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The festival, which opens with a special Night of Lights viewing 5-9 p.m. today, continues through Dec. 9.
Gingerbread artists entered more than 100 creations in the festival this year, Pelfrey said. Judges evaluated the entries in 12 categories, including historical theme, age, and individual or group.
"Local landmarks are always a favorite," Pelfrey said of festival participants.
This year, those include a depiction of the Embassy Theatre lobby decorated for the Festival of Trees, complete with 61 Christmas trees — each uniquely decorated.
This entry from the Creative Confections Cake Club Adult Group won three awards — first place, Historical Theme, Adult; second place, Group, Adult; and the WANE-TV Sponsor Award.
Larissa Johnson also won first place, Historical Theme, Student; and first place, Individual, Teen, for her gingerbread replica of historic Brookside, also known as the Bass Mansion, on the University of Saint Francis campus on Spring Street.
The Krach/Hentz group won first place in the Teen Group category for a highly detailed replica of the historic Main Building and its golden dome at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend.
Other highlights included an amazingly detailed Christmas tree made with angled layers of gingerbread and frosting greenery. It was decorated with a garland of mints and hard candy, and tree lights made by pushing small lights into colored gumdrops.
The tree, the work of the Eagleson family, received first place in the family category.
Along with bringing joy to the faces of visitors, the gingerbread creations are an important fundraiser for The History Center.
The Festival of Gingerbread raises about $80,000 for the museum through admissions, sponsorships and a silent auction of many of the entries, Pelfrey said. That is about one-seventh of the museum's total annual revenue.
The event typically attracts about 12,000 visitors, who represent about a quarter of the museum's annual attendance, Pelfrey said.
More Information
Festival funWhat: Festival of Gingerbread, featuring more than 100 creations.
When: Today through Dec. 9. Hours are 5-9 p.m. today for Night of Lights; closed Thanksgiving Day; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday; and noon-5 p.m. Sunday.
Where: The History Center, 302 E. Berry St.
Cost: $5, ages 19-58; $3, ages 59 and older and ages 3-18; and free, ages 2 and younger.
Festival special events
*Saturday: 1-3 p.m., Create Your Own Ornament, $1 plus regular admission
*Sunday: 1-3 p.m., Make a Holiday Greeting Card, $1 plus regular admission
*Tuesday: 5-9 p.m., Free Night sponsored by AEP Indiana-Michigan Power
*Dec.1: 1-3 p.m., Visit with Santa Claus
*Dec. 2, 1-3 p.m., Holiday Story Telling
*Dec. 8: 1-4 p.m.: Science of Sugary Structures, by PNC Bank and Science Central, $3 plus regular admission
*Dec. 9: 1-4 p.m.: Cookie Decorating Party, $1 plus regular admission


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Bloodstone Genuine 5ml Tube, DANIEL SMITH Extra Fine Watercolor
Bloodstone is legendary for its mystical, magical and medicinal properties. Sacred to Christians, who believe the dark red drops in this green jasper represent the blood of Christ, Bloodstone comes from our line of superb PrimaTek® naturally pigmented watercolors.
Its intense and velvety aubergine mass tone develops into a warm gray wash that lifts beautifully and provides immediate gratification when it comes to granulation, be it on hot- or cold-pressed paper. Bloodstone mixes very well with each of our more than 200 watercolors and is especially wonderful with transparent Rhodonite Genuine and Quinacridone Burnt Orange.

subset: commoncrawl


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Surely we will sign one of Mayo or Lee now?
Now that Roy's off the market, Mayo talk may heat up. Hopefully.
Edit: Here it is...
Wolfson: Wolves' Plan A is Nicolas Batum, who is interested in coming | 1500 ESPN Twin Cities
It also mentions Minnesota's interest in Brandon Roy, including a meeting the team had with him in Seattle. My guess is that Minny signing Roy has eliminated them as a suitor for Mayo. So, this is good news, at least for those of us who preferred Mayo over Roy.Originally Posted by Darren Wolfson
Last edited by Lance George; 07-05-2012 at 11:21 PM.
Mike Wells
For Pacers fans panicking over B Roy going to Minny, OJ Mayo has and is still at top of the list for Indy
Mike Wells @MikeWellsNBA
For Pacers fans panicking over B Roy going to Minny, OJ Mayo has and is still at top of the list for Indy
See, now if we lose out on him, people are going to flip their ****. So let's seal the deal there front office.
I think Pacers fans are freaking out more over Hibbert, not Brandon Roy.
Don't ask Marvin Harrison what he did during the bye week. "Batman never told where the Bat Cave is," he explained.
If he wants to be a pg and/or costs a lot over the MLE, no thanks.
If he can be a pg if needed and costs just a little over the MLE, I am intrigued.
I think that whole point guard thing was a way to make himself more appealing to teams. "Oh, look, I have halfway decent handles and can probably play some point guard if needed!"
But the real question is is Pacers on the top of Mayo's list?
Garbage players get 1st round picks, (WTF)! All of the NBA must hate the Pacers! LOL
I'd rather see AJ or Lance at the 1 than Mayo.
Man ALOT of u are underrating Mayo... Great Bball player
Yeah, I would too. Was it a Summer League one year when they decided to play Mayo at the point full time and he was an absolute train wreck, even in that setting?
...and at least one of us is overrating him.
Great...ehh...don't know about that. Pretty good? Maybe, but great players don't get benched on that Memphis team.
I love Mayo the Bball player... I'm worried about Mayo the Poker Player. Didn't he get in a fight with a teammate on a plane about a poker loss?
I'm assuming whichever team overpays him the most, as has been the case with almost every free agent so far.
I really don't understand where Mayo fits on our roster. I have to assume we have a big move (or two) lined up.
I'm fine with Mayo, for the right price, of course.
But if we let Hibbert walk, I won't really give a rat's *** one way or the other.


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New Photographic Exhibit - Relics: Travels in Nature's Time Machine - Harvard Museum of Natural History
Open 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, except major holidays. Wed, Oct 12, 2011 - Sat, Jun 30, 2012
Venue: Harvard Museum of Natural History
26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA 02138
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Opening in the museum lobby on October 12, will be a selection of photographs by renowned zoologist and photographer Piotr Naskrecki, from his new book, Relics: Travels in Nature's Time Machine. The exhibit presents a time-lapse photographic tour of life that has persisted nearly untouched for hundreds of millions of years. This photographic exhibit will remain on display through June 2012. To compliment this photographic exhibit on Wednesday November 30 at 6:00pm, author Piotr Naskrecki will speak on Relics: Travels in Nature's Time Machine, discussing his travels around the globe photographing creatures or habitats that remain remarkably similar to their earliest manifestations in the fossil record, or "relics." For descriptions of all museum events, see //www.hmnh.harvard.edu/lectures_and_special_events/index.php. The Harvard Museum of Natural History is located at 26 Oxford Street, a 7-8 minute walk through historic Harvard Yard from the Harvard Square T station. The Museum is handicapped accessible. More than 192,000 visitors a year make the museum the University's most visited. Admission: $9.00; seniors and students $7.00; $6.00 ages 3-18; under 3 free. For more information on exhibits and events, explore or call 617-495-3045.
MA Spotlight on Gene Cassidy
There's Something For Everyone at The Big E! Eugene (Gene) Cassidy is President & CEO...
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text: WVU, Big 12 . . . and the ACC? By Mitch Vingle January 31, 2013 Story Share CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- WHEN THE NEWS first leaked the Big 12 athletic directors are supporting a scheduling alliance with the Atlantic Coast Conference, one question leaped to mind.Huh?Forbes magazine reported Big 12 teams would have the highest per-team financial haul this season. WVU's conference aligned itself with football kingpin SEC for its 2015 version of the Rose Bowl - the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans. And the final Sagarin computer conference rankings had the SEC and Big 12 finishing 1-2 for 2012-13. The Big 12 was actually closer to the SEC in those rankings than the Pac-12 and Big Ten were to the Big 12.So why would the Big 12 consider aligning or getting near or even within shouting distance of the football-weak ACC? If the goal is to pump up the league's non-conference schedules, why not call SEC commissioner Mike Slive again? Why not text Pac-12 commish Larry Scott or Big Ten head Jim Delany?Also, didn't West Virginia recently cancel a football game with the ACC's best football program in Florida State?Know, though, WVU athletic director Oliver Luck is in favor of the alliance."I like the idea," Luck said on Thursday. "There are still a lot of questions on what [the alliance] really means, but I like it."He - and perhaps only he within the Big 12 - should."For [WVU] it's good," Luck said. "I can't say why Iowa State would support it, but for us it makes sense."Indeed, Mountaineer fans would be better able to literally follow their team for a couple games a year. Also, there are and will be old WVU rivals in the ACC."When the Pac-12 and Big Ten had an alliance, I thought that was smart," Luck said. "Of course, that's since been stopped, but it made sense. The ACC will be good for us. It might be a way to get Pitt back on the schedule."It probably won't be a way to get Florida State back on the schedule, but WVU fans could see old Big East rivals Pitt, Boston College, Miami, Virginia Tech, Louisville and, yes, Syracuse. Pitt and Virginia Tech should always be on WVU's schedule. The former was a terrific, storied traditional game. The latter was simply a kick-butt rivalry, especially for the southern part of the Mountain State.That written, will playing any of the above give Big 12 teams edges in reaching a four-team national playoff? Probably not - at least not as the situation stands. Beating Florida State or Clemson might help, but victories over the other ACC teams will evoke yawns.Luck hinted, though, that more alliances are on the horizon. "With the five power conferences you'll see more of it," he said. "Bowls will be shared by maybe three conferences. The ACC, Big Ten and Big 12 could share one [bowl], so fans aren't always going to the same cities. I think fans will like that."Mountaineer fans could like an ACC alliance as well. More games would be within driving distance. Old rivalries could be rekindled.But WVU fans shouldn't get too excited one way or the other yet. The Pac-12 and Big Ten alliance fell apart because of scheduling philosophical differences. This Big 12-ACC deal could as well. nnIn addition to the potential of an alliance, the Big 12 is exploring the possibility of a league championship game. Currently, NCAA rules state a conference must have 12 teams. But Big 12 commish Bob Bowlsby, whose league has just 10, said he might ask for an exemption."His thought is it's wise to do the NCAA stuff and have it in pocket in case there's a consensus to have [a championship]," Luck said. "Now, with the new playoff structure, is it wise to have one? Can it help or hurt?" Luck wouldn't disclose his stance, but it sounds as if he's against the idea."All agree it's smart to petition the NCAA," Luck said. "I'm not sure if I'm for or against a [league championship] game ... Of course, the NCAA may say no."nnWVU basketball coach Bob Huggins continues to struggle with his current team."I thought we had the pieces," he reiterated on Thursday.In a brief conversation, Huggins said a postseason shakeup is "a definite possibility." He said assistants Larry Harrison and Ronnie Everhart are looking hard at recruits, including those in junior colleges.Huggins has some nice power forwards in the fold for next season. Of course, he also needs shooters."[Recruit] Nathan Adrian can shoot it," said the Mountaineer coach. "He's a good player. And I like our two freshmen, Eron Harris and Terry Henderson. Terry's been hurt, though. He had a bad back, then came back and was dumped on it again."Morgantown High's Adrian, you might know, recently broke a bone in his foot and is out for 6-to-8 weeks.nnAnd finally ...If you read Dave Hickman's piece on WVU's football coaching salaries in today's Gazette, you might be surprised that Dana Holgorsen and his staff will be making almost $500,000 more next season.All I can figure is beer sales were very good at Milan Puskar Stadium last season.The upside of fans drowning their sorrows?Reach Mitch Vingle at 304-348-4827, email@example.com or follow him at twitter.com/MitchVingle. Story Share Story Share Trending Now 1 Facebook founder visits Cabin Creek Health Systems 2 Safety shutoff disabled prior to June coal-mining death, report says 3 Huggins, WVU tap South Florida hoops talent 4 Teen pleads guilty to voluntary manslaughter in Oakes Field shooting 5 WVU hopes to get injured defenders back for TCU Mountaineer football salaries raising by $475,000 Previous Story Some of state's top mat talent on display at MSAC wrestling tourney Next Story


