text: OK, let's pursue this further, it is illustrative to the list. The situation is probably not atypical, you buy a new router, and want to play with it on your home net / have confidence in it before replacing your main gateway. The scenario is keeping NAT, on both, for the moment. [ISP(Rogers) 22.214.171.124] ^ | v [Router1(PIX)] <-> [Rest of outer LAN 192.168.123.0/24] ^ | v [Router2(TrendNET)] <-> [Rest of inner LAN 192.168.234.0/24] Configuring both routers as though the other weren't there, i.e. as though a typical home setup. Inner LAN gets out to internet just fine. The outer LAN is not successful in talking (initiating) to the inner LAN, which makes sense as Router2 has built no translation from outside to inside (by default). Realistic scenario: Providing a public wi-fi facility, say, to your neighbours, at a LAN party, a meeting, or whatever. However, in that case, the inner and outer LANs not being able to talk to each other is a good thing. If the inner LAN tries to talk to the outer LAN, Router2 building a translation in the process, is not successful in talking to the outer LAN. (See John's excellent explanation.) Note: This is a theoretical exercise, arguably, one would either not use the WAN port on Router2, or turn off NAT on Router2. So this is a networking theoretical exercise. John Van Ostrand wrote, On 05/27/2010 2:50 PM: > ----- "unsolicited" <unsolicited at swiz.ca> wrote: >> John Van Ostrand wrote, On 05/26/2010 10:05 PM: >>> 1. Make sure the subnets are different. e.g. use 192.168.1.x on >>> one router and 192.168.2.x on the other. >> Yes, that's taken care of. >> >>> 2. If #1 is good, then you should be able to have the inner >>> subnet access the outer subnet's systems. >> Not happening, which is baffling me. It's a Cisco PIX off Roger's >> modem, and debug packet inside <subnet>/24 sees nothing. >> Wireshark on >> >> another machine never sees incoming packets from the WAN IP. John, given your explanation below, this machine should have seen the incoming ping (ICMP) and replied. (Not suggesting the reply would get where desired.) It did not see the packet. [PEBKAC is possible, but I don't think so.] >> Darned strange. I expect the inner WAN to MAC find the outer one. >> Otherwise it should go to the gateway and be routed back >> internally. [Seems to me coming in and going back out the in is >> verboten, but I also seem to remember that had to do with >> routing protocols.] If nothing else, after the first 'go here' >> the remaining packets would go directly. > > Routing back is generally not done. It's also called hairpinning, > because of the hairpin one would have to draw to show packet > travel. I've done it on routers here at the office for convenience, > now I use split DNS. Thank you, 'split DNS' was the verboten term I couldn't remember. Seems 'DNS' in this context is a bit of a misnomer, as we're talking IP addresses and/or MAC addresses, at this point. > Hair-pinning doesn't work because of this: > > 1. Device "A" 192.168.1.100 sends packet to device "B" 220.127.116.11 (an > address on your firewall). 2. Your firewall receives the packet, > looks to it's NAT table and realizes this packet is for an inside > system, say 192.168.1.200. It rewrites the destination address from > 184.108.40.206 to 192.168.1.200 and passes the packet along. 3. Device > 'B', the destination, gets the packet and sends a reply. The source > IP for the packet is 192.168.1.200 and the destination is > 192.168.1.100. The packet is sent directly back to device 'A' > instead of the firewall since they share a LAN. 4. When Device 'A' > receives the reply packet it looks to see what connection it > relates to. It looks in it's table and finds a connection to > 126.96.36.199, but that can't be it since this packet is from > 192.168.1.200. It assumes the packet is erroneous and drops it. Summarizing: The outgoing packet from Router2 built a translation to Router1, but the incoming packet is from a local (outer LAN) machine, and Router2 has no such translation, so drops the packet. [Interesting / makes sense.] Actually: if the outer LAN machine were in the ARP table, such as by a ping from Router2, I would have guessed the ping from the Inner LAN to that same Outer LAN machine would get a direct translation built. The MAC redirect from Router1 should have had Router2 update its ARP table, certainly in time for the next ping / packet. Or, even, subsequent pings from inner to outer would start to succeed. Perhaps the translation would have to expire first, which may have a timeout longer than the ARP table timeout. Hold on - isn't this a 'bug'? You would think a router would recognize the packet is destined for the WAN net, do an arp whois broadcast, and _then_ build the translation entry. Perhaps another case of chicken and egg - I've seen where some expected functionality isn't possible due to the order of processing. Last time I remember when this really hit was wanting to do both source and address ip and port translations, it could only do one at a time, and by the time the one was done, the second couldn't be. Or something. (By the time the 'if it came from here' rule kicked in, it was no longer 'from here' - half had been translated.) [Was doing a site to site VPN at the time, and neither side wanted the other to know anything at all about the other - not IP's, not ports, not nothing.] > One way to get hair-pinning to work is to perform SNAT on the > packet on the firewall. That way Device 'B' will send the packet > back to the firewall and it will be de-SNATed. Sadly, a capability beyond most residential (read: 'cheap') routers. > The idea that your inner router (PIX) will perform ARP on it's WAN > to route to your outer LAN. Unfortunately, my devices are reversed. PIX is to the ISP. I don't expect that to change any time soon - it's a much more capable / functional device than any home router. Some day I'll replace it with mythbuntu or something, but not any time soon. > Like this: > > [Inner LAN] ---- [PIX] ---- [Outer LAN] ---- [Linksys?] ---- > [Internet] > > Structurally the Inner LAN to Outer LAN is identical to a typical > home Internet connection, just change the labels. 192.168 addresses > are called non-routable and some routers are configured so as not > to route those addresses. Sadly, from what I've seen, very few. Best practices seems to indicate one should block them oneself. Let alone bogons, or martians (which should be a superset of both.) Note: From the 2 or 3 Rogers internet shutdown of it's clients I've seen, it appears they were shutdown because of malware scanning out to non-existent addresses, starting at 0.0.0.0. Infuriatingly, the shut down didn't happen until a week later, when virus software had long killed the malware, so there was nothing to find to determine what had caused Rogers to shut things down. When I ultimately got to a deep enough level of Rogers tech to have them say that, he indicated one can associate an e-mail address with them to receive logs when they do shut people down - but the e-mail address must be in place before the situation occurs. I've yet to see such a log, probably because I have yet to see anyone else shut down since. Never been shut down, myself. Note this is residential. Paul's experience, Roger's business, is that he can get zero out of Rogers to explain his frequent shutdowns. Readers - See: - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_address#IPv4_private_addresses - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bogon_filtering - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martian_packet - http://www.team-cymru.org/Services/Bogons/ - http://www.team-cymru.org/Services/Bogons/http.html (Lists) > It's possible that the PIX has some setting for that. Probably, but, sadly, not the TrendNet. >> Problem is I don't have a dual NIC <something> around to put >> transparently between the WAN and the rest of the network to see >> if it's actually sending something out or not. Or the router is >> just blocking everything to it's WAN subnet. The router can ping >> everything, but not something behind the router. And, of course, >> the outer can't ping the inner - no outgoing nat translation is >> present. > > How about a linksys with OpenWRT? I bet you could set up port > mirroring, or use the openwrt packet inspector. Sadly don't have one of those, either. Thus my comment about being reminded of Richard's comment of OpenWRT being something to stuff in the kit bag. Some day, perhaps. >>> 3. VPNs like openvpn should work fine. IPSec can work as well, >>> but it's trickier. >> I'm actually thinking coming in from outside, not the reverse. >> But it's reassuring to read your point. > > So you have to orchestrate some firewall rules. In the process it > can be confusing, certainly at first, to keep IP addresses correct. Situation normal to track this stuff, for me in my network work. It's just been a while. >>> 4. PPTP (is anyone still using this?) can have issues with >>> multiple VPNS sharing the same IP address. >> Why would you have multiple VPNs? Assuming machine or net to net >> connections. After that, it should all just be routing. > > Multiple PCs going out to the same VPN server. I see it > occasionally with customers. Yes, as have I. An exercise in education when that happens, and usually frustration. I can see how it happens though - someone finds something useful, then others like it too. And when the situation happens, to go back and correct it with a site to site VPN would mean an investment of some $$$, and there's no interest. Let alone the security kerfluffle, at both ends - even when you explain you're already doing it, just via software instead of hardware. Sadly, how this all started: Only the WAN port gets ntp, apparently, on today's residential routers. Certainly on my two. Log times with the wrong timestamps are really annoying. So, although one might normally not use the WAN port, one has to to get the time. Without the WAN port you have a simple (wi-fi) bridge / AP. With it ... complexity. The Netgear even outsmarts you - if you set both LAN and WAN on the same subnet, it automatically shifts the LAN subnet. Argh. Thanks for the post John. Hope people find the information here useful. Still expected the inner and outer lans to see each other. I actually expected to have to put in blocks to prevent it. Curious, although the explanation makes sense.


