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U.S. House of Representatives
Committee on the Judiciary
Testimony of Jeanne Monahan, M.T.S.
Director of the Center for Human Dignity, Family Research Council
February 28, 2012
Mr. Chairman and honorable members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today about the most critical issue of religious liberty facing our country.
My name is Jeanne Monahan. I work at the Family Research Council, a Christian public policy organization that since 1983 has promoted and defended human life and religious freedom in the United States. We represent more than 1.5 million people from Evangelical, Catholic, and other Christian denominations around the country. I speak today as a representative of Americans, particularly, American women, who are opposed to the President's contraceptive mandate and its profound discrimination against people of faith. Fundamentally, we believe that the contraceptive mandate violates religious freedom and undermines conscience rights protections that all Americans have enjoyed until now.
Background. In December 2009, Senator Barbara Mikulski's amendment on women's preventive services with no cost-sharing was adopted into the healthcare bill. The Affordable Care Act which became law in March 23, 2010, was followed in August 2010 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) tasking to the Institute of Medicine (IOM) to study and make recommendations on specific women's preventive services to be included with no cost-sharing for patients. The IOM held three public meetings on November 16, 2010 and January 12, 2011 and March 9, 2011. The advising committee was composed of 17 members, most of whom had specialty backgrounds in the area of reproductive health. Invited presenters included representatives of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Guttmacher Institute, the National Women's Law Center, National Women's Health Network, and others. No pro-life or religious liberty scholars, doctors, or public health experts were invited to make formal presentations.
Separate to the invited formal presentations during each meeting was opportunity for public comment. During the public comment period in each meeting the topic receiving the greatest attention was contraception coverage. I was among many pro-life attendees at each of the IOM committee meetings. Among my colleagues from the pro-life movement were medical doctors, lawyers, nurses, and health insurance providers, most of whom provided remarks during the public comment period. Most frequently opponents of a contraceptive mandate discussed the inclusion of abortion inducing drugs and devices.
In July 2011 the committee issued its report. It recommended coverage of the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives. The report did not include or reference any research related to abortion-inducing drugs presented in the public comment period, which, as noted above, were provided at each meeting by a variety of participants.
On August 1, 2011 HHS revised the general preventive services interim final rule, indicating that the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) could exempt a narrow group of religious employers. The HRSA guidance, which is binding, included the full range of FDA-approved contraceptives as a mandatory preventative service for women in all health plans.
FRC is not opposed to many of the IOM recommended services, including domestic violence screenings, gestational diabetes and breast-cancer screenings. However, on behalf of millions of people of faith, FRC is strongly opposed to any person or institution being forced to provide coverage for FDA-approved contraceptives and sterilizations because some of these can function as abortifacients.
Based on the HHS rule issued August 1, 2011 the vast majority of faith-based organizations do not meet the narrow government criteria for a religious organization exemption, namely, employing only members of its religion, serving primarily its own members, and having as its primary purpose the "inculcation" of religious values. Schools, homeless shelters, hospitals, and other such faith-based organizations are not religious enough to be exempt. In the words of Rabbi Soloveichik, Director of the Straus Center for Torah and Western Thought Yeshiva University and Associate Rabbi for the Congregation Kehilath Jeshurun, " [T]he administration implicitly assumes that those who employ or help others of a different religion are no longer acting in a religious capacity, and as such are not entitled to the protection of the First Amendment." [1]
Following HHS' announcement in August the Department received over 200,000[2] comments from the public on the contraceptive mandate. In a matter of days our own constituents filed over 15,000 comments and similarly the US Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) reported that their constituents filed over 60,000 comments in protest.
Despite this groundswell of disagreement, on January 20, 2012 the Administration issued a press release announcing the government would grant a year's delay so that religious organizations not exempted could determine how to violate their consciences. The understandable uproar across the country led to a February 10, 2012 announcement by President Obama of a promised "accommodation" requiring that religious employer's health insurance companies cover the costs of contraceptives and abortifacients rather than the employers. However, no corresponding written changes were made by law or regulation.
On the same day the government issued the final regulation, again restating only the narrow religious exemption. It also re-issued binding guidance that reiterated the contraceptive mandate, with a promise of a future accounting procedure that would be issued with regard to the accommodation. However, should an accounting procedure be issued in future regulations, religious employers will still be forced to pay insurers who would in turn provide their employees the services to which they have religious objections. This is no accommodation. Religious employers would still under this scheme be violating their conscience by virtue of government fiat.
Response from religious people. What do religious people, those who will carry the burden, have to say about this mandate? As of today, most Catholic Bishops within the U.S. have stated that they will not comply. Yet this is not exclusively a Catholic issue. Recently 2,500 Evangelical church leaders signed FRC's letter in opposition sent to President Obama. The National Association of Evangelicals and the Southern Baptist Convention have also expressed their opposition.
Religious women are also speaking out. In a letter to the President and members of Congress recently signed by thousands of women of 18 different faiths and representing doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, mothers, community care workers, business owners, scholars and more women voiced their ardent opposition to the mandate.
The letter included these observations:
"We listened to prominent women purport to speak for us. We watched them duck the fundamental religious-liberty issues at stake. No one speaks for all women on these issues. Those who purport to do so are simply attempting to deflect attention from the serious religious liberty issues at stake. We call on President Obama, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, and our representatives in Congress to respect religious voices, to respect religious liberty, and to allow religious institutions and individuals to continue to provide witness to their faiths in all their fullness."[3]
It is not acceptable for the government to force religious people to violate their beliefs by compelling their participation in insurance plans that provide services to which they fundamentally object. Many religious believers oppose this narrow exemption for religious churches as well. Not all oppose contraceptives, but many do. Most strongly oppose abortifiacient drugs and devices, and there is a strong consensus objecting to the way this rule purports to redefine religion and religious belief.
Abortion-inducing drugs. Drugs and devices that destroy, rather than prevent life, are included in this mandate. For example, in the list of drugs to be provided with no cost-sharing are those categorized as emergency contraceptives (EC). The first of these drugs is Levonorgestral, or Plan B. Plan B possesses a number of mechanisms of action which can prevent a newly formed embryo from implanting in the uterine wall. One extensive review of the available medical literature on Levonorgestral revealed as many as seven mechanisms of action that potentially could prevent implantation of an embryo.[4] In another literature review of the mechanisms of action of Levonorgestral, the authors concluded, "The evidence to date supports the contention that use of EC does not always inhibit ovulation even if used in the preovulatory phase, and that it may unfavorably alter the endometrial lining regardless of when in the cycle it is used, with the effect persisting for days."[5] Plan B's labeling information also admits this scientific reality. "[Plan B] may inhibit implantation (by altering the endometrium)" [6].
The second problematic FDA-approved drug covered by the mandate is ulipristal acetate, marketed as Ella by Watson Pharmaceuticals. Including Ella in the mandatory category of "preventive care service for women" means that HHS is requiring each health insurance plan to cover a drug which possesses the ability to kill an implanted embryo. The demise of an embryo post-implantation is widely agreed by all, even those who define pregnancy at implantation, to constitute an abortion. The FDA approved Ella under the label of an "emergency contraceptive," but Ella is chemically and functionally similar to the FDA-approved abortifacient, RU-486.[7] Even Ella's label states that the drug is contra-indicated for pregnancy.[8]
A recent article published in Annals of Pharmacotherapy stated "[t]he mechanism of action of ulipristal in human ovarian and endometrial tissue is identical to that of its parent compound, mifepristone."[9] Numerous other research studies confirm ulipristal's abortifacient mechanism of action.[10] In one such study involving ulipristal's action in macaques (monkeys), four out of five fetuses were aborted.[11]
