe 363 days is enough time to actually get everything done if I start right now. I have to admit that Christmas is my absolutely favorite time of…Continue Reading
At least once in your life, you've probably been struck by the awesome beauty of a simple tree. A couple weeks ago, my wife and I were stopped in our tracks by such a tree – naturally flocked by wintery white flakes. We in agriculture are blessed with many such moments for reveling in nature's beauty. That's one of the most awesome benefits of rural America – if we take the time. Yes, I know some of you may be groaning, especially after surviving two or three…Continue Reading
As I sat Christmas Eve in an emergency veterinary hospital, I could not help but wonder how we, as farmers, get ourselves into these situations? It all started back in October when I wrote the blog Don't Worry, The Farmer Will Care For Your Abandoned Dog. Yes, there was a stray dog. This time a black lab broke our perimeter woven-wire fencing system. He interacted with our 7-year-old chocolate lab. Now, our farm family sits in an emergency veterinary hospital the day before Christmas. Our…Continue Reading
The Association of Equipment Manufacturers releases a monthly report of equipment sales offering some insight into how the market is doing. The November report released earlier this month shows that 2013 was an even better year - overall - than 2012. And given that 2012 was strong that's saying something. As the year comes to a close (that Section 179 tax benefit expires next Tuesday), farmers may be scrambling to take delivery of new machines, which will make the December report even more…Continue Reading
Two of the top political stories in Iowa in 2013 have implications for agriculture. They also signal the importance of the 2014 elections come fall, despite the new year being an "off year" for the political process—no Iowa caucuses, no presidential election. The top two political stories are: Tom Harkin is retiring from the U.S. Senate and Tom Latham is retiring from the U.S. House. These two open seats will cause a ripple effect. First, long-time U.S. Senator Tom Harkin, a…Continue Reading
If you were anywhere near social media earlier this month, there's a good chance you saw a blog post by "Dairy Carrie" floating around. It was titled, "Sometimes we are mean to our cows," and it detailed all the reasons a bovine might go down, and what a farmer might have to do (and why) in order to help her back to her feet. Complete with photos. Along with about 300,000 other people who visited her blog to read about downed cows, I read it and thought it was so well…Continue Reading
Christmas is barely over and the New Year is rounding the corner. These holidays always seem to go by so fast, and it seems as though some companies want to make it go by even faster. All through December seed representatives have been calling the house nonstop to ask, "Have you bought all your seed yet? We've got some really good deals!" Sheilah: I get really frustrated with this. One company in particular called the house at least once a day for a week. Of course, they'd…Continue Reading
I don't know how many of you will be traveling over the holiday season. Our family will be home for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, but over the school Christmas break, we will be traveling at least a little to see family. This is quite an undertaking. Honestly, we don't travel with our whole clan very often. Logistics become a problem, because our little guy still doesn't care to sit more than about an hour in his car seat, unless he is sleeping. This has been a common…Continue Reading
Yes, Virginia, there was a John Lennon who wrote "So This is Christmas" as an inspiration to us all, and with a grim footnote to us all. The gun that took Lennon from us was one of the early shots that have so ravaged our society since, and if we were to take a minute to commemorate all of the gun deaths over the past 20 years, the world would indeed be silent tonight. Don't get me wrong. Owning guns is a right, but we must remember the responsibility that comes with this power…Continue Reading
Take a break from worrying about whether you'll make a profit next year, how to zap marestail or waterhemp and all that important stuff, and think back over some of your Christmas memories. Those are the good times. They last a lifetime. One of mine is visiting the late Dave Buck's farm a few days before Christmas many years ago. Back in those days, the youth group from the local church put on a live nativity scene. Only it wasn't at the church – it was in Dave's old…Continue Reading
Used to be, when somebody would hit you with the remark: "Were you born in a barn?!", you were supposed to be offended. Not me. No, I wasn't born in a barn – but not far from one. I'd turn it around and ask: "So what's your problem? Got something against being born in a barn?" Think about it. Most of the finest animals you and I have raised were born there. And, the most influential baby to come to the earth was laid in a manger – presumably in…Continue Reading
I first met Missouri's new department of agriculture director, Richard Fordyce, back in 2008 on his farm outside of Bethany. That year the agriculture industry was at the height of the food versus fuel debate. He was one of hundreds of farmers across the state, straddling the economic fence. While his grain crops were experiencing a boom in price, his cattle operation was suffering due to high feed costs. At that time, he was also battling rising crop input costs. Standing in his fields…Continue Reading
North Dakota soybean farmers are in the Christmas mood. The North Dakota Soybean Council donated more than 200 SoySilk Plush Pals to children in Fargo, Bismarck and Grand Forks, N.D., hospitals this week. Plush Pals are stuffed animals made from SoySilk – a brand of fiber made from the waste produced during the manufacture of tofu from soybeans. "Tis the season of generosity and the North Dakota Soybean Council wanted to take the opportunity to brighten the holidays for young ones…Continue Reading
I have many fond memories of Christmas seasons growing up on the farm and since. I'm sure you do as well. One of my favorites is when we were raising sheep a few years ago. We had hung a lighted star in the gable end of the sheep barn as a Christmas decoration. During December and January I usually left a small light on in the barn in case a ewe decided to lamb. One evening, shortly before Christmas, after chores I stood and looked back at the sheep barn. The ground was…Continue Reading
This fall, I had the privilege of visiting an Iowa farm family that has taken sustainability to a new level. Dean and Betty Van Kooten, who raise corn and soybeans near Kellogg, Iowa, added pigs to the operation when their youngest son Joey came back to the farm. Building two hog barns was a way for Joey and his wife, Michelle to come back to the farm and build equity. However, hog buildings use a lot of electricity. To improve the overall sustainability of the farm and offset 100% of the…Continue Reading
Here were are once again in the final week before Christmas, and those guys who have been watching football and relaxing in their Lazy Boys are out in the mall looking lost and bewildered. It's time to grab those red boxes with the pretty ribbon, no matter what perfume they contain, and to decide a desktop marble game is just what she wants. I love to sit in Starbuck's at the shopping center at this time of the year and enjoy the crowds. Everyone is really filled with the…Continue Reading
In response to listener demand (Ok, in response to Emily's husband, who is, technically, a listener), we've made our podcasts shorter. Last week, I posted the first half of this podcast and here, without further ado, is the second half. Topics include but are not limited to: weather, normalcy, grief, weather, Christmas stockings, Andy Stanley, weather, cream sauce and fleece. So you know, lots of things that really go together. Here are a few links that may make what we talk about…Continue Reading
I just returned from one of the University of Nebraska Extension landlord and tenant workshops presented by UNL Extension educators, Allan Vyhnalek at Platte County and Tim Lemmons at Madison County. I have attended these workshops before, but each and every time I attend, I learn something new and useful. There were several themes that resonated at this session, but something that kept coming up was the importance for tenants to build trust and nurture a quality business relationship…Continue Reading
More than $2 million has been donated by more than 4,000 individuals, organizations and businesses to the Rancher Relief Fund to help those who lost livestock in the early October blizzard. Dec. 31 is the deadline for applying to receive aid – or for nominating someone to receive aid. Any producer within or adjacent to the blizzard area is eligible to receive aid. There is no cut off or disqualification for age or percentage of herd lost. Producers who lost any species of livestock…Continue Reading
I am a big man. The entrance to my crawlspace where the pressure tank for my submersible water pump is located is not a big opening. And, I'm 60 years old. I'm not as nimble as I once was. So I had decided that I never intended to go under the house myself again. I would get someone else to do it. Well, as luck would have it, a recent Tuesday was one of those days I should have stayed in bed. The Internet that I depend on for work quit working, I dropped a chain to the dog pen in the…Continue Reading
This past weekend I sat through yet another talk on hay waste. This is not my first time hearing about the profit-robbing problem for livestock producers in the Midwest. However, every time Justin Sexten, University of Missouri beef nutritionist, offers solutions to the problem, livestock producers are slow to put them into practice. And by producers, I mean myself. Sexten constantly informs livestock producers that how they feed hay in the winter months will determine how much money they will…Continue Reading
The Iowa Supreme Court has upheld Iowa's hunting laws with a ruling last week that says just because someone owns land in Iowa it doesn't mean they have a right to hunt on it. In a decision handed down on December 6 the court said Iowa's laws that provide hunting advantages to permanent residents do not violate the constitutional rights of nonresident landowners. Three men who own land in Iowa but have permanent homes in other states challenged Iowa's hunting laws as…Continue Reading
There were a lot yields in the 70s and 80s in 2013 South Dakota Soybean Yield Contest. Winners were announced this week at the South Dakota Soybean Association annual meeting. Huron Colony, Huron, S.D., won first place overall with 88.75 bushels per acre. The entry was in the Group II or III maturity irrigated division. The variety was Integra 22410. Joey Waldner, who accepted the award, said they did a lot of work on the field. The colony applied lots of fertilizer…Continue Reading