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New Jersey vegetable growers report adequate labor so far this season, but probable shortages of blueberry pickers are causing widespread concern.
When facing the labor question, there's a significant gap between short-term and long-term answers, said Tom Sheppard, president of Cedarville, N.J.-based Eastern Fresh Growers Inc.
"As of now, we have enough guys here," he said. "We're a little nervous about the future."
The latest news out of Washington, D.C., is promising, Sheppard said, but it doesn't mean much until everyone signs on the dotted line.
"It looks good now, but what they do in conferences is different from what passes," he said. "They have to actually pass it."
Impact of health care, wage laws
Immigration reform isn't the only issue in Washington that will affect New Jersey growers' labor issues, Sheppard said. How the Affordable Care Act is implemented also could impact the labor situation.
As for the upcoming New Jersey referendum on raising the state's minimum wage, Sheppard said it should have little direct influence on Eastern Fresh.
"With H-2A, we're already above minimum wage," he said. "Most of our workers are above minimum wage, so it's not a terrible problem for us."
Harvesters who work on a per-piece scale, in particular, are well above minimum wage, he said.
Still, Sheppard said, if the minimum wage will be raised, it should be done at the federal level so states can't benefit when nearby states raise their minimum wages.
"It makes us less competitive with our neighbors," Sheppard said.
The prospect of a higher minimum wage in New Jersey has some growers worried, said Ben Casella, field representative for the New Jersey Farm Bureau, Trenton.
One of them is Jamie Graiff, a partner and sales manager of Newfield, N.J.-based Daniel Graiff Farms LLC.
"The minimum wage hike will be a large hit on us," he said.
Without even considering overtime pay, a higher minimum wage will likely cost Graiff Farms an extra $200,000 per year, Graiff said.
It's one of the reasons the company is investing in a new wash line for its 15,000-square-foot summer expansion.
"We're getting a little more automated so we don't have to rely on so many people."
Changing face of labor
Cedarville-based Nardelli Bros. Inc. has a core group of workers it can count on year in and year out, president Bill Nardelli said.
"We've very fortunate that we have a nucleus of people — second- and third-generation — who make their homes here."
The workers who come and go, however, are fewer and farther between, Nardelli said.
"The transient who went state to state (harvesting produce), then went back to Mexico. We don't see them like we did in the past."
Nardelli is optimistic the labor situation will stabilize in coming years.
"I'm encouraged that Congress is on the right path to getting a good policy enforced," he said. "We need people who are willing to do the physical labor of so many aspects of business.
"The average person doesn't realize that the people carrying lumber for housing, cooking in our restaurants and doing the laundry when we stay in a hotel (are immigrants). That's our work force, and not giving them a path to citizenship would be devastating to our economy."
As for those who think illegal immigrants are stealing jobs from American citizens, Nardelli has an answer for that.
"We get very few unemployed electricians who want to harvest peppers, or unemployed factory workers who are willing to harvest," he said.
Sufficient labor available for some
Casella agreed with Sheppard that there appears to be sufficient labor to pick the 2013 Jersey crops.
Graiff also is optimistic for his own farm, but he said for other Jersey growers, it could be a different story.
"We have a lot of guys who are year-round, but I hear there's definitely a shortage," he said. "It'll be interesting when the blueberry guys come in. They need a big work force. I think you could see a huge shortage."
John Formisano, president of Formisano Farms, Buena, N.J., agreed. One blueberry shipper Formisano knows needs 1,000 to 1,200 workers for harvest but last year got just 800. And this year isn't looking any better.
"I don't know what will happen when blueberries start," he said. "Right now it's alright. We're in good shape. I have some men who have worked for me for 40 years, but they're getting old like me."
Tim Wetherbee, sales manager for Diamond Blueberry Inc., Hammonton, N.J., which had labor shortages in 2012, said it was impossible to predict what exactly would happen this year.
"I'll believe it when I see it," he said. "When I see them in the yard, I'll feel better. We're cautiously optimistic."
The communications revolution has made it more difficult to predict what workers will do, Wetherbee said.
"Every worker has a cell phone now, and they're in constant contact all the time," he said. "If they think there's a better opportunity somewhere else, they'll go there."
Good growing weather and pollination thus far this season could bode well, Wetherbee said.
"If you have a good crop, and they can make money, they'll come."
Freshwave Fruit & Produce LLC, Vineland, N.J., also is keeping a wary eye on the labor situation this summer, said Skip Consalo, the company's president.
Blueberries are Freshwave's top crop, and the company has 35% more acreage this year.
Peach growers, Consalo said, are able to get a pretty good handle on labor, but blueberries require a lot of hands to get picked.
Jersey growers will keep battling it every year until Congress comes up with some kind of immigration reform, Consalo said.


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Frappés are back for the summer at LA Burdick for $7.50 each with a choice between milk or dark chocolate. I prefer the latter: the flavor is richer, almost heady, and more complex. The drinks are at an ideal intersection between icy and creamy, just thick enough to suck up through the thin straw. A scoop of whipped cream on top is a must. They're perfect plain, but the mix-ins ($.50) are just as fun. When they say banana, it's not banana syrup, but actual banana chunks blended into the frappé. The same goes for strawberry and even ginger, my personal favorite.
LA Burdick
5 East 20th Street, New York, NY 10003 (map)
About the author: Originally from Honolulu, Kathy YL Chan blogs at Kathy YL Chan, where she chronicles her eats and travel adventures between Hawai'i, New York and beyond. She firmly believes that there is always room for dessert.


