text:
CSULB's Jewish Studies program will co-sponsor a two-day film festival on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 9 and 10, in the campus' University Theater, presenting four features from all over the world dealing with various aspects of the Jewish experience.
The festival opens on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m. with "Three Mothers," a 2006 Israeli release that examines modern Israeli society through the perspective of three sisters from an Egyptian-Jewish family who begin new lives in Israel.
"All our films this year turn in some way on the question of family," said festival organizer Jeffrey Blutinger, co-director of CSULB's Jewish Studies program who joined the university in 2004. "Whether the relationship is father-to-son or mother to daughter, these are dynamic families. These films, with very little engagement with politics, are intimate personal dramas."
The program continues on Sunday, Feb. 10, with "The Tribe," directed by Tiffany Shlain, who co-wrote the script with Ken Goldberg. "Tribe" mixes old-school narration by actor Peter Coyote with a new school visual style as it explores what it means to be Jewish in the 21st century as seen through the history of the popular series of Barbie dolls. "This film explores what it means to be a member of any tribe through a mixture of archival footage, Barbie dioramas and slam poetry," said Blutinger.
Director Paul Verhoeven ("Total Recall," "Basic Instinct," "Robocop") returns on Sunday with "Black Book" a fast-paced thriller depicting a Jewish woman (Carice Van Houten) who joins the Dutch resistance after seeing her family murdered. As she seduces a Gestapo officer (Sebastian Koch), she comes closer and closer to discovering her family's betrayer.
"Souvenirs," directed by Shahar Cohen and Halil Efrat, is an Israeli production that screens on Sunday with a tale of an Israeli documentarian in search of hinted-at half siblings conceived by his father in post-WWII Netherlands. The filmmaker tries to solve the mystery of his father's "souvenirs" without jeopardizing a new-found, hard-earned closeness with his dad.
"Sweet Mud" concludes Sunday's screenings with its portrait of life on a kibbutz, written and directed by Dror Shaul. The intimate family drama follows a mentally unstable mother and her son who are determined to make a life for themselves on a collective farm. "It is a really powerful film about kibbutz life and how claustrophobic it can be," said Blutinger. "What is supposed to be an egalitarian society is revealed as anything but."
Blutinger praised the success of the film series. "Last year's screenings surpassed our expectations," he said. We doubled our attendance over the prior year. There was a terrific response from the audience who really seemed to enjoy themselves. This year's festival is committed to showing the best films we could find of Jewish life."
The series is proof of Jewish Studies' outreach to the community, Blutinger believes. "We see ourselves as a bridge between the campus and the community," he said. "We want the community to feel comfortable about coming to campus, becoming more familiar with it and beginning to form connections to it. Our hope is that eventually some of these audiences will become university donors who will support Jewish Studies financially and we've had some success with that."
Blutinger argues that the festival's role is to satisfy a hunger for Jewish films. "This is an opportunity for Long Beach, South Bay and Orange County residents to see films they might miss otherwise," he said. "We wanted to bring to Long Beach films that might otherwise only be screened in Los Angeles."
Blutinger underlined the importance of this series to area filmgoers. "This is a chance to see terrific films," he said. "This is a chance for community, faculty and students to see modern Jewish life in vibrant and exciting ways."
Admission is $10 for each individual film. For more information, contact Blutinger at 562/985-2196.