Over the last few years, I've attended many farm meetings covering U.S. EPA's plan to clean up the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed tributaries. Those regulatory plans were always couched as friendly partnerships with state agencies, soil and water conservation districts, and Natural Resources Conservation Service. But if you cut through EPA's muddy techno-bureaucratic jargon, you'll discover that it's not only very unfriendly; It is hostile and threatening to all of…Continue Reading
This hasn't been an easy post to write. For myself and many others from Creston and the southwest Iowa region, last week was an emotional one. Part of me is still in shock after learning the Saturday after Thanksgiving that T.J. and Nate Frey, 11 and 9 respectively, passed away. They were exploring on their family's farm in Adams County when they tragically fell through the ice on a pond and drowned. This was one of the same ponds two of their older brothers, Casey, Brandon, myself…Continue Reading
Thanksgiving week I was taking a long walk with some visitors to our farm -- nothing like a stroll through the woods and pastures to relieve the sins of the dinner table. Along the way I was pointing out some of the tree species I have planted over the last 35 years or so. A half an hour into it, my brother-in-law commented, "I didn't know you such an arborist." I never thought of myself as such, but in fact I have planted at least 700 trees during that time. Perhaps…Continue Reading
One of the great things about being editor of Kansas Farmer is the opportunity to take my "city kid" grandchildren along when a trip promises to offer some excellent education about Kansas agriculture. This week, I took Jaime, almost 9, and Michele, just-turned 8, on a trip to see a feedyard, meet some top-notch FFA leaders, visit a dairy and make a stop to check on cotton harvest – two days of education about some pretty diverse aspects of Kansas agriculture. Going…Continue Reading
It was one of the largest Nebraska Cattlemen conventions in years, and a big reason was the association's celebration of its 125 years of representing Nebraska cattle producers. NC enlisted a lineup of thought-provoking speakers during the three-day event and I sat through several of them. It was a time of reminiscing about past leaders, events and changes in the industry, of debating present-day issues and looking ahead to challenges. Nebraska's largest ag sector knows how to put on…Continue Reading
Well. Some eight weeks ago, we rolled out our first Confessions of a Farmwife podcast - a little chatfest between central Illinois farmwives DeAnna Thomas, Emily Webel and myself, as we gathered around Emily's kitchen counter. We had plans to make it a regular event. And then harvest happened. And a heartbreaking loss in the Webel family. And then Thanksgiving. And field work. And now Christmas is upon us. So, we decided we needed to get together if for no other reason than the…Continue Reading
We're getting down to the nitty gritty – only 14 shopping days before Christmas Day. Holly Spangler put together a nice list of gift ideas for a farmer. I'd like to add to that list by giving you a farm buyer's guide for tablets. In case you haven't noticed, tablets are one of the fastest growing segment of technology right now. They bridge the gap between the smartphone and full-on pc (laptop or desktop) perfectly. There are three main operating…Continue Reading
If you have wondered about the workings of the University of Minnesota Extension, now is a good time to consider gaining an inside edge and helping shape Extension's future. Nominations are currently open for positions on Extension's statewide Citizen's Advisory Committee. The CAC meets twice yearly, during State Fair week and in mid-winter. After the State Fair meeting, committee members have the option of attending the fair in the evening and watching the current 4-H Arts show…Continue Reading
If you average the extreme drought and heat of 2012 and the wetter, cooler summer of 2013 together, you might get a "normal" year. It isn't that unusual to have good crops following a year of extreme drought. While much of the state was still drier than normal this season, almost every farmer would agree that it certainly was cooler than a year ago, and most portions of the state received at least a few timely rains. It seems we are easily lulled into the idea that every…Continue Reading
It's that time of year when you wake up pre-dawn, put on five layers of clothing – and enough orange to be legal, then go look for the elusive deer. The first week is over and neither of us got anything, or did we? Sheilah: People ask me all the time: "Why do you like to hunt?" Well, it's certainly not because I like to freeze my butt off all day. I get more out of hunting than just shooting a deer. It's all about the memories. Mike: I, on the other hand…Continue Reading
Farmers love diesel tractors and combines, they have the torque needed to get the job done, and they're essentially more economical than gasoline engines might be in the same application. But what about cars? The arrival of common rail diesel technology in commercial applications has been a boon to users of these high-tech engines. As I think about my trip to Germany for Agritechnica one thought comes to mind, and it wasn't from the show. It came from the few days I spent after the…Continue Reading
If you know anyone connected to Ripley's Believe it or Not, you might want to clip this one out and send it to them. I'm not sure I believe it. There's one other caveat before you laugh at me. All those who have left a coat or jacket and had to go back and get it, raise your hands. Anyone with their hands down can go read another item, because you'll never believe this! I recently attended a major rollout of a new food and health corridor to bring those types of businesses to…Continue Reading
I should be writing about the dramatic change in the weather from sunny and 75 degrees F last weekend to 7 degrees F wind chill and inches of snow today. However, I would rather write about the dramatic change in the football program at the University of Missouri-Columbia. It is a lot more exciting and positive subject. It was just one year ago that many of Missouri's so-called "faithful" questioned the move by MU to the SEC. But just like our state's famous weather, if…Continue Reading
Like a sea-sweeping lighthouse beacon , the warning light is similar to Thanksgiving Day, sending out the alarm that unless you get thee to a mall, your Christmas will crash and burn. When Christmas silver bells ring, you had better be tired out every night from fighting the Black Friday- hardened veterans of the shopping center, who will steal your parking spot from right in front of your Suzuki, and push you away from the last red sweater in large at Macy's. Yesterday…Continue Reading
If you average the extreme drought and heat of 2012 and the wetter, cooler summer of 2013 together, you might get a "normal" year. It isn't that unusual to have good crops following a year of extreme drought. While much of the state was still drier than normal this season, almost every farmer would agree that it certainly was cooler than a year ago, and most portions of the state received at least a few timely rains. It seems we are easily lulled into the idea that every growing…Continue Reading
Twenty years ago, I asked God for a Christmas gift like no other. Regardless if He granted me this gift, I made a promise that I would continue a tradition I started that year from that point forward. This was a whopper of a gift – one I knew only God could fill. Earlier that year, my husband and I had learned we were expecting our first child. I was 20-something, fit as a fiddle with no health issues whatsoever. So, when the doctor asked if I wanted to have this blood screening test…Continue Reading
Marketing has reached a new level. The local news stations continue to report on stories that border on privacy invasion when it comes to retailer behavior. For instance, there was the story about Target sending a young high-school teenager coupons for diapers because the store was able to recognize her purchases were prenatal in nature. Of course, her parents didn't know and it led to a bit of outrage. (Why she hadn't shared this new with her parents is a bit concerning to…Continue Reading
I heard an interesting discussion the other day at the Northern Ag Expo in Fargo, N.D., about how new seed traits aren't getting approved as fast as they used to. It used to take 1-2 years to get new an okay to sell new seed traits. Now it takes 3-4 years to win approval, according to Keith Peltier, of ProSeed, and Carl Peterson, of Peterson Farms Seed. Both men are owners and general managers of regional seed companies based on North Dakota. Peltier and Peterson blamed the delay partly…Continue Reading
There's a fun contest going on right now, thanks to some folks in southern Illinois. The Edwards County Farm Bureau Women's Committee (that's my home county!) put together a "Braggin' on Ag" video contest in the fall. People around the county put together videos and submitted them, and as it turns out…they're really good. Good enough that the Farm Bureau decided to take the contest to the social media world. And they added a cash prize. This is where you…Continue Reading
A company based in Houston, Texas, is planning to build an overhead high-voltage transmission line from northwest Iowa to Illinois and other states east of the Mississippi River. The power line would deliver electricity from wind turbines in northwest Iowa to cities in Illinois and Eastern states. Clean Line Energy is the company wanting to build this transmission line, and the project is called the Rock Island Clean Line or RICL project. If built, the line would cross 16 Iowa counties, would…Continue Reading
One of the cool things about going to conventions is that you see things you might never see otherwise. A really neat one of those came Tuesday at the 95th Annual Meeting of the Kansas Farm Bureau in Manhattan when retiring KFB CEO Dan Yunk introduced someone special. Most Farm Bureau members know Dr. Yunk is the author of the popular series of children's books, "Kailey Ag Adventures" and "Milk Comes from a Cow." But someone most folks had never met was the…Continue Reading
Black Friday is over but the mad dash shopping continues since Christmas is roughly three weeks away. There's no time to lose, or at least that's what retailers want you to believe. Farming has its own version of the mad dash – decisions to make before Dec. 31 expires and a new tax year begins. Should you buy new equipment? Should you sell grain this year? Should you pay ahead on inputs to get discounts? Here are a few insights about decisions a typical farm operation might face…Continue Reading
There is a time when the right thing to do is just slow down and enjoy the moments. I say moments, plural, because my Thanksgiving weekend was blessed with so very many of them. I am still tucking the memories away so I can pull them out and relive them when life gets stressful and problems seem to pile up. Holidays are always BIG around our house because our family is big. Sunday dinner with just the kids and grandkids is dinner for 16. Throw in the other grandparents, a few friends with no…Continue Reading