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Halloween sales good at local party supply stores
Local party supply stores and seasonal shops are reporting good sales of skeletons, witches, ghosts, pumpkins and, of course, spider webs as well as other Halloween decorations this year.
Sales at PJ's Party Supply, located off North Interstate 35, are up from last year, said June Schiada, who owns the store with her husband.
One factor that has helped her business is two of the temporary stores — Voodoo Halloween and one by Party City — didn't open locations in Denton this year, she said.
"We're completely out of spider webs and normally that doesn't happen," she said. The sales volume has gone up, Schiada added.
The National Retail Federation reported that 170 million people plan to celebrate Halloween this year.
According to the Halloween consumer spending survey completed by the retail trade group, 71.5 percent of Americans will celebrate the holiday, up 68.6 percent from last year.
More than half will decorate their houses and yards, according to the survey, and 36.2 percent will throw or attend a party.
Consumers will spend an average of $79.82 on decorations, costumes and candy — up slightly from last year.
IBISWorld, an industry and market research company, reported the revenue from decoration sales will be $2.4 billion — an increase of 23.7 percent from the previous year.
In 2009, Halloween spending dipped but has increased again in the past few years. Card sales are the only area where spending decreased in 2012, according to the study from IBISWorld.
"We've almost sold out of our props," Schiada said.
Most of Schiada's customers tend to go for the scary decorations rather than the cute decorations that say "Happy Halloween," she said.
Schiada started putting out the Halloween items Aug. 1, which is earlier than in previous years. "It takes about three weeks to get everything out," she said.
Because of the reorganization of the store, it has been able to serve a larger variety of customers, whether it's for Halloween, fall or Thanksgiving decorations, she said.
Halloween and graduation are the biggest times for party supply stores, Schiada said.
Across town on the Square, Garden Gate offers more sweet and whimsical Halloween decorations, including witches, black cats, spiders, pumpkins and candy dishes.
The shop's Halloween decorations have been out since mid-September, said owner Traci Davis, who added that sales are looking good this year.
Halloween is going to spark this year's holiday shopping season, according to an eHoliday study conducted by Shop.org.
"Halloween is actually the second biggest holiday of the year," Davis said. Christmas is the shop's biggest holiday.
She will begin selling Christmas decorations during the holiday open house on the Square on Nov. 10 and 11, offering homemade punch, cookies and brownies.
According to the eHoliday survey, 50.1 percent of consumers polled will begin their holiday shopping online by Halloween. Another 43.2 percent will wait until they see the early promotions and start in November, the survey said.
Those polled said convenience was the main reason they would consider shopping online while others cited free shipping.
The eHoliday study, now in its 10th year, was conducted by BIGinsight for Shop.org, the digital division of the National Retail Federation.
The poll surveyed 2,988 consumers from Sept. 26 to Oct. 11 and 40 online retailers from Sept. 25 to Oct. 11.
Staff writer Karina Ramírez contributed to this report.
RACHEL MEHLHAFF can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is email@example.com.


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Hoping to play a major role in the continuing transformation of Los Angeles Unified, 15 candidates have filed to run for three school board seats, the first step in a high-stakes election expected to cost $10 million.
Two incumbents and seven challengers had qualified by Wednesday's 5 p.m. deadline to appear on the March 5 primary ballot. Six additional candidates also submitted petitions, which still must be verified by the City Clerk's Office. Officials have 10 days to verify whether each has the signatures of at least 500 registered voters from the candidate's district.
The school board race initially fielded 22 potential candidates who filed paperwork declaring their intent to run.
"Isn't it great that there is a challenge in every one of the three races, so the voters will have a choice?" said school board President Monica Garcia, who is seeking re-election to the Eastside district she's represented since 2006.
The seven-member school board sets policy for the nation's second-largest school district, a 700-square-mile expanse with more than 1,000 campuses. Members earn about $45,600 a year – $26,000 if they have another job.
Hoping to seat a candidate who will advance their vision, labor unions, political action groups and independent expenditure committees are expected to fill campaign coffers in what is predicted to be a costly – and nasty – election.
The race in Garcia's District 2 is expected to be the most expensive, with United Teachers Los Angeles reportedly vowing to spend $4 million to unseat her. Insiders say Garcia, a close political ally of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, will likely raise a similar amount.
Garcia's challengers include Robert Skeels, an education and social justice activist who mounted an unsuccessful recall campaign against Garcia last spring; and Isabel Vasquez, an administrator for LAUSD. Both of them have qualified for the ballot
Petitions also were submitted by high school teacher Abelardo Diaz, parent advocate Scott Folsom, teacher Annamarie Montanez and teacher Isabel Vasquez.
In District 4, incumbent Steve Zimmer will be facing three challengers as he seeks re-election to the area that encompasses Hollywood, the Westside and the southern swath of the San Fernando Valley.
Education advocate Kate Anderson, the mother of twin daughters, was the first candidate to qualify for the 2013 election. On Wednesday, petitions were submitted by minister Jeneen Robinson and school council administrator Samuel Paul Whitehead.
Zimmer, a former teacher and counselor, said he expects the election to include vigorous debate about very distinct visions and agendas around public education.
"There's a tone when people try to take out an incumbent, and I have illusions that folks are going to come at me," he said. "But I have no problem defending my record, and no one has ever questioned how hard I work."
Zimmer expects much of the campaign to focus on the charter schools movement in Los Angeles, including his controversial effort to create a strategy for managing its explosive growth.
"I've never been against charter schools," Zimmer said. "I'm against the idea that competition is the only lever for change and against the idea that you replace bad regulation with no regulation."
He also expects to focus his campaign on efforts to raise revenue for the cash-strapped district, and to broker a compromise between Los Angeles Unified and UTLA on a new performance evaluation.
"I believe in solving complex problems through coalition rather than holy war, that you accomplish more by working together than fighting each other," he said.
Anderson, a lawyer-turned-activist, said she wants to improve oversight of the district's finances and streamline the process for disciplining teachers suspected of misconduct.
She also hopes to bring another parent's voice to the board, with ideas for creating campuses where moms and dads want to send their kids. Her top priorities, she said, include increasing local control of schools, empowering decision makers and increasing parental involvement.
"The system doesn't do enough to support and celebrate teachers," she said.
CCSA Advocates, the political affiliate of the nonprofit California Charter Schools Association, is expected to weigh in with an endorsement and contributions.
"We care deeply about the composition of the school board in Los Angeles," said interim Executive Gary Borden. "We want a board that puts the interests of students first, and works to improve the academic achievement of kids in L.A.
"We have a strong interest in seeing board members with that frame of mind."
Four candidates had qualified to run for District 6 in the east San Fernando Valley, where board member Nury Martinez is running for the Los Angeles City Council.
They include Antonio Sanchez, another Villaraigosa ally who worked for the County Federation of Labor; advocate Maria Cano; fifth-grade teacher Monica Ratliff; and Ernie Cardenas, an engineer and brother of newly elected U.S. Rep. Tony Cardenas.
Iris Zuniga, chief operating officer for the nonprofit Youth Policy Institute, filed her petitions on Wednesday.
Late Wednesday, the House of Representatives from United Teachers Los Angeles voted on its endorsements.
The union leaders recommendation Diaz,Folsom, Montanez and Skeels in District 2; Zimmer in District 4; and Cano, Cardenes, Ratliff and Sanchez in District 6.
As he has in the past, Villaraigosa is expected to play a major role in supporting candidates whose visions of education reform mirror his own.
Even though his tenure as the city's top elected official will end as the new school board terms begin, Villaraigosa will offer his political and financial clout to candidates with visions similar to his own.
"Regardless of whether Antonio Villaraigosa is an elected official or a private citizen, he will be involved in reforming the education system," said political consultant Michael Trujillo, who has worked for the mayor in the past.
"It's the public education system that gave him a second chance, and he's determined to give kids the same opportunities by which they can succeed."
This story has been revised from an earlier version to include updated information from the City Clerk's Office and UTLA.


