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The MTP Interview: An Inconvenient Truth: Songwriters Guild President Rick Carnes talks about the effect of piracy on American songwriters
American songwriters are one of our greatest sources of culture as well as important contributors to America's "soft power"–our ability to win hearts and minds around the world by attraction and not by force. As Professor Joseph Nye would say "Lennon trumped Lenin." (See Center for Strategic & International Studies Smart Powerfavored by the Obama Administration in the "change" direction for U.S. foreign policy.)But Internet analysts, self-appointed futurists as well as self-annointed consumer advocates almost always misunderstand the role of songwriters and the negative effects that rampant piracy has had on them. People who just write songs don't sell t-shirts, don't play shows, don't have all the other income streams available to them that the EFFluviati point to as subsititute revenues for the cruel theft of labor value by companies like Kazaa, Morpheus, Limewire and the Pirate Bay.You hear a lot of talk about "follow on" artists or "remix culture"? Songwriters are the ones who are most often "followed upon" and "remixed out of culture". And as noted in this interview, there are fewer and fewer original professional songwriters around every year.Rick Carnes is the President of the Songwriters Guild of America, and is a tireless advocate for American songwriters on Captiol Hill. He lives in Nashville, the songwriting capitol of the world.
[Interview for MTP by Chris Castle]
MTP: There is a popular image of a songwriter sitting in front of a piano in a little cubicle at the Brill Building or Music Row and grinding out the hits.What kind of business relationships do songwriters have today?
Carnes: Most songwriters today are independent operators. Music piracy was the death knell for the day of music publishers having staffs of songwriters. The Brill Building is still there but the last time I visited it was to talk to the folks at Saturday Night Live. There wasn't a songwriter in sight. Business relationships now are with lawyers and managers. They put together the deals and venture capitalists put up the money. The deals are done to get
the next big recording artist signed to a label and then everyone gets a piece of the action in some 360 deal.Used to be you found a great singer then you looked for a great song.
Now you find a great deal maker then look for someone with deep pockets.
MTP: Are there more or fewer songwriters working today than there were 10 years ago?If there's a change, what forces in the business are causing that change?
Carnes: The days of music publishers who have large staffs of professional songwriters seem to be over. Music publishers used to have both established writers and their 'farm team' of new talent. Now they have neither. The people they sign today (if any at all) are either working recording artists or 'future' recording artists. The days of the 'stand alone' songwriter appear to be over.
There are multiple causes for this situation but most of the damage was wrought by two specific problems. The first being that the internet has turned into a Cyber-Somalia.
Professional songwriters used to live on advances from their music publisher. These advances were to be recouped from record sales only ("mechanicals" is the industry term for these revenues). Music piracy killed record sales so that made it impossible for music publishers to recoup the advances they paid songwriters so they stopped signing writers and let go of the ones they had when their contracts ran out.For example, the music publisher I was writing for in 1998 had twelve great songwriters on staff. By 2008 they had no songwriters on staff. For the math impaired that is a reduction of 100%.
The second major problem was/is a practice by the record labels of putting "controlled composition" clauses in their artists recording contracts. For the non-lawyers reading this,
these clauses are a very complicated system established by the record labels to insure that they don't have to pay the full statutory rate imposed by the US Copyright office for the songs recorded by the artist that the artist either writes or "controls". [Editor's note: this includes songs co-written with a producer or other writer who is not the artist or a member of a group artist. It started right about the time that another SGA member, Hoyt Axton, helped to spearhead indexing the mechanical royalty rate to the Consumer Price Index in 1976.]
Once an artist signs a recording contract containing one of these clauses (and since all the major labels have them they have little choice) the [beginning] artist will receive, at most, 75% of the statutory rate for recording any song they write or co-write. It is the co-writing that causes problems for the professional songwriters. The record labels, because they can pay a lesser rate for any song written or co-written by the recording artist, insist that the artists now write or co-write all their songs. This has lead to a tremendous drop in the number of professional songwriters and, in most cases, the quality of the songs. The public is constantly complaining about having to pay US$12 to US$18 dollars for an album with only one or two goods songs on it. You can trace the cause of this problem back to the early eighties when all the record labels began implementing control compositions clauses in their contracts. Since then the norm on an album is one or two professionally written (or co-written) songs and a lot of filler songs that the artist wrotein order to satisfy the record label's demand for cheap music.
MTP: Tell me about what you do at the Songwriters Guild and the untold riches you are being paid for the job?
Carnes: I am President of the Songwriters Guild of America and if I am supposed to be getting "untold riches" someone forgot to tell me!The mission statement of the SGA is two words "Protect Songwriters". That lack of specificity has forced me to show up in all kinds of places I never thought I would be! I was the lead witness in the latest Copyright Rate Board hearing. I have testified on behalf of songwriters in both the Senate and the House of Representatives on many issues concerning song writers rights, and I have spent the last ten years flying all over the country talking to people about the harm that is being done to American music by the widespread theft of songs on the internet by a mob of anonymous looters.
MTP: What is the most common question you get from your membership?
Carnes: How do I get a song cut by Beyonce?
MTP: What are your top three legislative issues for this Congress?
Carnes: The performance right in an Audio Visual download;
Controlled Compositions;
Fighting Music Piracy (as always)
(If I could add a fourth it would be a 'bail-out' for all the songwriters who lost their jobsbecause their intellectual property was not protected by the US Government on the Iternet)
MTP: Who are you listening to at the moment, and what new music interests you the most?
Carnes: Luca Mundaca. A fabulous new Brazilian jazz artist who plays great guitar, sings like an angel, and writes amazing melodies. I have no idea what she is singing about since I don't speak Portuguese. But the songs knock me out anyway. That's what I call great songwriting.
MTP: Where do you think that songwriters are going to end up in the next 5-10 years?Meaning what role do you think they have in the music business?
Carnes:Songwriters were the number one loser of income in the US economy in 2004 (Music piracy taking its toll). So we are used to tough times. I hope to see a bottom form somewhere in the steep drop in record sales and a rebound sometime in the next ten years. If that doesn't happen I guess we will all end up sleeping in the subway!
The real role of songwriters in the music business is to add meaning to people's lives.
That is not a job you want to leave to amateurs. It is a job for professionals.
MTP: Do you find that members of Congress do not have a clear idea about the role of songwriters as a general rule?
Carnes: I think they understand the role of songwriters better than the typical major record label executive. At least the Members I have talked to understand that the Constitution includes provisions for royalties for creators because without them the quality of life suffers. While it is true that the Copyright laws are very difficult to understand in great detail, the general principle that creators have a right to control the copying of their work is understood by all except the most radical of the 'Free Culture' advocates. There are a couple of people on the Hill who think that 'Fair Use' extends to sharing a copyrighted song with the entire world for free.
MTP: Who do you view as the greatest commercial opponents of songwriters?
Carnes: The Major record labels are our biggest 'commercial' opponents. They have wreaked havoc on the songwriting community by forcing controlled composition clauses into their artist recording contracts. After them it would be all those companies out there that want to use our songs to sell something else (like advertising) and not pay us a dime. Anytime you go on a website that is offering free music they have no license to use and selling your visits to that site to advertisers you are looking at one of the 'greatest commercial opponent of songwriters'. I wish I could offer you a list but it would be too long to type in one sitting. Besides,didn't Richard Nixon get in trouble for having an Enemies List?
I hear a lot of talk from Google and the big online companies about their "partnerships" with the "music industry".I find more often than not when you drill down on what that means is deals with major labels.
MTP: Do you ever have any of these companies come to you to ask you what you think or try to make a deal with your members?
Carnes: Yes we have had companies come to us about deals. But that is because our catalog administration program has some hit songs that you have to have in order to compete
in the market. So in terms of whether these services are 'reaching out' to smaller labels
and music publishers the SGA is not a good gauge.
MTP: If you had to rank the top five online companies as the "best" meaning most friendly to songwriters, who would they be and why?
Carnes: Songwritersguild.com would be number one *grin* (a shout out here to our webmaster)
After that I am not a fan of any particular online company since I have had to spend the last three years of my life fighting them in rate court to try to get a decent interactive streaming rate. (Which we finally won!) But I am a subscriber to Rhapsody and I check out MySpace a lot since I have so many friends that are artists and in bands. MySpace, at least, has exposed a lot of indie music.
MTP: And the five "worst"?
Carnes: Whoever the top 5 p2p sites are today. And just for the record, I am not a fan of Google because I believe their search algorithm reduces all art to the lowest common denominator. That's a real culture-killer if I ever saw one.
MTP: Anti-copyright organizations often try to tell musicians and the music industry that they have their eye on the wrong ball, that they can offset the decline in CD sales by selling another T-shirt to fans who it would be easy to find because they were all on email.
Carnes: Songwriters don't sell T-shirts. We're too ugly and we dress funny. Songwriter fan clubs meet in phone booths so the email lists are too small to monetize effectively.
But seriously folks, songwriters don't sell concert tickets, or ancillary merchandise. We make our money on record sales and radio airplay. Or, we USED to make our money on record sales. Illegal downloading ended that. Now we are looking for new jobs.
The most infuriating thing about being lectured to by anti-copyright groups about how songwriters need to get a new 'business plan' is who gave them the right to tell us how to make a living? Who are they to say we shouldn't fight to defend our rights? In truth, I find their suggestions are unbelievably arrogant and self-serving.
MTP: Do you find that there are a lot of self-appointed music industry experts who have never sold a record?I'm thinking of a specific event at which I was sneered at by Eben Moglun at Future of Music Policy Summit II in 2001 for questioning the affect of piracy on independent artists and I was told more or less that I was a primitive thinker because I didn't see that declines in CD sales would be made up by merch.I'm also thinking of a panel I was on with Corynne McSherry of the EFF at which she wedged the audience by asking the crowd if "Silicon Valley" was going to let "Hollywood" push it around. Thankfully the "Silicon Valley" fans and the "Hollywood" fans hadn't been tailgaiting or painting themselves funny colors. [Editor's note: And if "Silicon Valley" wouldn't listen to "Hollywood," would "they" listen to musicians in Bollywood, Miami, Seattle, Austin, New Orleans, London, Harlem, in no particular order. Do you have similar experiences?
Carnes: There do seem to be a lot of people trying to make the rules who never played the game.
I have had some interesting back and forth on some panels but I must say that the most interesting panel I have ever witnessed was at the Leadership Music Digital Summit a couple of years back. The subject was how the music biz could 'compete with free'.
For some reason there was an actual economist on the panel who was totally silent for the entire panel until the very last when he spoke up and said that anyone who thinks there is a business model that competes with free is out of his mind. In any Capitalist society consumers are taught from cradle to grave to always get the best 'deal' they can, and NO DEAL beats free. I mention his comment only because it was the first time that I ever saw these 'self-appointed music industry experts' ever called on any of their malarkey by a real expert and the discussion was concluded in one sentence.
Castle: If you had to pick the most important issue of 2009 for songwriters, could you and if you could, what would it be?
Carnes: Same as every year for the last 10….Illegal downloading.If I may quote a real economist, "Nothing competes with free".
Add the question I missed:Is Rock and Roll dead?
Yes, Rock and Roll is dead. The genre' was played out by the mid-seventies but it has survived in a zombie-like fashion for thirty years past its expiration date.
Part of the charm of Rock music is that practically anyone can play it.It can be written by amateurs and performed by teenagers without those difficult and expensive years of training that other forms of music require. Unfortunately that also makes it the perfect 'corporate' music. You can get kids who don't need money to support families or pay house notes to sign contracts that no thinking adult would sign. This allows a record label to exploit 'this year's model' for all they are worth until they reach the end of their contract and want to renegotiate for decent terms. Then they simply replace them with another teen idol. The simplicity of the music has allowed the major labels to treat recording artists like 'temp workers'.
Hopefully with the decline and fall of the major label system we might finally get to see where the music really wants to go once it is released from this corporate death-grip.
[Editors note: There's still great music being made every day, some of it is listed in our "New Music Weekend" recommendations posted (pretty much) every Friday and reposted the following Monday on MTP and on Twitter.]
Update: Should there be a rating system for "red flag" knowledge: Are Five Million DMCA notices too many?
[3/31/13 Update by Editor Charlie: We now know courtesy of Google's DMCA Transparency Report that Google processes roughly 10,000,000 DMCA notices a month for search alone which Google acknowledges to be 97% accurate. It also seems likely that the Google lobbyist had some idea or actually knew of this level of infringement in Google search at the time she testified. And Google sends traffic to pirate sites where it also sells advertising on a CPM basis–profiting from the theft. When will someone call this out for what it is–a criminal agreement to profit from massive infringement?
12/27/11 Update by Chris Castle: In written testimony before the House Judiciary Committee on November 16, Google's lobbyist acknowledged that "During 2010, we processed DMCA takedown notices for approximately three million items across all of our products. Already in 2011 we have processed takedown notices for nearly five million items, and we have done so more quickly and efficiently than ever before."
Interesting, because of a couple things: First, that's a 166% increase year over year. Second, in her oral testimony, she left out the 3 million in 2010 part. Maybe that was just an editorial decision, but if the members had not read her written testimony (highly likely) and didn't focus on that part, they probably would not–and didn't–raise the rather startling growth of DMCA notices "processed". And finally that word "processed"–how many of you reading that statement thought she meant "taken down"? If you have had any experience with Google (see www.popuppirates.com) you would know that there is a very, very long way between "processed" and "taken down".
We were also treated to many recitations about how much money the tech companies make off of the Internet and the DMCA. The implication is that's all magically new money. How much of it is more income transfer than profit from innovation?
The following piece written by Chris Castle first appeared in MTP in 2006.]
In a recent conversation I had with an attorney who has represented YouTube, I asked him a question that I now feel very safe in asking—does a million notice and takedowns sent to one service in 12-18 months constitute "red flag" knowledge? This isn't speculation anymore–YouTube must have received at least a million DMCA notices by now. Even if the site has a repeat infringer policy, should they still get a safe harbor if they seem to attract significant numbers of repeat infringers?
Realize that if a million notices constitutes "red flag" knowledge of infringing activity, the recipient infringer may be denied the protection of the safe harbors in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act.
His reply? Well, you see, it depends on how large the service is.
Ah, I see. So if the "service" does a really good job of creating lots and lots of infringement but only gets caught a small percentage of the time, then that doesn't mean that they "knew or should have known" that infringing activity was going on. Even if that small percentage was over a million copyright owners who decided to send notices. (Realize that at least 10% of that hypothetical million was the Viacom lawsuit alone, and another 5% was JASRAC alone, etc.)
So if your average "citizen of the 21st century" happens to run across their work on YouTube but doesn't know what to do to take it down, phrases their notice incorrectly–what then?
Or what if the artist "citizen of the 21st century" can't afford a lawyer "citizen of the 21st century" to tell them whether the use involved is "fair use" or whether the artist's unschooled consideration of whether the infringer's use is subject to a "fair use" affirmative defense was accomplished with sufficient "good faith", yet another new wrinkle courtesy of The Leland Stanford Junior Google Law School lecturer and U.S. District Judge Jeremy Fogel (who essentially codified what we understand to be the DMCA practice of Stanford benefactor Google in his ruling in the Lenz case)?
Nothing will happen. Nothing. And these artists who throw up their hands out of economic desperation will also make their contribution to the $1.65 billion of free rider profits that the YouTubes put in their pocket from the work product of others that they can't hold a candle to.
So how does the average "citizen of the 21st century" decide how to spend their time monitoring the Internet for infringements of their works? Google and its amen corner continually tell us that was the deal that copyright owners made in the DMCA—catch us if you can. Democracy guided by the hand of the Almighty. Not true, of course, and bad advice, most certainly, but that's what a Google might say.
Wouldn't it be more efficient for an artist "citizen of the 21st century"–who wishes to enjoy all the extraordinary benefits the first decade of the 21st century is bringing to them–if there were some kind of ranking system for the really bad guys? A ranking system for copyright infringers based on DMCA notices sent? (Or at least "potential" copyright infringers, if you want to continue the charade of the wilfully blind.)
What if there were a website that maintained an informal ranking of which online service received the most notices, and also gave time to response, and time to takedown? Kind of like an Alexa.com meets Good Housekeeping for infringers? Which "digital native" amongst us could possibly object to consumer information being made available to "citizens of the 21st century" ? Maybe the site could also post a picture of the DMCA agents who failed to respond, kind of like johns.com? (Maybe conveniently available on Google Street View.)
There's actually nothing that would stop artists from developing such a service–aside from money, of course, and time taken away from diligently monitoring the Internet for other "citizens of the 21st century" who are infringing their work. You would think that the Copyright Office would want to maintain it, too, so they could see how effectively the DMCA notice and takedown system was working. Or maybe even the Congress might be interested?
In Los Angeles, the city health department gives restaurants a rating card that is posted on the front door of the establishment. If you don't have an "A" on that card, expect to do some explaining to your customers.
It's amazing how much of an effect a rating can have on the failure to comply with the law.
PS: Choppy, Directionless and Strident
There are some books that I have seen frequently in book stores over the years that I know I will never read. Dianetics is one such book. I have no particular reason to read or not to read these books, but if I'm honest about it, I know that I'm not ever going to read them.
These are all books that One Ought To Read, if one wishes to be a Very Well-Rounded Person. I'm sure you could come up with your own list of books in this category. Another category of such books are the ones that are Just Too Absurd. Life of Brian would be one of these. The Companion to Oliver Stone's "JFK" would be another or Zen and the Art of Black Helicopter Maintenance. A new addition I would make to my version of that list would be the latest by the "most prolific scholar in the history of copyright" (who is, in case you don't know, Google VIP Patry. I think we can call him The Most Prolific Scholar for short, or perhaps "PS").
From what I can gather, the upshot of PS's book is that it is a hierarchical and status driven look at works of authorship and the laws that once protected them. According to PS, creators do not innovate, only innovators innovate, which is kind of a silly con if you remember things like jazz. But then jazz probably doesn't count, because as we know art doesn't scale.
Maybe multitrack recording might count? That at least involves a machine that has a carbon footprint, so Googlers should feel right at home. But wait–the innovation of multitrack recording (on which the entire modern recording industry is based, including Protools) is an invention generally attributed to…Les Paul. (For all you Silly Cons out there, and especially you Very Silly Cons, Les Paul was a…guitar player.) As usual with occupants of the Googleplex there are no dogs or actors allowed into the hierarchy so we will just define guitar player innovators out of the definition.
Now some may criticize me for only focusing on "bad" reviews–or as they may say in the Googleplex, "ungood"–and that may be, but PS has Google and all we have are each other.
Others have noticed the new one by PS, too. Tom Sydnor has a second installment of his "Worthless Book" review, an excellent critique of the PS book that is a delicious read, a fantastically 3 star feast for the truth.
And I've also read a PS review of interest by Jonathan Handel in the Los Angeles Times who observes: "Patry's stature makes 'Moral Panics and the Copyright Wars' an 'important' book. Unfortunately, what the book delivers is a choppy and directionless narrative, sometimes illuminating but too often scattershot, unoriginal and strident."
I don't know as I agree that he's "strident," I probably would have said "oozing". That's what happens when the bile is so full and pungent it can't quite get out quickly enough, it just kind of oozes into the sunlight like a vomitous marsh. But "directionless" sounds about right. Then again, not only have I not read the book, I know that I'm not going to read the book.
Just like I know I'm not going to read Dianetics.
Dan Clancy withdraws?
Rumor has it that Dan Clancy has withdrawn from speaking at the Frankfurt Book Fair next week.
See "More Questions Than Answers on Google Books": "Google's Dan Clancy had patiently answered question after question regarding Google's' Book Search settlement with publishers and authors until late in the afternoon Friday, when he was finally left speechless [when a reporter] asked Clancy what kind of message was sent when Google decided to 'copy first and answer questions later.'"
A fascinating article.
Sergey Brin, Monopsonist Book Enthusiast
If you've been following the Google Books settlement debacle, you know that there are some serious questions about what are probably inaccurately referred to as orphan works, but what are probably more accurately called "Google Orphans." Google Orphans are a special class of works for which Google cannot locate the author (for whom Google has no incentive to look very hard).
In a WSJ interview with the very well grounded Sergey Brin (and our favorite PhD, Eric Schmidt, although it appears that Schmidt was just along for the ride), it becomes apparent that he is the very model of the monopsonist book enthusiast.
He emotes with passion for the subject. "'The companies that are making these objections have done nothing for orphan works,' Mr. Brin added. 'Nobody was interested in these works at all [aside from 100s of thousands of work hours on the subject in the last 5 years and the orphan works regimes devleoped in Canada and the European Union], and there is no existing market for them [aside from Canada]. So I think these objections that Google will be the only one [presumably meaning that Google will have a monopoly on Google Orphans] are pretty ludicrous given that no one else has done this."
So I guess there are a couple not so important people he disagrees with, since a company would have to be "pretty ludicrous" to disagree with Google. So presumably he'd disagree with this statement: "Other market competitors who might compete with Google will be disadvantaged by observing the [French intellectual property law] and copyright laws since failing to enjoy the same legal safe harbor from orphan work liability. Such a legal safe harbor would only be available to competitors through legislation or litigation, thus, giving Google a head start that can only lessen competition. In contrast, France doesn't recognize such a safe harbor. The proposed Settlement, thus, not only contradicts the French [intellectual property law] but will also likely hamper U.S. Congressional efforts to balance these competing interests. In so doing, the orphans, whether from French or U.S. soil, will not receive all of the protections they might otherwise have enjoyed."
Oh, no wait. That's not an objection from a company, that's from the French Republic.
A country.
Maybe countries don't count?
How about this? "Other market competitors who might compete with Google will not enjoy the same legal safe harbor from orphan work liability. Such legal safe harbor would only be available to competitors through legislation or litigation, thus, giving Google a head start that can only lessen competition. In contrast, Germany only recognizes such a limited safe harbor for certain non-commercial uses of digitized works by virtue of an enactment by the German legislature rather than a private agreement. Similarly, the U.S. Congress has been considering passage of orphan works legislation that would, through a careful balancing of public interests, provide universal access to orphan works while still maintaining some measure of accountability by users. The Settlement, thus, not only contradicts the laws of Germany but will also likely hamper Congressional efforts to balance these competing interests. In so doing, the orphans, whether from German or U.S. soil, will not receive all of the protections they might otherwise have enjoyed."
Oopsie. Another pesky country, the Federal Republic of Germany. Silly me, I should be looking for ludicrous companies not ludicrous countries.
Well maybe this one: "The structure of the Proposed Settlement itself, therefore, pits the interests of one part of the class (known rightsholders) against the interests of another part of the class (orphan works rightsholders). Google's commercial use of orphan works will generate revenues, which will be deposited with the Registry. Any unclaimed revenues, however, will inure to the benefit of the Registry and its registered rightsholders. Thus, the Registry and its registered rightsholders will benefit at the expense of every rightsholder who fails to come forward to claim profits from Google's commercial use of his or her work. And, as noted above, the broad scope of the Proposed Settlement's licensing provisions exacerbate this conflict. The greater the economic exploitation of the works of unknown rightsholders by Google and the Registry, the stronger the incentive for known rightsholders to retain the unclaimed revenues for themselves."
Dang, that's another country. The ludicrous United States.
Of America.
I just can't seem to get it right, there are so many objections. Or maybe…do you think he wasn't told that countries were being ludicrous? Or is he prepared to tell France, Germany and the United States that they are stupid?
But the Monopsonist Book Enthusiast also lays down the law that there's going to be no funny business with the content owners thinking they can set their own prices. "Content owners will not set the price. 'Everyone is familiar with this problem in selling your house. We're not going to use the price you suggest,' he said." [Of course, it's a little difficult to steal someone's house if they don't agree to sell it to you for the price you want. But that's another story.]
"In the view of the Department [of Justice]…as a result of the Proposed Settlement, other digital distributors may be effectively precluded from competing with Google in the sale of digital library products and other derivative products to come. These problems are evident on the face of the Proposed Settlement and the concerns they raise have not to this point been convincingly addressed by the parties."
Oh, well. I'm sure the Monopsonist Book Enthusiast didn't really mean to imply that Google would dictate the price to content owners using the monopsony power of the books settlement.
How about this one: Taking a question "[o]n Google's culture (prompted by this week's New Yorker article, which mentions Mr. Brin's discomfort with some employees' feeling of entitlement at a meeting in Phoenix):
Brin: I haven't finished reading it yet. But I certainly do recall the Phoenix layoffs.
Schmidt: We did not lay them off, we moved the Phoenix people to other sites.
Brin: The vast majority of people did stay with us. [So…what does that mean? Were they laid off or not? Or did they just get googled when the clocks struck 13?] There was a period of time where the culture was misinterpreted. I remember when we would start working in a garage, and Larry would roll in with sandwiches, and that evolved into an expectation of all gourmet food all the time. I think it's important to reset the culture from time to time. Several years ago, we did that. People had extrapolated from our past practices. We decided to, for example, significantly cut down all the snacks."
Just cut down the snacks, you're not in the garage anymore.
Wow. Now that guy is CEO material. There is definitely some bailout money in his future.
Well, it's just another day through the looking glass. That is not the droid you are looking for.
More YouTube disclosures
Another excellent piece on CNET regarding the $1.79 billion YouTube/Google history that should be of interest to all the members in the class action as well as those who have yet to see a dime from Google for the past, present or future use of their work. (And for you Veoh fans out there, this case is in the 2nd Circuit, not the Temporary Autonomous Zone.)
In "Did Viacom Find the Smoking Gun In YouTube Case?" we finally see some evidence of what was widely rumored to be happening at YouTube: YouTube—and later Google—employees "seeding" the service with illegal works for the purpose of attracting users to YouTube and enriching YouTubers such as Li'l Chad when they conned Dr. Smarty Pants and the Google board into throwing down big bucks for the company.
This "seeding" idea is nothing new—how else can you start an illegal content distribution hub without having some illegal content to attract yet more?
As expected—emails have surfaced. What's surprising is not that there were emails, what's surprising is that somehow they didn't get deleted in anticipation of litigation. So what's really surprising is that there's any emails left. (For those of you who are reading along, that's often called intentional spoliation of evidence—see RealDVD.) As CNET notes, "[i]f [YouTube or Google] managers possessed "actual knowledge" of copyright infringement on the site and did not quickly remove it, the company may not be entitled to protection under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's safe-harbor provision, according to legal experts."
I would say that is actually the best outcome these "managers" could hope for—the denial of the safe harbor. If it turns out that the "managers" not only had "actual knowledge" but that the reason they had "actual knowledge" is that they actually knew that they were actually placing the infringing content on the service….We are in a whole new area. Yes, the Children of the Lessig God are entering the area of the Viking Pirate Kings. Mind you, that is not quite what the article says, but it would not surprise me in the least. If it goes there—which it probably won't—but if it did, all kinds of information might surface once a federal prosecuter starts sweating the "managers." And if the "managers" were themselves lawyers…it's more interesting still.
CNET notes correctly that "[a]ny questions about what YouTube employees may or may not have uploaded to YouTube must also be asked of Viacom's employees." That's true to be fair, although how much relevance it has remains to be seen.
It is highly unlikely, however, that all of the content at issue was uploaded by Viacom and each and every member of the class (as well as the independent artists, songwriters and film makers who can't afford to sue or don't know that they might be able to join the class), however much Google wants to believe it plausible enough to confuse a jury (a/k/a "true"). It still remains to be determined what did Google know and when did they know it? It is simply not credible to believe that Google thought that the reason that millions of people were watching videos on YouTube was because the technology was so dang groovy. An equally interesting question is where was the YouTube board? (Probably counting their money.)
As CNET notes, "YouTube's counterargument has always been, how is the company supposed to know the difference between pirated and legally uploaded clips when companies like Viacom are among those uploading material?"
But no, no we can't do that, now can we? And by the way—I thought that YouTube didn't know anything. This knowledge thingy, its so tricky to keep the story straight, isn't it? (Who ate the homework again? Oh, that's right, the dog ate the homework.)
Now let's see. There's usually a chunk of a purchase price put in escrow to deal with indemnity claims. Yes, according to USA Today that's right, "Google Inc. has set aside more than $200 million in its just-completed takeover of YouTube Inc. as a financial cushion to cover losses or possible legal bills for the frequent copyright violations on YouTube's video-sharing site…. The reserve could signal that Google is trying to insulate itself from a possible onslaught of lawsuits aimed at the large number of pirated videos posted on YouTube, which will retain its current management and name. Since its website first began to catch on about a year ago, YouTube has relied on a mix of homemade and pirated videos to expand its audience…. Google executives also have repeatedly vowed to protect the rights of copyright holders." (That's not a joke–I wonder if that last line would get reported so uncritically after the Google Books disaster?)
Wow. $200 million. That much, eh?
That will probably cover the legal bills.
Oh, no, wait—they said that was for everything. Including the uncompensated rights holders waiting on the sidelines to see how the litigation turns out before they bring their cases—and who don't think too much of Google's "vow"? I guess so.
Ah, well. Nothing like some beach volleyball followed by a toasty bidet to take off the chill of prosecution, eh? Yes, life is good in the two Gulfstream family.
For now.
PS The latest rumor I've heard as of about 4 weeks ago about the YouTube reserve is that it has been increased and now almost exceeds the purchase price–which is probably still quite low. I mean–if you're someone who thinks that a billion dollars is a lot of money. Even at the time of the sale, the USA Today story reported that "[t]he legal threats raised by the YouTube deal led to widespread Internet speculation that Google had set aside $500 million of the purchase price to pay copyright settlements." Seems like chump change–no pun intended.


