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Independent lens?
Grant Gallicho February 25, 2012 - 11:14am
What's happening at Catholic News Service? A few weeks ago, I took note of a CNSarticle that looked like a news story but smelled like an opinion piece. On Wednesday CNS published a piece that purports to bust myths about the contraception-coverage mandate but reads more like a USCCB press release.Look at the lead:
Exaggerations and outright misrepresentations about the Department of Health and Human Services' contraceptive mandate have been appearing in White House "fact sheets" and mainstream media. Here are some of the more frequently cited claims and the facts to counter them.
The piece does not pin myth to mythmaker. Did the White House claim that self-funded health plans are "seldom used"? Or was that someone in the big bad MSM? Hard to say.Who floated the theory that because twenty-eight states already have contraception mandates the situation in those states won't change after the mandate takes effect? The article doesn't say.To be sure, the piece does correct a couple of common confusions: The claim that 98 percent of Catholic women use or have used contraception is inaccurate; astudy [.pdf]showed that 98 percent of self-identified Catholic women had used contraception (edit: other than natural family planning) at some point during childbearing years. And it's important to keep in mind that even though twenty-eight states require insurance companies to include contraception in their prescription-drug coverage, organizations that self-fund their health plans could avoid providing contraception coverage because such plans are federally regulated. That won't be an option under the HHS ruling.But some of the article's "facts" dodge important questions. Take, for example, its facts about self-funded employee health plans.
A majority of Americans who have private health insurance are in self-insured plans, according to separate reports by the Congressional Research Service and the Kaiser Family Foundation and Health Research & Educational Trust. The percentage was 44 percent in 1999, 55 percent in 2008 and had increased to 60 percent by 2011.Employees in large companies (those with 200 or more employees) were even more likely to be covered by a self-insured plan. Eighty-two percent of workers at large firms -- and 96 percent of those who work for a company with 5,000 or more workers -- were in a self-insured health plan.There is no precise count of how many of the employees working for Catholic organizations or institutions are in self-insured plans, but the number is believed to mirror that of the general population.
Hang on. The relevant question is: how will the HHS ruling affect religious employers' self-funded health plans? It's good to know how common such plans are across the full range of employers. But this is a Catholic News Service report. If it's true that no one knows how many employees of Catholic organizations are in self-funded plans, then find out. Work your beat: What does it take to self-fund an employee health plan? (A lot of cash.) How have affected Catholic institutions dealt with the question? (At least one bishop found self-insurance too expensive, so he provides contraception coverage to diocesan employees.) "Is believed" is not good enough, not if what's really at stake is the freedom of Catholic institutions to practice their religion.The CNS article presents other "facts" in a misleading way. For example:
Myth: Adding contraceptive coverage to health plans will be net cost-neutral, because those covered by the mandate will have fewer unintended pregnancies.Fact: Pharmacy directors disagree. An online survey by New Jersey-based Reimbursement Intelligence of 15 pharmacy directors representing more than 100 million employees or their dependents found that nearly 50 percent thought the mandate would increase costs, 20 percent thought it would be cost-neutral and none predicted that it would save money. More than 30 percent said they didn't know what the effect would be.Several respondents also raised the question of whether the mandate to provide contraceptives free of charge would require them to give away brand-name medications, even when generics are available.
It certainly is not a myth that adding contraception coverage to health plans will be net cost-neutral. [Here I'm cribbing from a comment I left on another post.] HHS studied the question, and found no evidence that contraception coverage increases insurers' costs. In 1999, for example, Congress required Federal Employees Health Benefits plans to cover FDA-approved contraception. At the time, the premium pricing had already been determined. So the office that administers the federal health benefits program created a reconciliation process for insurers who found the contraception mandate financially problematic. Yet, as the HHS study points out: There was no need to adjust premium levels because there was no cost increase as a result of providing coverage of contraceptive services. That program is the largest employee health plan in the United States.Actuarial studies also support that finding. From the HHS report: "When medical costs associated with unintended pregnancies are taken into account, including costs of prenatal care, pregnancy complications, and deliveries, the net effect on premiums is close to zero. One study author concluded, The message is simple: regardless of payment mechanism or contraceptive method, contraception saves money.There are also indirect costs to consider, such as time away from work. Global Health Outcomes developed a model that incorporates costs of contraception, costs of unintended pregnancy, and indirect costs. They find that it saves employers $97 per year per employee to offer a comprehensive contraceptive benefit.Finally, PriceWaterhouseCoopers actuaries concluded that contraceptive coverage is ultimately cost-saving.Does Catholic News Service expect readers to believe that an online survey [.pdf] of fifteen pharmacy directors undermines the conclusions of those studies, or conclusions drawn from the experience of the nation's largest employee health plan? Especially when 20 percent of them (in layman's terms, three people) say contraception coverage adds no cost to insurers, and 30 percent (four or five people) don't know? That means about half the surveyed pharmacy directors are not convinced that adding contraception coverage will increase costs to insurance companies. How does that comport with the first sentence of this "fact"?Mythbusting is a popular online sport. In theory, there's nothing wrong with CNS reporting stories that correct common misconceptions. But how it goes about doing so says something about its integrity as a news organization. This attempt is journalistically strange. It contains no quotes. It has one point of view. It conveniently ignores important aspects of the record it supposedly wants to correct.So I return to the question I led with: What is happening at CNS? For decades, Catholic News Service has served the church and the wider culture by providing reliable, professional reporting on Catholic news. Its excellent reputation derives not only from its admirable work, but also from its independence. The CNSmission statement is clear: "While created in 1920 by the bishops of the United States, CNS is editorially independent and a financially self-sustaining division of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops."Has that changed? Are bishops putting pressure on the organization to report stories that serve USCCB policy priorities? If it is the case that CNS is no longer editorially independent of the USCCB, then the organization must disclose that to its readers. Failure to share that information, if true, would constitute a serious violation of journalistic ethics.
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What I am more concerned about is what is going on at the USCCB. It really seems it is becoming single-issue, looking at everything through that single issue. Interest in religious liberty is good. However, why do the bishops ignore experts in the field of inter-religious dialogue and instead bring in GOP-strategists for their committee? They are free to do so, of course; however, it will also give people ample room to question the declarations coming out of the committee, especially if they work in the field of inter-religious issues.
And before people start to attack me, I am pro-life, but we must understand that the professional pro-life lobby often contradicts the pro-life principle for Republican political gain (Scott Brown ring a bell?) and the methodology of this lobby is apparent in the current direction of the pro-life wing of the USCCB. It's good to promote the pro-life teachings of the Church, but it is bad when it is used as a tool for politicians who cares nothing for the tool they use.
One last thing -- what do my comments have to do with the original article? I think that the USCCB has had, and continues to have, considerable influence over what is put out through CNS. It's always been that way. However, the USCCB itself is becoming so single-minded and undermined by that small lens that its affects are seen in and through the CNS.
The "end" (e.g. pro-life) never justifies the "means" (e.g. confusing, misleading, or inaccurate statements purporting to be "facts).IMO, the tail is wagging the dog.
The suggestion that CNS isn't reporting or is parroting the USCCB is unfair. It is easy to see that the CNS piece does contain reporting and argument that goes beyond the USCCB press release, for instance on the Guttmacher study and about the reasons to doubt that contraception is cost neutral -- two points on which this post is quite misleading.
Here's one review of the murky evidence: "Does insurance coverage for contraception save money? We find lots of evidence. But it's conflicting, and inconclusive."http://www.factcheck.org/2012/02/cloudy-contraception-costs/Which leads ineluctably to the default conclusion of researchers - - More research is needed. But who will fund it?"I suppose we should be glad that liberals no longer find large pharmaceutical companies to be the root of all evil. Still, it is rather fascinating that our friends on the left are gladly citing a study, funded in part by those oft-demonized pharmaceutical companies, as an objective assessment of the value of buying those pharmaceutical products for every woman of childbearing age in America."http://www.nationalreview.com/campaign-spot/291338/birth-control-cant-be...
To avoid the skepticism of Guttmacher, here is a Centers for Disease Control report showing that in 2006-2008, 99.1% of women aged 15 to 44 who had ever had intercourse had used some form of contraception at least once.http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/series/sr_23/sr23_029.pdf. (see Table 1)Catholics comprise about 25% of the U.S. population. Even if you assume that all of the 0.9% of the total who didn't use contraception were Catholics, the percentage of Catholics would be 24.1/25 = 96%
And as no one can answer, why bother to mandate that employers take advantage of something that "saves [them] $97 per year per employee"? Every employer I've ever worked at changed insurance plans at some point to save a bit of money here and there. If employers can save even $97 per year per employee, they will all leap to do so -- except for the religious objectors.So if the cost analyses that Grant cites are true, then there is no conceivable purpose for the mandate except to run roughshod over religious objectors.
