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(Archived document, may contain errors) 210
June 28, 1995
Facing a crowded legislative calendar, the Senate this week is rushing to com- plete work on landmark legislation that will reframe the process and analytical criteria that federal agencies must follow to issue regulations. For example, the bill includes a requirement that agencies should consider the costs and benefits of their regulatory actions. Remarkably, this common sense way of making a decision, used by people to make decisions in their personal lives, has been deemed too radical for t he federal government to use regularly in making decisions about how to protect public health, safety, and the environment. Federal regulatory agencies are out of control, and Congress must impose discipline on the regulatory process. Today, agencies ar e interpreting regulatory statutes in ways that Congress never intended. If Congress understood in advance how much some of these regulations would cost to implement, many lawmakers would never have voted for them. Presidents also have tried but failed to rein in agencies. Every President since Richard Nixon has required this kind of cost-benefit analysis by executive order,Ibut agencies have paid only lip service to the orders. Unlike the Reagan and Bush Administrations, the Clinton Administration has f urther weakened this effort because it actually uses Executive Order 12866 to appear to support sensible, rational rulemaking while doing little in reality to accomplish that objective. Indeed, the Clinton Administration seems to believe that federal regu l atory agencies have done a fine job and should be left alone to continue to exercise discretion that thwarts the will of Congress and costs the American economy billions of dollars. Congress must give federal regulatory agencies a rulemaking road map that includes well defined, analytical standards that all rules must meet. Abuse of agency discretion is the heart of the problem that Congress is being asked to solve. Leaving the door wide open for agencies to continue business as usual is not acceptable.
Unfortunately, the leading Senate bill, a compromise drawn up by Senators Robert Dole (R-KS) and J. Bennett Johnston (D-LA), is seriously-and perhaps even fatally -flawed. The goal of the bill should be to achieve real reform. But, as Senator Johnston recently explained, "this is a huge and vitally important bill where each word carries tremendous meaning....' Senator Johnston understands this well because he has worked tirelessly on behalf of the Clinton Administration to introduce technical language to weaken the key provisions of Senator Dole's original bill, S. 343, The Comprehensive Regulatory Reform Act of 1995, through important word changes. The problem now is that these seemingly arcane choices of language so severely change the legislative effect of the bill that its intent will not b e achieved. Indeed, such a law might actually give individual regulatory agencies greater statutory protection from citizen and even Executive Branch efforts to end ineffective or burden- some regulation. The bill contains some useful reforms. But thank s to the careful inclusion of certain language by those who generally do not support regulatory'relief, the bill as it now stands could turn out to be a setback for regulatory reform.
The current process for making regulatory decisions does not work. It allows agencies routinely to promulgate expensive rules, where the cost to individuals and busi- nesses far outweighs the benefits. The time is ripe for legislation to make sure that regulatory policies in the future are based on sound data and analysis of the costs, benefits, and risks of regulation and create regulatory decisionmaking processes that are more open and accountable to the American people. To achieve this objective, legislation would need to incorporate certain key elements. But it would also need to avoid certain other seeming "reforms" which would actually make the regulations more burdensome and bureaucratic. In order for legislation to achieve reform, it must include strong provisions that: Require agencies to use sound data and analysis on the costs, benefits, and risks of regulation and then apply effective criteria to this information to make sound regulatory decisions; Enhance public involvement by empowering citizens to petition agencies to review rules to see whether they meet these tests; and Hold agencies accountable for their actions by subjecting their actions to judicial review.
Specifically, regulatory reform would be characterized by the following "Dos" and "Don'ts" (section references are to the bill as published in the June 21, 1995, Congressional Record).
1) DECISIONAL CRITERIA (Section 624) at" DO require that benefits "outweigh" or "exc eed" the costs. This key element of reform would force agencies to place the appropriate emphasis on developing unbiased or expected value estimates of both the costs and benefits. Nei- ther costs nor benefits can be known with certainty, particularly in a regulatory context where agencies are, in effect, forecasting or predicting future events in- volving risk. However, agencies should have to place a value on these costs and benefits that can then be reviewed. DONrr allow agencies simply to contend t h at benefits "justify" the costs. The use of the word "justify" by agencies today to finesse the process of weigh- ing the costs and benefits is largely subjective. Agencies simply declare that ac- cording to their own value criteria the benefits are greater than the costs. But the whole purpose of establishing a cost-benefit standard should be to create a more objectively based, fairly balanced evaluation of all the competing interests in- volved. Legislation must do this. DO require that agencies choose the regulatory alternative that will "maximize net benefits." This is perhaps the most critical element of the regulatory reform discussion. A "net benefit 'standard is far superior to a "least cost" standard. Even the Clinton Administration, in Executi v e Order 12866, includes among its principles that an agency "maximizes net benefits ... unless a statute requires another regulatory approach."3 Only if the statute does not allow a rule to satisfy the "net benefit' standard should the agency be permitted to select the "least cost" alternative. When an agency is allowed or required to choose the least cost alternative, it may do so without ever stopping to consider whether the regulatory action is worth taking or maximizes benefits.
The table above illustrates what could be an undesirable regulatory outcome from applying the "least cost" standard. Alternative One is the lowest cost option, but actually costs more per life saved than Alternative Two. However, the agency must choose Alternative One over Alternative Two at a cost of an additional 80 lives per year. In this case, the agency should be allowed to select Alter- native Two, the more expensive rule which has the greater "net benefits." The "least cost" standard precludes this. In addition, if an agency has no idea of what the benefits are or is disinclined to calculate them, it can still promulgate a rule because the least cost standard merely requires it to pick the che a pest rule. There is no need to ask whether there are any benefits from taking the action at all. But a maximizing net benefits approach forces the agency to examine the cost-bene- fit rationale for its proposed rule. X DON'T allow agencies to get away wit h issuing rules based on mere asser- tions of benefits. Agencies often cite tremendous uncertainty about the benefits of the regulations they propose. Unfortunately, a least cost standard allows agen- cies to get away with this. Consequently, agencies just assert that there are diffi- cult-to-qualify benefits and they "justify" the costs of an action. Agencies must be required to use the best data available in performing an analysis of -a rule's benefits and costs. X DON'T let the agency loopholes be bigger than the loop. Lawmakers should not be fooled into believing there are cost-benefit decisional criteria in a statute if the legislation also gives agencies ample exemptions from using them. Agencies already argue that there are uncertainties or benefits t h at are nonquanti- flable. A least cost approach gives them the incentive to continue doing so. Thus, regulators generally are comfortable with a least cost approach because it allows them to escape any requirement rather than attempt to determine seriousl y what the benefits of their action would be and compare them with the cost.
WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do
Section 624 of the bill unfortunately establishes extremely weak criteria that agen- cies must use in making regulatory decisions. The provisions are so full of excep- tions that an agency could justify almost anything it wanted to. The bill requires an agency merely to show that a rule's benef its "justify" costs. In addition, the rule the agency adopts must be the "least cost" alternative of the reasonable alternatives considered, and even what alternatives are considered appears subject to agency discretion. Even these two troublesome crit eria are further weakened because the bill allows agencies to adopt more costly rules when there are "scientific, technical, or eco- nomic uncertainties or nonquantiflable benefits to health, safety or the environment ...... This plays completely into t h e hands of regulators, since agencies and the Clinton Administration routinely claim that benefits are often nonquantifiable. So this provision would allow agencies essentially to be able to justify whatever altemative they want, even if it is very cost l y and even if there are no benefits. If a statute precludes an agency (or the agency interprets the statute to preclude it) from weighing costs and benefits, then in reality it need only meet the other criteria established. The fact that an agency must "c learly articulate" its evaluation of the re- lationship of costs to benefits will have little value if a particular law or the agency's interpretation of that law does not require such a relationship even to be established.
2) COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS (Section 621) DO require agencies to look at "incremental" costs and "incremental" benefits. "Incremental" is another key term in regulation. There may be diminishing returns in taking a regulatory action. Analyzing the "incremental" effect would require a g encies to apply cost-benefit analysis to assess the utility of each further increment of control or action. For example, EPA should not be able to develop a new clean air rule and simply state that the rule achieves the desired benefit. There are lots of things that help make the air cleaner. What EPA should be forced to show is that the additional improvements in clean air are directly attributable to the rule with the additional cost. That makes it more difficult for an agency to choose actions that h a ve very high incremental costs but little added benefit. DO require agencies to analyze clearly for the public record what they consider to be the nonquantifiable costs and benefits. The American people have a right to know what value judgments federal bureaucrats have made on their behalf. In particular, agencies must be able to show some reasoning behind their selection of nonquantifiable costs and benefits. DON'T let agencies off the hook from explaining to the public the relation- ship between benefits and costs, both quantifiable and nonquantiflable. This is particularly important if, as the Clinton Administration has argued, cost-benefit analysis is a necessary mix of scientific and value judgments. In the period for reviewing and commenting on pro posed regulations, the American peo- ple have a right to know what the relationships are between the quantifiable and non-quantifiable costs and benefits and the importance the agency has given to each of them. DO require agencies to include the analysis of a range of alternatives that can educate Congress and the public about regulation and its consequences. Such a provision in reform legislation becomes even more important if the law unwisely requires a least cost standard, because the consequences of t he rule must be fully understood. Agencies should be required to include a discussion of the costs and benefits of a range of regulatory alternatives, even if the underlying statute may preclude the adoption of one or more of the alternatives. Some of the overzealous and expensive regulatory actions taken by agencies are done because Congress has prescribed it in law-with lawmakers often unaware of the alternatives at the time. Unless Congress takes the position that it always has the best information a vailable when it makes these kinds of decisions, agencies should be required to provide information to Congress and the public about regulatory alternatives that may be preferable to what is prescribed in law. That would allow Congress the option of modifying the law. DO require agencies to assess the cumulative burden of a rule and the burden on small business. Agencies must be required to assess the cumulative burden of their regulatory actions and the burden on small businesses. The Clinton Administ ration wisely considered these important enough to include this item in the regulatory principles of E.O. 12866. Unfortunately, agencies routinely ignore the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which requires agencies to assess specifically the impact of their regulations on small business. As the Clinton Ad- ministration puts it, regulatory agencies "still tend to draft one-size-fits-all" regulations.5Small businesses are extremely vulnerable to heavy regulatory compliance costs. Congress thus must require agencies to be flexible in crafting rules to minimize the burden on smaller firms.
Unfortunately, rather than require agencies to focus on the incremental costs or benefits, the definitions in the bill appear to allow an agency to attribute almost any benefits to a rule that may not, in reality, be the result of that rule but of some other agency action." True, an agency is allowed to do the same for "cost," but regulators have no incentive to do so. What this means is that agencies have wide freedom to find unrelated benefits to justify the costs of a rule. Section 622 of this bill does require agencies to include cost-benefit analysis as part the proposed and final rulemaking processes. It restricts an agency's discus s ion of reasonable alternatives solely to those the agency has the authority to consider. In addition, the bill appears to limit further the benefits of examining reasonable alternatives by allowing an agency to choose which alternatives it will consider rather than all of them (as specified in the bill). There appears to be no requirement that an agency must include in its cost-benefit analysis either an assessment of the cumulative impact or the impact on small business. Agencies are allowed, under th e bill, to issue a major rule for effect without the cost-benefit analysis if the agency "for good cause finds that conducting the cost- benefit analysis is impracticable due to an emergency or health or safety threat that is likely to result in significan t harm to the public or natural resources." This is an extremely broad exemption, which may even be broader than what is currently permissible under the Administrative Procedures Act. How broadly can agencies interpret "health or safety threat"? Can a regulatory action designed to save one hypothetical life be justified here? This exemption should be exercised only rarely, or it would become a huge loophole. This weak provision can be strengthened by requiring the agency head to make the "good cause" determination only in emergencies and to justify it directly to Congress. 