Is it really Day 30 already? To round out our final day of the 30 Days|FIVE Things series, I'm sharing my five favorite photos. And let me just tell you, it was not easy. This list could've been ten times as long. But here they are, some taken a year ago and some taken 14 years ago. Scroll down to the gallery and click through. You can pause as needed, and advance to the next slide when you're ready. Thanks for following along this month! Five Things: The Series Day…Continue Reading
I can't get over the feeling that we are on the brink of a great agricultural age. When I look at how the world population is about to mushroom, combined with the fact our industry has never been so technologically tweaked to precision and efficiency, it seems our time has come. How can it not be so? Food is the elemental essential, and that is what we do. As the global community widens an unprecedented need for protein and fundamental nutrients, our role will become more pivotal than…Continue Reading
1. Art. Illinois farm girl and "Keeping it Real" design guru extraordinaire Erin Ehnle is now selling prints and canvases of her most popular designs. I'm a fan of the canvas; they are beautifully done and the quality is excellent and you don't need a frame. You just hang them. She has an online gallery and the Christmas shopping has never been easier. 2. Smartphone protection. What farmer doesn't need an Otterbox to protect his or her smartphone? Their…Continue Reading
1. I like turkey as much as the next beef producer, but I am grateful to have grown up in a house where Thanksgiving meant beef. And that it wasn't until I was a teenager when I began to wonder what these "turkey day" traditions were all about. But I am a major fan of the leftover turkey sandwich, and the turkey itself. So there's that. 2. Thanksgivings with family around the table. I know; so obvious. But I will forever remember Thanksgiving 2011 as the last with…Continue Reading
Al Gustin's new book, "Farm Byline" is a good read and it might be a good Christmas gift for someone on your list. Gustin recently retired from a 45-year career as an ag journalist in North Dakota. The book is a collection of the columns he wrote for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives between 1974 and today. The columns in the book I liked best were about his own life on the farm and the everyday life of North Dakota farmer and ranchers &ndash…Continue Reading
Al Gustin's new book, "Farm Byline," is a good read and it might be a good Christmas gift for someone on your list. Gustin recently retired from a 45-year career as an ag journalist in North Dakota. The book is a collection of the columns he wrote for the North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives between 1974 and today. The columns in the book I liked best were about his own life on the farm and the everyday life of North Dakota farmer and ranchers &ndash…Continue Reading
I spent last Saturday attending both the Minnesota Farm Bureau Federation's and the Minnesota Farmers Union's annual meetings in Bloomington and Minneapolis, respectively. Attendance at both meetings was strong. Delegates at both farm organizations re-elected their current leadership. MFBF delegates re-elected Kevin Paap to his fifth term as president. MFU delegates gave approval for Doug Peterson's seventh term as president and re-elected Gary Wertish as vice-president. Both…Continue Reading
I have met people who say they actually like it when the time change brings early day darkness along with cold rain, snow and otherwise nasty weather. I am a spring person pretty much, but do enjoy the low sun months of October and November, as you know. There is a cozy cottage mystique about this time of year when we cloister in our little nesties and light a fire in the fireplace and sip a little Cabernet as we curl with the new Stephen King thriller. Yep, there is something to be said for…Continue Reading
The farm my wife and her siblings own has been in the Conservation Reserve Program for many, many years. In the early years we had fairly decent numbers of pheasants on the farm in east central Iowa. As the years progressed, the grass "matt" became thicker and thicker and the pheasant population declined. Of course, there are many factors involved such as weather, but just because it is CRP doesn't mean it is good habitat for pheasants. Wildlife biologists will tell you chicks…Continue Reading
During Agritechnica recently the Agrievolution Alliance released its eighth survey among manufacturers and importers of machines. From the report, more than half responding say the business situation is good or very good, pushing the Agritech Business Climate index up three points. The group notes that global equipment sales should rise as much as 7% in 2014, good news for a market that may be feeling a bit of a pinch with sliding crop prices into the new year. According to the report, the…Continue Reading
In the December Nebraska Farmer, you'll see that I dedicated the cover and two pages inside the issue with features stories on Nebraska's oppressive farmland property taxes. One of the features I wrote outlined the Nebraska Farm Bureau's three-year proposal to cut local property taxes. Make sure you read about that proposal. I doubt the Nebraska Tax Modernization Committee, when it issues its final report to the full Unicameral later in December, will recommend any serious property…Continue Reading
1. How to appreciate good, wholesome food. That they know what a balanced meal looks like. Fruits, veggies, good meats, milk. Sweets in moderation. 2. How to cook. From scratch. That they will leave my house knowing what to do with a chuck roast. Or a sack of flour. Or a packet of yeast. 3. What our livestock mean. That they might understand not only the purpose for the livestock we raise but that through caring for them and giving them a comfortable life, they'd gain a real appreciation…Continue Reading
A while back, I blogged about young people excited about food production and agricultural careers. (See Insiders_secrets.) They were right to be excited. While many industries have scaled back jobs, U.S. agriculture grew and prospered right through the Great Recession. It's still a booming industry. No, not everyone will go back to the family farm after finishing school. But today's agriculture is far larger than the family farm. I'm an expert, of sort. I rode that road. While I…Continue Reading
In small towns and rural neighborhoods, it takes lots of elbow grease and volunteerism to make things tick. Our quality of life in rural America is due, in part, to the selflessness of our citizens. If we see something that needs to be done, we don't wait for Congress to act or for a federal program to kick in. We just roll up our sleeves and get it done. It has always been that way, and continues on today. Because there are fewer folks to rely on in small towns, many citizens attempt to…Continue Reading
It's not uncommon for farmers and other community members to work together to support the community, from volunteering with local 4-H and FFA programs to donating to those in need. When interviewing a farmer in Marshall County, Kansas last week, I learned how 42 volunteers helped the Axtell community by constructing Axtell High School's first track, which was finished this spring. "Axtell high school has never had a track for its track team," says Marshall County farmer, Bill…Continue Reading
Ethanol and biodiesel supporters have come out swinging to defend their industry. They are mounting an all-out effort to try to persuade the Obama Administration to reverse its proposal to lower the Renewable Fuel Standard, or RFS. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced it wants to reduce the amount of corn-based ethanol required to be mixed into the nation's gasoline supply in 2014. Iowa, the leading state in production of biofuels, has a lot at stake. Iowa farm…Continue Reading
Five resources for when you hear… 1. GMOs cause tumors. In rats. Special French rats. You know, I can see what this one has gotten traction. Rats with super giant GM-fueled tumors growing from their heads? Those are the kinds of phrases activists dream of. But even other French scientists couldn't get on board with it. The New York Times reported last year that France's six scientific academies issued a "rare joint statement" dismissing the rat study. The leader of the…Continue Reading
Holly Spangler has done a terrific job of blogging this November. In anticipation of Thanksgiving, she's written about Five Things that she's thankful for each day this month. Last week, I was scrolling through my Facebook newsfeed when I stumbled upon a different sort of Thanksgiving blog. It was a list of things folks from other countries didn't believe were true about America until they moved here. (Thank you Thomas Marten for posting this.) As you scroll through the…Continue Reading
Thanksgiving is a time families gather, eat turkey, get stuffed, and watch football. If you let the holiday go without counting blessings, however, you miss a real opportunity to give yourself a lift and help you get a new perspective on life. Here are 10 things I'm thankful for. Your list will be different. You're a winner if you take time to list 10 reasons you're thankful this holiday season. Ten. A good crop year. I don't raise one grain of corn, I just write about it. But…Continue Reading
1. Consumers are concerned about the long-term health effects of biotechnology and pesticides. They're looking at down-the-road diseases like cancer, heart disease, obesity, the "unknown." I sat and talked about some of those questions with a group of Chicago field moms during the Larson Farms tour earlier this fall. This is not based on any research and is completely anecdotal, but I shared with them that I really believe if pesticides and biotech were causing cancer we would see…Continue Reading
1. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11. This was a favorite in college, when it served as reminder that He had a plan when I didn't know past this semester. Fast forward a few years and actually study more of Jeremiah, and I find even more comfort in the next verse: "Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you." He…Continue Reading
A friend of ours came over last weekend to deliver a load of round hay bales. As he jumped out of the truck cab, the blaze orange cap was hard to miss. I asked if he had been hunting earlier in the day. "No, I went to check the cows and I thought, better safe than sorry," he replied. Hunting season is here. During this time of year, I wake many mornings to the sound of "Pop. Pop. Pop." I know that hunters, some from the city, some from my area, are in the woods. Still…Continue Reading