My expectation is that the final rules will make certain that any loss by the insurance company on providing contraception for a company's employees cannot be recovered from that employer.The administration had to deal with that problem in the ACA where individual purchasers who want abortion coverage on government subsidized policies sold through an insurance exchange must pay a eparate premium for the abortion coverage. The regulations go into quite a lot of detail on how the insurance company has to do its accounting to avoid any loss on the abortion coverage becoming part of the premium the government subsidizes.
Grant, I think your concern about Catholic media is justified. I know that many dedicated people working in Catholic media would agree that they have much less independence, journalistically, than they did even five or 10 years ago. As the official Catholic media becomes more and more an extension of the diocesan public-relations offices, its credibility diminishes.The better editors realize that and struggle with it. CNS has been a bright spot, but it's no doubt under pressure. It would be a real loss to the church if it drifted away from the editorial independence it claims.
Grant, is Nancy O'Brien still at CNS? Her coverge of the ACA battle between the USCCB, CHA and Tim Jost In 2010 was pretty balanced.http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1001103.Got Fr. Z worked up:http://wdtprs.com/blog/2010/03/cns-catholic-health-ass-backs-bill-usccb-... some other people at USCCB thought it should have been a press release.
OK, I see that she wrote the piece you posted. It has a different feeling.
What I can't understand is how anybody can have any confidence at all in the official media of the American Church. Just look at the non-coverage in the diocesan "newspapers" of the sex scandals in their respective dioceses. Pitiful.
Ann, I agreed that the diocesan newspapers I have seen are company newsletters.The articles present one point of view and don't acknowledge than any others exist. Every year or two our local diocesan newspaper sends me free copies for a few months and then tries to get me to sign up to a paying subscription. I don't read it when it's free, so I surely won't pay for it.
Mr. Hayes - what Fr. Z knows about the specifics of this debate would barely fill a thimble. He quites repeatedly from George's statement that was put out and read at the Chicago Archdiocesan parishes at Sunday worship after Obama's Friday compromise. His comments are about the original HHS decision; he did not revise those statements after Obama's compromise statement. Thus, much of what George states is incorrect, not accurate, and cites data or statements that are inaccurate (but he declares are facts).Taking this complex issue apart to analyze and arrive at a balanced approach that respects B16's statement last year that religious freedom or catholic morality does not seek to impose itself on prudent public, governmental, or society laws. Both George and Fr. Z appear to not understand that more nuanced approach. George has little objectivity around this complex issue.
John Hayes, did you read the CDC study? They count "withdrawal" and "periodic abstinence" as methods of contraception. That 99% number is meaningless.
What's meaningless is the attempt to pretend that Catholics have not, in huge majorities, rejected the teaching that every act of contraception is evil. Incidentally, withdrawal is not an approved method of contraception according to Catholic teaching. You can look at a summary of the '02 data set here:http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nsfg/abc_list_c.htm#contraception
Grant, nobody is disputing that. What is disputed is the 98% or 99% statistic, which is indeed a myth.
The attempt to discredit the study by claiming these contracepting women aren't really all that Catholic is an attempt to downplay the statistic. As I wrote above, the CNS story correctly points out that the CDC statistic has been repeatedly misstated.
" Every year or two our local diocesan newspaper sends me free copies for a few months and then tries to get me to sign up to a paying subscription. I dont read it when its free, so I surely wont pay for it. "I have been getting the paper from the Oakland diocese for years - I haven't been a member of a parish there for at least 30 years. Subscription data inflation, anyone?But they DO print dissenting letters (I get published quite often), apparently as a counterpoint to the nonsense and drivel that usually gets printed. The readership of said paper seems to have not progressed since the days they read (not understood) the old Baltimore catechism.
Josh,The 99.1% figure is correct as the number of people who had everused some method of contraception. It is not the sum of the lines below. If you add those up, you will see that they total several hundred percent. That is because people used different methods of contraception at different times and reported all the different ones that they were asked about. For instance, 82.3% reported that they had used the contraceptive pill. If you look forward to Table 3, you will see that, when asked what current method of birth control they were using, 61.8% said they were using contraception then and only 1% of them were using periodic abstinence.
One Million youngsters to age 26 were added to parents insurance coverage in the last year by the 'evil' Obamacare. and of course the #s are growing. Half are women. so can we say they are of child bearing age? Will there be less out of wedlock babies, less abortions, less shot-gun weddings [as we 80 year olds call it] because they will have BC access? I say yes and maybe someone can data find the facts. My cable TV program experience tells me the numbers will be substantial.
Bill deHaas,Fr. Z. Is on a political campaign. He posted an article by Sr. Keehan which was published in the February 15 print issue of Catholic Health News and claimed she had reversed her favorable opinion of the "accomodation" on the orders of her board and the bishops.http://wdtprs.com/blog/2012/02/sr-keehan-backtracks/I posted on his blog to point out that Sr. Keehan's article had been available online on February 2 and had been written before the February 10 accomodation (it didn't it get pulled from the printed mag after February 10).Fr. Z. Didn't acknowledge that information and his article is still online.
Time to switch to ncronline.org to stay informed of what is happening to the Catholic church.
Grant, regarding self-insured plans. Plans that existed on March 23, 2010 are grandfathered and do not to hav to provide contraception or other preventative services as long as they meet the other requirements.To take care of self-insured plans* that have been created since then, it might be reasonable to move that date to some date in 2012 so they wouldn't have to provide contraception either.The remaining question would be whether to do anything for new self-insured plans that may be created in the future. That will be a political issue on which people will argue both sides *of non-profit organizations with religious objections to covering contraception.
Actuarial studies also support that finding. From the HHS report: When medical costs associated with unintended pregnancies are taken into account, including costs of prenatal care, pregnancy complications, and deliveries, the net effect on premiums is close to zero. One study author concluded, The message is simple: regardless of payment mechanism or contraceptive method, contraception saves money.
No doubt a baby aspirin every day or two and BandAids and Bacitracin also save money, for similar reasons. Can we expect to start receiving free aspirin, BandAids, and Bacitracin from the government? That would be nice!
John Hayes wrote:My expectation is that the final rules will make certain that any loss by the insurance company on providing contraception for a companys employees cannot be recovered from that employer.And then he provided the abortion provisions of the law as an example of how the accounting would be made to work. However there is one important difference between the abortion provisions and the proposed accommodation. In the abortion provision, the purchaser can be charged more when the actual costs change. In the proposed accommodation, there is no one to compensate the insurance company. As an intermediary, they need to get the money from someone else.Btw, it seems to me that if we follow the birth control cost saving thought to its logical conclusion, then our population will dwindle to zero because one pill will always be less costly in the short term than one baby.
Bruce, if I were writing the regulations I could solve that problem .But no point to speculating on those details until we see draft regulations released for public comment.
Grant, I didn't attempt to discredit the study that way, although since you mention it the study does contain interesting data indicating a correlation between frequency of Mass attendance and conformity to Catholic teaching on sexual behavior.My point is that even in sort-of conceding that it is a myth that 98% of Catholic women use contraception, you seem to perpetuate it. That statistic concerrns "sexually experienced" women. The study gives some indication of what percent of Catholics are left out of that number. But I guess it just isn't as headline-worthy to say, "31% of sexually experienced women who identify as Catholic use or have used the pill." (Presumably it is an even lower percentage of regularly-attending-Mass sexually experienced women, and of all Catholic women.)
Perhaps this is also meaningless:Whats meaningless is the attempt to pretend that Catholics have not, in huge majorities, rejected the teaching that every act of contraception is evil.Catholics also cohabitate and avail themselves of abortion. Does that devalue those teachings as well?
P.S. If the CNS report had been agressively attempting to exclude some as not "real" Catholics, it might not have said, "Twenty-five percent of the respondents to the survey self-identified as Catholics, but 40 percent of those said they never attended Mass or attended less frequently than once a month." Instead, it might have said (equally truthfully), "Twenty-five percent of the respondents to the survey self-identified as Catholics, but only 30 percent of those attend Mass at least once a week."
John Hayes, you are still leaving out "sexually experienced", a non-negligible qualifier.
Josh, sounds like the "No True Scotsman" fallacy to me. But apart from hat, I haven't heard anyone say that 98% of Catholic women use contraception (meaning regularly)The statement is that 98% of Catholic women of childbearing age have used contraception at some time (meaning perhaps only once)In newspaper articles "of childbearing age" sometimes gets of out but, otherwise, I don't see real confusion about this.