3) RISK ASSESSMENT DO require agencies to generate and disclose central tendency estimates of risk. Some agencies focus entirely on "worst-case ... .. upper-bound," or "high-end" estimates of risk. These estimates are not necessarily wrong or always inap- propriate for decisionmaking. However, they are always wrong, inappropriate, and misleading when they are provided as estimates of "the" risk. Further, such estimates cannot be pr operly used in cost-benefit analysis-except where an agency seeks to show that, under even the most favorable circumstances, the benefits of a proposed regulation do not justify the costs. Where they are proposing to regulate, agencies should be prohibited from providing estimates only of the "worst-case," the "upper-bound," or the "high-end." DO encourage agencies to generate as much of the full risk distribution as possible. Risks are never uniform across the population, and all risk estimates suffer from considerable uncertainty. Most risk experts agree that it is better to as- certain the entire risk distribution rather than to rely on single-valued point estimates. While it is not possible to do this perfectly, every effort ought to be de- voted to doing it as well as possible. Legislation should provide incentives that encourage both regulatory agencies and regulated entities to estimate more the risk dis t ribution than just the central tendency. DO require agencies to disclose fully the assumptions, data, models, and inferences that underlie their risk assessments. The public cannot be ex- pected to comment intelligently upon (or successfully challenge) ag e ncy risk assessments that are cryptic or inadequately documented. Risk experts agree that transparency is key to effective review and oversight. Only those who fear being held accountable oppose consistent, firm, and unyielding demands for full disclosure. DON'T allow agencies to get out of performing risk assessments for major rules by asserting vague claims of impending health, safety, or environmental catastrophe. Such claims are implausible on their face without a credible risk assessment, for how w o uld an agency head know that a catastrophe lurks without scientific evidence? It is important to permit agencies to respond to real emergencies without first performing a sound risk assessment because time is of the essence. However, once this response is in place, there is no legitimate reason for waiving normal analytic requirements. Emergency action promulgated without risk assessment (or cost-benefit analysis) should automatically sunset when agencies fail to fulfill their analytic and procedural requi rements in a timely fashion. WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do The discussion draft incorporates many important principles for risk assessment and risk characterization, and risk assessments performed in accordance with its spirit will be better than current pra ctice. Unfortunately, the draft falters in too many places where reasonable performance standards could easily be articulated and may provide loopholes that are too numerous and too large. Section 633(f)(1) directs agency heads to express risk estimates in terms of ranges or distributions, but fails to express a preference for the latter. Ranges are not nearly as useful as distributions, and in many instances they will be highly misleading. Section 632(c)(1)(A) allows agencies to evade the risk assessment requirements entirely by asserting vague "health or safety threat[s] ... likely to result in significant harm." Regulations imposing billions of dollars in cost and preventing a mere hand- ful of hypothetical cancer cases have nevertheless been issued on the ground that such risks are "significant." With this history, it is hard to be optimistic about agen- cies' willingness to foreswear this huge loophole.
4) JUDICIAL REVIEW (Sections 553, 706) DO include a strong judicial review provision that makes a gencies ac- countable to the public. The only way agencies will perform the analyses required by a strong standard for cost-benefit and decisional criteria is if the courts can check them. The courts must be allowed to consider whether or not the agency followed the legal procedures for public notice and comment and the extent to which the analyses required by the regulatory reform legislation relate to the agencies' decisional responsibilities as specified in the law. A strong judicial review provision is needed to force agencies to comply more strictly with a reform statute. But such a provision means little if the cost-benefit standard and decisional criteria are weak, for an agency can happily comply with legislation with a weak standard. The Admini s tration and Senate Democrats, who generally have supported the aggressive use of regulation, understandably do not want strong judicial review. But they also know that they can weaken the effect of judicial review by water- ing down the cost-benefit stand ard and the decisional criteria. In doing so, the courts will have a hard time finding fault with an agency's chosen action. WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do The standards for review in Section 625 allow courts to set aside an action which is "arbitrary and ca pricious or an abuse of discretion (or unsupported by substantial evidence where the standard is otherwise provided by law)." The problem is that, given the weak nature of other provisions of the bill, there will be very few cases where the courts will be able to set aside an agency rule on these grounds. Indeed, the bill seems to enhance-rather than control-an agency's ability to exercise its discretion, and the public will have difficulty challenging it in court. 5) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES (Section 553 ) X DON'T let agencies off the hook easily for providing public notice and dis- closure and following public procedures. Exemptions from such require- ments should be the exception, not the norm. Today, agencies continue to stretch compliance with requirem e nts of the Administrative Procedures Act. Agencies must recognize that the public has a right to this information and the fact that it is perhaps inconvenient or takes time to provide it is not an acceptable excuse from doing it. Demonstrating that the pu b lic notice and procedures are "contrary to the public interest" appears to be a sufficient standard. If an agency feels that is compelled to circumvent public notice and comment and/or cost-benefit analysis, this choice must be made at the highest levels o f the agency and only for true "good cause." In addition, if an agency uses the exemption, it should be required to go back later and follow the appropriate public procedures. Even the Paper- work Reduction Act requires agencies that have sought emergency exemptions from OMB review to go back and submit a proper request for approval and make any changes required based on public comment and OMB review. Regulations should be held to at least the same, if not a higher, standard than paperwork.
X DON'T all ow agencies to issue conflicting or duplicative rules. Agencies should be expected before issuing a final rule, to the extent permitted by law, to make sure it is not incompatible with or duplicative of any other rules already in force. Agencies are notor i ously bad at coordinating their regulatory actions. OIRA has played a critical role in doing this for them. However, it is not without a tremendous amount of effort. Again, even the Clinton Administration in E.O. 12866 includes among its regulatory princi p les instructions to agencies "to avoid regulations that are inconsistent, incompatible or duplicative with other regula- tions or those of other federal agencies."6 At a minimum, an agency should ex- plain in its proposed and final rules what steps it has taken to work with other agencies to resolve conflicting policies or duplicative efforts. WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do Section 553 addresses the administrative procedures agencies must use to promul- gate rules. It outlines what agencies must include in th eir proposed and final rules, and the ways in which agencies may go about gathering information about a pro- posed action. These changes are important because agencies are required to disclose to the public important information, including information reg a rding any cost-bene- fit analysis, and alternative methods of compliance. However, there is a "good cause" exemption, and it does not appear to require an agency that has an exemption to go back later, follow public procedures, and make any necessary chan g es. Section 553 also gives interested persons the right to petition for the "issuance, amendment or repeal of a rule." The petition process for major rules is further ad- dressed in Section 6230). 6) PETITIONS (Section 623) DO require a strong public peti t ion process and keep it separate from the agency's "look-back" timetable. The public should be given the right to de- mand that an agency reexamine any aspect of a "major" rule after it has gone into effect, including the underlying cost-benefit analysis o r risk assessment. To- day, the public can comment on a rule only before it is promulgated. Affected in- dividuals and industry should have the ability to petition agencies and/or the President to reexamine regulations, to the extent permitted by law. Thi s should in- clude petitions targeted at specific types of regulations, to repeal agency guid- ance enforced as regulation, to examine alternative methods of compliance or waive compliance with rules, or to reexamine the risk assessment or cost-benefit ana l yses performed. However finely the petition process is structured, it should include: 1) an advisory committee of experts in the agency's area of responsibili- ties to help review and advise the agency; 2) clear deadlines for when an agency must respond t o petitions; and 3) a prohibition on the consideration of additional similar petitions for a reasonable period once a decision is made.
Until an agency makes a decision regarding an existing rule in response to peti- tio ns submitted, the agency should not limit the number of petitions submitted. The petition process should be seen as operating for existing rules in a manner similar to the way in which the public comment process works for proposed fu- ture rules. An agenc y may receive hundreds or thousands of public comments on a regulation during the proposed rule stage. Today, an agency cannot limit the number of comments it receives on a proposed rule because there might be too many. That is the whole point of the publi c comment process; people have a right to participate in regulatory decisions that affect them. Similarly, an agency should not limit the number of petitions submitted for fear of getting too many. The fact that there might be 1,000 identical petitions fil e d should be a message to the agency that there is a serious problem that deserves its attention and soon. There is a frightening arrogance in taking the position that the government does not have to be responsive to the needs of the people because it will make too much work for government bureaucrats. The right to force a reexamination by petition should not depend on the agency's timetable for reviewing its own rules (the "look-back" process). Linking the petition and look-back process would give agenci es ample opportunity to avoid or delay addressing petitions or reviewing rules in a timely manner.WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do While Section 553 gives the public the right to petition for "the issuance, amend- ment or repeal of a rule," Section 623 appears to undermine seriously the effective- ness of this petition process. Under this Section, one of the reasons a petition to amend or repeal a major rule would be rejected is if the rule has already been in- cluded as part of the agency's final review of ru l es schedule. So if an agency has already decided that a major rule will not be reviewed for, say, another ten years, the petition will not be granted. The only recourse the affected party has is then to petition to change the priority the agency has assig n ed to the re- view of the rule. But that agency petition review process alone could take anywhere from 18 to 36 months without anything being done to change the schedule for re- viewing the rule, let alone changing the rule itself. The same procedures wou l d apply to petitions to review interpretive rules, general statement of policy, and guidance. These provisions thus appear to allow agency bureaucracy to thwart providing any kind of timely regulatory relief for the most expensive, burdensome rules. 7) AGENCY REVIEW OF RULES (Section 623) DO require agencies periodically to review existing regulations and do it frequently. 7In E.O. 12866, the Clinton Administration included a "look-back" mechanism. To date, the success of this effort has been limited. Agen cies should be required by statute to work in conjunction with OIRA to establish schedules for the review of major rules. Some proposals have suggested that agencies should wait ten or more years to review rules. This makes no sense. These federal regulatory agencies have tens of thousands of employees who han- dle these program rules every day: they, as well as the public, know what rules do not work. The Vice President's "reinventing regulation" reports have begun to ask them. The American people should not have to wait more than ten years to change or eliminate rules that the federal government itself has already decided are unwise. Thus, while regulatory r eform legislation should improve standards for future rulemakings, it also should provide a more timely mechanism for reas- sessing existing regulations. WHAT DOLE/JOHNSTON WOULD Do Section 623 gives federal agencies, rather than the affected public, the a bility to determine when burdensome regulations will be reviewed and perhaps changed. This provision appears to allow agencies to take as long as 14 years to revise a regulation. Thus, under the bill, agencies possibly could be allowed to take until 2010 even to consider changing rules that the Clinton Administration already may have identified as ineffective or excessive through its "reinventing government" efforts. Specifically, agencies are required by the bill to solicit comment on a preliminary schedule of review of rules they have identified within one year (and every subsequent five years) after enactment of this law. Interpretive rules and guidance, which may have the force and effect of rules and can be used to get around rulemaking requirem e nts, also can be added to the list. A final schedule must be published a year later, addressing public comment. This final schedule can be revised if the agency grants a petition requesting a change in the priority of a rule or to amend or repeal a major rule. The deadline for the review of any rule cannot be longer than ten years from the date of the initial publication of the final schedule. However, the agency head can extend the deadline for review of any rule by up to two additional years (i.e., total agency review time alone can be 12 years). Two years before the deadline for review, the agency must notify the public and solicit comments on the rule and address these cornments in a published notice within a year before the deadline. The agency still has two years after the deadline for review to promulgate a revised rule if that is the action that the agency chooses to take. If no action is taken within the two years, the rule would expire. Opponents of "look-back" provisions argue that it would be a cumbersome, costly process for agencies. Unfortunately, Section 623 adds a provision that requires the President's budget for each agency to "identify as a separate sum" the amount re- quested to implement the section. If an agency does not want to carr y out this provi- sion of the law, it may fail to request money for implementation, which the President and Congress may support. This provision-at the heart of regulatory relief-is seri- ously weakened by allowing it to be undermined through the budget pr ocess.
For regulatory reform legislation to be effective, it must force regulatory agencies to behave differently. It must force them to base their regulatory decisions on costs, benefits, and actual risks faced by Americans and force them to u se sound data to make these calculations and state clearly what non-measurable factors shaped the design of the regulation. Once a regulation is promulgated, reform legislation must give the public much greater power to force reviews of existing rules that do not meet these tests. And legislation must hold agencies accountable, under judicial re- view, for their regulatory actions. Senator Dole was doing regulatory reform the right way before the Senate Demo- crats and the Clinton Administration got i n the way. While the intent of most spon- sors of the current Senate draft is a bill that would achieve the objectives of real re- form, the language of the bill itself is so flawed that it would not achieve these inten- tions. Indeed, in many areas the la nguage actually would insulate agencies further from proper accountability. The Dole/Johnston bill as currently drafted could be a setback for regulatory reform.
Angela Antonelli Deputy Director for Economic Policy Studies.


