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Who creates the federal budget
Budget Process in the U.S. Department of Education
The Federal budget, as all budgets, sets forth priorities and levels of spending, ways of financing the spending, and a plan for managing the funds. In purely financial terms, the Federal budget that comes out each year includes a record of actual receipts and spending for the fiscal year that was just completed (in the FY 2004 President's Budget, this would be FY 2002); an estimate of current-year receipts and spending (FY 2003); and estimates of receipts and spending for the upcoming fiscal year and 9 years beyond (FYs 2004 and 2005-2013).
However, since formulating a budget involves choosing among alternatives, a budget is also a very significant statement of policy; i.e. the Department of Education'sand, of course, the President'sgoals and priorities are reflected each year in the budget and supporting legislation that is formulated by the Administration and presented to the public and to Congress.
The Federal budget process is initiated in the Executive Branch with budget formulation. In the Department of Education this usually begins in May. Then, no later than the first Monday in February, by law, the President submits his budget to Congress. Congress reviews the President's plan and then adopts a budget resolution, setting forth its own guidelines for spending and revenues that it plans to follow when passing appropriations laws, tax laws and authorizations. It is the appropriations laws and the laws establishing entitlement programs that provide the legal authority for the Federal Government and its agencies to obligate and spend funds. Each appropriations law creates legally binding spending ceilings for the Federal programs it covers, and each law setting up an entitlement program, such as Medicare, establishes and mandates the reasons for and extent of Government spending.
Budgeting for a fiscal year can be divided into three phases: (1) budget formulation, (2) budget presentation and the congressional process, and (3) budget execution. For any one fiscal year (beginning October 1 and ending the following September 30), these three phases take place over the course of 2-1/2 years (sometimes more, depending on how long funds are available for obligation at the Federal level). Because of this length of time, Federal agencies must deal concurrently with 2 to 3 fiscal years at any one time.
Preparation of the budget begins in the Department of Education during May, when the Secretary sends a letter to the Senior Officers kicking off the process. This is roughly 1-1/2 years before the beginning of the fiscal year in question. The agencies begin to make their plans, set their priorities, and develop their budget requests, which are submitted to OMB, usually in early September.
After the Secretary's transmittal of the budget, OMB examiners will schedule hearings or informal discussions to obtain a better understanding of our request and to allow the Department to defend it. By late November or December, OMB examiners have made their recommendations to the Director of OMB, and decisions on budget levels are made.
Once final decisions are reached, the Department begins preparation of materials to be included in the printed President's budget and special analyses that explain and justify the budget. These documents include appropriations language; technical financing schedules; narrative explanations of the President's requests and policies; and special exhibits for such items as research and development activities, Federal credit programs, civil rights activities, and tax expenditures that aid education.
Current law states that the President must transmit the budget to the Congress after the first Monday in January but not later than the first Monday in February. The President is also required by law to submit to the Congress on or before July 15 a supplementary budget summary, which provides updated data on which the February budget can be evaluated. This summary, referred to as the Mid-Session Review, includes updated estimates of the cost of Presidential policy, summary updates of other information contained in the budget, the effect on the budget of congressional enactment or non-enactment, to date, of the President's proposals, and budget-year baseline estimatesalso called current services estimates.
In the Executive Branch
Budget presentation begins when the President's budget is transmitted to the Congress. Once the budget is transmitted, the Secretary holds a press conference and makes available a briefing document to the press and the public that provides summary and background information on the new budget. In addition, the Department provides to the Appropriations Committees detailed justifications of the budget request and special reports and analyses of a technical, programmatic, and policy nature.
The next step in the process is congressional appropriations hearings. during which the Secretary and other officials explain and justify the Department's budget proposals. The hearings are designed by the Appropriations Committees to gather information and ensure adequate review of the President's budget before they recommend appropriation amounts.
Preparation of the President's budget to Congress is only one step in the congressional budget process, but it is the step that most directly involves Executive Branch agencies. The Congress, however, does not have to adopt the President's budget and supporting legislative proposals. Congress has a process that leads to, and results in the implementation of, its own policies.
The Budget Resolution
Congress develops a budget resolutionits own plan for the appropriate levels of spending and taxes. It includes targets for total spending, total revenues, and the deficit. This budget resolution always covers the budget year and a number of future years. It is a concurrent resolution, agreed to by both Houses of Congress but, since it is designed solely to guide the Congress in its detailed deliberations on the budget, it is not signed into law by the President. Also, since it is a statement of what the Congress would like and not a law that must be carried out, it is generally a highly political statement.
There are two types of spending treated in the budget resolution: mandatory and discretionary. For discretionary programs, Congress and the President must act each year to provide spending authority. For mandatory programs, they may act to change the spending that current laws require. More specifically:
Discretionary spending. which accounted for about 35 percent of all Federal spending in fiscal year 2002, is what the President and Congress must decide to spend for the next year, and is provided through the 13 annual appropriations bills. It includes money for such activities as the FBI and the Coast Guard, for housing and education, for space exploration and highway construction, and for defense and foreign aid. Non-defense discretionary spending has shrunk as a share of the budget from 23 percent in 1966 to about 18 percent in 2002.
In the Department of Education, discretionary spending constituted approximately 88 percent of the 2002 budget and includes nearly all programs, the major exceptions being student loans and Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants.
Mandatory spending. which accounted for about 65 percent of all Federal spending in fiscal year 2002, is authorized by permanent laws, not by the 13 annual appropriations bills. It includes entitlementssuch as Social Security, Medicare, veterans' benefits, and farm price supportsthrough which individuals receive benefits because they are eligible based on their age, income, or other criteria. It also includes interest on the national debt, which the Government pays to individuals and institutions that hold Treasury bonds and other Government securities. The President and Congress can change the law in order to change the spending on entitlements and other mandatory programsbut they are not required to do so.
In the Department of Education, the Federal Government is mandated by law to cover the cost of guaranteeing and directly making loans to students. The variable costs of the student loan programs are largely beyond control, and the costs fluctuate based on the number of students who borrow or default and the prevailing interest rates. The only other significant mandatory funding in the Department of Education is for Vocational Rehabilitation State Grants. The Rehabilitation Act mandates that the appropriation for State Grants must increase each year at the rate of change in the Consumer Price Index.
Included in the conference report accompanying the Concurrent Budget Resolution are instructions to the appropriating, authorizing, and tax committees of Congress concerning the revenue changes, programmatic changes and appropriation amounts that are assumed in the budget resolution ceilings. These directions to the committees are called "reconciliation instructions." The process of taking action to pass the legislation that would carry out the assumptions made in the Concurrent Budget Resolution is called "reconciliation."
Most often, a reconciliation bill makes changes in the laws governing taxes, mandatory and entitlement spending, and the debt ceiling. Changing discretionary programs and enacting new
programs is most often done in separate pieces of legislation; e.g. the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended. However, reconciliation legislation may take the form of one omnibus bill that covers most or all of the changes necessary.
It may be the case that many of the changes proposed by the President will be included in an omnibus reconciliation bill, even though the new proposals have already been proposed separately. Incorporating many different programmatic and economic proposals in a single reconciliation bill was the successful strategy used by Ronald Reagan, when he began his first year in office, to enact quickly and implement many of his programs. Since that time, new congressional rules make it difficultbut not impossiblefor material not "germane" to the purpose of a bill to be considered by Congress, and legislation on discretionary programs is not germane to a reconciliation bill.
In any case, Congress is supposed to complete action on reconciliation legislation by June 15, but this schedule is not always adhered to and there are no built-in consequences for not meeting this statutory schedule.
While spending for entitlement programs is usually a function of the authorizing statutes creating the programs, and is not generally affected by appropriations laws, spending for discretionary programs is decided in the annual appropriations process. Most Department of Education programs, accounting for about 89 percent of our funds in 2002, are discretionaryfor example, Title I, Impact Aid, Vocational Education, Special Education, Pell Grants, Research, and Statistics. This is quite different from funds government-wide, for which only about 35 percent of Federal spending was controlled by the Appropriations Committees in 2002.