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With its god of thunder "Thor" lighting up the box office this weekend, Marvel has struck again at the multiplex.
The 3-D sequel "Thor: The Dark World" debuted with a healthy $86 million, according to an estimate from Marvel distributor Walt Disney Studios. That's the fourth-highest opening of the year, but well behind another Marvel property, "Iron Man 3," whose $174-million debut is still the biggest of 2013.
Heading into the weekend, prerelease audience surveys suggested the comic book adaptation would debut with a minimum of $90 million -- and given strong early interest, even a $100-million launch didn't appear impossible. Of course, $86 million is still a great start -- significantly more than the $65.7 million the original "Thor" launched with in 2011. And although "The Dark World" cost Marvel Entertainment $170 million to produce, the film is likely going to do so well overseas that the studio will end up in good shape.
PHOTOS: 'Thor: The Dark World' Los Angeles premiere
And yet a film from the Marvel universe is held to exceptionally high standards. The first "Thor," which in the end collected $181 million domestically and $268 million abroad, wasn't viewed as a massive hit -- but it was the first film in a franchise, so it was given the benefit of the doubt. Now that the sequel has launched, it seems clear that the "Thor" movies are not destined to perform at the rate that the "Iron Man" films do.
This summer, audiences went crazy for Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man 3" as the film raked in an insane $1.2 billion worldwide. The movie no doubt benefited from the success of "The Avengers," which in summer 2012 became the top-grossing film of the year with $1.5 billion in global sales. "The Avengers" features both Iron Man and Thor, along with other Marvel superheroes such as the Hulk and Captain America. (An "Avengers" sequel is planned for release in 2015.)
Because the latest "Thor" release is hitting theaters in the wake of "The Avengers" and May's "Iron Man 3," some expected "The Dark World" to see an even larger bump at the box office. But holding "Thor" up against Marvel's other brands isn't fair, says Dave Hollis, Disney's executive vice president of distribution.
"Jumping to comparisons with 'Iron Man' or 'The Avengers' is not terribly appropriate. Any time you can wake up to a $80-million-plus opening, you're appreciative," Hollis said. "Yes, there are certain stories in the Marvel universe that have lent themselves to being the broadest, but there are others that can still put up extraordinary numbers."
PHOTOS: 'Thor: The Dark World' - 75 images from the Marvel sequel
"The Dark World" stars 30-year-old Chris Hemsworth as Thor, the god of thunder who teams up with his deceitful brother Loki (Tom Hiddleston) to defeat an evil foe. Although the movie earned somewhat less favorable reviews than the original "Thor" -- 66% vs. 77% "fresh" ratings on Rotten Tomatoes -- audiences responded better to the sequel. Those who saw the new movie this weekend assigned it an average grade of A-, according to market research firm CinemaScore; the original "Thor" earned a B+.
As expected, "The Dark World" appealed to a more male audience this weekend; just 38% of the crowd was female. Disney also reported that most moviegoers -- about 51% -- were between the ages of 18 and 34.
Heading into the weekend, "The Dark World" had already grossed well over $100 million abroad. Playing in 66 foreign markets this weekend, the film raked in an additional $94 million, bringing its international total to $240.9 million. The first "Thor" made $268 million overseas all told, so the sequel is on pace to far exceed that tally.
The movie is performing best in Russia, where it has collected $24.1 million, but it has also made around $20 million in Britain and China. In the latter, the movie opened to $19.6 million -- in one weekend surpassing the total gross the original made in China in 2011.
Back in the U.S., no other brand-new film dared to face off against "Thor." The romantic drama "About Time," which played in limited release last weekend, expanded to 1,200 theaters and grossed an underwhelming $5.2 million. The Universal Pictures film about a young man (Domhnall Gleeson) who is blessed with the ability to time travel has now grossed $6.7 million in North America -- far less than the $38.2 million it's made abroad. The movie has performed best in Britain, where the film is set and where its writer-director Richard Curtis hails from.
"12 Years a Slave," which has each weekend been slowly adding theaters since its debut in mid-October, finally reached a wide audience in 1,144 locations this weekend. Fox Searchlight's critical darling did a bit better than "About Time," grossing $6.6 million and raising its overall tally to a respectable $17.3 million.
Will 'Thor: The Dark World' hit $100 million in box office debut?
'Thor: The Dark World': Marvel movie czar Kevin Feige on super sequel
'Thor: The Dark World': Asgard goes Hollywood with Hemsworth, Hiddleston
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what's onscreen PHOTOS: Biggest box office flops of 2013 PHOTOS: Celebrity production companies
ON LOCATION: People and places behind what's onscreen
PHOTOS: Biggest box office flops of 2013
PHOTOS: Celebrity production companies