text:
Welcome to Royal Norwich Golf Club, one of the premier golf clubs in Norfolk. With our planned relocation to Weston Park, it really is an exciting time to join us. Our vision is to create the region's most prestigious and talked about golf facility. With the course designers European Golf Design (designers of Celtic Manor), plans are already under way, and as a member you will be kept informed of all the latest developments, as well as enjoy playing at both courses as part of our reciprocal golf agreement.
Royal Norwich Golf Club is ideally situated just 2 miles from the city centre in very pleasant surroundings. We offer Members and visitors first class facilities where you can enjoy a snack, meal or refreshments in the friendly atmosphere of the clubhouse. You will be able to enjoy the traditions of a Royal Golf Club over 100 years old and regarded by many as one of the best in Norfolk.
We offer flexible memberships from 5,6 and 7 day as well as reduced rates for intermediates. We often have membership offers, so please check our page for more information. Call us on 01603 429928 to find out more.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Join or Sign In
Passionate quilter, recently crazy about paper piecing.
Block designed for Forest QAL (2013). See the above link for details.
Aleksandra Wiza
Love this design your very talented
I really like your pattern. However, I did not see instructions for piecing together the parts or what shades to use where. Am I just missing this?
All the details are here: http://www.jednoiglec.blogspot.com/2013/03/maple-fox-forest-qal.html
Thanks so much!
I hope to try this, but without the side fur so it more resembles my siamese cats. This will be a while coming, though, I must finish my UFO's first!!!
I like it so much I am getting my printer hooked up for the pattern. Sweet!
Thank you:) there's a lot of pieces, but I hope you'll find time to sew it:)
I so love Paper Piecing. Thank you for the pattern
Thank you too:) Paper piecing is my love too:)
Sweet and Charming!! Thank you :)
Thank you:) It's so nice to see that you like my pattern:)
Take Craftsy with you!
Craftsy Apps for iOS and Android. Read more »