I hope the isue here is not about 'real"Catholics.That's probably part of the sorry srory that I found quite important here in this thread -viz. catholic journalist and journalism are under more pressure to folow a party line rather than repoty objectively.Given all the spin we are surrounded with politically and religionwise, I think we are at the beginnin gof a amjor junction on this.
Josh: I didn't say you had attempted to discredit the study in that way, although you did call it meaningless. Given your subsequent comments, I presume you were exaggerating. Not sure why you think I'm perpetuating the myth that 98 percent of Catholic women use contraception (and people and news outlets have claimed that, John), when I wrote that the CNS story was correct to point out that the data do not support such a claim. What the data show is that of sexually experienced women of childbearing age who self-identify as Catholic (would attending Mass three times a month count?), 98 percent say they have used contraceptive methods other than naturally family planning. The study explains what "sexually experienced" and "childbearing age" mean.
More on the crazy economics of the birth control mandate:"If this had truly been about ensuring 'access' to effective birth control for the poor, expanding free-condom programs would have done the trick. But the policys supporters know that the politics of federally funding condom distribution are much worse than just declaring pills free. This is about implementing social policy stimulating wider use of birth control pills through health insurance regulation...."This brings me to the wider point, which is about using government mandates to create individual rights to free goods and services that no one has the duty to provide...The problem with such mandates is that they do not create rights for some so much as levy burdens on others, many of whom would be considered more deserving under more compelling criteria, in a manner hidden behind the veil of higher prices and fewer choices."http://www.forbes.com/sites/realspin/2012/02/23/the-economics-of-preside...
Josh, Grant, to get it exactly right, I quote the Guttmacher statement below. The survey data they are using is for women age 15 to 45 who have ever had sex (even once).In their April 2011 study linked in the article quoted below, they report that 89% of Catholic women aged 20 to 24 who have never married are sexually experienced and 70% for the Catholic 15 - 45 group overall. In April 2011, the Guttmacher Institute published the results of an analysis finding that 99% of all women of reproductive age who have ever had sexincluding 98% of such Catholic womenhave used a method of contraception other than natural family planning. These data have been ubiquitous in the recent debate over the requirement that private insurance plans cover contraceptive services and supplies without cost-sharing. However, there has been some confusion about various aspects of the research that produced this statistic.http://www.guttmacher.org/media/inthenews/2012/02/15/index.html
Should be "70% for the Catholic 15-45 never married group overall"
OK, I get it: 2 attempts to be snarky about "Fr." Z were deleted - I get the point.Can I at least sneak this in (it IS from a pope, you know)?"When Pius X died, the conclave of 1914 elected Benedict XV, who immediately issued an encyclical (Ad Beatissimi Apostolorum - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_Beatissimi_Apostolorum) calling on Catholics to appease dissension and strife" so that "no one should consider himself entitled to affix on those who merely do not agree with his ideas the stigma of disloyalty to faith. There is no need of adding any qualifying terms to the profession of Catholicism, he concluded. It is quite enough for each one to proclaim 'Christian is my name and Catholic my surname David Gibson, Who Is a Real Catholic? The Washington Post, Sunday, May 17, 2009 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/15/AR200905...
Do you get it? It's Sunday. Every time you leave a comment like that, you force me to remove it. You know better. Please cut it out.
Point made, although what it being Sunday has to do with it is beyond me.
It means you are making work for me on the weekend.
A few months ago, I happened to be perusing our archdiocesan newspaper archives that had been microfiched. I was looking at issues from the mid-60s to the early '70s. Looking at the headlines back then (Vatican II and later) and the headlines today, I could simply see no comparison. Back in the day, they reflected excitement, innovation. Today, the headlines seem to reflect regulation, uniformity --- and (too much of the time) mush.In the Louisville archdiocese, every registered household (if policy hasn't changed) gets an automatic subscription to the local Catholic newspaper, which is now also online. When I left the Church of Rome five years ago, I lost my subscription. Given the lack of genuine leadership in the Vatican and elsewhere, I don't think I've lost much at all.Thank God for independent Catholic news and commentary outlets such as COMMONWEAL and NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER. They at least respect their readers as adults --- which is far more than I could ever say for the hierarchs. When an archbishop shuts down publication of informed but dissenting feedback on contemporary issues (e.g., women's ordination, optional celibacy, artificial birth control), he is diminishing his credibility as an official teacher of the local church. He is shooting himself in the foot. Given the fact that "Letters to the Editor" have been a very popular feature in newspapers in past years, a hierarch is, in effect, undercutting his attempt to evangelize. Adults are not going to allow their bishops to shut down discussion and debate. Louisville's archbishop rigidly applies canon 212.3. I can only guess if you're not asking people to pray to St. Jude or whatever, you need a doctorate in theology, etc. to qualify having your letter published in Louisville's Catholic newspaper. "Father knows best."Like hell he does!
But Grant, you offered as clarification in your post:"astudy [.pdf]showed that 98 percent of self-identified Catholic women had used contraception at some point during childbearing years."Even with the subsequent parenthetical edit, you are leaving out "sexually experienced".
That's right, Josh. You figured me out. I was trying to fool our readers while providing a link to the study.
Josh, I posted the text from Guttmacher in my 4:24 comment. They do not use the vague term "sexually experienced." instead, they say "who have ever had sex." One occasion is all that's required to be in the group.Neither Guttmacher nor CDC have extracted the figures on how many total Catholic women aged 15 to 45 have never had sex. The only figures I have found are the percentages of unmarried Catholic women I gave in my 4:24 comment. Adding in Catholic women aged 15 to 45 who have never had sex would reduce the percentages reported by Guttmacher but it doesn't look as if it would make an overwhelming difference.
Grant, I have no idea what you were *trying* to do by publishing that factually incorrect claim. What you *did* was misrepresent the data and then, when that was pointed out, defend yourself as if you hadn't.I assume that in general you are *trying* to get to the truth of things and make credible commentary, and my comments have been made in the same spirit. If you made a mistake and I helped you see that, we should both be glad.
Guttmacher says 53% of Catholics ages 15-44 have never been married, and 30% of them have never had sex, so 15.9% of Catholic women ages 15-44 have never had sex.
Josh, what is the link to the 53% figure?


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Dare Coach D: Rifle
June 25, 2013
Raleigh, N.C. - The Wolfpack's new head football coach Dave Doeren has received unique and daring welcomes to NC State from several of our other Wolfpack teams. In a new video series exclusively on GoPack.com, several Pack coaches and student-athletes will "Dare Coach D" to perform or compete with them in activities required for their sport. Check in every Tuesday in June and July to see Coach D take on another dare. This Is Our State.

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USDA Seeks Nominees for National Dairy Board
AMS No. 069-13
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WASHINGTON, April 30, 2013 - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is asking dairy producer and importer organizations to nominate candidates to serve on the National Dairy Promotion and Research Board. Nominations must be submitted by May 30, 2013.
The Secretary of Agriculture will appoint 14 individuals to serve on the board. The appointees will replace 12 board members whose terms expire Oct. 31, 2013, and fill two currently vacant positions.
USDA will accept dairy producer nominations from the following regions: Region 2 (California and Hawaii); Region 3 (Arizona, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming); Region 4 (Arkansas, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas); Region 6 (Wisconsin); Region 9 (Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia); Region 10 (Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia); Region 11 (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and Pennsylvania); and Region 12 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont). The Secretary will appoint five members for Region 2, two for Region 9, and one for each of the remaining regions and the dairy importer position.
Twelve dairy producer nominees will be appointed to serve 3 year terms beginning Nov. 1, 2013, and ending Oct. 31, 2016. One dairy producer nominee will be appointed to fill a shortened term, for Region 9, beginning immediately and ending Oct. 31, 2015. The dairy importer nomination will be for a 3-year term beginning Nov. 1, 2013, and ending Oct. 31, 2016.
USDA established the 38-member board under the Dairy Production Stabilization Act of 1983. Research and promotion programs are industry-funded, authorized by Congress, and date back to 1966. Since then, Congress has authorized the establishment of 20 research and promotion boards. They empower industry stakeholders to leverage their own resources to develop new markets, strengthen existing markets, and conduct important research and promotion activities. AMS provides oversight, paid for by industry assessments, which ensures fiscal responsibility, program efficiency and fair treatment of participating stakeholders.
USDA welcomes membership on industry boards that reflects the diversity of the individuals served by the programs. USDA encourages all eligible women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to seek nomination to serve on the board.
For nominating forms and information, visit
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Welcome to "Bean Town!" At 6 pm, meet your traveling companions for a welcome drink. Your Tour Director will prepare you for your upcoming adventure.
