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SILVERTON, Ore. — Northwest Christmas tree growers are seeing signs they may be emerging from a seven-year down cycle.
"It's definitely picked up this season," said Charlie Grogan of Silver Bells Christmas Tree Farm in Silverton, Ore. "It is encouraging."
Growers said prices are up only slightly from a year ago, but after the seven-year slide, even a slight uptick is encouraging. And, growers said, for the first time in a long time, retailers are hungry for high-quality trees.
"The challenge over the last few years has been oversupply," said John Tillman of Northwest Plantations in Elma, Wash. "We would hear a lot about how they can get the same trees cheaper somewhere else.
"There is a lot less of that this year," Tillman said.
Problems with oversupply date back to the early-2000s when investors, many of whom were new to the industry, planted millions of trees to take advantage of what was then a strong Christmas tree market.
"People were planting 10 million trees a year in 2001 and 2003," said Bryan Ostlund, executive director of the Pacific Northwest Christmas Tree Association.
Seven years later, when the noble fir and Douglas-fir trees reached market size, the market was flooded, and prices plummeted. Growers, especially those new to the industry, sold trees at rock bottom prices, growers said.
"They sold the trees for whatever they could get out of them and then went on to another crop of some sort," Tillman said. "Those of us who make our living at this had to compete with that, and it was tough."
"We were hanging on by our fingertips," Grogan said. "It hasn't been easy."
"It was bad enough," said McKenzie "Ken" Cook of McKenzie Farms in Estacada, Ore., "that we lost over half of the growers that had over 100 acres of production in Christmas trees."
"Six years ago, there were over 110 growers in that category. Today that number is less than 50," he said.
Oregon leads the nation in Christmas tree production. Washington is the sixth leading producer.
The total number of Christmas trees in the ground in the Northwest has dropped from about 85 million four or five years ago to about 75 million today, Cook said. Growers typically harvest about 10 percent of their trees in any one year.
Prices, meanwhile, dropped 35 percent from their peak in 2004 to their low point last year, growers said. The slight price increase growers are experiencing this year amounts to only about 2 to 3 percent over last year, Cook said, well below what growers need to be sustainable.
"We need more like a 10 to 15 percent increase in prices for growers to have sufficient cash flow to replant their crops and maintain their crops," Cook said.
But the industry expects prices to continue on their upward movement for at least the next two years, before they could plateau out.
"No doubt prices are still soft," Ostlund said, "but that will start to change once growers realize that the supply is not what everybody thought it was. That will put them in a very good position in 2014, and we look forward to it.
"We knew the shift in the market was coming and that we were due for an uptick," Ostlund said, "but until you see it, you can do nothing more than cross your fingers and hope for the best. Now it's here. It's for real."
Ostlund said that buyers that waited to come into the market late this season are having a hard time finding trees, particularly high-quality trees.
"I'm hearing from a lot of growers that not only are they sold out, they are oversold," Ostlund said. "They are starting to cut into next year's inventory.
"We haven't heard comments like that for a long time," he said.
Tillman said the downturn was tough on many in the industry, especially as it dragged into its sixth and seventh year.
"These last years have been real close to a lot of us not being able to keep doing what we're doing," he said.
"The people who have stuck it out, who have made a living at this through thick and thin, at this point, I think we deserve to be rewarded a little bit for our perseverance and our ability to serve customers with the trees that they need, and to get through these times," Tillman said.
"This has not been easy; we have really had to figure out how to make do with a lot less," he said.
"I feel like a survivor," Cook said. "I feel like I have been to war and I am coming home, and it's a darn good feeling."


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WHO: Word Worship Artist Meredith Andrews
WHAT: A Worship Leader's (Streaming) Evening with Meredith Andrews
WHEN: January 24, 8pm – 9pm ET / 7pm – 8pm CT
WHERE: Online at http://...
Jason recently stopped by The Better Show to perform "Only A Mountain," the title track from his new album.
CLICK HERE to watch now!
Word Worship's Meredith Andrews, hailed as one of the preeminent female vocalists, worship leaders and songwriters today, is out Tuesday, January 22, with her third studio album Worth It All. On Thursday, the passionate and powerful vocalist will share music from her new album in a...