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Oscillators are critical components in RF and digital designs. Although oscillator circuitry may already be provided as part of an integrated circuit (IC), a product-design engineer may still be required to select the crystal resonator and external capacitors. To achieve final product success, it is important that the designer has a basic understanding of how an oscillator and crystal function to select the correct crystal and external capacitors for the device. Poor crystal selection can lead to a product that does not operate properly, fails prematurely, or will not operate over the intended voltage and temperature range. What follows is a basic explanation of crystal resonators and crystal oscillators. Armed with this basic knowledge, a product design engineer will have the insight to select the correct crystal and external capacitors for an IC. Designers will also obtain an understanding of the interrelationships of the various circuits available that make up an oscillator circuit and what to consider when working with RF ICs and commercially available microcontrollers.
Reduced to its simplest components, a crystal oscillator consists of an amplifier and a filter operating in a positive feedback loop (Fig. 1).
To begin oscillation, the circuit must satisfy the following Barkhausen criteria: 1) the loop gain exceeds unity at the resonant frequency, and 2) the phase shift around the loop is n2π radians (where n is an integer. Intuitively, it can be seen that the amplifier provides the gain for the first criteria. The amplifier is inverting, causing a π rad (180-deg.) phase shift to meet the requirements of the second criterion. The filter block provides an additional π rad phase shift for a total of 2-π rad (360 deg.) around the entire loop. By design, the filter block inherently provides the phase shift in addition to providing a coupling network to and from the amplifier. The filter block also sets the frequency of oscillation, using a tuned circuit (inductor and capacitor) or crystal.
Operation of an oscillator is generally broken up into two phases: startup and steady-state operation. An oscillator must start itself with no external stimulus. When the power is first applied, voltage changes in the bias network result in voltage changes in the filter network. These voltage changes excite the natural frequency of the filter network and signal buildup begins and the signal developed in the filter network is small. Positive feedback and excess gain in the amplifier continuously increases the signal until the nonlinearity of the amplifier limits the loop gain to unity. At this point, the oscillator enters steady-state operation; the time from power on to steady-state operation is the oscillator start-up time.
An oscillator's steady-state operation is governed by the amplifier and the tuned circuit of the filter block. Loop gain steadies at unity due to the non-linearity of the amplifier. The tuned circuit reactance will adjust itself to match the Barkhausen phase requirement of 2-π rads. During steady-state operation, the main concerns are the power output and loading of the tuned circuit. The amplifier circuit is typically implemented with a bipolar junction transistor (BJT) or metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET). The linear characteristics of the transistor determine the starting conditions of the oscillation while the nonlinear characteristics determine an oscillator's operating point.
The filter block sets the frequency that the oscillator will operate, which is accomplished by using an inductive-capacitive (LC) tuned circuit or crystal.
Figure 2 depicts a basic shunt-C coupled LC-series resonator that provides phase shift and a coupling network. Since an inverting amplifier is being used, the filter block must provide a µ-rad (180-deg.) phase shift to satisfy the second Barkhausen criteria. There is an unlimited number of circuit combinations for oscillators. Numerous circuits take on the name of their inventors (i.e., Butler, Clapp, Colpitts, Hartley, Meacham, Miller, Seiler, and Pierce) and, in turn, many of these circuits are derivatives of one another. Readers should not worry about a particular oscillator's nomenclature, but should focus on operating principles.1 No one circuit is universally suitable for all applications2 and the choice of oscillator circuit depends on device requirements.
The next step in developing a crystal oscillator is to add circuitry to the simplified oscillator block diagram shown in Fig. 1. Figure 3 shows a simplified oscillator circuit drawn with only the RF components, no biasing resistors, and no ground connection.
The inverting amplifier is implemented with a single transistor and the feedback mechanism depends upon which ground reference is chosen. Of the numerous oscillator types, the three most common ones are Pierce, Colpitts, and Clapp configurations, and each consists of common circuitry except that the RF ground points are at different locations. The type of oscillator commonly employed in ICs is the Pierce configuration (Fig. 4).
It has many desirable characteristics, including the capability of operating over a wide range of frequencies with very good short-term stability.3 Although inductors and capacitors are convenient for use in oscillator-tuned circuits, the primary disadvantage of this type of oscillator is the tendency to drift with changes in temperature, power-supply voltage, or mechanical vibrations. Setting the frequency of an LC oscillator requires precise manual tuning.
Understanding Quartz
An understanding of how a quartz-crystal resonator works can provide design engineers with a better understanding of crystal oscillators. Quartz crystals have very desirable characteristics for use in tuned oscillator circuits, since their natural oscillation frequencies are very stable. In addition, the resonance has a very-high quality factor (Q), ranging from 10,000 to several hundred thousand. In some cases, Q values of two million are possible. Ultimately, however, Q values and stability are the principle limitations of crystal-based oscillators.
The practical frequency range for fundamental-mode AT-cut quartz crystals is 600 kHz to 30 MHz. Crystals for fundamental frequencies higher than 30 to 40 MHz are very thin and fragile. Crystals are used at higher frequencies by operation at overtones of the fundamental frequency. Ninth-overtone crystals are used up to approximately 200 MHz, the practical upper limit of crystal oscillators. This article will limit its discussion to the use of fundamental-mode crystals.
Quartz is a piezoelectric material and when an electric field is placed upon it, a physical displacement occurs. Interestingly, an equivalent electrical circuit can be written to represent the mechanical properties of the crystal. The schematic symbol for a quartz crystal is shown in Fig. 5a and the equivalent circuit for a quartz crystal near fundamental resonance is shown in Fig. 5b.
The equivalent circuit is an electrical representation of the quartz crystal's mechanical and electrical behavior and it does not represent actual circuit components. The crystal is, after all, a vibrating piece of quartz. The circuit elements C1, L1, and R1 are known as the motional arm and represent the mechanical behavior of the crystal element, while capacitor C0 represents the electrical behavior of the crystal element and holder.
The equivalent circuit in Fig. 5b represents one oscillation mode. For the types of crystal oscillators related to this article, the focus will remain on fundamental-mode crystals. A more complex model can represent a crystal through as many overtones as desired. For the sake of simplicity, this simple model is usually employed and different values are used to model fundamental or overtone modes. Spurious resonances occur at frequencies near the desired resonance. In a high-quality crystal, the motional resistance of spurious modes is at least two or three times the primary resonance resistance and the spurious modes may be ignored. In this model, C1 represents motional arm capacitance (in Farads). It represents the elasticity of the quartz, the area of the electrodes on the face, and the thickness and shape of the quartz wafer. Values of C1 are in the range of femtofarads (10−15 F or 10−3 pF).
L1 represents motional arm inductance (in Henrys). It represents the vibrating mechanical mass of the quartz in motion. Low-frequency crystals have thicker and larger quartz wafers and range in a few Henrys. High-frequency crystals have thinner and smaller quartz wafers and range in a few megaHenrys. R1 is the resistance (in Ω). It represents the real resistive losses within the crystal. Values range from 10 Ω for 20-MHz crystals to 200 kΩfor 1-kHz crystals. C0 is the shunt capacitance (in Farads). It is the sum of capacitance due to the electrodes on the crystal plate plus stray capacitances due to the crystal holder and enclosure. Values of range from 3 to 7 pF.
Electrical specifications
In selecting a crystal, a designer should be familiar with the electrical specifications found in a data sheet or catalog (Table 1).
When purchasing a crystal, the designer specifies a particular frequency, along with load capacitance and mode of operation. Notice that shunt capacitance C0 is typically listed as a maximum value and not as an absolute value. Notice also that motional parameters C1, L1, and R1 are not typically provided in the crystal data sheet. They can generally be obtained from a crystal manufacturer, or from measurements. Table 2 shows equivalent-circuit values for an example crystal.
In Table 2, shunt capacitance is provided as an absolute value. However, shunt capacitance can be measured with a capacitance meter at a frequency much less than the fundamental frequency.
A crystal has two resonant frequencies characterized by a zero phase shift. The first is the series resonant frequency, fs, which can be found from:
This is the basic equation for the resonant frequency of an inductor and capacitor in series. Recall that series resonance is that particular frequency which the inductive and capacitive reactances are equal and cancel: XL1 = XC1. When the crystal is operating at its series resonant frequency the impedance will be at a minimum and current flow will be at a maximum. The reactance of the shunt capacitance, XC0, is in parallel with the resistance R1. At resonance, the value of XC0 <
This equation combines the parallel capacitance of C0 and C1. When a crystal is operating at its antiresonant frequency, the impedance will be at its maximum and current flow will be at its minimum. Solving for the example crystal, it can be found that fa = 8,013,816.5 Hz. Note that fs is less than fa and that the specified crystal frequency is between fs and fa so that fs
Figure 5b has been redrawn in Fig. 6 to show the complex impedances of the equivalent circuit. The complex impedances2 are defined as:
Combining Z0 and Z1 in parallel yields:
Plugging in the values of Table 2 into a spreadsheet program, the Zp over frequency value is solved and a reactance verses frequency plot can be created (Fig. 7).
This plot shows where the crystal is inductive or capacitive in the circuit. Recall that positive reactances are inductive and negative reactances are capacitive. Between the frequencies fs and fa, the impedance of the crystal is inductive, and at frequencies less than fs and frequencies greater than fa the crystal is capacitive.
As mentioned earlier, the equivalent circuit shown in Fig. 5b is a simplified model that represents one oscillation mode. For this example it is the fundamental mode. The plot in Fig. 7 does not show overtone modes and spurious responses and, as a result, the crystal can appear inductive to the circuit at these overtone modes and spurious responses. Care must be taken in the selection of oscillator components, internal and external, to ensure the oscillator does not function at these points.
There is no difference in the construction of a series resonant crystal and a parallel resonant crystal, as they are manufactured exactly alike. The only difference between them is that the desired operating frequency of the parallel resonant crystal is set 100 PPM or so above the series resonant frequency. Parallel resonance means that a small capacitance, known as load capacitance (CL), of 12 to 32 pF (depending on the crystal) should be placed across the crystal terminals to obtain the desired operating frequency.3 Figure 8 depicts load capacitance in series with the crystal-equivalent circuit.
Therefore, when ordering a series resonance crystal, CL is not specified and is implied to be at zero. These crystals are expected to operate at in a circuit designed to take advantage of the crystals' mostly resistive nature at series resonance. On the other hand, a parallel resonant crystal has a specified load capacitance. This is the capacitive load the crystal expects to see in the circuit and thus operate at the specified frequency. If the load capacitance is something other than what the crystal was designed for, the operating frequency will be offset from the specified frequency.
Crystal oscillators
A quartz crystal is a tuned circuit with a very-high Q, which, along with many other desirable attributes, makes the crystal an excellent component choice for oscillators. Crystal oscillators are recognizable from their LC oscillator counterparts.1 For the Pierce oscillator, the crystal replaces the inductor in the corresponding LC-tuned circuit oscillators and not surprisingly, the crystal appears inductive in the circuit. Refer to the crystal's equivalent circuit in Fig. 5b when reviewing crystal-oscillator operation.
Upon startup, the amplitude of oscillation builds up to the point where nonlinearities in the amplifier decrease the loop gain to unity. During steady-state operation, the crystal, which has a large reactance-frequency slope (Fig. 7), is located in the feedback network at a point where it has the maximum influence on the frequency of oscillation. A crystal oscillator is unique in that the impedance of the crystal changes so rapidly with frequency that all other circuit components can be considered to be of constant reactance, this reactance being calculated at the nominal frequency of the crystal. The frequency of oscillation will adjust itself so that the crystal presents a reactance to the circuit, which will satisfy the Barkhausen phase requirement.2
Figure 9 represents a simplified oscillator circuit drawn with only the RF components, with no biasing resistors and no ground connection.
In this design, the inductor has been replaced by a crystal. Looking at the Pierce crystal oscillator, the crystal will appear inductive in the circuit in order to oscillate. The Pierce crystal oscillator (Fig. 10), which is designed to look into the lowest possible impedance across the crystal terminals,3 oscillates just above the series resonant frequency of the crystal.
In the Pierce oscillator, the ground-point location has a profound effect on the performance. Large phase shifts in the resistive-capacitive (RC) networks and the need for large shunt capacitances to ground on each side of the crystal make the oscillation frequency relatively insensitive to small changes in series resistances or shunt capacitances. Additionally, the RC roll-off networks and shunt capacitances to ground provide the circuit with a high immunity to noise minimizing any transient noise spikes.3
At series resonance, the crystal appears resistive in the circuit (Fig. 11) and the phase shift around the circuit is 2-π radians (360 deg.).
If the frequency of the circuit shifts above or below the series resonant frequency of the crystal, it increases or decreases the phase shift so that the total is no longer equal to 360 deg., thereby maintaining the steady-state operation at the crystal frequency. However, this only happens in an ideal circuit. Under actual circuit operation (Fig. 12), the phase shift through the transistor is typically more than 180 deg. due to increased delay and the tuned circuit typically falls short of 180 deg. Therefore, the crystal must appear inductive to provide the phase shift needed in the circuit to sustain oscillation.
Thus, the output frequency of the Pierce crystal oscillator is not at the crystal-series resonant frequency. Typically, a parallel resonant crystal is specified by frequency and load capacitance, CL. Capacitance CL is the circuit capacitance required by the crystal for operation at the desired frequency. The circuit-load capacitance is determined by external capacitors C2 and C3, transistor internal capacitance, and stray capacitance, CS. A product-design engineer can select the values of capacitors C2 and C3 to match the crystal CL using:
The printed-circuit-board (PCB) stray capacitance can be assumed to be in the range of 2 to 5 pF; it can be minimized by keeping circuit traces as short as possible. A desirable characteristic of the Pierce oscillator is the effects of stray reactances and biasing resistors appear across the capacitors C2 and C3 in the circuit rather than the crystal. If the circuit-load capacitance does not equal the crystal CL, the operating frequency of the Pierce oscillator will not be at the specified crystal frequency. For example, if the crystal CL is kept constant and the values of C2 and C3 are increased, the operating frequency approaches the crystal-series resonant frequency (i.e., the operating frequency of the oscillator decreases). Care should be used in selecting values of C2 and C3. Large values increase frequency stability but decrease the loop gain and may cause problems during oscillator startup. A trimmer capacitor can be substituted for capacitor C2 or C3 to manually tune the Pierce oscillator to the desired frequency. Capacitors with low temperature coefficients, such as NPO or COG types, should be selected for this purpose.
There is much to learn about crystals and crystal oscillators, and this article only covers the basics in an effort to assist the product design engineer in selecting a crystal. More coverage of this topic is available from the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.4 Readers are encouraged to study the design and operation of crystal oscillators because they are such important components in modern electronic designs. Product-design engineers should also consult with a crystal manufacturer about specific product design needs.
- T.H. Lee, The Design of CMOS Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuits, Cambridge University Press, New York, NY, 1998.
- M.E. Frerking, Crystal Oscillator Design and Temperature Compensation, Van Nostrand Reinhold Co., New York, 1978.
- R.J. Matthys, Crystal Oscillator Circuits, Revised Ed., Krieger Publishing Co., Malabar, FL, 1992
- Application Note AN826, "Crystal Oscillator Basics and Crystal Selection for rfPIC™ and PICmicro® Devices," Microchip Technology, Chandler, AZ, Internet: www.microchip.com.
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Dermatology Colorado Springs DermatologistDermatology Colorado Springs Dermatologist - Dr Ginger Mentz MD FAAD
Dr. Ginger Mentz is a native of Southern Colorado originally from the San Luis
Valley. After completing her residency at Tulane University and becoming Board Certified, she has become
a permanent resident of Colorado Springs serving both the Colorado Springs and Pueblo areas with her
practice. Dr. Mentz served as Chief of the Cosmetic Clinic in New Orleans, and Dr. Mentz spent 3
years after Hurricane Katrina serving the poor and under-served population in South Louisiana. Dr. Mentz
is Board Certified in Dermatology
Dr. Mentz has been elevated to
leadership positions within the AAD American Academy of Dermatology. She is also a member and
volunteer with various other national and local societies and charities. Dr. Mentz's articles,
research and publications have been published in the major dermatology journals. Furthermore, Dr. Mentz
co-wrote the chapter on Dermatology Cosmeceuticals in the textbook, Regional Approach to Aesthetic
Rejuvenation. ISBN: 9780071494953, New Generation Cosmeceutical Agents.