text:
Fed concerned about early trading after meeting
By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer September 24, 2013 1:50PM
Updated: September 24, 2013 1:50PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve is concerned about suspiciously heavy trading of gold futures after its meeting last week that may have been triggered by a premature release of market-sensitive information.
In a statement, the central bank said that news organizations that receive embargoed information from the Fed agree to withhold information until the time set for its release. The Fed statement said, "We will be conducting follow-up conversations with news organizations to ensure our procedures are completely understood."
After the meeting, the Fed said it would hold off on slowing its $85-billion-a-month in bond purchases. That surprised markets and led to a huge afternoon of trading.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Federal Register: April 30, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 83)
DOCID: fr30ap10-17 FR Doc 2010-10078
Food and Drug Administration
CFR Citation: 21 CFR Part 1
Docket ID: [Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0013]
DOCID: fr30ap10-17
DOCUMENT ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.
Implementation of Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005
DATES: Submit electronic or written comments by August 30, 2010.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is issuing an advance
notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPRM) to request data and information
on the food transportation industry and its practices. FDA also is [[Page 22714]]
requesting data and information on the contamination of transported
foods and any associated outbreaks. FDA is taking this action as part
of its implementation of the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005
(2005 SFTA), which requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services
(HHS) to issue regulations setting forth sanitary transportation
practices to be followed by shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail
vehicle, receivers, and others engaged in food transport. This action
is also part of a larger agency effort to focus on prevention of food
safety problems throughout the food chain. The regulations would
address the risks to human or animal health associated with the
transportation of food.
Implementation of Sanitary Food Transportation Act (of 2005)
I. Background
FDA is issuing this ANPRM as part of its implementation of the 2005
SFTA, which requires the Secretary of HHS to issue regulations setting
forth sanitary transportation practices to be followed by shippers,
carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers, and others
engaged in food transport. Food is defined by section 201(f) of the
Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 321(f)) as
``articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, chewing
gum, and articles used for components of any such article.'' FDA notes
that ``food'' includes live animals intended for food use and food such
as meat and poultry during transport outside of official U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) establishments.\1\ \2\ This ANPRM is
also part of a larger agency effort to focus on prevention of food
safety problems throughout the food chain; preventing harm to consumers
is the primary principle described in the Key Findings of the
President's Food Safety Working Group (Ref. 3). The regulations would
address the risks to human or animal health associated with the transportation of food.
\1\ With regard to the latter, FDA notes that, to prevent
duplication of effort, its compliance policy is to inform the USDA's
Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) when an apparent violation
is encountered involving a meat or poultry product that has left a
USDA inspected establishment (Ref. 1). FDA will not normally
initiate action involving such products unless USDA does not wish to
do so. As FDA moves forward to implement the SFTA, FDA intends to
consult with FSIS to harmonize new regulations with current regulations as practicable.
\2\ USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has issued
guidelines entitled ``FSIS Safety and Security Guidelines for the
Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products'' (Ref. 2).
A. Risk for Foodborne Illness Associated With Transportation of Food
Over the past few decades, there have been persistent concerns about the potential that food might become contaminated during transportation; however, only a limited number of such events have been documented. In this section, we discuss the events we are aware of, in chronologic order. The first two events described in the following paragraphs involved contamination of food for animals; the remainder concerned food for humans.
In 1974, an incident involving contamination of a component of food for animals in a rail car occurred. This case, which FDA investigated after receiving reports of several sickened dogs, involved corn gluten used in dog food. The corn gluten was determined to have been transported in a rail car that had been previously used to transport lead monoxide. Samples taken of the dog food in which the corn gluten was used revealed that it was contaminated with lead monoxide at levels ranging up to 28,000 parts per million. A Class I recall was issued for the dog food and other food for animals manufactured at the same plant within the same time period. Additionally, FDA successfully prosecuted the carrier involved in this incident. See United States v. Penn Central Transportation Co. (S.D. Ill 1978) (Refs. 4 and 5).
In 1989, soybean hulls used as a component in animal feed were contaminated by barium carbonate, a chemical used in rat poison and paint, when they were transported in a rail car that had previously been used to transport the chemical (Refs. 6 and 7). The soybean hulls were incorporated into bulk dairy cow feeds distributed to farms in Louisiana and Texas. The contamination resulted in the deaths of dairy cows in herds from both Louisiana and Texas, and high levels of barium carbonate were detected in milk from two of the affected herds by the State of Louisiana. The manufacturer of the animal feed voluntarily recalled implicated feeds.
During the late 1980s, there were a number of press reports that
some trucks that hauled garbage from the New York/New Jersey area to
Midwestern landfills were used subsequently to carry meat, poultry, and
produce (Ref. 8). An investigation by the U.S. General Accounting
Office (GAO, now called the Government Accountability Office) found
only limited, anecdotal information about food being transported in
trucks that previously carried garbage, the types of trucks doing so,
and the foodstuffs carried (Ref. 8). However, in its report (the 1990
GAO report), GAO concluded that longdistance transport of garbage was
clearly on the increase. GAO also concluded that longdistance
transport of garbage primarily originated in certain northeastern
communities that generate more garbage than they can dispose of
locally. In these communities, the quantity of consumer goods,
including food, arriving by truck exceeded the quantity of goods leaving, and garbage had become a paying trucking
[[Page 22715]]
commodity on what might otherwise be an empty return trip (Ref. 8). GAO
concluded that the extent to which the same trucks might subsequently
carry food could not be determined at the time of the report because
federal regulations did not require that type of recordkeeping.
In 1994, a large multistate outbreak of salmonellosis was associated with an ice cream mix that became contaminated during transport in tanker trucks that had previously hauled raw liquid eggs (Ref. 9). Public health officials who analyzed data and information associated with 150 confirmed cases of salmonellosis in the State of Minnesota concluded that the outbreak may have affected more than 29,000 persons in Minnesota and more than 224,000 persons nationwide (Ref. 9).
In July 1999, an outbreak of Salmonella Muenchen occurred in 15 States and 2 Canadian provinces with more than 300 cases reported (66 FR 6138 at 6172, January 19, 2001). The product was fresh orange juice, a portion of which was imported. Several serotypes of Salmonella were isolated from tanker truckloads of juice tested at the United States/ Mexican border. In such circumstances, there is a potential that Salmonella from one contaminated shipment could contaminate future shipments.
In 2007, the Motor Carrier Division of the Michigan State Police reported 22 cases of illegal and unsafe food transport on Michigan highways during 2006 (Ref. 10). The report listed findings such as:
As with the 1999 transport of contaminated orange juice in tanker
truckloads, recent outbreaks of foodborne disease demonstrate the
possibility of contaminated foods being widely transported, which could
lead to crosscontamination between shipments. For example, in 2009,
peanut butter and peanut paste were confirmed as the source of a large
multistate outbreak caused by Salmonella Typhimurium (74 FR 10598,
March 11, 2009). These peanutderived products were manufactured by two
facilities owned by a single firm and distributed through various
channels (Refs. 11 and 12). The firm recalled a large number of its
products, including products distributed in 1,700pound tanker
containers, because the products had the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella (Ref. 13).
B. Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990 and Associated Actions by the U.S. Department of Transportation
After receiving the 1990 GAO report, Congress enacted the Sanitary
Food Transportation Act of 1990 (1990 SFTA) (49 U.S.C. 5701 et seq.
(2000), amended by Public Law 10959 (2005)). The 1990 SFTA directed
the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to prescribe regulations
regarding the transportation of food and food additives (including food
and food additives intended for consumption by animals) in motor
vehicles and rail vehicles that are used to transport nonfood products
that would make the food or food additives unsafe to humans or
animals.\3\ In essence, the 1990 SFTA directed DOT to establish
regulations to prevent food or food additives transported in tank
trucks, rail tank cars, or cargo tanks (tank vehicles) from being
contaminated by nonfood products that are simultaneously or previously
transported in those tank vehicles. Section 5704(b) of the 1990 SFTA
specifically directed DOT to publish a list of acceptable nonfood
products that DOT (in consultation with the Secretaries of the USDA,
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency) determined would
not make food or food additives unsafe to humans or animals because of
transportation of the nonfood products in a tank vehicle used to transport food or food additives.
\3\ The 1990 SFTA also directed DOT to prescribe regulations
regarding the transportation of cosmetics, devices, or drugs in
motor vehicles and rail vehicles that are used to transport nonfood
products that would make the cosmetics, devices, or drugs unsafe to
humans. We do not discuss those provisions in this document.
On May 21, 1993, DOT's Research and Special Programs Administration (RSPA) issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (the 1993 NPRM) (58 FR 29698) that would restrict a cargo tank, tank car, or portable tank to carrying either food products or nonfood products. Under the 1993 NPRM, a cargo tank, tank car, or portable tank that carried food products would have been prohibited from carrying nonfood products. In the 1993 NPRM, RSPA stated that it had not identified any nonfood products that were acceptable to be carried in a tank vehicle that carries food products and, therefore, was not issuing a list of acceptable nonfood products within the meaning of section 5704(b) of the 1990 SFTA. For motor and rail vehicles other than tank vehicles, RSPA also proposed to forbid the transportation of food products in the same vehicle as poisons, infectious substances, hazardous wastes, or solid wastes (i.e., ``unacceptable nonfood products''). However, such vehicles would be allowed to carry unacceptable nonfood products before or after they carried food products, provided the vehicles were free of any contaminating residues.
Subsequent to the publication of the 1993 NPRM, in a report issued on March 27, 1998, DOT's Office of the Inspector General (DOT/OIG) found that (1) DOT did not have the expertise to implement the 1990 SFTA, (2) performing food inspections could be incompatible with significant aspects of DOT's safety inspection operations, and (3) FDA had the requisite expertise, capability, and a directly related primary mission for regulating food safety (Ref. 14). DOT/OIG concluded that HHS/FDA should have primary responsibility for food transportation safety (Ref. 14).
Comments to the 1993 NPRM generally opposed its proposed provisions and recommended that DOT defer to FDA and USDA on food safety issues (69 FR 76423, December 21, 2004). In light of both these comments and the 1998 report of DOT/OIG, RSPA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (69 FR 76423, December 21, 2004) (the 2004 SNPRM). Under the 2004 SNPRM, RSPA's regulations would reference requirements and recommendations, established by USDA or FDA, applying to persons who transport (or offer for transportation) food or food products by motor vehicle or rail car.
RSPA did not issue a final rule based on the 2004 SNPRM. Following
the enactment of the 2005 SFTA (see discussion in section I.D of this
document), which amended the 1990 SFTA and directed HHS (and, by
delegation, FDA) to issue regulations prescribing sanitary
transportation practices to ensure the safe transportation of food,
DOT's Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (formerly
RSPA) withdrew both the 1993 NPRM and the 2004 SNPRM (70 FR 76228, December 23, 2005).
[[Page 22716]]
C. The 1996 Joint ANPRM
In 1996, FDA and FSIS jointly issued an advance notice of proposed
rulemaking (61 FR 59372, November 22, 1996) (the 1996 joint ANPRM). FDA
and FSIS issued the 1996 joint ANPRM in part to address FDA's safety
concerns regarding the transportation of food raised by a 1994 outbreak
of salmonellosis involving ice cream mix that became contaminated
during transport in tanker trucks that had previously hauled raw liquid
eggs (Ref. 9). In the 1996 joint ANPRM, FDA and FSIS requested comments
and information about approaches FDA and FSIS might take, under
existing legal authorities, to foster food safety improvements that may
be needed in the transportation and storage of potentially hazardous foods.\4\
\4\ As discussed in the 1996 joint ANPRM (61 FR 59372),
potentially hazardous foods, including meat, poultry, eggs and egg
products, fish, seafood, and dairy products, are those that are
capable of supporting the rapid multiplication of microorganisms
that cause foodborne illness. Currently, we generally use the term
``Time/Temperature Control for Safety (TCS) Food'' rather than
``potentially hazardous food'' and define a TCS food as a food that
requires time/temperature control for safety to limit pathogenic
microorganism growth or toxin formation (Ref. 14). Examples of TCS
foods include the foods identified as potentially hazardous foods in
the 1996 joint ANPRM, and plant foods such as raw seed sprouts and cut melons (Ref. 14).
FDA took no subsequent action on the 1996 joint ANPRM. Data and information received in response to the 1996 joint ANPRM are now more than 10 years old.
D. The 2005 SFTA
In 2005, Congress passed the 2005 SFTA, Public Law 10959, 119 Stat. 1911, which:
\5\ The procedures DOT would establish are outside the scope of this document. We intend to assist DOT as appropriate in developing DOT's procedures for these inspections.
1. Our Responsibilities Under Section 416 of the Act
The statutory authority in section 416 of the act extends to
broader aspects of the sanitary transportation of food than the
statutory authority in the 1990 SFTA, which was primarily directed
toward preventing the contamination of food products by previously
hauled nonfood products. The authority in section 416 of the act places
a statutory obligation upon HHS (and, by delegation, to FDA) to issue
regulations establishing requirements for the food transportation
industry to use sanitary transportation practices to ensure that food
is not transported under conditions that may render food adulterated.
We describe key provisions of section 416 of the act in the following bulleted paragraphs.
transportation\6\ of food to use sanitary transportation practices prescribed by us to ensure that food is not transported under conditions that may render the food adulterated.
\6\ ``Transportation'' is defined by section 416(a)) of the act (21 U.S.C. 350e(a)) as ``any movement in commerce by a motor vehicle or rail vehicle.''
[cir] Section 416(c)(1) (21 U.S.C. 350e(c)(1)) requires these regulations to prescribe such practices as we determine to be appropriate relating to: (A) sanitation; (B) packaging, isolation, and other protective measures; (C) limitations on the use of vehicles; (D) information to be disclosed (to a carrier by a person arranging for the transportation of food, and to a manufacturer or other person that arranges for the transportation of food by a carrier; or furnishes a tank vehicle or bulk vehicle\7\ for the transportation of food); and (E) recordkeeping.
\7\ ``Bulk vehicle`` is defined by section 416(a) of the act as ``a tank truck, hopper truck, rail tank car, hopper car, cargo tank, portable tank, freight container, or hopper bin, and any other vehicle in which food is shipped in bulk, with the food coming into direct contact with the vehicle.''
[cir] Section 416(c)(2) (21 U.S.C. 350e(c)(2)) requires these regulations to include: (A) a list of nonfood products that we determine may, if shipped in a bulk vehicle, render adulterated food that is subsequently transported in the same vehicle; and (B) a list of nonfood products that we determine may, if shipped in a motor vehicle or rail vehicle (other than a tank vehicle or bulk vehicle), render adulterated food that is simultaneously or subsequently transported in the same vehicle.
2. Amendments to Sections 301, 402, and 703 of the Act
The 2005 SFTA also amended the act to add or revise provisions as follows:
[[Page 22717]]
E. Our Current Regulations and Guidance Documents Addressing Transportation of Food
We have addressed the transportation of food in several regulations
(in Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR)) and guidance
documents that are limited in scope. We describe the most relevant
regulations and guidance documents in table 1 of this document. The
regulations DOT proposed in the 2004 SNPRM would have included a
recommendation that each person who offers for transportation or
transports food or food products by motor vehicle or rail car use
guidance documents and materials issued by FDA and USDA, and
specifically identified three of FDA's guidance documents that were
then in effect: FDA Guidance on Bulk Transport of Juice Concentrates
and Certain Shelf Stable Juices; FDA Guidance on Food Security
Preventive Measures for Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Transporters, Bulk Milk
Transfer Stations, and Fluid Milk Processors; and FDA Guidance on Food
Security Preventive Measures for Food Producers, Processors, and
Transporters (i.e., the guidances in Refs. 16, 17, and 18).
Table 1.FDA Regulations and Guidances Addressing the Transportation of Food Year &
Reference* Title Type Description Circumstances
1976 (Sec. Current Good Regulation Requires adequate Implemented requirements
225.65; 41 FR Manufacturing Practice cleanout procedures for in section 501(a)(2)(B)
52612 at for Medicated Feeds; all equipment used in of the act (21 U.S.C.
52618, Equipment Cleanout the manufacture or 351(a)(2)(B))
November 30, Procedures distribution of
1976) medicated feeds that are
essential to avoiding
unsafe contamination of
feeds with drugs
1986; (Sec. Current Good Regulation Requires that storage and Issued as part of a
110.93 51 FR Manufacturing Practice transportation of broad revision to our
22458, June In Manufacturing, finished food be under current good
19, 1986) Packing, Or Holding conditions that will manufacturing practice
Human Food; Warehousing protect food against (CGMP) regulations for
and Distribution physical, chemical, and food
microbial contamination
as well as against
deterioration of the
food and the container
1997 (Sec. Listing of Specific Regulation Requires distributors of To provide animal feed
Sec. Substances Prohibited mammalian and protections by
589.2000(c) From Use in Animal Food nonmammalian materials prohibiting the feeding
through (e); or Feed; Requirements for animal food to of mammalian protein to
62 FR 30936, for renderers; provide for measures to ruminant animals
June 5, 1997), Requirements for protein avoid commingling or
updated in blenders, feed crosscontamination of
2008 (Sec. manufacturers, and the materials Sec. distributors; and
589.2000(c) Requirements for persons
through (e); that intend to separate
73 FR 22720, mammalian and
April 25, nonmammalian materials
[Related Small
Guide (SECG)
published in
1998 (Ref.
1998; (Ref. 20) Guide to Minimize Guidance Includes recommendations Issued as part of the
Microbial Food Safety regarding microbial food 1997 Presidential
Hazards for Fresh Fruits safety hazards and good ``Initiative to Ensure
and Vegetables\**\ agricultural and the Safety of Imported
management practices and Domestic Fruits and
common to the growing, Vegetables'' (Ref. 21)
packing, and
transporting of most
fresh fruits and
2001; (Sec. Hazard Analysis And Regulation Requires that juice Added to the final rule
120.24(c)); 66 Critical Control Point processors complete a 5 to address comments
FR 6138 at (HACCP) Systems; Process log pathogen reduction expressing concern
6172, January Controls treatment and final about the potential for
19, 2001) product packaging within recontamination or
[Related SECG a single processing regrowth of surviving
published in facility operating under pathogens if individual
2003 (Ref. CGMPs\***\ (``single treatments designed to
22)] facility requirement'') achieve a 5log
reduction are separated
by time or space [[Page 22718]]
2003; (Ref. 16) Guidance on Bulk Guidance Provides industry with Issued in response to a
Transport of Juice recommendations for citizen petition
Concentrates and Certain appropriate control requesting an exemption
Shelf Stable Juices measures to use in the from the requirement in
bulk transport of Sec. 120.24(c) when
covered juice products certain products
to ensure that the manufactured in one
products do not become facility are sent to
contaminated or re another facility for
contaminated with final packaging
microbial pathogens
during bulk transport,
and stated FDA's intent
to consider the exercise
of enforcement
discretion with respect
to the single facility
requirement in Sec.
120.24(c) provided that
certain conditions are
2003 (updated Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Guidance Identifies the kinds of Issued in light of the