Singer-songwriter Jason Castro launches his debut Word Entertainment album, Only A Mountain, today. Produced by Matt Bronleewe, Ben Glover and David Garcia, the album features 11 tracks all written or co-written by Castro and includes the hit single, "Only A Mountain." In a recent...
Australian duo for KING & COUNTRY made it's television debut on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Watch the video below of the band performing their current single "The Proof Of Your Love."
Internationally-renowned recording artist and "American Idol" alum Jason Castro is set to release his Word Entertainment debut album, Only A Mountain, on January 15, 2013. On January 16, fans can join him for "An Evening with Jason Castro Benefitting MusiCares' Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund" in...
"Girls of Grace" 10th Anniversary Season hits Birmingham, AL on March 9, 2013 at Valleydale Church. Just last month this time-tested event, now in its 10th season, celebrated with a sold out crowd in Grand Rapids, MI. The conference is a powerfully impactful event for teen girls featuring live...
The Acoustic Christmas Tour which kicked off this past Thursday in Oklahoma City, OK drew a sellout crowd to the December 2 Littleton, CO date. With packed houses on the previous dates, the first Acoustic Christmas Tour by K-LOVE Radio and 25 Entertainment is proving to be a success. Tickets are...
Word Worship's passionate and powerful vocalist, Meredith Andrews' third studio album, Worth It All, due out January 22, 2013, is now available for pre-order at www.meredithandrews.com. Fans that purchase the pre-order packages...


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Prose Fiction
III. Malory
By Dr. G. H. Maynadier
is unique among English writers. His famous Morte dArthur, which came from the press of William Caxton, the first English printer, in 1485, he completed probably in 1470. Thus he wrote at a time when the printing press was beginning to make the various European languages less changeable than they had been when a gentlemans library might consist of but a single parchment manuscript; he was near enough to our own day to be the first English author whose work can now be read with enjoyment and yet without special study. Save for an occasional word which one must look up in a glossarylike the obsolete
a page of Malory, despite its archaisms of grammar and expression, is as intelligible as one of the latest magazines or novels. Nevertheless, when he wrote, the world of European civilization was still narrow materially and intellectually. The Atlantic was its bound to the west; the Sahara, to the south; the Far East was an almost mythical Cathay. The Renaissance had scarcely made itself felt beyond Italy; to all but a very few scholars, the old worlds of Greece and Rome and Palestine were known solely through stories from poetry and history so metamorphosed that King David, Julius Cæsar, and Alexander the Great wore mediæval armor and held splendid court like Capet and Plantagenet kings. In spirit Malory is as much of the Middle Ages as if he had died two hundred instead of two score years before Columbus set out to solve the mystery of the western seas. It is hard to believe that only half a century after his death Englishmen should be reading Homer at Oxford and Cambridge, and Luther translating the New Testament into German; that a few years more, and the leading countries of Europe should be making plans for colonial empire which have resulted in the world-powers of the present. Thanks to his living in just the years that he did, Malory has left us in his Morte dArthur a work full of mediæval spirit with almost no mediæval difficulty of language, though with a very charming suggestion of mediævalism in style.
Even if the Morte dArthur had not this charm of style, it would be important in literature as giving the modern world the most easily intelligible mediæval version of what Tennyson called the greatest of all poetic subjects. Of the several valuable contributions of the Middle Ages to the general store of European art and thought, none is richer than their mass of legendstories of saints and martyrs, of many local champions of more or less fame, and of a few who attaining wider fame became great epic heroes of the world. In nearly every case, poetic fame has a basis of historical fact, but most of the superstructure, and all its adornment, is popular story. Such a hero is Siegfried,
now the typical representative of the Germanic hero-age, but at first no better known than half a dozen other warriors, like Dietrich of Verona, whose stories grew out of the unsettling migrations of the Germanic peoples in the fourth, fifth, and sixth centuries. Another is Charlemagne,
as colossal a figure in mediæval romance as in history is the monarch who was crowned Holy Roman Emperor on Christmas Day in the year 800. An even greater epic hero of the Middle Ages is Arthur, who is much better known to English readers than the others largely because of Sir Thomas Malory.