1. Help out. Christy Lee says her mother-in-law, Theta Lee taught her to get involved in the community. When Theta married and moved to their small town 40 years ago, she dove in and volunteered for good causes. So has Christy. Side benefit? If you're new to town, you get to know the people with whom you'll be working and living the rest of your life. 2. Be who you are. Amy Buhrow on Marjorie Buhrow: "My mother-in-law is the complete package: kind, selfless, giving, a model…Continue Reading
The three breakout sessions at the recent Great Plains Land Expo in Fargo, N.D., that appeared to attract the most people were about land values, land rents and mineral rights. Lynn Paulson, Bell State Bank, Fargo N.D., handled topic "Farmland Values From A Lender's Perspective." He said he didn't think there was a land bubble. And he didn't that bubble people fear is out there was about to burst, despite the fact that the local cash corn price in some parts of…Continue Reading
When the metro newspaper arrives on Thursdays, one section is devoted to food. By the time I am done reading it, which is usually when I'm eating lunch, I've got some good suggestions for new recipes and restaurants to try. My favorite restaurant reviewer is truly an artistic food journalist. He paints savory word pictures with his adjective-laden prose about foods he has sampled at restaurants all over the greater metro area. Last week, he featured a new restaurant that noted on its…Continue Reading
First it was that widely circulated Associated Press article last week that blamed ethanol for soil erosion and other environmental problems. Then the federal Environmental Protection Agency released its proposal to reduce the required use of corn-based ethanol in 2014 in the nation's gasoline supply. The attacks on corn ethanol keep coming. Late last week the Environmental Protection Agency released its 2014 Renewable Volume Obligations or RVOs under the Renewable Fuel Standard. RVOs are…Continue Reading
I am wary to share this as plans can (obviously) change but for now, here are five working chapter titles for the book at which I am pecking away. This is subject to change and they are not in order. And they may change. Did I mention that? 1. Carhartts and Diesels and Wranglers, Amen 2. Grit and Other Dirt-Like Substances 3. The End of a Long Road 4. What's Wrong with Modern Food Production (And It's Not the Production Part) 5. The Grouchy Princess and Other Tales from the…Continue Reading
One of the greater perks of being a farmer and of interviewing farmers for your job is that they will often say something that changes the way you think. Maybe about farming, or cattle, or family, or life. Here are five that come to mind, mentioned in the course of interviews or just plain-old good conversations. 1. David Erickson, on buying farmland: "There's never been a time in my farming career when we bought land and thought we could afford it. But we've always been glad we…Continue Reading
You can buy these CDs with calming sounds like babbling brooks, waterfalls and ocean waves. They have CDs with tweeting birds and crickets chirping in the night. All of these are meant to bring calm and peace to our busy, noisy lives. Forget it. None of these help me out at all. If I want to hear birds and crickets, I only need to open a window to hear these sounds in abundance, along with bellowing cows, yelping coyotes and turkeys gobbling in our grove. These are peaceful sounds, there is no…Continue Reading
1. Try to avoid saying things like, "When I was in 4-H…" Fail. 2. Decline calls from the senile but lovely elderly woman in Galesburg who has mistaken my number for her daughter's. She's even taken to leaving me messages like, "I've lost something. And I don't even know who I'm talking to." Me either, ma'am. Me either. I feel like we're gonna be tight by Christmas, though. 3. Text and/or Facebook with other parents who…Continue Reading
As Congress continues to debate a Farm Bill, it's fun the dig up the words of one of America's best loved commentators Will Rogers, who wrote in 1933: "I was there on the historic day when Congress actually passed the inflation bill tacked on to the farm bill. Never in the history of the world has such a gigantic piece of legislation ever passed. It was more than gigantic, it was even big. It gives relief to the farmer in so many different ways that even if he received no relief…Continue Reading
Sheilah: "Oh, Oh! Look! A ringneck! And there's another! Awww, and a baby one! Move ringnecks! Get out of the way. Combinder coming through!" Mike: "Honey, your missing rows . . .. What's going on? Why are you stopping?" Sheilah: "See the ringnecks? I want pictures." Ah, just one of the memories from our 2013 harvest season – our first as a married couple. Not every day was as fun or as memorable as that particular day. Some were a blur, and…Continue Reading
Perhaps the famous picture of the old-time county extension agent visiting a farm with a 4-H member and seeing him work with his Guernsey heifer is a bit out of date. It's a nice reminder of times gone by. But it's far from indicative of how modern Extension educators have changed with the times to provide information and services their community needs. Somewhere between when that picture was painted and today, many no longer contact their Extension agent, now called an educator, for…Continue Reading
1. The Edwards County Fair. It feels like home. I'd go back in a heartbeat but a) it's the same week as my (new) home fair and b) it wouldn't be the same. And that's the way it should be. 2. Sweden. It was eye opening. It changed my perspective on the world. And on my country. All in a good way. 3. Banff National Park. As a naïve 18-year-old, I traveled to Canada as part of a world trade mission for Shorthorns. I kid. I was a Lassie queen and the Canadians invited us up…Continue Reading
Agritechnica wrapped up Saturday and the DLG Team, along with VDMA, were happy with the results. Of the 2900 exhibitors on hand 52% were from outside Germany. In fact there were 47 countries represented on the exhibit stand. Reinhard Grandke, DLG, called Agritechnica a "workshop for the future" and there was plenty of hot new tech on hand. The challenge I had in viewing all of that was the proliferation of all those monitors. I'm not a big fan of the "mission control"…Continue Reading
It's ironic that EPA announced its proposal to cut the Renewable Fuel Standard precisely the same week the retail price gas fell below $3 per gallon and just as farmers were wrapping up a harvest that's so big that there will be enough corn for food, feed and fuel with plenty to spare -- and corn will cost half of what it did last year. Isn't this what consumers wanted? Cheaper fuel? Cheaper feed? Cheaper food? Some blame Big Oil for the proposed cutback in the Renewable…Continue Reading
It is at this point in the season that I begin to lose my will to pack another lunch. Actually, I lie; I lost it about three weeks ago. Nonetheless, with so many of us so close to winding up harvest, here are a few lunch pail ideas, collected over the years. And please, comment away with your ideas below. It's November 16 and I need all the help I can get. 1. Kings Hawaiian Mini-Sub Rolls. Who doesn't love Hawaiian sweet bread? I found these mini-sub rolls at our local…Continue Reading
Last Saturday, I made the trek from Kansas City up to Conway, Iowa – about 45 minutes from where I grew up, to check out the 9th Annual Fall Antique Plow Day. For those who have never been to Conway, it's a town of 40, as of the 2012 Census, in Taylor County in southwest Iowa. Mike Sleep, who lives in Olathe, Kansas, one of the original organizers of the event, says it started with him and a couple friends with plows that hadn't seen daylight in a while, including his own…Continue Reading
My 17-year-old daughter, Cassidy, called crying from the car. She had pumped her gas tank full, grabbed a soda and candy bar and went to pay the cashier. Her debit card was declined. But what transpired after displays the true heart of rural America. First, this was not our daughter's fault. The blame lies squarely on her parents shoulders. We have one daughter in college, the other a senior in high school and both using the same bank account. And with more than one account, we did…Continue Reading
1. At the end of my pregnancy with her, she would put her little feet against my lower ribs and push. Up. Hard. There was nothing to do but go lie down and take shallow breaths, because it was as if she were trying to stretch out and bust out. As if she had big things to do and no more time for this womb business. In literature, this is known as foreshadowing. 2. I have purchased and read no less than three books about strong-willed children, in my effort to understand and parent her…Continue Reading
Thanksgiving is almost here and Christmas is just around the corner. Families and friends everywhere are gathering to share great food and celebrate the good things in each of our lives. It's also a good time to re?ect back on the year and count our many blessings. That may seem hard in a year plagued by a cold, wet spring and summer drought, but there are still plenty of reasons for Wisconsin farmers to be grateful in 2013. Weather woes Farmers across much of the state battled cold…Continue Reading
1. Work today pays off tomorrow. Our county's adopted legislator, straight from the Chicago suburbs, visited our place a couple summers ago. We had a wonderful visit; she brought along her husband and her three teenage/pre-teenage children. Our kids had a ball. And she remarked that she couldn't believe our kids get up and feed bottle calves and show cattle, all before getting ready for school. It's true. But our kids wouldn't have it any other way. These are their animals and…Continue Reading
After years of working at Farm Progress, there are just some truths a person deals with. Deadlines keep coming. Farmers ask great questions. And Wednesdays are big at the farm shows. Turns out that last one could be a truism for other shows too. As we made the trek from hotel to show site at Agritechnica this morning we discovered there were quite a few more people on hand going into the show than on Tuesday. Over here in Germany Mittwoch is Wednesday (Mittwoch means mid-week), and it sure…Continue Reading
1. "No high fructose corn syrup!" The question to ask here is whether the product had any high fructose corn syrup to start with. Because like any good marketing ploy, companies have been known to jump on the band wagon and declare their product free of something it never had to start with. Also, if you've been told HFCS is bad because of all the processing, consider this: sugar cubes do not grow on trees. It's all been processed, people. Incidentally, we may see less of this…Continue Reading
"This field is running 120 bushels an acre," said Mitch Wanzek, Windsor, N.D., as I rode with him while he combined corn today. "This summer we didn't think it would make 20 bushels per acre," he added. On their farm in central North Dakota near Jamestown, they had too much rain early, which delayed emergence and even washed some corn seed out of the furrows on the slopes. Then it stopped raining and stayed dry for much of the summer. "The rain…Continue Reading