2007); (Ref. Transporters, Bulk Milk preventive measures potential for tampering
17) Transfer Stations and operators of bulk milk or other malicious,
Fluid Milk Processors: transportation criminal, or terrorist
Food Security Preventive operations may take to actions
Measures Guidance minimize the risk that
fluid milk under their
control will be subject
to tampering or other
malicious, criminal, or
terrorist actions
2003 (updated Food Producers, Guidance Identifies the kinds of Issued in light of the
2007) (Ref. Processors, and preventive measures potential for tampering
18) Transporters: Food operators of human or or other malicious,
Security Preventive animal food criminal, or terrorist
Measures Guidance establishments actions
(including firms that
distribute or transport
food or food
ingredients) may take to
minimize the risk that
food under their control
will be subject to
tampering or other
malicious, criminal, or
terrorist actions
2004 (Ref. 19) Guidance for Industry Guidance Provides guidance on Issued to address health
2007 (Ref. 26) Grade A Pasteurized Milk Model standard Sets forth training To facilitate the
Ordinance, Appendix B, for voluntary requirements, evaluation shipment and acceptance
Milk Sampling, Hauling adoption by criteria, and standards of milk and milk
and Transportation State and to be met by bulk milk products of high
local haulers and milk sanitary quality in
authorities transporters interstate and
intrastate commerce
2008 (Ref. 27) Guidance for Industry: Guidance Recommends practices for Part of recommendations
Guide to Minimize transporting freshcut to enhance the safety
Microbial Food Safety produce under conditions of freshcut produce by
Hazards of FreshCut that will protect the minimizing microbial
Fruits and Vegetables food against physical, food safety hazards
chemical, and
2008 (Sec. Cattle Materials Regulation Requires the use of To provide an additional
589.2001(c); Prohibited in Animal dedicated equipment for layer of animal feed
73 FR 22720; Food or Feed to Prevent handling and protections by removing
April 25, the Transmission of transporting cattle that material at
2008) Bovine Spongiform materials prohibited in highest risk for
Encephalopathy animal feed transmitting BSE
through animal feed
2009 (21 CFR Production, Storage, And Regulation Establishes requirements Part of a rule requiring
118.1(b) and Transportation Of Shell for refrigeration of measures to prevent
118.4(e); 74 Eggs shell eggs during Salmonella Enteritidis
FR 33030, July transportation in shell eggs during
9, 2009) production, storage,
and transportation
\*\ All section numbers cited in Table 1 refer to sections in 21 CFR.
\**\ We have requested comments and scientific data to enable us to improve this guidance (73 FR 51306, September 2, 2008).
\***\ If a treated juice is transported to another facility for final packaging or blending and packaging
operations, the entire 5log reduction must be repeated (66 FR 6138 at 6172, January 19, 2001).
F. Current Industry Practices and Areas Where Food Is At Greatest Risk For Contamination
1. Interstate Food Transportation Assessment Project
In 2007, the Michigan Department of Agriculture released information obtained from its Interstate Food Transportation Assessment Project, conducted with the States of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio (Ref. 28). The purpose of the project was to determine the current state of food safety and food defense in the context of intransit food in interstate commerce. The project identified several areas of concern in food transport that increase the likelihood of food contamination, such as improper refrigeration, transport of raw meat and poultry simultaneously or sequentially in trucks also used to carry fruit and vegetables, food products lacking label or source information, improper packaging, infestation with insects, insanitary storage (e.g., roof leaks and moldy walls, animal blood and food on bed floors), lack of security seals or locks, low driver awareness of safe food temperatures, and inadequate food safety training of drivers (Refs. 28 and 29). Most of the specific instances where food transportation problems were found involved smaller box trucks and transporters of ethnic food; there were ``little or no areas of concern'' identified with larger (semitractor trailer) trucks inspected during the survey (Ref. 28).
2. Report by Eastern Research Group, Inc.
The data and information we received in response to the 1996 joint ANPRM are now dated. To obtain more current data and information, we recently contracted with Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG) to undertake a study designed to characterize current baseline practices in the sectors involved in food transportation and to identify current areas where food is at risk for adulteration (Ref. 29). In 2009, ERG issued a report (the ERG report) with its findings (Ref. 29). The ERG report describes the results of a comprehensive literature review pertaining to food handling practices in the food transportation industry. The ERG report also presents the findings from an expert opinion elicitation study, which ERG conducted to identify the main problems that pose microbiological, chemical, and/or physical safety hazards to food during transportation and storage, and to determine the preventive controls needed to address each of the problems identified. The ERG report largely discusses its findings from the perspective of food intended for consumption by humans (e.g., raw seafood, meat, poultry, produce, eggs, and refrigerated foods that are readytoeat) but also reports some findings related to animal feed.
In its report, ERG provides an overview of the domestic food supply
chain (Ref. 29). A manufacturing facility may be served by a tier of
suppliers. These manufacturing facilities then serve distribution
facilities, which eventually serve retailer outlets, including
restaurant retail facilities that serve the end consumer. Some food
manufacturers use thirdparty logistics providers to outsource
transportation procurement, while others organize the transport of
their goods internally. (A thirdparty logistics provider is a firm
that provides outsourced or ``third party'' logistics services to
companies for part or sometimes all of their supply chain management
function.) In this complex system, risk associated with an undetected
problem increases the further one moves back in the supply chain,
because a problem that is introduced further back in the supply chain
system can spread out to many distributors and retailers who serve consumers.
Through its literature review, ERG identified:
[[Page 22720]]
transportation and storage (i.e., physical, chemical, and biological contamination) and risk factors during transportation and holding; and
Through its literature review and expert opinion elicitation study,
ERG identified the following 15 problem areas where food may be at risk
for physical, chemical, or biological contamination during transport and storage:
Through its literature review and expert opinion elicitation study, ERG identified the following seven preventive controls with the broadest applicability across all food sectors and modes of transport:
II. Issues and Requests for Data and Information
As already noted, the data and information received in response to the 1996 joint ANPRM are dated and are of limited usefulness. The more recent data and information in the ERG report enhances our understanding of current baseline practices in the food transportation industry, problem areas that pose microbiological, chemical, and/or physical safety hazards to food during transportation and storage, and preventive controls that have the potential to address the problem areas.
The purpose of this document is to obtain data and information that would be more current and of greater relevance than the data and information we received in response to the 1996 joint ANPRM and to augment the more current information in the ERG report. Specifically, we request public comments containing data and information on the issues and questions listed in sections II.A through II.G of this document.
A. Issue 1: Firms Subject to the 2005 SFTA
We are seeking data and information about firms that are subject to the 2005 SFTA and the food for humans or animals that such firms transport. Firms subject to the 2005 SFTA include shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers, and any other person engaged in the transportation of food. These data and information will enhance our understanding of the characteristics of the firms that are providing food transportation services.
Question 1a. What types of vehicles or methods are used to transport food by motor vehicle or rail vehicle (e.g., bulk tank trucks, cargo tanks, and freight containers)?
Question 1b. How much food, and what percentage of food, is carried by each type of vehicle on an annual basis?
Question 1c. What are the amounts and percentages of foods that are transported completely enclosed by packaging, not completely enclosed by packaging (e.g., grain, some fresh produce items), or in bulk tanks (e.g., juices, oils)?
Question 1d. What proportion of vehicles is exclusively dedicated
to transporting foods? What proportion of vehicles transport both food and nonfood products?
B. Issues 2 through 6: Current Practices Used By Firms Subject to the 2005 SFTA
We are seeking data or information on the specific sanitary transportation practices that must be prescribed under regulations we establish under section 416(c)(1) of the act.
1. Issue 2: Sanitation Practices
Question 2a. What industry standards exist for the cleaning of food transportation vehicles?
Question 2b. How are appropriate protocols established for cleaning vehicles (including bulk vehicles and nonbulk vehicles)?
Question 2c. How is the adequacy of cleaning vehicles (including bulk vehicles and nonbulk vehicles) assessed?
2. Issue 3: Packaging, Isolation, and Other Protective Measures
Question 3a. What procedures and practices are in place to prevent contamination of foods not completely enclosed by packaging during transport?
Question 3b. How are the physical integrity and physical security of a food
[[Page 22721]]
transport vehicle ensured during its run?
Question 3c. What operations associated with food transport (e.g., intermodal transfer and pumping food from transport tanks into receiving vessels at the destination) pose the greatest potential for contaminating food?
Question 3d. What procedures and practices are in place to ensure temperature control for TCS foods?
3. Issue 4: Limitations on the Use of Vehicles
Question 4a. What types of food products are typically transported simultaneously? What types of food products are typically transported sequentially?
Question 4b. Are there any industry standards or State or local
restrictions on the simultaneous or sequential transport of different categories of food?
4. Issue 5: Information Sharing Among Parties Involved in the Transportation of Food
Through the 2005 SFTA, Congress provided express authority to specify the types of information that must be disclosed to carriers by persons arranging to transport food and to manufacturers or other persons that arrange for the transport of food or furnish a vehicle for the transportation of food. In our exercise of this authority, it is critical that we understand what sort of information exchange is feasible, practical, and/or desirable.
Question 5a. What types of information are currently disclosed to carriers by persons arranging to transport food? In what form is this information disclosed? What additional information would be useful or necessary to achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA?
Question 5b. What types of information are currently disclosed to manufacturers or other persons that arrange for the transport of food by a carrier? In what form is this information disclosed? What additional information would be useful or necessary to achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA?
Question 5c. What types of information are currently disclosed to
manufacturers or other persons that furnish a tank vehicle or bulk
vehicle for the transportation of food? In what form is this
information disclosed? What additional information would be useful or necessary to achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA?
5. Issue 6. Records Currently Kept By Firms Subject to the 2005 SFTA
Question 6a. What types of records are currently kept by persons arranging to transport food? What additional records would be useful or necessary to achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA? How long should persons arranging to transport food keep applicable records?
Question 6b. What types of information are currently kept by shippers and by carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle? What additional records would be useful or necessary to achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA? How long should shippers and carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle keep applicable records?
Question 6c. What types of records are currently kept by receivers
of food? What additional records would be useful or necessary to
achieve the goals of the 2005 SFTA? How long should persons who receive food keep applicable records?
C. Issue 7. Simultaneous or Subsequent Shipment of Nonfood Products in Vehicles Used to Transport Food
Question 7a. Are food products transported simultaneously or sequentially with nonfood products? If the answer to this question is yes, what nonfood products are commonly transported in vehicles that also transport food?
Question 7b. What nonfood products may, if shipped in a bulk vehicle, pose a risk of contamination to food that is subsequently transported in the same vehicle?
Question 7c. What nonfood products may, if shipped in a motor vehicle or rail vehicle (other than a tank vehicle or bulk vehicle), pose a risk of contamination to food that is simultaneously or subsequently transported in the same vehicle?
Question 7d. Are there any industry standards or State or local restrictions on the simultaneous or sequential transport of food and nonfood products?
D. Issue 8. Acceptable Reasons for Waiver of Requirements
Question 8. What reasons might exist for a waiver of any or all foreseeable requirements under section 416 with respect to any class of persons, vehicles, food, or nonfood products? For any such reason for waiver, identify and provide data and information that would support a possible determination that the waiver (A) will not result in the transportation of food under conditions that would be unsafe for human or animal health; and (B) will not be contrary to the public interest. E. Issue 9. Federal Preemption of State and Local Food Transportation Requirements
Section 416(e) of the act, as amended by the 2005 SFTA, states that a requirement of a State or political subdivision of a State that concerns the transportation of food is preempted if it conflicts with or presents an obstacle to implementing the requirements of this section or a regulation prescribed under this section. FDA is seeking comments on existing requirements of a State or political subdivision of a State regarding the sanitary transportation of food. FDA intends to solicit further comments regarding this provision in the proposed rule.
Question 9. What States or political subdivisions of a State have
requirements for the sanitary transportation of food and what are these requirements?
F. Issue 10. Risk for Foodborne Illness Associated With Transportation of Food
We have limited data and information about outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with transportation of food; see sections I.A and I.F of this document for a description of the data and information currently available to us. There are, however, a number of known areas where food is at risk for adulteration and reported instances of unsafe food transport (Refs. 10, 28, and 29). We are seeking data and information to enable us to focus our regulatory efforts in areas that present the greatest risk to public health.
Question 10a. What data or information are available on investigations that have shown a suspected or documented link between an outbreak of foodborne illness and the transport process?
Question 10b. What data or information are available in instances where food was suspected or documented of being contaminated during transport, even if the food was not implicated in an outbreak of foodborne illness?
Question 10c. What data or information are available from State or local authorities regarding compliance with or enforcement of State or local food transportation requirements?
Question 10d. What are the problem areas where food may be at greatest risk for physical, chemical, or biological contamination during transport?
G. Issue 11. Benefits and Costs
We are seeking data and information to enable us to estimate the benefits and costs of regulations implementing the 2005 SFTA and to estimate of the effects of regulatory options on small entities. [[Page 22722]]
Question 11a. What is the size of carrier firms (e.g., based on annual revenue or on number of vehicles)?
Question 11b. What is the number of small entities that could be affected by regulations implementing the 2005 SFTA?
Question 11c. What steps could be taken to lessen the burden on small entities while still protecting the public health?
III. Comments
Interested persons may submit to the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES) electronic or written comments regarding this document. Submit a single copy of electronic comments or two paper copies of any mailed comments, except that individuals may submit one paper copy. Comments are to be identified with the docket number found in brackets in the heading of this document. Received comments may be seen in the Division of Dockets Management between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
IV. References
We have placed the following references on display in the Division of Dockets Management (see ADDRESSES). You may see them between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday. (FDA has verified the Web site addresses, but FDA is not responsible for any subsequent changes to the Web sites after this document publishes in the Federal Register.)
1. FDA, 2005, CPG Sec. 565.100 FDA Jurisdiction Over Meat and Poultry Products. Available at http://www.fda.gov/ICECI/ ComplianceManuals/CompliancePolicyGuidanceManual/ucm074588.htm. Accessed and printed on February 18, 2010.
2. FSIS, 2005, FSIS Safety and Security Guidelines for the Transportation and Distribution of Meat, Poultry, and Egg Products. Accessed and printed on March 31, 2010.
3. Food Safety Working Group, 2009, Key Findings, Available at http://www.foodsafetyworkinggroup.gov/ContentKeyFindings/ HomeKeyFindings.htm. Accessed and printed on January 22, 2010.
4. FDA, 1982, FDA Notice of Judgment No. 31, FDA Consumer, Vol. 16, No. 7, pp. 3334.
5. FDA, 1975, Memorandum dated June 9, 1975, from Bureau of Veterinary Medicine to General Counsel regarding 026137G, Doc 096 447H, Corn Gluten Meal, Veterinary.
6. Schneider, K., 1989, ``Tainted Milk and Meat Raise
Vigilance,'' New York Times, May 11, 1989, Available at http:// www.nytimes.com/1989/05/11/us/taintedmilkandmeatraise
vigilance.html, Accessed and printed on July 24, 2009.
7. FDA, 1989, Memorandum dated November 15, 1989, from Case Guidance Branch, Division of Compliance, Center for Veterinary Medicine to New Orleans District Office Regarding Barium Carbonate Contamination, EIR 5/825/89, 89559371/382, Feeds and Ingredients.
8. U.S. Government Accounting Office, 1990, Report to Congressional Requesters, Truck Transport: Little is Known About Hauling Garbage and Food in the Same Vehicles, GAO/RCED90161, Available at http://archive.gao.gov/d23t8/141739.pdf, Accessed and printed on June 3, 2009.
9. Hennessy T.W., Hedberg, C.W., Slutsker, L. et al., 1996, ``A National Outbreak of Salmonella Enteriditis Infections From Ice Cream,'' New England Journal of Medicine, Vol. 334, No. 20, pp. 12811286.
10. Motor Carrier Division, Michigan State Police, 2007,
Commercial Motor Vehicle Enforcement Quarterly, Available at http:// www.michigan.gov/documents/msp/CMV_Quarterly_January_2007_
205099_7.pdf, Accessed and printed on May 28, 2009.
11. FDA, 2009, Recall of Products Containing Peanut Butter; Salmonella Typhimurium, Printed February 4, 2009.
12. FDA, 2009, Safety, FDA's Investigation, (Peanut Products Recall), Printed June 4, 2009.
13. Peanut Corporation of America, 2009, Press release, January 18, 2009, Available at http://www.fda.gov/Safety/Recalls/ ArchiveRecalls/2009/ucm128828.htm, Accessed and printed on June 2, 2009.
14. U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Inspector General, 1998, Audit Report, Review of Departmental Actions Concerning the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 1990, Research and Special Programs Administration, TR1998100, Available at http://www.oig.dot.gov/StreamFile?file=/data/pdfdocs/tr1998100.pdf, Accessed and printed on June 3, 2009.
15. FDA, 2009, Food Code, Chapter 1, Purpose and Definitions, Available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/FoodSafety/ RetailFoodProtection/FoodCode/FoodCode2009/ucm186464.htm, Accessed and printed on November 24, 2009.
16. FDA, 2003, Guidance on Bulk Transport of Juice Concentrates and Certain Shelf Stable Juices, Available at http://www.fda.gov/ Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ default.htm, Accessed and printed on June 4, 2009.
17. FDA, 2007, Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Transporters, Bulk Milk
Transfer Stations and Fluid Milk Processors: Food Security
Preventive Measures Guidance, Available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/ GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/
default.htm, Accessed and printed on June 4, 2009.
18. FDA, 2007, Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters:
Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance, Available at http:// www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/
GuidanceDocuments/default.htm, Accessed and printed on June 4, 2009.
19. FDA, 1998, FDA Guidance for Industry
20. FDA, 1998, Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables, Available at http://www.fda.gov/ Food/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/GuidanceDocuments/ default.htm, Accessed and printed on June 4, 2009.
21. The White House, Office of the Press Secretary, 1997, President Clinton Announces Initiative to Ensure the Safety of Imported and Domestic Fruits and Vegetables, Available at http:// clinton4.nara.gov/textonly/WH/New/html/199710028886.html, Accessed and printed on November 30, 2009.
22. FDA, 2003, Guidance for Industry: Juice HACCP; Small Entity Compliance Guide, Available at http://www.fda.gov/Food/
Regarding the provisions with respect to human food: Michael Kashtock, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (HFS317), Food and Drug Administration, 5100 Paint Branch Pkwy., College Park, MD 207403835, 3014362022.
Regarding the provisions with respect to food for animals: Shannon Jordre, Center for Veterinary Medicine (HFV235), Food and Drug Administration, 7519 Standish Pl., Rockville, MD 20855, 2402769229.