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Satellite Hearts at Jolly's Dueling Piano Bar
Looseleaf Trio, Sunshine Superman
The Blockley Philly
3801 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA, 19104
This event is 21 and over
Satellite Hearts are a three piece band that combine both the raw, unpolished, and unapologetic sound of today, with the soul of true classic rock. Featuring J.M. Pellecchia on guitar, vocals, and harmonica, Lucas Rinz on bass and vocals, and Keaton Thandi on drums, percussion, and vocals; they create a sound that mixes the best of classic and alternative rock and roll, with elements of soul, funk, and R&B that give them a unique and explosive resonance that is hard to find in today's music scene. In short: if you are a lover of rock and roll, or you're simply looking for a good beat, strong lyrics or just a good time, then take a listen to Satellite Hearts and take a trip to sonic euphoria.
Looseleaf Trio
Sunshine Superman hates the fact that their music has been labeled as "Jazzy Pop Rock" because that puts them in a category. However, as the mainstream music industry continues to churn out talentless idiots, independent music has grown some really big balls and inspired real artists to redefine terms like "Jazzy, poppy, rocky, folky, etc..." That's where Sunshine Superman comes in.
Tickets Available at the Door
Upcoming Events
The Blockley Philly
- Sorry, there are currently no upcoming events.

subset: commoncrawl


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Notes: Bautista to start on Monday
Notes: Bautista to start on Monday
Jimmy Gobble? Nope. Mike Wood? Nope.
It'll be right-hander Denny Bautista, who has been on the disabled list since April 14 with a sore right pectoral muscle. He'll face the Cleveland Indians on Monday night at Kauffman Stadium.
Bautista had been expected to make a start or two in the Minor Leagues on an injury rehabilitation assignment but that's been scrubbed. He showed enough in a simulated game appearance to return to the rotation.
"Health-wise, he's fine," Royals manager Buddy Bell said on Saturday. "Obviously this isn't a rehab start but we'll protect him. We'll have Jimmy and Woody to pick him up.
"He says he's been healthy for a couple of weeks, no problems."
Bautista made just two starts, going 0-1 with a 4.09 ERA, before being shut down.
When he's activated, the Royals will have to drop a player from the roster.
Mays, taken out of the rotation after going 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA, has not yet accepted an option assignment to Triple-A Omaha. He can decline because of his five-plus seasons of Major League service.
Mays has until Monday to decide. The Royals could then assign him to the bullpen, release him, designate him for assignment and put him on waivers, or trade him.
Bell pronounced himself pleased with Gobble's work in the bullpen.
"Jimmy's doing great," Bell said. "It's a good role for him now. Same with Woody."
Hudson clears: Right-hander Luke Hudson has cleared waivers and has been assigned to Omaha, general manager Allard Baird said.
Hudson was 0-3 with an 8.74 ERA in nine games for the Royals.
Sanders still out: Right fielder Reggie Sanders, who left Thursday night's game at Minnesota with a tight left hamstring, was out of the starting lineup for the second night in Chicago.
"He's still day-to-day," Baird said.
Aaron Guiel was in right field again.
No thinking allowed: Scott Elarton, who pitched very well in Friday night's 5-4 victory over the White Sox, gave his mind a rest.
"When you can eliminate your brain from the equation, sometimes it helps," Elarton said.
"I just like to pitch by feel. I don't rely a lot on scouting reports. If you go by your gut and be aggressive, it usually works out."
Elarton gave up just one run and three hits in six innings against the White Sox. He didn't get the win and remained 0-4, but lowered his ERA to 3.86. In his previous start, he was ripped for five runs in 2 1/3 innings by the Oakland A's.
"Sometimes you start thinking too much and that's what I was doing against Oakland," Elarton said.
Up next: The Royals will conclude their three-game series against the White Sox at 1:05 p.m. CT on Sunday at U.S. Cellular Field. In a matchup of left-handers, the Royals will send Mark Redman (0-2, 7.00 ERA) against the White Sox Mark Buehrle (3-2, 3.76 ERA).
Dick Kaegel is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.


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Everton boss Ronald Koeman has wasted no time in replacing John Stones and has agreed a £12m fee with Swansea for Ashley Williams.
Stones has completed his move to City for a fee which could rise to £50m, depending on add-ons, and now Williams is set to join Everton if he agrees personal terms and passes a medical.
Swansea rejected a £10m bid for Williams from the Toffees earlier this month for the defender, who is under contract at the Liberty Stadium until 2018, but have now accepted an increased offer.
The 31-year-old has played more than 300 games for the Swans since joining for £300,000 from Stockport in March 2008 but is now on his way to Everton to conclude a deal.