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Ooh Arr-duino
Santa this year was very generous to my son and gifted him with a Maverick Atom XT RTR 1/18 Electric 4WD Truggy but failed to mention that the batteries that came with it could only be left in the charger for 6 hours, no longer. With grave warnings about explosions and fire, I tried to find an egg-timer on a socket kind of solution, but could not find anything that would go beyond 4 hours.
So what is a tinkerer to do? He makes one himself! ;)
A long time ago I bought an Arduino, but never really got any further with it than a blinking RGB led. Now I finally found a purpose for it :) I was going to build an Arduino controlled timer socket!
All I needed now were some kind of relay, some sockets, a few buttons and a way of letting
the user my son know what the time was set to and if it was on or not. I ended up with a Ciseco Arduino Relay Shield, two Maplin push-to-make switches, a DFRobot I2C 16×2 LCD and a Maplin project box big enough to fit it all in
First a small word of warning. You are dealing with MAINS voltage, which can be lethal if you fool around. DO NOT EVER! connect the bits to mains power when parts of it are exposed. You've been warned
I started off with a small mockup of materials and then got my trusty Dremel clone out and started cutting away at the project case.
First off is the socket in which the battery charger can be plugged. A small template on paper is by far the easiest way to make sure you don't cut out too much behind the socket
With the socket in place, I created the template for the LCD. I took my time with this, as I didn't want to cut out too much. A lot of careful sanding ensured that only the black part would be visible, and nothing else. Then with the help of some small bolts and nuts, I created some spacers, enabling the LCD to sit nicely in the cutout. Lots of hotglue completes the mounting
The buttons only required some measuring to make sure they are neatly symetric and do not interfere with the LCD
All that remains is the IEC socket where the power will go into the project box
Now with everything in place, all we need to do is connect the components together with some wire using the below schematic
Warm up the soldering iron and just follow the diagram. As my soldering skills are not that great, I also used a bit of heatshrink here and there to make sure that wires could not short on each other :)
I'm using an old iPhone charger to power the Arduino as it provides a neat 5V/1A, with a small retractable USB lead with a Type A to B converter. A quick test of the wiring to make sure it all works as planned
Now with construction over, it was time to do the Arduino coding. The LCD uses the LiquidCrystal I2C library which takes care of all the hard work interfacing to it. Likewise, the Metro library takes care of the timer. So, it is just a simple case of increasing the clock by an hour every time the red button is pressed, and starting the timer when the green button is pressed. Once the timer is running, any button press will stop the timer and reset the state to the beginning.
// Arduino controlled timer socket // (CC BY) 2011 // http://awooga.nl // pull in libraries #include <Wire.h> #include <LiquidCrystal_I2C.h> #include <Metro.h> // arduino pins constants #define RELAY 2 // black wire connected to input on shield #define RED 6 // green wire #define GREEN 7 // white wire // i2c pin A5 = white wire // i2c pin A4 = green wire // allow between 1 and 6 hours #define MINIMUM_TIME 1 #define DEFAULT_TIME 6 #define MAXIMUM_TIME 6 const unsigned long MILLISECONDS=1; const unsigned long SECONDS=(1000*MILLISECONDS); const unsigned long MINUTES=(60*SECONDS); const unsigned long HOURS=(60*MINUTES); const unsigned long DAYS=(24*HOURS); const unsigned long UNITS=HOURS; // prgram states #define IDLE 0 #define RED_BUTTON 1 #define GREEN_BUTTON 2 #define MENU 3 #define PAUSE 4 #define STOP_TIMER 5 #define CANCEL_TIMER 6 // global variables byte events; byte countdowntime; boolean menu_running; boolean timer_running; boolean debug = false; byte currentRed = LOW; byte currentGreen = LOW; byte previousRed = LOW; byte previousGreen = LOW; // set the LCD address to 0x27 for the 16x2 display LiquidCrystal_I2C lcd(0x27, 16, 2); // initiate Metro object Metro relayMetro = Metro(0, true); // arduino setup routine void setup() { // set the arduino pins pinMode(RELAY, OUTPUT); pinMode(RED, INPUT); pinMode(GREEN, INPUT); // initialise the lcd lcd.init(); lcd.backlight(); // activate debugging on the serial port if (debug) { Serial.begin(9600); Serial.println("Lets go!"); } // initialise variables events = IDLE; countdowntime = DEFAULT_TIME; menu_running = false; timer_running = false; digitalWrite(RELAY, LOW); } // arduino loop routine void loop() { switch (events) { case IDLE: events = Idling(); break; case MENU: events = MainMenu(); break; case RED_BUTTON: events = RedButton(); break; case GREEN_BUTTON: events = GreenButton(); break; case PAUSE: events = Pause(); break; case STOP_TIMER: events = StopTimer(); break; case CANCEL_TIMER: events = CancelTimer(); break; default: events = IDLE; break; } } int MainMenu() { if (timer_running) { return IDLE; } if (menu_running) { return IDLE; } if (debug) { Serial.println("MainMenu()"); } lcd.clear(); lcd.print(" Red: Set time"); lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("Green: Go ("); lcd.print(countdowntime, DEC); if (countdowntime == 1) { lcd.print("hr)"); } else { lcd.print("hrs)"); } menu_running = true; return IDLE; } int Idling() { boolean do_red = false; boolean do_green = false; if (timer_running) { if (relayMetro.check()) { return STOP_TIMER; } } currentRed = digitalRead(RED); currentGreen = digitalRead(GREEN); if (currentRed != previousRed) { do_red = (currentRed == HIGH); } previousRed = currentRed; if (currentGreen != previousGreen) { do_green = (currentGreen == HIGH); } previousGreen = currentGreen; if ((do_red) && (!do_green)) { return RED_BUTTON; } if ((!do_red) && (do_green)) { return GREEN_BUTTON; } // all other button combinations are ignored return MENU; } int RedButton() { if (debug) { Serial.println("RedButton()"); } if (timer_running) { return CANCEL_TIMER; } if (++countdowntime > MAXIMUM_TIME) { countdowntime = MINIMUM_TIME; } lcd.clear(); lcd.print("Time set to"); lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print(countdowntime, DEC); if (countdowntime == 1) { lcd.print(" hour"); } else { lcd.print(" hours"); } menu_running = false; return PAUSE; } int GreenButton() { if (debug) { Serial.println("GreenButton()"); } if (timer_running) { return CANCEL_TIMER; } lcd.clear(); lcd.print("Running timer"); lcd.setCursor(0, 1); lcd.print("for "); lcd.print(countdowntime, DEC); if (countdowntime == 1) { lcd.print(" hour"); } else { lcd.print(" hours"); } unsigned long t = countdowntime * UNITS; timer_running = true; if (debug) { Serial.print("Setting metro for "); Serial.print(t); Serial.println(" seconds"); } relayMetro.interval(t); digitalWrite(RELAY, HIGH); return IDLE; } int StopTimer() { if (debug) { Serial.println("StopTimer()"); } digitalWrite(RELAY, LOW); lcd.clear(); lcd.print("Timer finished"); timer_running = false; menu_running = false; relayMetro.reset(); return PAUSE; } int CancelTimer() { if (debug) { Serial.println("CancelTimer()"); } digitalWrite(RELAY, LOW); lcd.clear(); lcd.print("Timer stopped"); timer_running = false; menu_running = false; relayMetro.reset(); return PAUSE; } int Pause() { delay(1000); return IDLE; }
Or just download the .pde file here
Obviously you can go all crazy with options and clocks, but I just wanted something quick and working. Changing the code to do all that is just a matter of opening it up, and uploading the new software.
And just to prove it is all working, here's a small video demonstration. It doesn't show the timer ending, you just have to take my word on that :D


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- Date: March 5, 2013 PIO Number: 13-3-2
10 a.m. Friday, March 8, 2013
Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Amaturo Theatre
201 S.W. 5th Ave., Fort Lauderdale
Broward Sheriff Scott Israel will promote 66 employees Friday morning at a ceremony at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. It will be the largest such ceremony in the agency's history.
There will be one person promoted to the rank of colonel, three to lieutenant colonel, six to major, 18 to captain, 14 to lieutenant and 18 to sergeant. Six civilian employees will be promoted, as well. The promotions will be made in the departments of law enforcement and detention.
"It's my honor to promote these deserving employees who will play a key role in the future of BSO," Sheriff Scott Israel said. "The number of collective years of law enforcement experience that will walk across the stage during this ceremony is impressive."
The 66 promotional candidates have about 1,200 collective years of experience in law enforcement.
Media note: For a complete list of employees being promoted, contact BSO's public information office.
Dani Moschella/PIO
Posted At: 03/05/2013 04:57 PM
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Public Education
Spay Neuter
Emergency Medical Fund
Reduce Animal Euthanizing
Investigative Arm
Lobby Advocate
Increase Adoption Rates
Volunteer Program
Critter Camp
Animal Sanctuary
Thank You!
Your message has been sent to Humane Society of Northern Utah.
You'll receive a copy, too, at to help you keep track of which pets you've inquired about, and which shelters and rescues you've emailed.
NOTE: Some shelters have physical locations you can visit; some of these shelters may only have pets for a limited time, so please do not wait for a reply—just go visit the shelter! Other organizations are rescue groups run by busy volunteers who may take a while to reply. You can find information about the shelter or rescue group caring for this pet, and their adoption procedures, on the pet's details page on Adopt-a-Pet.com.