From Massachusetts, head north via New Hampshire's shoreline and along Maine's rocky coast to Portland, one of New England's most famous cities. Stroll down the cobblestone streets of Portland's famous Old Port Exchange, lined with many boutiques, coffee houses, and art galleries. Continue to Bar Harbor, Maine's oldest summer resort. Your dinner this evening is a typical LOBSTER BAKE featuring Maine lobster, steamed mussels, and delicious corn-on-the-cob. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Nowhere along the Atlantic Seaboard is the rock-bound coast as picturesque as in ACADIA NATIONAL PARK, one of America's most visited national parks. Take the scenic park road and enjoy the spectacular panorama from the summit of Cadillac Mountain, the first place in the continental United States to see the sunrise. After time at leisure in Bar Harbor, travel across the border to lovely St. Andrews by-the-Sea. Tonight, stay at the Algonquin Hotel, which overlooks historic Passamaquoddy Bay. This evening, choose from the many fine specialty restaurants this quaint seaside community has to offer. (Breakfast)
This morning, follow the coast to Saint John and board a catamaran FERRY to Digby, a popular summer resort. Your hotel tonight is the Digby Pines Resort, a world of casual elegance in the tradition of the grand hotels. Surrounded by breathtaking beauty, you will have an opportunity to enjoy the views, recreation, and internationally renowned cuisine in this Norman-style chateau. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Today, travel toward Nova Scotia's Atlantic coast and follow the winding shoreline to Lunenburg, one of the continent's major fishing ports. Here, visit the FISHERIES MUSEUM before heading to Peggy's Cove, a charming fishing village with a famous lighthouse perched on a massive granite ledge (one of the most photographed places in the world). End in Halifax, the provincial capital and your home for the next two nights. (Breakfast)
Your city sightseeing tour with a Local Guide this morning includes a visit to CITADEL HILL with its early 19th-century star-shaped fort; the tree-shaded walks of the public gardens; and the harbor area, which evokes the port's former strategic importance. You'll also see the Fairview Cemetery, final resting place for more than 100 people who perished on the ill-fated voyage of the Titanic. (Breakfast)
Take the scenic Marine Drive north along the Atlantic shoreline through picturesque fishing villages, stopping en route in Jeddore Oyster Pond at FISHERMAN'S LIFE MUSEUM, a typical Nova Scotia fisherman's house from the early 1900s. Visit SHERBROOKE VILLAGE, whose renovated buildings recall the boom years of the 1860s. Via Canso Causeway, cross over to Cape Breton Island, one of the first footholds of European settlement in the New World. Continue to Baddeck. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Morning visit to the ALEXANDER GRAHAM BELL MUSEUM. Study exhibits tracing the achievements of the great inventor, who spent the last years of his life on Cape Breton. Then, drive along the CABOT TRAIL, the area explored by John Cabot in the late-15th century, while savoring magnificent vistas of the rocky shoreline and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. At the Acadian village of Cheticamp, check out the famous hand-hooked rugs. Finally, see CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK at the northern tip of the island, a landscape which strikingly resembles Scottish coastal regions. Return to Baddeck. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Head back to the peninsula and continue north to Caribou, where a FERRY whisks you across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island. For the next two nights, you are in Charlottetown, the provincial capital. Get acquainted with this colonial town on a stroll through colorful Great George Street and along the restored waterfront. This evening, enjoy a lobster supper at a local restaurant. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Morning at leisure. Enjoy a guided afternoon tour of the island that includes PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND NATIONAL PARK. Also visit GREEN GABLES farmhouse, the setting for the famous novel Anne of Green Gables. (Breakfast)
Travel across the 8-mile Confederation Bridge to New Brunswick. Here, enjoy a guided visit of the HOPEWELL ROCKS, famous formations carved by the Bay of Fundy's dramatic tides that rise more than 50 feet, before driving through FUNDY NATIONAL PARK. Upon arrival in Saint John, enjoy a city orientation tour including the Reversing Falls. (Breakfast)
Journey to Campobello Island in the Bay of Fundy, the retreat of Franklin D. Roosevelt. Visit his SUMMER HOME, a 3,000-acre memorial park. Later, view sheltered coves and quiet fishing villages along the Maine coastline on the way to Camden. This evening, your Tour Director hosts a special farewell dinner featuring lobster and other local specialties. Wonderful conversation and cuisine make the perfect finale for your vacation. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Depart this morning for Boston, with a break in one of Maine's coastal cities while en route. Arrive in the afternoon, with a stop at the airport for guests with homebound flights. Please schedule flights after 3:30 pm. Then, the motorcoach continues to the downtown Sheraton Boston Hotel, where the tour ends. (Breakfast)
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A recent study showed that 5% of pregnant white women and 29% of pregnant blacks in the northeastern United States had vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] less than 37.5 nmol/liter. About half of women in both groups had evidence of vitamin D insufficiency, with 25(OH)D levels of 37.5-80 nmol/liter. These findings are ascribed both to a lack of adequate solar exposure and a low oral intake of vitamin D even when a 400-IU supplement is taken. The racial disparity in preeclampsia suggests that vitamin D may be a relevant factor. This nested case-control study enrolled nulliparous pregnant women with singleton pregnancies who were followed from before 16 weeks' gestation to delivery in the years 1997-2001. Of 274 women in the study, 55 developed preeclampsia, defined as had new-onset hypertension and proteinuria developing after 20 weeks' gestation.
Women with preeclampsia were older than those without it and likelier to be non-Hispanic white, married, more educated, nonsmokers, and overweight when pregnancy began. Adjusted serum 25(OH)D levels in early pregnancy were 15% lower in women who later developed preeclampsia than in control subjects. Maternal serum levels of 25(OH)D below 37.5 nmol/liter in early pregnancy were associated with a 5-fold increase in the risk of developing preeclampsia, independently of race/ethnicity, season of the year, gestational age at sampling, prepregnancy body mass index, and educational level. Adjusting for calcium intake altered the findings only slightly. After adjusting for several possible confounding factors, a 50-nmol/liter decline in serum 25(OH)D more than doubled the risk of preeclampsia. The adjusted odds ratio was 2.4 with a 95% confidence interval of 1.1-5.4. The disparity in maternal vitamin D levels persisted at the time of delivery. Cord blood serum levels of 25(OH)D were significantly lower in newborn infants whose mothers were preeclamptic. These infants were twice as likely as those whose mothers were not preeclamptic to have a serum 25(OH)D level below 37.5 nmol/liter after adjusting for confounding factors. None of the associations was influenced by maternal race or ethnicity.
These findings suggest that maternal vitamin D insufficiency in early pregnancy is an independent risk factor for preeclampsia. If these results are confirmed, vitamin D supplementation in early pregnancy could be an effective and safe means of preventing preeclampsia.


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Data quality isn't a nice-to-have when it comes to running your business. It's a must. And since SAS puts data quality at the core of everything we do, you know you're getting the best technology on the market – a solution that supports all your other initiatives, with limitless scalability. It works on your terms. And it's built for the business and IT user.
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Monday, February 24, 2014
Police were called to a local gas station in regards to a "no trespass" notice. The suspect had left the scene, but it turned out to be a man they had dealt with earlier in the day and even given him a ride home.
The officer spotted the suspect and stopped to chat with him.
He admitted to just being at the store and trying to buy beer. He was refused the sale because the clerk told him he was on trespass notice. He told the officer he had no record of being placed on trespass notice from that store but left voluntarily when told to.
The officer then asked where he was headed now and he said to another gas station to buy beer.
He was unsteady on his feet according to the report and the officer asked him if he had been drinking that day.
He said he had four beers, but due to the fact that he was clearly drunk, the officer said he could not guarantee that if given another ride home, the man would stay there.
Officers had already given him a ride home earlier in the day, the report said, and had been called to a nearby bar where this same man was refused service because he was drunk.
Therefore he was arrested for public intoxication and taken to jail.
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Thursday, June 20, 2013
Photo Provided
Students at Boulder Bluff Elementary finished the school year with exciting rewards from the "My Coke Rewards Academic Achievement Program." Visual Art teacher Carolyn Mullinax started this program with points collected from Coke products. Parents and staff collect coke point codes and help enter them into the My Coke Rewards Program. At the end of each nine weeks the school held a drawing for prizes. Pictured above, second grader Jaaziah McKnight won a stereo system; Kindergartner Rose Beauchemin, kindergarten and fourth grader Mariah Colbert won a science kit; and third grader Regi Crawford won a stereo system.