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A former Boston University medical student accused of killing a masseuse he met through Craigslist was found dead in his jail cell on Sunday, according to NBC News.
The case has been followed by many in the Bay Area in part because Craigslist is based in San Francisco.
Suffolk County Sheriff's Office told NBC News that Philip Markoff, 24, was declared dead by emergency medical workers at about 10:15 Sunday morning East Coast time.
The body was found in the Nashua Street Jail.
In April 2009, Markoff pleaded not guilty to fatally shooting Julissa Brisman of New York and robbing a Las Vegas woman. Both occurred in Boston hotels.
He had been scheduled to stand trial next Spring.
Published at 10:35 AM PDT on Aug 15, 2010 | Updated at 10:45 AM PDT on Aug 15, 2010


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This event is an opportunity for the brain tumor community to unite in the fight against brain tumors. Whether the participants and volunteers are talking part to remember a loved one or to honor someone affected by a brain tumor, it is an emotional day for all.
There are many stories and photo opportunities associated with this wonderful event. Please see the resources below for background information on the event. For more information or to contact participants who are willing to share their stories, please contact Lisa McEvoy at firstname.lastname@example.com or 617 393 2841.


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When to fly
Marseille's Mediterranean climate makes it enjoyable to fly and visit the city any time of year, though most tourists tend to come during the months of June, July and August, when temperatures are at their warmest and rainfall is at its lowest. Considering that the summer are the most popular time, the chances of finding cheap flight tickets is small. When travelling to Marseille during the summer months, national and international visitors can enjoy the Festival de Marseille from mid-June to mid-July. The festival is a celebration of world dance, music, theatre and cinema and individuals can expect to experience some spectacular shows and events such as contemporary dance and music performances. When the temperature is still pleasant in October, the Fiesta des Suds takes place. It is a festival that showcases world music from an array of high profile performers. Thousands are entertained every year by several concerts at the Docks des Suds.
Cheap flights to Marseille can be found during the off-season months of December, January and February, when temperatures are at their lowest.
April and May make up the shoulder season, and visitors during this time can take advantage of both fewer crowds and enjoyable weather.
City overview
One of France's largest cities, Marseille has a long history as a port city and a haven for immigrants who have flocked to the city for centuries. Both of these traits are clearly evident in modern Marseille, where the port still thrives and a collection of worldly cultures come together to create this melting pot off France's southern shore.
Where does one begin to dig into this French Mediterranean city? A popular choice would be the Vieux-Port, where activity abounds no matter what time of day it is. In the early morning hours, the port acts as Marseille's fish market, and throngs of fishermen can be found here selling the day's freshest catches. Restaurants and bistros also line the port, offering plenty of French options for lunch and dinner. After dark, Vieux-Port continues its lively scene as the bars welcome locals and visitors alike.
Vieux-Port is also next to the historic Le Panier district, which charms visitors with its distinct old town vibe, historic architecture and locally owned shops. Art is as much a part of Le Panier as history is, and visitors will find plenty of trinkets and souvenirs while wandering through Le Panier.
Another attraction that stands out for visitors is the towering Notre Dame de la Garde, a towering hilltop basilica that can be seen throughout Marseille. Climb the hill to see this domed beauty — and the incredible Virgin Mary statue — up close and enjoy sweeping views of the city below. During a stay in Marseille, a day trip to the stunning fjords of the nearby calanques is a must-see.


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Netanyahu Now Faces Fight With Either Obama or His Coalition
Netanyahu now understands the moment of political reckoning he feared is now rapidly approaching.
During long, personal conversations with his inner circle over the past week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted that he had no idea what U.S. President Barack Obama would say in his speech in Cairo. "We have no information," he said. He does now.
Netanyahu now understands what he already knew before the speech: The moment of political reckoning that he so feared is now rapidly approaching. The thunder he hears in the distance is the sound of the Likud legions and the West Bank settler hordes rolling down the mountains. The light on the horizon is not that of a new day, but of a train coming right at him - a night train from Cairo.
Netanyahu will have to decide over the coming weeks whom he would rather pick a fight with: the powerful U.S. administration, whose president sees himself in an almost messianic role, or his own coalition and members of his party.
If he aligns himself with the coalition, he will keep his job but risk isolating Israel. The alternative would elevate him to the position of a national leader who puts the nation's interests above his personal ones, but it might destabilize his rightist coalition. On the other hand, one must remember that two of his governing partners, Shas and Yisrael Beiteinu, also sat in former prime minister Ehud Olmert's coalition, which sanctified the two-state solution.
At the moment, Netanyahu is not signaling that he plans a showdown with the illegal West Bank outposts. He cannot even bring himself to utter the words "two-state solution." He seems petrified by party hard-liners like Benny Begin and Moshe Ya'alon. Maybe he is really scared, or maybe this is just a game of pretend, so he can pin the blame on them.
When he formed his coalition, Netanyahu gambled on bringing the Labor Party into his government. "Those who dare, win," he quoted, explaining his decision to invite the left-leaning party into his right-leaning coalition despite the hefty price. But when it comes to diplomacy, the prime minister is not one to dare. He digs in.
Netanyahu has three options. None of them would be easy, but he did not run for office because it was an easy job.
First, he could announce his support for a two-state solution, evacuate the illegal outposts and freeze construction in isolated settlements. That would incur the wrath of hard-liners within Likud and might cause Habayit Hayehudi to resign from his coalition, but he would survive for now.
Second, he could go back to square one and form a new coalition with Kadima. But the political price he would pay in surrendering to the demands of Kadima chairwoman Tzipi Livni is intolerable to him.
Or, third, he could say no to Obama. And then we would all have to live with the fallout.
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Spoilers ahead!
A few not-so-shocking giveaways about this week's new movie releases, including Justice League and Frank Serpico
Matthew Lickona 6 p.m., Nov. 17
Gringo Guide to living in Baja Tony Brogdon
I had visited Baja for 30 years before moving here over 2 years ago. I was very surprised at how much different it was to live here than just come occasionally visit. As a Gringo there were many lessons to be learned but the end result is discovering what a great place Baja is to live once you are established. The standard of living is much higher, safer and more affordable than one can imagine when you lived your first 60 plus years in the US. After choosing where to live, the first priorities we search out are the things we are the most comfortable with in the US, such as mail service, laundry services, high speed Internet, high definition TV, cellular phone service, utility services such as gas, electricity, and water. These services will be at the top of our list. Next feeling more secure and comfortable in areas where other English speaking Americans gather to eat and entertain themselves and have frequent events for local residents. Gated communities with Home Owners Associations help to ensure a standard of living similar and in many cases better than which you are accustomed to in the US. Another important aspect of living in Baja is becoming a legal resident and able to cross the border in a reasonable length of time. Another very important service is medical services in Baja. Now you can combine all this with an incredible lower cost of living and then you will ask yourself " why did I take so long to move here." Where to live is one of your most important and first decisions you should make. It requires considering several factors. First is if you love the ocean and want to continue to work in the US or Tijuana in some form, and like having the convenience of living near shopping areas, banks and Churches, you might want to consider Playas de Tijuana, or gated communities like Real Del Mar or San Antonio Del Mar to name a few. If you prefer a more rural setting then you should look into somewhere between Rosarito and Enseneda like La Mision. The Scenic Highway gives you this option to Tijuana and San Diego. Then by using a bar-coded pass called Sentri you cross the border in an average of 5 to 10 minutes. This also works well if you have a Home Office via the Internet, as quite a few do in Baja; you have all the technology available at your disposal to work in an exceptional tranquil setting. In addition there are numerous ocean front restaurants with live music and great food frequented by local Gringos who all share the love of the Baja lifestyle. Exceptional restaurants include Poco Cielo (La Mision KM 58), Splash (KM 52), Villa Ortega (Puerto Nuevo) and many more. Leasing before buying can also be a way of discovering the best location for the long term where to live. Since mail service does not come to your residence, you may want to use one of several US Postal Services available. They provide a US Post Office box address and mail pickup service, which is picked up in the US and brought to the local Postal Service daily. If you travel to the US once a week or more you may want to maintain your mail service there. Most of the homes you rent or buy have laundry facilities, but some were originally designed to be lived in on weekends and not full time. Many of those do not have Laundry facilities. You can find nearby laundry mats that for a small fee will wash and fold your laundry for you. It's very convenient to drop off your laundry and pick it up later that day. Utilities are very easy to acquire and are very affordable compared to the US. Depending on the area you live your utility cost may vary. If you are near Tijuana or Rosarito, utilities will be more affordable as well as the service when needed. Water is acquired two ways. Public Water and sewer services are provided via the local City or by the Home Owners Associations and are extremely reasonable. That water is for showering, doing dishes, laundry, etc. Drinking water is acquired in 5-gallon containers and run from $0.50 to $2.50 according to where you purchase the refills. This is the water you use for drinking and cooking. Some homes in the more rural areas have water delivered to water tanks. That is the most costly. CFE is the Electric provider and bills are delivered to you door every other month. Expect to pay between $40-$60 per month due to the mild Baja weather. If you lease, the service is provided in the owners name and you will either pay directly to CFE or reimburse the owner. You can also acquire a service to automatically pay your utilities for you. Propane gas is provided by either cylinders or by refilling your standalone tank and they arrive usually come within an hour or less. TV is provided again depending on where you live via a Satellite Service. You have a number of options. Cablemas and Telnor can combine Satellite, Internet, and Telephone service at a very reasonable rate but you will have a lot of Spanish channels and the English ones are Spanish sub titled. There are providers locally for US Dish and Direct TV, which allow you to use your US account and have your Baja dish as a extra room. You can also subscribe separately and chose the services you want. There are also independent Internet Service providers that provide high-speed Internet service to a wireless antenna mounted on your home. One is Baja Wireless. Baja Wireless can also provide packages, which include telephone - TV – Internet. Cellular, landline and VOIP services are important decision to make early. You will find in most cases you need a US number to regularly communicate to the US and a Mexican cell to communicate within Mexico. A landline from Telnor or Cablemas can allow you have access to local businesses and 066 (Mexico's 911). US Boost Mobile is a good choice with a Mexico plan for $55 per month allows you to have unlimited access to the main business and government network with their Nextel walkie talkie service on both sides of the border. You also have unlimited US calling to US phones when in the US and unlimited texting on both sides of the border. ATT can provide you with a prepaid unlimited cell service to US and Mexico for less than $80 per month or at a rate of 25 cents a minute if you need that service on the go. Magic Jack provides very low cost US service and US numbers for home and office. Magic Jack Plus now has a device that plugs into standard outlet then to your router to provide unlimited calling for $20 per year using a standard telephone. Magic Jack Plus requires no PC just an Internet Router. It is low up front cost and no monthly fees. One of the areas Baja excels in is the array of medical services that are available. Baja has many urgent care facilities and Hospitals that are staffed with Doctors whom in many cases come from the US. Baja is the largest center for alternative medicine in the World. Over 300,000 US citizens cross the border into Mexico for medical services every month. Treatments available are Stem Cell, Human Growth Hormone, Cosmetic Surgery to name a few. Baja also has many very professional Dental Clinics with highly professional Dentist providing the same services as the US at a high level of quality at a fraction of the cost. Medical Insurance is available in Mexico as well at a very reasonable cost. Prescription medicine is also available over the counter in many instances at a fraction of the cost as well. General practitioner Doctors are available also at a very reasonable cost as well. If you live in Baja full time you should strongly consider acquiring a FM3 (Mexican version of a green card) there are several companies who can locally can assist you in getting your FM3. I hope you find the information above useful and helpful. The best source for what services you may need is a certified Realtor. They will guide you each step of the way including knowing Baja is a safe and a good choice to make Baja as permanent place to live. Don't be distracted by negative media reports, come and see for yourself. If I can be of help or answer any questions regarding what has just been discussed, you can email me at [email protected]
For those who may be interested in considering Bajawireless.com as your internet provider in Baja Mexico, keep the following in mind. On Sunday October 14th, 2012 I sent an email to Customer Service requesting info on startup costs and an idea of reliability as wireless services can vary. I did not receive an answer to this request until Wednesday the 17th. In the email the price of the monthly service in question had been inflated from the website's price of $45 for the "Faster" level of service to $75 and installation/startup costs were quoted at $375. Personally, from a customer service angle alone I have a problem with a 3 day turnaround on a request for information. While Sharron Tate's explanation of their service was concise and made sense, it did not reflect what actual customers have told me in the interim. I am grateful the response was unforgivably slow to allow me the opportunity to research the Company further and give me an idea of the level of Customer Service I would be able to expect. For those who do not have Telnor as an option I realise this may be your only option. Fortunately for me, it is an option. Best of Luck and have a Great Day!