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"We are here to celebrate the beautiful life of a beautiful person," said Slug, welcoming First Avenue concertgoers to Tuesday's tribute to the late rapper Mikey (Eyedea) Larsen. As TVs scrolled baby photos, graffiti tributes and videos, a slew of local acts dropped in for mini sets. Alexei and Channy Moon Casselle of Roma Di Luna played a gut-wrenching acoustic cover of the Flaming Lips' "Do You Realize??" Said Alexei, "Last time I was with Mikey he picked up a guitar and started playing this song. I thought it was appropriate in more ways than one." Eyedea's longtime partner, DJ Abilities, was somber yet purposeful as he blared E&A tunes, culminating with a crowd-pleasing spin of "Smile." The biggest surprise came when anti-folk hero Kimya Dawson -- best known from the "Juno" soundtrack -- took the stage. The late rapper was an avid fan, Slug explained. Dawson played old favorites and the new song "Walk Like Thunder," with the chilling line "People my age are not suppose to die like that" -- a song that saw indie hip-hop stalwart Aesop Rock join her onstage. At evening's end, Larsen's mother, Kathy Averill, poignantly read a piece her son had written years ago and implored the crowd to do one thing in her son's memory: "Improve who we are as people." Fittingly, a massive freestyle session concluded the show. "This dude pushed everybody he loved to do everything better," Slug said before exiting the stage alone.
JAY BOLLER'I'mma let you finish ... your flight'
Apparently, no microphone is safe from Kanye West -- even at 36,000 feet. While details are sketchy, a YouTube video surfaced earlier this week in which the rapper is heard rhyming over the speakers of a Delta flight bound from Minneapolis to New York (he was in the Twin Cities doing radio spots to promote his upcoming album). While you can't see him in the video, he's heard rapping "Gold Digger" into the public address system. While a passenger told the website HollywoodLife.com that West was rhyming from inside the cockpit, that sounds far-fetched, even for an attention-starved superstar, Besides, the P.A. system used by crew members is located in the cabin. So why'd he do it? Maybe one of the flight attendants looked like Taylor Swift.
TOM HORGENA Misfit walks out
"I ain't no G.D. S.O.B.," Glenn Danzig famously sang with the Misfits -- lyrics that the operators of the Cabooze and some of his Midwest fans might beg to differ with after the punk/metal hero abruptly canceled his Minneapolis show Tuesday. According to Cabooze booker Jason Aukes, Danzig walked into the club for soundcheck with his namesake band, then walked out, saying, "I can't play here." Theories were that Danzig wasn't content with the security setup -- though at his request the Cabooze brought in metal detectors, a first for the club, Aukes said -- or that he thought the stage was too small and the ceiling too low. Advance ticket sales weren't bad: about 550 (half the club's size). With another 100 or so in walk-up tickets, Danzig might've stood to make $12,000. Instead, both he and the club took a sizable hit.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDERStanley's says 'Shhh'
After only a month of trying to commingle a cozy new dining space with loud rock 'n' roll, Stanley's Northeast Bar Room has decided to drop the latter element -- but only until it can bring the noise upstairs. The reborn northeast Minneapolis nightspot (formerly Stasiu's) canceled its band bookings for the month after some diners complained. Instead, the second-floor party room is being refurbished to cater to rock patrons. "They are going to make the upstairs look a little more vintage and rock 'n' roll, and really give it that Nordeast edge," said booker Christy Hunt. That'll take a few months, though. In the meantime, look for quieter acts downstairs, while the noisemakers are moving elsewhere, including Friday's show with the Funeral & the Twilight and Citizens of the Empire, which has been moved to Nick & Eddie.
CHRIS RIEMENSCHNEIDEREncore, encore
Schubert Club recital patrons are accustomed to having their standing ovations rewarded by an encore or two, as the gracious Renée Fleming delivered earlier this season. Apparently the lovely trumpeter Alison Balsom didn't get the memo before her glorious St. Paul debut this week. She took a half-dozen bows and then exited stage left. Never mind. The beautiful blonde Brit and her nimble piano collaborator, Richard Bishop, will be welcome anytime for a rerun of her dazzling reprise of themes from Bellini's "Norma," his tender account of Chopin's Nocturne in D Flat Major and their sizzling Gershwin tunes. The versatile Bishop even got Spanish guitar soul from the Steinway on a suite of folk songs by Manuel de Falla.
MARY ABBEPerky Pinetop
In his return visit to the Dakota Jazz Club Tuesday, blues piano legend Pinetop Perkins, 97, played longer than he did last year. His spirits were good, his timing fine and his voice a little soft but firm and expressive. He conducted his sidemen with authority (including guest Twin Cities guitarist Jeremy Johnson). He remembered the words to all his old tunes. What was missing was his short-term memory. He played "Down in Mississippi" twice, sandwiching the barrelhouse treat around "How Long Blues." Pinetop also forgot how long he was supposed to perform. After 35 minutes, his manager approached the legend and took him outside for a smoke. And then Pinetop held court with fans on the sidewalk. We should all enjoy our 90s like that.


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On Monday, the Obama administration released its proposed budget for fiscal year 2013. The budget would cut $32 billion in USDA spending over a decade.
For more, see here.
Direct payments would be eliminated under the proposal and crop insurance subsidies would be cut along with conservation programs.
Despite the cuts, "to help sustain record farm income, we will invest in research and development to improve agricultural productivity," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in a statement. "The budget makes a 23 percent increase in funding for our premier competitive grants program to support the most worthy projects and continues support for in-house research and the land grant universities. We'll continue our efforts to combat destructive pests and disease that threaten crops and livestock.
"To encourage thriving markets for our farm products aboard, we will continue funding that helped make last year a record for agricultural exports, driving farm income and supporting 1.1 million American jobs. We'll reduce trade barriers and aggressively promote 'grown in America' products. At home, we're working to encourage the development of a bio-based economy, where what we grow and raise is used to make fuel, chemicals and consumer goods to complement our traditional production of food, feed, and fiber."
Reactions to the White House proposals were quick in coming.
The budget, if passed, would undermine "our investment in providing a stable food supply," said Oklahoma Rep. Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. "For example, President Obama's proposal to cut crop insurance threatens the integrity of the program itself. And, he ignores other areas for savings such as streamlining or eliminating duplicative programs in conservation, or closing loopholes in nutrition spending. Nutrition spending comprises 80 percent of the agriculture baseline and there is bipartisan support in Congress to save billions by eliminating loopholes, but not one penny is cut in (Obama's) budget.
Sentiment from the other side of the aisle, of course, was much less sharp. While "encouraged" by the removal of direct payments, Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow, chairwoman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, was not in favor of "further cuts to crop insurance, which is a critical risk management tool. I have heard loud and clear that strong, effective risk management is the number one priority of farmers and producers across the country. Farming is a high risk business and we don't want farmers and other small businesses going under because a few days of bad weather – it jeopardizes the economy and the safety of our national food supply."
Crop insurance is also a concern for the American Soybean Association. While the ASA has called for "a shared responsibility for deficit reduction across all mandatory and discretionary spending programs, up to and including the elimination of Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payments as well as the Average Crop Revenue Election program" growers will soon plant a new crop and assume new risk, said ASA President Steve Wellman. This is "exactly the wrong time to reduce support for the federal crop insurance program. The proposal put forth in the president's budget would reduce support to farmers who purchase the highest levels of coverage -- a backwards approach that discourages producers from purchasing enough coverage to meet their substantial risk management needs."
However, ASA "does applaud the president's request to increase the 2013 funding level for the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) to $325 million -- an investment targeting areas key to American scientific leadership, including nutrition and obesity reduction, food safety, sustainable bioenergy, global food security, and climate change."
The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition deemed the budget proposal "not terribly interesting." Ferd Hoefner, the NSAC's policy director, said it "follows the emerging consensus to do away with direct payments but offers no alternative safety net proposal other than renewing a largely discredited and expensive farm disaster program. It also proposes an across-the-board two percent cut to farmers' crop insurance premium subsidies. Both the commodity payment and crop insurance proposals fail to target the cuts, and thus their impact would be felt most heavily by small and medium-size farms. Neither proposal addresses the critical issue of whether the public should be given assurances that natural resources are protected in return for their large investment in farm production subsidies. … Frankly, the proposals are relatively lame and not at all progressive. Clearly, all the heavy lifting is left to Congress."
Agriculture has done more than its fair share in reducing the deficit, said Roger Johnson, National Farmers Union president. "Efforts to cut even more by slashing support for family farmers should be directed elsewhere. Earlier this year, the USDA announced the closing of 259 facilities across the country because of these draconian budget cuts. The 'cut-first, ask questions later' attitude in Congress is now showing its true costs.
"These budget cuts highlight a reality that we must look for new solutions within the agriculture industry to ensure that farmers and ranchers are protected even as the available funds diminish. Farmers need a safety net for difficult times -- when markets collapse and when disaster strikes."
The nation's farmers and ranchers "deserve a measure of certainty," said Jon Scholl, president of American Farmland Trust (AFT). "Farmers require a safety net that works effectively, and they need access to tools that help them be good stewards of our natural resources. Those people less fortunate during these economic times deserve a helping hand so they don't go hungry, while our nation as a whole needs the security which effective food policies and programs can bring."