The Gazette is pleased to offer readers the enhanced ability to comment on stories. We expect our readers to engage in lively, yet civil discourse. We do not edit user submitted statements and we cannot promise that readers will not occasionally find offensive or inaccurate comments posted in the comments area. Responsibility for the statements posted lies with the person submitting the comment, not The Gazette.
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Catholic Responses to the New Boy Scouts Policy
Eduardo Moisés Peñalver June 6, 2013 - 2:30pm
Here's an intersting article on the reaction of various religious groups to the new Boy Scouts policy, admitting gay youth Scouts but still prohibiting gay people from adult roles in the organization. It's hard to imagine why a Christian, even one who believes homosexuality to be a sin, would favor barring gay boys and young men from even participating as a member in a youth group like the Scouts, and yet some churches have taken that position. The response to the new policy by the National Catholic Committee on Scouting is more encouraging, but some of the reponses by individual Catholic priests and even a bishop are baffling and disturbing:
A Catholic pastor in Bremerton, Wash., the Rev. Derek Lappe of Our Lady Star of the Sea, wrote an open letter to his parishioners announcing that the parish would cut its ties with the Scouts and develop new youth programs of its own. "I am very aware that my objection to the change ... is increasingly considered bigoted and backward," Lappe wrote. "But I won't put public opinion ahead of the good of the boys and young men in my parish."
In the Chicago suburb of Crystal Lake, the pastor of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church notified local Scout leaders that the church would no longer sponsor a Cub Scout pack and Boy Scout troop. In a letter conveying the decision, the Rev. Brian Grady wrote that it would be "not only unjust, but immoral" for straight boys to have to share tents on camping trips with gay Scouts.
And in Arlington, Va., Catholic Bishop Paul Loverde issued a statement saying the new membership policy "forces us to prayerfully reconsider whether a continued partnership with the BSA will be possible." "It is highly disappointing to see the Boy Scouts of America succumb to external pressures and political causes at the cost of its moral integrity," said Loverde, who predicted the policy change will bring "continuing controversy, policy fights and discord."
However, the National Catholic Committee on Scouting — which works with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to coordinate the church's involvement in Scouting — has taken a more positive view of the policy change. "We should be encouraged that the change in BSA's youth membership standard is not in conflict with Catholic teaching," Edward Martin, the committee's chairman, wrote last week in an open letter to Catholics involved in Scouting. Martin, an Eagle Scout with five children who've been Scouts, said his committee would form a task force to work with Catholic dioceses and parishes on how best to go forward in light of the change.
"Our youth don't want to leave Scouting. Scouting is still the best program around," Martin wrote. "Let's continue this important journey together."
Commenting Guidelines
In my whole life I've never even heard of a boy scouts' dance. BSA isn't the boys and girls scouts of America. I think that whole dance "issue" is a straw man.
Jim Pauwels. I think your concerns over accepting a tentmate, bullying and dances reflect the world as it was when you and I were of Scouting age. There's a lot of material available that indicates that attitudes toward openly gay people differ greatly by generation.
The long struggle to get rid of DADT in the military didn't come to an end until people realized that those predicting uproars in sleeping quarters and loss of unit cohesion were mostly in their forties and fifties while most young servicemembers in their teens and early twenties, who would be most affected by the change, didn't see a problem because they had grown up knowing openly gay people and had supported them as friends, classmates and in shared activities.
"Most" doesn't mean "every one" but that's a teachable moment for Scout leaders to seize, just as the military has.
I think that whole dance "issue" is a straw man.
If there is a dance, there are three possibilities for what a gay boy scout may do:
1. Dance with a girl (because they both like dancing)
2. Dance with another gay scout
3. Hang around the refreshments table and not dance.
how is any of those a problem?
John Hayes - I agree that attitudes change from one generation to the next. But I wouldn't be too sanguine that bullying is a thing of the past.
I'm not surprised that the end of DADT has been largely a non-event. But I wouldn't expect that what works in a highly structured, disciplined and professional environment like the US armed forces would meet with equal success among a gaggle of teens and their volunteer parent supervisors. Still, I hope you're right that being gay in high school today isn't the utter hell it was for gay kids in my high school.
I think that whole dance "issue" is a straw man.
I think it is the kind of thing that will be where the rubber hits the road for Catholic scout troops that are trying to discern how to operate under the new rules.
I don't think Mark Proska's point is dismissable without some further thought. If the line must be drawn between what is acceptable and what isn't acceptable, where to draw it? Can two boys dance together? (Sure, why not? - girls have danced together since at least my day, probably since way before then) Can two boys slow-dance together? I can see objections being raised to that one. A slow dance is usually thought to be somewhat freighted with meaning, isn't it? (Dancing in general seems to be pretty complicated in its meanings; there is relatively polite and platonic slow dancing and there is intimate slow dancing. Will scout leaders need to carry tape measures to ascertain the physical distance between the dancers?) Can they hold hands while they're waiting for the next dance? If they are found kissing in a dark corner, is that more problematic than a boy and a girl doing the same over in the other corner? As John Hayes suggests, if two boys are found to be kissing, that may not bother the other teenage boys too much (although I'm somewhat skeptical on that point). But the question isn't how the boys feel about it; it's how the church authorities feel about it. How should the church authorities feel about it?
their volunteer parent supervisors
I think that's the key. I hope the BSA is planning a lot of instruction for Scoutmasters and Troop Leaders between now and next January.
The military did a lot of that. Here's one Marine Corps briefing.
You have to get across that it's the leaders' responsibility to make it work by teaching each of their scouts what he needs to know to live in a diverse community.
A lot of the worries expressed about a dance are he same things I see high schools getting worked up about when prom time comes around. You'll live through them, as the do.
The Church's teaching is that a person with only same-sex attraction must live a life of perpetual chastity. However, that doen't mean being a hermit living without close friends and community involvement. Leaning how to form those friendships and develop a supportive community may be exactly what Catholic Scout groups need to provide to gay kids.
Manuel's book points out the importance of friendships and the involvement of other people in allowing priests to live celibate lives. It seems to me that that is what the Church would want to try to teach gay kids through the Scouts.
<blockquote>A licensed psychologist and professor of psychology at the University of San Francisco, Manuel's formula for successfully "living celibacy" is to embrace rather than escape the psychosexual dimensions of a life that forgoes genital sex and an exclusive intimate partnership for the sake of service to the church. He affirms the obvious: that the sacrifices entailed also bring multiple benefits, not the least of which is the freedom to cultivate a wide circle of professional and personal relationships and to travel light, serving whenever and wherever needed without the obligations of marriage and family.
This is not to say that living celibacy is easy, especially as a priest goes through midlife, when the uncertainties of aging and the crisis of realizing one's limits hit the panic button. Manuel proposes a lifelong approach to living celibacy in the form of five "healthy pathways for priests." They are:
Live close to God and one's deepest desires;
Develop relationships and communities of support;
Ask for love, nurture others, and negotiate separation;
Cope with stress and recognize destructive patterns of behavior;
Celebrate the holy....
Manuel affirms what Dominican Fr. Don Goergen risked censure to say in his now classic 1975 book The Sexual Celibate -- that "friendship is not detrimental but central to celibate living, that celibate persons are also sexual persons, and that celibate life is a profound and rewarding way of living," as Goergen wrote. Moving beyond a time when "particular friendships" were forbidden and contact between priests and women was discouraged, Manuel assumes that today's priests can live chastely and effectively in the real world when grounded in community and in the charism given to them to build up the church.
The issues of celibate priests and gay men are not identical, but there may be some clues In what Manuel says. Some gay men will choose same-sex marriage, perhaps including raising children. I don't see the Church changing its position on that, but it can still emphasize that we are all children of God.
Fascinating juxtaposition .... http://blog.nj.com/njv_auditor/2013/06/the_auditor_catholic_bishops_h.html
In a tizzy about letting gay kids into scouts, but doing everything in their power to avoid liability for past misdeeds.
I think that whole dance "issue" is a straw man.
To avoid offending members of the straw community, shouldn't that be "straw person"?
Will scout leaders need to carry tape measures to ascertain the physical distance between the dancers?
Jim P,
I hope I won't offend anyone here by saying that discussions of sexual morality often seem to proceed with a rule book in one hand and calipers in the other, thus failing to capture the exuberant diversity of human behavior.
Sexual desire and expression have existed in our lineage far, far longer than reason and morality, and they commonly overwhelm those later developments, partly because they are essential, not merely desirable, for survival, and partly because they require the understanding and skills of a lizard, and not a philosopher's.
Obviously, sex can be a disruptive and destructive force. But I wonder if on balance it does as much harm as the hateful and ham-handed means by which people try to channel it into "right" ways.