In paperwork filed for the approval of ulipristal in Europe, the European Medicines Agency noted that " Ulipristal, mifepristone and lilopristone were approximately equipotent at the dose levels of 10 and 30 mg/day in terminating pregnancies in guinea-pigs..." [12] The authors of the Annals article noted: "[E]xisting studies in animals are instructive in terms of the potential abortive effects of the drug in humans."[13] Their analysis led them to conclude "it can be reasonably expected that the prescribed dose of 30 mg of ulipristal will have an abortive effect on early pregnancy in humans."[14] Thirty milligrams is the precise dose of ulipristal now provided in a single package of Ella when purchased as emergency contraceptive in the United States.
The IOM report ignored such scientific research and analysis. Yet many Americans are deeply troubled by the inclusion of these drugs on the mandatory coverage list. Those who oppose their inclusion on religious and moral grounds should not be forced to participate in and cooperate with their coverage in insurance plans. The government should not force people of faith to violate their religious beliefs concerning drugs they reasonably view as destroying human life.
Many Americans believe that drugs that destroy embryos are wrong regardless of FDA classification. It is a scientifically valid belief that conception occurs at fertilization and that pregnancy begins with fertilization and not with implantation. This analysis is supported by a recent survey of the four American medical dictionaries showing that three of the four back this position. [15] Moreover, pregnancy is not a disease. While diseases or complications related to pregnancy should be treated, pregnancy itself is not a disease or illness. Yet even if there is disagreement with the beliefs of religious Americans who oppose drugs that can destroy embryos before or after implantation, it is not the proper role of the government to force them to violate their religious beliefs.
Conscience and religious protection violations. The HHS contraceptive mandate violates the spirit and, in one cases, the letter of long-standing federal conscience laws meant to protect people and groups from government discrimination in health care. In the past 35 years, Congress has passed a number of laws (notably, the Church Amendments[16] and the Hyde-Weldon Amendment[17]) related to protecting the conscience rights of healthcare workers from government discrimination with regard to abortion or any service in a federally funded or administered program. These laws forbid discrimination in such programs. The HHS contraceptive mandate extends government discrimination beyond these laws' protections by ordering insurance coverage in the private market in such a way as to violate the consciences of insurers, providers, and plan participants who have moral or religious objections. To the extent the HHS mandate includes Ella, we believe it violates the Hyde/Weldon ban on using federal funds to discriminate against health care entities that object to "abortion".
The HHS contraceptive mandate also impinges upon a person's exercise of his or her religion. In 1993, Congress enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act ("RFRA")[18] which holds a law or regulation that imposes a "substantial burden" on a person's free exercise of religion to be allow ed only when the government can demonstrate "that application of the burden" furthers "a compelling governmental interest."[19] In a related hearing on this mandate Bishop William Lori was asked if he believed that the government had a "compelling interest" sufficient to warrant a contraceptive mandate that will burden Catholic or others' religious beliefs. Bishop Lori responded that if the government felt they had a "compelling interest" to burden religious liberty, it would not have provided for any kind of religious exemption. As Bishop Lori pointed out, the mandate and exemption each is arbitrary in that it is the government that decides who is and who is not religious.
As Rabbi Soloveichik testified on February 16th before Congress: "First: by carving out an exemption, however narrow, the administration implicitly acknowledges that forcing employers to purchase these insurance policies may involve a violation of religious freedom. Second, the administration implicitly assumes that those who employ or help others of a different religion are no longer acting in a religious capacity, and as such are not entitled to the protection of the First Amendment. This betrays a complete misunderstanding of the nature of religion."
This is a religious liberty issue. The Administration's imposition of its will on religious organizations is an act of gross discrimination against people of faith. Even those who are not opposed to contraceptives generally have spoken against the Government's "accommodation". Debra Saunders writes in the San Francisco Chronicle, "As a believer in birth control and family planning, I suppose I should be thrilled. Except that President Obama just trampled on the first part of the First Amendment, 'Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.'" She eloquently refutes the argument made by some that the HHS mandate guarantees "choice". Ms. Saunders writes "But there is a 'choice' problem. In a raw exercise of power, the Obama administration has decreed that religious organizations must reject their deeply held beliefs and hand out FDA-approved contraceptives - including the morning-after pill...Now it turns out, Americans of all religious persuasions are free to choose, as long as they choose to agree with Obama."[20]
Conclusion. The contraceptive mandate is an unprecedented directive which deeply conflicts with religious and conscience freedom protections the American people currently receive. In our democratic society governed by the U.S. Constitution, it is not the role of this Administration to dictate what does or does not violate another person's conscience on matters as critical as life and death. It is the job of the government to defend those rights, not trample them. This Administration's act of discrimination against people of faith, and women of faith, must be stopped. As CS Lewis said, you can be sincere, and sincerely wrong. We don't question the President's motives, but we think he is wrong. You may disagree with me, and think that I and the thousands of women like me are wrong. Fine, but do not discriminate against us and force us to violate our consciences. We urge you not to allow this President to discriminate against those with moral or religious objections to this mandate coverage of contraceptives, sterilization services, and abortifacients.
[1] House Oversight and Governance Committee Hearing, "Lines Crossed: Separation of Church and State. Has the Obama Administration Trampled on Freedom of Religion and Freedom of Conscience?" (February 16, 2012) (http://oversight.house.gov/images/stories/Testimony/2-16- 12_Full_HC_Mandate_Soloveichik.pdf, p. 3)
[2] Department of Health and Human Services,"Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Issuers Relating to Coverage of Preventive Services Under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act" (February 10, 2012) (http://cciio.cms.gov/resources/files/Files2/02102012/psrule_508.pdf, p. 6)
[3] Helen Alvare and Kim Daniels, "Here We Are: Women Who Stand in Favor of Religious Liberty" National Review Online (February 21, 2012) (http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/291590/here-we-are-helen-m-alvare)
[4] H. Croxatto, et al., "Mechanism of Action of Hormonal Preparations Used for Emergency Contraception: a Review of the Literature," Contraception 63 (2001): 111.
[5] C. Kahlenborn, et al., "Postfertilization Effect of Hormonal Emergency Contraception," Annals of Pharmacotherapy (2002): 468.
[6] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration, "Plan B One Step Labeling Information" (July 2009): p. 4 http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/021998lbl.pdf.
[7] RU-486 (mifepristone; Mifeprex) was approved in 2000 by the FDA as an "abortifacient."
[8] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug Administration, "Ella Labeling Information" (August 2010): p.1 (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2010/022474s000lbl.pdf).
[9] D. Harrison and J. Mitroka, "Defining Reality: The Potential Role of Pharmacists in Assessing the Impact of Progesterone Receptor Modulators and Misoprostol in Reproductive Health," Annals of Pharmacotherapy 45 (Jan. 2011): 115-9.
[10] Reel et al., "Antiovulatory and Postcoital Antifertility Activity of the Antiprogestin CDB-2914 When
Administered as Single, Multiple, or Continuous Doses to Rats," 58 Contraception (1998): 129-136, p. 129; VandeVoort et al., "Effects of Progesterone Receptor Blockers on Human Granulosa-Luteal Cell Culture Secretion of Progesterone, Estradiol, and Relaxin," 62 Biology of Reproduction (2000): 200-205, 200. In this article, ulipristal is referred to as " HRP -2000," Hild et al., "CDB-2914: Anti-progestational/antiglucocorticoid Profile and Post-coital Anti-fertility Activity in Rats and Rabbits," 15 Human Reproduction (2000): 822-829, 824; G. Teutsch and D. Philibert, "History and Perspectives of Antiprogestins from the Chemist's Point of View," 9 Human Reproduction (1994)(suppl 1):12-31; B. Attardi, J. Burgenson, S. Hild, and J. Reel, "In vitro Antiprogestational/Antiglucocorticoid Activity and Progestin and Glucocorticoid Receptor Binding of the Putative Metabolites and Synthetic Derivatives of CDB-2914, CDB-4124, and mifepristone," Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 88 (2004): 277-88.
[11] A.F. Tarantal, A.G. Hendrickx, S.A. Matlin, et. al., "Effects of Two Antiprogestins on Early Pregnancy in the Long-tailed Macaque (Macaca fascicularis)," 54 Contraception 1996: 107-15; European Medicines Agency, " CHMP Assessment Report for EllaOne," (Doc.Ref.: EMEA/261787/2009).
[12] European Medicines Agency," CHMP Assessment Report for EllaOne," (Doc.Ref.: EMEA/261787/2009): p. 10.
[13] Harrison and Mitroka, supra.
[14] Ibid.
[15] Christopher M. Gacek, "Conceiving 'Pregnancy': U.S. Medical Dictionaries and Their Definitions of 'Conception' and 'Pregnancy,'" National Catholic Bioethics Quarterly (Autumn 2009): 542-557.
[16] 42 U.S.C. 300a-7.
[17] Hyde-Weldon is currently contained in Section 508(d) of Division D of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2010 (P.L. 111-117), 123 Stat. 3280 (2009) which was renewed through the Department of Defense and Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act of 2011 (P.L. 112-10).
[18] 107 Stat. 1488, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2000bb et seq.
[19] 42 U.S.C. 2000bb-1(b).
[20] Debra Saunders, "Obama imposes will in contraception compromise," San Francisco Chronicle (February 15, 2012) (http://www.sfgate.com/cgibin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/14/ED6D1N70AQ. DTL)


