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White House Fought New Curbs On Interrogations, Officials Say
By DOUGLAS JEHL and DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: January 13, 2005
At the urging of the White House, Congressional leaders scrapped a legislative measure last month that would have imposed new restrictions on the use of extreme interrogation measures by American intelligence officers, Congressional officials say.
The defeat of the proposal affects one of the most obscure arenas of the war on terrorism, involving the Central Intelligence Agency's secret detention and interrogation of top terror leaders like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks, and about three dozen other senior members of Al Qaeda and its offshoots.
The Senate had approved the new restrictions, by a 96-to-2 vote, as part of the intelligence reform legislation. They would have explicitly extended to intelligence officers a prohibition against torture or inhumane treatment, and would have required the C.I.A. as well as the Pentagon to report to Congress about the methods they were using.
But in intense closed-door negotiations, Congressional officials said, four senior members from the House and Senate deleted the restrictions from the final bill after the White House expressed opposition.
In a letter to members of Congress, sent in October and made available by the White House on Wednesday in response to inquiries, Condoleezza Rice, the national security adviser, expressed opposition to the measure on the grounds that it ''provides legal protections to foreign prisoners to which they are not now entitled under applicable law and policy.''
Earlier, in objecting to a similar measure in a Senate version of the military authorization bill, the Defense Department sent a letter to Congress saying that the department ''strongly urges the Senate against passing new legislation concerning detention and interrogation in the war on terrorism'' because it is unnecessary.
The Senate restrictions had not been in House versions of the military or intelligence bills.
In interviews on Wednesday, both Senator Susan Collins of Maine, a Republican negotiator, and Representative Jane Harman of California, a Democratic negotiator, said the lawmakers had ultimately decided that the question of whether to extend the restrictions to intelligence officers was too complex to be included in the legislation.
''The conferees agreed that they would drop the language but with the caveat that the intelligence committees would take up the issue this year,'' Ms. Collins said.
Ms. Harman said, ''If there are special circumstances around some intelligence interrogations, we should understand that before we legislate.''
Some Democratic Congressional officials said they believed that the Bush administration was trying to maintain some legal latitude for the C.I.A. to use interrogation practices more extreme than those permitted by the military.
In its report last summer, the independent commission on the Sept. 11 attacks recommended that the United States develop policies to guarantee that captured terrorists were treated humanely.
Martin Lederman, a former Justice Department lawyer who left the department in 2002, said in an interview on Wednesday that he believed that the administration had ''always wanted to leave a loophole where the C.I.A. could engage in actions just up to the line of torture.''
The administration has said almost nothing about the C.I.A. operation to imprison and question terror suspects designated as high-value detainees, even as it has expressed disgust about abuses at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Senior officials have sought in recent public statements to emphasize that the government will continue to abide by federal laws that prohibit torture.
At his confirmation hearing last week on his nomination to be attorney general, Alberto R. Gonzales said he found torture abhorrent.
The issue of the C.I.A.'s treatment of detainees first arose after agency officials sought legal guidance on how far its employees and contractors could go in interrogating terror suspects and whether the law barred the C.I.A. from using extreme methods, including feigned drowning, in the interrogation of Abu Zubaydah, the first of the Qaeda leaders captured by the United States. He was apprehended in Pakistan in early 2002.
An August 2002 legal opinion by the Justice Department said that interrogation methods just short of those that might cause pain comparable to ''organ failure, impairment of bodily function or even death'' could be allowable without being considered torture. The administration disavowed that opinion last summer after the classified legal opinion was publicly disclosed.
A new opinion made public late last month, signed by James B. Comey, the deputy attorney general, explicitly rejected torture and adopted more restrictive standards to define it.
But a cryptic footnote to the new document about the ''treatment of detainees'' referred to what the officials said were other still-classified opinions. The footnote meant, the officials said, that coercive techniques approved by the Justice Department under the looser interpretation of the torture statutes were still lawful even under the new, more restrictive interpretation.


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The Basics
Houston Dynamo vs. Sporting Kansas City
Saturday, July 30, 7:30 p.m. CT
Robertson Stadium, Houston, TX
All-time record: Seattle leads 3-2-3 (2-1-2 regular season)
Dynamo-Seattle tickets
McDonald's 4-packs
5,000 dog tags, courtesy of Budweiser
More Gameday Information
SportsTalk 790 - 7:00 p.m.
La Ranchera 850 - 7:00 p.m.
KHOU 11.2 - 7:30 p.m.
San Jacinto Post-Game Call-In Show with Glenn Davis - SportsTalk 790, 9:45 p.m.
United Airlines Autograph Alley
The Houston Dynamo return home to face the Seattle Sounders on Saturday evening at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo saw their four-game unbeaten run come to an end last weekend, falling 3-0 at Chivas USA. The Sounders, who have never won in Houston, are unbeaten in nine league games after a 4-3 home win vs. Colorado, though they lost midweek in Panama in the CONCACAF Champions League.
REFEREE: Niko Bratsis. SAR (bench): Peter Manikowski; JAR (opposite): Anthony Vasoli; 4th: Hilario Grajeda
Bratsis MLS Career: 6 games; FC/gm: 25.7; Y/gm: 3.0; R: 0; pens: 0
INJURY REPORT (as of Friday, July 29): HOUSTON DYNAMO – OUT: FW Calen Carr (concussion); PROBABLE: FW Cam Weaver (L ankle sprain) … SEATTLE SOUNDERS – OUT: MF Steve Zakuani (R leg fracture); DOUBTFUL: MF Brad Evans (hamstring strain); DF Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (knee MCL sprain); QUESTIONABLE: GK Terry Boss (concussion)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
SUSPENDED: HOU: Je-Vaughn Watson (through July 31)
WARNINGS: SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: SEA: Servando Carrasco, Fredy Montero … SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: HOU: Danny Cruz, Brad Davis … SEA: Osvaldo Alonso, Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, James Riley, Tyson Wahl
ALL-TIME REGULAR SEASON (5 meetings): Dynamo 1 win, 5 goals … Sounders 2 wins, 7 goals … Ties 2
AT ROBERTSON STADIUM (2 meetings): Dynamo 1 wins, 3 goals … Sounders 0 wins, 2 goals … Ties 1
- The teams played to a 1-1 draw in their first meeting this season, March 25 at Qwest Field.
- The Dynamo have never won in Seattle, with two wins and a draw in three league meetings, a draw in the 2009 Western Conference Semifinal Series, and a Seattle win in a U.S. Open Cup semifinal in 2009.
- The Sounders have never won at Robertson Stadium. The Dynamo have won twice with one draw, including in the 2009 conference semifinals.
- Coaches record: Sigi Schmid vs. HOU: P11 W3 L3 D5 … Dominic Kinnear v SEA: P5 W1 L2 D2
3/25: HOU 1, SEA 1 (Cameron 42 – Zakuani 80)
- The Dynamo took the lead in the 42nd minute after Lovel Palmer crashed a thunderous 30-yard bomb off the crossbar. The loose ball from the rebound found its way to Geoff Cameron, who unleashed a low drive that ricocheted off the foot of a fallen defender and rung off the bar on its way into the net.
- The Sounders pulled even with 10 minutes to play when a corner kick from Erik Friberg was deflected by Houston defender Bobby Boswell and, as the ball rolled across the goal, Steve Zakuani streaked towards the back post to tap it in and break Seattle's goal-scoring drought.
- SEATTLE SOUNDERS (4-4-2): Kasey Keller – Zach Scott, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Leo Gonzalez - Erik Friberg, Osvaldo Alonso, Brad Evans (Mauro Rosales 71), Steve Zakuani - O'Brian White (Nate Jaqua 61), Fredy Montero.
- HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-1-3-2): Tally Hall – Kofi Sarkodie, Bobby Boswell, Andre Hainault, Hunter Freeman - Lovel Palmer - Corey Ashe (Danny Cruz 85), Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis - Will Bruin (Brian Ching 75), Jason Garey (Cam Weaver 46).
The Houston Dynamo saw their unbeaten streak put to an end after four games, falling 3-0 to Chivas USA at The Home Depot Center on Saturday evening. The Dynamo have 24 points from 21 games on the season, sitting in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
- Chivas USA -- and Braun -- scored twice within nine minutes just before halftime. In the 31st minute, Ante Jazic sprinted up field and sent in a well-placed cross to Braun, who slipped in a slim touch for the goal.
- Then in the 40th minute, Blair Gavin played in a deflected pass to the Chivas USA striker, who broke in alone on goal and sent in a looping shot over Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall.
- The Dynamo went a man down in the 70th minute of play when Jamaican midfielder Je-Vaughn Watson brought down LaBrocca, earning him his second yellow card and an expulsion. Chivas USA put a capper on the night in the 86th minute when Jazic led a Chivas counter, sending in another cross to Braun, who finished for his third goal of the night.
- Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear made two changes to the team that reached a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City at Robertson Stadium. Cam Weaver and Will Bruin came back into the team for the suspended Colin Clark and Brian Ching.
- HOUSTON DYNAMO (4-1-3-2): Tally Hall - Kofi Sarkodie (Alex Dixon 72), Jermaine Taylor, Andre Hainault, Corey Ashe - Je-Vaughn Watson (sent off 70) - Danny Cruz (Adam Moffat 67), Geoff Cameron, Brad Davis - Cam Weaver, Will Bruin.
- Over their four-game unbeaten run, the Dynamo had taken just six of a possible 12 points, winning once. They have two wins since the start of May.
- "We didn't play well," Dynamo head coach Dominic Kinnear said. "I'm not going to make any excuses. We didn't play well, and when you don't play well, you're going to lose more than you win."
- The Dynamo are still winless away from home, with four losses and six draws from 10 trips. They are one of three teams still winless on their travels (along with Toronto and Vancouver).
- "It's very [frustrating]," midfielder Brad Davis said. "It's hard to put the feelings into words right now. We're upset because we train well and do well together, and then in games, we get out there and it all falls apart."