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On July 29, ADEA kicked off a monthly Leading Conversations webinar series, entitled "Lean In: A New Era for Women Leaders". Led by ADEA's Access, Diversity and Inclusion (ADEA ADI) portfolio, last month's speakers included Dr. Kathryn Atchison, Professor in the UCLA School of Dentistry and School of Public Health, and Dr. Theresa Dolan,... Click Here To Read More
August 5th marked the 17th anniversary of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Former President Bill Clinton signed CHIP into law... Click Here To Read More
This month ADEA Educational Research and Analysis portfolio
released the results of the Annual ADEA Survey of Dental School Seniors: 2013
Graduating Class in the August issue of the Journal of Dental Education. The annual survey... Click Here To Read More
ADEA Institutional Capacity Building portfolio led the third
ADEA Regional Faculty Development Workshop on interprofessional education (IPE)
and the second ADEA Allied Dental Regional Accreditation Workshop in Los
Angeles, July 21–22.
Attendance for the Allied Dental Regional Accreditation
Workshop included 50 participants,... Click Here To Read More


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C. 1970 Vintage Carved Agate Cameo Ring in 14kt Yellow Gold. Size 5
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Product Details (for C. 1970 Vintage Carved Agate Cameo Ring in 14kt Yellow Gold. Size 5)
1 inch
14kt close 14KT: Karat (abbreviated kt or K) is a unit that indicates the purity of gold in the metal. 14kt is 58.33% gold. In the United States, 14K yellow gold is most favored and used in jewelry. Yellow Gold close YELLOW GOLD: Gold is a precious metal with a natural yellow color. It is quite soft and often alloyed with other metals to increase its strength. The purity of the metal is indicated by a unit called a "karat," with 24kt having the highest percentage of natural gold.
Textured close TEXTURED: A unique and varying finish with a tactile surface applied through various techniques, both by hand and with machinery. and Polished close POLISHED: A buffed-out finish used to produce a mirror-like shine.
Gemstone 1:
Agate close AGATE: a variety of chalcedony, agate covers a rainbow spectrum of colors from black and gray to brown, pink, blue and yellow. Agate can be textured and exhibit a variegated layered stripe effect, which makes it a wonderful stone for carved cameos and beaded necklaces and bracelets. (Quantity: 1, Shape & Cutting Style: Oval close OVAL: An elliptical shape that resembles an egg. Cameo close CAMEO: A low relief carving where the carving is above the background layer. Usually carved in shell or stone to portray the profile of a woman. , Size: 16x12 mm)
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Sherlock Holmes 2 Film Collection (DVD English)
After finally catching serial killer and occult sorcerer Lord Blackwood, legendary sleuth Sherlock Holmes and his assistant Dr. Watson can close yet another successful case. But when Blackwood mysteriously returns from the grave and resumes his killing spree, Holmes must take up the hunt once again. Contending with his partners new fiance and the dimwitted head of Scotland Yard, the dauntless detective must unravel the clues that will lead him into a twisted web of murder, deceit, and black magic - and the deadly embrace of temptress Irene Adler.
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011)
With Dr. John Watson about to marry and end their partnership, a disconsolate Sherlock Holmes occupies his time investigating the schemes of his archenemy, Professor James Moriarty. However, when Moriarty warns that he considers the Watsons a legitimate target for his retaliation against the detective, Holmes must save them and get John involved in one last case. To do so, they join the Roma lady Madam Simza Herons quest to find her missing brother, Renee, who may be the key to defeating Moriarty. Together, the trio find themselves involved in a dangerous international conspiracy led by the Napoleon of Crime in which the fate of all of Europe hangs in the balance.


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WSC Volleyball Up To #20 In Latest AVCA Poll
Posted: 25 September, 2012
WAYNE - Wayne State College moved up one spot to 20th in this week's American Volleyball Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll released Monday afternoon.
The Wildcats are 10-3 on the season and received 177 points in voting conducted by various head coaches from across the country after recording three NSIC road wins last week. The Wildcats posted a 3-2 win last Tuesday evening at Augustana College followed by 3-0 sweeps over the weekend at Minnesota, Crookston and Bemidji State. WSC faces another three matches this week, all at Rice Auditorium in Wayne. The 'Cats meet in-state rival Chadron State this evening at 7:00, followed by NSIC home matches Friday night at 7:00 vs. Minot State and Saturday at 3:00 pm against the University of Mary.


text: This local restaurant called me for an estimate today and here's what they want: Mulch beds 1015 square feet at 2" I get it for $32.00 Re-Sod 3610 square feet I get it for .155 per square foot It was sodded last year by someone else but didn't take or probably never watered! So I think I could really just pull up most of the sod pieces. Was wondering what you guys would charge for this since it is a commercial property. I do mostly residential and never seem to be able to get any businesses. Thanks


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Please note, this is a B-Stock item. B-stock items are either ex repair or have previously been returned by another customer. The original boxing and manual may be missing, and there may be some slight signs of usage.Otherwise, the unit operates as new.
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We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package, such as computer system built to a customer's personal specifications. Exceptions may only be possible with prior agreement of the vendor, and may be subject to a cancellation fee.


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Nibe is a town with a population of 5,093 (1 January 2014),[1] located in Region Nordjylland on the Jutland Peninsula in northern Denmark. The town is located in a geographic region known as Himmerland. Nibe was the site of the municipal council of Nibe Municipality. The town also holds the Nibe Festival which is held in its very own, Must Forest.
External links[edit]
- ^ BEF44: Population 1st January, by urban areas database from Statistics Denmark
- Municipal statistics: NetBorger Kommunefakta, delivered from KMD aka Kommunedata (Municipal Data)
- Municipal mergers and neighbors: Eniro new municipalities map
Coordinates: 56°59′N 9°38′E / 56.983°N 9.633°E
|This Danish location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.


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Concentrating models of the renal inner medulla can be classified according to external free-energy balance into passive models (positive values) and models that require an external energy source (negative values). Here we introduce an online computational tool that implements the equations of Stephenson and colleagues to calculate external free-energy balance at steady state for the inner medulla (http://helixweb.nih.gov/ESBL/FreeEnergy/ temporary login: clp temporary password: Esbl!@#$ login to be removed upon acceptance of this paper). Here 'external free-energy balance' means the sum of free-energy flows in all streams entering and leaving the inner medulla. The program first assures steady-state mass balance for all components and then tallies net external free-energy balance for the selected flow conditions. Its use is illustrated by calculating external free-energy balance for an example of the passive concentrating model taken from the original paper by Kokko and Rector.
- inner medulla
- free energy
- kidney
- mathematical model
- urine concentrating mechanism
- Copyright © 2012, American Journal of Physiology - Renal Physiology


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Pharrell Williams Auctions Famous Grammys Buffalo Hat
Love Pharrell Williams' famous Buffalo hat he wore at the 2014 Grammy Awards? The artist/producer is auctioning off his headline-grabbing Vivienne Westwood-designed hat on eBay for charity.
The Guardian shares that Skateboard P has partnered with eBay to sell the accessory he donned at the Grammys (and has continued to rock in other models) and proceeds will go to his educational non-profit organization, From One Hand to Another. The 100-gallon hat went on sale Feb. 20 and there are several bids already, as high as $12,000.
The auction is open until March 2 and also comes with a letter of authenticity…in case you need one. Bidders must also pre-qualify "to ensure a safe and fair auction."
"I'm giving up the Buffalo hat I wore to the Grammys to help underserved kids get the educational tools they need," Williams said in a statement per the Guardian. "Our organization, From One Hand to Another, is committed to bringing kids experiences that ignite their passions, challenge their minds and prepare them for success."
Props to Pharrell Williams (and his hat!) for his worthwhile charity auction. Good luck to the winner!
Hey @Arbys, you want my hat? Now's your chance…http://t.co/CsW204Eo4R
— Pharrell Williams (@Pharrell) February 21, 2014