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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Smudge!
Facts about Smudge
- Breed: Domestic Mediumhair
- Color: Black & White Or Tuxedo
- Age: Adult
- Sex: Male
- Hair: Medium
Smudge's Info...
I am already neutered, up to date with shots, and declawed.
Very sweet - all 4-paw declawed
Other Pets at Sangamon County Animal Control
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Smudge, a Springfield Domestic Mediumhair cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Domestic Mediumhair for sale in Springfield, or seeking a Domestic Mediumhair cat from a breeder in Springfield.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Springfield already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Springfield breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Domestic Mediumhair breeders who help with Domestic Mediumhair rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Springfield paves the way for another one to be saved.

subset: commoncrawl


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Mick Delaney says it isn't so, but I have a feeling the Grizzlies' second-year coach had a tough time watching his team operate on offense last season.
Not because Jordan Johnson wasn't playing quarterback -- and that veteran presence was obviously missed -- but because Delaney is an old-school guy (call it Butte-old-school), and his vision of offensive football was (and is) far different from that of coordinator Timm Rosenbach that year. But, smartly, Delaney didn't make any changes because UM was already halfway through spring practice in 2012 by the time he took over for fired coach Robin Pflugrad.
Rosenbach is a big proponent of read-option, fast-break football, like so many offensive minds in contemporary college football are. As is previous Griz OC Jonathan Smith. The goal of this philosophy? To run the opposing defense ragged and score as many points as you can as fast as you can. It works for so many teams and programs, including the Griz, who used those schemes en route to a semifinal playoff appearance in 2011.
But Delaney, like we've said before, is much more of the mind of running the football between the tackles to set up the pass. On offense he prefers to use a quarterback under center, a fullback, tight ends, unbalanced lines -- you name it. It's the antithesis of the spread. His co-offensive coordinators, play-caller Kefense Hynson and run-game/offensive line guru Scott Gragg, have helped the Griz transition pretty seamlessly from perimeter football to playing more between the hash marks, a grind-it-out style.
To paraphrase a quote from Delaney in Sunday's Missoulian, the 70-year-old Butte native basically referred to the spread offense as "crap." Delaney spent 15 years at Colorado State as running backs coach, where he honed his philosophy working under friend and head coach (and fellow Butte native) Sonny Lubick. The Rams were a run-first, pass-second outfit for years, and they put together the greatest run success in school history.
As Delaney said earlier this season: "That's football. They know where you're going to run, and here we come. Man-on-man. One-on-one. Let's see who wins."
In a 55-27 win over Portland State, when they rushed for nearly 400 yards, Delaney and Montana said: "Here it is. Try to stop it." And so far only one team has (Northern Arizona). Otherwise, it's been all smash-mouth football coupled with Johnson's pinpoint, play-action passing (14 TDs, 0 INTs). You can't argue with the following numbers:
GRIZ OFFENSE (through 5 games)
Scoring: 40.6 ppg (1st in Big Sky)
Rushing: 234.8 ypg (3rd in Big Sky)
Per-carry: 5.7 yds (1st in Big Sky)
Pass efficiency: 188.0 (1st in Big Sky)


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We need a gif of the barnyard puppy licking the kitten until it falls over. That is the best thing on the internet
Managed to run a 10km in 50 minutes, when I'd originally set out to just do 8km. This was my goal time for a race in a couple months, so very happy/surprised I could do it already.
Filled out a police vetting form after finding out that a couple stupid things I did years ago don't actually count/matter, so hopefully another step closer to being a teacher. Good day!
I'm always knocking my contacts to the back of my eye. Sometimes it'll be when I'm sleepy and rub my eye without thinking, and then panic and think I'll never be able to get the contact out of there. It's always eventually come out though, and luckily I don't have 20 different contacts stuck behind each eyeball.
Old Fashioned
Apple Fritter
Bear Claw
Raspberry Danish
would also have been good choices.
Have we got many Childrens Hospital fans on Videogum? I'd think we would, but it was rarely (never?) mentioned in the Thursday Night TV open threads…..and I think it's the funniest of the bunch!
It's an elevator in Brazil, staffed by and catering exclusively to Portuguese expatriates.
Actually definitely yes. A fictionalised show based on the stories from Cocaine Cowboys could be amazing
What could it mean?
Mad Men/Lost cross-over, obviously
And it's stupid babies that eat the most lemons
Daniel Radcliffe went back to a house party with a Gaelic football team in Dublin that had just won a big tournament after they'd seen him in the street at like 3am a couple weeks ago;
Sorry guys that this is off-topic, but I have IMPORTANT BREAKING NEWS;
Childrens Hospital UK, too!
Or Spinal Tap! Then we could just post Spinal Tap quotes for a while. Or, also, A Mighty Wind, Fred Willard's finest hour. Since he's been in the news.
Oh, or Real Genius! Val Kilmer is in it and it's great, too
Especially Captain EO, though
Strange Brew is, of course, absolutely awesome. I'm broke this weekend, so thanks for reminding to use that mouse trick (AGAIN) at the local brewery
10 Things I Hate About You! Great movie, Heath Ledger and Gordon-Levitt are great in it, Alex Mac is cute in it, what's not to like!
That or Amelia, great movie.
Owls aren't the best! They've got you fooled!
I thought he said he loved me
Marie told Skyler that it'd been more than 3 months since they took the kids, I think.
Hey, did you guys know that Aaron Paul takes calls from a payphone between takes on the set of Breaking Bad?!?!


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What do YOU do?
1. When you get a hole in your sock, do you mend it? NO - I like to keep the sock makers in a job!
2. When the milk carton or bag is empty, do you put it back in the fridge? YES - How else do I annoy my DH
3. In an elevator, do you hold the door open for others? YES
4. Do you smell your clothing before putting it on? YES -mmm that fresh wash smell is delightful!
5. Do you step on the gas when the light turns yellow? YES - no excuse...
6. Do you regift? YES and pray it never comes back to me.
7. If someone drops something in front of you, do you tell them? YES - I would like someone to tell me too.
8. If you see a penny on the ground, do you pick it up? YES - A penny closer to my next holiday.
9. When you eat out, do you get a doggy bag? YES- I don't want the chef to be underappreciated.
10. Do you give out fake phone numbers when you don't want them to call you? YES - doesn't everyone?


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Sponsored by: Desert Diamond Casino
Jan 26, 2012 7:11 PM
TUCSON - Signatures just keep pouring in on an online petition showing outrage that the Tucson Unified School District pulled its Mexican American Studies books off school shelves.
TUSD recently pulled seven books from the shelves since MAS classes no longer exist.
Teachers are upset the books aren't in the classroom even though they can still be found in several school libraries.
TUSD teachers have filed an online petition in protest.
More than 13 thousand signatures have been collected.
The petition was made on change.org, a website that claims success for persuading Bank of America to remove its five dollar fee, and teachers hope this petition does the trick.
The TUSD spokeswoman Cara Rene said the books are available in the school's libraries.
"Just having one or two copies does not constitute having it available for the students," said Norma Gonzalez who started the petition.
Gonzalez said if the books were not banned, they should be readily available to students.
"They may not be available to everybody at the moment, so of course you have to be put on a waiting list or make those requests," said Rene.
Rene said it's possible the district could release more books to the library if the number of books already there does not meet demand.
Change.org tells us every time someone signs the petition, an email is sent out to the target audience, which in this case is the school board.
11 hours ago


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I found this roll of film at the bottom of my purse, undeveloped. I had no idea what the photos were! Turns out I hadn't taken all my Rome/Barcelona films in to be developed. Here's the last one! (As far as I know....)
This photo was shot on film. Taken by elizabeth2312 with a Lomo LC-A+ RL (available in our Online Shop) loaded with Lomography X-Pro Slide 200 (35mm) film (available in our Online Shop) in Rome, Italy. Date: 2012-04. This photo can also be found in the album The lost album! Barcelona/Rome.Please login to get more out of this site
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The Ella's Kitchen vending machine was created specifically with toddlers in mind. The UK food company specializes in organic children's food. In addition to making healthy food, Ella's Kitchen is also environmentally conscious. All of its packaging is recycled through TeraCycle to make eco-friendly products.
The Ella's Kitchen vending machine stands a hair under 4'0 feet (it's 45 inches tall) and dispenses 12 different types of healthy snacks. The colorful vending machine features large, kid-friendly buttons. Ella's Kitchen first showed off its vending machine back at Lollibop, a children's festival in the UK, in August. It doesn't appear that Ella's Kitchen is planning on mass producing its vending machine anytime soon. If childhood obesity continues to increase, there could be an increased demand for vending machines designed to dispense healthy children's snacks.