- The Dynamo were left shorthanded for a second consecutive week when Je-Vaughn Watson was sent off. The week before, Colin Clark and Brian Ching were each sent off in the final 40 minutes.
- "[We need to] try and forget this as soon as possible but realize the mistakes that we made," Kinnear said. "[We need to] understand that we have a good team in Seattle coming to our place, and we have to be ready to play them."
- Watson has started five consecutive matches in central midfield after returning from CONCACAF Gold Cup duty, but will miss the Seattle match through suspension. Davis could move inside – or Adam Moffat, newly acquired from Portland, could figure into the selection.
- "You want to have your squad available — it's a tough season," Kinnear said. "So when guys are not here for any reason it's tough. When they're not here because of suspension, it sticks out."
The Seattle Sounders stretched their undefeated run to nine games, defeating the Colorado Rapids 4-3 on July 16 at Qwest Field. The Sounders have 38 points from 22 games on the season, sitting in third place in the Western Conference.
- The Rapids took the lead just a minute into the match. Wells Thompson latched on to a short clearance from Seattle defender Jeff Parke and drove a low shot into the left corner from the edge of the box.
- The Sounders answered through Alvaro Fernandez in the seventh minute, after he ran onto a long pass from Osvaldo Alonso and held off right back Kosuke Kimura long enough to fire a shot inside the far post.
- The Rapids reclaimed the lead just before halftime when Thompson collected a long ball from Omar Cummings and laid it off to Jeff Larentowicz, whose drive bounced off the far post and in. But Seattle was level again shortly after the restart as Roger Levesque flicked in a cross from the right from Mauro Rosales.
- Seattle took the lead in the 82nd minute when substitute Brad Evans's shot was tipped by Colorado goalkeeper Matt Pickens, and Fredy Montero stooped low to nod the ball in at the far post. Then Rosales made it 4-2 in the 84th minute, taking a pass from Montero before slotting a shot past Pickens.
- It proved to be a vital goal for the home side as Caleb Folan slammed home a rebound in the 90th minute after Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller made a save from a corner kick.
- Sounders head coach Sigi Schmid made one change to the team that defeated the Portland Timbers 3-2 at Jeld-Wen Field. Patrick Ianni came back into central defense for Jhon Kennedy Hurtado.
- SEATTLE SOUNDERS (4-4-2): Kasey Keller - James Riley, Jeff Parke, Patrick Ianni, Tyson Wahl - Mauro Rosales, Erik Friberg (Brad Evans 73), Osvaldo Alonso, Alvaro Fernandez (Lamar Neagle 71) - Fredy Montero (Nate Jaqua 93+), Roger Levesque.
- Fredy Montero has scored three goals and set another in the last two league matches.
- "His work rate was good. .... He's stepped up and accepted the challenge. He's been getting goals and he set up a great goal to Mauro [Rosales]," said Sigi Schmid. "I was very pleased with our front four – [Roger] Levesque, Montero, [Alvaro] Fernandez and Mauro Rosales. I think they were creative and they put a lot of things together and a lot of combinations."
- It was a second consecutive match where the Sounders came from behind in the second half to claim victory, with the winning goal coming after the 80th minute. Seattle has scored 11 goals in the final 15 minutes of matches – most in MLS.
- "We're scoring goals right now and that's the most important thing. No matter if they come in the first minute, seventh minute or whatever it was today," midfielder Brad Evans said. "We get two late past the 80th minute mark so we're putting the ball into the back of the net. We're finding good ways to score."
- Montero's week started with two goals in the win against Portland, then he scored another in the 3-1 U.S. Open Cup victory against the LA Galaxy at midweek.
- "Not to say that it was a perfect week but I definitely feel very good, especially because the team accomplished the objectives set before going into this MLS break." Montero said.
- On Tuesday, the Sounders began their CONCACAF Champions League campaign with a 1-0 loss in the first leg of their preliminary round tie against San Francisco FC of Panama. Roberto Brown scored the game's lone goal from the penalty spot after Jeff Parke handled the ball in the area.
- Here's the Sounders team: Kasey Keller, James Riley, Patrick Ianni, Jeff Parke, Leo Gonzalez, Mauro Rosales, Osvaldo Alonso, Erik Friberg (Pat Noonan 75), Lamar Neagle (Alvaro Fernandez 59), Fredy Montero, Roger Levesque (Mike Fucito 59).
- "It's 1-0 at halftime. It's important for us to come back and win this thing at home and it's great preparation for the MLS playoffs. We have got to show our ability to come back and score some goals," Schmid said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Notes and Credits
dance like to the music using your keyboard. down arrow for jump, up arrow for handstand, left and right arrows to move left and right, 1 to kick, 2 to go back to normal position, and space to play the music.
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Back to School FREEBIES and Deals!
It's Back to School season! With the supply list growing more and more each year, find out how to get the "essentials" for pennies!
Staples and Office Max have some great deals going on right now. If you can get out today or tomorrow to get them, you won't be sorry! FREE Pencils, paper for A PENNY, composition notebooks for $.10, folders for $.20, notebooks for $.50! There are so many more deals you won't want to miss. Click on the link below to see my pick for the best deals at Staples and Office Max. There are printable coupons too!!
Clothes shopping for back to school doesn't have to break the bank. Here are some great on line and in store deals:
Aeropostale: Everything 50% off – Graphic T-Shirts for $7, Hoodies for $14 and jeans for $20! Plus take $25 off $100 on line when you use code Aug25 at checkout or print the coupon and bring it with you.
Kohl's – 20% off $100 In store or on line plus use $10/$30 coupon from Staples. Bring this coupon with you to the store. On line shoppers use "recess" or "studyhall" at check out!
Carter's has kids back to school clothes 50% off – $7 toddler shirts & 40% off Halloween costumes!
On line shoppers take 20% off $40 when you use Code CARTER4U.
Let us know what deals you have found out there too!
Happy Shopping!


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Results 1 to 5 of 20
August 3rd, 2014 08:48 PM #1
A Quick Rant About 'Out of Date' Names
I just need to vent because it really bothers me that "out of date" is such a strong bias on NB. I witness perfectly good names being criticized for being out of date or "dated" when there is nothing else wrong with the name! Several people will reply - too dated, out of date, no, dated, no - the effect is a small avalanche of discouragement against a name without any real thinking at all.
So here's my rant: A name that is out-of-date in 2014 is not sufficient as a reason to dislike, discourage, reject the name. My name was rare at my birth, now forty years later it's very popular. No one knew it was going to happen! My girl cousin was given a boy's name, everyone criticized her parents, but now twenty years later, her name is statistically a girl's name. No one knew it was going to happen. Thirty years ago everyone incorrectly pronounced my sister's name. They confused it with a highly popular name. Now, everyone says my sister's name correctly! The other name grew so unpopular there is no longer any competition. No one knew it was going to happen.
The human being who is named now is going to live for seven or eight decades. A lot changes in just two decades. In my opinion, it is very very short-sighted to reject a name just because it feels out-of-date right now. No one knows what the opinion of that name will be twenty years from now. If names like Lorraine or Jason or Helen are out-of-date now, so what?!?! Each one is a classic name, familiar, literary, pronounce-able, internationally known, good on the top of a resume...what's the problem?! Do people really believe that a child will have a life of terrible ostracization because they were given an "out-of-date" name in 2014? I don't think so.
Whew. Ok. Had to get that out of my system. I'm okay now.* My name is Adelaide. I love to play with names.*Saffron Jane Calliope - Seraphine Mariah Rose - Rhiannon Noelle - Rowan Mazarine - Oswell Constantine - Maceo Alexander - Lucas Balthazar - Israfel Ronin - Paul Constantine - Malcolm Ephraim
August 4th, 2014 12:10 AM #3Senior Member
- Join Date
- May 2014
- Location
- Riverdale, NY
- Posts
- 396
THANK YOU! I absolutely agree 100%. A "dated" name is not a problem. Just because YOU don't like that it's "old" and "out of style" doesn't mean that a child is going to have legitimate negativity as a result of their name. It is the child's life that matters, not anyone else's opinion. Many "dated" names are perfectly fine and absolutely charming, and would be wonderful choices. They are easy, people know them, and what is so wrong with that? A lot changes over a person's life, and a "dated" name is not an issue. Babies are people, and they grow up. I LOVE a lot of names that were popular in the 70s, 80s, and 90s and am tired of the rhetoric about "dated" names as though that is fate worse than death.Baby Due in October!
August 4th, 2014 05:07 AM #5~Boys~
★ August Eli Benedict ★ Bram ★ Casimir Mordecai ★ Edmond John Meirion ★ Gillon ★
★ Jory Leander ★ Julian Charles ★ Macsen ★ Magnus ★ Vasiliy ★
★ Aira Rose ★ Arietta ★ Clover ★ Delphina ★ Eleni ★ Fiorella ★ Hester Isobel ★
★ Iris ★ Lilah ★ Merit ★ Sylvia ★
Sorry to anyone who read TSI. First draft was terrible. Second drafting now.
August 4th, 2014 05:59 AM #7
The dated thing is a silly argument (I have been guilty of it once. Just once. Forgive me.). The irony is, by the time your kids are about 10, or even 5, that name is probably going to be considered 'cutting edge.' Even if that isn't the case, bestowing your child with a name you love is much more important than its 'hip' factor. Pretty much every name would be labelled as 'dated' at some point, and that is just as true for the names of today.
No matter how 'current' or 'timeless' it might seem now, remember that in 20 years, that probably isn't going to be the case, regardless of what name you pick. And there are some wonderful 'dated' names: Wendy, Lisa, Mary, Christina, Paul, Dawn, Larry, Gerald, Frank, Vanessa, Farrah, Theresa, Valerie, Anne, etc. If you don't like a name, fine, I respect that. However, I think tacking the argument to it isn't really a legitimate reason to put a name aside.Girls:
Camellia Edie, Mercy Annabelle, Elowen Lilac, Vesper Daisy, Shalom Alice, Bellamy Evangeline, Ivalo Honour.