text:
New Cars, Used Cars, Car Pictures, Car Review
Test Drive: New BMW 4-Series, the newest Bavarian coupe!
Test Drive: New 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 7 1.6TDI! Part 2!
Test Drive: New 2013 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 7 1.6TDI! Part 1!
Test drive: Mercedes CLA 220 CDI, new four-door coupe on the road!
Test drive: How you feel driving an BMW X6M? Road giant... part 2!
New Jaguar XF has been cheaper, saving 3025 pound!
Jaguar XF 2012 interior exterior pics 10
Jaguar XF 2012 interior exterior pics 01
Jaguar XF 2012 interior exterior pics 11
Jaguar XF 2012 interior exterior pics 02
The new car of
Jaguar XF
is available in the market in a lower price in comparison to the former. It is saving almost 3025pound because the price has been lowered to 27,225pound. It is available at 5.9% APR.
Jaguar XF
highly upgraded in the context of technology. It has a touch screen of high definition in which the passenger can watch TV while travelling in the car. This HD display can be used by the driver for following the satellite navigation. The car comes with eight airbags, anti lock brakes, the traction and the stability controls.
The interior of the car has been made super classy by fixing an icy blue light inside the car, which gives cool atmosphere within the car. When you press the button of the starter backlight pulse a red heartbeat appears, and gear selector awakes in no time.
The other luxuries of the car are the leather seats, the climatic and cruise control system. The car has its Bluetooth connectivity system that means. The passenger can hear any song sitting within the car by sending his or her favorite songs to the cars sound system via Bluetooth from his or her laptop or phone. The car is equipped with a 320W sound system of premium quality. It has a heated windscreen too.
The range of
Jaguar XF
has been through persistent development because of introducing a pair of the newly designed V6 engines (diesel) of 3litre along with the XFR which is powered by a V8 engine of 5litre that develops 510PS. Innovation has been the hallmark of this company.
And this XF range is the most recent proof of the researches of the companys engineers where the driver is provided an utmost luxury and comfort during driving as well as the rich feeling of power and beauty of speed.
Related News
Jaguar XF Sports Brake: better late than never!
Jaguar XF is the best car in its class!
Just Video: Nissan GT-R vs. Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport vs. Jaguar XKR!
Luxury saloon at a competitive price: Jaguar XF!
2012 Brussels Motor Show- PREVIEW: Jaguar brand.
Maserati LaMaserati, amazing concept escaped from Hell!
Monday, 24 February 2014 16:58:18
Do you remember supercar Ferrari LaFerrari, launched a year ago at the Geneva Motor Show, is not it? Replace Ferrari with Maserati and the result is the following study design. If Dante were...
German Surprise: Audi Q8 SUV will become reality?
Tuesday, 18 February 2014 12:14:05
According to the British from Autocar magazine, the famous German manufacturer will launch by the middle of this decade a very interesting electric car: Audi Q8. Why interesting? The 2015 will...
McLaren 650S is the new supercar in brand range!
Monday, 17 February 2014 13:44:56
McLaren has prepared a surprise for the Geneva Motor Show 2014: a new model called the 650S. Here now we have the first images of the formidable British supercar. McLaren 650S, the first images...
BMW 2-Series Active Tourer: Fist BMW MPV and First with front traction!
Saturday, 15 February 2014 13:43:51
BMW continues the series of absolute premieres and today reveals its first front wheel drive car, the new 2-Series Active Tourer. The last period marked many changes in the range of Bavarians...
2014 new Mercedes S-Class Coupe is amazing!
Thursday, 13 February 2014 15:42:34
The German manufacturer has already revealed all the secrets of its new S-Class Coupe that will be presented at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. This new Mercedes S-Class Coupe, reminiscent...
Volkswagen Taigun SUV, new brother for Tiguan and Touareg
Monday, 10 February 2014 15:26:00
Volkswagen is showing signs that it wants a new model in its SUV range, together with Tiguan and Touareg. Consequently, they are likely to receive a smaller brother, because the VW Taigun...
Celebs and Cars: Maria Sharapova and her unique Porsche Panamera GTS!
Monday, 10 February 2014 15:36:40
If a Porsche supercar does not seem sufficiently exclusive, Germans have Porsche Executive program that means that the car can be customized at will. It is how tennis player Maria Sharapova did. ...
This innocent dog started to eat an Aston Martin worth Euro 100,000!
Wednesday, 5 February 2014 15:52:57
A man from Grat Britain was forced to give up for adoption his dog after the dog has chewed...literally... his luxury bolide, an Aston Martin worth about $ 100,000. Not in the worst nightmares...
BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe just entered into new series family!
Sunday, 2 February 2014 15:33:55
The first official photos of the new BMW 4-Series Gran Coupe arrived today on the Internet, with more than a month ahead of its public debut at the Geneva Motor Show. Designed to compete...
Alain Menu Return to British Touring Car Championship with BMR
Sunday, 2 February 2014 13:42:42
Alain Menu, two-time British Touring Car Champion, has formally returned this year, with team BMR. Menu was behind the wheels of a Volkswagen CC in his first year of participation back in...
© 2011 Daily Cars News. All Rights Reserved. |
Privacy Policy
Here you can find the freshest daily news about cars.