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One of the main issues associated with this method is finding a good enough dataset because the accuracy of the results is pretty directly tied to the size of the dataset, with more training images usually corresponding to increased accuracy. However, finding large datasets for these purposes proved a harder task than we had initially anticipated. Here we detail the different databases we used for this project:
- 1) FEI Face Database: This database was acquired from the Electrical Engineering Department of Centro Universitario da FEI located in Sao Paulo, Brazil. It contains 200 individuals, with each of the individuals showing two different emotions, happy and neutral, for a total of 400 images.
- 2) CMU Multi-PIE Face Database: This database was acquired from Carnegie Mellon University and we used a total of 904 pictures from this database. There were 500 pictures of the same 250 individuals showing both happy and neutral faces, along with 404 pictures of the same 202 individuals showing both disgusted and surprised faces.
- 3) Japanese Female Facial Expression (JAFFE) Database: This database was acquired online though the images were originally obtained at Kyushu University. It contains 213 total images, of 7 facial expressions posed by 10 different female Japanese models.

subset: commoncrawl


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2 children, 1 adult die in Detroit freeway pileups
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2 children, 1 adult die in Detroit freeway pileups
Posted: 8:45 AM Jan 31, 2013
Reporter: Associated Press
DETROIT (AP) -- Police say one adult and two children have been killed and about others 20 injured in a massive freeway crash in Detroit involving at least two dozen vehicles in icy, snowy conditions.
Michigan State Police Lt. Michael Shaw says the deaths and injuries happened in a chain-reaction crash Thursday morning on a mile-long stretch of Interstate 75 on the southwest side of the city. Shaw says the injured, including children, have been taken to hospitals.
Witnesses describe white-out conditions and slippery roads leading to the crash.
Shaw says many people had to be pulled out of vehicles.
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As of Friday, September 30, 2011
© Copyright 2014
Clayton News Daily
WASHINGTON — So much for pushing back the start of primary season.
Despite efforts by both political parties to avoid a repeat of 2008 by delaying early presidential primaries and caucuses, states trying to increase their influence are leapfrogging their dates, threatening to push the first Republican contests into early January — again.
A Florida commission is expected to announce Friday that its presidential primary will be held Jan. 31, according to Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, though GOP officials from other states are lobbying Florida to reconsider.
The move by Florida could spark a stampede by Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which were granted special status by both political parties, allowing them to hold the first nominating contests.
"The bottom line is, if Florida moves, I'm moving," said South Carolina GOP Chairman Chad Connelly, who has the authority to schedule the state's Republican primary. "We're going to be the first in the South presidential preference primary, no matter what it takes."
Connelly said he would try to schedule South Carolina's primary as close to Florida's as possible, perhaps holding it the Saturday before the Florida vote, on Jan. 28. That scenario could push the Iowa GOP caucuses to Jan. 9, followed by the New Hampshire primary Jan. 17 and the Nevada causes Jan. 21.
This scenario, however, assumes that no other state jumps into January.
"Iowa will be first. The only open question is the date on which we hold our first in the nation caucuses," Iowa GOP chairman Matthew Strawn said. "Ironically, in attempting to assert increased relevance in the process, Florida's move only elevates the importance of Iowa and the other early states. A compressed caucus and primary calendar makes doing well in the four kickoff states a necessity for a candidate to secure the Republican nomination."
Georgia broke the trend Thursday, announcing it will hold its primary March 6, the 2012 version of Super Tuesday.
Texas Gov. Rick Perry has emerged as the Republican front-runner, with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney his chief rival. Farther back in the polls are Rep. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota and Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.
The RNC deadline for setting primary and caucus dates is Saturday, though some states may miss it. Those states could have their delegations challenged at the national convention in Tampa, Fla. Four years ago, New Hampshire waited until Nov. 21 to schedule its primary, which was held Jan. 8. That year, the Iowa caucuses led the way on Jan. 3.
By law, New Hampshire Secretary of State William Gardner must schedule the Granite State's primary at least seven days ahead of all similar contests. State party rules require Nevada to hold its Republican caucuses four days after New Hampshire's primary, Nevada GOP Chairwoman Amy Tarkanian said.
The Republican National Committee tried to regain control of the primary calendar by passing a rule that penalizes states that schedule nominating contests before March 6, requiring them to forfeit half their delegates to the national convention. Special provisions were made for Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, which were allowed to schedule contests in February.
The goal was to delay the beginning of a primary season that many believe starts too early, lasts too long and leaves voters weary long before the November general election.
"The whole idea of the RNC rules was to bring maybe a little more sanity to the process by getting it out of the holiday season so that people weren't getting phone calls on Christmas Eve," Saul Anuzis, a member of the Republican National Committee from Michigan, said in an interview.
Michigan risks losing half its delegates because the state has scheduled a primary for Feb. 28, the same day as Arizona. Anuzis said the Michigan date is set by state law.
Colorado, Minnesota and Maine are also looking to hold GOP caucuses in early February. They won't violate party rules if their straw polls don't actually award delegates to candidates, though they would compete for attention with other early voting states.
The Missouri primary date is set for Feb. 7 by state law. The contest will be held, but state GOP leaders decided on Thursday to abandon the balloting to award delegates. Instead, state leaders decided, candidate delegates would be selected in caucuses to be held on March 17. The primary essentially becomes a multimillion dollar poll.
RNC Chairman Reince Priebus has no leeway to wave the penalties for states that break the rules, spokeswoman Kirsten Kukowski said.
"The rules are the rules," Kukowski said. "Any state that violates the rules will lose 50 percent of their delegates."
Four years ago, Florida and Michigan held early GOP primaries against party rules, and were supposed to lose half their delegates. Eventually, the states had their entire delegations seated at the national convention, though they lost half their votes in a nomination election that was already a forgone conclusion.
"My overall frustration is, we've got this set of rules that we're not going to follow," Connelly said. "So it just means that the party's rules have no teeth, and all these states can jump the date."
Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp said there was little appetite in Georgia to break party rules and schedule an earlier contest. Besides, he said, he expects the GOP nomination to still be in doubt on March 6, giving Georgia plenty of influence in deciding the nominee.
"I think that they're going to uphold the rules," Kemp said. "If they don't, there's going to be hell to pay, if you will, in four years."
In Florida, a commission appointed by the governor and legislative leaders has until Saturday to set the state's primary date. The commission is scheduled to announce its decision Friday, and RNC officials have been lobbying Florida to reconsider the Jan. 31 date. But, said Cannon, the Florida House speaker, "My job is to protect the voters of Florida and worry about the Republican National Committee rules second."
More like this story
- Brian Kemp wants southeastern 'Super Tuesday' in 2016 ( February 21, 2014 )
- Romney, Santorum, Gingrich split 'Super Tuesday' spoils ( March 6, 2012 )
- Ron Paul's army won't be easily broken — Floyd and Mary Beth Brown ( January 10, 2012 )
- Early presidential voting has 'light' start ( February 15, 2012 )
- Can Mitt Romney move to the center, if he's the Republican nominee? — Joe Gandelman ( February 14, 2012 )


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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - West Virginia's offensive coaches are begging for receivers to make plays. The Mountaineers are wondering if things have lined up to make it happen Saturday.
In back-to-back weeks, Maryland lost both its starting cornerbacks and will be shorthanded when it sees WVU at 3:30 p.m. at M&T Bank Stadium, home of the NFL's Baltimore Ravens. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
A week ago, senior Dexter McDougal suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. A week before, junior Jeremiah Johnson fractured a toe that will keep him out at least another month.
They'll be replaced by senior Isaac Goins, a 5-foot-11, 190 pound junior college transfer who started twice last season, and 5-7, 175-pound true freshman William Likely. They both started Maryland's Sept. 7 win against Old Dominion, though as extra defensive backs against the pass-happy Monarchs.
"They're both real small so we should be able to do some things," WVU receiver Kevin White said.
WVU's offense will feature three and four receivers quite often and sometimes use a running back as a fifth receiver, which will force the Terrapins to go deeper. Their third and fourth cornerbacks are true freshman Jarrett Ross and sophomore Alvin Hill.
* * *
WHITE MINDFUL of big plays, White vows to do small things first. The junior college transfer, who missed the season opener, lost a fumble in the red zone in the third quarter of the loss to Oklahoma and then dropped two passes against Georgia State.
He was benched after the second, a certain touchdown, and watched the rest of the game while taking heat from his coaches.
"They were all (mad) because they know what I can do," White said. "I rarely ever make those mistakes in practice, but when I make them in a game with thousands of people watching, they get upset. I expect that. It's my mistake."
White is second on the team in receptions, though with only nine, and his 10.6 yards per catch is just the sixth-best on the team. That's not what he wants to fix, though.
"I've got to come out and do my part first," he said. "It's my part. It's not like a corner or a defense is just shutting me down. Everything I'm messing up is because of me. The fumble at Oklahoma was me. They didn't hit me or force that. It's me. The drops are me. It's mentality. I've got to fix it."
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THE MOUNTAINEERS continue to run the ball with frequency and success. They've rushed 44, 24 and 42 times in three games and rank No. 39 nationally with 5.33 yards per carry.