Guthrie Abe, Enoch Matthias, Moses Amzi, Amias Ezekiel, Ignatius Beau, Rufus Gardener, Asa Eden.
August 4th, 2014 06:27 AM #9Senior Member
- Join Date
- Apr 2010
- Posts
- 908
I like names when they sound dated. They seem a bit more rebellious against the status quo.


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Saginaw County Health Department kicks off lead awareness week
Sun, 20 Oct 2013 23:19:00 GMT —
The Saginaw County Health Department along with the Centers for Disease Control are letting people know about the dangers of lead poisoning.
Sunday kicked off a week of awareness called "lead free kids for a healthy future."
Officials are urging people to test their homes for lead especially if they were built before 1978.
You can also get your child tested for lead poisoning.
Health officials say children under the age of six are at greater risk when exposed to lead.
To learn more you can attend a health fair called "don't let lead scare you."
It's being held at the Saginaw County Department of Public Health Wednesday from 3-5p.m.


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There can be no doubt that with the impending arrival of the Three Weeks the efforts of draft chareidim into the IDF against the position of gedolei torah shlita will result in a stepped-up campaign against the chareidi tzibur in Eretz Yisrael coinciding with the beginning of the Three Weeks. Unfortunately, the prominent media coverage of the Plesner Committee continues to feed the sinas chinam against the chareidi tzibur as many public officials wishing to bash the chareidim are granted a forum to do so.
The chareidi draft has been positioned atop the national agenda – so much so that a planned meeting between Kadima leader Deputy Prime Minister Shaul Mofaz and PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen) that was canceled was also blamed on the chareidi draft issue. While no one can explain just what the connection is, Kadima officials blame Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu for canceling the meeting between Mofaz and Abu Mazen due to the pressure from Mofaz surrounding the Plesner Committee and the chareidi draft. The official reason for the cancelation of the meeting comes from the PA, as Abu Mazen backed out, apparently due to a vibrant Facebook campaign in the PA opposing the meet.
Kadima MK Avi Dichter, a former ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) director, told Israel Radio on Sunday morning 11 Tammuz 5772 that he monitors the Arabic media and to credit the prime minister with such "wide sweeping powers that he could persuade the PA to cancel a meeting with Mofaz because of differences surrounding the Plesner Committee would be absurd". Dichter, who is not a fan of the prime minister, admitted that any effort to connect the Plesner Committee and the canceled meeting was simply not in the realm of reality.
Nevertheless, with the Plesner Committee appears locked in dispute surrounding the chareidi draft. Plesner and his colleagues from Kadima want the new draft law to include monetary and penal consequences for draft dodgers, both on the yeshiva and personal level. Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu remains the voice of moderation, adamantly opposed to individual sanctions against avreichim in the hope of keeping his coalition intact. Mofaz, who heads Kadima, recently entered the coalition over going to national elections under the banner of compelling all chareidim "to share the burden". Mofaz is not showing any sign of agreeing to modify his stance.
It is difficult to predict what the committee will announce this week and what will pass into law via the Knesset. It does appear however that on August 1, 2012, some 60,000 avreichim may be listed as AWOL (Absent Without Official Leave) from the military is a new law is not passed or if the new law demands all the avreichim enter the IDF or national service.
Committee Chair MK Plesner is releasing statements to the media applauding the committee's mission, to compel everyone to "share the load". That said, the committee members have decided the new law being legislated will not address Israeli Arab citizens since they feel the High Court of Justice decision invalidating the Tal Law only applies to chareidim [and hesder yeshivot] and since the court did not include Arabs in the decision, the committee feels this is not part of its mandate.
Arab MK Jamal Zahalka spoke to Israel Radio Sunday morning as well and he too joined in the chareidi bashing. He explained that for one thing, the Druse community does serve in the IDF by-and-large, and has received nothing in return. He went on to explain the Israeli Arab community remains a step child and while chareidim receive cities like Betar and Kiryat Sefer, the Arabs must fight for every inch of land. He decried the fact that Arab citizens who remain loyal are simply ignored as a result of discriminatory policies while chareidim, who don't even serve in the military receive government assistance on a silver platter. He feels that until such time the Druse community is treated fairly there is no place to speak about drafting Arabs since the community does not receive a fair share of the government budget pie.
As we prepare to observe the mourning period that marks the beginning of Churban Bayis, followed by the Nine Days and Tisha B'Av the timing speaks volumes as at this most difficult and painful period a government of the State of Israel seeks to empty the batei medrashim, to silence the tens of thousands who study torah and protect Eretz Yisrael and Am Yisrael. HaRosh Yeshiva HaGaon HaRav Aaron Yehuda Leib Shteinman Shlita and other gedolei yisrael have called the Plesner Committee a "gezeiras shmad" and the Rosh Yeshiva instructed Degel HaTorah MKs not to participate and not to lend a hand in any way to send a clear message, that the chareidi tzibur will not cooperate and not compromise when it comes to efforts to uproot limud torah in Eretz Yisrael.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)


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How to Do Halloween on the Cheap
Everyone's looking to save a buck or two these days, myself included. When I'm figuring out my costume year to year I'm always thinking, "How cheaply can I throw this together?" Here are some of the best ways to throw together a costume and do it without spending a lot of money.
You'd be surprised and what you'll find when you just go through your closet. Do you have an old track suit? You could be a nerdy gym teacher. It's even better if the track suit is a little tight and you're a bit out of shape. Do you have an old ugly bridesmaid dress? Buy a cheap tiara and you're a prom queen. Zombies are very popular. Don't be afraid to rip up the clothes and throw some stage blood on them. Same with your kids. I remember my mom just made our costumes out of old clothing we couldn't wear anymore. My sister was a punk rocker with an old t-shirt she didn't wear anymore and a pair of jeans she couldn't wear because they were ripped. She put in different non matching earrings and she bought a Mohawk wig. Done. Old outfits from dance class also work.
Never underestimate the power of a cardboard box. Your cat uses it as a house or a hiding spot. Your kids can make it an airplane, a club house, or a boat. One year I was a die. My mom cut holes in a cardboard box for my head and arms, covered it in white paint and spray painted the dots on it. I wore a white shirt, white tights, white socks and white shoes that I already had. The cost? About $5. If you have two kids you can make them a pair of dice. Easy. Household scissors and a little bit of paint can go a long way.
Thrift stores are a goldmine and you need to get in your car and go there right now because if you wait, there won't be anything left. You can walk in there with not a clue as to what your costume will look like, poke around for a little while and walk out with your costume. I've done it for a number of years. Same way with your kids. Overalls, a plaid shirt, some corn stalks or hay; add a hat and you have an adorable little scarecrow. Overalls, a plaid shirt and a hat and you have an adorable little farmer. Thrift stores usually have everything under one roof and you won't break the bank snapping up everything you need.
Do you have your costume? Do you go all out or do you turn out all the lights and watch TV?


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digiChart is a women's health practice software solution offering tools, services and education for women's health care. digiChart offers a specialty electronic health records (EHR), clinically-driven medical billing, and analytics developed from decades of experience with thousands of practitioners. Built for OB/GYNs by OB/GYNs, the system helps with workflow management and documentation.
digiChart's EHR offers multiple features for care delivery. Unlimited, customizable treatment plans cover most women's health issues, and the Electronic ACOG-compliant Antepartum Record incorporates visit details ensuring providers have snapshots in one document at the time of delivery. Plus, the interactive OB Flowsheet is a single-screen workspace that follows patients throughout their pregnancies.
Comprehensive, clinically-driven medical billing goes beyond traditional services and is staffed by certified OB/GYN and ICD-10 coders resulting in optimal reimbursement for the work performed in the practice.
thomas from Thomas J Carzoli MD PA
Specialty: Ob Gyn / women's health
Employees number: 2-10 employees
July 2017
July 2017
Don't ever believe anyone who speaks in glowing terms about digiChart. It is cheap and easy to learn, but frequently very annoying to use. I finally got fed up with all the problems with digiChart and switched to Greenway-more expensive and more complicated, but much better. Switching from one EMR to another a real pain, but never regretted. Do not buy digiChart-you will regret it.
Easy to learn and less expensive that some of the other EMRS. Less input required to finish chart so can work through patients faster
Frequent crashes; frequently slow to respond, especially mid-afternoon; frequent compatibility issues with updates. Less input means less information available when you recall chart.
Heather from Low Country Women's Specialists
Specialty: Ob Gyn / women's health
Employees number: 11-50 employees
July 2017
July 2017
Looks good at first but then is awful. No upgrades over years. We have awesome data and it is as slow as Christmas.
Have had for over seven years and has progressively worsened. Changing to eCW but Digi would not give us a format of our electronic information that we could translate to a new system. They have us over a barrel. Run!
Carlos from Alamo Women's Health OBGYN
Specialty: Ob Gyn / women's health
Employees number: 11-50 employees
December 2016
December 2016
This is the second practice that uses Digichart. They mistakenly believe it to be the only OBGYN directed software. Not so. Expensive to license and keep. Mediocre but easy to learn interface. does print out OB forms in ACOG format. Very slow interface especially in the early pm. Customer support is almost nonexistent. Written only to work on Windows platform but even then only works well with IE version 5. it's 2016. really? Really crappy patient portal with medical questions to hard to understand for the layperson. Nonexistent mobile platform. Cannot use mobile devices such as iPads. When I looked at other competitors, not only were they cheaper but had way more functions and easier to use.
Easy interface to learn.
no fax capability
no patient education
horrible patient portal
no mobile platform
nina from private health
Specialty: Internal medicine
Employees number: 201-500 employees
November 2016
November 2016
Easy to learn, and very cost friendly. Please with overall use.
cost and ease of use
not much
Basim from Bardstwon Women's healthcare
Specialty: Ob Gyn / women's health
July 2015
July 2015
The attractive features of the system is that it was designed by Ob/Gyn's for Ob/GYN's. Initially the system worked well.