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Here is your Week 13 primer, with games ranked in order of intrigue:
New York at WashingtonMon 8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 1:So, New York Giants defensive lineman Justin Tuck has nightmares about Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III? Well, he's probably not alone in the NFC East. With the way RG3 nearly led his team back to an improbable win in the first meeting with Big Blue, who can blame Tuck? And then there were the back-to-back four-touchdown games from Griffin that yanked the 'Skins back into playoff relevance. These developments have forced the G-Men to take notice of their division rivals. Of course, the Giants themselves returned from their bye week refreshed. Suddenly, Eli Manning can throw again, and that beatdown New York put on the Green Bay Packers served notice to the rest of the league. The offensive fireworks should be loud and colorful. If only this one can pack an epic ending like the last meeting. #NYGvsWAS
- Watch: Game Preview
Pittsburgh at BaltimoreSun 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 2:Twice in three weeks? Oh yes. Thank you, schedule-makers. An encore to the first street fight. The original meeting, a Baltimore Ravens win, might have been decided without the ailing Ben Roethlisberger, but it wasn't without a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat ending. Alas, Roethlisberger's availability for Sunday afternoon is up in the air, too, even if he's pushing hard to play. It might not be up to him. That just increases the urgency of the playoff push. Thanks to last week's loss to the Cleveland Browns, the Pittsburgh Steelers are desperate. At 6-5, three games behind the Ravens, the Steelers need a win, whether Charlie Batch is their quarterback or not, and regardless of the fact that this bout will be played in hostile territory. Meanwhile, all the Ravens need to do is win and clinch a playoff spot. Then they can walk out with as many Terrible Towels draped over their heads as they see fit. #PITvsBAL
- Watch: Game Preview
Minnesota at Green BaySun 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 3:Scanning the landscape of the schedule before the season, no one circled this matchup. By Week 13, the Green Bay Packers were supposed to be running away with the NFC North, while the Vikings should have been duking it out with the Jaguars and Chiefs for the first draft pick in 2013. Right? Turns out, not so much. The Vikings have ridden on the back of Adrian Peterson to unpredictably hang around (though the remaining schedule definitely doesn't lighten up). Minnesota can keep the impossible dream going by winning at Lambeau Field. But could the Vikes have caught the Packers at a worse time? Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who left MetLife Stadium on Sunday vowing to figure things out after an embarrassing defeat, will unleash what he's learned on Minnesota. This should be the Packers' bounce-back game, if they are the team we think they are. #MINvsGB
- Watch: Game Preview
Tampa Bay at DenverSun 4:05 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 4:There is no traditional rivalry, no history, no stake in a divisional race that will play out on Sunday in Denver. Just two really good teams with contrasting styles attacking one another the way they do best. Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos, with a playoff berth just one win away, can go after one of the NFL's most giving secondaries -- a unit that won't have Eric Wright, as he begins his four-game suspension. Meanwhile, the run-heavy Tampa Bay Buccaneers will go old-school against the new-fangled Broncos, pounding it right at them with the "Muscle Hamster," Doug Martin. If Denver can limit the big plays, all should be well. But Tampa Bay has plenty to play for, with the final NFC playoff spot bouncing around like a pinball. At the least, this is a battle between two of the NFL's hottest teams, with the Broncos on a six-game winning streak and the Bucs having won four of five. #TBvsDEN
- Watch: Game Preview
Seattle at ChicagoSun 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 5:You often hear quarterback battles described as one-on-one matchups, as in, "Tom Brady vs. Peyton Manning." Can we call this the battle of the cornerbacks, despite all the negative vibes surrounding both units? On one side, you have the Seattle Seahawks' "Legion of Boom," led by ball-hawking, trash-talking Richard Sherman. He and partner Brandon Browner are playing while they appeal suspensions for violating the NFL's policy against performance-enhancing substances. On the other side, you have thieving cornerbacks Charles Tillman (nine total takeaways) and Tim Jennings, with Tillman reportedly battling a chipped bone in his foot. There are plenty of playoff implications, especially as Seattle tries to keep pace in the NFC, but the key X's-and-O's battle will be between these defenses and the quarterbacks they're facing: the Bears' Jay Cutler and the Seahawks' Russell Wilson. #SEAvsCHI
- Watch: Game Preview
Indianapolis at DetroitSun 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 6:You'd never have predicted before the season that the high-powered, talent-filled Detroit Lions would be the team in this matchup grasping at faint playoff hopes, hoping to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter of the season (like they've done in so many games). But that's reality. The news around Detroit has been dominated by Ndamukong Suh's alleged kick to the private parts of Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, an incident that has overshadowed three straight losses and expectations unfulfilled for the league's best passing offense. As for the Indianapolis Colts, they've quietly motored on with an impossibly young team while head coach Chuck Pagano battles cancer. #INDvsDET
- Watch: Game Preview
San Francisco at St. LouisSun 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 7:Maybe this time, one of them will win. The St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers stage a rematch on Sunday of one of the season's stranger games, an intense contest that ended with players from both sides walking off the field confused as to why they were walking off the field. Last time, Alex Smith started against the Rams before leaving with a concussion; this time, they'll be staring down the athletic Colin Kaepernick, who replaced Smith that afternoon -- and demands a different and challenging type of preparation. #SFvsSTL
- Watch: Game Preview
Philadelphia at DallasSun 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 8:The Sunday night game everyone pretends they won't be watching. The prime-time experience that fans are quick to discount will be the same one that no doubt produces soaring ratings a few days later. Schadenfreude is a powerful thing. Few fans feel sorry for the formerly brash Philadelphia Eagles, who have tumbled into the abyss in a car crash of a season that has the franchise headed for a house cleaning. On Sunday night, they'll face Tony Romo's Dallas Cowboys, who are similarly busy wasting another prime season with their core talent base. Fans in Philadelphia and Dallas will watch because they can't resist. Others will take part in rubbernecking, no doubt relishing in the high-profile failures of others. #PHIvsDAL
- Watch: Game Preview
Houston at TennesseeSun 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 9:Long regarded as the most well-rounded team in the NFL, the Houston Texans have cruised along, winning five in a row. While the defense has shown flashes of weakness during that span, receiver Andre Johnson has reminded the league that he is still one of its elite talents. But if the Tennessee Titans are looking for hope in this divisional game, there is some. Houston has allowed an average of 34 points over its last two games, thanks mostly to a leaky secondary. Tennessee debuts new offensive play-caller Dowell Loggains, who now has the task of taking over for fired coordinator Chris Palmer and harnessing talent that those in the Titans organization think is as good as they've had in years. Loggains' tryout begins now. #HOUvsTEN
- Watch: Game Preview
New England at MiamiSun 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 10:Just like in previous years, the New England Patriots face the prospect of finishing out the AFC East race early, leaving them primed to knock off wannabes and coast to the playoffs. It seems to happen every November and December. Entering Week 13, Bill Belichick's team has won five in a row, scoring more than 29 points in each game and showing signs of coming into its own. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins have crashed back to Earth after hinting at some promise and making a cameo in the playoff race. They lost three in a row before last week's win over Seattle. The Dolphins can completely right the ship against the Pats, whom they play again in Week 17. Rookie quarterback Ryan Tannehill has impressed, specifically under pressure, but this won't be easy. #NEvsMIA
- Watch: Game Preview
Cincinnati at San DiegoSun 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 11:Two ships pass at 4:25 p.m. ET on Sunday. The Cincinnati Bengals (still one of the league's youngest teams and a franchise on the rise) vs. the downtrodden, disappointing, down-turning San Diego Chargers. Maybe they will wave to one another as they go by. Marvin Lewis' Bengals have gotten back in the playoff mix with -- would you believe it? -- three straight wins by an average of more than 21 points. Apparently, all quarterback Andy Dalton, receiver A.J. Green and the rest of the team's leadership core needed was some prodding from Lewis. The Chargers are just hoping to limp through the rest of the season before addressing what is a murky future for all parties involved. #CINvsSD
- Watch: Game Preview
Arizona at New YorkSun 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 12:The good news here is that one of these teams will win. Though with the way things have gone for the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, maybe we should expect a tie. Outlooks are grim for both sides, with the Cards having lost seven in a row and the Jets falling victim to an amazing creation called "the Butt Fumble." The questions about Tim Tebow have quieted down in New York, replaced mostly by questions about the future of the team's brass and coaching staff. If the losing continues for Gang Green, it seems everything is on the table. #AZvsNYJ
- Watch: Game Preview
Jacksonville at BuffaloSun 1:00 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 13:This game should be last on my list, a matchup of two of the blandest products in today's NFL. The Buffalo Bills' failure to capitalize on an infusion of talent has led to predictable frustration, though it's not quite time for them to focus on 2013; with seven losses, the Bills still have a faint chance to make some noise. But this game avoids the basement of our rankings because of the unexpected emergence of Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Chad Henne. Under his stewardship, there was an overtime loss and an actual, real win. Can he solidify a role for himself as the 2013 starter over the next five games? #JACvsBUF
- Watch: Game Preview
Cleveland at OaklandSun 4:25 p.m. ET, CBS Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 14:Another bargain-basement matchup between two of the have-nots of 2012. The Oakland Raiders, it appears, are in a free-fall with no ground in sight. But the Cleveland Browns? Strange things are happening. They've competed in every game of late, but stunning the Steelers is the kind of thing that everyone notices. If Pat Shurmur and Co. are trying to prove to owner Jimmy Haslam that things are headed in the right direction, they'll earn this one, too. #CLEvsOAK
- Watch: Game Preview
Carolina at Kansas CitySun 1:00 p.m. ET, FOX Get Tickets
Why this game is No. 15:Two coaching staffs on high alert in this one, with frustrated owners watching closely to see how they finish. The Kansas City Chiefs were expected to contend for the AFC West crown. The Carolina Panthers, fresh off a promising 2011, had one player guarantee a Super Bowl win. Not so much. Now, both Romeo Crennel and Ron Rivera must finish the season on a solid note, or they might not be back in 2013. The Panthers already took a step that way, beating the Eagles on Monday night. Was that a sign of the future for Cam Newton, or an aberration? #CARvsKC
- Watch: Game Preview
Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.