The Constitution requires that all revenue (tax) bills originate in the House, and, by custom, the House also originates appropriations measures. Therefore, generally starting in late May, the House begins to mark up annual appropriations bills. The House Appropriations Committee is supposed to report its last annual appropriations bill by June 10, with House floor action completed by June 30. No such schedule exists for the Senate, but all congressional action is supposed to be completed by October 1. the beginning of the new fiscal year.
If a new appropriations bill is not enacted before the old one lapses, an agency must cease ongoing functions. In order to keep the government operating until annual appropriations are passed, Congress usually passes a continuing resolution. A continuing resolution, commonly called a CR, generally continues existing programs at limited spending levels for a short period of time until an annual appropriation is passed. If Congress does not pass an annual appropriations bill before the expiration of the CR, another CR will be passed, and so on, until Congress passes and the President signs an annual funding bill.
Accompanying any appropriations bill as it goes through the process of becoming a law are committee reports. These are the House and Senate Appropriations Committee reports and the Conference Committee report. These reports include explanations of the Committee's actions, as well as expectations and, most importantly, directives concerning the Department's actions relative to a specific program or programs.
Report language, unlike bill language, does not have the force of law and, at least technically, compliance is not required. However, for reasons of maintaining a good relationship with the Appropriations Committees, unless compliance is legally or programmatically impossible, the Department tries to carry out the Committees' wishes stated in the various reports. Members of Congress generally consider report language to be very important, and the Committees require that, in the annual Justifications of the Budget to Congress, the Department report the status of action on any directives included in the previous year's reports.
Many Members try to get various requirements for the Department into bill language, since once language is enacted into law the Department must comply. However, the Committees are aware that taking care of special interests in the Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill is difficult in that the special bill language generally would override the competitive process (by requiring an award to a specific grantee, for example), might have to override an existing program statute, and would severely micro-manage the Department. As a result, the Committee reportwhich is, again, not legally bindingis frequently the repository of such language.
After the Congress and the President enact legislation to create budget authority each year, the President is responsible for executing it.
Financial Control
OMB regulates the distribution of budget authority to the agencies through the apportionment process. The Director of OMB apportions budget authority to each agency either by time periods (usually quarters) or by activities over the duration of the appropriation to ensure the economical and effective use of funds, preclude the need for additional appropriations, and especially, avoid an over obligation of funds.
Once OMB apportions funds to an agency, it is the agency's responsibility to control the use of those funds, and it does so through the allotment process. In the Department of Education, Principal Offices are required to submit to the Budget Service an operating plan detailing the approximate dates funds will be required, and allotments are issued in accordance with this plan.
After the end of a fiscal year (September 30), the financial transactions that have taken place during that fiscal year are certified by November 13, and the totals become the "actual year" columnthe first columnthat will appear in the new President's budget.
From time to time, it becomes necessary for an agency to change the amount of funding provided for a program in an appropriation. It is possible to do this, in limited circumstances, through a reprogramming, an action that requires congressional approval.
A reprogramming action is the shifting of funds within an appropriation account to use for different purposes from those contemplated at the time of the appropriation. The reallocation of funds is limited to activities within the same appropriation account, and cannot violate the appropriations language, including any earmarks, for the fiscal year involved.
A reallocation of funds to a different account or a reallocation that would result in violation of an earmark in appropriations language within an account cannot be handled as a reprogramming. Such a reallocation is called a transfer and requires legislative authority.
A reprogramming must be requested if funds in excess of 10 percent or $500,000, whichever is less, would be reallocated from one program to another; if the reallocated funds would initiate a new program or terminate an existing one; if the reallocation represents a significant departure from budget plans previously presented to the Congress; or if the reallocation changes allocations specifically denied, limited, or increased by the Congress in report language or in the appropriations table included in the report.
A reprogramming request to the Congress must be prepared by the Department's Budget Service and submitted in a letter signed by the Secretary to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittee chairmen and ranking minority members. A reprogramming request must indicate where the funds would be used and from where they would be taken; and must include a thorough discussion of the reasons for the request. The Committees will provide a written response indicating whether they accept the reprogramming request.
Supplementals and Rescissions
Responding to changes in law or economic conditions during the fiscal year or meeting urgent national needs may require the enactment of changes in budget authority. Additional funding is provided by Congress in supplemental appropriations bills, and reduced funding is accomplished in rescission bills. Supplementals and rescissions are taken up by Congress in the same manner as a regular appropriations bill is considered, except that the timing of these appropriations is different. Supplementals and rescissions tend to be considered by Congress in May-June and/or in September. The supplemental bills considered in September are generally the ones that include any necessary emergency funding.
The sequester process was originally established in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law (the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act) in 1985, as amended by the Budget Enforcement Act. If OMB determines that legislation for a given year will not meet the deficit target or discretionary spending limits, then the President must issue an order to sequester (reduce or cancel) budget authority. A sequester reduces budget authority across the board equally for all discretionary programs. Mandatory programs are reduced by certain "special rules" included in the Gramm-Rudman-Hollings law.
The Appendix which follows presents a sample budget calendar. tracing fiscal year 2004 from its initial planning stages to its conclusion. The calendar is intended to illustrate and clarify the progression of the budget process as implemented in the Department of Education.
For further information contact the ED Budget Service .Source: www2.ed.gov
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Sometimes The Business Model Is The Marketing
from the and-that's-not-a-bad-thing dept
And, of course, none of this has to be purely digital. My friend Tom sent over this great story about Neal Gottlieb, who runs an ice cream business that has some stores and a factory -- most of which involves your everyday ice cream sales. However, he's also got some offerings for some... higher end clientele:
Q: So what's the deal with the $3,333.33 banana split you have on the Napa store's menu? Are you out of your mind?Ah, yes. Don't forget the cellist. Though, I'd argue that if his complaint about others is the price of the serving dish, there may be a valid complaint when part of the cost is the musical accompaniment. That said, this is not the most expensive item on the menu:
A: I put it up not really as a joke, but for something fun for people to read while they're waiting in line.
I really hate the most expensive (dot dot dot) when most of the expense is for the serving dish, like the most expensive cocktail that comes in a crystal chalice. We serve the most expensive sundae, but the food cost is one-third of the price. It's three scoops of organic ice cream; a banana, organic of course; and is topped with three syrups made from three extremely rare dessert wines - a 1960s vintage Port, a Chateau D'Yquem and a German Trockenbeerenauslese. It also comes with a cellist who will play anything you want while you eat the sundae.
Q: What other expensive ice cream packages do you offer?The full article has a bunch more details and is well worth the read, so go check it out.
A: We offer a trip to Mount Kilimanjaro with a real guide and me. Once we climb the mountain, we will chip away at the glacial ice and carry it back to camp, where we will churn as much ice cream as the customer can eat. The trip includes first-class airfare, five-star accommodations, a $10,000 donation to a nonprofit African environmental charity and a souvenir T-shirt for $60,000 for one and $85,000 for two.
So far we've had no takers.
However, one person has purchased our "100 pints personally delivered." That's when I wear a green tuxedo and deliver the ice cream anywhere in the U.S. for $3,333.33.
Now, of course, some people will (again) say that this is merely a "gimmick." And perhaps you can dismiss it as that. But I think it goes much deeper. It's showing how the business model itself can be both a part of the marketing and how you connect with fans and customers. In this day and age, part of succeeding is in standing out. Doing the same thing that everyone else does won't get you that far, so why not innovate and be creative on the business model side of things as well? I'm sure Gottlieb makes great ice cream (I've heard good things, though I haven't tried it), and so our usual critics will insist that he absolutely must only focus on that and that alone. But I think most sensible people realize that you can create a great product and do a good job marketing it while also being creative with your business models. And none of those things take away from any other part.
Anyway, should anyone decide to take us up on our $100 million offer, I plan to use some of the money to go to Mount Kilimanjaro with Mr. Gottlieb.