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I Love Playing Video Games
Personal Stories, Advice, and Support 37,498 People
I don't play video games to get branded withthe title of a "gamer girl" nor do I want the attention "gamer girls" get from boys. I play them mostly because if I shot people in real life I'd most likely go to jail. I play them because life sucks sometimes and I have no other talents.
Santos21 22-25, F 6 Responses 22 Jan 17, 2014
I feel like a lot of "Gamer Girls" give girlgamer's a bad name. I'm a girl gamer, not a "Gamer Girl". I support all the girls who play video games and who stream on twitch - but only the ones who actually enjoy gaming and who actually care about the games. NOT the girls who obviously only game to get guys and who stream...
PsychGirl94 22-25, F 14 Responses 31 May 16, 2015
Anyone with XBOX ONEwho plays Rainbow Six siege. Looking to build a team who interested in solid communication and team work! GamerTag SpyroHasAGun
BjKhann 26-30, M 1 Response 0 Mar 31, 2016
iReallyLoveJorgie 18-21, F 3 Responses 4 Apr 21, 2016
Do you love wolves. Why not try wolf play.A fun roleplaying online game where you hunt, breed and explore your territory join now. http://www.wolfplaygame.com/index.php?referral=112946
puppylove42 16-17, F 1 Response 4 Mar 24, 2016
does anyone play elder scrolls online?if so I want people to play with. PM me if you're interested. p.s. I play ps4.
JesseDoll 18-21, F 1 Mar 20, 2016
Some of my favorites include far cry 3,the last of us, heavy rain, beyond two souls, god of war, uncharted 1,2,3. I love in far cry three when vaas explains insanity :D Legend of zelda ocarina of time, Legend of zelda windwaker, Legend of zelda twilight princess, Silent hill homecoming, assassins creed, Dead space 1...
I remember 10 years ago all I wanted wasshooters to leave the WW2 era and get into modern day. When I made that wish I didn't wish that THEY COMPLETELY STOPPED! I just wanted a switch up not a boycott like run around with and M4 instead of an M1 Garand for bit. The last WW2 game was enemy front. And it sucked I want...
BjKhann 26-30, M 3 Responses 6 Mar 27, 2016
I have never really played Gears of Warbut the trailer for GoW4 really makes me want to get an XboxOne...should I do it?
311trixie 36-40, F 8 Responses 10 Apr 18, 2016
I love the metroid seriesand Nintendo!!
True gamer girl. I love themso much! Creedom all the way!! Anyone know what im talkin about?
BlackBlood64 22-25, F 9 Responses 16 May 21, 2014
CoolDudeA 18-21, M 6 Apr 7, 2016
Anyone play WoW, Diablo 3,GW2 or somewhere along those lines? I use to play WoW up until a year ago, was getting bored from it, though I am anxious to play the new Legion expansion! I love the lore mostly, but the gameplay is quite fun. So i'm currently playing GW2 and on and off Diablo 3. I love...
zyrrion 31-35, M 1 Response 0 Apr 5, 2016
Pornhub's traffic dipped significantly the dayFallout 4 came out... Lol
Salamander2 22-25, F 6 Responses 18 Nov 13, 2015
MintBunny 18-21, F 25 Responses 49 Sep 9, 2015
Stayed up playing the division,I did not realize it was 4 am and I have to work in the morning. Totally worth it.
Icebeam 26-30, M 2 Mar 26, 2016
Just got "Bloodborne" recently .. . Oh boy . . .
AdolescentBro 22-25, M 2 Responses 3 Apr 9, 2016
Video games have gotten me through mydepression. They have gotten me through not having friends and making new ones. Regardless of what happens in my life, video games are there for me; to comfort me with a fantasy otherwise impossible.
LovelyGamer 18-21, F 10 Responses 21 Jul 17, 2014
I Love It!I've been into gaming pretty much my whole life and it is one of my favorite things to do :) I play everything from the generic fps games like COD or Halo to rpgs like Persona and Final Fantasy. My current favorites are Halo 4, Fallout New Vegas (with mods of course ;) Minecraft...
Fate0fFallen 13-15, F 2 Responses 17 Jan 9, 2013
Video Games, My Fav(:Yeah ive been playing video games since i was maybe 8 at the youngest. Ive had a PlayStation to game boys to a GameCube and now i have my beautiful Xbox 360 witch i love so much, on Xbox i play mostly at the moment gta v, but i also have gta 4, mine craft and black ops 2. I have...
PeaceAndLove1 18-21, F 15 Responses 25 Nov 12, 2013
Currently rumbling through the Shadowrun seriesas well as CIV 5 games most weekends. Loving it all so far!
psikeo 26-30, M 0 Apr 5, 2016
Started playing Metal Gear Solid 5.Never played a Metal Gear game before, but I love open world games so I thought I'd give this a try. First play through I was killed because I found a mortar and tried exploding the enemies from afar. It was only a matter of time before my presence became known and all the...
JDY000 31-35, M 3 Responses 4 Mar 31, 2016
Does anyone on here play MH4U on 3DS?I can't be the only one who knows of this!
Lacrimosadies 18-21, F 4 Responses 0 Mar 31, 2016
I'm so fed up with guys saying girls cant playvideo games, and if they are good they must be ugly. I personally believe that if anyone puts their time into it they can be good at whatever they want to achieve. All of these stereo types that girls cant play video games or if they do they must be an ugly nerd. They need to...
w0lftherian 18-21, F 10 Responses 20 Feb 23, 2015
Message me if you play Xbox 360:) We can seewhat we have in common
JordanTheLost6 18-21, M 0 Apr 21, 2016
BF4 anyone!? Wanna build a fun time squad nottoo serious.
BjKhann 26-30, M 0 Apr 7, 2016
Skyrim is really endless lol I'm glad to getlost in it though it definitely gets my mind off things. But jesus I have to stop after a while because I get my *** kicked even at level 15. I'm trying to level up before doing main quest but it doesn't seem to be helping me any. I'm more hands on then magic which now I'm...
XcookiexbakerXx 22-25, F 7 Responses 16 Apr 5, 2016
stephan2020 22-25, M 2 Apr 19, 2016
Sana091 26-30, F 5 Responses 4 Apr 7, 2016
Inbox me for online name on PlayStation ,because Xbox is gay 💘
babykay003 22-25, F 2 Responses 0 Apr 6, 2016
Uncharted 4...can't wait to play,anyone else?
311trixie 36-40, F 7 Responses 11 Apr 7, 2016
MissKakarot 18-21, F 18 Responses 27 Mar 9, 2015
Hey ! Yurp i love playin video gamesand i'm not the girl that says she likes to play just to attract attention... nopes, I LOVE video games ! I have a 360 and Ps3 but i prefer ma Xbox. I play all kinds of games but my fav are... Fifa, Pes, The Last Of Us, Fallout, Gta, KoA reckoning, Half life 2 (Where is 3...
StitchSister 18-21, F 19 Responses 20 Feb 22, 2014
I really wanna play with other people,but I'm too laid back to care about being good xD Any Fallout 4/Dragon Age fans on EP though?
TheSociallyAwkwardTurtle 16-17, F 6 Responses 6 Apr 18, 2016
I am a proud gamer girl (・∀・) I lovethose games that will get your adrenaline rushing and you will never get bored of playing, or those really scary games! A few favorites are: Dead Space, Resident Evil series, Fatal frame, Left 4 Dead, and F.E.A.R. I also love Call of Duty and FIFA. (•ㅅ•)
usagi93 22-25, F 14 Responses 28 Apr 22, 2014
Cosplaygirl 22-25, F 16 Responses 17 Apr 28, 2014
Currently playing Final Fantasy III on the DSand it has completely taken over my life. I ain't even mad, lol.
glassbonespaperskin 22-25, F 3 Responses 13 Mar 24, 2016
if anyone wants to play smite with a few friendsand me, then just pm me, we play on pc and use Skype, but if you just want to play some other game then pm me as well, I only play on pc though.
combatkills 18-21, M 2 Responses 1 Apr 19, 2016
How I've been spending my nights... Addicted to this Halo Master Chief collection game. Lol
Is it wrong that it's been three yearssince the release of Skyrim, and it's still one of my favorite games?
LanniLette 18-21, F 18 Responses 30 Nov 5, 2014
I just love how surprised people getwhen I'M the one who plays video games, not my boyfriend. He does play occasionally, though, but me? A lot more. Everyday if possible. :P
Pagan7 22-25, F 5 Responses 21 Apr 4, 2015
People always tell me "if you're a girl and you play ps4 you're most likely lesbian" no ***** you just mad that I can beat you in Call Of Duty.
lexinwonderland 16-17, F 7 Responses 18 Oct 25, 2014
Love skyrim and witcher 3,and I'll still play Runescape too . Ill get to feeling nostalgic every once in awhile and get out the N64 or SNES with the hubby. Super Mario ftw🍄
Bonnet9 26-30, F 6 Responses 7 Apr 5, 2016
What are your favorite video games withmysterious back stories?
TheBellaBubbles 18-21, F 44 Responses 22 Nov 18, 2014
In my younger days, i love playing video games.I like to play RPG games like final fantasy 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, xenogears, suikoden 1 and 2, tales series etc. etc. Thanks to my friend Tedi who introduce and teach me playing RPG games, i love games with good storyline.
SitiAmeliaPuteri91 26-30, F 7 Responses 17 Dec 31, 2014
Console gamers are like the peasants of thegaming world.
Xplictt 22-25, M 27 Responses 19 Jan 29, 2015
Guys, remember what I said about Dying Light?Let me tell you: After I installed the updates for the game, it was literally a game-changer. This update makes it enhanced as part of its edition, also as The Following. This would give you newest weapons and outfits, including the new legend ranks and newer faces in...
RappingAboutMyLife 18-21, M 1 Response 2 Apr 1, 2016
anyone play The Divisionor Destiny on Xb1?
xEyesToTheSunx 26-30, M 3 Responses 3 Mar 23, 2016
The struggles of Skyrim: when you're level 4,and then all of the sudden a group of hired thugs come to attack you. You try and fight, and you die. You reload and try to fight again, you do better, you use all of your health potions, your resistance potions, and your food, and you still die. Then, you reload again, and do...
PsychGirl94 22-25, F 19 Responses 24 Sep 10, 2015
The struggles of Skyrim: when it takes 17attempts to lockpick something.
PsychGirl94 22-25, F 17 Responses 26 Sep 9, 2015
Playing gta 5 online anyone wanna join?I'm on Xbox one
TheVengefulOne 22-25, M 0 Apr 7, 2016
Love open world games.Watchdogs, Assassins Creed, Grand Theft Auto, etc.
Have you ever playedso much you go to sleep and dream of that game lol I have . Or played so long you close your eyes and can see the red markers that pop up for your enemies, haha video games problems.
XcookiexbakerXx 22-25, F 9 Responses 13 Mar 25, 2016
I love my Xbox I mostly play skyrim oblivionand left for dead
daisyjane17 18-21, F 10 Responses 18 Jun 26, 2014
I am a pc gamer, love my leagueand steam
Karinamvedo 22-25, F 9 Responses 18 Jul 12, 2015
My team fumbling the heist with an accidentaldrowning and acting like 5yrs old lol http://youtu.be/nxZscPybj6g
LadyAya12 31-35, F 0 Apr 18, 2016
E3 2016 is coming up here no time,on June 14 - 16. It should be one of the best E3 years. With Nintendo NX , PS4.5 (PSK4) , and even Maybe a new Xbox One (ALL those New consoles shown off and unveiled and talked about) , plus VR stuff. I'm looking forward to Nintendo the most and the NX!
GuyWhoLikesToTickle 31-35, M 2 Responses 3 Apr 7, 2016
Anyone here play the following?- League Of Legends - Skyrim - Halo (any of them) - Gears Of War 3 - Assassins Creed - The Walking Dead - The Wolf Among Us - minecraft - GTA - Castle Crashers - Soul Caliber 5 - Worms ???
Goldenfairy 31-35, F 24 Responses 18 Jan 26, 2015