Very slow. Every time there is upgrade the system goes out of wack for a long time. It seems like the system administrators are overwhelmed by the government's new rules and regulations.
Have at least 3-4 different systems demonstrations. Don't get fooled because it is OB/GYN specific. I have a feeling that the companies overwhelmed and they cant keep up with all the changes in healthcare rules.
Anthony from Valdosta Womens Health Center
Specialty: Ob Gyn / women's health
March 2015
March 2015
Valdosta Women's Health Center, PC is a busy two-physician practice that was established in 1993. Management decided to implement an EMR in 2005 and a full time Microsoft Certified technician was hired to research and launch the EMR. A server-based EMR was purchased and installed, and chaos resulted. The EMR (Not digiChart) was immature and template-driven, and it had issues revery day that required contacting the vendor for support. The so-called technical support involved submitting a trouble ticket email that took up to 14 days allowed to correct. It took 24 clicks of the mouse for the physicians to sign off on a normal pap smear. Updates were offered at more cost. Our IT guy quit in despair. Management decided to abandon the old EMR and migrate to digiChart in 2007. The migration was painless and quick. We have never looked back. digiChart was designed by OB-GYNs for OB-GYNs, not by computer geeks. It is intuitive. Support personnel are friendly and quick to respond via a telephone call or email. User meetings attended were very helpful. The physicians love digiChart, and two other local OB-GYNs also moved their EMR to digiChart after seeing digiChart in action at the hospital. The antepartum record is instantly recognized nationwide, and several physicians have called our office to ask which EMR we use to produce the ACOG formatted antepartum record. digiChart is not perfect; nothing is. digiChart has grown and experienced growing pains. One episode involved slowness of operation that was challenging, but it's now corrected. You get what you expect, and the providers at VWHC expect digiChart to run smooth and quick - and digiChart meets or exceeds expectations nearly every time.
Upgrades are tough. But, it appears as though digiChart is following the MU lead, which is a challenge in and of itself
Check around. Use an EMR that was designed by physicians, not computer guys.


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Nearly 90% of publishers say they're optimistic about the digital future of publishing, according to a new survey from Digital Book World and Forrester which was presented at the first day of the Digital Book World Conference + Expo yesterday.
While the annual survey of publishers' attitudes toward digital was enlightening (read more here), you didn't have to conduct a survey to see that publishers are optimistic. The mood at the fourth Digital Book World was palpably upbeat on its first day. Multiple morning presentations earned hearty laughs and robust audience applause.
The hallways were literally jammed between sessions with old colleagues reconnecting and new business partnerships being formed. There's nothing like a great event packed full of information and insight to energize you.
If you were unable to join us, you can still come tomorrow. We'll be accepting walk-ins at the New York Hilton Hotel on 6th Ave. and 53rd St. You can also stream the show. Or, at the very least, follow along on Twitter with the #DBW13 hash-tag.
To see what you missed, read our complete coverage below. (Apologies for the extra-long Daily; so much happened at DBW2013 yesterday and we wanted to pack it all in.)
To get all the e-book and digital publishing news you need every day in your inbox at 8:00 AM, sign up for the DBW Daily today!
The rest of the day's top news:
Inkling to Take on Amazon Via Google (DBW)
Illustrated ebook publisher, distributor and producer Inkling has launched a new discovery platform that utilizes Google Search and turns it into a storefront. The idea is to bypass other retailers and reach consumers where they are naturally searching for information.
DBW2013: Coming to Grips With a Post-Bookstore World (DBW)
Bookstores aren't going away this year, but what about in five or ten years? Senior publishing executives are already preparing for a world in which there are far fewer bookstores. They're trying to learn how to sell their books elsewhere, sell directly to consumers and build more significant consumer marketing channels.
DBW2013: 54% of U.S. Kids Reading Ebooks (DBW)
According to a new study from Digital Book World and PlayScience, more than half of U.S. kids are now reading ebooks – more than double the number of adults. A full report on children and e-reading is available for download from DBW. And we will be holding a free webcast on the topic in a few weeks to take a closer look at the numbers.
DBW2013: Does Piracy Hurt Digital Content Sales?
In short, yes, it does. Many popular notions around digital content piracy are actually myths. It does hurt sales and there are things publishers can do about it.
DBW2013: Publishing Consolidation Over? (DBW)
Following a year that was a flurry of financial activity in publishing (HarperCollins closing on Thomas Nelson, Microsoft and Pearson investing in Barnes & Noble, and Random-Penguin, just to name a few), former Macmillan CEO and current senior analyst at private-equity firm Providence Equity Partners Brian Napack thinks that things will settle down and we're now seeing what the industry will look like in the foreseeable future. More from Napack here.
Why Authors Go Indie (Indie Reader)
It's officially a trend: Traditionally published authors are turning to self-publishing. But why? Creative control, money and speed are among the reasons. (Today at DBW2013, Writers Digest community leader Phil Sexton presents the results of a survey of 5,000 authors on their attitudes toward publishing, self-publishing, agents, ebooks and more.)
There Is No Publishing Industry (DBW)
There isn't one publishing industry – there are four and they've all been undergoing digital transition differently.
Bootstrappin' (DBW)
Digital book publishing expert Brett Sandusky has embarked on a new venture for how-to content on the Web. In a new series on DBW, he will take us through the genesis of his new concern, filling us in on challenges, pitfalls, unexpected surprises and successes along the way.
Kobo Grows (DBW)
In a statement yesterday, Kobo claims that it doubled its sales in 2012 and now has 12 million users.
DBW2013: Three Obstacles to Global Ebook Sales (DBW)
Pricing, rights and metadata and publicity (or lack thereof) are three hurdles publishers must overcome to build their international ebook businesses.
DBW2013: Random House, Tonto Books and Warner Bros. Among Big Winners at PIAs (DBW)
At a luncheon hosted by publishing personality Porter Anderson and keynoted by head of the Association of American Publishers Tom Allen, the best in enhanced ebooks and book apps were honored. See the complete list of winners here.
Children's Digital: Still Uncharted Territory (PW)
Missed the Children's Publishing Goes Digital conference at Digital Book World on Tuesday? No worries, Publishers Weekly has you covered.
All About the Brand (Pub Perspectives)
A year ago, it was all about digital versus physical. How can publishers get more digital while maintaining their eroding print sales? Now it's about building brands, says Penguin exec Eric Huang.
DBW2013: Building Social Media Communities for Book Publishers and Authors (DBW)
Social media is no longer a job for your smart, young intern: it's a big and growing part of business. So take a few minutes to read these no-nonsense tips for those who want to get serious about social media.
The DBW2013 Survival Guide (Premier Digital Publishing)
Attended DBW yesterday but not sure if you can make it through another day of information, insights, networking, friends and fun? We've got you covered. Check out this survival guide put together by some enthusiastic attendees.
|To receive this information in your inbox every morning at 8:00 AM Eastern Time, subscribe to the DBW Daily below.
Image Credit: Optimistic about 2013 image via Shutterstock


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ST. PETERSBURG — County Administrator Bob LaSala wants to revamp the way Pinellas divvies up its emergency medical services tax money so that all firefighter/paramedics receive the same amount.
It's an idea LaSala says is "fair and equitable."
But to St. Petersburg council members, who face the loss of up to two-thirds of the EMS money they get from the county, the idea is anything but.
"It is an unpalatable option," St. Petersburg council member Herb Polson told LaSala during a workshop last week. "I think we are being disproportionately affected."
Under LaSala's plan, which he wants to begin in October 2012, the county would average the cost of firefighter/paramedic salaries and benefits across Pinellas. The county would then give that amount to the 18 cities and fire districts for each EMS-funded firefighter/paramedic.
The overall effect would be a countywide savings of between $11 million and $15.2 million over the current plan, which has the county paying the full freight for each funded position. That amount varies from fire district to fire district depending on negotiated salaries and benefits and whether the city or district puts its highest paid firefighter/paramedics in the county-funded seats.
The individual effect would vary vastly depending on the district. The Pinellas Suncoast Fire District, for example, would see an estimated $89,302 to $207,153 increase in funding.
Palm Harbor could receive about $203,439 less in funding or $91,188 more in funding, depending on whether the county adds in the cost of replacement paramedics for vacations and sick days.
Harder hit would be Clearwater, which would see an estimated loss in tax money of about $905,126 to $1.6 million.
But hardest hit would be St. Petersburg, which would see a loss ranging from $7.3 million to $8.1 million. The city currently receives about $12.5 million from the countywide EMS property tax.
Noting that many of the districts that would benefit most — or be least hurt — under LaSala's plan are the tax-rich beach areas, St. Petersburg council member Karl Nurse said, "It's a shift of money from the poorest communities to the wealthiest communities."
• • •
St. Petersburg answers more calls for emergency services in Pinellas than any other agency — 40,155 of the 143,964 EMS calls in the 2009-10 fiscal year, Nurse said. The next busiest district was Clearwater, which answered 21,635 calls that year.
It's not right, Nurse said, that St. Petersburg should do most of the work but lose the most money.
"You don't really expect us just to go happily into the night in that situation, do you?" he asked LaSala.
But the council stopped short of threatening what Polson called the "S word" over the issue. Rather than sue, should the County Commission adopt LaSala's plan later in the year, Polson said he would like to see his council sit down with county commissioners now to see if they can work out a plan that is fair and equitable.
"I personally believe it's prudent to exhaust options before you make a significant irreversible decision," he said.
Polson said he believes his fellow council members are open to the idea. Whether the County Commission is willing may be another thing. Polson, who serves on the city's ad hoc EMS committee, said his group has three times sent a letter to the commission asking to sit down to discuss issues.
"We've not gotten a response," Polson said.