text:
There was some exciting news on the dock this morning; one of our resident seals was accompanied by a pup. Congratulations to the new Mother.
This is Yoshi Suzuki; he travelled all the way from Japan to catch her first salmon which weighed 10 lbs.
Here we have one of the Acklen sisters. Gerthie loves catching 12 lbs. salmon and her sister Jennifer is proving the fishermen love to stretch the truth.
These are the Kaliel boys and they had such a good time, you should have seen the little guy walking proudly around the dock showing off his pink!
~ Caylin


text:
login / sign up / content filter is: on
Cars > nfurno's Garage
Permanent Link to nfurno's Garage:
No car information available.
— Profile last updated: Jan 2, 2011
Log in to post comments.
No comments have been posted on nfurno's garage.
nfurno has no bikes.
nfurno has no boats.
nfurno has no planes.
nfurno has no car garage videos.
Print your passion at Motortopia.com (http://www.motortopia.com)


text:
2000s Recipes + Menus
Pinto-Bean Mole Chili
- Active time:30 min
- Start to finish:45 min
November 2007
With its notes of cumin, cinnamon, and chocolate playing off the gentle spice, this meatless chili combines the best parts of a mole sauce and a Cincinnati-style chili. Its rich body makes it a seriously satisfying dinner any night of the week. Learn more about chocolate's savory side from Le Bernardin's pastry chef.
- 2 medium dried ancho chiles, wiped clean
- 1 dried chipotle chile, wiped clean
- 1 teaspoon cumin seeds, toasted (see Tips) and cooled
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano, crumbled
- Rounded 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 medium onions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 3 medium zucchini and/or yellow squash, quartered lengthwise and cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 3/4 lb kale, stems and center ribs discarded and leaves coarsely chopped
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1/8 teaspoon sugar
- 1 oz unsweetened chocolate, finely chopped (3 tablespoons)
- 1 (14 1/2-oz) can whole tomatoes in juice, drained, reserving juice, and chopped
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 3 (15-oz) cans pinto beans, drained and rinsed
an electric coffee/spice grinder -
rice; chopped cilantro; chopped scallions; sour cream
Slit chiles lengthwise, then stem and seed. Heat a dry heavy medium skillet over medium heat until hot, then toast chiles, opened flat, turning and pressing with tongs, until pliable and slightly changed in color, about 30 seconds. Tear into small pieces.
Pulse cumin seeds and chiles in grinder until finely ground. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in oregano, cinnamon, and 1 1/2 teaspoons salt.
Cook onions in oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until softened. Add garlic and cook, stirring, 1 minute, then add chile mixture and cook, stirring, 30 seconds. Stir in zucchini and kale and cook, covered, 5 minutes. Add zest, sugar, chocolate, tomatoes with their juice, and water and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes.
Stir in beans and simmer 5 minutes. Season with salt.
Cooks' note: Chili improves in flavor if made 1 to 2 days ahead. Chill, uncovered, until cool, then cover.
- Keywords
- andrea albin,
- vegetarian,
- chocolate,
- latino,
- spices


text:
Holman Christian Standard (CSB) | New International Version (NIV) |
1 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: | 1 To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder, a witness of Christ's sufferings and one who also will share in the glory to be revealed: |
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Holman Christian Standard Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


text:
Fettercairn House almost certainly contains elements of a fortified, defensive structure, however it has been much changed over the centuries and now no visible remains of this earlier building survive.
Where is Fettercairn House?
Fettercairn House is in the parish of Fettercairn and the county of Kincardineshire.
Grid reference: NO 65583 73990
Lat / long: 56.85539823, -2.565787327
Lat / long: 56.85539823, -2.565787327


text:
We know you Fab ladies well enough to know cooling temperatures won't dissuade you from keeping your look scorching. (Apologies, we need to lay off the ladies' magazines.) But seriously, this out-of-this-world printed poncho is begging to be paired with your leggings and boots as you indulge in a hot apple cider on a cozy leaf pile.
Fit recommendations:
S/M: Fits sizes 0-4
M/L: Fits sizes 6-10
This product has no reviews yet. Be the first to review this product. Write a review
Sign Up and Enjoy 20% Off.