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BP Comment Quick Links
|Strength of Schedule Report
February 14, 2013
On the Beat
A Flaw to Declaw Detroit?
The Tigers say last year's World Series is now officially behind them. With another spring training in Lakeland, Florida, signaling the start of a new season, they insist being swept the Giants last October is nothing more than history. Manager Jim Leyland can even look back on last year's Fall Classic and have a sense of humor about it.
"I didn't expect it to only last six hours and seven minutes," Leyland said with a grin. "I thought it would last a little longer. In all seriousness, though, I don't think there was one person in the world who thought the Giants were going to sweep that series, just like I don't think there was one person in the world who thought we were going to sweep the Yankees in the ALCS. Sometimes, funny things happen in baseball. That's just the way the game goes."
Despite the sweep, the expectations surrounding the Tigers are even bigger this year after an offseason in which they retained right-hander Anibal Sanchez on a five-year, $80-million free agent contract and signed free agent Torii Hunter for two years and $26 million to bat second and play right field. Furthermore, designated hitter Victor Martinez returns to the lineup after missing last season following reconstructive knee surgery.
It seems, at least in February, there is no way the Tigers can lose this season. PECOTA projects them to win the American League Central by 10 games over the Indians, and the faithful in Detroit who have been waiting 29 years for a World Series championship believe this is the year. Don't try telling that to Leyland, though; the veteran skipper dismisses the notion out of hand.
"I've been in the game a long time, and I know how this stuff works," Leyland said. "I've seen a lot of teams be declared champions in February, then sit home in October. It happened to us in 2008. That spring, everybody wrote that our offense was so powerful that there was no way we weren't going to score 1,000 runs. Well, guess what? We went home for the winter with our tail between our legs and a losing record. That's why I think it's ridiculous for people to be talking about us winning 100 games."
The Tigers finished with a dismal 74-88 record five years ago. However, it seems almost impossible to think Detroit could repeat that disaster. PECOTA pegs them for a 90-72 record and that seems plausible with a batting order that has Austin Jackson, Hunter, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, and Martinez in the first five spots and a starting rotation fronted by Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer and followed by Doug Fister and Sanchez.
"You can't help but like that lineup," one AL Central front-office type said. "They've got a chance to pound teams into submission now that Victor Martinez is back. It's a really deep lineup, but I'm not convinced they are a slam-dunk to go to the World Series or run away with the division. They have one potential fatal flaw that could hold them back."
That fatal flaw could be the bullpen. The Tigers did not re-sign closer Jose Valverde after he had spectacular meltdowns against the Athletics in the ALDS then the Yankees in the ALCS last October. Instead of pursuing a free agent like Rafael Soriano, the Tigers put their faith in 22-year-old Bruce Rondon, whose fastball routinely reaches 100 mph. Rondon, though, has yet to appear in a major-league game and has pitched just 29 2/3 innings above Class A. If Rondon shows he is not yet ready for the big leagues during spring training, then the Tigers have veteran—if somewhat unappealing—closer options in left-hander Phil Coke and right-handers Octavio Dotel and Joaquin Benoit.
"Rondon's got a great arm, but what happens if you throw him out there on Opening Day, in his big-league debut, and he gives it up in the ninth inning and loses the game?" the AL FOT asked. "Can he handle the scrutiny that comes with blowing a save in his major-league debut, especially for a team with World Series aspirations? It's a lot to ask of a young kid. I'm really surprised they didn't make a move to protect themselves."
Leyland won't commit to Rondon being the Opening Day closer but does admit he would, ideally, like to see the 6-foot-3, 270-pounder seize the closer's job.
"I've mixed and matched at closer, and teams have won that way, but I'm a big believer that you need a good closer because you don't see many good teams that don't have a good closer," Leyland said. "I really believe Rondon has the talent and the personality to handle the job. He's a very impressive kid, but we'll find out."
What is the Tigers' backup plan if Rondon bombs this spring? Leyland said they would stay in-house for a closer and "play it by ear." Coke wound up being thrust into the role during the postseason last year and did well, but a scout from a National League club that regularly covers Detriot believes Benoit or Dotel would be better options.
"I wouldn't trust Coke in that role full-time because he has too much trouble with right-handers and he's a little too excitable for my taste," the scout said. "Benoit definitely has the stuff to do it, and Dotel is a veteran guy who has some experience closing. I'd feel comfortable with giving either one a shot. It all depends on what's more important to you, stuff or experience."
Right-hander Felix Hernandez received the largest contract ever given to a pitcher when he signed a seven-year, $175-million deal with the Mariners on Wednesday. The 26-year-old has already pitched 1,620 1/3 innings in eight major-league seasons, and an MRI taken of Hernandez's elbow showed enough wear and tear that it gave the Mariners pause before they finalized the deal. One AL scout who covers the Mariners thinks going seven years on King Felix might backfire on Seattle.
"I preface this by saying every pitcher is an injury risk, and Felix is still a helluva pitcher," the scout said. "But I've seen some signs that worry me. He doesn't throw as hard as he used to, and he doesn't get the movement on his fastball that he once had. His secondary pitches are still good, but they've also declined a little bit. Of course, I'd take 75 percent of King Felix over most of the pitchers in the major leagues, but I still see him trending downward for a pitcher at such a young age."
According to BrooksBaseball.net, the average velocity of Hernandez's four-seam fastball was 93.1 mph last season. It was 98.6 mph in 2007, the first season for which we have PITCHf/x data.
Almost lost amongst the fallout of the latest news concerning Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez and performance-enhancing drugs is that shortstop Derek Jeter is attempting to come back from the broken left ankle he suffered in Game One of last year's ALCS. Jeter says he is on schedule to be in the Opening Day lineup. No one doubts Jeter's work ethic, but plenty of scouts who will be watching exhibition games on the Gulf Coast this spring are very interested to see how Jeter looks while playing at game speed, and many believe the injury could be the start of a quick downfall for the 38-year-old.
"As great as Derek Jeter has been, Father Time catches up to everyone, and a broken ankle is a tough injury to come back from, especially for an older player," said a scout from an AL club. "He wasn't running all that well and he didn't have much range before he got hurt. I thought the Yankees took a big gamble by not acquiring another shortstop over the winter. They've really left themselves naked at that position if Derek is finished."
Jeter's primary backup is expected to be Eduardo Nunez. That doesn't excite the scout.
"I like Nunez as a hitter, and he would give the Yankees more power and speed than Jeter, but he is a real liability in the field," the scout said. "I know Jeter isn't a very good defensive player anymore, but he at least makes the plays on the balls hit to him. Nunez doesn't even do that."
What a comedown it must be for Daisuke Matsuzaka. He was the most heralded Japanese player ever to come to the United States when he reported to the Red Sox' spring training camp in 2007 as the $103 million man—Boston had paid a $51 million posting fee to Matsuzaka's team in Nippon Professional Baseball, the Seibu Lions, then signed him to a six-year, $52-million contract. Last weekend, Matsuzaka signed a minor-league contact with the Indians that included an invitation to major-league spring training. The deal lacks a promise that he would make the Opening Day roster of a team short on starting pitching.
Matsuzaka pitched a combined 83 innings the last two seasons after undergoing, and recovering from, Tommy John reconstructive elbow surgery. In 45 2/3 innings last year, Dice-K had an 8.28 ERA, 5.89 FIP, and a 6.79 Fair Run Average. An AL scout who saw Matsuzaka last year doesn't offer much hope of him ever becoming anything more than a fifth starter.
"He's worth taking a shot on, but I wouldn't bet much more than a nickel that he can make an impact," an AL scout said. "The one thing I did see that I liked is that he had decent command, which usually takes a while to come back after Tommy John. Maybe he can reinvent himself as a control pitcher, a junkballer. Who knows?"
John Perrotto is an author of Baseball Prospectus.
26 comments have been left for this article.
BP Comment Quick Links
I would love to see the Tigs play the match ups at closer this year if Rondon can't find the zone. Closer mentality, blah. Three of the last four teams playing last season lost their closer, or even worse have their closer do what Papa Grande did.
Feb 14, 2013 06:06 AM
The Tigers are going to give Rondon a chance at first, despite never having pitched in the majors and having command problems. They had some interest in Joel Hanrahan, who also has command problems.
Feb 14, 2013 06:36 AM
Mark Anderson
BP staff
Part of the issue -- in talking with some members of the organization -- is his durability. He's been injured a fair bit in his career, has rarely demonstrated an ability to pitch on back-to-back days, and when he has, this stuff wasn't as crisp. That's a viable concern with Alburquerque and at least one of the reasons his name isn't brough up more within the industry.
Feb 14, 2013 09:41 AM
John Carter
That's why a mix and match might be best. Pitch Albuquerque when he's rested. Go with Dotel, Benoit, or Coke when he aint. I'd like to see some evidence Rondon has Major League command before I'd even use him in a critical situation.
Feb 14, 2013 11:19 AM
Mark Anderson
BP staff
As someone that has scouted Rondon extensively, since his arrival in the US, I'm actually not that concerned about his command. With his fastball, and the movement on that fastball, he needs control; an area he has improved dramatically over the last two years. While he still has instances where he loses the strike zone, he has demonstrated the ability to adjust much more quickly and find the zone again. His control is reasonable at this point and I think he has enough of it to be successful.
Feb 14, 2013 12:27 PM
Yes he's coming back from serious surgery and is very much a novelty type pitcher, nasty stuff, fragile, erratic command....that fits best in a flexible middle relief role right now.
Feb 15, 2013 00:48 AM
Completely agree. He came back from injury issues last year and at least seems like he should merit a passing mention in these discussions, but he never even gets that. Is there something about him that I am missing?
Feb 14, 2013 09:41 AM
T. Kiefer
Why can't a "rough" comparable with Rondon be Kimbrel and Venters with the Braves in 2011? If Rondon has the mindset of a genuine closer, he can handle the pressure. If not, the Tigers will just make a trade at the July deadline. Valverde blew his first save in 2012, and lasted just fine in the regular season.
Feb 14, 2013 06:53 AM
That is the thing about "closer mentality", you get to go back and assign it in hindsight. If he pitches well then being "excitable" helps him. If he pitches poorly then it was because he was too "excitable".
Feb 14, 2013 09:24 AM
"If not, the Tigers will just make a trade at the July deadline."
Feb 14, 2013 11:29 AM
Dave Scott
The Indians and other teams have tried this before: collecting a group of well-worn pitchers in hope of finding five gems. The problem is recognizing which gem is real and which is pyrite! We all know that March stars often decline to becoming June's waiver claims. Francona has a chance to earn his salary and it will be fun to watch. This is where statistics help least -- finding the guy who suddenly finds the magic and defies all reasonable expectations.
Feb 14, 2013 07:22 AM
"According to BrooksBaseball.net, the average velocity of Hernandez's four-seam fastball was 93.07 mph last season. It was 98.36 mph in his rookie season in 2007."
Feb 14, 2013 07:48 AM
One day that Justin Verlander guy will learn how to pitch.
Feb 14, 2013 11:36 AM
As I recall, this was said of Dwight Gooden, .ca 1986. "learning to pitch" for a strikeout stud often equals "losing his stuff".
Feb 14, 2013 11:58 AM
" . . . but I'm a big believer that you need a good closer because you don't see many good teams that don't have a good closer," Leyland said.
Feb 14, 2013 08:18 AM
What is the range of WAR(P) for a closer anyways? At the most it is a swing of 5 wins. If the Tigers are within 5 games of anyone in that division a lot of other things have went seriously wrong.
Feb 15, 2013 06:50 AM
Using (F)WAR it was about ~2 win difference between Kimbrel and the closer with the 20th most saves (Jansen). Take out Kimbrel, and it is even less than that between a top 5 guy and a bottom 10 guy. Just really hard for me to think that the division comes down to the Tigers closer. I think they win enough to get in, and once they are in SSS can do anything.
Feb 15, 2013 18:50 PM
Scott Jones
Felix Hernandez had his rookie season in 2005, not 2007.
Feb 14, 2013 08:58 AM
Scott Jones
I wasn't trying to be picky in saying this. It was a nice piece. I just saw the line about 8 major league seasons, I saw the line about his rookie season being in 2007, and I was wondering what was up.
Feb 14, 2013 09:02 AM
So I just want to say that I don't quite understand everyone putting Torii Hunter in the 2 hole for Detroit. That's crazy hot stove talk. He's gonna be hitting 6th and that'll work. I doubt Detroit will miss 60 extra Torii ABs.
Feb 14, 2013 13:05 PM
I daresay ego's have to be stroked with that decision, i'm sure he expects to hit 2nd so will be given a shot at it, at least initially.
Feb 15, 2013 00:43 AM
Everyone is putting him there because that's where the Tigers say they'll put him. If Jackson has a good season, Hunter could ground into 30 double plays.
Feb 14, 2013 15:19 PM
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text:
9:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 1: I never thought it would come to this. While watching a New Year's Day football game on TV, I am also monitoring a live feed of the U.S. House of Representatives on my laptop computer.
I'd rather concentrate on the football game.
These are not ordinary times. Our increasingly dysfunctional government met over the New Year's holiday to avert the so-called "fiscal cliff" at the last possible moment.
Whether to go over the fiscal cliff or not ― it never should have come to this, noted Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) in remarks to the House just prior to a vote on the fiscal cliff package. "The American people are really fed up with what they see in the dysfunctional Congress," he said.
The fiscal cliff notwithstanding, look at how the Congress handled the farm bill during the past six months.
After a bipartisan push to get the farm bill passed last summer, along with needed dairy policy reforms, the measures made it through the U.S. Senate and the House Agriculture Committee only to be held back from a full floor vote in the House.
Then, for the next several months, the news media speculated on the possible doubling of milk prices in the grocery store in the absence of a new farm bill. Consumers started to get worried. (If I never see another headline like "How the 'dairy cliff' will cream consumers," it will be fine by me.)
Finally, this week with the fiscal cliff negotiations, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell reportedly used his bargaining leverage to exclude dairy reforms from the farm bill extension. (House Speaker John Boehner is not a fan of the reforms, either.) It is unfortunate that one or two people in key leadership positions can thwart the actions of the full Senate and the House Agricultural Committee in getting these reforms passed. Read more.
No one knows where it will finally end.
The only certainty is that farm bill discussions willl be more difficult in 2013 because of budget constaints facing the federal goverment.
Ironically, the farm bill that made it through the Senate and House Ag Committee last summer would have saved the taxpayers money compared to previous farm bills.
The dairy reforms are needed, as well. "Margin protection" would help protect producers against unfavorable swings in feed cost relative to the milk price. It's a modern approach to dairy policy, acknowledging the importance of the feed:milk margin ― the critical factor for many producers today ― along with risk management and fiscal responsibility by having producers limit production increases during tough economic times (when the margin protection payments are made).
Yet, it's hard to get consensus.
Frankly, I am wondering if it is possible to get widespread agreement on anything in the dairy industry.
Last October, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack noted the difficulty of getting things done when dairymen are divided on the issues.
"As I travel around the country, what I've noticed (is) dairymen and dairywomen have a hard time agreeing," Vilsack told a World Dairy Expo audience. "The problem is we have not had consensus and that's made it difficult for us to get a program that would allow some stability and some protection," he said.
Congress's nine-month extension of existing dairy policy -- as part of the fiscal cliff package -- gives us time to step back, re-group and look for creative solutions to the problems at hand. Read more.
Let's keep an eye on Congress and the White House, as well, and vow that we will never become that dysfunctional.