text:
coz debian takes the system security to one more level up and by default ask's for the root password.
so the BIG QUESTION IS HOW TO proceed further
follow these steps
1) on grub-boot prompt.
press "e" to enter edit mode
2) then press downarrow to reach the line that starts with "kernel "
press "e" again
3) at the end of this line type in "init=/bin/sh" or "/bin/bash"
4) then press enter to make that change and press "b" to boot
in a few seconds you will be on your "#" prompt
5) only one step left
"mount -o remount rw /"
this step is necessary coz in this case root file system is mounted as read only.
6) finally type "passwd" and you get the screen to change the password
and then type in "init 6? or "reboot"
those who are looking for the technical details, the main work is the init command that we passed as an argument to kernel, it told kernel to specifically run the command specified in parameter instead of working on normal routine.
TRICK = if you have any program you wish to run instead of this then you can do that too using init command only.
10 Responses to "how to change root password in debian"
As long as you 've physical access to the Linux box, you can crack in to any Linux box irrespective of which flavor of Linux use. So i don't really believe with you – Debian is special and you can't easily crack in to it.
I have found that the best way to change a root password on a NIX box is to:
– boot up with a "Live CD" such as KNOPPIX
– mount (rw) the partition that contains the /etc folder
– open the passwd file in a text editor of your choice
– find the line for the root user
– backspace over the field containing the encrypted password
– save the file
– remove the CD and reboot
Now you can login as root without a password ans run passwd to reset it.
KNOPPIX has many valuable uses. Get yours today at http://www.knoppix.net/
– backspace over the field containing the encrypted password
I do not see a password. I see
and see no user names at all.
How can I change?
Installed Debian and con not log in as user or root, so do not no how to use passwd command, as I can not get to root terminal.
The file in question is "/etc/shadow" unless you explicitly disabled shadow passwords during installation.
What about if it's a VPS (accessed by SSH?)
if u have ur user with sudo rights u can do a simple
sudo passwd root
im saying this cause whenever i install a system the first thing i do is give sudo permission
Hello I am running Deb 504 as a nx cherry and recently after running a bunch of package installation in synaptic and security updates in a gnome desktop I found my user password changed and so I used rescue disk and changed it back. Next time I ran deb full I found my root changed as well (!?) So I tried editing shadow with vi using rescue cd , bash on assumed root and saved and no joy… whats left? Should I use a liveCD other than the debian?
Any idea is appreciated as I'd have to go to square 1 for the 4th time.
It would be great if you knew how to use apostrophes.
fdisk -l
mount -l
mount -t ext3 -r -w -o remount /dev/sda /
in grub its eaiser to just add the whole line drectly rw init=/bin/bash
so u dont need to remount in rw from ro 🙂