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With the methamphetamine trafficking problem in Galax once again in the media spotlight last week, some smoldering sentiments reignited for those who believe more could have been done to prevent Mexican drug cartels from establishing operations in the city.
Many feel that police could have done more earlier in the game, but what critics don't consider is that this level of organized crime was something new and unfamiliar in Southwest Virginia, and the cartels counted on rural law officers' inexperience to help them stay hidden.
A group of organizers are providing the perfect opportunity for locals to give back, as well as the possibility of getting much more in return.
There's no better way to gain the satisfaction of helping out, make friends, build a resume, find job connections and — if you're new in town — get acquainted with the community and its local organizations than through tomorrow's volunteer fair.
While some are unaware of the services provided by the Woods River Chapter of American Red Cross — which serves Galax, Grayson, Carroll and Wythe counties — to others, especially people who have received help after losing their home or even their job, its efforts are evident.
Thousands of animals euthanized
This information is to let everyone know how many pets are euthanized each year right in your own community.
The statistics for dogs and cats for 2008 for Carroll and Grayson counties and Galax show there were 1,000 owner surrenders, 784 strays, 202 reclaimed by their owners, and 214 were adopted.
The total was 1,928, of which 1,479 were euthanized. This means that 76.7 percent of dogs that entered the shelter were euthanized.
The Grayson County School Board has requested only level funding for our school system for the upcoming school year.
This budget request is conservative and includes significant cuts in personnel, transportation, instructional materials and services.
Our budget supports academic programs, career and technical education, technology, band, arts and sports.
Our children in Grayson County deserve the same educational opportunities as children in surrounding counties.
Holly Padgett Parker of Raleigh, N.C., is a Galax native and the city was her home for 27 years. "I miss it every single day," she says.
Let's talk a little bit about dialect and colloquialisms.
A few years ago, I was offered a hostess position at a very ritzy restaurant in downtown Raleigh, N.C. The owner and my company had done some business together and the owner was so impressed with my demeanor and professionalism that he asked me to come to work on a part-time basis and train potential hostesses about customer service and attitude.
Money is hard to come by, and Grayson County is working on a new program that could help spend taxpayers' money more wisely.
Recently, the county decided to embark on a plan to open a Day Reporting Center, similar to one in Giles County. The idea is to take people with minor felony charges — such as bad checks or minor drug violations — and put them to work in the county, instead of in a jail cell. The idea will cost the county around $5,000 to get started, but could save thousands of dollars each year.
No excuse for rude behavior
How can a school teacher be so rude to parents and get away with it?
I talked to the principal on many occasions. And all he said was that he would have a little talk with her. But she is being so rude again.
How many times is it going to take for them to do something about it? They have no right to tell you how to punish your child
Like for instance to break a child from pulling his shoes and socks off, to take them outside barefoot and it's a cold and rainy day. Or to hit his rump a little bit harder.
Grayson County Commonwealth's Attorney Douglas Vaught appears to be a decent and caring person and — to his substantial credit — he does respond to his mail. Others in Grayson County governance, including Vaught's predecessor, refuse to put pencil to paper. I want to share an issue on which he and I disagree, as it forms an introduction to a much larger contemporary issue.
Boucher voting record 'pro-abortion'
At a town hall meeting in March, Rep. Rick Boucher responded to questions about the inappropriately named Freedom of Choice Act.
He stated opposition to radical proee'abortion provisions in question and denied that such a bill existed.
Dog bear hunting is cruel
I would like to reply to the March 18 article "Bear License About Control, Not Revenue."
I find the article offensive to Virginia hunters by indicating they were out to kill anything they found just because the species was a legal kill. The hunters I know don't just blow something away because they came across it.
As our ongoing series, "Adapting to the Economy" has shown, local businesses are reshaping the way they do business in order to survive. We've been impressed by their ingenuity.
They're doing it on their own, with their own initiative and creativity, not relying on government handouts or taxpayer dollars.
As the national economy falters, it's encouraging to see our hometown entrepreneurs try new things, scrap what doesn't work and, in some cases, reinvent themselves for today's world.
A Laurel Elementary fifth-grader whose family could symbolize the whole immigration debate provided a fresh — and eye-opening — perspective to the President of the United States in just a few hundred words.
Desiree Nguyen was much closer to the point than a pundit's fist-pounding rage, broad exaggerations and elaborate scapegoating, as she shared her personal experience as it relates to the conundrum of undocumented workers in the United States.
It seems small business development rather than large industry recruitment is the way to go, especially here in Galax and the Twin Counties, after the Small Business Development Center recently announced that it helped gain funding for 100 businesses in the past three years, with 96 of those still operating.
Though a large manufacturing company willing to put hundreds back to work would be nice, when the economy turns bad, it seems large industries leave the threat of hundreds being stranded without jobs all at once.
Carroll County educators remain hopeful that federal stimulus funds will work as advertised.
That's a good thing to hope for. The long-stated purpose of the stimulus funds, after all, involves saving or creating jobs.
Educators have pointed out that using money coming directly from the federal government, along with the funds going through the state, could save around 20 positions in Carroll County Public Schools alone.
In a region that continues to fight job losses, every position spared seems like the silver lining in the dark economic cloud.
Ban wrong way to end smoking
While the lifelong non-smoker side of me applauds the new Virginia smoking ban, my rebellious redneck side groans in disbelief.
How many more laws that take away personal choices are going to be enacted? I have a great disdain for any kind of smoking, but I do believe it's one's right, if inclined.
Just the same as it is my right to refuse to do business in a smoking establishment. That's freedom of personal choice.
Listen to constituents' opinions
Once again, we have in Grayson County a prime example of our county supervisors voting in opposition to the will of the people. See "Grayson approves Spirit Harbor request," March 16.
For the past 20 years, governments on every level have repeatedly and consistently voted contrary to the will of the majority of the people.
This amounts to taxation without representation and disenfranchisement. Last time this happened, our forefathers fought a revolution over it. Think it won't happen again? Think again!
Jesus stood for love
In 1604, King James I of England initiated the process for a new interpretation of the Christian Bible, primarily to consolidate the ecclesiology and orthodoxy of the Church of England under royal control.
He gathered 47 scholars (notably, all members of the Church of England), and seven years later they published what has become known as the King James version of the Bible.
It's a fine line to walk between appeasing those who want Grayson County to remain a rural community of vast farm land and open fields, and those wanting the county to bring new businesses in.
For the past five months, three developers have fought against some vocal members of the Fox Knob community while trying to get approval to bring a 252-site recreational park to Grayson.
Last week, the Grayson board of supervisors approved that permit, and in the bigger picture, it makes sense.
Fancy Gap doesn't have to reinvent the wheel to grow as a community. With its dedicated people and scenic treasures, the Carroll County hamlet already has a strong foundation for success.
Sure, maybe installing public water and sewer would make a dramatic impact on the number and type of businesses that set up shop there next to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
Copyright © 2019
The Galax Gazette is your source for local news, sports, events and information in Galax, Grayson, Carroll, and surrounding areas.


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At the office of Betty A. Dillon, Attorney at Law, we realize that people facing a legal matter are often anxious and under tremendous stress. We believe in reducing their fears and helping to put them at ease. With 25 years of experience handling family law in Pittsburgh, PA, as well as estate administration, and residential real estate matters, we know how to help people get their burdens off their shoulders. For a free initial telephone consultation, contact Pennsylvania estate administration and family law attorney Betty A. Dillon.
Our Commitment
We know that our clients' cases are very important to them. We know that they want and need to know what is happening. Because we believe in keeping our clients informed of what is going on in their cases and what is likely to happen next, we have a policy of returning all phone calls promptly. Our phone is answered 24/7. Our law firm is committed to responding to people within 24 hours or the next business day after a weekend or holiday.
Our Philosophy
We think that people pursuing a legal case want to be aware of every step in the process. Because of this, it is our mission to work together with each client as a team. We know the law and you know your facts. Working together as a team produces more cost-saving and effective results. For help in any Pennsylvania family law, estate administration matter, contact Pennsylvania attorney Betty A. Dillon.


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Time's Up has a new dance party ride this Sunday:
Rastafaride Sunday, May 8th, 2011 2:00 PM Washington Square Park (under the arch), Manhattan.
Summary: Punky Reggae Rastafaride celebrating the life, vision of Bob Marley and everything else green in New York City.
Details: Ride your bike around NYC listening to […]


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Orangeberry Spring Fling - Tongues of Angels by Julia Park Tracey
Author Julia Park was married to a Roman Catholic priest for several years and heard many stories of wonder and woe. From those tales comes a novel, Tongues of Angels, an insider's view of the Catholic Church and the priesthood as it stands today.Tongues of Angels:Meet Rob Souza as he faces the challenges of the priesthood-gossip, innuendo, church politics, public scandals-and Jessica, a young woman with a secret past. Meet Lawrence, Rob's best friend, a gay priest who somehow becomes the third in this odd love triangle. While Jessica finds hope and healing, Rob and Lawrence discover that, despite their best intentions, a promise of celibacy is hard to keep. Tongues of Angels offers a peek behind the curtain of the priesthood, offering a funny, poignant look at Catholic angst and ambiguity. Based on a true story, Tongues of Angels is a canny, warm and surprisingly spiritual novel for our time.
Buy at Amazon
Genre – Romantic Suspense (PG13)


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I didn't realize Sleepy Hollow was one of his! I actually like that movie. (Which is rare for me I don't usually like those kind.)JessCullen95 wrote:Ha, this is so funny because in my english class we are doing our media coursework on Tim Burton. My fave has to be Sleepy Hollow, love that film.
I LOVED Alice In Wonderland! I think it was amazing! I really liked this take on the story & the graphics were amazing and Johnny Depp was amazing (like always!)
Johnny Depp as a vampire? Interesting. I don't usually like vampire movies (the gore etc.) Will this be that kind of vampire movie? I'm sure JD will do an amazing job like he always does!
And a new version of Sleeping Beauty I think would be way cool. Especially if it's as good as Alice was.