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Supply Chain
Many companies have found that the largest contribution to their energy footprint comes from their suppliers. Many companies are partnering with their suppliers, providing technical assistance, educational materials, and other resources to help reduce energy use.
The resources below include presentations, reports and news on improving energy efficiency in the supply chain, as well as links to other organizations and web sites working on this issue.
External Report: Mastering Carbon Management: Balancing Trade-offs to Optimize Supply Chain Efficiencies (IBM Institute for Business Value: February 2009)
In partnership with:


text:
Good: Shot 75 on the Patpasco Green Monster, my best score by far
Bad: Started fluffing some easy shots on the second round, including a sloppy 6 on #13.
Ugly: Practice drive on #15 was excellent, so I decided to play it out (along with my first drive, of course). Tried to hyzer the Ion around a tree, but it stood up and rolled 200' down the hill. Took me two shots to get back up, leaving a 25' uphill putt. Putted low, hit the front of the basket, and rolled 100' back down the hill. Approached and putted for a 7. Good thing it was only practice!


text:
The Kids Gym that Parents and Kids Both Love!
- Class Variety: Romp n' Roll Harrisburg is much more than a "kids gym." We also offer music, art, cooking, science, dance, sports, and more! Your child can come to Romp n' Roll every week from 3 months to 5 years and never take the same class twice!
- Focused: Our curriculum is specifically designed for children from 3 months through 5 years. You'll see it in the way we design our centers, the type of instructors we hire, and the equipment we use.
- Creative: Our professionally-developed lesson plans are designed not only be to be educational but also a lot of fun, or, as we like to say, we "Nurture the Genius. Unleash the Goofball!"
- Flexible: We're parents, too, so we know how busy life can be. You don't have to commit to the same class each week. Attend classes at Romp n' Roll when your schedule permits, not ours.
- Convenience: We offer classes on a month-to-month basis on weekday mornings, afternoons, and evenings, as well as weekend mornings. No matter your schedule, we have a class for your schedule.
- Value: At Romp n' Roll Harrisburg, you may attend as many classes as you would like every month, every week — even every day!


text:
Hmm, I did neither of the first two points; but I didn't have more than one plug anyway and was lucky with the second because people happened to be good with keeping their stuff apart. I imagine it might be a bigger problem at a bigger hackathon.
The third point was evident even without it causing any problems, though.


text:
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lol..this was my second guess...i almost put marv and al but didnt think it would fly
Come on MR I know you're lurking at least tell us if we're wrong so we can narrow it down.
i dont think its cuban...too...how shall i say...poofy?
Steve Alford
Come to the Dark Side -- There's cookies!
is it magic rat himself? i really dont know anything bout him....but as long as we are guessing...
Damon Bailey?


text:
Example Mattered
Name withheld
Whenever I heard the words "missionary work," I used to think of giving away a Book of Mormon. While I had previously given away copies of the Book of Mormon, none of the people I gave them to seemed interested. But I didn't know that for the past year and a half, I have been a missionary just by being who I am and sticking to my standards.
It began on the first day of school one year. I had arrived at my first class early, and so I sat down at a desk in the middle of the classroom. A girl named Alicia* came in and sat in the far back. Since I was alone, I invited her to sit with me. She had just moved from Mexico over the summer, so she didn't have any friends yet. I was glad we had most of our classes together. That's how we became friends.
But our lives were very different. Alicia wore outfits that differed from my standards and used bad language. In her old school, she talked back to her teachers, and grades weren't important to her. She had a bad family life and would sneak out and go to parties.
As we have become good friends, I have noticed a good change in her. She no longer wears inappropriate clothing. She is careful to not use bad language. She has improved her grades, even competing for the highest scores. Her family life is getting a lot better too. She never sneaks out anymore or goes to bad parties.
We talk about her changes and improvements. Alicia told me that one night her boyfriend came over and wanted her to break the law of chastity. She was about to give in when she saw in her mind a flashback of all the improvements she's made and how proud she is of herself. She wasn't willing to throw it all away. So she said no and broke up with him. That was the greatest thing for me to hear from her, and I am so proud of her.
Missionary work truly can occur by example as we live the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Name has been changed
My Camp Decision
Tiare G., Utah, USA
Last August, I had an important decision to make. I could either go to Young Women camp with my ward or attend a volleyball camp. I would be trying out for the volleyball team at school, and the volleyball camp was highly encouraged. It showed you were dedicated if you attended it. I had been praying about whether I should go to Young Women camp or volleyball camp. I had a strong impression to go to Young Women camp.
The biggest lesson I learned at Young Women camp was about blessings we receive when we follow the Lord. The following week, I went to tryouts. I made the volleyball team and progressed to varsity at the end of the season. My testimony grew immensely. I know whenever we are faced with decisions, we can pray and receive answers.
For more on Young Women camp, see page 24.
Strengthened by Personal Progress
Abbie S., Utah, USA
I first finished Personal Progress right before the new value, Virtue, came out. My Young Women leaders encouraged me to wait to get my Young Womanhood Recognition until I completed the new value, so I agreed to do so. I had no idea what was in store for me. We received the new booklet, I completed the Virtue experiences, and then I saw the Virtue project: read the entire Book of Mormon. I hate to admit it, but I had never read the Book of Mormon cover to cover. This was my new challenge for the year.
Over the year, I read the Book of Mormon from beginning to end. When I completed my reading, my testimony had grown so much! The stories came alive, and reading the scriptures gave me a lot of spiritual advice. I encourage everyone to read it, discover for yourself the blessings, and help your testimony grow. It will change your life. Even if you just read for a set number of minutes every day, you will learn so much. After receiving my Young Womanhood Recognition, I decided I would wear my necklace every day to remind myself of the promises and covenants I have made with Heavenly Father and the many things I learned from reading the Book of Mormon. I am so thankful that my Young Women leaders encouraged me to complete the Virtue value. I hope you will take the challenge to read the Book of Mormon and let it touch your life.
I Said Hello
Benjamin F., Georgia, USA
About a month into the school year, I was sitting in my drama class listening to two young women talk about a new kid in the class. I could see that many students were talking to him. At first I thought nothing of it, but then I had the feeling that I should go over and talk to him. So I sat down next to him and said hello. I found out he was a fellow skateboarder.
We clicked from the beginning, and it didn't take long before we were skateboarding every day after school. He has now become one of my best friends. He even came to seminary once and was able to learn a little more about the Church. I'm glad that Heavenly Father prompted me to simply go over and say hi. I know that Heavenly Father cares about me and will prompt me in little things like that.


text:
Hello all
I came across this fascinating video on youtube. Some very inspiring monks / yogis interviewed herein, even just as human beings they are warm, engaging, and with a sense of humour, yet also very calm and wise.
It takes a little while to get to the 'good stuff', the interviews with various yogis; but being youtube I guess those who wish, could scroll ahead. But it's worth watching the whole lot, one gets a bit of a background to the Tibetan culture.