John Hayes, thanks for that quote from Manuel and the reference to Fr. Goergen. It accords with the formation that was given to my single classmates in the diaconate.
John Prior, :-)
The video embedded in the article Prof. Peñalver linked in his original post is well worth watching.
On one hand, it is very sad that the message from the local pastor is one of unneccesary and unjust exclusion. You really have to question the mindset of a pastor obsessed with what boy scouts might do in a tent if one of the boys is gay.
On the other hand, one Eagle Scout who was summarily evicted by a Catholic pastor, speaks with a dignified intelligence and maturity--"We'll find a better place. A place that's more welcoming to us," said Sam Payseur. Perhaps if the Catholic pastor just met Sam and really engaged him as a human being he'd recognize how ridiculous his comments and actions were.
I'm late responding, but the "hypothetical" dance I was referring to was not limited to a BSA sponsored event. Boy Scouts interact with the opposite sex even when they are "off duty" and I understand that the maturity the BSA wants to instill in the young men that join it is not supposed to end when the camping trip is over.
Here are some "Points of Clarification" issued by the BSA as part of the package for the vote. They relate to some of the issues raised here:
1. This proposal is in line with Scouting's principles and virtues.
Some have asserted that having different standards for adults and youth is illogical or contradictory and runs counter to the principles of Scouting. Asserting this proposal is contradictory is based on a misunderstanding of the resolution. The resolution states:
Youth are still developing, learning about themselves and who they are, developing their sense of right and wrong, and understanding their duty to God to live a moral life
Any sexual conduct, whether homosexual or heterosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
The organization will maintain its current membership policy for all adult leaders.
No member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda.
Members must demonstrate behavior that exemplifies the highest level of good conduct and respect for others and is consistent at all times with the values expressed in the Scout Oath and Scout Law.
By reinforcing that Scouting is a youth program, and any sexual conduct, whether heterosexual or homosexual, by youth of Scouting age is contrary to the virtues of Scouting, and that no member may use Scouting to promote or advance any social or political position or agenda, this resolution rightly recognizes there is a difference between kids and adults while remaining true to the long-standing virtues of Scouting.
4. The BSA is a leading expert in youth protection, and kids are safe in its programs.
The BSA is fully equipped to administer this policy. Some have asserted that this proposal will put children at higher risk of being sexually abused or bullied and that the organization will not be able to administer this policy while protecting the safety and privacy of all Scouts.
The BSA would never consider a proposal that increased risk to young people. To be clear, the BSA makes no connection between the sexual abuse or victimization of a child and homosexuality. The BSA takes strong exception to this assertion. Some of the nation's leading experts reinforce this position.
The BSA has stringent polices that protect the safety and privacy of youth and adult members and has always worked to ensure that it is a supportive and safe environment for young people.
As it relates to logistical issues for volunteers, Scouting is already equipped to address these issues. No other organization has the same level of expertise for administering logistics and protecting the safety of its participants.
Also, to further prepare the organization, the BSA has created an implementation task force to make sure it is ready, should this resolution pass. It is looking into how other organizations have dealt with these issues. The BSA chose the effective date of Jan. 1, 2014, to give the organization the time it needs to make sure it is operationally ready for this policy.
5. Scouting will remain focused on its mission, the Scout Oath, and the Scout Law.
Some have asserted that this proposal will unduly interject sexuality into the BSA and take away parents' rights to discuss sexuality at the time and place of their choosing. The BSA believes parents should decide if, when, and how to discuss matters of sexuality with their kids.
This proposal reinforces Scouting's belief that sexual conduct by any Scout, heterosexual or homosexual, is contrary to the virtues of Scouting.
While, if this resolution is passed, no youth may be denied membership in the Boy Scouts of America on the basis of stating their sexual orientation alone, Scouting expects appropriate behavior from all members, which includes sexual conduct, regardless of sexual orientation.
Guess the Russian Boy Scouts won't be making this change anytime soon.
MOSCOW — A bill that stigmatizes gay people and bans giving children any information about homosexuality won overwhelming approval Tuesday in Russia's lower house of Parliament.
Hours before the State Duma passed the Kremlin-backed law in a 436-0 vote with one abstention, more than two dozen protesters were attacked by hundreds of antigay activists and then detained by police.
The bill banning the ''propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations'' still needs to be passed by the appointed upper house and signed into law by President Vladimir Putin, but neither step is in doubt.
The measure is part of an effort to promote traditional Russian values instead of Western liberalism, which the Kremlin and the Russian Orthodox Church see as corrupting Russian youth and contributing to the protests against Putin's rule.
A widespread hostility to homosexuality is shared by much of Russia's political and religious elite. Lawmakers have accused gays of decreasing Russia's already low birth rates and said they should be barred from government jobs, undergo forced medical treatment, or be exiled.
436-0, and one half-brave abstention. I wonder how many of those Duma members are gay themselves.
If they are going to keep the Russian people from learning that homosexuality exists, they will probably have to rewrite a fair amount of history and biography (not that that's a problem for them) and block several million internet sites, including this one.
It's a lot to ask of young people who have been training for years for the event, but I hope athletes gay and straight will consider passing up Sochi next year, so these traditionalists can have what they deserve, an All Russia-Uganda Winter Olympics.
About the Author
Eduardo Moisés Peñalver is the Allan R. Tessler Dean of the Cornell Law School. He is the author of numerous books and articles on the subjects of property and land use law.


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Things I liked:realistic handling, blowback, good quality (all metal)
Things I would have changed:adjustable sights would be useful
Things I liked:This pistol duplicates function and action quite well. Grips are standard 1911 and are swappable. Trigger reset is not correct but this is not a firearm so not a big. deal. Fits all my holsters for full length slide. BUT the slide is so light that if you do not engage the safety the gun will leak gas. Again this is not a flaw just be aware.
Things I would have changed:The Mark pistols are the same basic design with minor differences. My Mk 3 has ambi safety, which I do not like but not a deal breaker.
What others should know:Performance has been stunning. If you want a training airsoft 1911, this is it. All in all in am very happy with this gun. Pricing was much better than local shops. Thanks Pyramyd Air!
Things I liked:Size and feel (other than weight) duplicates a 5 inch 1911. If you want a 1911 training pistol, this is the one.
Things I would have changed:Magazines are about $50 bucks. Really pricey to buy extras
What others should know:This pistol duplicates the slide action and feel of a true 1911. Everything but the BANG
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Model Assistant KWA M1911 MKIII PTP Blowback, Metal Gas Pistol
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The Jackrabbit Soccer Team prioritizes academics. The team has qualified for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Division I College Academic Award each year we have been a Division I institute. We have annually had one of the highest percentages of players make the Summit League All Academic Team over the last five years. Our players are in a wide variety of majors that include everything from Biology/Pre-Med to Early Childhood Education to Architecture to Nursing to Veterinarian Science and everything in between.
We are fortunate to have an academic coordinator housed in the newly built Dykhouse Student Athletic Center where our players can find a quiet place to study, get academic advice, and tutoring. Here at South Dakota State, we create a positive environment for our soccer student athletes to succeed in the classroom.
The South Dakota State Women's Soccer team won the first conference title of any team in the transition to Division I when we won the United Soccer Conference title in 2006 during our Division I transition years.
Since our inclusion into the Summit League, we have won 3 out of 4 regular season championships, 1 tournament championship, and represented the Summit League in the NCAA tournament in 2008 where we advanced to the second round in a win over 12th ranked Colorado, which is the only NCAA game ever won by a women's soccer team from the Summit League.
We have garnered numerous all conference and all region honors for our student athletes including having two Defensive Players of the Year and two Attacking Players of the year accolades. That is just the beginning of the winning tradition being built here at South Dakota State.
The South Dakota State Women's Soccer Team regularly gives back to the community in a variety of ways. The student athletes volunteer their free time by going into elementary and middle schools to tutor children, they assist in soccer clinics at various times throughout the year, they have been "big sisters" to boys and girls through a local mentor program, they have done all of these things and so much more.
We find that this is a very important aspect of the experience that our players receive during their time as a Jackrabbit and develops character that will assist them for the rest of their lives.
This is the one word that best describes who we are as the Jackrabbit Soccer team. Our players not only play for one another on the field, they are they for each other off of it too. Every member of the team is part of our family and this is demonstrated by the team attending other teams' games together, team dinners, fun games played at the coaches' houses, collective community service projects, youth soccer clinics, and in many other ways.
The bonds that our players form not only make their time at South Dakota State even more special, they are creating life-long friendships.


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I am visiting my daughter and three small grandsons for about the 12th time this year. They live north of town on Lake Silver Road.
This seemingly quiet neighborhood is a prep course for an Indy event.