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A day late, yes this is true. Being that Brian McGannon was heading to Denver for the game and scheduled a post for yesterday morning coupled with the sad fact that there is only one AFC West game in week 10, with the San Diego Chargers and Oakland Raiders on byes, I decided to bring you a Saturday edition of 5 Reasons, since there will not be a Betting the AFC West article this week.
Also this week, I have decided not to ask for input from other bloggers and give you 5 Reasons my most-hated team could beat my most beloved team.
5: Brandon Llyod
A Kansas City native, Brandon Lloyd entered week 10 leading the NFL in receiving yards with 878. Llyod will be a difficult player for Brandon Flowers to cover. In week 9, Jacoby Ford of the Oakland Raiders exposed Flowers's weakness in covering a player who possesses both pure speed and sure hands. The Broncos have a poor rush offense, many times getting completely away from that aspect of the game.
Flowers will be tested once again…
Newest Chiefs Posts
4: Champ Bailey
With the national media hype all over Darrelle Revis and Nnamdi Asomugha the past few years, many fans have forgotten about Champ Bailey. The Broncos defense is 2nd to last in the NFL against the run and they will be forced to commit an additional man to stop the run on Sunday. This means Champ Bailey will be man-to-man on Dwayne Bowe… If not taking away an entire third or half of the field.
Bailey is amongst the best of the best and Dwayne Bowe is among the most inconsistent of WRs… I expect a very long afternoon for Bowe… He may not even catch a single ball.
3: Matt Cassel
Matt was slowly working his way off this list, until last week against the Oakland Raiders… Matt Cassel has solidified himself on this list after his performance in week 9. Still unable to lead the Chiefs to a win, Cassel was 20/35 for 216 yards with 2 TDs and an INT in a game the Chiefs game-planned for Cassel to take-over and lead… Sigh…
2: Josh McDaniels
McDaniels was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach the entire time Matt Cassel was with the New England Patriots, including 2008 when Cassel was thrust into the starting QB job. If you remember, McDaniels reportedly wanted to acquire Matt Cassel as his starting QB in Denver before trading away Jay Cutler to the Chicago Bears. In my opinion, those rumors are part of what brought Matt Cassel to the Kansas City Chiefs. Scott Pioli didn't want Matt Cassel playing for a division rival, so he made a move first.
Putting aside McDaniels's perceived draft-day and off-season blunders, he seems to be very in-tune with the passing game, meaning he knows Matt Cassel as good as or better than anyone. McDaniels is the big reason Matt Cassel is currently working under his big contract… And McDaniels know Cassel's tendencies and weaknesses.
1: Charlie Weis
Charlie Weis has, unfortunately, made this list before, and with his play calling in week 9, he finds himself on the 5Reason once again. In week 9, the Chiefs called a passing play on first down 11 times (2 resulting in a Cassel scramble), including the first four possessions of the game and only called a rushing play 5 times.
The Chiefs will lose every game with a first down pass/rush ratio lopsided towards the pass. The Broncos have a poor rush defense, incapable of matching up against the Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles… Only ofensive play calling can stop the Chiefs rush game.
Until last week, I was not worried about the Broncos in the least. Then, the Chiefs went to Oakland and turned the entire offensive game plan over to Matt Cassel… Stepping away from the rush game… Now, the Broncos worry me. If the Chiefs cannot get back to running the ball on first down, they may be in trouble.
Since there is no Betting the AFC West column this week, the line is Kansas City (-1.5) and the over/under is 43 points.
I am taking the Chiefs to cover and the over, if you want to do a Chiefs/Broncos only mini-parlay…
Kansas City Chiefs 27 – Denver Broncos 24


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SHOT 2/26/11 4:02:27 PM - A wide angle view as Colorado and Texas play during their regular season Big 12 basketball game at the Coors Events Center in Boulder, Co. Colorado upset the fifth ranked Texas 91-89. (Photo by Marc Piscotty / © 2011)
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Not to go all Allen Iverson here, but who needs warm-ups anyway? If athletes are going to get hurt while limbering up their hammys and pectorals, I see little point in this exercise.
In fact, let's not even skate around the ice at all before games. It's too dangerous, just ask Craig Anderson:
Calling Anderson a key cog for the Avalanche is an understatement. He was a prime reason for Colorado's surprise run to the playoffs last year, and his 51-save overtime shutout in the first round against the Sharks is still jaw-dropping.
Anderson injured his knee during warm-ups prior to Colorado's 4-3 loss to Vancouver Tuesday night. Details in the immediate aftermath of a potentially major injury are always murky, and knees are a delicate beast. There's already talk of torn knee ligaments, and Anderson has flown back to Denver for tests and will be out indefinitely.
Colorado can only cross its collective fingers now. When you're giving up the most goals per game in the entire league (3.67), having your star goalie walking on crutches and watching from the press box is especially bad for business.
There were only 11 regular season games last year in which Anderson wasn't in goal for the Avalanche, a franchise record. Maybe the performance of top goalies doesn't suffer with increased playing time, but the aches and pains of the long NHL season sure add up.


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DNA Sequencing
We offer various service levels*
A-mode (Full-service with Data Analysis, Assembly, etc) |
$25 |
B-mode (Difficult Template Sequencing) |
$15 |
C-mode (Standard Cycle Sequencing)Discounts based on throughput during the billing month:
--- |
D-mide (Do-It-Yourself) |
$3 |
*See DNA Sequencing for details about the different levels of service. Work-request is here.
Batch discounts have been discontinued. The discount now is based on the amount of sequencing done by the lab during the month.*
* Effective 2/1/2013. Contact the lab for details (email or phone: 503-494-2472).
DNA Fragment Analysis (AKA Genotyping or AFLP)
$2.60 per labeled sample (may be multiplexed).
Deoxy-Oligonucleotide (DNA) Synthesis
Very competitive fees for various scales of starting material, and processing options are available.
Note: 25 nmole scale should yield ~3 O.D.
Prices are even cheaper for batch orders in 96-well plate format. Shipping charges are waived for some vendors.
There is a small handling fee per order. $2.50 for 1-3 oligos, $5 for >3 oligos - consider using the spreadsheet if you have lots of oligos in your order.
Work-request is here.
Standard, desalted per base charge from IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies)
No shipping charge when you order through the Core Facility
25 nmole scale
$0.15 per base charge
0.00 Shipping charge
for 10-60 nts
100 nmole
$0.35 0.00 10-80 nts
250 nmole
$0.55 0.00 5-100 nts
1.0 µmole
$1.00 0.00 5-100 nts
Discounts of 10-15% for other IDT (Integrated DNA Technologies) products and services.
Standard, desalted per base charge from Sigma-Aldrich
No shipping charge when you order through the Core Facility
25 nmole scale
$0.15 per base charge
0.00 Shipping charge
for 10-50 nts
50 nmole
10-80 nts
200 nmole
5-100 nts
1.0 µmole
5-100 nts
Standard, desalted per base charge from Stanford's PAN Core
Single tube prices available from their website. PAN does charge for shipping (~$20 per order).
Batch orders of 24 oligos or more, small scale (25 nmole), are only $0.10 per base.
Standard, desalted per base charge from Biosearch Technologies
For small numbers of orders charges are available from their website.
For smallest scale, 50 nmol, the per base charge is $0.40. But if you order 20 or more oligos (≥ 20 bases) the charge is $0.25 per base.
For plate orders (at least 48 oligos), the scale is 5 nmoles, and the per base charge is $0.15.
Biosearch does charge for shipping (~$20 per order).
Standard, desalted per base charge from Oligos Etc.
Good source for GMP and ASR (analyte specific reagent). $1.80 per base for 50 nmole scale. OEI does charge for shipping (~$20 per order).
For special applications, HPLC or PAGE purification might be warranted.
Numerous labels and modified oligos are also available.
siRNA & RNA or mixed RNA/DNA Synthesis
Acknowledgments and co-authorshipWhen you publish, a simple "CE DNA sequencing was done by the MMI DNA Services Core Facility" is greatly appreciated. And send us a link to the publication too, it helps when we apply for new instrumentation.
For projects where we've contributed substantially, and beyond the services we provide for fees, co-authorship is appropriate. Here are some guidelines: Uniform Requirements for
Manuscripts Submitted to Biomedical Journals and Ethical Considerations in
the Conduct and Reporting of Research: Authorship and Contributorship.