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Seeing as the met office predicts more wind and rain throughout feb, and no end in sight to the mudbath. I'm thinking maybe I should take my Maddox Advantages off and fit some mud tyres.
Out of the above which would be the best. A local ride for example will take me on a very muddy track, a bogtastic muddy field, a short bit of road (1.5 mile) and then fireroad and rooty wooded trail.
Which of the above would be the best all rounder.
Will be on a 26inch wheeled 100mm Hardtail.


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I used a few linen post-bound books before this one, but I wanted to find a leather one. I found this and decided to try it out: it was essentially 2-for-1 in the two pack, and I wanted a black one anyway.
The books themselves are immediately very impressive. They're very substantial, and the leather-like material used is very nice. The blue is a very dark blue; in low light, it's hard to tell which is which. Both are great colors.
The binding cover is attached to the front/back, which is nice. The posts are standard, not a different thread size like some I've used.
The page protectors are very nice - thick, slightly pearly.
-The flaps that cover the screws on the inside are as thick as the covers - this makes it hard to close the book when it gets full. I had to leave these flaps open, screws exposed, or the book would not close.
-The posts are set apart in a way that did not fit my 'universal' page protectors. I cut my own anyway so not a big deal, but it's annoying that every manufacturer seems to do this differently.
Overall incredibly impressive and a lot more than I was hoping for. Will be buying a ton more of these leather-ish books. Highly recommended, even at the normal ~$20 price each.
Quality Product!!! I already own a total of 23, 12x12, post bound leather albums. Three are burgundy & the other 20 Black. I receive many compliments. I'll be ordering two pink ones soon.
These albums are worth every penny. They are good quality. The size is perfect for a single theme or vacation. They would also make a nice gift.
Excellent deal! And beautiful albums
Great for small scrapbooks or gifts.


text:
- Doctors
- Rhode Island
- Providence
- Dermatologists
- Dr. Stephen E. Glinick
You may also like
Dr. Hua L. Zhou
Ratings for Dr. Stephen E. Glinick
Misdiagnosis telling a patient that they have a skin picking disorder and referring them to a psychiatric MD. Went to a knowledgable compassionate MD and was diagnosed and treated with a new cream for demodex mites. Horrible experience with an extremely insensitive man.
I didn't like this doctor all. He has a horrible bedside mannor and made me feel very unconfortable.
I agree with those who say you need to understand Dr. Glinick's humor. The first time I saw him, I was very intimidated and put off by his manner. The next time I took it differently. I have been going there for years now. He is very funny! Very dry sense of humor. I really like seeing him. I have had skin cancer 3 times and feel very good about his knowledge and care.
He knows his stuff. Nice guy, he kids around , you have to understand his humor. He's well known and people go to him because he's good. If you have a derm problem he'll take care of it for you.
I have been a patient of Dr. Glinick's for many years.He has always been very competent (in fact when another dermatologist mistakenly diagnosed acne and placed me on Accutane - a very powerful drug. I subsequently went to Dr. Glinick who immediately/correctly diagnosed my condition as a staph infection (quite serious, esp. when one works in a hospital)and provided me with appropriate medication. He always spends ample time discussing problem/solution(s)/prescribed medication/treatment(s), etc. In response to two previous comments: 1) I also have olive skin and am vigilant about protecting my skin.Dr. Glinick always provides me with the latest medical information pertaining to sun protection (his wife, Dr. Welch, has even been on the local news promoting the importance of sun protection). 2) Re: bedside manner - Dr. Glinick has a very dry sense of humor which was possibly misinterpreted. I (and friends/family) have always found him to be quite professional/caring/friendly/humorous.
Outstanding physician. Compassionate and caring. Explains things well
Terrible bedside manner. Very condescending. Basically made me feel like an idiot for even being in his office, since I have olive colored skin...thus I should not be concerned about skin cancer! But he supposedly has a good reputation, which is why I chose him. I would not go back.
Worst bedside manner. If you can handle his cryptic responses to your questions, he otherwise seems pretty competent. He did a good job removing a skin cancer from my arm. But if you're looking for someone who thoughtfully and helpfully answers your questions without making you feel like an idiot, go elsewhere. It also takes a long time to get appointments.
Dr. Stephen E. Glinick's Credentials
Facility Affiliations
Accepting New Patients
- Columbia University College Of Physicians And Surgeons (Grad. 1976)
Other Specialties
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Top Dermatologists
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Sirius awaits report on York Potash mine
A LONG-AWAITED report from the North York Moors National Park Authority which will recommend whether a huge new potash mine can be developed, is expected to be published by the end of this week.
Sirius Minerals, which is behind the application for onshore mining - expected to create more than 1,000 direct jobs with thousands more in the supply chain - said that the authority will release its planning committee report and officer's recommendation in the next few days.
The decision will be based on policy considerations, ... For the full story register now for free or login below...


text: Hi all There's been a similar discussion recently, but I really like to hear more about what you guys think about the issue, so here it goes : I want to complement my MF-Nikkor Set with a 105mm lens. I'm doing mostly nature/landscapes and architecture with an occasional close-up shot of some details. Now, I know that the 2.5/105mm is a legendary lens which, I think, would serve me very well for general shooting, for close-ups I could use step-up rings. But what about the 2.8/105mm Micro-Nikkor ? I could forget about the step-up rings and use it as an allround lens, but how does it compare to the 2.5/105mm in distances from a few meters up towards infinity ? Any input is welcome. Joerg


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I brewed up an absolutely stellar cup of this today! No additions, and it was absolutely wonderful. Hot water from the kettle, a 4 minute infusion, probably a bit over 8 oz. of water, and a generous 2 tsp of leaf. And it was delicious. So I let my mom enjoy the rest of it, because I'm a nice daughter (right??)
Gotta admit that the deliciousness of this cup may tip me into re-ordering this one (which, based on my first attempt with it, I never would have thought would happen!)


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The BBC noted that "United Russia won the election, but with a sharp drop in its support ahead of Mr. Putin's bid to return to the presidency next March." Putin served as President from 2000 to 2008, but the Russian constitution prohibited him from running for a third consecutive term.
According to the Russian international news agency Ria Novosti,
The governing United Russia party won 238 of 450 seats in ... [the] elections ... a significant drop compared to the 315 seats it won in the 2007 elections.
International observers spoke of "flagrant violations" during the elections. Ria Novosti reported,
OSCE [Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe] observers noted that the preparations for the elections were technically "well administered across a vast territory," but marked by "a convergence of the state and the governing party," limited political competition and a lack of fairness.
OSCE representative Petros Efthymiou commented, "The contest was also slanted in favor of the ruling party [United Russia].... Most media were partial, and state authorities interfered unduly at different levels."
Even Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and White House spokesman Jay Carney voiced "serious concerns" about the Russian elections.
On Monday night following the voting, thousands of protesters gathered in central Moscow to demand honest elections, shouting, "Down with Putin!" "Russia Without Putin!" and "Revolution!" Russian police reported that they had detained more than 300 protesters.
On the morning after thousands of people protested parliamentary elections that international observers said were marred by irregularities, two prominent opposition figures who appeared at the demonstration remained under arrest and faced criminal charges on Tuesday.
One of the men, Ilya Yashin, a leader of the Solidarity movement, was found guilty by a judge of organizing an unauthorized rally and disobeying police orders, and was given a sentence of 15 days in prison, Russian news agencies reported. The other man, anti-corruption blogger Alexei Navalny, was expected to face similar charges.
Meanwhile, the Russian government said on Tuesday that it would maintain heightened security until the ballot-counting was completed.
Alexei Navalny, one of the two men sentenced to prison, said of the United Russia party, "They are a party of crooks and thieves."
Photo of Vladimir Putin: AP Images