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For the full daily police blotter from agencies across the area, pick up the Register or check out the e-paper.
Morale of the story.....if you stop a cruiser to complain to a cop, be sure
1. That you haven't been drinking (and driving or walking)
2. That if you have been drinking, you are old enough
3. That if you are driving, you have a license to drive
4. That you are smart enought to know not to stop the cops if you are violating numbers 1,2 and 3
5. That you hit the right person...especially from Facebook with all the hacking going on!
(This is as bad as a coke dealing going to the cops complaining that someone took his coke!!!!! )


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Pharmacists CAN Play A Valuable Role in Health Care Reform
May 15, 2009
(As submitted to the Washington Post)
To the Editor:
To learn from a real community pharmacist about health care savings (Tom Toles cartoon, May 14), President Obama - or anyone else, for that matter - can take a short trip to Grubbs Pharmacy on Capitol Hill. There, one can see the disease and medication therapy management programs that Grubbs and the more than 23,000 other independent community pharmacies across the country provide their patients every day. These programs, and others like them, can play a vital part in helping keep patients well through the best use of their medications. As a nation, we spend about $300 billion annually on medications and nearly as much fixing problems caused by their misuse. Pharmacists can play a valuable role in health care reform to improve patient care while lowering costs by ensuring proper drug utilization and promoting the use of generic products, when appropriate. The savings are there for the taking.
Bruce T. Roberts
Executive Vice President and CEO
National Community Pharmacists Association
Alexandria, VA
NCPA Media Contacts
Kevin Schweers
Senior Vice President, Public Affairs
John Norton
Director, Public Relations
NCPA News Release Feed
What is RSS?
Our Experts
Mark Riley, PD
NCPA President
Donnie Calhoun, P.D.
Immediate Past NCPA President
Lonny Wilson DPh
NCPA Past President


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Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.
Blue-pod lupine or meadow lupine is a 3-5 ft., robust perennial with bold, rich-green, palmate leaves and stately spires of large, deep-blue, purple or reddish flowers. 1 or several mostly unbranched, stout, hollow stems with violet or blue-violet pea flowers in long dense racemes.
This somewhat succulent lupine is one of the tallest and lushest western species. It has been crossed with other lupines, particularly Tree Lupine (L. arboreus), for beautiful horticultural hybrids.
Find seed sources for this species at the Native Seed Network.
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | FAC | FAC | FACU | FACU | FAC |


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Email email@example.com a mascot photo for South Iredell high school.
Include "South Iredell (Statesville, NC)" in the email body.
The mascot photo should not be sport specific.
The photo must be a .gif file in a landscape or square format. For the best appearance across the site use a photo that is at least 400 pixels wide.
We rely on coaches and fan to provide us with records. Unfortunately MaxPreps doesn't have any single-game records for this team.


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Cumbrian Fells Rancher
We're sorry. This product is no longer available.
- From Genie by Eugenia Kim
- Wool felt, leather band
- Spot clean
- 24" crown; 2.25" brim
- Style #: 25343930
Rated 2 out of 5 by sj405 Be advised!
At the time I am writing this review, I am still seeing a size listing for the crown of this hat as 24". I purchased this hat 2 weeks ago and when it arrived to me it was tight. So I measured the hat and the crown is actually 22.5". I can squeeze my butt into pants that are a size too small but I can't squeeze my skull. I returned the hat and sent a photo with an email to Anthro letting them know about the mistake and was told they forwarded it to HQ but as of this posting, the listing hasn't been corrected. I had this problem with another Eugenia Kim hat this summer - same difference in measurement - and after they got my complaint and return, the hat just disappeared from the website all together. This hat was beautiful and good quality for price but please be aware that the sizing is off!
October 17, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by anthrogirl424 In Love!
This hat is adorable. It fits my head perfectly, and the color is gorgeous. The Blue is more of a teal color in real life. The front part of the hat flips down a little bit over the very top of your forehead, but it looks nice. I can imagine this hat lasting a very long time. The quality is there.
October 25, 2012
1-2 of 2
Size Guide
How to Measure
Measure under your arms at the fuller part of your bust. Keep tape level across your shoulder blades.
Natural Waist
Measure around your natural waistline, keeping the tape comfortably loose.
Drop Waist
Measure around your body 1 1/2" below your natural waist.
Stand with your feet together and measure around the fullest part of your hips.
Using a pair of your pants that fit well, measure from crotch seam to bottom of leg.
Wrap a length of string around your finger and mark where the end touches. Measure the distance between the end of the string and the mark you've made to determine what size to order.


text: This kind of reasoning seems to often occur specifically at the threshold where a person's critical thinking gives way to wishful one. I suppose it would help to ease the scruples of letting go of ones critical and analytical faculties on a particular subject. Typically I see this in discussions where certain people's religious tenets conflict with empirical observations. In the crudest and most extreme form, this is expressed as "science is just another religion".


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- Musician's Friend Best Selection, Price & Service. Guaranteed.
Need Help? Ask our Experts or call 800-449-9128
Private Reserve Guitars 866-926-1923
Need Help? Ask our Experts or call 800-449-9128
Renowned instructor and Grammy nominee Bob Carlin is one of the best-known banjoists performing today. This book, an update of his 1983 classic with the welcome addition of a CD, teaches readers how to play 32 best-loved pieces from his first two solo recordings: Fiddle Tunes for Clawhammer Banjo and Where Did You Get That Hat?. Includes fantastic photos from throughout Bob's career.
Our product catalog varies by country due to manufacturer restrictions. If you change the Ship-To country, some or all of the items in your cart may not ship to the new destination.


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Top Action Movies: Actor Mark Wahlberg's Best Roles
Marky Mark's top 10 films will inspire you to not only get in shape, but also to never give up when the going gets tough.
more galleries
- The 8 Absolute Worst FoodsThis new year means new rules to eating.
- Freebie FoodsThey're so low in calories you won't feel bad for going overboard.
- 15 Best Bodyweight Moves15 equipment-free ways to build muscle.
- Best Spring Colognes for MenChange up your scent for the new season.


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Lake Oswego K9 Kai was one of a dozen dogs showing his stuff at the annual Springfield Police Department K9 Competition on June 16, 2012. He was assisted by his able handler Ofc. Bryan McMahon. Kai earned one second place ribbon but the big multi-year winner was K9 Xar and Ofc. Jason Harvey of the Corvallis Police Department. The event was held at Silke Field in Springfield.
K9 Kai Showing His Stuff
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Definition of dielectric in English:
Line breaks: di|elec¦tricPronunciation: /ˌdʌɪɪˈlɛktrɪk
- Having the property of transmitting electric force without conduction; insulating.More example sentences
- The accumulation of excessive electric charge in dielectric insulation is extremely rare, but when it does occur, it is often catastrophic.
- An electrically polarizable object will be trapped in a region of a focused electric field, provided there is sufficient dielectric response to overcome thermal energy and the electrophoretic force.
- The conductance caused by dielectric breakdown of membranes is proportional to the amplitude and duration of the electric field.
Back to top- A medium or substance with a dielectric property; an insulator.More example sentences
- In many photonic structures composed of two or more dielectrics, the absolute value of the refractive index contrast is critical to performance.
- At that size, it expects to make use of new materials and high-k dielectrics.
- But low-k dielectrics improve the insulation between the circuits, thus allowing efficient transistor switching without the need for excessive power, and consequently without the extra heat.
- More example sentences
- In addition, for systems composed of dielectrically significantly dissimilar regions, ionic energetics is sensitive to the long-range artifacts imposed by periodic boundary conditions.
- The magnitude of the first effect depends on the (dielectrically weighted) relative depth of groups A and B in the membrane.
- It is a dielectrically isolated, high-speed, complementary bipolar IC process that uses a technology called deep trench on bonded wafer, and enables complete dielectric isolation.