text:
Virat Kohli celebrates his half century during the fourth One Day International. (AP Photo)
A cricket fan runs on the field as play is delayed due to rain. (AP Photo)
Virat Kohli plays a shot as South Africa's wicketkeeper AB de Villiers looks on. (AP Photo)
AB de Villiers reacts after being dismissed by Yuvraj Singh for 3. (AP Photo)
Mahendra Singh Dhoni leaves the field after teammate Parthiv Patel, unseen, takes over as the wicketkeeper job. (AP Photo)
Yuvraj Singh in his bowling spell against Johan Botha during the fourth One Day International. (AP Photo)
Ground staff pull rain covers as play is delayed during the fourth ODI. (AP Photo)
Umpire Simon Taufel of Australia, left, with his counterpart umpire Johanes Cloete of South Africa, right, leave the field due to rain. (AP Photo)
South Africa's captain Graeme Smith chats with Harbhajan Singh as they leave the field due to rain. (AP Photo)
Yuvraj Singh with teammates Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina looks on as they await the third umpire's decision against Johan Botha. (AP Photo)


text:
Here's the Story
Started in 2002 by Michael Ball, Rock & Republic is most famous for its iconic denim pieces (which themselves are most recognized by the big ÒRÓ stitching on the back pockets). Today, in addition to jeans, you'll find a full expression of the collection sold online and in most Kohl's stores.
Rock & Republic
230 PRODUCTS From 0 Stores


text:
Being present and purposeful is how you can "own the moment" and maximize your workout. Be conscious of what you are doing to maintain the proper pace and form.
If you are mindlessly running on a treadmill or riding a stationary bike at the gym, look away from the magazine or TV, and turn up your intensity level by focusing on a part of the exercise you can improve — pump your arms faster and lift those knees higher.
Do you psych yourself out in the gym by negatively comparing yourself to others, which leads you avoid the gym in the first place? Or stray from your own workout plan by attempting to do too much, such as by lifting too much weight, and burning out or injuring yourself as a result? If you want to compare, the key is to look for someone that is just incrementally in better shape than you. Because that person can be you!
Dr. Jim Afremow is a sports psychology expert and the author of "The Champion's Mind: How Great Athletes Think, Train, and Thrive." Follow him on Twitter @goldmedalmind.


text:
Due to the popularity of Schaefer International Gallery's exhibition, "Wes Bruce: Taken By Wonder," the public is invited to stop by from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today to take home and repurpose available items. This event is one day only; approved pieces are free.
The show, a structural installation that called viewers to participate by uncovering its wonder, was on display Sept. 8 through Nov. 2 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; it is now in the process of de-installation.
Books, lumber and miscellaneous knick-knacks are still available. Take home a special piece that piques your curiosity.
Article Photos
Take a piece of "Wonder" home with you: Visit Schaefer from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today.
Photo provided by the MACC
Seeking skulls, windows or a sewing machine? Sorry; they are among the unavailable pieces, including: Puppets, puppet cart, coin drop, Walkie Talkie, lockers, telephone, wooden animals, canoe, suitcase, lamps, chairs, record player, carved statues, large bottles and a desk.
Please note that many of the items in the exhibit were on loan and are not available. If you signed up for an item, you will receive a call from the MACC.
Gallery officials echoed that the public is not permitted to help deconstruct the installation.
For more information on artist Bruce, visit his website at www.thecuriouslife.us.
Lahaina Arts Society will be celebrating 46 years with a family-oriented birthday celebration and silent auction from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16-17, under the Lahaina Banyan Tree along Front Street. Entry is free for all ages.
The two-day event will feature live entertainment, including Maui Jams, Andrew Molina, Maui Prep Band, Benny Uyetake, Dan Saunders and others; a keiki art table; tie-dye workshops; face painting; and a community mural.
The Lahaina Arts Association silent auction kicks off from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day.
For more information, visit www.lahainaarts.com or call LAS at 661-0111.
After a short hiatus, Paul Davis and Hal Jobe of the former Latitudes have started a new venture: Latitudes, Purveyors of Tommy Bahama Home in the same location, 210 Alamaha St., Kahului. The location is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For details, call 893-0650.