text:
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Great Lakes Crossing Outlets in Auburn Hills opened at 9 p.m. Thursday to a flurry of holiday shoppers eager to snatch up deals.
A spokeswoman for the shopping outlets said the majority of their shoppers Thursday night were teens and young adults. It also saw an increased amount of men out shopping on Thanksgiving night.
Men's and women's apparel as well as toys and women's shoes have been the hot items at Great Lakes. Coach, True Religion, Michael Kors, Victoria's Secret, Nike, Swarovski and Aeropostale were among the stores with the longest lines.
The Thursday night shopping rush lasted until 4 a.m. Friday, with a new rush of shoppers hitting the mall at 7 a.m. At that time stores were reporting single-digit increases on average.
Credit and cash are being used equally at the stores, the spokeswoman said. A lot of shoppers are buying for themselves, especially items such as women's apparel and designer handbags.
Copyright 2012 by ClickOnDetroit.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
Native American or InuitAn optical illusion is a visually perceived image that is deceptive or misleading.
Do you see the native american wearing a headdress, or the inuit wearing a fluffy coat and entering an igloo?
What Next?
View more optical illusions...
If you become a registered user you can vote on this brain teaser, keep track of
which ones you have seen, and even make your own.
Back to Top


text:
Also available on LP / Digital
1. Down With The Moon2. We´d Rather Be Some Criminals3. Blazing Bright4. Hail Hail5. See No Evil6. Old Lord7. Brother Gold Miner8. The Sound Of Thunder9. An Old Wives´ Tale10. The Wizard11. The Ghostwalk #2
Pretty Lightning was formed in 2007 by two childhood friends Christian Berghoff and Sebastian Haas, who grew up together in a small town in Southwest Germany, before relocating to Saarbruecken, a slightly bigger small town. In essence a raw psychedelic-blues duo that on the surface could be seen as kindred spirits to the likes of Wooden Shjips or Moon Duo, Pretty Lightning also appear to mirror a freak-folk sensibility found in the likes of Sunburned Hand of the Man and their Stateside compatriots. But they also reflect their closer geographic roots - echoing the communal, ritualistic krautrock of Amon Duul II or perhaps the primitivism of Swedens International Harvester (both Berghoff and Haas are also part of the Saarlouis-based Datashock collective).
But if such comparisons serve to place the band in some kind of loose context, they should not undermine such a heartfelt outcome, nor steer the listener away from the bands melodic leanings - There Are Witches in the Woods delivers hooks and harmonies on a grand scale. Recorded in Autumn 2010, the album is the result of the band shutting itself away in a cavernous room to capture the breadth of their sonic vision. Formed around a crux of drums, vocals and a variety of guitars, the arrangements are bolstered by shruti-drones, organ loops and theremins, giving a sense of space and scope to eleven sweet, succinct chapters, and the album as a whole.
mailing list contact where to buy?
Hosted by Woima


text: Without Cody Zeller, he has been awful at Indiana. I was *****ing about him and his painful to watch offense in year three. I bet if I went back and pulled some of the old IU athletics threads from a few years ago you could find me arguing with people about Crean. Still, there is no solace to take in that. We are flat out stuck with the guy for at least the next two years, and very likely longer than that. Indiana basketball is now a run of the mill Big Ten program. It is what it is, unfortunately.


text:
Comparing Bamboo Prices? Remember to compare apples to apples. We usually win on all fronts!
Quick Highlights:
Your choice in floors says a lot about you!
Carbonized Bamboo: Steamed bamboo, caramelizing the sugar within, to change its color.
Comparing Bamboo prices? SAVE EVEN MORE with FREE Shipping to any store with in-store pick-up.
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Best Uses
Reviewed by 278 customers
Displaying reviews 1-10
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Of course you won't get a top of the line product or this price. Some boards aren't straight, others are bowed. But it comes out pretty decent. Definitely get the Freeman 4-in-1 18 gauge stapler for this job. You can find it pretty inexpensive online.
Best Uses
I love the look of my new floor! I had read that it scratches somewhat easily, but have no idea yet if that's true. I'm not too worried though as I have put a rug down and don't expect my office to be a high traffic area.
Best Uses
We replaced the laminate flooring in our living room and the carpet in three bedrooms. We had dark laminate in the living room. The color of this bamboo floor is much warmer, it's a nice golden honey color, and much more modern looking. (Our house was originally built in 1922). We installed about 700 square feet. The install took 3 days, but that was only because we had a lot of furniture to move around. The only drawback of this flooring is that it is much softer than the laminate. We had to buy felt padding to go under all of our furniture. Despite being very careful, the floor is already scratched in several spots. That being said, the floor is beautiful and definitely worth the cost and effort to install.
Best Uses
Product has coating on bottom; Had to sand off in order to glue with standard wood glue.
Floors look great!! Easy to install and at a great price!! Have already recommended to friends!!
Best Uses
This flooring we are really happy with. It holds up quite well, and we have two large dogs (100+ lbs) and 2 boys (need I say more BOYS lol)
Best Uses
The bamboo flooring gave the room a very dramatic appearance with a lot of character and made our guest bedroom a sight to be seen. It was easy enough to install with the right equipment. The tongue & groove was very tight fitting and sometimes very tough to put together. Stapling no less than 2.5" from each edge. Watch for flaws in the tongue & groove and don't use. The only thing that was wrong was that there was a blonde piece in the mix. We installed it thinking that it was going to be a piece in, every so often But the next blonde piece didn't happen until 6 boxes later. Now my entire floor is carmelized except one natural piece a third of the way through the floor. Very disappointing. We ended up putting the bed in a spot we did not want to put it in, but it does hide the one natural piece.
Bamboo flooring really established atmosphere we wanted for a yoga/meditation room. 3/8 in was easy to do myself. A little more splintering than hardwoods, but manageable. Got advice to for an extended aclimatizing period for Denver's very dry climate and this seems to have worked well. Great price when on sale.
Best Uses
i love the way the floors look. it was scary when the first run delivered had several flaws. lumber liquidators replaced the entire load and now they are really great. Five Star flooring was a great referral from the company to install the entire downstairs in one week. we came home each night to a new section of the house as a new delight. they also kept the house clean so we could live and not suffer too badly during such an undertaking
Worked great and looks great in an old house. I could count on one hand the number of bad pieces out of 8 boxes. The 3/8's was also very forgiving in some very unlevel areas. My dad was impressed and commented that "you'd never have done that with 3/4" hardwoods".
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AnswerBox - Get answers from Staff Experts and real customers by clicking "Ask a question" or click here to ask our Customer Service Team
Q:Can I re-stain bamboo flooring?
1 answer
A:Yes it can but best left to the professional.
Q:Is this bamboo good for kitchen area, concerned about around sink area.
1 answer
A:Yes this is an excellent choice for a kitchen.
Q:what is the length per board
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A:Supreme Bamboo 3/8" x 3-7/8" Horizontal Carbonized Bamboo is 38" in length.
Q:what can be used for a spline when changing direction on nail down bamboo floor
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A:Our stores have access to 3 different splines or you can make your own from stock material.
Q:What is the THD Hardness rating for this flooring
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A:The THD Hardness rating is used by a certain retailer to compare different flooring products that they offer and is not used throughout the industry.
Q:Do you need a nail gun to install this product?
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A:You can find complete installation instructions on the product page by clicking on the specs tab and then clicking on - Installation Guide.pdf
Q:We are in the process of purchasing a home with this very similar colored bamboo flooring. We really would prefer darker a lot darker. Can these be sanded and stained? I would hate to rip out the flooring just to replace it when it is in such good condition. If it can be stained is there a preferred kind/brand?
1 answer
A:BAMBOO refinishing
Q:How many square feet per box?
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Q:Will Bamboo flooring with stand a lot of bedroom traffic. Would like to use Bamboo in 2 rooms 10 x 12 and 1 room 12 x 15.
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A:Despite today's advanced technology, water spills, dirt and other abrasive substances can damage a wood floor's finish. Location, traffic patterns, how often the floor is vacuumed and cleaned, children and/or pets are all factors that influence wear and durability.
Q:can you put bamboo flooring on concrete
1 answer
A:Yes you can!


text:
At Annie Laurance's Death on Demand bookstore on Broward's Rock Island, South Carolina, murder suddenly isn't confined to the well-stocked shelves. Author Elliot Morgan's abrupt demise during a weekly gathering of famous mystery writers called the Sunday Night Regulars is proof positive that a bloody sword is sometimes mightier than a brilliant pen.
With Annie in the unenviable position of primary police suspect, the pretty young mystery maven and her wealthy paramour, Max Darling, embark on an investigation into a classic locked-room mystery with high stakes. Failing to unmask a brutal and ingenious killer could mean prison for Ms. Laurance. Success could mean her death. Who could plot a murder better than a mystery writer?
©1987 Carolyn G. Hart (P)2012 Random House Audio
"It's an ok read"
I'm sure this is a good book, However, it just didn't do it for me. The characters were likable and the plot was good. But it didn't keep my interest. After the first few chapters I skipped to the end for the final summation. I will probably go back and listen to it from beginning to end later. But, I have to give it 3 stars because I liked the idea of the book. It's not bad it just wasn't me.
"1st in the series"
The early books in this series have just recently become available on Audible.com. I listened to this after hearing several later in the series. It was very interesting to finally get the initial introduction to the characters. There are bits of the plot which are somewhat immature, but that's made up for by the overall charm. There are not that many classical style ratiocination mysteries written anymore, and it's great to listen to one.
"Thoroughly Enjoyed It."
I've been looking for a new cozy mystery series and stumbled on Death on Demand. I am up to book #8 and I'm thoroughly enjoying this series. The history of the South Carolina coupled with the mysteries make it very interesting.
"Great Read!!"
I have read or listened to every Death on Demand book in the series. I love Kate Reading. She does a good job of reading.
This is light reading, but, interesting good story and always surprise endings
"Not for me"
Twilight fans who also enjoy cozy mystery stories & light readings.
Kate Reading is a wonderful audiobook narrator. Nevertheless, a well-narrated cliched & predictable story is still a cliched & predictable story.
The main character ... and her very good looking, smart, extremely rich love interest who loves the main character (and no other) so unconditionally. (Sounds familiar?)
Tiger Rose
"Very Easy Listen"
Yes... this is my third go round.
Didn't see it coming.
Annie trying to get on the ferry.
No extreme, but very relaxing.. I guess that could be extreme.
"Love, Love, Love Kate Reading"
This was a good listen. I enjoyed the character development. For me one of the best things is Kate Reading's narration. Her talent brings a wonderful addition to the book.
Report Inappropriate Content
If you find this review inappropriate and think it should be removed from our site, let us know. This report will be reviewed by Audible and we will take appropriate action.