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Mission Against Terror
Mission Against Terror v126.96.36.1999
This is a cool MMO first-person shooter! M.A.T. is set in a fictional time not far from our own, pitting two teams against each other all around the world. From the male civilian with a vengeance to a war-torn female soldier with something to prove, characters from all walks of life come together to fight for a common goal.
Mission Against Terror: Doomsday Trailer
Mission Against Terror is set for release on September 20, 2011.


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Golden Bird
Constantin Brancusi was born in a small Romanian village in 1876. As the son of peasants, he did not attend school. Instead, at the age of seven he began working as a shepherd. During his early years he also learned to carve wood, a skill highly regarded in the Romanian countryside. When his great talent was noticed, he enrolled in the School of Arts and Crafts in nearby Craiova. Later, he won a contest for admission to the National School of Fine Arts in Bucharest. Brancusi loved his home, but he wanted to experience the art world outside of Romania. He particularly wanted to go to Paris once he learned of the famous French sculptor Auguste Rodin. In 1904, Brancusi traveled first to Munich, Germany, and then made his way to Paris. It is thought that he walked much of the way. Rodin's sculptures continued to interest Brancusi when he studied in Paris. The first artworks he showed at an important exhibition resembled Rodin's sinewy figures. However, when invited to join Rodin's workshop as an apprentice, Brancusi stayed only briefly, saying, "Nothing grows in the shade of a tall tree." He soon abandoned his classical-looking sculptures and started experimenting with abstract forms.


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Harold Washington Library Center
Facts about Harold Washington
Harold Washington was born on Saturday, April 15, 1922 at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. His father was Roy Lee Washington Sr. (1897-1953). His mother was Bertha Jones (1898-1980). They married on July 29, 1916 and had four children: Roy Jr., Geneva, Edward Glen and Harold. Roy and Bertha divorced in 1928. In 1933 Roy married Arlene Jackson. They had no children. Bertha also remarried. She and her husband, Ernest Oliver Price, had six children: Ernestine, Ernest Jr., Ramon, Gwendolynn, Elaine and Patricia.
Harold Washington married Nancy Dorothy Finch on July 22, 1942. They divorced without children on February 25, 1950. At his death Washington was engaged to Mary Ella Smith.
Washington died of a massive heart attack at his desk in City Hall on November 25, 1987. Thousands of Chicagoans attended his wake in the lobby of City Hall between November 27 and November 29, 1987. On November 30, Rev. B. Herbert Martin officiated at funeral services at Christ Universal Temple at 119th Street and Ashland Avenue, Chicago. Washington was buried in Oak Woods Cemetery, 1035 E. 67th Street, Chicago.
- St. Benedict the Moor Grammar School, Milwaukee and Forrestville Elementary School, Chicago, 1928-1936
- DuSable High School, Chicago, 1936-1939; 1946 (diploma awarded after military service)
- Civilian Conservation Corps, 1939
- Roosevelt College (now Roosevelt University), Chicago, B.A., 1946-1949
- Northwestern University, School of Law, Evanston, J.D., 1949-1952
Military Service
Harold Washington was called to active duty on February 8, 1943. He was assigned to the 1887th Engineer Aviation Battalion, where he rose to the rank of First Sergeant. The 1887th received the Meritorious Service Unit Award for building a bomber landing strip on the Pacific island of Anguar in only 20 days. Washington, who was honorably discharged on January 20, 1946, was decorated for bravery.
Professional Career
Harold Washington became a practicing attorney in 1952 when he earned his law degree from Northwestern University. Before seeking elected office, he was an assistant city prosecutor (corporation counsel) from 1954 until 1958 and an arbitrator for the Illinois Industrial Commission from 1960 until 1964. During these years he was also active politically, beginning in 1954 when he followed in his father's footsteps and became a precinct captain in the 3rd Ward.
Political Career Before Becoming Mayor
- Illinois state representative, 26th District, 1965-1976
- Illinois state senator, 26th District, 1977-1980
- Chicago mayoral candidate, 1977 (received 11 percent of the vote)
- United States representative, 1st District, 1981-1983
1983 Mayoral Election
Harold Washington announced his candidacy on November 10, 1982. He won the Democratic primary election on February 22, 1983 with 36 percent of the vote, defeating incumbent Mayor Jane M. Byrne, Richard M. Daley, Sheila Jones, William R. Markowski and Frank R. Ranallo. Washington won the general election on April 12, 1983 with 52 percent of the vote, defeating Bernard Epton (Republican) and Ed Warren (Socialist Workers). He was inaugurated at Navy Pier on April 29, 1983. (1983 Inaugural Address)
1987 Mayoral Election
On February 24, 1987 Harold Washington beat his opponents, Jane M. Byrne and Sheila Jones, in the Democratic primary election with 53 percent of the vote. He went on to victory in the general election on April 7, 1987, again with 53 percent of the vote, defeating Edward R. Vrdolyak (Illinois Solidarity) and Donald H. Haider (Republican). (1987 Inaugural Address)
- Created the Ethics Commission
- Issued an executive order increasing minority business contracts
- Opened government with a Freedom of Information executive order
- Led fight for ward redistricting; more black and Hispanic representation
- Fought for equal provision of public services; neighborhood street, curb and gutter repair
- Opened the city's budget process for public input and participation
- Encouraged neighborhood festivals and projects
- Led movement for Illinois' Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Bill
The Harold Washington Archives & Collections document the career of Harold Washington through manuscripts, photographs, videotapes, pamphlets and artifacts as well as books from his personal library. The collections are available for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division.
For Further Reading
The Ancestry of Mayor Harold Washington
By Curtis G. Brasfield
Heritage Books, 1993
Climbing a Great Mountain: Selected Speeches of Mayor Harold Washington
By Alton Miller
Bonus Books, 1988
Fire on the Prairie: Chicago's Harold Washington and the Politics of Race
By Gary Rivlin
H. Holt, 1992
"Harold," The People's Mayor: An Authorized Biography of Mayor Harold Washington
By Dempsey Travis
Urban Research Press, 1989
Harold Washington and the Neighborhoods: Progressive City Government in Chicago, 1983-1987
By Pierre Clavel and Wim Wiewel
Rutgers University Press, 1991
For younger readers
Harold Washington: Mayor with a Vision
By Naurice Roberts
Children's Press, 1988