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Following recent development globally, the Nigeria Computer Society (NCS) reassured Nigerians on the efficacy of information technology (IT) tools in solving the country's challenges in e-government and national security, writes Emma Okonji.
Nigeria is faced with several challenges, and prominent among them are those associated with e-government and national security, access to government activities remained difficult, coupled with the rising cases of national insecurity across the country.
With the conference theme: e-Government and National Security, and with a firm belief that appropriate IT tools can address the country's pressing challenges, NCS, at its international conference, focused attention on how IT tools could be used to boost government activities by putting them online, as well as how IT tools could be used to occupy idle youths, that have decided to embrace violence in the country.
Paper presentations were geared towards modern IT solutions that can block leakages in government, make government activities more attractive and accessible, and gainfully engage restless youths in web application development that will contribute to the growth of the country's Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
Poverty Alleviation The problem of poverty, slow pace of development, high rate of unemployment, food insecurity, environmental challenges, and security issues are serious problems in most developing countries like Nigeria, and the intent of the conference was to discuss vigorously, well researched subjects, loaded with the potentials of addressing the multifaceted developmental challenges, to enhance technological growth, and sustainable development in a way to stimulate generation of policies for good governance. These were the views of the Chairman, Conferences Committee at NCS, Prof. Sola Aderounmu, while addressing audience at the conference.
According to him, "There is need for increased awareness among Nigerians on the importance of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), which is a device for hardware, software, people, policies, and procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store, and revoke digital certificates. He insisted that if the appropriate technology tools were deployed in these areas, it would create jobs, build trust in the use of IT tools in online transactions and as well reduce unemployment and poverty level in the country.
Local Content and National Security Immediate past President of NCS, Mr. Demola Aladekomo who spoke on local content and national security, said one million jobs could be created in five years, using IT tools. " In the past two years, more than 250 , 000 jobs have been created through the cashless initiative of the Central Bank f Nigeria (CBN), and that is a good example of what IT can do for Nigeria," he said. Canvassing the domestication of local content policy in IT, Aladekomo said the federal government needed to domesticate its policies to address local content in IT, where Nigerians will have opportunity to explore their technology skills.
On the issue of security challenges in the country, Aladekomo said the challenges would be best tackled with good policies that would address the right PKI.
According to him, social security would be best addressed using PKI. He hailed the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) for adopting PKI as a standard for the country.
Nigeria, he said, had done very well in the area of e-governance but not in the area of implementation, but much advocacy is going on to boost e- governance in the country.
"The Ministry of Communications Technology is however, implementing some IT policies through the creation of IT parks and incubation centres.
With the policies that are in place and with the implementation process that is ongoing, I can say Nigeria has done well in the area of e-governance," Aladekomo said.
Ministry's Approach to e-Government Speaking on government's commitment to e-government, the Minister of Communications Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said the Ministry's approach to e-government remained the building block approach.
First of all, we have the ongoing development of a robust, secure and shared IT infrastructure managed by Galaxy Backbone Plc., which serves as the platform through which e-government services are deployed. This infrastructure is certified at the ISO 27001 standard in information security management and enables us to take advantage of economies of scale - removing the duplication in IT infrastructure, especially data centres, across ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) of government and creating centres of excellence for skills. Galaxy Backbone's shared infrastructure recently won first place at the 2013 UN public service award in promoting the "Whole of Government Approaches in the Information age" category - a testimony and a validation of the appropriateness of this approach, Johnson said.
The second building block according to her, had to do with skills and talent to manage the effective and efficient deployment of a substantial IT budget. Government is not immune to the poor supply of skills and talent to the industry. This challenge is further compounded by the dispersal of our IT skills and talent across the various MDAs with little knowledge of the available skills and capacity and few opportunities for taking advantage of inherent IT synergies, the minister said.
She added government was working to professionalise the pool of IT skills in the federal government, and that ICT cadre had been established to be domiciled in the ministry of communications technology, allowing for the development of a highly qualified IT workforce within government.
IT and Cost-saving Pleased that the deployment of IT in governance could help block leakages and generate more money for government, Johnson revealed in her speech that the federal government was able to save approximately N119 billion through the deployment of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs).
She said the ministry was able to turnaround the industry in just two years of its existence by focusing on ICT in government as one of its four pillars of focus, and that the deployment of e-government in governance, helped the federal government to save approximately N119 billion so far.
The minister described e-government as the use of ICTs by government agencies to transform and improve the traditional government to business (G2B) and government to citizens (G2C) interactions.
Former President of NCS, Don Etiebet, said NCS remained a good platform for government to maximise profit, through the use of appropriate technologies.
According to him, "The N119 billion saved by the federal government through the use of ICTs is just the beginning of huge savings the government could make if government establishes the use of ICT in all aspect of governance."
Global e-Government Ranking According to the Executive Director, Development Information Network, Mr. Bola Olubamise, the 2012 United Nations e-government survey rankings, showed that the Republic of Korea was the world leader in e-government, followed by the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Denmark, with the United States, Canada, France, Norway, Singapore and Sweden following close behind.
He said the steady improvement in all the indicators of the e-government development index, led to a world average of 0.4877 per cent penetration as compared with 0.4406 per cent penetration in 2010. This reflects that countries in general have improved their online service delivery to cater to citizens' needs.
On a regional level, he pointed out that Eastern Asia topped in e-government penetration followed by Northern America, South Asia, and Africa.
"Despite progress, there remains an imbalance in the digital divide between developed and the developing countries, especially in Africa. The latter region had a mean e-government development index of about 30 per cent of Northern America and about half of the world average. The digital divide is rooted in the lack of e-infrastructure, which has hindered information-use and knowledge-creation," Olubamise said.
E-Government in Nigeria According to Olubamise, "Among countries with the highest population, where Nigeria definitely features, our e-government ranking is not too encouraging, with a ranking of 7 out of 10 high population countries. The most surprising is the African ranking, where Nigeria does not even feature in the top 10."
This is a challenge for the entire industry as well as for the government, especially the ministry, where leadership is expected to fast-track the adoption of e-government frameworks and solutions at MDAs at the Federal, state and local government levels.
He said NITDA commissioned an e-government framework project in 2010 to provide the necessary framework for building a functional e-government platform on which the country' s vision of making Nigeria rank among the top 20 e-government nation by the year 2020.
He explained that by 2015, the World Summit on Information Society would hold a review conference to assess how far the countries of the world have gone in implementing strategies towards a ubiquitous and inclusive information society.


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SAN FRANCISCO -- Hunter Pence's pregame speeches helped push the Giants to a World Series title last October. On Friday, the speeches were directed at Pence.
The right fielder won the "Willie Mac" Award, given annually to the most inspirational player on the team, as voted upon by Giants players, coaches, trainers, fans and Willie McCovey, a Hall of Famer.
"This year's winner is one of my favorite players," McCovey said. "He comes to the park, works hard and plays every day. He plays every inning of every game."
Pence, acquired at the trade deadline in July 2012, has made 169 consecutive starts, the second-longest streak in the majors. He has missed just 16 defensive innings this season.
"I have two goals: To go hard and to love every minute of it," Pence said during a short speech. "God, you didn't bless me with grace and very much style. But thank you for giving me heart and a chance."
Pence is on track to become the first Giant to start 162 games. The last Giant to start every game was Alvin Dark, who took the field all 154 times in 1954.
"He's really amazing," manager Bruce Bochy said. "I don't know another player that I've ever had that played every game, and not just played, but played the way he plays with that intensity. He's so popular in the clubhouse. He's a baseball player. He just loves the game. The passion is there, and he doesn't back off."
The busy season has done little to hurt Pence's production. He's hitting .282 with 25 homers and 93 RBIs, and he ranks sixth in the majors with 45 second-half RBIs. Since the All-Star break, Pence is hitting .313.
Pence, 30, was honored during a ceremony that included many past winners, including current teammates Andres Torres, Matt Cain, Ryan Vogelsong and Buster Posey. Pence thanked his teammates for their support.
"It's tough to really quantify how much this means to me in my heart," Pence said. "I've never been one for awards, and it's tough for me to really say thanks. But my heart has never felt better than when my teammates put me up here today. I love every minute with you guys, and I tell you that every day. Buster, I know you don't like it when I say I love you. You think it's soft, but I actually think it's the strongest thing you've got."
For more on the Giants, see Alex Pavlovic's Giants Extra blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/Giants. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/AlexPavlovic.
San Diego (Eric Stults 10-13)
at Giants (Yusmeiro Petit 4-0),
1:05 p.m. CSNBA


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Our philosophy is to provide our patients with the safest, most advanced, and most predictable results in a personalized, discrete and caring environment. We strive to treat every patient as a member of our practice family and to exceed their expectations with a favorable outcome.
Monday through Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm Monday through Thursday 9:00am - 5:00pm Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm Friday 2:00pm - 6:00pm
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We offer a full spectrum of both surgical and non-surgical treatment options for plastic surgery related problems. Our emphasis is on what the patient's realistic goals are and how to best meet them in a safe and predictable manner. We do not promise nor guarantee unrealistic results but to strive to achieve better then expected outcomes without significant complications. Adequate time is alloted at the time of your initial consultation to explain the pertinent issues and reasonable alternative treatments, risks, benefits, and postoperative course are explained before surgery to minimize fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. We find that an informed patient is our best customer and this helps to insure that both doctor and patient are in agreement before treatment is rendered. The patient is encouraged to ask questions or to speak with prior patients if desired. The office staff is always available to answer additional inquiries after the initial consultation. Above all we want the patient to be comfortable with their choice of surgeon and treatment.
Minor surgery is often done in the office in a comfortable setting. More extensive surgery is performed at local hospitals as either ambulatory or inpatient procedures with a board certified anesthesiologist present.
- Brown University 1982 - 1986
- M.D - Cornell University Medical College 1986 - 1990
- General Surgery Residency - Albert Einstein/Montefiore Medical 1990 - 1994
- Plastic Surgery Residency - Nassau County Medical Center 1994 - 1996
- Hand Surgery - Baylor College of Medicine 1996 - 1997
- American Board of Plastic Surgery 1999
- American Board of Plastic Surgery 2009
- American Society of Plastic Surgeons
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- New York Regional Society of Plastic Surgeons
- New York Society for Surgery of the Hand
- Fellow, American College of Surgeons
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- Connecticut Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
- Manhattan Eye, Ear, and Throat Hospital, New York, NY
- Greenwich Hospital, Greenwich, CT
- Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, NY
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A CARE home says it has employed extra workers after concerns were raised about the staffing levels.
Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors visited the Bridge House in Thames View, Abingdon, in March after the family of one of the residents lodged a complaint.
Relatives of 87-year-old dementia sufferer Margaret Bott, who was at the home from January to March, claim she wasn't given the level of care they expected and was regularly having falls, causing bruises.
Mrs Bott's daughter Christine Friend, 56, of East Hagbourne, said: "Every time we went there, there seemed to be something else."
Mrs Bott has since been living with husband Alfred Bott, 82, in their home in Marcham. He said: "Every time we went there there was something wrong."
Independent inspectors made an unannounced visit to the 71-bedroom home in March.
The CQC report, published last month, found the home met all expected standards for respect, care, safety, and management – but highlighted staffing as a concern. On the day of the inspection there were 45 residents and nine care workers on duty, including two nurses.
The report author said: "There were not enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet people's needs."
Spokesman for the home David Madden said: "We have undertaken a range of actions to address the points raised, including freeing up carers' time by reallocating some duties to domestic staff and introducing team leaders to enable all colleagues to work effectively in dedicated teams.
"We have recruited additional care staff, which ensures we continue to have the appropriate staffing to meet increasing occupancy levels."