I sit on her rear decks and watch with fright at the speeds in which folks drive. They actually "gun it" when turning the corner; they are no doubt speeding in excess of 20 mph. The curve should be negotiated at maybe 15 mph. There are no shoulders.
Not only is this done by locals, but also by cement mixers, big rigs and dump trucks, not to mention school buses. Residents literally take their lives, and those of their children, at a significant risk when attempting to back out of their driveway.
This is by no means an exaggeration — maybe an understatement. Heck, retrieving your mail is death defying.
I have never seen any law enforcement ever.
So far, no one has been killed by a hit-and-run driver. I'd love it to stay that way. I have thought about sitting in her front yard with a video camera.
What's your view? Email firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject "My view." Letters must be 250 words or less and written on local issues.


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March 27, 2009
NORTHRIDGE, Calif. - The Cal State Northridge men's and women's track and field squads will head to the Cal-Nevada Championships at UCLA's Drake Stadium this weekend.
Field events begin on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. with the women's javelin while the first event on the track will be the men's 110 meter hurdles at 1 p.m. The women's discus opens the Sunday's schedule at 11 a.m. Running events begin at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday with the 4x100 meter relay. A distance carnival will begin at 6:00 pm on Saturday night with the steeplechase, 5000m and 10,000m being contested.
Admission: Adults are $7.00. Non UCLA students and youths (age 3-16) are $5.00. UCLA students are in free with a BruinCard.
Live Stats: Live stats for the meet will be available at uclabruins.com. Access to live stats can also be found on both the men's and women's track and field schedule pages.
Cal/Nevada Meet Changes: Instead of having prelims for field events on Saturday and finals on Sunday, all field events will be final during one day of competition. Also, the steeplechase, 5000m and 10,000m will all be finals on Saturday evening (there are no prelims and finals).
Competing Teams: Cal Tech, Cal Poly, Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State Bakersfield, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Los Angeles, Cal State Northridge, Cal State San Marcos, Cal State Stanislaus, Chapman, Claremont-Mudd, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Loyola Marymount, Masters, Nevada, Occidental, Pepperdine, Pomona Pitzer, Sacramento State, San Diego State, San Francisco, Soka, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, UNLV, USC, Westmont and Whittier.
The Matador men will look to improve on last season's fourth-place finish at the Cal-Nevada Championships held at Fresno State. The Northridge men last won the Cal-Nevada meet in 2005 with 157 points. The Matadors followed that up with a strong second place finish in 2006 (105 pts.) but slipped to sixth in 2007.
The Northridge women also finished fourth at the Cal-Nevada Championships a year ago with 94 points. But the Matador women have also had success at the meet in recent years as they placed second in both 2005 (123 pts.) and 2006 (122.5 pts.).
Sherrina Lofton, the current Big West Women's Track Co-Athlete of the Week, is the defending Cal-Nevada champion in the 100 meters after running 11.82 in Fresno. Morgan Bogard is the defending champion in the discus but will not compete this weekend due to injury. Raquel Sola is also the defending Cal-Nevada hammer champion.
Cal State Northridge has a pair of outdoor meets in the books this season and have seven outdoor meets remaining before the conference championships on May 15-16 at UC Irvine.


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I live just outside of Indianapolis proper on the west side. I am looking for ideas of where to meet and what we want to do to increase awareness of Pre-eclampsia as well as funding for research.
I crochet and have made baby blankies for friends and family. I am willing to start up something creative in that aspect to help generate funds for our foundation.
I am willing to look at other opportunities in my area to help generate funds. Max and Erma's is one thought but we have other restaurants in the area that do the same thing. Now I know not all regions of Indiana have the same restaurants but maybe we could each host an event in our areas?
I've only had a few people respond to my emails. I've noticed a bigger response in reading my posts here so I will aim to put information here and on email.
I don't have much money after losing my son two years ago and accumulating more medical bills while having a healthy baby in November 2003. I cannot say I could pay for a hotel bill to travel to another town for a meeting myself and am reluctant to ask those of you out there if you would be willing to do that to meet near here. I would want to graph out a meeting and agenda to make sure the meeting was worth while before we met.
What kinds of things would you like to see happen with the Indiana Chapter?
I have given out the name of my specialist to help others get recommendations or see him for help. What kind of resources could we pull together to help each other here in Indiana?
Please voice your ideas here. I would love to hear from you!


text: Prev | Next Purchase this photo Lori Wolfe/The Herald-Dispatch Sheriff Tom McComas speaks during the unveiling two Harley-Davidson motorcycles as part of the Cabell County Sheriff's Department's new Motor Unit on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at the Cabell County Courthouse. Gallery: Cabell County Sheriff's Department's gets motorcycles Jun. 26, 2013 @ 07:26 AM The Herald-Dispatch / 2015 The Cabell County Sheriff's Department just added a pair of motorcycles to its new Motor Unit. ()


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You're heading into your fourth straight season with the Wolves. How does it feel to be back?
Well, last season really didn't end the way I wanted it to. This team is focused on winning championships and being the best and we didn't get where we wanted to. That was disappointing, but I'm looking forward to getting after it again this season and hopefully seeing a different result.
How would you assess last season for you personally?
It was a weird year all around, what with the lockout and everything. Going into the season I wasn't sure what kind of playing time I was going to get or if the NHL guys would be taking most of the ice time. I was focused on proving myself and trying to improve my game. Even though my stats weren't really there I feel like I played pretty well.
What has your offseason routine looked like so far?
Right after our last game in April I went back home to Michigan for about a month, saw some friends and relaxed. I tried to recharge a little after the grind of the year. But I've been back in Chicago working with some of our coaches and helping out at the skills camps. Collaboration is really good and working with other players at this level is a really helpful thing and makes me better. The last couple of summers I was running a lot more and doing more cardio, but I have been on the ice more and outside less.
How's your health?
I broke my rib at the end of last season and I still feel that a little bit, but it will be 100 percent by the time we get going. Other than that, everything feels great.
The Wolves recently announced head coach John Anderson is returning. What was your reaction to that?
I had never met him before the press conference (on July 16) but I have heard he was a great player and is a great coach now. He doesn't shy away from telling players what they need to improve on and that's a good thing. I also hear he's an offensive-minded coach so it will be really good working with him.
It will be a different environment in the locker room this season with the team's new affiliate. Excited?
For sure. There are some guys from the past few years coming back who I'm looking forward to playing with again. (Goaltender) Matt Climie was my roommate last year and he'll be here again. So the familiar faces are nice but bringing in new guys creates a lot of competition and it's a new challenge for all of us. It's good stuff.


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CRESTVIEW — Melvin "Catfish" Hill's face lights up when he talks about youth baseball. All one has to do is spend five minutes with Hill to realize his passion is teaching young people the game he loves.
This year, Hill, the Crestview Little League's president, has even more to be excited about. For the first time in more than a decade, Little League baseball will be offered in Crestview. Games will take place at Garden City Park.
Registration for Crestview's Little League runs 6-7 p.m. through the end of the month on Tuesday and Thursday at the Garden City Little League Park, 3660 Garden City Road.
Registration also is available at www.eteamz/cllgardencity.com.
The league's $50 per child membership cost includes a cap, shirt, socks and all equipment except for a glove and insurance.
To many people, Little League is to youth baseball as Xerox is to copy machines or Kleenex to tissue paper.
But just as Xerox and Kleenex are registered brands with a trademark, so too is Little League baseball.
Hill had no problems with the Crestview Parks and Recreation Department's programs, but he wanted to give local kids a chance to participate in the best known youth baseball program in the world.
"Bringing Little League back to Crestview is about letting kids live the dream of being able to play on the ESPN networks that you see (on television) every summer," Hill said. "Little League is a community deal. Everything is an unpaid position.
"There are volunteer umpires, board members and coaches. It's more of everything is a hands-on deal. That's why we want to bring it back to the community and give the kids the opportunity to do what they see on TV. Little League provides them the opportunity to play in the World Series and live the Williamsport (Pa.) dream that every kid has."
Odds of making it to Williamsport are slim, Hill admits, but he sees Little League as a great motivator.
"It's not so much a pipe dream as it is something that drives the kids to another level," he said. "If we can succeed, we will get national exposure because that's the avenue where Little League will take you."
The league is open to boys and girls ages 4-16. The 4-6 age group is coed tee ball and the other age groups are split into fast pitch softball for girls and baseball for boys.
The Crestview Little League is part of Florida's District 1 that includes leagues in Niceville, Shalimar, Destin and DeFuniak Springs.
There will be some changes in the rules for the 11- to 12-year-old intermediate league this year, which is the one most people associate with Little League baseball.