The historical basis of the Arthur-legends is the Anglo-Saxon conquest of Britain. In the three centuries after the first settlement of the Germanic invaders in that island, the Britons were gradually driven into the mountains of Wales and Cumberland and the peninsula of Cornwall, or they fled across the Channel to turn Armorica into Brittany. Meanwhile they suffered almost uniform defeat. But for a while about the year 500 they won victories that for nearly half a century checked the Saxon advance. Their leader was Arthur, a good general, but probably not a king. Now men much in the public eye attract stories to themselves, as witness the countless anecdotes related of Abraham Lincoln. With peoples of slight civilization, such stories are full of marvels and portents. Thus hero-legends are made; thus the Arthur-legend grew up. Probably immediately after Arthurs death, popular story began to increase his fame. In the so-called chronicle of a British monk, Nennius, written three hundred years after Arthurs victories, we have our sole literary glimpse of the romantic hero-legend in the making, for Nennius associates several supernatural tales with the British leader. Presumably among Britons on both sides of the Channelfor Arthur won his victories before the principal migration to Armoricasimilar association of marvel and adventure with the national champion was common. By degrees these hero-tales passed to the neighbors of the Britons. Because of their interest and poetic charm they came to be known in both France and England, though always purely popularold wives tales beneath the notice of serious writers.
The Norman Conquest, however, had quickened tremendously interest in everything connected with Britain, even its legendary heroes; and so, early in the reign of Stephen, grandson of the Conqueror, the clerk, Geoffrey of Monmouth, drawing on the store of British legend and altering it freely, ventured to publish his History of the Kings of Britain, an alleged chronicle in Latin prose. Here we have for the first time in literary form the story of Arthur, King of Britain, of his wide conquests, and of his death at the hands of traitorous Mordred. Soon other authors, mostly Anglo-Norman or subject to Anglo-Norman influence, began to use material similar to Geoffreys. They celebrated Arthurs Round Table, and various knights whom Geoffrey had not mentioned. By the beginning of the thirteenth century, the stories of Arthur and his knights had become world literature, for Geoffreys Chronicle and the first French Arthurian romances had been translated or adapted into every language of western Europe. Wherever they went, these stories retained certain common traits. In all was poetic wonder; in all was utter geographical confusion and historical inaccuracy; kings, knights, and ladies were characters contemporary with the authors who wrote about them; instead of the rough manners of the sixth century, there was the polish of mediæval chivalry. And with the exception of Geoffreys work, the first Arthur-stories were in verse, and the adventures of different knights formed the subjects of different romances.
In historical inaccuracies, mediæval authors did not change. Nor, for that matter, did post-mediæval authors; Arthur and his knights remain for all time typical romantic representatives of the age of chivalry. But early in the thirteenth century, writers began to turn metrical romances into prose. Then they began to combine the adventures of one knight with another in one romance, till by degrees there grew up vast jumbles of adventure which clumsily tried to give something like comprehensive tales of the adventures of Arthur and all his principal knights. Owing to multiplicity of sources and mistakes of scribes, these composite stories were sometimes contradictory and confusing in the extreme. A late copy of one of them seems to have been Malorys principal source. Probably he modified this source by information from other manuscripts, and by independent judgment in putting materials together. However that may be, he has by no means brought order out of chaos. Yet, taken as a whole, Malorys work has some organic structure. It is the best and clearest comprehensive story of King Arthur and of his Noble Knights of the Round Table that the Middle Ages have left us.