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WITH the overthrow of the Marcos regime came the discovery of treasure and one of the world's largest collections of designer shoes. When Saddam Hussein fell the populace discovered artworks, cash and gold-plated guns.
Now, with the discredited administration of the Health Services Union facing possible criminal charges, incoming officials are planning a sale of unusual assets accumulated under the leadership of general secretary Michael Williamson.
Items up for auction include television studio equipment, paintings and an extensive collection of sporting memorabilia, one of Mr Williamson's interests. A Donald Bradman bat and signed David Beckham jersey are among the items.
Mr Hayes may have had a head start in getting to the bottom of what the 30,000-member union owns. Before being elected secretary last month, he was pulling in a salary of $195,000 working under Mr Williamson.
With the former boss facing 20 criminal charges, Mr Hayes says it was time to dispose of some things bought during the Williamson era, including the sporting memorabilia.
''You always knew this stuff was there. But the administration of the day determines what goes on,'' Mr Hayes said.
The sporting memorabilia was acquired over the past five years, ''probably at auctions or fundraisers'', Mr Hayes said. ''But there are no receipts or anything along those lines; we have no account for it anywhere.''
Among the sporting items are a ''Greats of 48'' corner bat cabinet, which has a full-size bat engraved with the names of 10 of the members from the undefeated Australia cricket team of the 1948 tour of England. It also has 10 signed signature cards, including Don Bradman's. Its estimated value is $5000.
A framed Sir Donald Bradman mini-bat included in the collection is valued at $2000.
In a bid to put a line under the union's year in the headlines over alleged corruption and misuse of union dues, Mr Hayes said there will be a widespread sale of assets in the new year.
The union owns two floors of office space at 109 Pitt Street, and a warehouse in Waterloo.
''We own the television studio, too. That is going to be liquidated,'' said Mr Hayes, of a production suite on the Pitt Street office's eighth floor. ''It's basically a large office with state-of-the-art green screens, autocues, all that sort of stuff.''
Mr Hayes said he would seek advice about how the union could realise the best prices when it sells the properties, and the sporting paraphernalia. ''Quite frankly I don't know what some of this stuff is worth.''
The former paramedic won't have it all his way. Already opposing him over some of the planned sales is Katrina Hart, Mr Hayes's opponent in the recent union elections.
Ms Hart said: ''Exactly what is the motive behind the sale of head office? If the motive is to reduce financial liability, then it would be good governance to investigate the sale of other properties [the union owns] before head office.''
She argues the plan to move the union's offices to Paramatta has more to do with Mr Hayes's Labor Party links (his brother Chris is a federal MP in Sydney's south-west).
But Mr Hayes said there was no need for the office to be in the CBD, as much of its membership works and lives in suburban Sydney, particularly in the west. ''We don't need to be in the big end of town,'' he said.


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The Horrorist Live – Halle, Germany 2008 from thingstocome on Vimeo.
Often a promoter from an event I am booked to play will ask me to do an anthem. Sometimes they want to post the song on their website before of after the gig. Other times they are doing a CD for the event and want a song with the event's name in it to kick it off.
A few weeks ago I played in East Germany at the Alte Lampenfabrik for an event called Ton Aus Strom. It was there 10 Year anniversary party. As part of the plan they recorded my set direct from the mixing console. I started my show with an anthem for them. I did some screaming, pitchshifting and beat shuffling. Some of the vocals… "Ton Aus Strom" "Take Over!" "East Germany!" "Deutschland!"
Ton Aus Strom Anthem by The Horrorist is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 Unported License.


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Glutamine is the most abundant amino acid (building block of protein) in the body. The body can make enough glutamine for its regular needs, but during times of extreme stress (the kind you would experience after very heavy exercise or an injury), your body may need more glutamine than it can make. Most glutamine is stored in muscles followed by the lungs, where much of the glutamine is made.
Glutamine is important for removing excess ammonia (a common waste product in the body). It also helps your immune system function and may be needed for normal brain function and digestion.
You can usually get enough glutamine without taking a supplement, because your body makes it and you get some in your diet. Certain medical conditions, including injuries, surgery, infections, and prolonged stress, can lower glutamine levels. In these cases, taking a glutamine supplement may be helpful.
Woundhealing and recovery from illness
When the body is stressed (from injuries, infections, burns, trauma, or surgical procedures), it releases the hormone cortisol into the bloodstream. High levels of cortisol can lower your body's stores of glutamine. Several studies show that adding glutamine to enteral nutrition (tube feeding) helps reduce the rate of death in trauma and critically ill people. Clinical studies have found that glutamine supplements strengthen the immune system and reduce infections (particularly infections associated with surgery). Glutamine may help prevent or treat multiple organ dysfunction after shock or other injuries among patients in the intensive care unit. Glutamine supplements may also help in the recovery of severe burns.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
Glutamine helps protect the lining of the gastrointestinal tract known as the mucosa. For that reason, some researchers believe that people who have IBD (ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease) may not have enough glutamine. However, 2 clinical trials found that taking glutamine supplements did not improve symptoms of Crohn's disease. More research is needed. In the meantime, ask your doctor when deciding whether to use glutamine for IBD.
People with HIV or AIDS often experience severe weight loss (particularly loss of muscle mass). A few studies of people with HIV and AIDS have found that taking glutamine supplements, along with other important nutrients, including vitamins C and E, beta-carotene, selenium, and N-acetylcysteine, may increase weight gain and help the intestines better absorb nutrients.
Athletes who train for endurance events (like marathons) may reduce the amount of glutamine in their bodies. It's common for them to catch a cold after an athletic event. Some experts think that may be because of the role glutamine plays in the immune system. For this select group of athletes, one study showed that taking glutamine supplements resulted in fewer infections. The same is not true, however, for exercisers who work out at a moderate intensity.
Many people with cancer have low levels of glutamine. For this reason, some researchers speculate that glutamine may be helpful when added to conventional cancer treatment for some people. Supplemental glutamine is often given to malnourished cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments and sometimes used in patients undergoing bone marrow transplants. (See Interactions below.)
Glutamine seems to help reduce stomatitis (an inflammation of the mouth) caused by chemotherapy. Some studies, but not all, have suggested that taking glutamine orally may help reduce diarrhea associated with chemotherapy.
More clinical research is needed to know whether glutamine is safe or effective to use as part of the treatment regimen for cancer.
Dietary sources of glutamine include plant and animal proteins such as beef, pork and poultry, milk, yogurt, ricotta cheese, cottage cheese, raw spinach, raw parsley, and cabbage.
Glutamine, usually in the form of L-glutamine, is available by itself or as part of a protein supplement. These come in powder, capsule, tablet, or liquid form.
Standard preparations are typically available in 500 mg tablets or capsules.
Take glutamine with cold or room temperature foods or liquids. It should not be added to hot beverages because heat destroys glutamine.
For children 10 years and younger: Do not give glutamine to a child unless your doctor recommends it as part of a complete amino acid supplement.
For adults ages 18 and older: Doses of 500 mg, 1 - 3 times daily, are generally considered safe. Doses as high as 5,000 - 15,000 mg daily (in divided doses), or sometimes higher, may be prescribed by a health care provider for certain conditions.
Because of the potential for side effects and interactions with medications, you should take dietary supplements only under the supervision of a knowledgeable health care provider.
Glutamine appears to be safe in doses up to 14 g or higher per day, but you should only take doses this high under the supervision of a health care provider.
Glutamine powder should not be added to hot beverages because heat destroys this amino acid. Glutamine supplements should also be kept in a dry location.
People with kidney disease, liver disease, or Reye syndrome (a rare, sometimes fatal disease of childhood that is generally associated with aspirin use) should not take glutamine.
Many elderly people have decreased kidney function and may need to reduce the dose of glutamine.
Glutamine is different from glutamate (glutamic acid), monosodium glutamate, and gluten. Glutamine should not cause symptoms (headaches, facial pressure, tingling, or burning sensation) associated with sensitivity to monosodium glutamate. People who are gluten sensitive can use glutamine without problems. However, some people may be sensitive to glutamine, which is completely separate from gluten.
If you are currently being treated with any of the following medications, you should not use glutamine supplements without first talking to your health care provider.
Cancer therapy -- Some people suggest that glutamine may increase the effectiveness and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy treatments with doxorubicin, methotrexate, and 5-fluorouracil in people with colon cancer. Preliminary studies suggest that glutamine supplements may prevent nerve damage associated with a medication called paclitaxel, used for breast and other types of cancers.
However, laboratory studies suggest that glutamine may actually stimulate growth of tumors. More research is needed before researchers can determine whether it is safe to use glutamine if you have cancer. If you are receiving chemotherapy, you should never add supplements to your regimen without consulting your physician.
Abcouwer SF. The effects of glutamine on immune cells [editorial]. Nutrition. 2000;16(1):67-69.
Agostini F, Giolo G. Effect of physical activity on glutamine metabolism. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2010; 13(1):58-64.
Akobeng AK, Miller V, Stanton J, Elbadri AM, Thomas AG. Double-blind randomized controlled trial of glutamine-enriched polymeric diet in the treatment of active Crohn's disease. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2000;30(1):78-84.
Antoon AY, Donovan DK. Burn Injuries. In: Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Philadelphia, Pa: W.B. Saunders Company; 2000:287-294.
Avenell A. Symposium 4: Hot topics in parenteral nutrition Current evidence and ongoing trials on the use of glutamine in critically-ill patients and patients undergoing surgery. Proc Nutr Soc. 2009 Jun 3:1-8. [Epub ahead of print]
Buchman AL. Glutamine: commercially essential or conditionally essential? A critical appraisal of the human data. Am J Clin Nutr. 2001;74(1):25-32.
Clark RH, Feleke G, Din M, et al. Nutritional treatment for acquired immunodeficiency virus-associated wasting using beta-hydroxy-beta-methylbutyrate, glutamine, and arginine: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled study. JPEN: J Parenter Enteral Nutr. 2000;24(3):133-139.
Daniele B, Perrone F, Gallo C, et al. Oral glutamine in the prevention of fluorourcil induced intestinal toxicity: a double blind, placebo controlled, randomized trial. Gut. 2001;48:28-33.
Decker GM. Glutamine: indicated in cancer care? Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2002;6(2):112-115.
Fan YP, Yu JC, Kang WM, Zhang Q. Effects of glutamine supplementation on patients undergoing abdominal surgery. Chin Med Sci J. 2009 Mar;24(1):55-9.
Field CJ, Johnson IR, Schley PD. Nutrients and their role in host resistance to infection. J Leukoc Biol. 2002 Jan;71(1):16-32.
Furukawa S. Saito H, Inoue T, et al. Supplemental glutamine augments phagocytosis and reactive oxygen intermediate production by neutrophils and monocytes from postoperative patients in vitro. Nutrition. 2000;1695):323-329.
Garlick PJ. Assessment of the safety of glutamine and other amino acids.J Nutr. 2001 Sep;131(9 Suppl):2556S-61S. [Review].
Greenlee H, Hershman DL, Jacobson JS. Use of antioxidant supplements during breast cancer treatment: a comprehensive review. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2009 Jun;115(3):437-52. Epub 2008 Oct 7.
Grimm H, Kraus A. Immunonutrition--supplementary amino acids and fatty acids ameliorate immune deficiency in critically ill patients. Langenbecks Arch Surg. 2001 Aug;386(5):369-376.
Kuhn K. Glutamine as indispensible nutrient in oncology: experimental and clinical evidence. Eur J Nutr. 2010; 49(4):197-210.
Lecleire S, Hassan A, Marion-Letellier R, Antonietti M, Savoye G, et al. Combined glutamine and arginine decrease proinflammatory cytokine production by biopsies from Crohn's patients in association with changes in nuclear factor-kappaB and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways. J Nutr. 2008 Dec;138(12):2481-6.
Medina MA. Glutamine and cancer. J Nutr. 2001;131(9 Suppl):2539S-2542S; discussion 2550S-2551S.
Murray SM, Pindoria S. Nutrition support for bone marrow transplant patients. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2009 Jan 21;(1):CD002920. Review.
Neu J, DeMarco V, Li N. Glutamine: clinical applications and mechanism of action. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care. 2002;5(1):69-75
Rakel D. Integrative Medicine, 3nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders, An Imprint of Elsevier; 2012.
Reeds PJ, Burrin DG. Glutamine and the bowel. J Nutr. 2001;131(9 Suppl):2505S-8S.
Vahdat L, Papadopoulos K, Lange D, et al. Reduction of paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy with glutamine. Clin Cancer Res. 2001;7(5):1192-1197.
van Stijn MF, Ligthart-Melis GC, Boelens PG, Scheffer PG, Teerlink T, et al. Antioxidant enriched enteral nutrition and oxidative stress after major gastrointestinal tract surgery. World J Gastroenterol. 2008 Dec 7;14(45):6960-9.
Weitzel L, Wischmeyer P. Glutamine in Critical Illness: The Time Has Come, The Time Is Now. Critical Care Clinics. 2010;26(3).
Wilmore DW. The effect of glutamine supplementation in patients following elective surgery and accidental injury. [Review]. J Nutr. 2001;131(9 Suppl):2543S-9S; discussion 2550S-1S.
Ziegler TR. Glutamine supplementation in cancer patients receiving bone marrow transplantation and high dose chemotherapy. [Review]. J Nutr. 2001;131(9 Suppl):2578S-84S; discussion 2590S.
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Jay and MaryMath brain teasers require computations to solve.
Jay and Mary are playing cards for a stake of a dollar a game. At the end of the evening, Jay has won 3 games and Mary has won $3.
How many games did they play?
AnswerThey played 9 games.
(Jay won 3 games, and Mary won 6 games.)
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Graphic novel superstar is ready for battle...
For a great selection of film, comic and TV action figures and collectibles, check out BigBadToyStore.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, PastGenerationToys.com, Urban-Collector.com, MonkeyDepot.com, HobbyLinkJapan.com, and Sekaido.com.
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with our sponsor Collectibles Insurance.
Mezco Toyz presents a new 6 inch figure of Scott Pilgrim based on the character from the popular Universal Pictures feature film Scott Pilgrim vs. the World and the chart topping series of graphic novels.
Meet charming and jobless Scott Pilgrim; a bass guitarist for garage band Sex Bob-omb. The 22-year-old has just met the girl of his dreams...literally. The only catch to winning Ramona Flowers? Her seven evil exes are coming to kill him.
Mezcos 6 figure captures the wide-eyed enthusiasm and quirky nature of Scott Pilgrim and features 8 points of articulation. To help capture the many looks of Scott Pilgrim, there are 2 separate figures; the first figure wears a green shirt and comes with a closed mouth head. The second in a yellow shirt comes wearing a jacket and has 50/50 pack of the open mouth/closed mouth head. Both variations will come with the sword and guitar.
Each individually packaged. Available at finer retailers in April 2011.
Source: Edited Mezco PR