text:
Mon, Apr 29, 13 at 22:45
Looking for lemon verbena seeds. I'm also interested in unique and different kinds of vegetables/herbs, especially heirloom tomatoes, peppers and squash. Trades only please. I have a large trade list for you to look through. Thanks. |
Follow-Up Postings:
lemon verbena does not seeds,it must be cutting grown. P |
Thank you for responding. I seem to find conflicting information on the internet. Some say it doesn't produce seeds, some say it does. Oh well...I can easily grow it from a cutting. |
I've had lemon verbena plants for years and never seen seeds on them. Thye might make seeds in a higher zone but I've never seen any offered on seed exchange nor seed catalogs. P |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Please Note: Only registered members from the U.S. are able to post messages here (this may be indicated by the title of the forum. All exchanges not indicated otherwise are restricted to those living in the U.S.) If you are a member from an area mentioned above, please log in.
Return to the Seed Exchange Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
Main Content
Order now, receive no later than Wednesday, February 4th. Some limitations apply.
Created to showcase all the hard-fitting and fast-paced excitement of the Big Ten Conference, the Big Ten Network proudly broadcasts nothing but Big Ten athletics 24 hours every day. Now you can broadcast your own news story of the greatest conference in the country with the Big Ten Network logo tee! It displays a large, printed BTN logo on the front.
- 100% Pre-shrunk cotton
- Imported
- Lightweight ribbed T-shirt
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Reinforced taped collar seam
- Rib-knit collar
- Screen print graphics
Boilermakers Customers also liked:
Special event items are produced by manufacturers only after the outcome of a game
or event. These are advanced sale items and will ship immediately after they are
received in our warehouse.
Manufacturer direct items are shipped directly from the manufacturer. These items
are not available for international or expedited shipping.
Customized items can be personalized with options such as your name, your favorite
number, and/or designs. Some options may be limited by league rules.


text:
Please support these fine organizations as they support us
Fleet Feet Sports is local, family owned and operated, and is proud to have the support of our local Central Florida community to which we serve. We continually strive to provide the best service possible and thank all these fine organizations for there continued support. Please help support your local community to build better lives for you, your loved ones and your friends.
Central Florida Tri-Club
Based in the downtown Orlando YMCA , the Central Florida Tri Club caters to all abilities. The club was founded by Hector Torres in 2006 and has grown to over 400 members. To learn more please visit cfltriclub.com
Orlando Runners Club
The Orlando Runners Club is a non profit volunteer organization dedicated to ensuring a fun and healthy lifestyle through social interaction, support, and activities related to running. The Orlando Runners Club is a member of the RRCA. Visit orlandorunnersclub.org
Central Florida Striders
The Central Florida Striders is a non profit Runners Club is a member of the RRCA. They are located in the Lake Nona area. For more information visit centralfloridastriders.com.
Central Florida Gliders (YOUTH)
The Central Florida Gliders is a youth track & field, and cross country club serving boys and girls (8 and above), primarily in Seminole County and Orange County. Founded over 18 years ago by Craig Wise, the Gliders have been successfully competing in local, state, and national competitions.Visit cfgliders.com


text:
California Villages Project
NCB Capital Impact
Promising Programs
Award Date:
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
12 months
Service Area:
Los AngelesSan DiegoSan Francisco
Program Staff:
Erin Westphal
Villages provide a grassroots solution to allow seniors to remain connected to their communities, through accessing services and support in their homes. The Village model is rapidly expanding across California and the nation. NCB Capital Impact will create technical assistance tools and resources for start-up and organizational development for Village expansion in California. It is anticipated that through the expansion of the Village model, more seniors will have access to services that they need to continue to age in place and as a result of these services will have a higher quality of life. On a national level NCB Capital Impact will develop an evaluation and data collection system as part of the Village-to-Village Network. The Village-to-Village network is a membership-based organization which provides support for the Village movement. Villages will provide basic demographic information and service utilization on members. This information will serve to develop the framework for a formal evaluation of the Village movement to support further expansion in California and nationally.


text:
(07-20-2011 08:03 AM)thelegendjerryrice Wrote: Stick something a little heavy on the lid when you scan them. Screw downs make the lid come up which in turn messes up the scan. Most scanners are not built to account for this.
(07-18-2011 03:39 PM)miglla Wrote: Just bought a new HP wireless all-in-one and all of my scans of cards in screw downs come out blurry. No screw down, no problem. Tried an Epson all-in-one as well but got the same problem. Anyone know of a wireless all-in-one that will scan cards well when they are in screw downs? Thanks for your help.


text:
Jaeger "Striker Eureka" toy figure unveiled
As the 2013 Toy Fair is about to open to the general public, people from various news outlets have had early access to the showrooms. Here's a nice clear snapshot of the "Striker Eureka" figure courtesy of ComicsAlliance.
You'll find more photos of the Pacific Rim toy line by NECA as well as photos of a jigsaw puzzle and Heroclix in the following link http://deltorofilms.com/wp/2013/02/10/featured/pacific-rim-toys-from-neca
For a clear look at the NECA toy figures for Jaegers "Gipsy Danger" and "Crimson Typhoon", follow this link
Many thanks to JCP for the news


text:
How To: Mass Delete Spammy Subscribers in WordPress
Know how you can mass delete spammy subscribers in wordpress in just 5 seconds. Instead of manually deleting subscribers, you can now make use of this code and get rid of them once and for all.
Many of you might not know this, that in all the WordPress blogs, registrations are enabled by default i.e. anyone can register on your blog. And all the WordPress sites share the same url format for registration i.e. http://www.yourblogname.com/wp-login.php?action=register. So if a spammer, knows this url he can immediately subscribe to your blog.
Although subscriber role is not so dangerous, having many of them will simply overload your database and will directly affect your site load time. If you never paid any attention to the users being registered on your site, then you might want to go check out the Users tab in your Sidebar.
Here you will notice pretty huge number of subscribers, if you go ahead and click the Subscribers section, you will find people have used strange names and email addresses to register on your site. So how to delete all those spammy subscribers at once? Surely you are not going to go and delete them one by one. Also if you are on a shared hosting, the Bulk actions to delete won't work either, such as using Select all and clicking Delete won't remove any users because your server will get overloaded and return an error that the request timed out.
After searching a lot on Google i found a post by Shane Strong (link below), which gives a great tutorial on how to delete bulk delete spam subscribers. It involved inserting code into the functions.php but i was a little scared because i knew i should never mess around with this file. So i went ahead and took a backup copy of my functions.php and inserted the code.
In just 5 seconds, the subscriber section had completely vanished. So here is how i did it.
Step 1: Take a backup copy of your functions.php file.
Step 2: Now navigate to Appearance > Editor and then click on your Theme Functions file. Here, copy the code given below and paste it just after the php line:
global $wpdb;
$args = array( 'role' => 'Subscriber' );
$subscribers = get_users( $args );
if( !empty($subscribers) ) {
require_once( ABSPATH.'wp-admin/includes/user.php' );
$i = 0;
foreach( $subscribers as $subscriber ) {
if( wp_delete_user( $subscriber->ID ) ) {
echo $i.' Subscribers deleted';
} else {
echo 'No Subscribers deleted';
Voila! All the subscribers are gone, its like they never even existed.
If this tutorial about how to mass delete spammy subscribers in wordpress helped you, do let us know by a comment. For further updates on WordPress, subscribe to our feed.
Reference: shanestrong.com
- M.M. Enterprises
It is very useful & helpful post for delete Spam subscribers in WordPress. I like your post.
- cd
unfortunately this action caused this error: Parse error: syntax error, unexpected T_STRING, expecting ',' or ';'
etc. and site was rendered unviewable and could not even reinstate original code!!!???


text:
CBS 2 - Search Results
CBS 2 Heroes - Lou Isaac
Before leaving for work January 14th, Susan Swetska walked down an icy driveway to bring up her trash cans. That's the last thing she remembers before slipping and landing on her side. With temperatures in the teens and wind chill below zero, she knew she was in trouble. She says, "I got to thinking 'I wonder how long I'm going to lay here and wonder if I'll just get tired and go to sleep.'"
20 minutes later, Cedar Rapids plow driver Lou Isaac decided to clear her street. That's when he noticed Sue laying on her side, motionless.
"I could tell she was cold because she was shivering," he says. He got out of his truck, tried to move her but she was too injured. She then remembers him giving her his coat and gloves. The two waited together until the ambulance arrived, Lou sanding the driveway for paramedics. Once on her way to the hospital, Lou quietly got into his truck and got back to work. Susan called the city to find out who her "knight" was that day. Then, 16 days, two broken bones and one surgery later, Susan got her chance. Lou stopped over as our cameras rolled, for an official thank you. "It made me feel so good that she was okay," he says. As for Susan, she says "Lou is a hero. Thank God you were out there."


text:
| Email | Full Article (TrendHunter.com/id/32930) |
There's a gyre in the Pacific Ocean whose converging currents have created a sea of trash and junk that is twice the size of Texas. University of British Columbia student Michael Barton proposed in his master's degree thesis to use that junk and turn it into a manmade island.
Barton met with marine biologists, Greenpeace and engineers, according to the Globe and Mail, to help research his design. Since plastic doesn't biodegrade, it's potentially the perfect material for a manmade landmass that could in turn help foster a thriving ecosystem instead of destroy it.