Like the other principal Round Table stories, the story of the Grail came from ancient folk-tales, if not from the mythology, of the insular Celts. Both British and Gaelic Celts knew tales of life-giving or healing vessels analogous to the Grail; and they frequently associated with such a vessel a spear and sometimes a sword. There is even a tale of Irish fairies who had a caldron from which no man ever went away unsatisfied, a spear, a sword, and a stone of fate that is perhaps related to the stone hoving on the water from which Galahad draws his fated sword. Explanations of the way in which pagan talismans of old Celtic story changed into objects of Christian significance in mediæval story can probably never be more than conjecture. There is no doubt, though, that after the Grail story was incorporated in the great Arthur cycle about 1175, the tendency was to make it more and more significant of mediæval Christianity, perhaps because the mysterious vessel called Grail suggested the sacred mystery of the sacramental cup. So Percival, a good worldly knight, the first hero of the Grail, was superseded in the early thirteenth century by Galahad, invented by an unknown romancer for the sole purpose, apparently, of being an ideally ascetic hero. Already the Grail had become the cup from which Christ drank at the Last Supper, and symbolical of the Communion Cup. A long account had been written of its journey from Palestine to Britain, which is not included in the Morte dArthur. Marvels in the story were explained after the fashion of the scriptural interpretation of dreams. Sir Lancelot, Galahads father, was made to come but of the eighth degree from our Lord Jesu Christ. And among the many monkish grafts on the old pagan tree was that so-called wonderful tale of King Solomon and his wife, and their three spindles, and Solomons ship, all of which is not so wonderful as senseless.
If Malorys version of the Grail legend is characteristic of mediæval romance in introducing the superstition and ignorance of mediæval Christianity, it introduces also its mystical beauty. Galahad in his incomprehension of human temptation may lack human sympathy, but he is a very fair picture of innocent youth when, led by a good old man, and an ancient, clothed all in white, he comes to sit in the siege perilous, in red arms himself and a coat of red sendal, and a mantel upon his shoulders that was furred with ermine. He must be a very hard-headed agnostic or insensitive puritan who is not awed by the alighting of the grace of the Holy Ghost on the knights when the Grail appears miraculously at Arthurs court, and impressed by the celebration of the Mass at Carbonek and Sarras.
Also in secular ways, Malorys Grail chapters are typical of mediæval romance. The institution of courtly lovethat is, a knights unquestioning obedience to his lady, such as we see in Lancelots devotion to Guineverethe obligation to the vows of knighthood, with its ideals of frankness, chastity, courtesy, and service to all who are weak and suffering, and also the forgetting of these vows in the heat of human passionall this may be found in Malorys chapters of the Grail, as in the rest of his Morte dArthur. As Caxton
says in the oft-quoted words of his Preface to Malorys book: Herein may be seen noble chivalry, courtesy, humanity, friendliness, hardyhood, love, friendship, cowardice, murder, hate, virtue, and sin. But the general impression of it all is of good rather than evil, of many joyous and pleasant histories, and noble and renowned acts of humanity, gentleness, and chivalry.
Note 1.
See The Song of the Volsungs in
Harvard Classics,
xlix, 249ff. [
Note 2.
See The Song of Roland in
xlix, 95ff. [
Note 3.
xxxix, 20ff. [
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Candlewood Suites Chicago/Naperville
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Spacious Hotel Suites in Downtown Naperville.
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We can accommodate your traveling needs. Our leisure travelers appreciate the short commute to local attractions in downtown Naperville. While visiting Naperville and the Chicago area, catch a race at NASCAR at the Chicagoland Motor Speedway. Spend the afternoon shopping at the Oakbrook Shopping Center or visiting the Morton Arboretum.