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Corn futures held up surprisingly well in the wake of the Thursday morning USDA Export Sales report. Not only did the net result for 2012/13 and 2013/14 sales fall well short of expectations in 450,000-650,000 tonne range, the 2013/13 figure actually represented a net decline of 49,600 tonnes. Traders may have been unwilling to sell aggressively prior to the Friday morning release of the USDA WASDE report. May corn dipped 4.0 cents to $6.845/bushel late Thursday morning, while December had lost 3.25 cents to $5.41.
In contrast to the corn market firmness in response to a negative export result, soybean futures were mixed to lower on strong sales last week. The total for the current crop year and next came in toward the upper limit of pre-report forecasts, but that may have disappointed some in the industry. On the other hand, soybean traders may be no more willing to buy soybeans before the WASDE report is published tomorrow than corn traders are to sell. May soybeans had slipped 1.5 cent to $14.645/bushel around mid-session Thursday, while May soyoil edged 0.09 cents higher to 50.35 cents/pound, and May meal lost $1.4 to $433.9/ton. The meal weakness was particularly surprising since recent exports have been massive; this industry was apparently expecting the large total.
The wheat market reacted rather well to the large sales total on the export sales report. The USDA stated the latest result at 828,100 tonnes easily topped forecasts in the 350,000-550,000 tonne range. However, many traders may actually be disappointed with the futures reaction to the data, which may give the market a negative undertone as it awaits the results of the Friday morning WASDE report. May CBOT wheat futures rose just 1.25 cents to $6.84/bushel by late Thursday morning, while May KCBT wheat was unchanged at $7.245, and May MGE futures climbed 1.25 cents to $7.8475.
Cattle futures continued their recent decline early Thursday morning, thereby seeming to mark a reaction to flat cash news around midsession Wednesday. However, the ongoing spike in wholesale prices is almost surely persuading many traders to take a fresh look at the long side. That seems especially true when one recalls the historical tendency for cash cattle prices to annual highs in the March-April period. Thus, it was not terribly surprising to see futures had rebounded later in the morning. April cattle were 0.15 cents higher, at 128.95 cents/pound in late-morning activity, while August had surged 0.75 cents to 125.55. Meanwhile, April feeder cattle advanced 0.80 cents to 143.05 cents/pound, while August climbed 0.82 cents to 152.27.
Hog futures rebounded from deeply oversold levels Thursday morning. Large wholesale losses had depressed the market earlier in the week, but the cash markets have shown definite signs of firming. That probably persuaded numerous traders that the recent breakdown had run its course, which in turn caused them to cover sizeable short positions. April hogs had spiked 2.77 cents to 82.00 cents/pound late Thursday morning, while June leapt 2.45 cents at 91.90.