Reach Anne Lindberg at email@example.com or (727) 893-8450.


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Ford F-150 Transmissions 2004-2014: Overview and How-Tos
The Ford F-150 is America's best selling vehicle, and even when a manual transmission was still available, the overwhelming majority of buyers opted to ditch the third pedal. Automatic transmissions have come a long way since they first appeared on the options list over 75 years ago. Some manufacturers have even begun treating them as sealed units, designed to last the life of the vehicle without any maintenance.
Ford hasn't yet gone the sealed unit route for its trucks—but the need for periodic maintenance should not be seen as a weakness. The modern F-150's automatic transmission is a thoroughly advanced, extremely complicated unit—meaning even extremely skilled DIY mechanics won't generally crack open their gearboxes.
Doing any significant work on a transmission will require a significant amount of time and space, and even seemingly basic operations—like fluid/filter changes—are particularly messy jobs given the large amount of fluid involved. In reading the forum, you'll see a lot of members expressing frustration that Ford didn't make them easier on the home mechanic. Now, some of this is due to the increasing complexity of modern vehicles—virtually every aspect of maintenance is harder than it used to be—but there are also reports that Ford saw large numbers of owners using unapproved additives and improper fluids in their transmissions, which lead to premature failure.
Given the level of difficulty involved, this article should be seen as a jumping off point to get you familiar with the components of your transmission, rather than a shop manual for transmission maintenance or repair.
Table of Contents
General Information and Maintenance:
Diagnosing Problems With Your Transmission:
- Transmission Feels Like It's "Slipping" >>
- Truck Makes a Grinding Sound >>
- Truck Will Not Shift to Overdrive >>
- Transmission Trouble in Cold Weather >>
How-To Section:
Getting Your Transmission Serviced by a Mechanic:
- What Typical Transmission Service Involves >>
- What to Look For if the Tech Says You've Got a Leak >>
- Worst Case Senario/Cost Estimates >>
General Information and Maintenance:
Transmissions Covered
For reference, we'll be discussing the automatic transmissions on the generations of F-150 listed below. For information on exactly which transmission your truck has, you can use the Forum's VIN decoder.
- 11th Generation (2004-08); 4R70E/4R75E
- 12th Generation (2009-14); 4R75E/6R80E
Service Intervals for 2004-2014 F-150s
For the novice, here's a quick primer. Automatic transmissions work hydraulically, meaning they use fluid to conduct force, so healthy fluid is a key component to making sure your transmission is running optimally.
When looking for the full factory maintenance schedules covering every aspect of their trucks, the site forum members most often reference is Fleet.Ford.com. Since not every F-150 owner uses their truck the same way, the recommended change intervals can vary. These conditions qualify as severe use:
- Off-road operations
- Operating in dusty environments
- Extensive idling and/or driving at low speeds
- Towing
For 11th-generation truck owners, it's pretty simple. Ford calls for the transmission fluid to be inspected every 15k miles and replaced every 30k miles—regardless of driving conditions.
For 12th-generation truck owners, it's not much more complex. If you're not using the truck under the conditions specified above, your transmission fluid is inspected every 15k miles, but doesn't need to be changed until 150k miles. If you are, the recommendation is that it be changed every 30k miles.
How Important is to Service at the Recommended Intervals—Can I Skip It?
At the dealer, this service will run between $100-$150. One of the common questions we've seen on the Forum regarding the 30K service is also one of the most basic; "Should I do it?"
Now, there's always going to be a faction of owners—regardless of vehicle type—who love to explain how they've never changed the transmission fluid in any of their vehicles, and they've always run perfectly. And while there's no basis for it, there's also a contingent that believes changing the oil on an older transmission will remove the accumulated gunk that's been keeping it functioning.
But the general consensus on the Forum is that the transmission service—especially given the relatively infrequent intervals—is cheap insurance, and provides peace of mind. If you want your truck to last forever, play by the book.
I Want to Save a Few Bucks: Can I Do This Myself?
Transmission fluid resides in several different areas, including the:
- Torque converter: This is the link between the engine and the transmission. In the past, many torque converters had drain plugs to remove fluid. Modern F-150s do not have such a plug.
- Transmission fluid pan: It's best to think about this as an oil pan, but for your transmission—because that's exactly what it is.
- Transmission cooler/cooler lines: Your transmission is connected to a transmission cooler, which is essentially a radiator that circulates hot oil out and cool oil back in. The cooler is located in the front of your truck, next to the radiator, and it's connected by two lines which complete the fluid's circuit.
Now, there's a lot of chatter on the Forum about this service, so we consulted Ford Automatic Transmission Engineer Mark Kovalsky—who wrote a great tutorial on changing the fluid on the E4OD and 4R100—about going the DIY route, and he had some great input.
He explained that since 1999, all F-150s transmissions have a thermostat in the cooler circuit, and the only way to open it is get it hot. When a dealer tech changes out the transmission fluid, they flush it out using a special heated flushing machine which connects at the cooler line and pushes new fluid into the lines as the old fluid is drained out (read some of his comments regarding it here).
This insures that every component—torque converter, pan, lines—gets clean fluid.These machines aren't common—so it's pretty unlikely your local independent transmission shop has one.
Now, there is a hack to swap out the fluid and avoid taking it to the dealer. It involves changing the fluid in the pan, getting the transmission up to temp to mix the old and new fluid, and changing the pan fluid again.
If you're committed to going this route, forum member whitecyrstal1 put together a good tutorial on how to service the transmission pan and filter on 4R70E and 4R75E. But before you dig in to that job, make sure to read this great explanation of the "mystery part" you should find in the pan.
But our advice? Take it to the dealer.
Diagnosing Problems With Your Transmission:
In the following section, we've listed out some of the more common complaints we've heard from members regarding problems with their transmissions. The video below does a good job of explaining the inner workings of automatic transmissions—and and how they can fail—but if your fluid level is correct and there's no obvious signs of contamination, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly what the source of the problem is.
Transmission Feels Like it's "Slipping"
A slipping transmission will be characterized by a rise in RPM with no corresponding rise in acceleration, followed by a clunk sound and jerking sensation when the transmission finally engages with the engine. Jump to 1:40 in the video below for an example of a slipping transmission.
If you're experiencing any unusual performance from your gearbox, the easiest thing you can do is check the fluid. Click below to learn about checking your transmission fluid. Jump to how-to section >>
Truck Makes a Grinding Sound
On many trucks, especially those equipped with 4WD, it's not unusual to hear a whining during acceleration. But grinding is best described as an "ice in the blender" sound. Watch the video below for an example of a grinding transmission.
Member VTX1800N1 compiled an excellent overview of the system and explains where it can fail and produce a grinding noise. A word of warning, this is an extremely technical and long process, requires substantial knowledge about the vehicle's components and should only be tackled by confident, mechanically experienced folks.
If you're experiencing any unusual performance from your gearbox, the easiest thing you can do is check the fluid. Click below to learn about checking your transmission fluid. Jump to how-to section >>
Truck Will Not Shift to Overdrive
One of the other issues we've seen members report is the loss of the overdrive gear. You'll know this is happening, as after topping out in fourth, it will feel like the truck drops into neutral. There will also be no engine braking in second gear, though the truck will be able to be driven normally with the overdrive switched off.
This is most likely due to a broken servo clip, which sounds innocent enough, but qualifies as an expert-level repair. Member tim98 posted a great thread about fixing his overdrive problem, and has been helping some of the Forum's most hardcore members sort out their own issues. For mere mortals, his experience is valuable because it shows how a small piece can lead to a big problem.
So if you've lost overdrive and were worried about ponying up for an expensive rebuild or replacement, the thread above might set your mind at ease somewhat. While there will be a couple hours labor involved in fixing a broken servo clip, the parts cost should be less than $50.
Transmission Trouble in Cold Weather
When looking across the forum, there are numerous threads where members have described conditions where their trucks seem to slip shifting gears when cold.
While this can be disconcerting, in most cases, it's completely normal. When member buckcop posted about his truck seeming to slip in reverse when cold, a few members chimed in that it's nothing to worry about.
Member zap said:
"When you put it into gear, wait a few seconds before putting your foot on the gas which will make sure it is fully engaging. Maybe doesn't happen much on Fords, but on Cummins equipped Dodges not waiting before opening up the throttle is a good way to blow transmissions. That slip might just be lag of the transmission not quite being ready to get into gear fully."
And member 2000xl_toronto concurred:
"I think it is a function of the transmission. If I put both of my new model fords in reverse and do anything more than feather the throttle there is a lag then a bump and it jerks back. The transmission is just trying to protect itself from damage in my opinion."
For a couple more comments on the subject, head over and check out the full thread.
How-To Section:
Transmission Fluid Check
Ford doesn't make this convenient, as the owner's manual recommends this be checked by a dealer. The manual even states that the transmission doesn't have a dipstick, but rather a fluid level indicator—which is apparently a fancy word for dipstick. Semantics aside checking your AT fluid is easy enough to do yourself. Just follow the instructions below!
Conditions for checking transmission fluid:
- Truck should be parked on level surface
- Engine and transmission at operating temperature (driven around 20 miles)
Checking/Adjusting Fluid Level 4R70E/4R75E:
Unlike some of the newer units these transmissions are still equipped with a conventional dipstick. Refer to the steps below to do it.
Automatic transmission fluid expands when warmed. To obtain an accurate fluid check, drive the vehicle until it is at normal operating temperature (approximately 20 miles [30km]). If your vehicle has been operated for an extended period at high speeds, in city traffic during hot weather or pulling a trailer, the vehicle should be turned off for about 30 minutes to allow fluid to cool before checking.
- Drive the vehicle 20 miles (30 km) or until it reaches normal operating temperature.
- Park the vehicle on a level surface and engage the parking brake.
- With the parking brake engaged and your foot on the brake pedal, start the engine and move the gearshift lever through all of the gear ranges. All sufficient time for each gear to engage.