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Welcome to Nature's Corner!
Health Food • Supplement • Bulk Food and Gifts, Etc.
Stepping inside of Nature's Corner is like going back in time. Find yourself in a century old corner store with inlaid tile floors, quartersawn old woodwork, rolling ladders and jars of bulk snacks. Nature's Corner is filled with the latest supplements, diet and organic food.
Thanks to everyone who celebrated 35 years with us!
Come in and see us for your natural health needs


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I go to this Penney's to get my Sephora, it's the only JC Penney's in Denver that I've found Sephora, love this make up. I stopped in the Salon last time I was there and Wendy gave me a cut and style. I LOVED IT! Now I will be going to this one for my hair and make up. Worht the Drive
Best Store at Northfield Stapleton Denver 2008 - Sephora in J.C. Penney
8340 Northfield Blvd.
Denver, CO 80238
Readers' Choice: Target
J.C. Penney might not be the first stop for fashionistas looking for the latest clothing trends, but the new Sephora inside the Northfield J.C. Penney is a great spot to pick up designer cosmetics and fragrances. While the selection is more limited than what you'll find in Sephora's stand-alone stores at FlatIron Crossing and Park Meadows, this location is the only one with a Denver address, and it's just as generous with free samples as the other outlets. Bare Escentuals, Philosophy, Juicy Couture — all can be had in the handy little spot, along with the good quality and affordably priced Sephora brand.


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is PAN's Staff Scientist. She is a biologist with a background in endocrine disruption and environmental toxicology in reptiles. In addition to supporting scientific research for PAN's campaigns, Emily trains community members in using PAN's Drift Catcher to monitor for pesticide drift. Follow @EmilyAtPan
We know that certain environmental contaminants are linked to decreases in children's intelligence quotient (IQ). A recently released seven-minute video, titled "Little Things Matter," explains what scientists know about this association — and why it's important.
Three types of environmental contaminants were discussed in the video. All three have been linked to falling IQs, and all three have been found in the bodies of the U.S. population — both children and adults — by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). One of the three is a group of commonly used pesticides.
Last week, California's Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released new data from its statewide Air Monitoring Network (AMN). As you've heard from us before, pesticide drift can seriously impact the health and well being of people living in rural communities.
And it is happening. Even with DPR's flawed sampling plan, this latest round of data confirms health-harming drift at monitoring sites across the state. Of the 32 pesticides and five breakdown products assessed, 24 were detected at least once. At one site, the neurotoxic insecticide chlorpyrifos was found in 75% of the air samples taken.
New California data about pesticides in food have been getting a fair amount of attention recently. Earlier this month, the state's Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) released results from 2013 food sampling by their Pesticide Monitoring Program.
Unfortunately, DPR's conclusion that the residues they found on these latest food samples "pose no health risk" is more than a bit misleading. In fact, the trends indicated by the data are that the percentage of food samples containing pesticides has gone up over the past five years — as has the percentage of illegal residues found.
Epigenetic transgenerational inheritance. Say that again? Those three "little" words refer to environmental exposures causing genetic changes that can be passed on to future generations.
These effects appear to be transferred via modification of DNA — modifications that can sometimes increase the risk of disease. As a study released last week shows, the increased disease risk can keep showing up through multiple generations.
PAN has done a lot to spread the word about neonicotinoid pesticides and their adverse impacts on bees. But there are other repercussions for widespread use of neonics too, as an increasing number of studies highlight. Adverse impacts on wild pollinators, birds and other wildlife from neonics have also been in the news lately.
Neonics are the most widely used insecticides in the world, finding their way into ecosystems through water, soil and insects other species rely on for food. These chemicals were released onto the U.S. market without regulators fully understanding their impacts, and scientists continue to uncover more unintended consequences — from harming honey bees to song birds.


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Major Explosion in Oslo - Pm's office destroyed
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July 27th, 2011, 10:53
The reason we've moved away from the death penalty, is largely because we've learned that the immediate emotional reaction isn't always the right one.
I think it's well documented that revenge and murder don't bring back the dead - and it doesn't really alleviate the pain. There is a kind of pain that can't be remedied - and the only thing one can hope for is a measure of understanding.
Understanding motives and actions can lead to a kind of peace - but it's futile to expect a cure for the damage caused.
There's a lack of power there that we must accept, or we will let anger turn irrational because we can't find a beneficial outlet.
Waste of potential
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For dinner I would choose Chef Mickey's, but hit Crystal Palace for lunch!
For dinner I would choose Chef Mickey's, but hit Crystal Palace for lunch!
I personally like Chef Mickey's because you see the big guys - Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Chip and Dale and Donald. We took 11 people over Thanksgiving and still got lots of personal attention from all of them. My kids loved it! (Of course the adults did too!) lol!
If you are on a budget, I would say a late lunch/early dinner at Crystal Palace. With it being a buffet, you can get there are 4:00 and eat until you are silly! Then get a Dole Whip and a Churro later for a snack and you are all set!!!!!
Did both of them the same week last summer. The food at Chef Mickey's for dinner was very good. It is also a buffet, and we thought it was better than most. We were less impressed with the food at Crystal Palace.
-Pat (Disneydame2004)
Dream Team Auction Coordinator
Help make a child smile! Dream Team Project Firstgiving Page
I would go with Chef Mickey's.


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Julianna Bonola's curator insight,
January 20, 6:56 PM
Any one who has experienced childhood trauma, be it physical or mental abuse, sexual abuse or anything at all, will benefit enormously from mindfulness, meditative practices and or yoga. You don't have to live in fear, you can change your life (from your genes up).
David Hain's curator insight,
December 22, 2014 1:44 AM
People who routinely relax have "improved expression of genes that calm down stress reactions, making them more resilient." |
Lisa A Romano's curator insight,
January 21, 3:19 PM
Great article sharing the evidence base for narrative therapy as an intervention
Debra Manchester's curator insight,
January 16, 11:54 AM
This is a powerful way each of us can not only be happier, enjoy broader social networks but also help make the world a better place.
David Hain's curator insight,
December 22, 2014 1:30 AM
Our instincts are to fight against adversity.The most resilient will often find a way to fight it by embracing it. ` @faisal_hoque
Julianna Bonola's curator insight,
November 17, 2014 12:18 AM
This truly says it all ! "Child interventions can produce massive savings to public finances but these are often at a much later date," the authors note. They conclude: "By far the most important predictor of adult life-satisfaction is emotional health, both in childhood and subsequently. We find that the intellectual performance of a child is the least important childhood predictor of life-satisfaction as an adult. Our children are our greatest treasure - they are the future.
Ziggi Ivan Santini's curator insight,
November 18, 2014 3:11 AM
"A child's emotional health is far more important to their satisfaction levels as an adult than other factors, such as if they achieve academic success when young, or wealth when older. Income only explains about 1% of the variation in life satisfaction – one sixth of the fraction explained by emotional health," |


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Hehe, I don't know why I don't like it, I just find it a bit tedious I suppose. And thanks for clearing up my confusion about Dole Whips, I'll be sure to try one out next time I'm in the world, whenever that may be!!
Printable View
Okay here is my place for my disney confession....
I am a HUGE disney fan, I love love love disney and have been there 10 times. My room (and im married) is decorated in disney and i am the "official" disney expert in my family......
My secret (though its not a secret cause my dad will NEVER let me live it down) is...... I chickened out on the Disney College Program when I was 19. I made my parents drive me there, from BUFFALO,NY so i could have my car, plan a week vacation before my orientation, and on the DAY of my Orientation, I sat on the curb outside and threw a temper tantrum (yes at 19yrs old) because i wanted to go home to my boyfriend and there was no way i was going to stay. My dad even talked to 2 people who were also there for orientation (who i was very mean too, if this was yu.... im SOOOO SORRY!) to try and convince me to stay. We ended up ALL coming home 4 days later.
Good note..... I ended up marrying that boyfriend exactly 2 yrs later!!!! it will be our 8 yr anniv. this jan!
Bad Note.......I've regretted this decision since jan. 1997.
okay... my other confession... i too have never had a dole whip, but only becuase i ALWAYS ate a mickey bar instead, and i have never had a turkey leg. i want one! but i have not had one.
I think Nenny Mouse wins, you crazy girl. j/k
i have never been to WDW....just kidding!...ihave never had a turkey leg or been to Animal Kingdom
My fiancee and I make ADRs using names of Disney characters. My fiancee's a bit more obvious about it - oddly, they don't think anything of someone named Cinderella making an ADR! Of course, I've used names like Merlin Jones and and they never question mine, either... :wow:
I've never had a Dole Whip.
My dirty secret is ......the fact that I love disney..I am an 8th generation Floridian with deep ties to the ranching industry in centeral Florida. My grandfather actually owned a chunk of the land that WD bought!!! Because the land was sold for so cheep (given its use) and because land prices have edged out traditional farmers and ranchers in the area my family has an unspoken boycott against WDW. My parents did take us kids regularly when we were little but they would be horrified if they knew how frequently I went as an adult!!! I always have to tell little white lies about my whereabouts when I make a trip!!!!!
My other secret...turkey legs gross me out!
I have never been to World Showcase :(
I have never been on Everest
I've never been to any of the water parks
When turtle talk first opened I had 3 seperate ocassions (wait was too long, missed last show, attraction malfunctioning) in which I somehow was not able to get into a show. Well when my fourth attempt was going to be a "no go" (Sorry Turtle Talk was closed, the cast member said) I decided to be a big 30 year old baby and whine about how "my magic was ruined". I made the cast member feel so sorry for me that he told me that if I could get at least four people in the theatre, that he would ask Crush to do a "special show" for us. Sure enough I was sitting in the theatre 10 minutes later with my fiance and 2 strangers (the only two left in the giftshop) I had convinced to go. I was so excited when Crush approached my fiance and me and starting talking! And everyone says that they always approach the kids or people with the kids , boy are they wrong :)
I've never been to Downtown Disney! (That will change in less than 2 months!)
- never been to a Disney water park
-never been to Disney Quest
-never been to Pleasure Island
-I'm kind of obsessed with finding a paintbrush on Tom Sawyer's Island every trip.
-I went to the Princess breakfast for my 18th birthday and my family were the only ones without a small child there.
-I go to 1900 Park Fare just to have dinner with Prince Charming.
I have never seen any of the the shows or parades!!
OK, I'll admit it, (deep breath)...although I LOVE the Magic Kingdom and it is my favorite park...I DON'T like Tomorrowland...AT ALL! My DH makes me ride Buzz and the Speedway cars when he is with me, but if he isn't there my daughter and I avoid it like the plague! Oh, and I've never had a Dole Whip either...guess I'll have to try one of those sometime. Can't believe I uttered those words out loud!!:wow:
Lets see... I have never had dole whip either....