text:
So simple. So genius. I feel like this would solve all my problems in the whole world.
(Thanks, Amber.)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
World peace.
Labels: kitchen, kitchen renovation, kitchens
13 comments:
- Kerry @ Design du Monde said...
- February 6, 2012 at 7:22 AM
- Snezana Mahoney said...
I am sharing your frisson of joy and the general surprise that this has never been thought of before. Why are we so slow???
- February 6, 2012 at 8:09 AM
Nice. Glad you like it and that it makes you irrationally happy. I understand. Take happiness where you can, D.! I do like the green cabinets with the black counters.
This, however, wouldn't work for me (maybe, others?) for at least two reasons: 1. The paper towel opening would quickly become a grungy mess with my kids grabbing at paper towels with their grimy (but adorable) paws. They would probably waste more, too. (Yes, I know it is my responsibility to discipline them. Working on that.) 2. I'm always a little skeptical of new-fangled ways to do the tried-and-true. (Trash compactors, anyone?) This may quickly become dated--or not. Who knows? In any case, I'd much rather someone figure out where to put the wet dish cloth, cleaning cloths, damp dish towels, etc.
- February 6, 2012 at 5:34 PM
- Richie Designs said...
o gawd I have that on my pinterest and thought, why the frick did I not think of that?
life changing
- February 6, 2012 at 5:49 PM
oh goodness. I agree that this is genius, but I am one of "those" people who only uses cloth napkins for dining and washcloths for cleaning so all I see is "ACK SO WASTEFUL!"
so, way to save the environment Decorno. geez.
- February 6, 2012 at 7:55 PM
- Appletree said...
- February 7, 2012 at 6:31 AM
- Michelle said...
This is so clever. Simple and very functional. I love it!
- February 27, 2012 at 8:32 AM
you know what's sad? when your favorite blog / blogger goes out with a photo of paper towels. sigh. miss you, d.
- March 4, 2012 at 2:07 PM
- pve design said...
I wanted this. I tried it and it just did not work for me.
The damn paper towels are on the counter for all to see and to use.
- March 5, 2012 at 1:22 AM
no. i see water drips all down the cabinet below, and grubby marks around the opening.
but it looks good...
- March 14, 2012 at 6:24 PM
- ashdotdave said...
Can't agree with this one--one spill close to the edge of the counter and the first thing you reach for has a waterfall of cranberry juice in front of it. Nevermind the awkward posture required to refill the roll. Nope, up off the counter, please--even if only half an inch.
- May 17, 2012 at 6:26 AM
- ashdotdave said...
Can't agree with this one--one spill close to the edge of the counter and the first thing you reach for has a waterfall of cranberry juice in front of it. Nevermind the awkward posture required to refill the roll. Nope, up off the counter, please--even if only half an inch.
- May 17, 2012 at 6:26 AM
- Wheelchair said...
Hey, very nice site. I came across this on Google, and I am stoked that I did. I will definitely be coming back here more often. Wish I could add to the conversation and bring a bit more to the table, but am just taking in as much info as I can at the moment. Thanks for sharing.
Karma KM 2500 Wheelchair
Keep Posting:)
- November 5, 2015 at 3:54 AM


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4 designs by lisa_brown
All designs by Lisa Brown
Hello! My name is Lisa, I am a graphic designer from York, England and I like to design fabric and draw in my spare time. I like mixing handmade with digital and experimenting with different processes. I make dresses and bags for my friends and have an Et


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Category: Odysseus
While A, E, I and O-starting names abound, increasing in popularity all the time, poor little step-sibling vowel U tends to get neglected. Of course there are many fewer names starting with that letter, and even fewer that would appeal to the modern baby namer, but there are definitely a few that are at least worth a look, most of them with a touch of the exotic.
ULLA, ULA — Seen in several cultures, this stong name (it actually means strong-willed in Norse), is sometimes used as a pet form of Ursula or ULRICA/ULRIKA. Most recently associated with the leggy Swedish secretary character in The Producers.
UMA — Thanks to Ms. Thurman almost a one-person name, this throaty, exotic appellation is a name of the Hindu goddess Parvati–which surely inspired her father, a renowned expert on Eastern religion, to bestow it on her.
UMBER — A highly unusual color name, dark and mysterious, which could be used for either gender.
UMBRIA — Richly evocative, shadowy Italian place name–a neighbor of Tuscany known for its wines, olive oil and truffles. Could be a possible replacement for the rapidly becoming overused Siena/Sienna.
UNA — An ancient Irish name, also Anglicized as Oonagh or Oona, used by Edmund Spenser for the heroine of his classic The Faerie Queene; she's the daughter of a legendary king and the quintessence of truth and beauty (it was for her that St. George slayed the dragon).
UNDINE — A German mythological water sprite, better known in its Ondine form.
UNIQUE — Not any more.
UNITY — One of the newly appealing, lesser used Puritan virtue names, with an admirable meaning.
URANIA — One of the nine Greek Muses, whose special area was astronomy. This one is not recommended, for obvious reasons.
URBANA — An unusual possibility for a city girl.
URSULA — Kids today will probably associate this martyred saint's name with the campy, corpulent octopus sea witch in The Little Mermaid, while others might tie it to a character in Shakespeare's Much Ado, Ursula Brangwen in D. H. Lawrence's The Rainbow, novelist Le Guin, 60's Bond Girl sex goddess Andress, or the character on Friends. Novelist/style icon Plum Sykes chose it for her daughter, which puts it on trend alert.


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WITH the weather again causing disruption to both the league and cup fixtures, it was a relief that five matches actually survived.
This season's Chantry Digital Ltd-sponsored Knockout Cup is now behind schedule after the quarter-final ties between Castle Combe and Bradford United Reserves and United FC and Worton & Cheverell were lost to waterlogged pitches.
However the one cup tie that beat the elements saw third division leaders Holt FC host second division pole sitters and cup holders Lacock and it was the latter who came out on top in a thrilling game with a 4-1 victory to keep their hopes of retaining the trophy they won last term very much alive.
Lacock broke the deadlock thanks to a first goal of the season from Kevin Hodgkinson who scored from the penalty spot to make it 1-0 and the visitors to Holt doubled their lead before the break courtesy of a well-taken effort from Craig Burge.
The second period saw the hosts help in their own downfall when Owen Reece put through his own net to put Lacock 3-0 up.
Tom Wade pulled a goal back for Holt but it was just a consolation as Lacock sealed their win and booked a place in the semi-finals when Darrin Moss bagged their fourth of the afternoon.
MATCHES OFF: Castle Combe v Bradford United Reserves, United FC v Worton & Cheverell.
TROWBRIDGE & DISTRICT LEAGUE ROUNDUP, STATS AND PICTURES IN THURSDAY'S GAZETTE & HERALD AND FRIDAY'S WILTSHIRE TIMES AND FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @gazsport and @WTSport


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Saudi Arabia hosts anti-terrorism conference
Crown Prince Abdullah Bin Abdul-Aziz on Saturday welcomed participants of the Counter-terrorism International Conference and said the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the cradle of Islam which advocates "equality and friendship."
In his inaugural address, Crown Prince Abdullah pointed out that Islam is the religion of wisdom, adding that false slogans raised by "deviant groups" run counter to the teachings of Islam. "Mohammed, the Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) is the prophet of mercy, and Islam is the religion of mercy, and it is impossible to link Islam with terrorism."
"Terrorism does not belong to a certain religion or system, and it is carried out by evil and spiteful persons who are fond of killing and destruction," the Crown Prince noted. "The conference embodies the determination of the international community on confronting criminal gangs in all places, as well as combating false ideas, and facing the extremist rhetoric with moderation and tolerance."
Crown Prince Abdullah noted that the terrorist network is closely linked to three criminal international networks, namely the networks of arms smuggling, drug smuggling and money laundering. "It will be difficult to attain victory in our battle against terrorism unless we decisively confront these three criminal networks," he said.
Later, Prince Naif bin Abdulaziz, the Saudi Interior Minister and head of the anti-terrorism conference, chaired Saturday in Riyadh the first general session of the conference.
In his address, the minister explained that during the last two years, Saudi Arabia witnessed 22 terrorist acts including bombings, attacks and hijacks. According to SPA, he added that these criminal acts led to the killing of 90 people and injury of 507. Ninety security men were killed and 213 security men were injured because of these acts.
He noted that of the "deviant group," 92 people were killed and 17 were injured and damage exceeded SR1 billion as a result of these acts. The minister stated that security efforts aborted 52 terrorist acts.
Speeches by participating delegations were delivered afterwards.