For the first time since Little League started, the boys will play with the more advanced rules that allow base runners to lead off as opposed to having to stay on base until the ball crosses home plate.
Along with the lead offs, pitchers may attempt to pick off moves on base runners.
"At 11 and 12, most of the kids now are in the sixth and seventh grade and playing middle school ball, and they are learning that part of the game," Hill said. "All of the leagues now are teaching that part of the game for that age group.
"There is no setting now where the kid won't know what leading off is or what a balk is."
Plans are to have evaluations and the draft the first two Saturdays in February and to start league play March 9, Hill said.
Hill hopes to have four teams per age group, but if there aren't so many teams, the league will fill out the schedule by playing Little League teams from within District 1.
He is still looking for anyone interested in volunteering to help make the league a success.
"We will always take volunteers," he said. "Just let me know what you want to volunteer for and I'll send you the form."
Randy Dickson is the Crestview News Bulletin's sports editor. Email him at email@example.com, tweet him @BigRandle, or call 682-6524


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Sabrina prepares to get married, Patrick visits the lab at General Hospital, and Anna and Robert look for Nikolas at Wyndemere.
At the apartment, Maxie asks Ellie how Connie is. Ellie lets her know that Sam's tutoring her and Spinelli in infant care. Connie's fine. Maxie's sad that Ellie is the mother to Connie. Ellie tries to console her but Maxie doesn't know how she'll ever get Connie back when she doesn't think she'll be a better person in six months. Later, Maxie reminds Mac and Felicia that she's not going to the wedding when they arrive. She'd only be thinking how she'd wish she could be there with her baby. They think Emma would want her there and Mac produces a dress when she confesses she doesn't have a thing to wear.
At Sabrina's, Emma worries there won't be a wedding…Felix is saying bad words while fixing Sabrina's dress. Sabrina explains it's part of Felix's process. Emma hopes Sabrina will marry her daddy today. Sabrina's waited a long time for this day and knows it will happen. Felix comes out announcing her dress is her something old and something new. Emma hands her a pink ribbon for something borrowed and Felix advises against Sabrina wearing a turquoise necklace from Carlos as something blue. Emma worries it's bad luck when Sabrina's ready to take her chances to go without a something blue. Felix calls Ellie.
At the penthouse, Spinelli thanks Sam for helping him with Connie as Sam gets ready for the wedding. Silas arrives and wonders what this date will be like since all their other dates have been disasters. Sam asks Ellie if she's going to the wedding when she arrives. Ellie didn't get an invitation. Felix calls to borrow something blue and straightens out the problem of the missing invitation. Spinelli decides he can't tear himself away from Connie to go but encourages Ellie to go. Before she leaves, Maxie arrives with a gift.
Back at Sabrina's, Felix asks what's wrong and she tells him she's certain she left an invitation for Ellie at the lab. She considers Carlos told the truth about seeing Robin who might have taken the invitation but Felix thinks there's no way that's possible.
Robin and Anna rush into each other's arms at Wyndemere. Both are crying as Robert holds back his own emotion. Anna knew she was alive but couldn't trust it until now. She will never lose her again. The three of them are hugging when Duke startles them from behind the wall. He's happy to see Robin and hugs her, requesting 'no more tears, unless they're happy tears'. Robin can't believe they are all really there – it's the moment she's been dreaming of. Anna wants Robin to go home to Emma and Patrick. Robin shows her the wedding invitation. Anna is eager for her to go but Robin won't leave until she knows Nikolas is accounted for and safe. Anna and Robert go to look for Nikolas and Duke encourages Robin to call Patrick. After Robin leaves a message that she's coming home, Anna and Robert report back that there is no sign of Luke, Faison or Nikolas.
Elizabeth asks Patrick what's wrong when she arrives at his house. Robin's on his mind. Ava came and relayed that Carlos saw Robin in the lab. He thinks he should go to the lab and check it out. Elizabeth reminds him that Robin's gone and Ava's a liar. She doesn't think he should chase Robin's ghost now. Later, Epiphany shows up looking for the groom and is upset to learn people are messing with Patrick. She doesn't let Elizabeth answer the phone as they leave.
In the lab, Britt explains how she had no choice but to tell Patrick that Brad was the father. He reminds her that Ben looks nothing like him. She should tell him what's going on or he's going to expose he's not the father. Britt's not buying his wish for redemption to save Felix's friend from embarrassment and thinks he wants to play hero like when he exposed Connie's true parents. Brad just wants to do the right thing. Britt yells she can't talk about things; actual matters of life and death are involved. He should just shut up about Robin. Brad realizes Britt answered his question and says, "So Robin is alive," as Patrick walks into the lab. Patrick thinks Brad is finally taking an interest in his son and shows him a photo of Robin. It's his late wife and asks Brad if he's seen her. Brad claims he didn't start working there until after she died before Britt tells Patrick it's not too late to call off the wedding if he's having second thoughts. He regrets having this conversation with her but Britt advises if he's stuck on Robin, he should wait. Patrick says that he's having no second thoughts.
Tomorrow's Port Charles spoilers for General Hospital:
Spinelli wants Maxie to leave.
Patrick tells Epiphany that nothing will stop him from marrying Sabrina.
Lucy breaks the news to Sabrina that she can't marry her and Patrick.
Sam shares with Silas that she thinks there is hope for the rest of them.
Britt learns that Faison may have Nikolas.
Nikolas is punched by one someone.
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Photographer Ben Long describes and demonstrates high dynamic range (HDR) photography, a technique that broadens the luminance or range between the lightest and darkest areas of an image.
"Loving the pace of training, the clarity, and the flexibility to learn anytime at your own pace. The range of courses is great." —Nick C.
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Naya Rivera Talks Pretty Little Liars: Which Character Would She Be?
Much like the rest of the universe, Glee's Naya Rivera (Santana) is straight-up obsessed with Pretty Little Liars. Probably because it's the best thriller since Twin Peaks, and features the one and only Professor Fitz (Ian Harding) + his adorable vests of sexiness.
Naya tunes into PLL every single week and is always on the edge of her seat with anticipation and suspense. But which Pretty Little Liar would this Gleek be if she were on the show? To quote Naya: "Spencer — she's shaaaady."
Um, duh! Spencer is definitely the smartest Little Liar, and we love the fact that she spends most of her waking hours wearing jodhpurs. But wait –– Naya plays Emily in her fantasy Pretty Little Liars game. What gives?!
That's right, Naya plays fantasy PLL with her friends. Don't judge, it's totally normal. Check you guys later; we have to go work on our Alison DiLaurentis cork board.
Source: Naya Rivera on Twitter


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Supports scholarships for Ph.D. and post-doctoral research in the fields of social sciences and humanities with a regional focus on Central and Eastern Europe, including the Baltic states. Research Grants provide support for new researchers or for scholars whose careers have been interrupted or delayed (12/1). Summer Research Scholarships (3/1) and Short-term Research Scholarship (3/1; 6/1; 9/1; 12/1) also available.
See http://www.wilsoncenter.org/collection/grant-opportunities for details.Contact: Christian OstermannOne Woodrow Wilson Plaza1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NWWashington, DC 20004-3027202/691-4222Email: email@example.com


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Mr. Banner Vestal Sparks, 86, passed away, Thursday, Oct. 4, 2012, at Heritage Healthcare of Elkin.
Mr. Sparks was born Feb. 9, 1926, in Wilkes County to Walter Grover and Emma Billings Sparks. Mr. Sparks was a veteran of the U.S. Navy serving during WWII. Mr. Sparks retired from Proctor-Silex in Mt. Airy; he was also a member of Bessies Chapel Baptist Church.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Levanch Stanley "Shorty" Sparks; sisters, Nora Wilmoth and Ruby Sparks and brothers, Ed Sparks, Jap Sparks and Ray Sparks.
Survivors include: daughter, Sandra Snow and husband, Pete of Elkin; brothers, Bud Sparks and his wife, Shirley of State Road and Linvel Sparks and his wife, Ella Mae of Traphill; sister, Pauline Hicks of Traphill; grandchildren, Donna Coe and husband, Scotty, Donathan Snow and wife, Christy, Dustin Snow and wife, Stacey; great grandchildren, Kayla Chandler, Tiffany Coe, Meagan Johnson and Austin Snow.
Funeral services will be conducted Sunday, Oct. 7, 2012, at 2:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service Chapel with Rev. Marty Reece and Rev. Mark Freeman officiating. Burial will follow in Bessies Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Elkin Funeral Service.
Online condolences may be made to www.elkinfuneralservice.com
Services entrusted to Elkin Funeral Service.