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howdee there
I am hosting a edible swap in the round robin exchange and wanted to ask the people of the heirloom forum if they are interested.. Just post here if your interested. I have limited it to 20 people but will go as high as 25 if i get the iterest :) it should be a blast Purpleacres |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by walktrotcanter99 z5 MI (My Page) on Fri, Jan 11, 08 at 20:43
Hi! Could you email me with the rules? It sounds like fun! Thank you. |
- Posted by purpleacres Upper Northern Calif (My Page) on Tue, Jan 15, 08 at 14:22
Wow , I jsut found this post goodness its from my swap last year but it still works. There is no limit of people though we are up too 39 already :-) |
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Four Apache Junction police officers were placed on administrative leave during an investigation into allegations of sexual harassment and retaliation within the police department, it was announced Tuesday.
Because the investigation is not complete, the names of the officers will not be released, said City Attorney Joel Stern.
Last fall, the Virginia-based Carroll Buracker and Associates reported incidents of sexual remarks and "off-color jokes" at the department, rowdy behavior during a sexual harassment class, inconsistent disciplinary practices and retaliation.
Tempe consulting firm Sereno Group Inc. looked into the allegations further and submitted its report last week, Stern said.
The information was "of such significance" that an internal investigation is now needed, interim Chief Steve Campbell said in a statement issued Tuesday.
Placing the officers on leave "secures the integrity of the entire process so the individuals who made the allegations do not feel intimidated in the presence of the accused officers," Stern said.
Stern said he will meet with Campbell within the next few days to determine who should conduct the internal investigation — another consulting group or an outside police agency.
It is hoped the investigation will be completed in July, Stern said.
The department has 40 to 50 officers, but the loss of the four officers will not harm the department, Stern said.
"We have commitments from other agencies who will help out if there's an emergency or we get low on manpower," Stern said.


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My Profile
fair oaks, California
Member since Apr 2009
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Reviewed Greek Yogurt
Mar 21, 2012 in Food Network Community Toolbox on FoodNetwork.com
"Having been to Greece and had the original Greek Yogurt.... Buy (my favorite is Mountain High) Yogurt, strain it through a cheesecloth for at least 12 hours in the fridge. It will be just like the yogurt in Greece. Top with a drizzle of honey and some chopped nuts....almonds or walnuts. Just like I've had in Greece."""


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Alan Roytman Sixth year Ph.D. student in Computer Science University of California, Los Angeles 3771 Boelter Hall Los Angeles, CA 90095 alanr [at] cs [dot] ucla [dot] edu |
I attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate, where I majored in computer science and mathematics. I spent several years there as a member of GamesCrafters, which is a computational game theory research and development group. Currently, I am a theory student in the department of computer science at UCLA, where I am being advised by Professor Rafail Ostrovsky. I used to be advised by Adam Meyerson for three years.
Spring 2009: | |
CS 262Z: Causality, with Professor Judea Pearl CS 263B: Connectionist Natural Language Processing, with Professor Michael Dyer |
Winter 2009: | |
CS 289A: Game Theory, with Professor Adam Meyerson CS 261A: Problem Solving and Search, with Professor Richard Korf |
Fall 2008: | |
CS 280AP: Approximation Algorithms, with Professor Adam Meyerson CS 282A: Foundations of Cryptography, with Professor Rafail Ostrovsky |
From Berkeley: |
Combinatorial Algorithms and Data Structures, with Professor Richard Karp CS 278: Computational Complexity, with Professor Luca Trevisan |