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david walkerPosted: December 30th, 2009 | Author: admin | Filed under: Art, Graphic Design | Tags: david walker, lisboa, lisbon, painter, street art | Comments Off
"I was recently invited by Vhils to Lisbon as a guest painter at the annual VSP (Visual Street Performance) show. VSP is an annual live painting event which takes place in the Portuguese cities of Porto and Lisbon. This year VSP took over a huge semi-derelict school in the heart of Lisbon to be decorated by a host of Portuguese talent, including Vhils, Hium, Klit, Mosaik and more. I spent an amazing 5 days there painting, meeting all the crew, eating great seafood and talking to some very passionate and inspiring artists and art lovers." -David Walker


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Sometimes you have to hit the road and see what's out there. You never know what you might find. The best part, for me it seems, is frequently the getting there part of the journey instead of the destination part.
Things combined in such a way that the last part of June and first part of July worked out for time off. So I hit the road and headed west with two end points in mind. The first one was in western South Dakota. The State Game Lodge at Custer State Park, to be exact. The other one was Yellowstone National Park in northwest Wyoming.
Here's a news flash. Western South Dakota and northwestern Wyoming are not adjacent to Cresco, Iowa. It's a road trip to end all road trips without an ocean being involved. Rather than have a travel agent get involved, though, I went modern and used the Internet. A quick posting on New Ag Talk in mid-May about my potential plans garnered a couple dozen responses within a day or two. The rural community is pretty good about sharing information. It did not disappoint me, that's for sure. Not only did I get suggestions on where to stay, but I also got suggestions on which routes to take, which ones to avoid, which sights to see, which ones to avoid, and when to get it all done.
That last one was a bit of a surprise. If you're headed to Yellowstone during the summer, get your plans made and reservations booked sometime in January or February if you want to stay in the park. If you are, say, a last-minute kinda guy and don't get around to doing anything until a couple weeks ahead of time, you can still find places to stay, but they won't be as convenient or as authentic as staying in an actual lodge within the grounds of the park. I got lucky and found a suggestion about a place called Antlers Lodge in Cooke City, Montana, which is about three or four miles outside the northeast entrance of the park.
Then, in yet another stroke of luck, I found out a few days before departure that Honest RC, The Farmer's Friend From Beginning to End, had just returned from a vacation to Yellowstone! Really, if you can't trust your Deere salesman, who can you trust? I spent some quality time in RC's office one afternoon going over the highlights of his trip, as well as making tons of mental notes on what to bring along for a better trip. At the top of that list was a 12-volt cooler to store lovely beverages and food, thereby avoiding all the stops for high-priced stuff along the way. With all the savings, I will no doubt be better prepared to spend more money on my next farm equipment purchase. That RC is a GENIUS, I tell ya!
While traveling down I-90 somewhere in South Dakota, I saw a sign for a scenic byway near the Badlands. It sounded great, but something in my tiny little brain clicked and caused me to pull over at an exit ramp and read through all of the responses I'd gotten on New Ag Talk. Seemed to me like a scenic byway had been mentioned, but I couldn't remember if it was of the "must-see" or the "must-avoid" variety. I found the following item on the list of responses I'd printed out:
"Our family took the trip to SD and Yellowstone last summer. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the Badlands so far, especially since it is close to the Black Hills and Mt. Rushmore. Wind Cave is close by too. If you do want to go from Badlands to Wind Cave stay away from a road named highway 44. It is marked on the map but is no more than a two-lane gravel road stretching for more than 60 miles. My wife was the navigator and thought she would save us some miles, LOL. We saw a total of three cars and four ATVs, no farmhouses."
That looked to me like a pretty strong hint to stay on I-90 and skip the scenic byway! Although, note to self: 60 miles and only three cars? Keep that in mind for a hay route in the future. You just never know.
When I smugly got my printout and atlas put away and then pulled back onto the paving of the exit ramp to get back onto the interstate again, something down the blacktop caught my attention. Actually, it was multiple somethings. Of all the interstate exit ramps I could have chosen in this wildly underpopulated part of the country, I chose one that was about to become crowded. Moseying toward the car was a herd of horses! Not the Budweiser Clydesdale 8-Horse Hitch. Not the 40- or the 48-Horse Hitch of Belgians from Sparrow's in Zearing, Iowa. Not even a team pulling a buggy or a wagon with someone of the Amish persuasion at the reins. Nope, these were free-range horses.
But wait, this was South Dakota, so maybe they were grazing the road ditches. It's not entirely uncommon to see people tie up a horse at random and give him just enough rope to graze in a circle before being moved. Seeing as how this group was in the middle of the road and traveling with a Holstein, I was pretty sure they weren't pets on a really long leash.
So that raised a question in my brain. Do I stop and perform some Dr. Doolittle work out here in the middle of nowhere to put them back where they belong? Had this been the return trip home, yes, I may have attempted to polish up my stock-handling skills, but this was V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N! This was vacation in its infancy. Key point. Loose animals would remain loose while I was a freshly minted tourist. It seemed more fitting out in this country. Sure, there was that interstate a mere 50 yards away, but it was still light enough at that time of the day for even the most drowsy traveler to see a horse before morphing it into a hood ornament at 80 mph.
I saw loose livestock and I didn't do a thing. That's how disengaged from my work I was at that point. Refreshing and sad at the same time.
On it was. I soon realized that what appeared to be loose horses back at the ramp may have in fact been contained. Once you cross the line from Minnesota into South Dakota, one tool of sorts appears regularly that is almost never seen in Iowa. It's the cattle guard gate (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cattle_grid). It lets you play mind games with your livestock by driving over a steel or concrete grate instead of opening and closing a wire or pipe gate that's all vertical and imposing. The critters are too freaked out to attempt to walk across the grate, because it looks cavernous enough to be certain death in their minds, but it's a strong enough slotted grate to support vehicle traffic.
If I had to guess, I'd say my cows would out-think the grate and waltz right through like it was a red carpet and they were headed to the Kodak Theater on Oscar Night. If you've never heard a cow giggle with delight before, listen closely the first time I turn them loose after putting in a cattle guard as the entire herd walks through it without breaking their pace while humming the Andy Williams classic, "Born Free."
But before I could give up all hope of encountering true free-rangers while on vacation, the word "fortuitous" came up and smacked me upside the head. It was in the form of a road sign. (A photo of me with it is attached.) I must have one for my very own. Something tells me a certain deputy from the Winneshiek County Sheriff's Department would help me get it installed. If nothing else, he'd provide me the sworn testimony I'd need to convince the County Engineer that its placement in my neighborhood would be factually in the ballpark, if not right on the money.
Guy No. 2


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|Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac arrhythmia is a term that denotes a disturbance of the heart rhythm.
Cardiac arrhythmias can range in severity from entirely benign to immediately life-threatening. If arrhythmia is suspected, a doctor should be consulted for confirmation. In addition, the use of natural substances for arrhythmia should always be supervised by a doctor.
What are the symptoms of cardiac arrhythmia?
Most arrhythmia does not result in symptoms, but people may experience anxiety, lightheadedness, dizziness, fainting, unusual awareness of the heartbeat, and sensations of fluttering or pounding in the chest.
Dietary changes that may be helpful for cardiac arrhythmia
Excessive caffeine consumption has been associated with arrhythmia in human studies. Although most people do not experience arrhythmia as a result of caffeine consumption,1 some healthy people appear to be susceptible to as little as one cup of coffee.2
Allergic reactions to foods and environmental chemicals have been reported to trigger arrhythmias.3 Consultation with a physician may help to pinpoint these sensitivities.
Nutritional supplements that may be helpful for cardiac arrhythmia
A double-blind trial investigated the effect of oral magnesium supplementation on arrhythmic episodes in people with congestive heart failure. Those people taking 3.2 grams per day of magnesium chloride (equivalent to 384 mg per day of elemental magnesium) had between 23% and 52% fewer occurrences of specific types of arrhythmia during the six-week study, compared with those taking placebo.4 Lower serum concentrations of magnesium were found to be associated with a higher incidence of arrhythmia in a large population study.5 The anti-arrhythmic properties of magnesium appear to be specific. For example, magnesium is clearly able to prevent a drug-induced arrhythmia called torsade de pointes,6 but it does not appear to prevent atrial fibrillation.7 A doctor should supervise any use of magnesium for cardiac arrhythmia.
In a double-blind trial, people with a type of arrhythmia known as ventricular premature complexes were supplemented for 16 weeks with either 15 ml (1 tbsp) per day of fish oil or a similar amount of safflower oil as placebo. Patients taking the fish oil had a significantly reduced frequency of abnormal heartbeats compared with those receiving placebo, and 44% of those receiving fish oil experienced at least a 70% reduction in the frequency of abnormal beats.8 In a separate study, however, men given 20 ml (4 tsp) of cod liver oil per day for six weeks, beginning one week after a heart attack, had the same frequency of irregular heart beats as did men given no supplemental oil.9
Patients taking hydrochlorothiazide for high blood pressure had a significant reduction in arrhythmias when supplemented with 1 gram twice per day of potassium hydrochloride (supplying 1040 mg per day of elemental potassium). Those results were not improved by adding 500 mg twice per day of magnesium hydroxide (supplying 500 mg per day of elemental magnesium) to the potassium.10 Low serum concentrations of potassium were found to be associated with a higher incidence of arrhythmia in a large population study.11
Three cases have been reported in which ventricular premature beats disappeared after supplementation with copper (4 mg per day in the two cases for which amounts were reported).12 In one of these people, supplementing with zinc made the arrhythmia worse, confirming previous observations that excessive zinc intake may lead to copper deficiency,13 which in turn may lead to arrhythmia.
Gross deficiency of dietary selenium may cause many heart problems, including arrhythmia. Based on this finding, one author has theorized that correction of low selenium status may improve many arrhythmias, even in the absence of overt deficiency symptoms.14 Controlled research is needed to evaluate this possibility.
One case of long-standing sick-sinus syndrome (another type of arrhythmia) was reported to resolve upon supplementation with 800 IU per day of vitamin D prescribed for an unrelated condition. However, it was not clear from that report whether the improvement was due to the vitamin D.15 More research is needed.
Are there any side effects or interactions with cardiac arrhythmia?
Refer to the individual supplement for information about any side effects or interactions.
Herbs that may be helpful for cardiac arrhythmia
An animal study showed that an extract of hawthorn significantly reduced the number of experimentally induced arrhythmias.16 Although the use of hawthorn for arrhythmia in humans has not been studied scientifically, it traditionally has been used for this purpose.17
An active constituent in corydalis, dl-tetrahydropalmatine (dl-THP), may exert an anti-arrhythmic action on the heart. This action was observed in a preliminary trial with 33 patients suffering from a specific type of arrhythmia called supraventricular premature beat or SVPB.18 Each patient took 300 to 600 mg of dl-THP per day in tablet form, and the dl-THP was found to be significantly more effective than placebo in reducing arrhythmia.
Are there any side effects or interactions with cardiac arrhythmia?
Refer to the individual herb for information about any side effects or interactions.