- Latch the gearshift lever in P (Park) and leave the engine running.
- Remove the dipstick, wiping it clean with a clean, dry lint free rag.
- Install the dipstick making sure it is fully seated in the filler tube.
- Remove the dipstick and inspect the fluid level. The fluid should be in the designated area for normal operating temperature or ambient temperature.
Low fluid level
Do not drive the vehicle is the fluid level is at the bottom of the dipstick and the ambient temperature is above 50F (10C).
Correct fluid level
The transmission fluid should be checked at normal operating temperature 150F-170F (66C-77C) on a level surface. The normal operating temperature can be reached after approximately 20 miles (30 km) of driving.
You can check the fluid without driving if the ambient temperature is above 50F (10C). However, if fluid is added at this time, an overflow condition could result when the vehicle reaches normal operating temperature.
The transmission should be in this range at normal operating temperature (150F-170F [66C-77C]).
The transmission fluid should be in this range if at ambient temperature (50F-95 [10C-35C]).
High fluid level
Fluid levels above the safe range may result in a transmission failure. And overfill condition of transmission fluid may cause shift and/or engagement concerns and/or possible damage.
High levels can be caused by an overheating condition.
Adjusting automatic transmission fluid levels
Before adding any fluid, make sure the correct type is used. The type of fluid used is normally indicated on the dipstick.
Use of non-approved automatic transmission fluid may cause internal transmission component damage.
If necessary, add fluid in 1/2 pint (250 ml) increments through the filler tube until the level is correct.
If an overfill occurs excess fluid should be removed by an authorized dealer.
An overfill condition of transmission fluid may cause shift and/or engagement concerns and/or possible damage.
Checking Fluid Level 6R60E and 6R80E:
Want a hint the Blue Oval doesn't want you doing this? Here's one: the dipstick is located under the truck, on the forward passenger side of the transmission, next to the catalytic converter. Here's the company line regarding checking the transmission fluid in your six-speed: "Transmission fluid should be checked by an authorized dealer. If required, fluid should be added by an authorized dealer."
That said, here's the official procedure on checking it.
1. With the engine running, place the transmission selector lever in each gear position and hold approximately 5 seconds . Place the transmission selector lever in PARK.
2. With the engine idling (600-700 rpm) in PARK, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to JACKING & LIFTING.
3. Remove the transmission fluid fill plug transmission fluid level indicator assembly, located on the passenger side front portion of the transmission case.
4. Separate the transmission fluid lever indicator from the transmission fluid fill plug.
5. Wipe the transmission fluid level indicator clean. Reinstall the transmission fluid level indicator only back into the transmission fluid fill plug hole to check the transmission fluid level.
For a video tutorial on how to check the transmission fluid, check out the clip below.
- Transmission fluid should be red. If the fluid appears dark or has a burnt smell, it should be changed to prevent damage to the internal transmission components.
- Refer to the hash-marked areas on your dip stick in regards to fluid level. It'll read just like the one used to measure oil level.
After removing the fluid level indicator, drip some of the fluid on to a paper towel to check the color:
- Presence of metal shavings in the fluid will be cause for concern. This indicates internal problems, and will require the transmission oil pan to be dropped to inspect for more material.
- If the fluid appears foamy, this can indicate the presence of coolant in the transmission fluid, and will require inspection of the cooling system.
How to Change Transmission Fluid
As stated above, this how to should be considered a hack for the 4R70E/4R75E, as the only factory-recommended way to change fluid involves the heated transmission flush machine found at Ford dealers.
It won't guarantee that all of the fluid is removed, but it will get the majority. Also, this tutorial explains how to change the transmission fluid filter, which per Ford, does not need to be done—even under severe use cases.
The filter is designed to last the life of the vehicle, unless the transmission has be contaminated with particulate. Keep in mind, after all the steps are completed here, the vehicle will need to be driven to operating temperature—20 miles (30 km)—and have the process repeated to drain the fluid that has been stored in the lines and torque converter.
That said, it's a helpful tutorial, though it assumes a level of familiarity with the machinery. With the warnings out of the way, we'll hand it over to whitecyrstal1.
Required Materials:
- Safety Glasses
- 6 Quarts of Mercon V fluid
- Transmission oil filter
- Ratchet with 10mm socket and extensions
- Around $30
Required Time:
- Three hours
1. With the vehicle securely placed on jack stands, start loosening the bolts in the pan at one end and slowly work it to the other end so the fluid will drain out the end where you started (having the pan under it to catch the fluid).
I ended up getting to the point that I had all but two bolts out before I dropped the pan. The two that I removed last were between the pan and the cross member. I kept loosening them to get more angle on the pan to get the most fluid out of it as I could before I dropped it. In order to do that I had to hold the pan up to loosen the bolts, the angle the pan was in gave no access to the bolts.
When the fluid stops it's time to drop it. Now with both hands grab the filter and wiggle it down until it is out. I went ahead and wiped the under side off.
2. If it hasn't come out with the filter, ring in the figures below will also need to be removed from the main control bore. Use a small screwdriver to remove the seal—use care not to damage the bore. Use a small screwdriver and position it above the ring, working it down slowly using caution not to let it touch the bore. DO NOT try and stick and object between it and the bore or you will scar the bore.
3. The picture below shows how the pan looks after it's removed from the transmission. The plastic plug, or "Mystery Part" is a plug left over from the assembly line. It gets pushed into the pan when the dipstick tube is installed. If you see if, you know the pan has never been dropped before.
4. The pictures below show close ups of the fluid pan magnet—there to attract any metal shavings in the system—before and after cleaning, and also show the pan after being cleaned up.
5. As it states on the pan, the its gasket is reusable. The pictures below also show the plan—with magnet reinstalled—and the comparison between the new and old filter.
6. Next apply some some fluid on the seal on the new filter, then install the filter opposite the way it was removed until it's all the way in the hole. Bolt the pan back on. The photos below show the new filter seal with some fluid on it, the new filter installed on the main bore, and the pan being bolted back on to the transmission.
7. Get under the hood and locate the transmission stick. Pull the dipstick out, insert the funnel, and add 5qts of fluid. At this point, you need to get the tranny up to operating temperature (150-170 degs) to get an accurate reading and be able to top it off. At operation temp move the gear shifter through all the gears checking for gear engagements. The engine needs to be running when checking the fluid level, if it's still low at this point add fluid in .5 pint (1/2 pint) increments until full in the cross hatch. It will probably take all six quarts to read full.
8. At this point, it's time to drive the truck for 20 miles (30 km) to make sure all the oil has been pushed through the entire system, and drop the pan again. Since the object is just to remove the fluid which was still in the system, the filter does not need to be removed.
Getting Your Transmission Serviced by a Mechanic
As stated previously in this article, even some of the most adamant do-it-yourself mechanics tend to avoid doing their own transmission work—and there are good reasons for that.
First off, there's not really much you can tell about your transmission until it's in pieces, and there are a ton of moving parts and delicate pieces which resemble honeycomb more than something you'd expect to find in a "gearbox." A quick glace at the exploded diagrams below should provide explanation as to why lots of folks unworried at other aspects of maintenance often regard these units as cases full of equal parts witchcraft and rocket science. But the good news is the vast majority of owners won't experience transmission problems, as today's models are more reliable than ever.
Read below to see what to expect when getting your transmission serviced by a mechanic.
What Typical Transmission Service Involves
When a dealer tech changes out the transmission fluid, they flush it out using a special heated flushing machine which connects at the transcooler line and pushes new fluid into the lines as the old fluid is drained out (read some of his comments regarding it here). Watch the video below for a detailed explanation of how this trick piece of tech works.
Mechanics often get a bad rap for being dishonest, but that doesn't mean you should go into every conversation with your tech thinking they're going to cheat you.
If they tell you that your transmission is leaking, they'll generally take you out to the service bays and point out where the fluid is coming from. These transmissions are not designed to consume fluid—no amount of leaking is normal—and while the units are complex, seeing a leak doesn't take a degree in mechanical engineering.
Transmission fluid is red, so if you see red liquid underneath your vehicle, you've got a leak. There are three places where leaks are commonly found, the transmission fluid pan, the transmission cooler, and the transmission cooler, which is mounted alongside the radiator. Here's a basic view of the system:
The three most likely areas for a leak to appear are:
Cooler Lines: These complete the loop between the transmission and the transmission cooler. They can be damaged from road debris or can break if they're over-tightened. They'll look like this:
Transmission Oil Cooler: This is a tiny radiator for transmission fluid. It's mounted vertically next to the radiator on the driver's side. This picture shows a cooler outside of the vehicle. As with the cooler lines, it can begin to leak when hit with road debris.
Transmission Fluid Pan: Located on the bottom of the transmission, the transmission fluid pan holds transmission oil and the transmission oil filter. It looks like this:
While the prices for swapping replacing these components can vary, if you're already bringing your truck in for transmission service, replacing the lines won't increase the cost of the job much, as they have to come off to hook up the machine which pushes the oil into the system. Dropping the pan will likely add an hour or two labor, as the fluid changing machine doesn't require it to come off, though parts cost should be minimal.
Worst Case Senario
Obviously, if you're having transmission problems, the worst case scenario is that you need an entirely new unit. Dropping and replacing a transmission is an intense job—and it's not going to be cheap. Exactly how much it will cost will depend on where you're located and whether a dealership or independent mechanic will do the work. Estimates on the Forum price a complete swap anywhere from $1500 to over $3000 for some high performance—as in ready to handle over 600hp—builds.
Here's what some members had to say about their experiences.
"The AAmco mechanic said there was not all that much that is offered for the 4r75e tranny as far as the aftermarket stuff. But he did tell me that it should last for at least 60,000 miles considering I am running 35″ tires, and that is a definite tranny killer."
"I got my transmission replaced at Ford for $3,011 with a 3 year, unlimited mileage warranty."