text:
Forest Service:
Better Data and Clear Priorities Are Needed to Address Increasing Reforestation and Timber Stand Improvement Needs
GAO-05-586T: Published: Apr 27, 2005. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 2005.
Additional Materials:
- Highlights Page:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
(202) 512-6246
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
In 2004, the Forest Service reported to the Congress that it had a backlog of nearly 900,000 acres of land needing reforestation--the planting and natural regeneration of trees. Reforestation and subsequent timber stand improvement treatments, such as thinning trees and removing competing vegetation, are critical to restoring and improving the health of our national forests after timber harvests or natural disturbances such as wildland fires. GAO was asked to (1) examine the reported trends in federal lands needing reforestation and timber stand improvement, (2) identify the factors that have contributed to these trends, and (3) describe any potential effects of these trends that Forest Service officials have identified. This testimony is based on GAO's report Forest Service: Better Data Are Needed to Identify and Prioritize Reforestation and Timber Stand Improvement Needs (GAO-05-374), being released today.
The acreage of Forest Service lands needing reforestation and timber stand improvement has been generally increasing since 2000, according to Forest Service officials and data reported to the Congress, as well as other studies. While the Forest Service data are sufficiently reliable to identify this relative trend, they are not sufficiently reliable to accurately quantify the agency's specific needs, establish priorities among treatments, or estimate a budget. The data's reliability is limited in part because some Forest Service regions and forests define their needs differently, and some do not systematically update the data to reflect current forest conditions or review the accuracy of the data. Forest Service officials acknowledge these problems, and the agency is implementing a new data system to better track its needs. While helpful, this action alone will not be sufficient to address the data problems GAO has identified. According to Forest Service officials, reforestation needs have been increasing in spite of declining timber harvests because of the growing acreage of lands affected by natural disturbances such as wildland fires, insect infestation, and diseases. In the past, reforestation needs resulted primarily from timber harvests, whose sales produced sufficient revenue to fund most reforestation needs. Now needs are resulting mainly from natural causes, and funding sources for such needs have remained relatively constant rather than rising in step with increasing needs. For timber stand improvement, the acreage needing attention is growing in part because high-density planting practices, used in the past to replace harvested trees, are creating needs for thinning treatments today and because treatments have not kept pace with the growing needs. Forest Service officials believe the agency's ability to achieve its forest management objectives may be impaired if future reforestation and timber stand improvement needs continue to outpace the agency's ability to meet these needs. For example, maintaining wildlife habitat--one forest management objective--could be hindered if brush grows to dominate an area formerly forested with tree species that provided forage, nesting, or other benefits to wildlife. Also, if treatments are delayed, costs could increase because competing vegetation--which must be removed to allow newly reforested stands to survive--grows larger over time and becomes more costly to remove. Further, without needed thinning treatments, agency officials said forests become dense, fueling wildland fires and creating competition among trees, leaving them stressed and vulnerable to insect attack and disease. While agency officials expressed concern about these potential effects, the agency has not adjusted its policies and priorities for the reforestation and timber stand improvement program so that adverse effects can be minimized. Forest Service officials did, however, acknowledge the need to make such changes.
Jan 21, 2015
Polar Weather Satellites:
NOAA Needs To Prepare for Near-term Data Gaps [Reissued on January 16, 2015]GAO-15-47: Published: Dec 16, 2014. Publicly Released: Jan 15, 2015.
Jan 15, 2015
Geostationary Weather Satellites:
Launch Date Nears, but Remaining Schedule Risks Need to be AddressedGAO-15-60: Published: Dec 16, 2014. Publicly Released: Jan 15, 2015.
Jan 14, 2015
Environmental Litigation:
Impact of Deadline Suits on EPA's Rulemaking Is LimitedGAO-15-34: Published: Dec 15, 2014. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2015.
Nov 20, 2014
Climate Change:
Better Management of Exposure to Potential Future Losses Is Needed for Federal Flood and Crop InsuranceGAO-15-28: Published: Oct 29, 2014. Publicly Released: Nov 20, 2014.
Nov 17, 2014
NOAA's Observing Systems:
Additional Steps Needed to Achieve an Integrated, Cost-Effective PortfolioGAO-15-96: Published: Nov 17, 2014. Publicly Released: Nov 17, 2014.
Oct 16, 2014
Climate Change:
USDA's Ongoing Efforts Can Be Enhanced with Better Metrics and More Relevant Information for FarmersGAO-14-755: Published: Sep 16, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 16, 2014.
Oct 14, 2014
Ocean Acidification:
Federal Response Under Way, but Actions Needed to Understand and Address Potential ImpactsGAO-14-736: Published: Sep 12, 2014. Publicly Released: Oct 14, 2014.
Sep 23, 2014
Drinking Water:
Characterization of Injected Fluids Associated with Oil and Gas ProductionGAO-14-857R: Published: Sep 23, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 23, 2014.
Sep 22, 2014
Army Corps of Engineers:
The Corps Needs to Take Steps to Identify All Projects and Studies Eligible for DeauthorizationGAO-14-699: Published: Aug 21, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 22, 2014.
Sep 19, 2014
Fish Stock Assessments:
Prioritization and FundingGAO-14-794R: Published: Sep 19, 2014. Publicly Released: Sep 19, 2014.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here


text:
My Neighbor / My Creator
Wye Oak
MP3 (320kbps) ? | $4.95 | BUY | + Wish List |
FLAC ? | $6.49 | BUY | + Wish List |
12-inch EP w/ Download Code | $10.98 | BUY | + Wish List |
Free Shipping on all U.S. orders
MRG388 | Release Date March 12, 2010
This item is part of a bundle! View Bundle >
Less than a year after their acclaimed, dark triumph The Knot, Baltimore's Wye Oak offered My Neighbor / My Creator, a vibrant EP that brims with melody and creative detours over five new recordings.
Collaborating with outside producers for the first time, Jenn Wasner and Andy Stack's four new songs feel loose and direct, from the tumbling opener 'My Neighbor' to the propulsive 'Emmylou.' 'My Creator' and 'I Hope You Die' begin like ballads but soon reveal unexpected layers of saxophone and percussion over Wasner's cascading vocals. Chris and Mickey Freeland, brothers with ties to everything from Oxes' math-rock explorations to Baltimore's indie hip-hop scene, helmed the new EP's recordings in their own Beat Babies studio, and they bring new textures to Wye Oak's ever-expanding sound. There's a heavier reliance on keyboards, culminating in Mickey's own stunning remix of The Knot's 'That I Do' which must be heard to be believed.
Anything but a stopgap, My Neighbor / My Creator is yet another significant step forward for this young band.
Originally released on limited-edition CD in March of 2010, and, due to popular demand, reprinted with alternate cover art in January of 2011, the limited-edition My Neighbor / My Creator 12-inch vinyl EP, cut at 45 RPM, has been reissued with the original red-tinted cover art and include a digital download.
Track/Song Title | Duration | Price | MP3 Track | |
Play | My Neighbor | 03:38 | $0.99 | Buy |
Play | Emmylou | 02:29 | $0.99 | Buy |
Play | My Creator | 03:34 | $0.99 | Buy |
Play | I Hope You Die | 04:17 | $0.99 | Buy |
Play | That I Do (Mickey Free Remix) | 03:45 | $0.99 | Buy |
Other Releases By Wye Oak
Strangers b/w Mother
Wye Oak
MP3 / FLACview all Wye Oak releases >
You May Also Like
The Clientele
MP3 / FLAC / CD"Curtain" b/w "Apparition"
Flock of Dimes
MP3 / FLAC / 7-inchview all


text:
A friend of mine offered me a grape stem she cut off her vine. The vine is obviously green this time of year. I trimmed it like your supposed to. It has 4 or 5 nodes on it I trimmed the bottom just up to the node and pruned off all of the side stems and leaves. I dipped the bottom in root developer and planted the stem. I am hoping it grows roots so I can transplant it! Has anyone else done this? and did it seem like I did the process correct.
Thanks |
Follow-Up Postings:
GrapeEater: You did about what needs doing but the wrong time of year. You need to root dormant cuttings taken in winter. I suppose yours might grow but I'd not expect it to. By the way I'm eating Jupiter grapes right now. Try planting that cultivar next spring. It's pretty good for a hardy seedless. |
- Posted by GrapeEater none (My Page) on Thu, Jul 5, 12 at 19:29
Is it true that is takes 5-6 years to get a full crop of grapes from your vines??? Because if so I am sad I killed mine this year.... |
My Jupiter is only the second leaf, ie the season after planting. But this is in a greenhouse. If your vines grow well you should get some fruit the 3rd year. |
- Posted by mudflapper (My Page) on Fri, Jul 6, 12 at 2:51
I find that starting grape plants with leaves on then take better than the dormant ones...and in good soil I can get a small crop of berries by the second year...my Jupiter grapes are in there third year now...and are loaded! |
"Is it true that is takes 5-6 years to get a full crop of grapes from your vines?" It depends on the training system, how loyally you stick to it, luck of the growing season and how you got the vine. I got well rooted from a local trained them Kniffen, didn't follow a multi-year pruning plan for the system rather filled it in the first year and had grapes the second year. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Fruit & Orchards Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel Collector's Edition
Journey across Italy as best-selling novelist Dana Knightstone in Death Under Tuscan Skies: A Dana Knightstone Novel! During a lecture in a university in Tuscany, you are startled by the ghost of a 19th century girl named Eva. Decades ago, she died of a mysterious illness while her lover Giovanni left to find a cure. Why did he never return? Unravel the mystery of his disappearance as you explore beautiful landscapes in this incredible Hidden Object Puzzle Adventure game!
This is a special Collector's Edition release full of exclusive extras you won't find in the standard version. As a bonus, Collector's Edition purchases count toward three stamps on your Monthly Game Club Punch Card!
The Collector's Edition includes:
- Bonus gameplay
- Integrated Strategy Guide
- Stunning Soundtrack
Game System Requirements:
- OS: Windows XP/Vista/8
- CPU: 800 Mhz
- DirectX: 8.1
- Hard Drive: 422 MB
Game Manager System Requirements:
- Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later
Buy this game Get 3 punches
The Big Fish Guarantee:
- Quality tested and virus free.
- No ads, no adware, no spyware.