text:
BAY MINETTE -- After rumors spread that Alabama defensive tackle Terrence Cody was one of several hundred people to report for jury duty Monday at the Baldwin County Courthouse, a judge approached the man to settle the question.
Holmes, 21, caused quite the raucous, even though at 6-foot-3 and 304 pounds, is not quite as big as Cody, who is listed on the school's roster as being 6-foot-5 and 365 pounds.
"I'm like a shrimp next to him," Holmes said.
Still, his mere presence in court had some potential jurors and court officials wondering if he was the star Alabama football player.
Holmes said he spent the morning being asked for autographs and having to tell people he's not Alabama's defensive beast. Cody, however, who is from Fort Myers, Fla., would likely not be registered to vote in Baldwin County, and thus would be ineligible to be called for jury duty.
Holmes said at one point, Presiding Circuit Judge James Reid even announced to jurors that "we have a celebrity in the courtroom," joking that Cody was in the building.
Reid, who admitted to be an Alabama fan, said Monday afternoon that he knew the whole time that Cody wasn't in his courtroom, but he still told the look-alike to joke with his clerk and tell her he's the star player.
Not everyone, though, knew Holmes' identity right off the bat, as it was the subject of debate among some jurors. One male juror, asked by a Press-Register reporter if he had seen the Cody look-alike, responded that the man in the jury pool actually was the real Cody. A female juror, however, turned and pointed out to the man that she had confirmed with Holmes his true identity.
Holmes, who graduated from Foley High School in 2006, said he was a member of the school's football team and, like Cody, played defensive tackle. Being compared to the star, he said, isn't a bad thing at all.
"I'm hoping I can meet him one day," he said.
Holmes, a student at Alabama A&M but a fan of the Crimson Tide, said the drive from Huntsville to Baldwin County for jury duty was long, but being the most popular potential juror has other perks too.
"I get to miss class, so it ain't that bad," he said.
Holmes said this isn't the first time he's been mistaken for the star player. He said after the Tennessee game, when Cody blocked two field goals, he was praised for his game-winning effort and was asked for autographs at a local Walmart.


text:
Impact of Treatment With Rituximab on the Progression of Humoral Acute Rejection After Renal Transplantation (RITUX-ERAH)
The recruitment status of this study is unknown because the information has not been verified recently.
Verified December 2011 by University Hospital, Tours.
Recruitment status was Active, not recruiting
Recruitment status was Active, not recruiting
University Hospital, Tours
Roche Pharma AG
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
University Hospital, Tours
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
First received: February 4, 2010
Last updated: December 22, 2011
Last verified: December 2011
- Full Text View
- Tabular View
- No Study Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
No Study Results Posted on ClinicalTrials.gov for this Study
|Study Status:
|This study is ongoing, but not recruiting participants.
|Estimated Study Completion Date:
|October 2012
|Estimated Primary Completion Date:
|October 2012 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)


text:
Reference librarians respond to email requests from the local, national and international community.
Program Type:
Impact Area:
Program Impact Region:
Program Participation:
Open to the public. The community can choose to participate.
Program Start (and End Dates):
June 18, 2013
United States
Program Website Link:
Program Director:
Beth Lang
Program Director's Email Address:
Program Contact:
Beth Lang
Contact Email:
UNIT: Colleges, Schools, Departments, Centers, and Institutes:
Provost's Office/UMass Libraries
Student Involvement:
This Project Receives External Funding:
Assessment Mechanism:


text:
on October 3, 2012 - 6:52 PM
, updated October 4, 2012 at 8:22 AM
Buffalo police this evening announced they are seeking a missing 13-year-old girl believed to be in the Bailey-East Delavan-Olympic area of the city.
Daisie Blue was last seen Monday evening at her family's Fillmore Avenue residence. She is described as a black, about 5 feet tall and weighing about 100 pounds. She was last seen wearing a black hoodie and black pants.
Her family told police she has some medical issues and may need medications.
Anyone with information regarding her whereabouts is asked to call 911.


text:
May 12th from 12pm-5pm: unlimited tasters from 16 breweries & 2 distilleries. 'The Gubna's" Beer Can Chicken and sausage & pretzel plates, live broadcast of the CO Craft Beer Show & Live Music by Garrett Sayers Trio. http://cobeerweek.com/may-12
Denver, CO (I-Newswire) May 4, 2012 – Colorado Craft Beer Week launches its 2012 week of events with an outdoor festival at Highland Tap & Burger in Denver, CO. Guests will enjoy unlimited tasters of 16 craft breweries, and 2 distilleries. The Colorado Craft Beer Show Radio will be doing a live broadcast from 12pm-1pm and "The Gubna" from Oskar Blues will be sticking around to grill his famous beer can chicken. Chef Eli Odell will also be working with Justin Brunson (Masterpiece Delicatessen owner) to cook up sausages paired with pretzels for another lunch option.
Garrett Sayers Trio will also be entertaining the crowd with live music throughout the afternoon.
VIP tickets are available for $45 which features early entry from 12:00pm – 1:00pm, larger 8oz cups and pours, and a free lunch ticket that you can use towards a beer can chicken plate, or a sausage and pretzel plate.
General Admission tickets are available for $35 and you also get unlimited tasters in your 4oz souvenir cup.
The event is raising money in order to support the Pints for Prostates charity.
Participating breweries include: Great Divide Brewing, Odell Brewing, Denver Beer Co, Caution Brewing, AC Golden, Oskar Blues, Left Hand Brewing, Ska Brewing, Firestone Walker, Alaskan Brewing, Arvada Beer, New Planet (Gluten Free), New Belgium, Crazy Mountain, Breckenridge and Upslope Brewing.
In celebration of American Craft Beer Week, the promo code "craftbeer" can be used for a discount of $3 off of any ticket. Don't forget to invite your friends so they can get the same great deal.
Visit Colorado Beer Week on Facebook, or Google their website in order to get your tickets today.
Contact Info
Company: Colorado Beer Week
Contact: Scott Kerkmans
E-mail: email@example.com


text:
does anyone know how to make a programme to find values of B^j+1 and B^j+1 where:
matrix([[A^j+1],[B^j+1]]) = matrix([[C,D], [E,F]])*matrix([[A^j],[ B^j])
and with the initial condition that A^j =0, B^j=1. and then run to find say A^6 etc
Short words that describe your content. Used to categorize content. Combine multiple
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text:
Innate Immunity: Nonspecific Defenses of the Host
Which of the following is NOT a physical factor protecting the skin and mucous membranes from infection?
The function of the "ciliary escalator" is to
Remove microorganisms from the lower respiratory tract
Which of the following CANNOT be determined from a differential count?
The number of red blood cells
The complement protein cascade is the same for the classical pathway, alternative pathway, and lectin pathway beginning with the activation of
Which of the following choices shows the order in which white blood cells migrate to infected tissues?
Which of the following statements is true?
Gamma interferon causes bactericidal activity by macrophages
Which of the following is NOT an effect of complement activation?
Interference with viral replication
Which of the following is an effect of opsonization?
Increased adherence of phagocytes to microorganisms
Which of the following is NOT a way in which normal microbiota provide protection from infection?
They produce lysozome
Which of the following does NOT provide protection from phagocytic digestion?
Causing formation of phagolysosomes
Defensive cells such as T cells identify pathogens by binding which of the following?
Toll-like receptors
Which of the following statements is true?
A. There are at least 30 compliment proteins
B. All of the complement proteins are always active in serum
C. Factors B,D, and P cause cytolysis
D. Complement activity is antigen specific
E. Complement increases after immunization
There are at least 30 complement proteins
Which of the following is NOT part of the mechanism of action of alpha and beta interferons?
They inactivate viruses
A C-reactive protein (CRP) test was ordered for a patient who recently underwent surgery. The results revealed CRP levels 10 times greater than normal. This indicates
Which one of the following does NOT belong with the others?
A. Basophil
B. Eosinophil
C. Dendritic cell
D. Natural killer cell
E. Neutrophil
Natural killer cell
All of the following occur during inflammation. What is the first step?
A. Diapedesis
B. Margination
C., Phagocyte migration
D. Repair
E. Vasodilation
Several inherited deficiencies in the complement system occur in humans. Which of the following would be the most severe?
Deficiency of C3
Which of the following statements about the classical pathway of complement activation is false?
C3 is not involved in the classical pathway
Bacterial enzymes such as catalase and superoxide dismutase can protect bacteria from
Phagocytic digestion