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Summary: For the past ten years, Marianne Williamson has lectured and led discussion groups across the United States and Europe. Her inspirational words have provided encouragement to thousands and brought solace to people with life-threatening illnesses. Frequently drawing on incidents from her own life, she has the extraordinary ability to reach women and men of all types. Young and old, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, housewives and career women, their husbands and love ...show morers and children and parent - all have come to her with their frustrations and joys, for insights on spiritual wisdom and to share their experiences. At forty, Williamson is one of a generation of women who have been part of tremendous social upheavals and are now just beginning to fit the pieces together. Today women are confused. Some would like to have it all but are held back by their lack of either self-worth or a support system, as well as by historical prejudice. Others are afraid of asking for too much, afraid of losing love and respect if they appear too greedy. Williamson persuasively proposes that women must first examine their inner lives before going out to conquer the outer world. The first step is for women to find their spiritual home, religious or otherwise, the place where they know they are respected and admired. Throughout history, women have sublimated their own talents and needs to please a patriarchal society. Now it is time to value feminine qualities, to be proud of being a woman. In chapters devoted to beauty, age, relationships, sex, children, and careers, Williamson sends a strong message of empowerment to women of all ages. This is a comforting message for men as well. The reemergence of women will bring about the healing of the world. ...show less
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In this issue you will find:
- Important PCOM Dates
- Massage Benefits for Hospitalized Children
- Discussing CAM Can Lead to Better Health Care
- A Holistic Approach to Parkinson's Disease
- Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day
July 11th-13th: (Friday – Saturday)
Vietnam Stand Down – San Diego Campus July 20th-26th: (Sunday - Saturday)
International Massage WeekJuly 23rd: (Wednesday)
Chicago Open House All Programs
Massage Benefits for Hospitalized Children
A study conducted at University of Miami Medical School in Florida revealed that massage might offer considerable benefits for children suffering from stress-related disorders. A 30-minute back massage was given daily for a 5-day period to 52 children who were hospitalized due to depression and adjustment disorders. Subjective assessments were made by the children themselves and by the nurses based upon perceived anxiety levels, sleep patterns and the willingness of the child to be co-operative. Evaluating stress hormone levels in both the urine and saliva also made objective analyses. The results were then compared to a control group who were shown relaxing videotapes for 30 minutes instead of massage therapy.
Study results revealed that the children receiving a 30-minute massage were less depressed or anxious and had lower saliva cortisol levels after their massage. In addition, nurses rated the massage group as being more co-operative on the last day of the study, and noted that the children were not only sleeping better than the children in the control group, but that that their night-time sleep had increased over the 5-day period.
Tina Allen, founder of the children's health and nurturing touch organization, Liddle Kidz™ Foundation, and internationally respected educator, author and expert in the field of infant and pediatric massage therapy, has appeared on NBC, The Learning Channel's "Bringing Home Baby", KCET, and PBS' "A Place of Our Own."
Allen understands the varied physical and emotional needs of hospitalized and medically complex infants, children and their families. As a volunteer, she has provided massage to individuals with advanced HIV/AIDS, children with special needs and senior citizens at the end of life. Most recently, as Director of the Children's Program for The Heart Touch Project, she provided specialized education and inspiration for massage therapists committed to addressing the needs of medically challenged infants and children who are hospitalized or in hospice care. She developed pediatric massage programs at Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, as well as developed a program focusing on introducing gentle compassionate touch to women and children who have survived domestic abuse.
Asked how the medical profession has accepted massage therapy for helping hospitalized children, Allen replied," Before beginning any program for children in the hospital, there is a large educational component for the healthcare faculty. This can be from as little as explaining the type of massage used to actually providing a demonstration for the healthcare team. Once they understand the pediatric massage treatment, reviewed the literature and witness a session, they understand the benefits and are very willing to work with you to offer these services to more children in their facility. Over time, I hope to see massage therapy as a regularly prescribed form of treatment for all children who can benefit from this nurturing touch."
Asked how her treatments have helped others, Allen offered this example, "In one instance I was working with a 2-year old girl diagnosed with Retinoblastoma (cancer of the eye) and she had been visiting the hospital every three weeks for procedures. Children with Retinoblastoma are put under anesthesia every time they visit the hospital, even for something as simple as an eye exam. When I provided her with massage therapy prior to her procedure, she demonstrated much less anxiety, which I did expect; however, in the recovery room, she woke up much more relaxed, especially when her mother was taught to immediately comfort her by gently stroking her back."
Allen then recalled another instance; "A 14-year old girl undergoing rehabilitative treatments for Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis in her legs had difficulty sleeping and was very uncomfortable. During her massage treatment, she reported feeling much more relaxed and much of her pain had diminished. After her session, I learned from the nursing staff, and the child's parents, that she slept for a long time, which in the words of her father, 'provided her with the medicine she needed to heal.'"
Allen will be returning to Bangkok Thailand for two weeks to help instruct caregivers and parents responsible for over 600 children.
For more information, visit:
Discussing CAM Can Lead to Better Health Care
By, Kathleen Rushall
The acronym 'CAM' stands for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. CAM is a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that include treatments such as herbal remedies, naturopathy, acupuncture, and meditation. CAM is currently not considered to be a part of conventional medicine, and because of this, it is not covered by all health care providers. However, CAM is becoming increasingly popular and accepted by the medical community and many hospitals are beginning to include these alternative services. Helping the public to become more aware of the benefits CAM can offer is the first step to improving its availability for patients in need.
To help spread the word, The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM), which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has launched Time to Talk. Time to Talk is an educational campaign to encourage patients – particularly those age 50 or older -- and their health care providers to openly discuss the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The National Institutes of Health (NIH) -- The Nation's Medical Research Agency -- includes 27 Institutes and Centers and is a component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
As evidence for CAM's popularity, a consumer survey recently conducted by NCCAM and AARP showed that almost two-thirds of people age 50 or older is using some form of CAM. The only problem is that less than one-third of these CAM users talk about it with their providers. An increase in the discussion of CAM between patients and practitioners can lead to an increase in the availability of CAM.
According to the NCCAM/AARP survey, some of the reasons why this
doctor-patient dialogue about CAM does not occur includes reasons such as the physician never asked about the patients treatments outside of their records, the patient did not know they should discuss CAM, and that the doctor's visit was too short for such a talk. More than one-half of respondents who had talked about CAM with their physician said they (not their physician) initiated the CAM discussion.
The Time to Talk campaign is aimed at addressing the need for this
dialogue to help ensure safe, coordinated care among all conventional and
CAM therapies. Talking not only allows integrated care, it also minimizes risks of interactions with a patient's conventional treatments. When patients tell their providers about their CAM use, they can more effectively manage their health. When providers ask their patients about CAM use, they can ensure that they are fully informed and can help patients make wise health care decisions.
A Holistic Approach to Parkinson's Disease
By Alex A. Kecskes
Parkinson's disease is caused by the death of dopamine-producing brain cells that control movement. The second most common neurodegenerative disorder in America (after Alzheimer's), Parkinson's affects about one percent of all people over the age of 50.
The holistic approach to treating this disease combines nutrition, environment, emotions, and spirituality. These include an array of mind-body techniques like meditation, biofeedback, Reiki, and spiritual healing, as well as traditional Eastern remedies like herbal therapy, homeopathy and Ayurvedic medicine. Yoga, Tai ji, and a variety of vitamin, enzyme and other natural supplements have also been proposed. Some of these therapies are described below:
Ayurvedic medicine -- Practiced in India for thousands of years, Ayurvedic medicine relies and focuses on maintaining health through the body, spirit, and mind. It begins by establishing one's metabolic type, then examining other factors such as a person's environment. Treatment consists of detoxification, restoring the balance to the body through palliation, and finally, tonification.
Yoga --A complement to Ayurvedic medicine, Hatha yoga, which involves performing a series of poses and breathing awareness, has been shown to help with motor-skills symptoms of Parkinson's disease when practiced on a regular basis.
Acupuncture --Based on achieving a yin-yang balance in the body, acupuncture may help return this harmonic balance by inserting fine needles into certain points on the body.
Massage therapy --Therapies like reflexology and therapeutic massage can help sufferers of Parkinson's by keeping joints and muscles supple. Most commonly used massage therapies that may alleviate Parkinson's symptoms are shiatsu and acupressure, which is a touch-based therapy along certain pressure points on the body.
Tai-ji --An ancient Chinese healing therapy, tai-ji is based on slow movements or exercises that may help Parkinson's sufferers keep their joints and muscles supple.
Exercising regularly boosts both oxygen and blood sugar levels to the brain. All it takes is a daily 20-minute walk. In fact, it has been observed that regular exercise can actually slow the progress of Parkinson's disease, the same seems to hold true for deep R.E.M. sleep.
A detailed discussion of the various therapies can be found in the book What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Parkinson's Disease: A holistic Program for Optimal Wellness by Jill Marjama-Lyons, MD and Mary Shomon.
Feeding the BodyIn terms of general nutrition, recent research has shown that people with Parkinson's disease respond better to treatment when placed on a high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet. This would include whole grains, fresh vegetables, beans, and fruit, as well as occasional low-fat animal foods, like fish. Eating healthier gives your body the vitamins, minerals, trace elements, essential fatty acids, and proteins it needs. It's important to adopt a diet that ensures your brain is nourished with high levels of oxygen and glucose. This means you should eat foods extremely low in fat and rich in complex carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals. A high fat diet reduces oxygen levels to your brain, so it functions at less than optimum levels. The same is true when glucose levels drop. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates (eating whole grains, vegetables, and fruit) helps ensure optimal blood sugar levels.
Nutritional SupplementsTaking the nutritional approach one step further, food rich in antioxidants, Omega 3 and CoQ10 seem to slow down Parkinson's. Some alternative health practitioners feel that free radicals (damaging molecules such as heavy metals, organic solvent chemicals and other unstable molecules) created in the body may contribute to brain cell death/degeneration and ultimately lead to Parkinson's disease.
Finally, some believe that a person's structural misalignments (caused by accidents, poor posture, etc.) in the upper back and neck can sap energy flow to brain cells and accelerate the effects of free-radical damage.
Chinese Wisdom: Quote of the Day
A bit of fragrance clings to the hand that gives flowers.


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79' The away end are in joyous mood, as you would expect. This has been a terrific response to a tricky start to the campaign as we approach the final 10 minutes.
76' Ki Sung-yeung replaces Canas. Meanwhile, Rangel forces a diving stop out of De Gea after Evra had an attempt blocked at the other end.
73' Van Persie now has four goals in two games and is looking extremely sharp already. What odds on a hat-trick for the brilliant Dutchman?
72' GOAL! Rooney is starting to gel with van Persie again and his first-time pass picks out the Dutchman in space. Van Persie uses Rooney's run as a decoy and thunders a left-footed drive high into the net for his second of the game. 0-3.
71' Rangel blazes a far-post volley wide as the Welsh side continue to provide a threat. Around 20 minutes remaining.
70' Van Persie's corner is met superbly by Evra, who scored in this fixture last season, but Canas stoops to make a great clearance on the line. Close to what would have been a match-clinching third for the Reds.
65' United have a three-on-two situation when Welbeck bursts through the middle but Rooney is harshly flagged offside. It was tight - to say the least.
62' Rooney is on for Giggs. Can the striker prove his fitness? Ferdinand makes a vital headed clearance with Michu storming in behind him.
60' As van Persie fires a decent chance wide, under the challenge of Ashley Williams, the manager talks to Rooney about what looks like an imminent substitution. Bony then skids a header wide at the other end as the chances start to come at both ends.