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When farmers refer to adding 'three tons of manure per acre', are they talking fresh, wet manure, or dry manure that's been composting or sitting around for a while?
Sue |
Follow-Up Postings:
Can't say what they mean from an out-of-context statement but I sure hope that it is manure that has been composting or aging for at least 6 months. If so then wet or dry it would be safe to use - wet ton or dry ton. Dave |
They use the International Bull Sh•t Standard, IBSS, calibrated annually at Greewhich, UK, when they do the clocks. 1 IBSS Ton = output of the official IBS Bull on one acre of rain-fed pasture for 30 days. |
From what I could find on the web, a cubic yard weighs 600-1000 pounds. Guess it depends on how damp it is. (This is composted manure) |
Since most of the manure farmers would have access to would be wet they would be talking about spreading wet manure. I am not aware of any farmer that has access to anything that would dry, dehydrate, manure and that would be cost prohibitive anyway. |
A farmer could spread fresh manure --the actual safety concern would be how much time elapses from spreading it and actually harvesting a crop ( and what type of crop would also impact recommendations). |
- Posted by belgianpup Wa/Zone 8 (My Page) on Sun, Jul 6, 08 at 13:39
I am currently reading the old book (50s) 'Gold in the Grass' by Margaret Leatherbarrow, which may be shedding some light on my question. I've been around a few horse people, and they generally pick up the droppings from their 'bare' corrals, and pile it up, or they run a sort of rake behind the tractor and spread it out. I have never been on a farm.. But what I am reading is new to me. Apparently, farmers in cold-weather areas (this was dairy) put their cows in huge barns in winter, and the bedding, manure and urine build up on the floor of the barn. When spring arrives, they turn the cattle loose, and use heavy equipment to clean out the barns, and spread it over the fields. So, I am thinking this is semi-composted manure, and is what they are referring to. I guess farmers in warmer-winter areas just let the droppings fall where they may. Manure dispersal by producer, I guess you would say. Thanks for the input. Sue |
You asked ... "how much is a ton of manure?" Answer... 2000 pounds. (grin) Now as to the fresh, wet or dry question. It depends on the source of the manure. The 3 main sources of farm use manure are hogs, cattle and poultry (chickens and turkeys). Most farm manure is applied to cropland in the fall/winter after harvest when the fields are fallow. Some specialty veggie crops are side dressed with liquefied manure in season. But the major crops of corn and soybeans get fertilized in the fall/winter. In Iowa, hog manure is usually stored though out the year in large concrete pits or tanks. The manure is mostly in a liquid state. Water is used to flush the large hog confinement buildings. In the fall the hog manure which has been aerated in the containment area is pumped into a very large portable tank wagon and then pulled by tractor to the field. The product is then injected into the soil about 2 feet deep with a manure injection implement. Cattle manure is usually piled in and around the feed lot. The piles are often used as "high ground" in the middle of the lot so than the cattle do not stand in wet mud...they stand in dry dung. So cattle manure is usually a semi-dry product when spread in the fall. Poultry manure is also a semi-dry product when spread. Dry manure is usually "flung" out the rear of a manure spreader and just sits on the soil until cultivated into the soil. Here in Iowa, late in the fall when tourists ask..."What's that smell?" We always answer... "It's money!" |
- Posted by softmentor z9/sunset13 CA deser (My Page) on Mon, Jul 7, 08 at 1:15
David52, that's hysterical. lmao I have always considered it to be feedlot or dairy barn manure, which is mostly aged with some fresh as it is what has been accumulating since the last time they mucked out the yard. Usually once or twice a year. I don't think that it's really weighted very often. Usually they have a truck or hauler that is "rated" as so many yards or so many ton. that is a rough measure and usually a measure of the max it can hold, not how much it actually holds. Usually spreaders hold less weight than they are rated for, unless you have an unusually heavy load. So 3 ton per acre would be the whole load of a "3 ton" spreader that started out full. Don't know if that helps, but I think that's kind of the unspoken reality. |
Way back in time people with livestock might have allowed manure to accumulate in the barn, to aid in providing some heat, but by the time I started paying attention to farm practices, in the 1950's, the manure was cleaned from the barn every day and piled up, with the bedding, and sometimes even with other material to compost, depending on whether the farmer had read Sir Albert Howard. The chicken coops might not have been cleaned daily, but certainly were cleaned at least weekly, even in the winter. Conversations I've had with my Hollander relatives indicates that they would not have left manure accumulate in the barn even before then. |
- Posted by joepyeweed 5b IL (My Page) on Mon, Jul 7, 08 at 14:02
I know lots of farmers in IL and WI, and I don't know any that let manure pile up in the barn. And for that matter, the cows do go outside in the winter. I would suggest that people should go and visit a farm and observe how they manage their manure. |
- Posted by belgianpup Wa/Zone 8 (My Page) on Mon, Jul 7, 08 at 16:25
Thank you all for your thoughtful observations. Joepyeweed: "I would suggest that people should go and visit a farm and observe how they manage their manure." All the farmers do it the same way? Hmmmm.... Here in Stupid Central, the farmers leave their (too many) cattle in the (poor) pastures all year long. If they don't have cattle, they just grow grass and harvest it for hay. They don't seem to add anything to the soil, no manure, no nothing. They just take, take, take and, when they do decide to grow a crop of something other than grass, they wonder why they get such lousy results. The local Mennonites seem to be the exception, and do fertilize. In the tiny local cafe, it can be heard that "All those damn Amish got all the good land". No, joepyeweed, I think that asking the local farmers anything would be a grand waste of time. Sue |
- Posted by joepyeweed 5b IL (My Page) on Mon, Jul 7, 08 at 17:35
First of all, who said all farmers do things the same way. Maybe those Washington farmers are idiots. Here in the midwest we have smart farmers who make alot of money...who know how to manage and reuse their manure. And yes there are some bad practices out there, but IME, living in farm country, farmers don't last long if they don't know what they are doing. I think you have a low opinion of farmers, you don't understand what they are doing, and I think you of all people could gain a lot of knowledge from visiting a farm and asking some questions. |
- Posted by softmentor z9/sunset13 CA deser (My Page) on Mon, Jul 7, 08 at 23:34
Kismer well, you are right and for a small farm that may be so. And that is the way it ought to me. However, large farms around Southern Cal. and Arizona are not so clean. Feed lots just let huge layer build and muck it when there are not to many head on site or when they have a place to put it. Not very often. Large dairy barns usually move the manure out of the milking barn quickly but then pile it until the can sell it or spread it. Any way, basicly the answer to the OP's question as to weather it's fresh or not is that usually it's taken from a source where there is material that has been accumulating for some time so it is a mix of old, not so old, and fresh. hope that helps |
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text: Latest Post: Started By: Rank: Category God, Time and HawkingFrom his book, "The Grand Design", Stephen Hawking says the following: 1. "No matter how thorough our observation of the present, the (unobserved) past, like the future, is indefinite and exists only as a spectrum of possibilities." I would take this to mean, that until an event is observed directly in some manner..no matter how obvious the event may seem due to the results that came after....all possibilities of that event must be taken into consideration. 2. "It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going" It may not be necessary, but if one accpets the first quote....a scientific mind cannot dismiss the possibility of God or a creator until the event of creation can be observed. Bascially put, the Big Bang and the Creation story are on equal scientific footing no matter what the observable present seems to be. Member CommentsLarry247Science is all about questioning. Nothing is ever proven beyond a shred of doubt. Too many people choose to view science as absolute, as a faith/religion itself. Ironic how those who choose to espouse the superiority of science over religion understand so little of either. I understand Dr. Hawking to be confirming your conclusion. Posted 364 days ago. Post a Comment |


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Create magical moments with these inspired ideas and feel-good products.
Baby Names Inspired by Book Characters
Posted by Janssen Bradshaw
As an avid reader and a former librarian, there's nothing I like more than characters in books.
It will come as no surprise that I would have happily named all my children after my literary favorites.
In the end, neither of my girls got their names from a book, but it hasn't stopped me from making lists of my favorite names for girls and boys from the books I've loved both as a child and as an adult.
Anne with an "e," of course. If I'd known our second daughter was going to be a redhead, I might have considered it!
Is there anyone who wouldn't want to name their son after Atticus Finch from To Kill a Mockingbird?
For Christmas, my older daughter got a copy of "B" is for Betsy and we loved reading it together. And Betsy is such a sweet old-fashioned name.
I desperately wanted to name a girl this, but my husband thinks it's too weird to name a girl after Gilbert Blythe.
This was very nearly our second daughter's name, and after just recently re-reading Charlotte's Web I fell in love with this name all over again.
I love the name Christopher, especially since it makes me think of sweet Christopher Robin.
Literature is filled with fantastic Elizabeths, but Lizzie Bennet is always the first that comes to mind for me.
Ella Enchanted is my favorite spin on the Cinderella story, so much so that I call my oldest daughter Ella in my online life.
That Huck Finn has a pretty great name if both his first and last names are ones I'd consider for my own child.
I've loved Harry Potter since the late nineties, when my mom read the first book aloud to me and my sisters.
While the full "Huckleberry" might be a bit much, "Huck" has a lot of pizazz to it!
I feel like I'm seeing the name Hugo pop up everywhere in the last year or two, and it reminds me of one of my recent favorite children's books, The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
Whether you're thinking Jane Eyre or Jane Bennet, Jane is always a good pick.
I'm nothing like Jo March (except that I like to read), but I love her and her fiery spirit.
I'm a Little House fan through and through. They are the first books I remember my mom reading aloud to me, and I still own the full set my mom bought when our local library replaced theirs.
My husband loves Where the Wild Things Are, so I think he'd be an easy sell on this name if we have a boy in the future.
One of the books my dad read me as a child was The Phantom Tollbooth and I've loved resourceful Milo and his faithful dog Tock ever since (I think I'd skip Tock for a baby name, though).
I've loved Rhett Butler since I was about twelve years old.
Christopher might be a traditional boy's name, but Christopher Robin's last name is perfectly suited for a girl.
Mr. Darcy might not make a great first name, but William does (although, I do love the name Darcy for a girl).
If you need more naming inspiration, try BabyZone's awesome baby name finder!
You can read more of Janssen's writing at Everyday Reading and on Twitter and Instagram. She's also on Google+
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"Its gotta be worth 5 stars in my books when I eat 3/4 of it before I finally let someone else have some! I really liked the increased amounts of herbs in spices in this recipe, the flavour comes through very nicely and was a great companion to soup and chile. I also had a couple slices with my tea. It is bread... but I haven't tried it for a sa..."
"I had to make a substitution, but it still tasted delicious. I didn't have any marmalade or fresh mandarins, so instead I used one 10 oz can of mandarin slices with the juice. It may not have been as sweet as it would be with marmalade, but still very tasty. The second time I made it I omitted the soy sauce just to keep it from being such a dar..."
"This tastes good and I was happy to use up some leftover ground beef in a new recipe. I didn't have chutney, so I subbed a combination of apricots, pineapple, nutmeg and brown sugar. Because I couldn't follow the recipe exactly I wont click the stars, but I would give it a 4/5."
"My 12 year old son first made this for the family. Delicious and easy! We've made it a few times now; the kids like having it poured into containers they can take in their lunch."
"Love this as a nice treat in the morning. I've also made it with Rooiboos tea when I ran out of Earl Grey."
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"Loved how fast and easy this recipe was. I made it as directed but we found it too sweet, so next time I will reduce the pickes. The kids said they'd be great in their lunches for school. Just ad some fruit and they're good to go."


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Child Trauma Parent Guide
What is Child Trauma, what are the side-effects and how I can get help for my child? This infographic illustrates the effects of violence, maltreatment and dramatic events in a child or adolecent's life. It contains tips for parents and US and world stats regarding child abuse.