text:
Sometimes the world is like a Chuck Close painting: standing up close allows patterns and colors to be discerned, but it's only by taking several steps back that what seems abstract congeals into a recognizable set of strikingly realistic features. Right now, that's the way the world of search and social media feel – we all know that they are converging, and we all know that they affect each other, but it's difficult to actually wrap our heads around what this will look like from a marketing point of view – let alone as users.
In Advertising Age's latest Digital Issue, Reprise Media Managing Partner Peter Hershberg does the equivalent of taking three big steps back in the museum and reports on what he sees. What he reveals is something that we like to call Search 3.0 and it's not just where search and social media are right now – it's where it's going in the future.
The most basic definition of Search 3.0 from the article is this:
"In Search 3.0, relevance is determined not just by what's on a page and what surrounds that page but how that data relates to your personal network."
It's a conception of relevance that has the potential to radically change the way things like Google's quality score and even search results themselves work.
The tendrils of these shifts are all around us – consider the fact that users who log into Google for services such as Gmail are already served up different search results from everyone else. They can even take the next step and customize those results to create a completely customized SERP. The fact that Google now includes Twitter in its search results means that it could be possible to deliver search results that are filtered to rank results from or about people in one or all of your personal networks.
Facebook is another example – the recent changes to their interface have raised the ire of users but one of the most clever and so-far overlooked features is the ability to filter your friends into different categories, similar to what people do with the Tweetdeck Twitter application. If you want to know how good the new Yeah Yeah Yeah's album is you could query friends in your "music lovers" category while you might not ask these same people for new car advice.
So what does this mean for marketers? Here's how Pete put it:
"If 1.0 was about making sure the information within individual pages of your site could be found, and 2.0 was about making sure your site was optimized within a network of related sites, then 3.0 is going to be about finding ways to reach individuals by using their social graphs. That means reaching people where they're already sharing, linking, publishing and tagging, and becoming another node on their social networks by interacting with them and adding value to their experiences online."
In Search 3.0 people are empowered to control their information sources, and brands need to build up trust and utility in order to be included as a resource. Trust and utility can be gained by actions as simple as sharing recipes if you are a food brand, or dedicating your Twitter feed to answering questions about your product.
Optimizing your social profiles and your website through SEO will still be important – after all you will need to found initially. There will also continue to be a paid search component. However paid search that takes advantage of the 3.0 environment will offer different options to drill down to consumers than what currently exists.
Search is increasingly a must-have feature on social networks like YouTube and Twitter, just as results from social networks are increasingly prominent on engines like Google and Yahoo. As users begin to categorize and filter their networks, so too will the ads that they are shown become more targeted based on the preferences of the user. In essence, it's introducing an element of user-defined relevance, which given the controversy over relevance when it comes to search engine results, has the potential to serve more meaningful search results.
Questions or comments? Feel free to leave them here or check out Reprise Media folks on Twitter.


text:
Where did last week go? Oops, you know what? I think I spent most of it listening. And talking. To my teens. Very little got done around here.
Steev was on his spring break and we were skyping practically every day for 2-3 hours at a stretch. It's our routine to talk every day even if it's only briefly during the semester when he's really busy with homework.
He and I can chat all day. Seriously. From the time he was 10 or 11, we've always had these extended chit-chats. Okay, so maybe I'm biased because he's my son but we always have something interesting to talk about – from everyday stuff and people to�color print techniques to all things geeky.
The same thing with my girls. There's no shortage of stories and giggles from college and school either. When I pick them up every day, they would tell me about their day at school and I'll update them about my day. Believe me, there's no shortage of stories, discussions, questions, issues and jokes.
When you have 3 teens, one pair of ears isn't enough. More like 2 more pairs of extra ears !! But listening isn't just listening. It's listening and advising, and chiming in with my stories, my experiences, my humor, my take on things. Listening and teaching, and learning. Interestingly, learning works both ways – our kids learn from us and we learn from them too.
So yeah, my kids are teens now but I'm still listening. Can't say I've perfected the art yet 😆 . All I know is that I'm never too busy to listen, and I never tire of talking with them.


text:
Details of your surroundings you might once have labeled unimportant can capture your interest or inspire your curiosity today. Since you are likely feeling more attentive than usual, you may find yourself watching and listening carefully to all that goes on around you so as not to miss anything. As you cultivate this developing awareness by paying close attention to your world, your ability to understand the patterns that govern certain elements of your fate may increase. Your alert consciousness can help you make wise life-enriching choices today, as well as give you the knowledge you need to interact with the people in your environment in a more compassionate way.
When we acknowledge that all the information that crossed our paths may prove useful one day, we tend to pay more attention to the events and circumstances unfolding around us. In doing so, we discover that much of what we might otherwise have soon forgotten is part of a larger pattern that will have a definite impact on our experiences. By allowing that at least some part of the data flowing in and out of our lives will be shown to be vital to our development, we can ensure that we cultivate awareness within ourselves. Whether this means watching others quite carefully or practicing deep listening even during lighthearted conversations, we will discover much that benefits us. Your attentive demeanor will help you make the most of all you see and hear in the various spheres of your life today.
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text:
Thursday night, Erbe threw six shutout innings, notching six strikeouts in a 2-1 extra innings victory over the Lynchburg Hillcats. Though 97 pitches were thrown, only five runners reached base, two on walks, the fifth consecutive start Erbe has walked three or fewer batters.
Already armed with a powerful mid-90s fastball, a lot of the year has been spent working on refining Erbe's other pitches, including his changeup, curveball, and slider. The Carolina League has solid fastball-hitting squads, giving Erbe the chance to work on the latter pitches.
"I'm gonna need my changeup in the future, and you really don't get better with it unless you throw it, that's what I did tonight," Erbe said about tonight's performance, "By the end of the game they were looking for changeups, looking for curveballs, so I threw a few sliders."
Erbe said that today's win "gives me confidence in my other pitches like my changeup and my slider, so I know I can throw them when I need to."
Frederick pitching coach Blaine Beatty, who has worked with Erbe his entire time with the Keys, has been helping Erbe change his delivery while improving his pitches, and was very happy about Erbe's performance Thursday night.
"Tonight when he went into the game, we wanted to establish the fact that this is a good fastball-hitting team, and he had to use all of his pitches, especially his changeup," Beatty explained "That changeup was a key pitch tonight."
In addition to improving command, a stress this season has been working on the slider and change. One stat that generally indicates an improved change is the batting average against for left-handed batters against right-handed pitchers, and vice versa. Erbe has limited lefties to a .236 average, more than 50 points lower than last year.
Though the ERA may seem high, Erbe has established solid control during the season. He leads the Keys with 142 strikeouts to only 47 walks in 143.2 IP, reducing his walks per nine innings to the lowest of his career, 3.06 BB/9 IP.
Coach Beatty isn't worried about the high pitch-count. Erbe does have two complete games, the only ones Frederick has this season.
"That might be his M.O. for a while until he really settles in gets it doing with his new delivery."
Though Erbe is improving, he knows he has work to do, but tonight was a good sign for the future.
"Tonight is what I kind of approach, I have to throw my off-speed stuff for a strike and be consistent around the zone. If I can keep guys off my fastball and guessing a little bit, that's when success is going to come."
There is no word on whether or not Erbe will pitch in the fall or winter for the Orioles. But for now, he's focused on the remainder of the season, as the Keys are currently 4 games out of a playoff spot with 9 games remaining.
If you have any questions or comments, please send them to firstname.lastname@example.com


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Now you've got yourself a newbie
o no, sig's gone. Never mind that! I am now running 64 studio 1.0.0 on a P4 1.2Ghz PC. It's taken me all evening to get to this site. Problems overcome: Network card left down. I had to use 'ifconfig' to bring it up and configure it, 'route' to set the gateway and create 'resolv.conf' manually to resolve internet server names. Aaargh! Problems not overcome: When I rebooted I lost my network card settings and had to use ifconfig and route all over again. ...now just pause a bit... I'm looking for how to make the fonts bigger on my desktop ... what's this???... >Desktop >Adminstration >Networking!!!???? No wonder the System Tools menu was so short. Problem solved! Told you about newbie status. Soon I shall try to update, watch out. >> Hurray thankyou muchly Dan looks like I can submit straightaway.
Thankyou Nate Figlar for the quickstart JACK tutorial
What can I say?! I've made a noise with my PC after three or four minutes and am now happily playing tunelessly in the default 'Cathedral 1' setup of ZynAddSubFx: boopp, booopp, beepp, bipp fills the air. >> sig's back? cool! >> o no here we go with the preview option only >>> safe to post "1807 - end of slave trade; 2007 - end of unfair trade"
hey Jay I am glad it worked
hey Jay I am glad it worked out for you. I remember when I first messed with jack myself and was a little intimidated until I saw someone first hand use it at a LUG meeting. I just designed the quickstart to recreate that experience so to speak on a page. I am hoping to get some more out there soon maybe for zyn as that's one of my favorite tools to use. be sure to also check out some of the others too as they do guides. I can say this is a great active community. they all do a great job getting you answers and being debian based in my opinion is also good for the new user. I hope you end up finding 64studio a rewarding system as I have to work with and you can eventually help it grow in your own way as well. cheers nate