No driver wants to be faced with a large repair bill, but it's not the end of the world. In looking across the forum, you won't find many members willing to throw in the towel and ditch the truck over a transmission. Many repair shops and transmission rebuild companies will offer their own warranties to give you a sense of security when faced with dropping that much money on a repair. Some things to consider when weighing whether to pull the trigger and spend the money:
- Overall vehicle condition? Other expensive maintenance looming? How has it performed overall?
- What's the cost difference between a comparable truck and the repair?
- Blue Book value vs. what it's worth to you.
In the vast majority of cases it's generally worth the money to repair your truck rather than take a hit by having to sell a vehicle with a major problem. In automotive circles, some of the best advise is essentially a variation of the old saying, "the devil you know is better than the devil you don't." Barring cases of sever abuse, it's going to be worth it to fix a modern F-150 from this you which you know the history of rather than ponying up for another one.
The F-150 didn't become the best-selling vehicle in America by being fragile—these trucks are known for being dependable, high-mileage beasts which reward preventative maintenance. Forum member bucky919 works with the new EcoBoost trucks every day, and his comment is indicative of what you'll find about reliability:
"Our company trucks have over 80k on them right now, with just minor issues, for bouncing up and down oil field roads."
That sounds like a good endorsement to us.


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The New York Yankees are expected to be busy this winter as general manager Brian Cashman aims to improve his roster so the franchise doesn't miss the playoffs in back-to-back years for the first time since 1992-93.
One possible acquisition to improve the infield could be St. Louis Cardinals star David Freese. According to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, the two clubs are reportedly discussing a trade involving the four-year veteran.
"According to a source, the Yankees have discussed a potential trade for Cardinals third baseman David Freese," writes Feinsand. "It's unclear what St. Louis would want back for the 2011 World Series MVP, but given his down year in 2013 — he hit .262/.340/.381 in 138 games — and injury history, it might not be much."
Regardless of what happens with Alex Rodriguez's appeal of his 211-game suspension from Major League Baseball, the Bronx Bombers would be smart to add more hitting and depth to the corner infield spots, where injuries plagued the team in 2013. New York's offense ranked 16th in runs scored, 24th in batting average and 27th in slugging percentage last year. Acquiring Freese would address the lack of power and depth in the Yankee lineup. He will turn 31 years old in April and is still in the prime of his career.
New York missed the playoffs in 2013 with a record of 85-77. Injuries to key players, including Mark Teixeira and Derek Jeter, as well as some veterans not meeting expectations were among the primary reasons for what was a failed season by the Yankees' lofty standards.
Freese could be an inexpensive way for the Yankees to add some valuable offense and postseason experience to their 2014 roster.
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Nurse Handbag BlackItem #: 19404
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It is the right accessories that make a costume look really authentic. Our Nurse Handbag Black is perfect to add the finishing touch to your nurse, doctor or nun costume and it is also a great storage place for your horror makeup and other paraphernalia.
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Dimensions: approx. 13,5 x 10 cm x 11 cm
Material: varnished cardboard


text:
Welcome Back, Marfreless: Lovers' Lounge Again Ready for Action
Photos by Francisco Montes
Attention Houston makeout artists. Your slutty blue door is back. Well, almost.
Marfreless, that infamous River Oaks lovers' lounge with the the equally infamous blue door, will once again welcome Houston's randiest bar patrons tomorrow, when it reopens its freshly polished doors for business. But this Marfreless will have a new 'do.
The new owners have opted to stay "silent" for now, but have said they'll fancy up the joint a bit. Hints about the renovations have been dropping sporadically over social media during the past few weeks -- photos of stripped staircases here, notes about "private seating" there -- so it's a mystery just what, exactly, Marfreless's newest iteration will be. Details are still pretty sparse.
But, curious little creatures we are, Rocks Off implored the powers that be at Marfreless -- a.k.a. Dean Peckenpaugh, the bar's Facebook administrator -- to give us a little more information. So here's what we know.
Upcoming Events
Thievery Corporation presented by SiriusXM
TicketsMon., Oct. 23, 7:00pm
Post Malone - Stoney Tour
TicketsThu., Oct. 26, 7:00pm
MAGCON Tour
TicketsSat., Oct. 28, 12:30pm
Issues - Headspace Tour
TicketsWed., Nov. 1, 6:00pm
Luke Combs: Don't Tempt Me With A Good Time Tour
TicketsFri., Nov. 3, 7:00pm
Major changes to the interior await your arrival. Instead of that old wooden bar that used to lovingly cradle your cocktail, a white marble bar sits in its place. Stop pouting and give it a chance.
Chandeliers sit in place of the former lighting, the walls are now red (which seems quite fitting), and that all-knowing carpet has been replaced by tile, which we like to think is for obvious reasons.
The upstairs has also changed a bit. But in a good way. It now boasts curtains that, and we quote, "can be drawn for privacy or opened for groups. Or, maybe drawn for groups, if that's what you're into." No comment on our part.
The new owners still recognize that Marfreless is a makeout bar. What do you think those curtains are for? Or the word "groups"?
Story continues on the next page.
More renovations are coming. Just not yet. High-end wines by the glass, a more developed food menu, and more are on their way, but all in good time. Patience, grasshopper.
Don't worry about the fate of that naughty blue door. The blue gateway to heaven will remain the bar's bat signal, as it were. Same goes for the mural. Soon enough Marfreless will be home to some of your more interesting shenanigans, which means that all those tears you shed over the loss of one fantastic little dark makeout bar were in vain. But so were ours, buddy.
Welcome back, Marfreless. You've been sorely missed.
The Ask Willie D Archives Houston's Top 10 Hipster Bars, Clubs & Icehouses Top 10 Bars, Clubs & Ice Houses In West U/Rice Village The 10 Worst People at Houston Concerts
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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Friday, September 22, 2017
Urinary Disorders
Swelling foreskin
Last night when pulling my foreskin down I noticed that it was red and a little swollen. I did not think anything of it and had sex with my wife. Today when I woke up it was really swollen and hurting. I noticed this happen before, but a long time ago when we had sex too much that day, and it went away in about 3 days or so. I am wondering on what causes this and how to prevent it from happening? I am usually clean, take showers daily, and pull back the foreskin and clean it daily.
Swelling can occur if the foreskin is not pulled back down over the head of the penis. Swelling can be secondary to trauma, infection, etc. I would suggest that you be examined by your physician and discuss these issues.
Donald R Bodner, MD
Professor of Urology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University


text:
MAY I take this opportunity through your letters page to thank everyone who came out to support the recent Blackwood Christmas lights switch-on? sponsored by Blackwood Town Council.
The lights were switched on by the mayor of Blackwood, Cllr Granville Hale, the carnival queen, Hannah Watkins, and her court ladies. The hundreds of people who braved the cold appeared to enjoy the event and were entertained by Caerphilly Samba Band, DYT Dance Group and a special guest appearance by Santa, courtesy of Pontllanfraith Rotary Club.
Congratulations and well done to all involved.
Cllr Andrew Farina-Childs Chair of Events Blackwood Town Council


text: Tim Hochberg wrote: >> >> Yes, having this ability means that you have to think about it a bit >> if you are going to use the functional interface and try to do >> in-place operations. But, I would argue that this is an "advanced" >> usage which is implemented to save space and time. > > > How is this true though? In what way, for instance, is: > > b = asarray(a).reshape(newshape) > > slower or less space efficient than todays: > > b = reshape(a) Well, the big difference is that b=reshape(a) is actually try: reshape = a.reshape except AttributeError: return a.__array_wrap__(asarray(a).reshape(newshape)) return reshape(newshape) So, it handles more cases, more cleanly then the asarray(a).rehsape(newshape) approach does. -Travis


text:
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Santa Cruz County History - Executive Order 9066 and the Residents of Santa Cruz County
Agricultural Labor Shortage
by Rechs Ann Pedersen
"The tremendous drain upon farm labor by the war industries selective service and evacuation of Japanese and enemy aliens has created a critical problem in virtually all farming sections of California," said Dalton. [Herbert Dalton, USDA War Board chairman] (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian May 21, 1942. p.9)
Photo courtesy of Bill Tao.
So many men away in military service resulted in shortages of workers and changes in the makeup of the labor force all over the nation. (Well-known is the movement of women into the labor force to continue the needed work done by men.) In Santa Cruz County, Executive Order 9066 brought additional labor shortages and concern for the production of food. [Please note: the information presented here is taken only from contemporary, local newspaper articles. It is not intended to be a complete study and may not present a complete picture of the situation--RAP]
Restricted Areas
January 30, 1942, Santa Cruz residents read that the U.S. Justice Department planned to remove enemy aliens from defense areas in the eight far Western states. The coastal area was declared prohibited.
February 2, 1942:
The federal alien restricted area ruling of Attorney General Francis Biddle brought wartime reality into the heart of Santa Cruz county yesterday when all the area west of state highway No. 1 (the Coast road and Watsonville highway) south of Laguna Creek to the Carmel river was declared a restricted zone.Thus the heart of the city of Santa Cruz was included in the restricted zone, with the Coast road running down Mission street then out Water street to Soquel avenue and out the Watsonville highway, the border of the restricted area. Several hundred aliens will be affected by the ruling according to a survey conducted by the Sentinel-News last night. (Santa Cruz Sentinel-News, [M] February 3, 1942. p.1)
Being restricted from the coastal areas meant that Italian fishermen could not go out to fish. Axis aliens who farmed the coastal lands could no longer work their fields. At first there was hope that something could be worked out so that food production could continue, but there were no exceptions.