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Transportation Department furloughs endFurloughs at the Department of Transportation have come to an end and employees are to return to work Wednesday. In a press release Tuesday evening, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said, "I am pleased that the Senate has acted to break its logjam and extend the Highway Trust Fund for another 30 days. This means that our valued employees may return to ...Published over 8 years ago |
Defense Police Bill Could Affect Insourcing EffortsMany federal service contractors could see their jobs brought back in-house if provisions in the House and Senate Defense authorization bills are passed into law, according to an industry group. The House version of the policy measure includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. John Sarbanes, D-Md., that would give "special consideration" to federal employees for any function that has been performed ...Published over 8 years ago |
Hiring rate stalls for women in top federal government jobsProgress in promoting women to the top levels of the federal civil service has flowed like the mighty Mississippi River in the springtime. Wrong. Lately, it's been more like a leaky faucet in Uncle Sam's kitchen. While men and women are close to being equally represented in the lower grades of the federal workforce, "at the higher levels women are woefully ...Published over 8 years ago |
Senator Asks IRS to Report on Contractors' Unpaid TaxesA day after a report released by the Internal Revenue Service showed that federal workers owe more than $3 billion in taxes from 2008, the ranking member of the Senate Finance Committee has asked the agency to turn its attention on contractors, specifically those working within Medicare and Medicaid programs. According to Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the Government Accountability Office previously ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Girding For An Uphill Battle for Military RecruitsIt's tough enough selling military service to teenagers who might not be so keen on getting their heads shaved or buy the whole "we do more by 9 a.m." line. And the fact that enlisting today could very well mean a visit to the front lines doesn't help, either. But according to a new report, there are other factors that make ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Mormon Church Supports Salt Lake City's Protection for GaysSalt Lake City has become the first Utah city to offer housing and employment protections for gays and lesbians — an action supported by the Mormon Church. The City Council, in a unanimous vote Tuesday, passed a pair of nondiscrimination ordinances that would bar landlords and employers from discriminating based on sexuality — a protection not currently afforded under state or ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Groups Claim Data on Federal Employees' Salaries is MisleadingFederal employee groups on Monday questioned the accuracy of a recent news report that claimed from 2007 to 2009 the number of government workers earning more than $100,000 per year spiked. Based on an analysis of federal data, a Dec. 10 USA Today story, said the number of federal workers earning more than $100,000 per year rose from 14 percent in ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Stimulus Money a "Lifeline" for ColoradoThe stimulus money flowing through state agencies has saved or created almost 4,500 jobs in Colorado so far, most of them in colleges and prisons. An analysis released Tuesday by Gov. Bill Ritter's economic recovery team also found that about 6,200 homebuyers have taken advantage of the one-time $8,000 federal tax credit for buying their first home. It also found that ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Virginia Gov.-elect Names 3 To Cabinet-Level PostsRICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Gov.-elect Bob McDonnell has appointed lieutenant governor Bill Bolling his administration's new jobs czar and made it a position in his cabinet. McDonnell also appointed retired Fortune 500 CEO Bob Sledd to be his commerce secretary and named longtime aide and adviser Janet Polarek Secretary of the Commonwealth. Bolling's new title won't mean a raise in his ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Government Hiring to Increase From New RulesCivilian agencies should increase their acquisition workforce by at least 5 percent by 2014, according to a memo the Office of Management and Budget released on Tuesday. In a second memo, OMB sought to limit the use of noncompetitive and higher-risk types of contracts. "These steps are essential to achieving the president's goal of $40 billion in annual savings through contracting ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Proposed Hiring Rule Would Limit ContractorsImagine you've just been hired to manage the Washington Nationals. Your contract is contingent on your ball club making it to the World Series. But the team's owner says you have to take the field with essentially the same players you inherited -- despite their losing record. Sound absurd? Of course, but it isn't far from reality, considering an administration proposal ...Published over 8 years ago |
OPM's Berry on Changes in the Hiring ProcessIt's been six months since John Berry took over the Office of Personnel Management. With his appointment, and increased attention provided by President Obama's White House, federal personnel issues have gained a much greater profile. More attention, however, doesn't mean Uncle Sam's broken hiring system is fixed, or the confusing employee pay and evaluation structure is suddenly sane, or the federal ...Published about 9 years ago |
The Times Are a-Changin' for Postal ServiceThe U.S. Postal Service lost billions of dollars in revenue during the last fiscal year as the volume of mail plunged. Lawmakers may one day soon consider cutting mail delivery to five days a week. They also may need to sort out how the Postal Service pays for the benefits of current and future retirees. But most customers only care about ...Published about 9 years ago |