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School Supplies Needed for Students: Mayor
Needed Supplies
- Notebook paper (wide-ruled)
- Spiral notebooks, 3 ring binders, and dividers
- Pens (black ink), pencils, and pencil boxes
- Crayons, markers, and watercolors (small pans)
- Calculators, protractors, and rulers
- Glue (small bottles) and glue sticks
- Scissors
- Combination Locks
Drop-Off Sites
View School Supplies Donation Locations in a larger map.
- City Hall, One Civic Plaza NW
All Bernalillo County Community Centers:
- Los Padillas Community Center - 2117 Los Padillas SW
- Los Vecinos Community Center - 478 1/2 Old Highway 66, Tijeras
- Mountain View Community Center - 201 Prosperity SE
- Westside Community Center - 1250 Isleta SW
- Vista Grande Community Center - # 15 La Madera, Sandia Park
- Raymond G. Sanchez Community Center - 9800 4th NW
- Paradise Hills Community Center - 5901 Paradise NW
Bernalillo County Fire Stations
- No. 30 - 6718 Rio Grande NW 87114
- No. 31 - 9819 2nd Street NW 87114
- No. 32 - 1701 Arenal SW 87105
- No. 33 - 3909 Barcelona SW 87105
- No. 34 - 2801 Don Felipe SW 87105
- No. 35 - 11700 Paseo Del Norte NE 87122
- No. 38 - 3610 Prince SE 87102
- No. 40 - 17 South Zamora Road, Tijeras 87059
- No. 41 - 10838 Highway 337, Tijeras 87059
- No. 43 - 4 Dressage Road, Tijeras 87059
- No. 46 - 25 Frost Road, Sandia Park 87047
About 6,000 underprivileged Albuquerque Public School (APS) students are expected to benefit from a massive community-wide school supply drive beginning Monday, Aug. 8.
The effort, called "Step to Success with School Supplies," is spearheaded by Bernalillo County District One Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham in partnership with the City of the Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, APS, and local residents.
"I am pleased to partner with the City of Albuquerque, the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority, Albuquerque Public Schools, and our community to ensure that the students most in need have the necessary school supplies on the first day of school," says Commissioner Michelle Lujan Grisham.
"Title 1 schools serve some of the county's poorest students. The county is proud to continue to invest in our future and make sure our children have the tools they need to succeed. With your generous donations we will ensure that these often overlooked children are on a level playing field with students across our county as they begin their school year."
Supplies Needed
The 6,000 children, who receive Title I federal aid through their schools, have been identified as homeless and/or those who live in a shelter, vehicle, or multi-family home.
The supplies, which include all the staples such as pencils, pens, crayons, three-ring binders, and rulers, will be distributed to the students via local Title I Homeless Project Director Helen Fox.
Dozens of local sites such as community centers, fire stations, and government offices have been identified as collection points.
Commissioner Lujan Grisham says "Step to Success with School Supplies" hopes to expand to help some 40,000 more Title I students in the coming years.
Mayoral Thanks
"My thanks to Commissioner Lujan Grisham for getting this effort off the ground," Mayor Richard J. Berry said. "I continue to be humbled by the generosity of our community and our employees when asked to help out."


text: Hi! been looking around for a few days now, and it is difficult to find help installing a new nav system. My big question is, how do I know if the system I buy, will fit in the car? It says it is supposed to fit all models from 2003-2011. I have been looking at this one: Audi A3 S3 RS3 GPS Navigation 7" inch 2Din Car CD DVD Player Radio Audio Stereo | eBay This is the system installed now: http://ipocars.com/imgs/a/a/n/w/a/audi__a3_sportback_1_9_tdi_proline_navigation_2008_8_lgw.jpg Any answer, help is mostly appreciated! Thank you in advance!


text:
Unfortunately, I've had to turn on the "moderation" feature for the comments, at least for a while. Comments will have to be read and approved by me before they can appear on the site. I didn't want to do it, but I'm forced to do it. There have been a couple of incidents. Someone pretended to be Keith Schmitz from the blog, folkbum. Another person (anonymous, of course) has decided to use the comments on my blog to attack my family. There have been other comments as well that have had to be pulled down because of content that could be libelous.
It's a shame because I like comments, even those I disagree with. I learn from the comments and the commenters here are generally better behaved better than elsewhere. I'm glad this is not the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel where the comments are more like graffiti than actual coherent thoughts. I try to hold myself to a decent standard (I don't always succeed) and I think it pays off in the discussions here. I've never felt embarrassed to ask public officials to respond in the comments because I think they will be respectfully treated.
For the near future comments are just going to have to be slower while people wait for me to read them. Making matters worse, I'm not planning on being online very much the next couple of days, so I'm not going to be reading comments as fast as they get posted. Unfortunately, that's just one more reason for me to hold comments until I can read them.


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Authorities tackling 'epidemic' of texting while driving
Like a siren's song, the alluring hum of a cellphone can often be too much for a driver to resist.
Although 95 percent of people realize the danger of text messaging from behind the wheel, 35 percent admitted to sending or reading a message while on the road in the last month, according to a 2011 AAA survey.
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety is holding a distracted driving campaign this week aimed at increasing education on the issue.
It will include increased patrols today by over 400 law enforcement agencies statewide with a critical eye on distracted driving laws.
While distracted driving can come in many forms from eating and drinking to finding a radio station, texting has become the biggest culprit.
Minnesota enacted a no texting while driving law in August 2008. Grand Forks had a texting and driving ban in place in September 2010, but it wasn't until August 2011 when North Dakota enacted its own law.
Sgt. Jesse Grabow, public information trooper from the Detroit Lakes, Minn., State Patrol office, said distracted driving is "an epidemic plaguing our highways" that is now the leading factor in 25 percent of accidents in the state.
But until it becomes socially unacceptable, he said it will continue to be a problem.
"People have become so accustomed to that instant gratification of getting a message or responding to one," he said. "Driving a vehicle is not something you want to multitask with. People understand it, you can say it's unacceptable, but people are still doing it. People don't intend to do bad things, but bad things can still come from it."
Active campaign
The campaign to reduce distracted driving, especially texting, will need to be multi-faceted, according to AAA spokesman Gene LaDoucer.
"It's going to take well-written laws, high-visibility enforcement, public education and outreach, and research," he said.
Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia currently have laws that prohibit texting and driving.
According to the AAA, distracted driving contributes to 8,000 crashes a day nationwide. LaDoucer pointed to seatbelt laws as a model for the distracted driving campaign to follow.
"Seatbelt use was at 14 percent when laws were initially enacted," he said. "We now have a national seatbelt use rate close to 85 percent. These laws, when you put them in place, you won't see immediate changes by drivers. But through time, people take it upon themselves."
The fine for texting and driving in North Dakota is $100, and it ranges between $115 and $130 in Minnesota. Both states also have laws against drivers under 18 using cellphones at all in moving vehicles.
While tech-savvy youngsters can be the biggest distracted driving offenders, Lt. Jody Skogen with the North Dakota Highway Patrol said sometimes experienced drivers believe they can safely multitask behind the wheel.
"I see all ages driving around with cell devices in their hands," said Skogen, a safety and education officer. "It doesn't matter the age of the driver. If you're texting, you aren't paying attention to what you're doing."
Grabow said it's important for the older generation of drivers to set the example.
"It's like wearing a seatbelt," he said. "If your kid sees you do it, they will, too. Until we can understand that texting and driving is socially unacceptable, much like drinking and driving, it's going to continue."
Tough to enforce
Texting and driving can be one of the toughest traffic violations to identify, according to Skogen.
"We can determine that they failed to yield, but what caused them to fail to yield is up to them to admit," he said.
Minnesota authorities have continued to issue more citations every year since the law was enacted.
From 2009 to 2010, the first full year with the law on the books, citations went up 76 percent. From 2010 to 2011, the increase was 51 percent.
Grabow said the identifying traits of distracted driving can be a lot like drunk driving.
"They're very similar," he said. "Swerving, crossing the center line, slowing down and speeding up."
According to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, when texting, drivers take their eyes off the road for up to 4.6 out of every 6 seconds -- equivalent to traveling the length of a football field at 55 mph without looking up.
"It's been equated to being an impaired driver as far as reaction time," Grand Forks Police Lt. Grant Schiller said. "Your eyes are off the road."
Leaving behind an interactive lifestyle is not easy to do, according to LaDoucer.
A 2011 AAA survey said 54 percent of people admitted to regularly reading texts or emails at red lights and 35 percent send messages under the same circumstances.
"Getting in the automobile, it's tough to turn that off when you've been doing it all day," LaDoucer said. "People find it very difficult to disconnect, but you have to realize it's putting people at risk."
Reach Bieri at (701) 780-1118; (800) 477-6572, ext. 118; or send email to firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Lohse would start one-game playoff for Cards
Lohse would start one-game playoff for Cards
ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis manager Tony La Russa would like to see right-hander Kyle Lohse start one more game after his outing on Saturday.
La Russa, in his 16th season with the Cardinals, has penciled in Lohse as the starter should there be a one-game playoff with Atlanta for the National League Wild Card spot.
"Let's hope he pitches," La Russa said. "He's had a heck of a year."
Lohse allowed a run in the first inning Saturday, but he responded with six shutout innings as the Cards rallied for a 2-1 win, leaving them two games behind the Braves in the Wild Card chase.
The Cardinals hold the tiebreaker with the Braves by virtue of their 5-1 head-to-head record.


text: Project Daisy, next American Icon? What is it? Anyone know yet what project Daisy is? It is supposed to be announced this evening at 5pm at the Detroit Auto Show. I was watching Autoline Detroit with John McElroy this morning (for those of you who live in Detroit will know what I am talking about) and they had the VP at Ford mention that it is the second product that involves Carrol Shelby and that it will be the next American Icon like the Mustang, Thunderbird, and GT. Anyone have any info on it yet????