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Not getting enough sleep may alter the hormones that control the appetite.
Previous studies have confirmed that poor sleep habits lead to being overweight.
Reuters reports that a new study from a recent medical journal now explains why.
In the study, men with sleep disorders had fluctuating levels of the "hunger" hormone ghrelin, which is related to energy, metabolism and appetite control.
Night-time levels of ghrelin were 30 percent lower than day-time levels.
So during the day that hormone level rises and boosts the appetite.
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Fri, Nov 28, 08 at 13:39
Brassavola nodosa 'Mickey Mouse' |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by charm Z8 TX (email@example.com) on Fri, Nov 28, 08 at 20:02
couldn't access picture....!~Charm |
how about now? |
- Posted by calvin_orchidlover 6a Toronto (My Page) on Sat, Nov 29, 08 at 9:48
Absolutely adorable! Does it stay this small? Love the spotted throat. I have to try and find one of these. (btw I had to copy and paste the url in a new window...once I did that, the pictures on this page also became visible...weird!) http://image73.webshots.com/73/9/14/94/2863914940038638429ouLguT_ph.jpg |
yeah, thats what happened to me also :( It might be a webshots thing. I think it does stay this small. I got mine at andy's, and i think he still has them. |
Too cute! Perfect heart shape lip, love it! ditto what Calvin said though on getting to see the pic, wierd indeed! Sheila |
Very nice, did you get it from Andy's? I have one from him also. |
I did indeed! IMHO one of my best purchases. I'm just completely enamored of the scent! |
Yea, they are nice. Got mine last spring and it's bloomed twice since then. |
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Thursday, June 30, 2011
Some Thoughts on Technology and the Tour Divide
As I write this some people have already finished the 2011 Tour Divide. Others are still out there racing along those awe inspiring miles between Banff Alberta and Antelope Wells New Mexico. As is the case every year, many riders have been unable to complete the full distance for a variety of reasons. Each rider's effort is sincere, each journey difficult and filled with sacrifice. The race is hard, harder than anyone whose never ridden it can ever imagine, and beautiful, more beautiful than any words or photographs can ever capture. Each year is unique, with weather and the world making the challenge of the moment something each racer must face as a great personal test.
I'm not going to comment much on the various racers this year, I'm sure they will tell their own stories better than I ever could, but I will state some of the obvious things:
Holy crap some of those guys are fast!
My god some of the conditions this year are horrible!
Justin Simoni is one brave, smart, stylish, tough dude. See the picture at the top of this page? Picture it covered with snow. That's the ridge along the edge of Richmond Peak, and I'm pretty sure that's about the spot where Justin and his bike tumbled down the mountain. BTW, it's steeper than it looks in the picture. Justin climbed back up and carried on. Several days later when he climbed Union Pass to find that the top of the mountain was a dazzling white undifferentiated snow, he wisely retreated to get better maps and some sunglasses. And then he went back up and over, barely paused at Pinedale and pushed on into the Basin. Sitting here in the world where hot coffee is at my fingertips and my main effort is clicking a mouse to refresh a screen filled with blue dots, I can only say "Well played, Mr. Simoni, well played!"
I would like to say a bit about technology and the Tour Divide, not to judge it as good or bad, but to point out how it has changed the race over time. In 2005, when I race the Great Divide, it was a small field of racers (seven of us started). We called in from payphones, we navigated from paper maps and very few people we met on the route had any idea that we were racing. When I raced the Tour Divide last year we all were tracked via satellite and people I'd never met would greet me by name. When I'd go off course in 2005 I'd just think "Damn, I'd better find my way back" but when I'd go off course in 2010 (some things never change!) I'd think "Damn, I'd better find my way back because I know Christine is at home looking at my SPOT dot and freaking out." It was harder to call in from payphones in 2010 because payphones are disappearing from the world. GPS may guide us perfectly and while the fast folks wisely use them, some, like Justin and myself, go out in the world to find a place where we don't spend the day staring at a screen. That doesn't make us better and it may make us slower but it's a choice some find worthwhile.
Technology has changed the Tour, as has its fame. 70 riders eat more Snickers bars than 7 so if you're a back of the pack rider in 2011 you may find emptier shelves at the mini-mart you were counting on. And the conversation with the clerk may be less of a "what the hell are you doing?" and more of a "so and so was here 4 hours ago and there is this weather coming from the east and let me show you the position of the other racers on my iPhone." Again, not good or bad, but different. Racers can and do update their Twitter feeds and Facebook pages. The stories unfold in real time.
In the next year or two remote drone cameras on mini-RC helicopters will be cheap enough that people will use them to shoot video of events like this and we'll be watching live feeds of racers struggling over snowy passes or sprinting the last long dry miles to Antelope Wells. The drama will still be in the miles, muscles and minds of the racers and in the wild weather and the harsh landscape. But the front row seats are getting ever closer and the land out there doesn't seem quite as distant as it once was.
I keep saying this isn't good or bad, it's just different. We've gained a lot with our SPOT dots and GPS and cell phones, but I think we've lost something too. I can be thrilled to watch the drama and still be a little sad because some of the distance has been lost. But out there, right now, folks are rolling, baking in the heat, freezing in the snow, trudging or turning the pedals. The effort is heroic. And that will never change.
Godspeed to the racers. Keep 'em rolling,
Kent "Mountain Turtle" Peterson
Issaquah WA USA
14 comments:
- rkt said...
I like this post, thanks Kent.
- GeekGuyAndy said...
After crewing on the Race Across America this year, I kinda wished that more teams had a SPOT. Though for that race, it was more about the crew having this ability, while the riders just do their thing and just go straight until we yell out a turn to them. As the tech gets smaller (even the new Spot we had was 1/2 the size of the older model), it can be more of a just there and available thing rather than big gadgets to carry. As a type 1 diabetic, I know I wouldn't want to be out there alone without some way to check in.
A nice balanced post on the subject. Personally I think over reliance on gadgets is only asking for trouble.
Dave - 9:32 AM
- Johann Rissik said...
Too true Kent, the space has been invaded.
- Bob said...
Nice post, Kent. I was a bit annoyed at the "official" GPS track that was given out this year. It used to be that navigation was part of the race and if you used a GPS it was at your own risk. Now if you have the official track loaded you are OK even if the track turns out to be wrong, whereas the map-readers can get relegated for errors.
I can't imagine doing an entire race with my head down looking at an LCD screen, but I suppose it is faster.
Bob - 6:39 AM
- GeekGuyAndy said...
Bob, fortunately that's not how a GPS works. When you have a route preloaded, you never need to look down unless it beeps at you to indicate that there is an upcoming turn. I use a small GPS on most long rides, and have found it much easier and more reliable than needing to stop and look at a map. I know it's very easy to criticize those who choose the gadget route, but since most of them finish faster and are rarely if ever off course, it really is an improvement over maps and cue sheets. If I'm venturing off roads, I do carry a map as a backup, but have yet to need one. For all the concern of electronics failing, I have relied on cheap GPSs for 10 years and have never been lost, never had one break, never ran out of batteries (this latest one last 20 hours on a set of AAs available anywhere).
Just as cell phones were once a fancy gadget no one thought they needed, GPSs are coming around to be the same way. While you can certainly get along without one, they are amazingly helpful and reliable, and at least for me they make riding so much easier because I don't have to think about the route once I'm riding. - 8:25 AM
- CSA said...
Anyone that finishes the Tour Divide race, let alone wins it, deserves to have their picture on a WHEATIES box (that means you Kent). Paper maps, GPS, whatever they use to find their way ... these people are athletes beyond compare. Kobe Bryant, Peyton Manning, who cares ... Jefe Branham is a freaking machine.
I'll say it then: surveillance drones are bad, particularly in the wild when used for spectatorship. Soon the wilderness will be a big videogame. Watch the Great Divide Tour, follow a grizzly, see the couple coupling in a remote meadow, thinking they're alone.
I agree it's coming, I disagree that it's value-neutral.
Just ask Pakistan. - 1:11 PM
- Cellarrat said...
Good thoughts kent!
- jimmythefly said...
I like the idea of map-reading as a skill that is required for the race, but I also like the idea that GPS helps level the playing field a small bit between the rookies and veterans (or those that have pre-ridden the course).
These are just my ideas of what happens, not sure if it really works that way, though. Kent? - 8:12 PM
Not related to your post, but here's an article you might like: http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/04/the-bicycle-dividend/?hp
from the NY Times. Take care, Line - 6:43 AM
- Sheilar said...
Balanced and well said.
I loved having the SPOT. My family and friends were glued to it. The people who popped up here and there and knew who we were "seemed" harmless ;) We also loved our GPS. We had maps and cues, are seasoned adventure racers who are experienced map readers. The GPS was just another tool in the box.
sheilar - 4:14 PM
- bike princess83 said...
Kent is there any forum I can find where i can locate other riders who want a teammate???
- Kent Peterson said...
Bike Princess83
The forums on
are where a lot of Tour Divide stuff gets discussed. You can connect up with other Tour Dividers there. - 7:19 PM


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