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Margo Sappington has been choreographing ballet to rock and pop music since she first started making dances in the 1970s. Now 65, the Baytown native and former Joffrey Ballet company member has created a new work on pointe for Ballet Ensemble of Texas, a pre-professional student group based in Coppell.
Called Plaza del Fuego, the piece, which premieres this weekend, is set to songs by the rock band Santana. "The guitar is like a voice," Sappington says in a phone interview from West Palm Beach, Fla., where she is working on another project with high school dancers. "It creates a counterpoint in such a fantastic way."
She should know. Her first ballet, Weewis, from 1971, was set to rock. Since then, Sappington has collaborated with artists as diverse as the Indigo Girls and William Shatner on pop-fueled dance pieces. She was one of four choreographers of Billboards, the Joffrey's 1993 evening-length work to the music of Prince.
Even before she started choreographing for the concert-dance stage, Sappington designed movement for the 1969 rock musical Oh! Calcutta! The scandalous show, which she also starred in, broke ground in its use of nudity and media.
For Ballet Ensemble of Texas, a teenage troupe of 12 girls and two boys run by fellow Joffrey alum Lisa Slagle as an offshoot of her ballet school, Sappington devised a scenario built around a swelling urban plaza.
"It's twilight, the beginning of the evening," she says. "You're walking out in the street on the plaza, passing people, looking at people, looking at who you find interesting, who you don't. And it progresses to camaraderie and ritual. So it has no story. It has a flavor."
Sappington began her dance training with a teacher who would travel a circuit of small towns around Houston. She says at 12 or 13, she realized dance was her mission. Her mother was supportive, taking her to classes in Houston and enrolling her in the city's Lamar High School, where dance classes were more plentiful.
"My mother was of another generation that believed every young girl should take ballet so she would know what to do with her hands and feet," she says. "It's part of your education — your grace and poise. She didn't realize it was going to take over my life, and she was very proud."
Robert Joffrey discovered Sappington when she was 17. She was taking classes from him at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York between her junior and senior years. After graduation, she joined the company.
What did he see in her?
"I was passionate about my dancing, and I presented myself. I did not hang back," Sappington recalls. "I showed what I could do and was confident. You didn't have to encourage me to dance."
Since then, she has spent her career moving back and forth between ballet and Broadway, choreographing for the Atlanta Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Central Ballet of China as well as for such stage shows as Pal Joey and Where's Charley?
Today, Sappington is artistic director of the American Dance Machine for the 21st Century, an organization with a mission of preserving Broadway and movie-musical choreographies. The group has held four fundraising concerts with the hope of presenting a New York season in the fall of 2014, followed by touring.
"They're delicious," she says of classic numbers from such musicals as A Chorus Line and Jerome Robbins' Broadway. "And nobody does them anymore."
Manuel Mendoza is a Dallas freelance writer. He blogs at dfwdance.wordpress.com.
Plan your life
7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Carpenter Hall at the Irving Arts Center, 3333 N. MacArthur Blvd. $21 to $26. 972-252-2787. irvingartscenter.com. balletensembleoftexas.org.


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Rawlings Arizona Wildcats Crossover Full-Size Basketball
Product Information:
Raise your team pride when you take the court with the Rawlings® Arizona Wildcats Full-Size Crossover Basketball. The alternating team colors quickly grab the attention of fellow fans and the team logo and wordmark prove your allegiance to your beloved school. The vulcanized rubber provides this regulation-sized basketball with an authentic feel. Rack up points with team spirit using the Rawlings® full-size basketball.
- Rawlings® Arizona Wildcats crossover basketball
- Team logo and wordmark on alternating team-colored panels
- Vulcanized rubber exterior for quality and durability
- Regulation size and weight for an authentic feel
- Officially licensed collegiate product
- Rawlings
Country of Origin: ChinaWeb ID: 32057676


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And down goes another great! RIP, Anastasia Ashley. Close call with Jessie getting a 5.63 out of 10. You'd think that a nice, sandy ass pic would keep a girl on the throne forever but what can you do when you run into Jessie Rodgers? Sometimes you meet a competitor whose downright tougher than you. Willing to put it all on the line every time out there. That's Jessie Rodgers. While Anastasia Ashley is out there having a gay ol' time surfing, Jessie is putting in the hours getting analed and fucking on BangBros sets. When you invoke those kinds of memories from guys you'll be a tough out every time.
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Mini Meatball Hero Sandwiches
Total Time
Prep 1 hr 30 mins
Cook 0 mins
You can of coarse use your favorite meatball recipe for these, but the ingredients listed here makes a great mini meatball with lot of flavor, or see my Kittencal's Italian Melt-In-Your-Mouth Meatballs. Purchase the longer crusty rolls for this. You can prepare the meatballs and simmer in the sauce, then refrigerate until ready to use. Prep time does not include making the marinara sauce.
Ingredients Nutrition
- 680.38 g ground beef
- 177.44 ml grated parmesan cheese (can use less)
- 59.14 ml milk
- 2 eggs
- 44.37-59.16 ml fresh parsley, finely chopped (or use 2 teaspoons dried parsley)
- 118.29 ml crushed corn flake crumbs (more if needed)
- 29.58 ml minced fresh garlic (can use more)
- 9.85 ml seasoning salt
- black pepper (or use cayenne pepper for heat)
- 946.36 ml favorite marinara sauce (see Kittencal's Marinara Pasta Sauce (Vegetarian))
- parmesan cheese (optional) or mozzarella cheese, shredded (optional)
- 6 large rolls (purchase Italian or French rolls, sliced in half lengthwise)
- Set oven to 350°F.
- Prepare a baking sheet.
- In a large bowl combine the first 9 ingredients (up to the marinara sauce) mix well with clean hands to combine, if the mixture is too soft then add in a bit more cornflake crumbs.
- Shape into 1-1/2-inch balls, then place on prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the meatballs for about 20 minutes or until cooked and browned.
- Bring the marinara sauce to a simmer on top of the stove.
- Add in the cooked mini meatballs and simmer for about 20 minutes (you can refrigerate this and then use the following day, just rewarm over low heat before using).
- With your fingers press down the bottom part of each bun to create a depression in the middle.
- Spoon about 5-6 meatballs into the depression and then spoon the sauce over to coat.
- Sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese or mozzarella cheese, if desired.
- Place the tops of buns over and enjoy!
Most Helpful
Very very tasty sandwiches. I used your marinara sauce, and these were FABULOUS. Made recipe as listed and used mozzerella cheese, and black pepper. Easy to prepare, and is a keeper in my book. Made for 1-2-3 hit wonders.
Thanks Kitten...another great recipe. The soft tender meatballs blend beautifully with the marinara sauce. A soft tasty sandwich simply delicious.
These were a weekend success, everyone loved this, I used store bought sauce, I can imagine how good this would be with you marinara sauce though, I will try that next time, the meatballs are so good! thanks Kitty.


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Michel Bouquet, Jo de Backer
The unexamined life, Socrates said, is not worth living. Well, Thomas Godet (Bouquet), the surveyor hero of this dark, funny, surrealistic and inexorably moving film, knows a lot about examining his life. It's all he does.
The way Thomas, now 60, sees things, he has been dished out the wrong existence. He's convinced he was switched at birth with the spoiled rich boy next door, whose father, incidentally, he views as responsible for the death of his own beloved dad. The elderly Thomas wants his life back from his boyhood nemesis, now a powerful industrialist. How he goes about laving claim to what he sees as his proper existence is the heart of Belgian director Jaco van Dormael's beautifully performed film about memory, longing and redemption.
Divided into three segments of seamless flashbacks and flash forwards, the movie chronicles Thomas's life as a boy, including his tacit love for his precocious sister Alice (Sandrine Blancke).
Thomas, who as a boy amused himself with the fantasy that he was a heroic secret agent named Toto, maintains the fantasy as an impotently vengeful old man. Plot lines intricately double back on themselves in adroitly ironic twists. The ultimate irony: As Thomas embraces the life he views as rightfully his, becoming the hero of his dreams, he must confront his own mortality. (In French, with subtitles) (PG-13)
Picks and Pans Review: Toto Le Heros
updated 03/16/1992 AT 01:00 AM EST
•originally published 03/16/1992 AT 01:00 AM EST


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CBNNews.com - JERUSALEM, Israel - Rabbis in Israel were saddened by the government-ordered evacuation at the Beit Hashalom (House of Peace) in Hebron Thursday.
After meeting with representatives of Beit Hashalom's residents in the morning, Defense Minister Ehud Barak ordered 600 IDF (Israel Defense Forces) troops, border guards and Israeli police to storm the building and evacuate the 250 Israelis inside.
"When a secular Jew does not adhere to halacha [Jewish law], when he desecrates the Shabbat [Sabbath], this is very unfortunate, but there is nothing religious Jews can do about it," said Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, chief rabbi of the Jewish community of Beit El (Bethel), who also heads the Ateret Yerushalayim Yeshiva (Torah seminary) in the Old City's Muslim quarter.
"However, when Jews fight Jews and they use violence against one another -- that is the worst. That is the biggest desecration of God's name," he said.
"We need to spread love for our fellow Jews and know that in the end, redemption will come," the rabbi said.
It bears noting that during the government's August 2005 pullout from the Gaza Strip, Rabbi Aviner did not condone those soldiers who refused to take part in the expulsion, despite the fact that they would be evacuating fellow Jews from their homes.
In an interview with Jerusalem Post correspondent Matthew Wagner, Harel Kohen, founder of israel national news who also lives in Beit El, said strife between the government and Jews living in Judea and Samaria (also called the West Bank) is not new.
"Behaving nicely has not necessarily proven itself," Kohen said.
"From its inception, settlements in…Judea and Samaria were not generally established while maintaining a friendly relationship and a smiling face with governments. With evil governments, acting nicely does not bring about just results," he said.
"The same is true about Beit Hashalom, which was purchased in a legal transaction. After the fact, it turns out that the use of force has not always been counterproductive," he said.
Kohen pointed out that "governments have not built settlements. At the most, they have helped settlement initiatives. Sometimes governments have blocked settlements," he said.
"In the final analysis…grassroots movements -- and mostly young people -- will be the ones who build the land of Israel. I think these are the thoughts going through the heads of many people right now," he said.
Source: The Jerusalem Post
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Are you seeking answers in life? Are you hurting? Are you facing a difficult situation?
Find peace with God, discover more about God or send us your prayer request.
Call The 700 Club Prayer Center at 1 (800) 823-6053, 24 hours a day.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
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The Terrorists Funded by the WestBassam Tawil
The New Israel Fund and those who support it are helping terroristsRonn Torossian
Column one: Fighting fire with fireCaroline B. Glick
Op-Ed: There is no 'radical Islam' and there is no 'moderate Islam'Dr. Mordechai Kedar
'Narrow' escapesRuthie Blum
Why Palestinians Do Not Want Cameras on the Temple MountKhaled Abu Toameh
Social Media Killed My FatherYoni Kempinski and Ari Soffer
Iran's New Palestinian Terror Group: Al SabireenKhaled Abu Toameh