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Let the games begin! The first real climbing starts today at Le Tour and with the long Col du Soudet and the steep Col de Marie Blanque on le menu, there should be the first real selection at this years Tour, but with the summit of Marie Blanque 45km from Pau, there ought to be a 40 rider group together for the sprint on the Rue du Maquis de Bearn, where Caisse d'Epargne's speedy Valverde could sprint to victory.
Images ©:AFP


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Raleigh Little Theatre Presents BUS STOP, Now thru 2/24
William Inge's classic play, Bus Stop, runs tonight, February 1-24, 2013 at Raleigh Little Theatre in the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre. The play transpires in a diner during a snow storm, transforming a group of strangers in to something much more. To enhance the experience, patrons at RLT will enjoy free coffee provided by Larry's Beans, a Raleigh-based coffee roaster specializing in organic, fair trade and shade-grown coffee.
Opening night, tonight, February 1st, the North Carolina Theatre Conference will present the 2012 Community Theatre Award, recognizing RLT as the community theater of the year in North Carolina. Visit http://www.nctc.org/more-programs/nctc-awards for more information.
Bus Stop is set in the mid-1950s at a street-corner restaurant west of Kansas City. The snowy weather has closed the road to Topeka, forcing a bus to stop for the night and passengers to take shelter at the diner. During the course of just a few hours, the lives of the passengers and the townspeople intersect and diverge in various ways, reflecting each character's search for meaning and their struggle against loneliness.
Audiences may be familiar with the work because of the movie it inspired, which opened in 1956 and starred Marilyn Monroe as Cherie, a chanteuse who has been abducted by a young cowboy named Bo. The film also spawned a TV show that ran from 1961-62 on ABC.
Bus Stop runs Thursday through Sunday from tonight, February 1-24, 2013, at Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre of the Raleigh Little Theatre, located at 301 Pogue Street, Raleigh, N.C. Performances Thursday, Friday and Saturdays are at 8:00 p.m., with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 3:00pm.
Tickets are sold by reserved seating and pricing for adults is $20 and for seniors and students is $16. Tickets for all performances can be purchased by calling the box office (919)-821-3111, Monday through Friday, noon-5:00 p.m., or by visiting the theatre's website at www.raleighlittletheatre.org.
Founded in 1936, Raleigh Little Theatre (RLT) is one of the oldest continuously operating community theatres in the United States. RLT offers entertainment, education, and community programs year-round, reaching more than 40,000 people. As a community theatre, RLT engages hundreds of volunteers under the guidance of professional staff to achieve its mission and bring quality live theatre to the Triangle region. Visit www.raleighlittletheatre.org for more information.Pictured: Brian Hollingsworth as Bo Decker, Gus Allen as Will Masters, Katie Scofield as Cherie. Photo by Curtis Brown.


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The availability of land and farm facilities and overall profitability remain the top challenges of America's young farmers and ranchers. However, they also believe they are better off today than five years ago, and they are more optimistic about the future of farming.
These are just a few of the key findings of an informal survey of young U.S. farmers and ranchers, ages 18-35, conducted by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Overall, the 16th annual survey of participants in AFBF's Young Farmer & Rancher Program, conducted during the 2008 YF&R conference held in Baltimore, Md., recently, shows the future of U.S. agriculture is in caring and competent hands.
"Despite facing some significant challenges, young farmers and ranchers are enthusiastic about the future of agriculture," AFBF YF&R Chair Townsend Kyser said. Kyser, a farmer and catfish producer from Greensboro, Ala., was elected to lead Farm Bureau's young farmers and ranchers in January.
Following land and facility availability (36 percent) and overall profitability (20 percent) as the two top concerns, young farmers and ranchers cite increasing urbanization and loss of farmland (14 percent), government regulations (11 percent), and the availability and costs of health care (10 percent) as the next most-pressing challenges. Land and facility availability and overall profitability have ranked high in most previous surveys.
Once again, the vast majority of young farmers and ranchers (83 percent) said they are more optimistic about farming than five years earlier. In 2007, 79 percent of those surveyed said they were more optimistic, and the percentage of respondents feeling more optimistic has hovered around 80 percent since 2004. In 2003, 61 percent said they were more optimistic.
When young farmers and ranchers were asked if they feel better off now than five years ago, 90 percent indicated they are better off now. Back in 2000, 70 percent said they were better off than five years previously, the lowest percentage since the survey's inception in 1993.
In addition, 92 percent of today's young farmers and ranchers see themselves remaining in farming for the rest of their lives, and 95 percent would like to see their children follow in their footsteps. Eighty-four percent believe their children will be able to follow them in farming and ranching if they choose to do so.
Most (43 percent) of the individuals surveyed said they got started in farming and ranching as a result of a family partnership, but 30 percent said they started in agriculture on their own, without benefit of family ties.
When asked what steps the federal government could take to help them continue farming and ranching, the measure cited most often was greater financial help for beginning farmers (22 percent), followed by maintaining a viable farm income safety net and strengthening private property rights (17 percent each), boosting U.S. agricultural exports and trade (15 percent) and reforming or cutting federal taxes (13 percent).
Two-thirds of survey participants said they believe farm income should come totally from domestic and international markets, while 33 percent said farm income should be supplemented by federal farm program payments. Last year, 63 percent said farm income should come totally from the marketplace, and 79 percent said so in 2006.
For the first time, young farmers and ranchers were asked if state and local issues, such as property taxes, concern them more than federal issues, and 75 percent responded in the affirmative.
"The high level of interest in local and state issues by young farmers and ranchers is encouraging. Their active involvement in Farm Bureau grassroots organizations in every state and 2,800 counties around our nation is critical as we continue working to build strong, prosperous agricultural communities," AFBF President Bob Stallman said.
Taking care of the environment and practicing conservation stewardship are important to today's young farmers and ranchers. Fifty-five percent said they practice conservation tillage at home, and 49 percent rotate three or more crops. Forty percent use soil/tissue analysis, and 36 percent employ integrated pest management and field scouting.
Conservation tillage has been cited as the top earth-friendly practice every year but one since the survey began in 1993. Rotation of three or more crops and soil/tissue analysis have been popular environmental initiatives for years, as well.
Not surprisingly, using technology is important to today's young farmers and ranchers. About 90 percent have cellular telephones and computers, 46 percent have home satellite television, and 99 percent use the Internet in various ways. High-speed Internet service is used by 55 percent, followed by 27 percent with traditional dial-up service, while about 13 percent have service that relies on satellite technology.
In terms of how the general public views farmers and ranchers, 42 percent said they feel the public sees them positively. Equal numbers of respondents (29 percent each) said the public sees farmers negatively or doesn't spend time thinking about them.
AFBF's YF&R program includes men and women between the ages of 18-35. The objective of the program, according to Kyser, is to provide leadership in building a more effective Farm Bureau, while preserving individual freedoms and expanding opportunities in agriculture.


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Related Topics : Nortel, Citrix Systems, Storage Virtualization, Server Virtualization, Hardware Virtualization
While some organizations already know which infrastructure, converged or hyperconverged, might be best for their environment, many others have questions about how best to proceed. ... More >>
Five key areas that are critical for successful data center modernization efforts include speed, quality of service (QoS), disaster recovery, predictive data analytics and manageability at scale. ... More >>
Full NFV adoption may take years to accomplish, but will enable network administrators to work without purchasing dedicated hardware to build a service chain. ... More >>


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Congratulations! You are about to sign up for this program:
Brant Hills CC K5-10 Floor Hockey - Parents vs. Kids Thur 5:00 PM - 6:00PM Dates: Apr 4 - Jun 27 | Not your program?
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To Sign Up for a KidsPlay Sports program
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Note: All individual children are required to have a completed registration form prior to entering a class.
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