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It's a home run for the University of California-Los Angeles Bruins.The school's baseball time won its first ever College World Series.
Amid the area's celebrations, Whole Foods took their congratulatory message to the next level.
What better way to say "congrats" to the nation's top college baseball team in the nation's No. 1 milk-producing state than with commemorative glass bottles?
The custom bottle, sold at local Whole Foods stores, was first tweeted by Bruins pitcher James Kaprielian last week:
Whole foods knows pic.twitter.com/UAyJ2ONSjs
— James Kaprielian (@JamesKaprielian) September 14, 2013


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The Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, Oct 27, at the Levy County Quilt Museum. What a busy day we had.
Many of the Bible Squares have been completed so we can begin to see how lovely the quilt will be. The Log Cabin Quilt that will be going to the State Fair in February was taken out of the frame for hemming to be done. It took months for us to complete and is one of the many variations of the Log Cabin design.
Members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Rebel Post 5625 lead Chiefland High School's Homecoming Parade down U.S. Highway 19 on Oct. 27.
By Army Staff Sgt. Paul Evans
77th Sustainment Brigade
JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq—The Saunders brothers have plenty in common — they're twins and they're both Kentucky National Guard soldiers serving together in Iraq.
County parade in
Bronson this year
Levy County's official parade to honor military veterans comes with a bonus this year. Because Bronson High School's Homecoming is on Friday, Nov. 11, the students will be joining the county's official salute.
The combined parade will roll at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 11, from the intersection of Pine Street and U.S. 27A, at the U.S. Post Office with at least 40 floats and units from veterans' organizations and the usual number from the high school, including the Marching Eagles band.
Lt. Sean Mullins said it was sometime in 2006 when, as a member of the Community Relations Division for the Levy County Sheriff's Office, he was asked to come and speak to clients of the Levy Association of Retarded Citizens about matters of law, the types of things all people, as members of society, should be familiar with.
"I had no idea what to expect," Mullins said. "I gave a little speech, and they really appreciated it … I truly fell in love with them."
Nature Coast Hospice and SREC of Dixie County both were presented $100 checks from the Chiefland HCE (Home and Community Educators). The money was given to the two organizations to be used for services that they provide to their clients. The goal of the HCE is to strenghten individuals, families and communities through education, leadership and action.
Jacob Thomas Lee was born to David and Christi Lee, of Tallahassee on Aug. 1, 2011. He weighed 7 pounds,1 ounce and was 19 and a half inches long.
Jacob is the grandson of Howard and Carol Marsh, of Chiefland; Donna and the late Walter Tooke, of Bell; the late Mr. and Mrs. Watson, of Trenton; and Margie and the late Seth Tooke, also of Trenton.
The Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, Oct 13, at the Levy County Quilt Museum. Our Bible Quilt is getting off to a great start. We have had 11 squares completed so far and we'll need another 30 or more before we can start to assemble the quilt. If we have more squares than we need for the quilt, we'll make pillows with those squares. The quilt will be very colorful with the bright colors that are being used.
We still have many craft magazines and if you need any, they are free. We have so much donated to us and we enjoy sharing with others.
The Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Levy County Quilt Museum. We have started our 2012 quilt. It will be a Bible quilt and it is going to be very interesting when it is put together.
We also want to tell you about Lancaster Correctional. We started April 24, 1996, with Jarrod Jones and eight young men. Through the next four years, we had their help building the museum. Today we have worked with over 4,000 inmates.
Boy Scouts of America scout Austin Ross needed a project to achieve his next rank. After mulling over a few ideas, he decided upon a flagpole for the yard at First United Methodist Church in Chiefland.
Several businesses and groups in the area, as well as fellow scouts, helped Austin with the project, which included the construction of a flagpole and a concrete base.
A commemorative plaque, honoring WWII Merchant Marine Seaman Robert H. Ross (Austin's grandfather), was fastened to the flag's pedestal.
Each year, Florida's governor declares the fourth week in October "Florida Forestry Week," to coincide with the Florida Forest Festival in Taylor County
Forestry is Florida's No. 1agricultural crop, above citrus, and among Florida's 67 counties, Taylor County is No. 1 in forestry, according to the University of Florida.
More than 20,000 people are expected join in the annual celebration as the festival marks its 56th year on Saturday, Oct. 22, at Forest Capital State Park in Perry.
Gray skies and the threat of stormy weather may have contributed to a low turnout at this year's Third Annual Suwannee River Cleanup Saturday, but participants, working out of canoes, kayaks and boats, were still able to fill the bottom of a 2-cubic-yard dumpster with trash pulled from the river's muddy banks.
About 35 people showed up, less than half of the 85 who participated last year.
The Friends of the Luther Callaway Public Library (FLCPL) Board of Directors will hold its monthly meeting at the Library, 104 N.E. 3rd Street, Chiefland, at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 13.
For more information, call call FLCPL president Tom Reitz at 493-1896 or 949-5413. For an agenda, email email@example.com.
The Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, Sept 29, at the Levy County Quilt Museum. We had dozens of quilt, knit and crochet magazines brought in so everyone enjoyed looking for future projects. We still have some left.
Many people think that all we do is quilt and have good lunches. This year we gave our 25th quilt to the Central Florida Electric Company. We met at their building for many years before the museum was built.
After a quick adjustment, and then another, on the piano bench, Amelia Erwin leaned forward to pore over a sheaf of music.
"No, I don't think I can play that one," she said to the visitor, casting the pages aside and rifling through another stack.
Bingo Season Off to a Good Start
Thursday BINGO at the Yankeetown Inglis Woman's Club is off to a great start. All proceeds go toward college scholarships for local students and provide The Kind News for 11 class rooms at Yankeetown School. Come early to purchase your BINGO cards and enjoy fresh homemade goodies from the "Thursday Kitchen." Doors open at 6pm, with BINGO games beginning at 7pm.
The Log Cabin Quilters met Thursday, Sept 22, at the Levy County Quilt Museum. It was a special day with eight ladies from the Busy Bee of Old Town visiting. They come when they can as they are busy with their projects.
They also brought covered dishes so we had plenty of food for lunch. The fellowship and sharing of ideas with our guests made a great day.
September is National Sea Cadet month and the Manatee Division sea cadets were surprised at their last drill with a ride on a Coast Guard boat. Cadet Casey McCain, left, gets instruction from Petty Officer 3rd class Mathew Sonny-Lee Wurges on how to properly deploy equipment.
Amelia Erwin will celebrate her 100th birthday Sunday, Oct. 9 at the First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall in Williston from 3 - 5 p.m. All former students, colleagues, family and friends are invited to the reception.
Erwin was born Oct. 4, 1911, as one of eight children to William Wofford, a lumber contractor, and Lillie Jane Williams.
She was raised and attended school in Ellzey, a town named after her family. Her great-grandfather built and founded the Ellzey Methodist Church, of which Erwin was a member. She later graduated from Bronson High School.
Toni Collins isn't shy about her beliefs, especially when it comes to history.
"I've always been distressed that our young people are not learning about the history of this county," she said Friday from the living room of her Chiefland home.
Collins, who used to work for the county, was largely responsible for organizing the county's historical archives and started the county's historical board.
Copyright © 2017
The Chiefland Citizen is your source for local news, sports, events, and information in Levy County and Chiefland Florida, and the surrounding area.


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cake servers
Precious Moments Serving Set$44.95
Sterling Heart Server Set$59.95
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Silver Hearts Serving Set$55.95
When it comes to planning a wedding, every detail matters right down to the cake knife you choose. A memorable part of the wedding reception, a wedding cake knife also serves as a precious keepsake long after the special day is over. Personalized with your names and wedding details, our cake server sets complement your tableware and are available in a range of price options to fit any budget. The acrylic knife and server set features stainless steel blades, acrylic handles and is tastefully decorated with white ribbon, pearls and a rose. You may also want to choose a sterling silver-plated server set by Cathy's Concepts. Also, don't forget to add the wedding cake boxes in embossed and designer styles. The American Wedding has the selection and affordable prices to make any wedding day just as it was imagined.


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Dallas Cowboys and Tony Romo Singing, "I Feel Good!"
In the past five games, Dallas Cowboys QB Tony Romo has thrown nine touchdowns and only one interception. His quarterback rating during that span is an eye-popping 109.7.
In related news, the Cowboys are sporting a handsome 4–1 record during the same five-game stretch.
In a league that often gives too much credit to the quarterback for his team's victories and too much blame for losses, it is still safe to say, "As goes Tony Romo, so go the Dallas Cowboys."
A couple of games ago, after posting a near-perfect 148.4 rating by completing 23 of 26 passes for 270 yards and two touchdowns, Romo boiled his recent resurgence down to one pretty simple factor: Good health.
According to Todd Archer of ESPN.com, Romo repeated that sentiment last week as he prepared for Sunday's game with the Washington Redskins:
"I don't have a broken rib now, so that's a positive," Romo said Thursday, three days before the Dallas Cowboys' rematch with the Redskins. "It just feels good. I don't know. You get used to playing hurt, but it's just a little different kind of thing."
Some in the league, in the media and in the stands have questioned just how much Romo's injury was affecting his play. Suggestions were offered that maybe he was playing up the whole fighting through the pain thing. Maybe it was just a convenient excuse.
Apparently, these yardbirds think being kicked in the ribs by a mule is no big deal.
I, on the other hand, can identify with Tony. Just recently, I had a terrible head cold that I could not shake. Despite going for a steroid shot and an antibiotic, the nasty malady worked its way into my chest and there it stayed for a solid week.
I can tell you, my enthusiasm for work waned. I found it difficult to concentrate. My production slipped. This is all true and I must also confess that I have the kind of job that almost never involves angry, amped-up, 300-pound men using every means at their disposal to grind me into so much powder.
So, here's to Tony Romo's health and the continued success of the Dallas Cowboys that, like it or not, have their very fortunes tied to just how well Tony Romo feels.Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2011 Silver and BlueBlood