text:
Who do you think looks best today? (5 photos)
The best street style from London Fashion Week: http://ow.ly/p48HS via @StyleCaster
Shine on, Rachel Weisz! To create the star's ultra-glossy updo, her hairstylist Ben Skervin took extra measures to make sure the sleek texture stayed intact, passing a flat iron over the full length to smooth out any kinks. Picking up a generous amount of the Vidal Sassoon Pro Series Extreme Smooth Combing Crème ($4; target.com), he tightly brushed Weisz's strands into a low ponytail, then worked in Vidal Sassoon's Pro Series Mega Firm Hold Gel ($4; target.com). Skervin formed the looped bun by rolling the bottom of the ponytail underneath until he reached the base, then secured the look with bobby pins. Try on Rachel Weisz's hairstyles here! On your phone or iPad? Head over to your desktop to use our Hollywood Makeover Try-on Tool.Read MoreLess


text:
Sep. 18 at 9:52pm
The other day, my husband and I were taking a walk. We looked up and saw this:
Here are some questions we didn't ask:
No, we ruled coincidence out. In fact, there were three separate things the letters told us.
(Now, if you go to The Cloud Appreciation Society's website--a delightful place to go in any case--there's a whole category called Clouds That Look Like Things. Some are striking, like this horse:
But none point unmistakably to the deliberate action of a designer.)
Now, everybody knows that skywriting is created on purpose, conveys a message, and is designed with an observer in mind. The same is true of the physical universe.
I'm not setting out here to prove the existence of a personal God or to demonstrate which method He did or didn't use to produce the universe.
I'll resist the temptation to analyze just how well old-time Darwinism and its offshoots hold up once the sediment of ideology and wishful thinking is sifted away.
(If the subject nterests you, though, you might like Darwin's Black Box, by Michael Behe and Darwin on Trial, by Phillip E. Johnson.)
What I want to address is what a difference it makes whether you believe the universe is designed by a Person, with persons in mind--in other words, that this is a personalist universe.
If you believe it's not, you might be inclined to feel, like the late Carl Sagan, that
"we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe."
You might also be inclined to proclaim bravely:
Leaving aside whether Sagan's religion-delusion equivalency is convincing, he and others like him succeeded wildly at something else: insinuating the assumption that if a belief is satisfying and reassuring, then it's likely to be a delusion.
If you really think that the ultimate reality is pointless randomness,
you're operating with a very different mental background than if you believe in a Creation designed by a Person who takes an interest in you—that man is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake," as the Catechism puts it.
But as David Mills points out in this month's issue of First Things: Wait a minute. When Sagan calls our planet insignificant—insignificant to whom?
And "forgotten"? Forgotten by whom?
Who is this subject who bestows "significance" on the larger, more impressive planets but is prone to "forgetfulness" about the smaller, less centrally located ones?
Even to say that our star is "lost" in its backwater galaxy hints either that Somebody misplaced it or else that the star itself is feeling deserted or neglected.
How did all that personhood sneak back in there?
People who disbelieve in a personal Creator have a strange tendency to slip into just this kind of talk. They tend to speak of "Nature" so anthropomorphically that you start to see her as a very clever, resourceful character who has her reasons for arranging things as she does.
I noticed the same tendency in a National Geographic video about pollination and ecosystems I used for my kids' science class once, and in lots of popular "green" writing for both children and adults. Perhaps it's for propaganda's sake—the advantages of instilling a facsimile of religious fervor are clear—but it seems to slip in even when no one's intending it.
It's powerfully reminiscent of the way absolutism sneaks into attempted defenses of relativism. ("It's absolutely true that everything's relative! Oh--wait a minute...") Something about the universe seems to hearken back to personhood.
You could dismiss it as a persistent quirk of the human mind. Or you could show logically that something higher (a person) doesn't come from something lower (an impersonal process). But maybe it's simpler. Like the message in the skies over the U of M stadium the other day, maybe this one would be obvious, too, if we had eyes to see it.
Philosopher Jean Guitton to former President and socialist François Mitterrand on his deathbed: "Monsieur le Président, il faut choisir entre l'absurde et le mystère." — Mr. President, one has to choose between the absurd and mystery.
#1 - Sep. 19 at 3:47am | quote
I read Walker Percy's Alone in the Universe - The Last Self-Help Book, last summer. It was an excellent and fun read, making many of the same points. Good essay, Dev.
#2 - Sep. 19 at 8:40am | quote
I'll never forget Josef Seifert's critique of "random mutation". He invited us students to imagine the parts of a Volkswagon strewn throughout a garage. And then, thanks to a violent earthquake, they fly together and form a fully operating car.
#3 - Sep. 19 at 8:50am | quote
Saving the Appearances: Creation's Gift to the Sciences
We should make our arguments for Creation from Existence and Essence. From the whole things of nature intinsically related to the whole universe.
Darwin's invisible hand that is natural selection doesn't have a way to correlate the parts to the whole in his mechanistic ontology. A mechanistic ontology doesn't make sense. Likewise our arguments should not put forth an external relation of objects in nature mechanically connected. Instead it should come from the mystery of existence which we share. It should question why there is something rather than nothing.
#4 - Sep. 19 at 4:13pm | quote
Thanks for my weekly dose of Devra!!
#5 - Sep. 20 at 4:11pm | quote
Thank you, everyone! I'm seven hours from a translation deadline and hope to have more to say after that!
#6 - Sep. 20 at 4:32pm | quote
Sapperdepitjes: Yes, and the absurd tries to pass itself off as the rational, the objective...
Marie, thank you for reminding me of that book--I'll have to read it again. His Love in the Ruins is a good one, too.
Katie: yes, when I first got interested in the evolution/intelligent design discussion, I'd keep running into claims that turned out to be, basically, the Volkswagen parts-to-car scenario, and I'd think, that can't be right--they can't really be claiming that--but they were. It was a lot like when our old Protestant friends would read the Bible and come up with the most anti-common sense interpretations (all the while claiming to just be accepting the textual evidence), and my parents realized: they're not so much interested in what the Bible actually says; they're more interested in making sure they don't believe what the Catholics believe. It's like the claim that there's an infinite number of parallel universes: it's not that there's any evidence for it; it just enables them to avoid believing that our own is something special, like the Christians believe.
#7 - Sep. 22 at 6:05pm | quote
Tim, I'll have to take a look at your link and do it more justice after I get some soup off the stove and get ready to take my son (speaking of cosmology) to go see an astronaut at a planetarium for his birthday!
As far as I understand it, the argument from irreducible complexity is related to the issue of correlation--and, yes, "Why is there something instead of nothing?"--of course it's not a properly scientific question, but proponents of non-directed evolution cross that line themselves when they try to move from "that's not our department" to "there is no Why."
#8 - Sep. 22 at 6:10pm | quote


text:
How to Remove Ear Wax Plugs
Have you been experiencing a sense of fullness, stiffness, and plugging inside your ear? An earache? Itching or an odour in the ear? How about hearing sounds inside of your ear, or even experiencing partial hearing loss? You ear could be plugged by ear wax. Read on to discover how to remove it!
1Get rid of any external ear wax. Use a warm, wet cloth to wipe any visible ear wax away. Do not stick an object, such as a q-tip, into your ear canal, as this could cause serious damage.Ad
2Soften the hardened wax that is causing the blockage inside your ear. Use an eyedropper to apply either baby oil, commercial drops, glycerin, mineral oil, or hydrogen peroxide to your ear twice a day for three to five days. You can purchase these items at your local drug store.
3Clean out your ear using warm water. Using a rubber bulb syringe, which can be found at a drug store, clean the drops and the softened wax from your ear.
4Gently squirt warm water into your ear, then hold a towel against it. Tilt your head so that all the water leaves your ear.
5Still tilting your head, dry your outer ear as best you can using a towel or a hair dryer on the lowest setting.
6Repeat the above steps once again if you are unsuccessful the first time.
7If symptoms persist and you are still unable to remove the blockage, see a doctor. They can manually remove the blockage and treat any infections of the ear.Ad
We could really use your help!
mobile phones?
hardwood floors?
- Do not try to dig out hardened ear wax, as this can lodge it even further into your ear.
- Do not use cold water. Doing so can result in severe dizziness.
- Consult your doctor before attempting to remove an ear wax blockage if you have any sort of ear condition.
Things You'll Need
- Washcloth
- Eyedropper
- Baby oil, commercial drops, glycerin, mineral oil, or hydrogen peroxide
- Towel or hair dryer
Article Info
Categories: Ear Care
In other languages:
Español: Cómo eliminar tapones de cerumen, Português: Como Remover Cerume Impactado
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 54,588 times.


text:
Jonathan W. Anderson Partner
- Office
- Grand Rapids
- Phone
- 616/336-6709
- Fax
- 616/336-7000
- email@example.com
- jwanderson@varnumla...
- Download
- V-Card, Resume
- Assistant
- Laura Visser, 616/336-6739
Real Estate Experience
Jon is a partner in the real estate group. His practice is transaction-oriented, assisting clients in real estate purchases, sales, exchanges, leasing, financing and development matters. He represents businesses, institutions, developers, and investors in their real estate needs. In addition to Jon's current community commitments, he has been involved in a variety of community organizations over the years including the State Bar of Michigan Access to Justice Campaign, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Dwelling Place of Grand Rapids, Habitat for Humanity, and the Circle Theater.
Professional Activities
- International Council of Shopping Centers
- Building Owners and Managers Association of West Michigan
- Commercial Alliance of Realtors
- Grand Rapids Bar Association (Real Property Section, Founding Member and Chairman, 1995 - 1996)
- American Bar Association (Real Property, Probate and Trust Law Section, Ground Leasing Committee)
- State Bar of Michigan (Real Property Section, Commercial Leasing Committee, Co-chair, 2007 - 2013; Condominium Committee)
Recognition & Rankings
- Named in Michigan Super Lawyers
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® since 2007
- Selected as one of the top ten area lawyers by Grand Rapids Magazine
- Listed in Who's Who in American Law
- AV® Preeminent™
Community Activities
- Cherry Street Health Services, Heart of the City Health Center Campaign (Cabinet, 2010)
- Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (Capital Campaign, Finance Team, 2010)
University of Notre Dame Law School
Notre Dame, Indiana
J.D., cum laude, 1982
Member and Editor, Notre Dame Law Review -
Calvin College
Grand Rapids, Michigan