February 3, 1942:
Hardest hit will be the Italian fishing colony at the wharf and the artichoke growers up the coast, the survey revealed. According to Donald Younger, over 3500 acres of artichokes and brussels sprouts are farmed by Italian-American families in the county. Younger estimated that about half of these farmers are aliens. Representatives of the Sprout Growers' association and local shippers did not know last night how many of the growers would be affected by the ruling, but stated that probably 75 per cent of the workers on the ranches are aliens. (Santa Cruz Sentinel-News, [M] February 3, 1942. p.1)
February 2, 1942:
Italian, Japanese and German aliens in Santa Cruz who may have harbored a hope that some disposition would come to exclude them from the evacuation order, had those hopes completely quashed Tuesday.. Locally it appeared Tuesday artichoke and brussels sprouts growers along the coast between Santa Cruz and Davenport, in whose field alien Italians are employed to quite an extent, and the fishing industry at the wharf will bear the brunt of evacuation...The growers definitely face a labor shortage, according to Louis Poletti, manager of the Davenport Producers Association, representing a large majority of the artichokes and sprouts growers. Most of the fields are in the restricted area he said, and aliens can not set foot within the designated limits. (S.C. Sentinel-News. February 2, 1942. [E] p.1 Full-Text)
February 2-3, 1942:
This resolution was in variance to a similar resolution adopted earlier this week by the Santa Cruz county economic conference which recommended that Japanese not be removed from coastal areas but instead be retained for agricultural work under close surveillance. The Santa Cruz group cited the shortage of farm labor as the reason for the recommendation. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. February 3, 1942. p.2 Full-Text)
February 5, 1942:
AS WE SEE IT [Editorial]
Production of food is of such major importance to our country that we feel confident the government will work out a system whereby evacuation of aliens from the banned farming areas will be accomplished without disrupting agricultural industry in the affected areas... (Santa Cruz Sentinel-News. February 5, 1942 [E] p.1Full-Text )
Public Proclamation No. 1 designated the western halves of California, Oregon, and Washington and the southern part of Arizona as a military area. The Proclamation warned that individuals might be excluded from this area in the future. "Voluntary" evacuation was recommended. Ultimately, only those of Japanese ancestry were evacuated, although the German and Italian aliens were still restricted from certain parts of the County.
March 18, 1942
"Naturally it is desirable that in areas where their work is essential to protect important acreages of growing crops, Japanese farmers be permitted to remain as long as reasonable. The county USDA War Board has been instructed to recommend the earliest possible date by which the evacuation might be effected without resulting in serious crop loss." [Herbert Dalton, Board chairman] (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. March 18, 1942. p.2.)
Public Proclamation No. 4
Public Proclamation No. 1 restricted access to certain parts of the county, but individuals were free to move where they chose outside the military area--"voluntary" evacuation. Public Proclamation no. 4 utimately applied only to those of Japanese ancestry and made evacuation mandatory. Many families hurried to leave before the new proclamation was official on March 27, 1942. Farmers did not have that option. They were required to stay and work their farms.To leave was considered sabotage.
March 27, 1942:
Approximately 200 Japanese families will remain in the Pajaro Valley until the official moving notice following the voluntary evacuation deadline at midnight Sunday... Japanese farms "look good this year with fine crops of berries, lettuce and garlic expected." Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. March 27, 1942. p.1.Full-Text
March 27, 1942:
Failure of Japanese and Japanese-Americans working agricultural land in the county to continue operations until the time they must evacuate will be considered sabotage...(S.C. Sentinel-News. March 27, 1942. [E] p. 1. Full-Text )
Farms owned by Japanese and Japanese Americans were let to other farmers.
March 27, 1942:
"More than 40 Japanese and Japanese-American farmers who must evacuate from this county have listed their farming operations with Frane [Myron C. Frane, farm security field agent for the Army's wartime civilian control administration service center in the county]. Less than half that number of qualified farmers wishing to take over operations have filed with his office. Japanese and Japanese-American land listed for sale or lease constitutes 342 acres of land, of which 242 acres are planted chiefly to strawberries, bushberries, garlic and seed crops. The farms range from one acre to 30 acres. A farm-to-farm canvass was conducted that revealed majority of the larger operators already have made satisfactory arrangements." (Santa Cruz Sentinel-News, [E] March 27, 1942, p. 1)
August 28, 1942:
The agricultural division of the Army's Wartime Civilian Control Administration today announced that 70 per cent of the farm land operated by west coast Japanese and Japanese Americans had been transferred to other operators.." (Santa Cruz Sentinel-News, [E] August 28, 1942. p. 9)
Continued shortages
Restrictions were progressively lifted for Italian and German aliens and they could return to work.
July 1, 1942:
Several thousand Italian and German farmhands and fruit picers will be made available for work in California fields and orchards under a new proclamation...[it] revoked an order prohibiting all German and Italian aliens from residing in or entering nearly 100 designated areas in the state. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. July 1, 1942. p.10)
Newspaper articles indicate that there was still an agricultural labor shortage. Just how the labor shortage was managed in the County is unclear. On the state level, Governor Olson spoke with the War Relocation authorities on the possibility of releasing interned Japanese for farm work in military zones. Olson repeated a previous statement that release of the Japanese seemed the only feasible solution for California's growing farm labor shortage. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. July 7, 1942. p.7) That Fall 10,000 evacuees were on leave from the camps, employed as seasonal workers. They are credited with saving the sugar beet crops in several states, but they did not work in California that year.2, 3
Various solutions
Using soldiers to fill the labor shortage was suggested and rejected.
August 25, 1942:
San Francisco (UP)--California's critical farm and cannery labor shortage took a turn for the worse Tuesday. Lt. Gen. John L. DeWitt...turned down a request by California canners and growers that soldiers be released from duty to work in canneries and orchards...Agricultural authorities believed generally that Mexican laborers be[ing] imported would not arrive in time to save crops. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. September 9, 1942. p. 1)
In May of 1942, the United States and Mexico negotiated an agreement to help alleviate the wartime labor shortage. The Bracero Program, which lasted until 1964, arranged for Mexican citizens came into the United States to work on farms and railroads.1, 2
September 9, 1942:
Washington (UP)--The War Manpower Commission has approved a program for the immediate importation of 1500 Mexican farm workers to help harvest the California sugar beet crop. William Hopkins, regional WMC director for the Pacific coast, said an additional 150,000 local workers must be recruited to meet acute farm labor shortages in California. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. September 9, 1942. p. 7)
In the Fall of 1942, the editor of the Watsonville Register-Pajaronian called for volunteers to help with the harvest, indicating the seriousness of the problem.
September 16, 1942:
WE MUST BE PREPARED TO MEET FARM LABOR EMERGENCY [Editorial]
More than likely, heads of Watsonville business concerns soon will be asked to close their store for several hours a day so that their employees may help harvest this valley's apples and tomatoes.Experienced agriculturists here declare that the critical period in the farm labor situation will be reached in a week or 10 days. The pinch in the shortage of field and orchard pickers will be felt then. If there are not enough regular farm workers or volunteers ready to work, the employees of business houses must help save the crops. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. September 16, 1942. p.4)
Convicts were released and used in some areas of California.
September 17, 1942:
San Quentin (UP)--Plans for greater use of California's prisoners as emergency farmhands were disclosed Wednesday as a second group of 43 convicts and one guard left San Quentin to assist in harvesting crops...The group of 43 that left Wednesday will pick cucumbers in Sutter county. The first group of 43 was sent to San Joaquin river delta area..Two additional groups of 43 each will leave next Saturday and Monday to harvest sugar beets in San Joaquin and Contra Costa counties. Judge Pacht said 100 inmates of Folsom prison have been given conditional paroles and will be available for sugar beet harvesting in Yolo and Sacramento counties. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian September 17, 1942. p. 2)
The following article indicates that the Bracero Program had not gone well the previous Fall and that there was concern for the upcoming harvest. The solution proposed was, not to use evacuees, but to use Italian prisoners of war.
May 21, 1943:
But the farm labor problem is still unsolved, while the season speeds on toward harvesting time and farmers worry and wonder if this year the federal government will heed the warning and get promised Mexican labor here in time to save the crops - a project bungled last year...The Italian, it is argued, has not cared for this war, and certainly not for the part forced on him, from the beginning... He has a natural friendly feeling for Americans. He is assimilable, as the Jap can never be. And he, as well as the Jap, is a born farmer. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. May 21, 1943 p. 3 Full Text)
Fall 1943, Mexican workers were employed in the County. From the next article, it sounds as if Mexican workers continued to be employed here in the later War years as well.
October 1, 1943:
From various sources of late we've heard that a large number of Mexican nationals -- brought to this area to aid in harvesting record-breaking crops -- are getting tired of their work here and want to return home. No little alarm is felt in some circles about the condition because state agricultural leaders tell us that the Mexican nationals are sorely needed in California to help get in the 1943 Food for Victory....work with them to make their stay in California more pleasant. (Watsonville Register Pajaronian. October 1, 1943. p.6)
November 20, 1945:
Ten Japanese - five at Santa Cruz and five at Aptos - are being employed on railroad track work to help relieve the acute shortage of section hands, the Southern Pacific Co. announced at Santa Cruz Tuesday. Loyalty of the workmen has been certified by the government, the announcement said. ...The manpower shortage is made critical at present by the repatriation of Mexican nationals who have been employed on the tracks during the war. Some 13,000 Mexican nationals were employed by Southern Pacific at one time for this work, but with expiration of their contracts, they are returning home at the rate of 1300 monthly. (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian. November 20, 1945. p 3.)
- McWilliams, Carey. North from Mexico. Greenwood Press, 1968 [c. 1948]. p. 265-266.
- Martinez, Manuel Luis. "Bracero Program." The Latino Encyclopedia. . Marshall Cavendish, 1995. Vol 1. pp. 193-194.
- United States Commission on Wartime Relocation. Personal Justice Denied. Civil Liberties Public Education Fund and University of Washington Pr., 1997. p. 181-182.
- Watsonville Register-Pajaronian September 1, 1942. p. 1
Additional Information:
- Nihon Bunka/ Japanese Culture: One Hundred Years in the Pajaro Valley, Chapter 2: 100 Years of Agriculture:The Land Blossoms
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internment camps, Japanese Americans, racism
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