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Treating a Twisting Bowel ObstructionSkip to the navigation
Topic Overview
Doctors have several options for treating a bowel obstruction caused by twisting of the intestine. The choice of procedure depends on the location of the obstruction.
If the obstruction is caused by a twisting of the sigmoid area of the large intestine, a doctor may try to straighten out the twisting segment with lighted instruments (such as a proctoscope or sigmoidoscope) or a barium enema. But surgery is sometimes needed to fix twisting of the intestine. Twisting of the sigmoid colon recurs in 25 to 50 out of 100 cases after nonsurgical treatments.footnote 1
Treatment is less defined for an obstruction caused by twisting of the cecum of the large intestine. Doctors may try several treatments. The blocked section can be removed and the ends reattached. In another type of surgery, the cecum can be attached to the abdominal (belly) wall so that it won't twist (cecopexy). A third option is to place a tube into the cecum (cecostomy) through a small incision in the abdomen. This procedure often is done for people who are not strong enough to have the other surgeries.
Related Information
ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
Current as ofNovember 20, 2015
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Current as of: November 20, 2015
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review: E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine & Jerome B. Simon, MD, FRCPC, FACP - Gastroenterology
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.
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Editor's note: Special thanks to Rob Vandenheuvel, Milk Producers Council of California, for creating awareness about this document.
USDA's Ag Marketing Service-Dairy Programs has published a working document with a series of frequently asked questions surrounding the potential creation of a Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) in California.
Three major California cooperatives (California Dairies Inc., Dairy Farmers of America and Land O'Lakes) have been working collaboratively on a draft petition to be submitted to USDA for the purpose of establishing a FMMO in California.
The document represents USDA Dairy Programs current thinking on certain topics, and is not intended to present binding USDA policy. As new details become available related to the proposed FMMO in California, answers may be modified.
For addition information, contact a USDA Dairy Marketing specialist at 202-720-4392.
1. Who could participate in a hearing on California becoming a Federal milk order?
Federal milk order hearings are open to the public, including people from other regions. Anyone can participate. Individuals testifying at the hearing are subject to cross examination. Anyone attending a hearing can cross examine witnesses. A USDA appointed Administrative Law Judge oversees the hearing proceedings to maintain order and fairness for the process.
The Notice of Hearing defines the scope of the hearing and what topics and proposals will be considered. Hearing participants may only provide information relevant to the scope of the hearing.
Please see: http://www.ams.usda.gov/FederalMilkMarketingOrders
2. I heard that a Federal milk order hearing can take a long time.
Federal milk order hearings can be lengthy because any interested party can testify and anyone can cross examine witnesses. Administrative Law Judges preside over the hearings to help them run fairly, quickly, and efficiently.
When deciding whether a new milk order should be established or whether an existing order should be changed, the USDA must rely on the "hearing record." This means that decisions can only be based on what is said at the hearing, data presented at the hearing in the form of "exhibits", officially noticed documents, and "briefs" submitted after the close of the hearing. For these reasons, it is very important to get as much relevant data and testimony as possible into the hearing record. This can be time consuming, but ensures a fair and complete process.
3. How long would it take to implement a new Federal order for California?
Changing from a State-operated program to a Federal order would be a significant shift. While there are similarities between the systems, sufficient time needs to be provided for an orderly transition. USDA will work with the industry and California Department of Food and Agriculture to ensure timely implementation.
4. Would a California order automatically adopt the current Federal milk order price formulas?
Federal milk order pricing formulas are identical in all Federal orders. We anticipate that a California order would adopt the same pricing formulas. However, an interested party can propose an alternative milk pricing scheme for California. If an alternative pricing scheme is proposed for California, then the proponents would need to provide economic justification at the hearing as to why the Department should adopt the alternative. Currently, six Federal milk orders operate under a multiple component pricing system, while four orders operate under a skim and fat only system.
5. What are the differences between the FMMO price formulas and the California price formulas?
Current Federal milk order price formulas
Current California State milk order price formulas
6. How does a producer referendum operate in the Federal milk order program?
Establishing a new Federal milk order or changing an existing order must be approved by dairy farmers through a voting process called a referendum. Of those participating in a referendum, either two-thirds of the dairy farmers voting or producers representing two-thirds of the milk produced during a designated month must approve the issuance of a new Federal order or an amendment to an existing order.
7. If my cooperative decides to bloc vote, can I still request my own individual ballot?
No, Federal orders do not allow for modified bloc voting. Therefore, if a cooperative decides to bloc vote, individual ballots will not be mailed to its members. The cooperative has the option to not bloc vote and request ballots be sent to all its members.
8. Who will be allowed to participate in a California producer referendum?
Any dairy farmer producing milk and associated with the proposed order during a certain representative month (typically the month the hearing is held) would be allowed to vote in a referendum. Each dairy farmer gets one vote, even if they belong to more than one cooperative or own more than one farm.
9. Will California fluid milk fortification standards still exist if California joins the Federal order system?
California fluid milk fortification standards are based on California state regulations that are different from the regulations authorizing the milk pooling and marketing plans. Federal law prohibits any changes to the California solids standard (see, 7 USC 7254). Adoption of a Federal order cannot change the state standards.
Federal milk orders price nonfat solids used to fortify fluid milk slightly different than the current California state order. In Federal orders, fluid milk bottlers are required to account to the pool for any increase in total milk pounds resulting from fortification and do not receive any kind of fortification credits.
10. What is in the 2014 Farm Bill regarding California becoming a Federal milk order?
The 2014 Farm Bill contains a provision to allow California producers to request a Federal milk marketing order that recognizes the California quota program.
11. How much more money will I make on my milk when California adopts a Federal order?
This depends on the details in what is proposed. Once a complete proposal is submitted, USDA intends to conduct an economic impact analysis to simulate and estimate comparisons between the current system and the proposed Federal order.
Federal milk orders are not an income enhancement tool. They are a combination of marketing tools that, among other things, provide a regulated minimum price that dairy farmers must be paid for pooled milk.
12. Can a Federal milk order require a handler to participate in an order?
Currently, Federal milk orders require fluid milk bottlers to participate in the pool every month. Non-fluid handlers have the option of participating in the pool each month. When non-fluid handlers previously participating in the marketwide pool elect to not pool milk, it is described as "de-pooling." Some Federal orders have pooling provisions that deter de-pooling by restricting the volume of milk that can be re-pooled after leaving.
13. How did the quota plan function in Oregon?
Prior to 1970, the State of Oregon operated a quota plan for Oregon producers. During the rulemaking process to establish the Oregon-Washington Federal order, producers requested authority for the State of Oregon to operate a voluntary quota plan for producers located in Oregon. The State-managed program operated concurrently with the Oregon-Washington Federal milk order which included a separate base/excess plan. Each month, the Oregon-Washington Federal milk order would transfer the Oregon proceeds from the milk pooling process to the State of Oregon. The State then redistributed available money through the Oregon Quota/Base price plan.
14. Did de-pooling lead to the demise of the Oregon quota plan?
It was not de-pooling, but the pooling of a lot more milk on the order, that was not from producers
participating in the voluntary Oregon quota plan, that fueled its demise. Over time, this led to a decline in the total percentage of milk pooled as Class I, and a decline in the total dollars available to the producer settlement fund. Producers realized that they could enjoy higher returns from the Federal order blend base excess price compared to participating in the Oregon Quota/Base price program. By 1987, less than one third of Oregon's dairy industry participated in the State's voluntary program and it was abolished.
15. How does the Virginia quota program operate?
The State of Virginia operates a base plan. A dairy farmer does not have to be a resident of Virginia to own quota, and most of the quota is owned by cooperatives. Refer to the State of Virginia website
16. Are California farmers paying for USDA travel and outreach for an anticipated hearing?
No, California dairy farmers are not paying for the expenses associated with pre-hearing and hearing activities related to establishing an order for California. The only expenses incurred by the California dairy industry are those related to personal involvement in attending and having representation at the pre hearing and hearing activities. Usually, Federal milk order amendment hearings are paid for by the specific milk order to which the proposed change in order provisions applies. Since this is a promulgation (new order) hearing, the entire cost will be borne by the USDA. If a California Federal order is established after a producer referendum, the cost for maintaining the program will be funded through an assessment on pooled handlers.
For updates, click here.


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Like so many others, I too struggle with weight loss. Regretfully, all the diets I've tried have proven unproductive.
The closest I came to success was when my doctor recommended a book by renowned cardiologist Dean Ornish called "Eat More Weigh Less." That sounded like my kind of diet.
The plan was a good one and also very healthy, but it was all about going vegetarian. The book has many enticing recipes, but, unfortunately, devoid of cheeseburgers, fried chicken, pepperoni pizza, or meat of any kind, a fact that made the diet all the more challenging. I did lose weight on the program, but the problem was perseverance. Let's face it, how long can any human being endure without bacon?
But then I read the story last week in the U-T about the restaurant that just opened at the Westfield UTC mall called Veggie Grill. The article states that they serve Buffalo wings and burgers, but no animal fat.
Say what?
Apparently, those items are made with soy, wheat gluten, and pea fiber. Sounds like some sort of magic trick. I call it "sleight of ham."
The article states they also serve "carne asada" and "fried chicken sandwiches." But they're all plant-based, according to the CEO of the Santa Monica-based chain, Greg Dollarhyde. I'm skeptical, but eager to try it.
My only concern about a totally vegetable, all-fiber diet is the habitual toll it seems to take on my digestive system causing bloating and gassiness. Simultaneously, but I contend, unrelated, my wife has difficulty sleeping, due, she insists, to unidentified blasts in the middle of the night. I explain the noises emanate from artillery training at Camp Pendleton, a recurring nuisance every San Diegan is familiar with. It's a mystery as to why it still comes as such a shock to her.
"What was that?" she'll yell out sitting straight up in bed.
"Pendleton," I reply. "Go back to sleep!"
But if bean burgers and soy steaks don't do the trick, I have a new and revolutionary diet that is showing outstanding promise.
Successful dieting is all about providing incentive. A slimmer me was always decent motivation, but somehow too nebulous. What I needed was a more direct, in-your-face inducement, and I finally found one. Before every meal, I strip down and stand naked in front of a mirror.
I lost 8 pounds in a week.
I shared my ritual with some friends, and, miraculously, they also lost significant weight in a short period of time.
"So you adopted my idea?" I asked.
"No," they replied. "We just pictured you in front of the mirror and lost our appetite."
So be it. Whatever works. As long as I continue to drop pounds, I plan to faithfully maintain the routine, shedding every ounce of clothing preceding every meal. The only small drawback I've observed is that I haven't received any dinner invitations lately.