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DMS Students Motivated by Black Hawk Pilot
Students in Liz Marlin's Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) classes at Durham Middle School (Durham) were visited by retired U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter pilot, Chief Warrant Officer Elizabeth McCormick, on April 30.
McCormick, a renowned motivational speaker, hopes her story of overcoming obstacles to become a Black Hawk pilot in the U.S. Army will inspire students to work harder and go farther in life, enabling them to realize Lewisville ISD's (LISD) vision that all of our students enjoy thriving, productive lives in a future they create.
McCormick faced an uphill battle when she entered the Army with the goal of becoming a prestigious Black Hawk pilot. After working to prove herself, she finally got the opportunity to train for the position. Training was hard but she persevered and completed her training successfully. She went on to receive the Meritorious Service Medal for her excellence in service. McCormick's success blazed a trail for other women who desire to enter this previously male-dominated military occupation.
From her experience, she learned success comes from taking initiative to make opportunities in life, not in waiting for opportunities. She also learned negative influences tear you down and positive people build you up, and both impact your future.
"Students were in tears after her presentation," Marlin said. "Her message was inspirational because she chose to take responsibility for her future. She knew what she wanted and she didn't let other people stand in her way. It lines up well with the concept of AVID – individual determination is the cornerstone of the program."
McCormick's visit was facilitated by DMS Parent Teacher Association (PTA) President Eyad Salloum, who approached McCormick about addressing DMS students after hearing her speak at a local Rotary Club meeting.
"Students constantly face peer pressure," Salloum said. "It's important for PTA to work with the school to bring in positive influences. Guest speakers are one way we can offer that influence."
Students agreed McCormick's influence was needed. After class, they expressed appreciation for her testimony.
"I am so thankful Mr. Salloum brought Chief Warrant Officer McCormick to our school," a student said. "I want to go to college, and maybe become a teacher. People who never made it to their goals tell me all the time I can't do any better than they did. But I can, and I will. When I think I can't, I will remember this talk, and I will try harder."


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Only 45 percent of American teenagers have spent their childhood with both parents legally married to one another, according to a recent report.
The Family Research Council's "U.S. Index of Belonging and Rejection" also found that 55 percent of U.S. teenagers live in families where their biological parents have rejected each other. Read the entire report here.
"We have undertaken this study because, bad though it may be, the out-of-wedlock birth rate is not the key measure of family intactness," Patrick Fagan, FRC Marriage and Religion Research Institute director, said in the report.
Dr. Pat Fagan, with the Family Research Council, spoke with CBN News about the impact these numbers could have on the nation, as seen on Newswatch, Dec. 16. Click play to watch.
"Increased rates of divorce and childbearing outside of marriage have turned growing up in a stable, two-parent family into an exception, rather than the rule, for young Americans," he added.
The findings were compiled from 2008 reports from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey.
Married, two-parent families are still the norm for teenagers in 11 states including Utah, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Nebraska.
FRC found that in most southern states, fewer than 40 percent of teenagers live with both married parents. Mississippi and Louisiana rated fairly low, with only one-third of children entering adulthood from an intact family.
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Entertainment Photos
See festive pooches parading as ducks, bunnies and even zombies at Easter in the Park
Photo: Alexandra Olivia/Special Contributor
James Olivas and Jasper, 3, rock their motorcycle inspired costumes.
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Hey Andy,
You must be a natural business person. I sit here reading your blog and think one moment you are worried your travels are in jeopardy because your are not making enough money off your site. Then within about 2 months you can turn it around, launch a new hotel site and now you have 10 times the amount of money you need to travel with. You did the same when you use to sell real estate. Must be something to do with that type A personality you talk about. Did you have the same passion for real estate that you have for travel? I guess you might say you pulled it all together with getting your personal life together and now doing what you love. You hit rock bottom, but somehow were able to rise again. Pretty amazing if you look how far you have come. For me I seem to be running in circles and not found my niche yet. It seems to me that you could do a TV show with integrity. But then you would not be annonomous anymore and be stuck riding in limos. Not many hobos riding in limos. Later Andy.
I was extremely worried about the site about 2 months ago.
Traffic had fell continuously for about 8 months. The question is, can I bring it back up. Yes, I believe I can, yesterday 11,000 unique visitors.
The Hobo is both a theme for the site and a way of life. Trying to travel from place to place and work.
Is a Hobo independent. I think anyone that got on a train and just went was independent.
I refuse to trade my independance for fame. This are ways the well wisher and inquisitive people can invade my life whether I like it or not.
TV puts words in good peoples mouths and somehow makes a good person turn into the villains.
Like my friend Gary says, you can't beat a person that refuses to quit.
What you write here is awesome. To allow yourself to be purchased is to live in bondage. . .even if it is fame that is doing the binding.
It seems as if you may as well have a day job if you were to comply with the TV offers.
I have witnessed too many people living behind the bars of their own wealth to not fear this route.
Good on you, Friend.
Oh yeah, I thik most people would find the books that I read incredibly boring hahaha
Just a lot of antrho texts and ethnograpic studies haha . . . nothing too exciting haha.
But I know what you mean about the certain connection that obsessive book readers seem to have with each other.
You can really talk books with a person all day long haha. It is a topic that can almost cover anything . . .sort of like a travel blog.
I wish you the best and will write more soon,
So you dont want to do a TV job , who cares. As long as you give interesting stuff to your readers they will read.
so by reading your blog, am indirectly and anonymously helping you. to make $ and to get on with your travel. So am paying the cost for your fame in kind ? Andy of Hobo is famous.
you write something interesting, public domain, ppl read it.
you have a comment section , ppl comment.
you cannot control what ppl comment and how they are.
but because you have a comment section and ppl are different not all saints.
It is because someone is owning a coffee shop , a hotel and do that all their lives, that ppl like you can travel. Now you dont travel for the hills and rivers do you ?
I dont understand why you need to wash your dirty cloths in public. and crib about how ppl act. for you stand to benefit from controversies that generate more hits for your website so that can support your travel and keep you FREE.
SO GO back to LIFE BE GOOD mode. Am sure you will.
1+1 =11


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on October 10, 2012 - 9:08 PM
, updated October 11, 2012 at 12:24 PM
Unless we have another balmy winter, expect to pay a little bit more to heat your home as the temperatures start dropping.
But not too much more, thanks to falling prices for natural gas. Heating costs likely will be the second-lowest for any year in the last decade and about $260 less than the average over the last 10 winters.
National Fuel Gas Co. said Wednesday that it expects the average heating bill in the Buffalo Niagara region will rise by a little less than 7 percent – or about $42 – from last winter.
Yet all of that increase is because the Amherst-based energy company is assuming that temperatures will return to normal this winter after averaging about 21 percent warmer than normal last winter. Record warmth last winter meant that consumers used less natural gas to heat their homes.
In short, natural gas prices are down this year, but consumers will use more gas if we have a more normal winter.
If temperatures return to normal, National Fuel forecasts that an average customer will pay about $657 to heat a home from November to March, as the increased consumption stemming from the more typical winter weather offsets a nearly 12 percent drop in the company's expected gas costs. While heating bills for winter are expected to be more than last year, they're still a far cry from heating costs that routinely topped $1,000 from 2005 to 2009.
"They may experience a price increase from a year ago, but it still is near the lowest heating costs in the past decade," said Karen L. Merkel, a National Fuel spokeswoman.
If those projections hold true – heating costs could rise if the winter is unusually cold or drop further if temperatures are mild – it would be the fourth straight winter of relatively low heating bills in the Buffalo Niagara region. Heating costs during each of the last three winters have been almost 40 percent lower than they were during the winter of 2005-06, when heat bills averaged a record $1,124.
The reason is the continued decline in the price of natural gas, thanks to robust supplies bolstered by the boom in production from the Marcellus Shale and elsewhere in the country.
"National Fuel's cost for natural gas is the lowest it has been in more than 10 years, and this is largely attributable to the abundant supply of domestic natural gas, namely the Marcellus Shale," Merkel said.
The commodity price of natural gas stood at $3.47 per 1,000 cubic feet Wednesday, down by 2 percent from a year ago and 42 percent less than in January 2010. National Fuel's gas costs differ because the utility buys some of its gas in advance and stores it underground until it's needed, and some of it through advance-purchase contracts or purchases on the spot market, Merkel said.
The commodity price is important because it accounts for a little less than half of the total price that National Fuel's residential customers pay. Operating costs associated with delivering the gas to customers, taxes, the company's profits and interest make up the other half.
National Fuel, like all utilities in the state, does not make a profit on the natural gas that it sells its customers. The utility makes its money on the rates, negotiated through the State Public Service Commission, that it charges to deliver that gas to homes and businesses.
It also helps that Western New Yorkers have steadily reduced the amount of natural gas they use to heat their homes, through more efficient furnaces and water heaters, and programmable thermostats. National Fuel's average residential customer now uses about 45 percent less gas per year than in 1973.
About 86 percent of the households in Buffalo Niagara heat with natural gas, the U.S. Census Bureau says, while 7 percent heat with electricity and 3 percent with fuel oil.
The federal Energy Information Administration forecasts that heating oil customers will pay the highest prices ever this winter – an average of $2,494, nearly $200 more than the record set in 2010-11.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. email: firstname.lastname@example.com