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FREE Shipping on this Product – Stored and shipped from Canada
These Mayan hammocks are well-known around the world for their unmatched comfort. Their long-standing secret is the thin cotton-string diamond-shaped weave that makes this one of the most restful hammocks in the world.
The cotton strings are extremely soft on the skin and unlock that feeling of total weightless that feels magical at the end of a hard day. This double mayan hammock comfortably holds two adults and is ideal for the couple that enjoys whiling away time together, snuggled up and cozy in their own tropical island of solitude. It's like taking a quiet vacation, even though you'll never physically leave the porch or backyard. Why not grab some books and kill a few hours on the weekend or pour a couple of ice-cold drinks and watch the sun go down after a hard day at the office? You could even put on some soft music, close your eyes and take a long relaxing nap. The decision is up to you! Let your imagination run free.
Each one of these large double hammocks is handmade by Mayan artisans who use the same techniques that have been passed down through their families and culture for generations. You can feel the pride that goes into the creation of these hammocks and sense the tremendous care and devotion that is poured into each one. The only problem? You may never want to get out of it!
* Mayan hammocks are individually crafted pieces of art; therefore, "lively" color combinations may vary.
The Universal Hammock Stand is an easily assembled stand of remarkable design. No tools are required to put this sturdy, portable stand together. The heavy-duty steel construction allows it to support up to 450 pounds, suitable for most double-sized products. The powder-coated finish serves to protect the stand from the elements. (Neither wind nor rain nor snow will harm this stand!)
Because of its ingenious design, it has the ability to adjust for the proper size of your hammock, making it the most flexible stand on the market. It's the perfect stand for all hammocks that don't have spreader bars.
You will enjoy the freedom the stand provides. It gives you the option to set up your hammock in the most convenient or most preferred location. Put it on the deck that overlooks the backyard; place it next to your preferred spot under that shady area or stick in the sun and work on your tan! You will no longer have to worry about finding those two perfect trees. This stand is ideal for people who own non-spreader bar hammocks: Mayans, Brazilians or Nicaraguans, for example.
The Universal Hammock Stand disassembles into five pieces. There are 5 bolts, 2 hooks and 2 wing nuts included; these are used to adjust the hammock to the desired height. Protective safety caps are used to cover the ends of each steel piece to create a soft finish. This stand is easy to transport to the camp site, cottage or beach. Your portability doesn't have to be an ordeal.
• Do not be fooled by smaller imitation stands - This stand is truly "Universal" and accommodates all non-spreader bar hammocks
• One of our best-selling combos
• Hammock is handmade by Mayan artisans in traditional way
• Holds a couple-compatible 450 pounds
• Large resting area (6.7 feet long, 5 feet wide)
• Total hammock length: 13.3 feet
• Durable steel construction stand
• Protective safety caps included
• No tools needed to assemble, disassemble
• 3 minute assembly
|Product(s) Ship to
|Canada + USA
|What's Included
|Hammock + Hammock Stand (hanging hardware not required)
|1 Year
|Hammock Universe®
|Cotton Hammock with Nylon End Strings + Steel Hammock Stand
|Weight Capacity (lb)
|2 People
|Overall Hammock Length (ft)
|Hammock Bed Length (ft)
|Hammock Bed Width (ft)
|Stand Length (ft)
|Stand Base Width (ft)
|Recommended Storage After Outdoor Use
|Hammock only
|Weight (lb)
We dislike returns more than you do, so we make sure each one of our products is top-of-the-line exquisite quality. What we dislike even more than returns are companies that don't stand by their products and don't treat their customers with respect when there happens to be an issue. Rest assured, we're reasonable people and our goal is to make your HammockUniverse.com experience a great (and relaxing) one. Everyone appreciates a fair and clear return policy, here's ours:
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We are proud of the durable materials and quality craftsmanship in all our products and guarantee them from manufacturer defects for a period of 1 year (90 days for commercial use or unless otherwise stated). This is assuming normal use. In the case of a manufacturer defect, we will take care of all costs incurred, including return shipping.
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We strive for total customer satisfaction and want you to be completely happy with your purchase! If you wish to return or exchange a product, please contact us within 30 days of receipt of your order. Products must be returned in new, unused, resalable condition and in their original packaging (with the exception of a return due to a manufacturer defect).
• Do not be fooled by smaller imitation stands - This stand is truly "Universal" and accommodates all non-spreader bar hammocks • Get the hammock... View full product details
HAMMOCK Do not be fooled by some of the cheap, lesser quality "Mayan Hammocks" that are on the market. These are the real thing! They're... View full product details
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Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirts are an Idakoos specialtiy! Idakoos has many things to offer. Whether you want to get a Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirt for a special occasion, give a Printed Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirt as a present or need to represent with a funny Zhambyl Oblysy Tee during Holidays or Family and Friends get-togethers, Idakoos is sure to have the right Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirt for you! Even if it turns out you can't find the right Zhambyl Oblysy Tshirt with the perfect design for your mother, father or children; Idakoos offers all of its men's women's and children's Zhambyl Oblysy Tshirts as Custom Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirts. Personalize any Zhambyl Oblysy T-Shirt the way you want to ensure the perfect gift.
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11 Things Men Do When You're Not Looking
Among the biggest culprits are pills taken for fibromyalgia pain and antidepressants, says Stephanie Faubion, director of the Mayo Women's Health Clinic in Rochester, MN. "Antidepressants can cause difficulty with arousal and orgasm — it's like putting a big wet blanket over sexuality." Medications with hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and different types of birth control can also be heavy on the body, says Dr. Sadie Allison, founder of TickleKitty.com and author of Ride 'Em Cowgirl! But, don't toss that bottle of pills just yet — and definitely don't do it on your own. Ask your doctor if there's an alternative, to reassess your need for that medication, or if she can decrease the dosage.
If you, like some 50 million other Americans, suffer from allergies, you may never have felt worse. Sinus pressure, check. Congestion, check. Tired, check. Trouble focusing, check. A study in Allergy and Asthma Proceedings found that a whopping 83 percent of allergy sufferers say their symptoms are affecting their sex life. Dr. Faubion says this makes sense, and while you may not be able to magically banish tree pollen, you can grab a lubricant at the drugstore. Your antihistamines can cause vaginal dryness, so to enjoy sex, you'll need it.
8 Body Language Moves That Show Him You Care


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If you think of the last time you were angry- you might want to visualize that situation in your mind. Now look at where exactly anger felt- is it in the head, the throat or heart area? Can you give this emotion a 'shape'- where/how it is spread out? Now this is the likely place where you will feel most other defilements. Now there can be concommitant thoughts as well (ie angry thoughts in this case). You can just think the thought 'I am a strawberry' and see where you might feel that- usually somewhere in your head. Defiled thoughts would arise there. This is the way that even wholesome mental states can be directly detected in your mind/heart.
with metta


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Antonio Artemio is currently a serving as a Full Time Lay Missionary at the CIDECO, The Center for Integral Community Development, in Acapulco.
Antonio Artemio, one of the first Full Time Lay Missionaries,
shares his thirteen years of experience at the service of
Christ and the Church.My name is Antonio Artemio Ibarra Romero
and I have been a member of Regnum Christi and
the Full Time Lay Missionaries for thirteen years. I am
happily married with three children, one of whom is studying
to be a priest at the Minor Seminary of the
Good Shepherd in Acapulco (Mexico). Before becoming a Lay Missionary
I lived in San Jeronimo, a town near the Costa
Grande, about three hours from Acapulco in the Mexican state
of Guerrero. The first mission that I organized there was
for 150 young people.What have I loved most about my
work as a missionary? Before I arrived there the only
people who came to Mass were women with one or
two men here and there. Yet now after a few
years of work, courses, home visits, evangelization missions and pilgrimages,
more than half of the attendees are men.A few years
ago I was moved to the Plácido Domingo CIDECO, The
Center for Integral Community Development, in Acapulco. The change was
very difficult because the people of San Jeronimo didnt want
The number of faithful at daily Mass gradually rise due to the work of the missionaries.
me to leave, but a missionary belongs to the universal
Church. Making it more difficult was the fact that we
were moving to a place where we didnt know anyone
and the work of evangelization had to be started from
scratch. When I arrived my director asked me to help
out at the Mano Amiga, Helping Hand, Institute in the
mornings teaching catechism classes to all of the elementary school
students. The schools directress was thrilled I was able to
lend a hand. The afternoons I dedicated to evangelizing at
the CIDECO.After a few months of work Father Aquileo, our
pastor, was very happy with the results. I was recently
named the liturgical coordinator for the parish. This has enabled
me to help form everyone who needs to participate in
the liturgy: Acolytes, lectors, Eucharistic ministers, etc. It has been
a wonderful blessing to be a part of the Full
Time Lay Missionaries, one of its co-founders, in fact, being
of the second generation. It is also a great responsibility
to pass the torch on to the future generations.For more
information on the Full Time Lay Missionaries please visit the
Catholic World Mission Web site.(May 27,
(May 27,


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Amid all the discussion and debate around the issue of Zilmax (zilpaterol hydrochloride) over the past two weeks, one thing is clear: The product performs as advertised in terms of boosting carcass weights and lean-meat yield. So when Tyson announced on August 7 it would place a moratorium on purchasing cattle fed Zilmax due to animal-welfare concerns, followed by Merck Animal Health temporarily suspending sales of the product on August 16, speculation arose as to how the reduction in beef production would affect markets.
And indeed, fed-cattle futures and boxed-beef prices have moved higher, with anticipation of shorter beef supplies probably playing a role.
However, industry reports suggest the impact of removing Zilmax from finishing programs, while significant, might not be as dramatic as some have speculated.
In USDA's Livestock, Dairy and poultry Outlook report last week, the agency speculates that impacts on beef supplies could be mitigated by feeders switching to the alternative beta agonist product – Optaflexx (ractopamine hydrochloride) – and by lower corn prices allowing feeders to cost-effectively feed cattle to heavier weights. The USDA report was issued after Tyson's decision but before Merck announced its suspension of sales.
In Monday's Daily Livestock Report, authors Steve Meyer and Len Steiner note average fed-cattle carcass weights in 2012 increased by about 19 pounds, or over 2 percent, compared to those during 2011 – a relatively large jump after five years with little to no increase. That increase in carcass weights corresponds with widespread adoption of beta agonists.
The authors also note that many cattle feeders currently using Zilmax likely will switch to its competitor Optaflexx during the suspension. They estimate the switch would reduce carcass weights by six to eight pounds.
The USDA report points out that before Tyson's letter to cattle feeders, the five-day moving average for beef cutout values had begun to seasonally increase from a low of $180.54 per hundredweight on August 5, 2013. On Monday, August 19, the Choice cutout averaged $195.22 per hundredweight. The increase is consistent with seasonal patterns, and the authors say any boost in wholesale cutout values if beef supplies are tightened as a result of Tyson's Zilmax ban will likely be relatively small. As noted, their analysis came before the Merck decision to temporarily suspend sales of the product.
Nevertheless, it seems likely that lower corn prices and the option to use another beta agonist will help moderate any decline in beef production.