Indiana Governor Alarmed About State RevenueINDIANAPOLIS — Indiana's state tax collections are continuing to take a dive, prompting Gov. Mitch Daniels to warn Thursday that budget cuts that could include schools and employee layoffs might be needed soon. Revenue for September was $166 million short of a May forecast that lawmakers and Daniels used to put together a new two-year budget that took effect July 1. ...Published about 9 years ago |
Obama to Name Howard Schmidt as Cybersecurity CoordinatorSeven months after President Obama vowed to "personally select" an adviser to orchestrate the government's strategy for protecting computer systems, the White House will name a former Bush administration official to the job Tuesday. Howard A. Schmidt, who was a cyber-adviser in President George W. Bush's White House, will be Obama's new cybersecurity coordinator, an administration official said Monday night. Schmidt ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Letterman and the Diversity Issue at Homeland SecurityIs David Letterman to blame for the lack of diversity at the Department of Homeland Security? The talk show host's recent admission of trysts with women who worked for him, a Republican lawmaker said Wednesday, has provoked not outrage among his fans and the media, but rather a sense of reluctant acceptance. And Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.) suggested that such a ...Published about 9 years ago |
Going Political: Who Takes Appointments and Why"When the Senior Executive Service began 30 years ago, all the assistant secretaries for administration in the government," said Carol Bonosaro, "were career executives. Over time, you will now find only two who are career executives and that's because of statute." Which is a real shame, according to the president of the Senior Executives Association. Bonosaro told the Federal Drive that ...Published almost 9 years ago |
President Aims to Step Up Hiring of VeteransPresident Obama on Monday signed an executive order designed to boost the number of veterans in the federal workforce. The directive creates Veterans Employment Program offices in federal agencies, to match veterans with job openings and help them navigate the application process. The offices also will give veterans guidance on how to adjust to civilian life after they are hired. "This ...Published almost 9 years ago |
Federal Contracts Show 30,000 Stimulus JobsWASHINGTON - Businesses receiving federal contracts under President Barack Obama's economic stimulus program reported creating or saving more than 30,000 jobs in the first months of the program, according to data released Thursday by a government oversight board. The numbers, based on jobs linked to less than $16 billion in federal contracts, represent just a sliver of the $787 billion stimulus ...Published about 9 years ago |
OPM To Discuss Hiring Reform in Public MeetingHiring reform for the entire federal workforce, not just cyber security positions, is the topic of a public meeting the OPM planned for Friday. Participants have been asked to discuss "whether normal, competitive hiring is an effective avenue for bringing recent college graduates into the federal workforce," according to the Federal Register. The hearing follows a May 11 directive from Obama, ...Published over 8 years ago |


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What the Experts Say
Nedim C. Buyukmihci, V.M.D.
May 5, 2007
Dear Mr. Runkle:
I have viewed most of the video for which you sent the link. There is no question at all that the manner in which the turkeys and chickens were treated was cruel; characterizing it as vicious would not be wrong. None of what I saw could be construed as "standard operating procedure" that was part of normal animal handling routine for farmed animals. In other words, it was completely unnecessary to get the job done and, in many states, would be considered a violation of applicable animal cruelty laws.
Here is a summary of the most blatant violent acts or cruel conditions I observed:
- in general, the handling was extremely rough and brutal and was causing stress and injury to the birds; in at least one case, a worker was pulling on the head of a turkey who was stuck inside a container of some sort; the worker pulled violently and repeatedly, almost certainly causing pain from this handling; it is likely that non-lethal (therefore, not ameliorated) disruption of cervical vertebrae occurred, adding to the pain; there was no evidence that any worker I viewed had any concerns for the animals or their welfare
- a worker was punching shackled turkeys as they moved by him; this had no functional value and was simply gratuitous violence
- workers were forcing their hands into the cloaca (vent) of shackled chickens, apparently to remove eggs which were within the reproductive tract; I do not know if removal of eggs prior to slaughter is considered a normal procedure; nevertheless, there was excessive force which would cause moderate to extreme pain for the chickens (stretching of the tissues and putting pressure on the legs pinned in the shackles)
- workers were throwing turkeys high into the air in order to get them back on the shackling platform; sometimes, the turkey would hit the metal side and fall back onto the floor; in any case, this type of brutal handling could cause serious injury including broken legs or wings, or contusions to body parts, resulting in substantial pain; turkeys of the breed I observed cannot fly, so their fall onto the floor or platform would not be mitigated by flapping of wings as might be the case with chickens
- there were numerous injured birds, shackled, on the floors or in containers; many of the injuries were associated with what appeared to be blood on the birds, suggesting lacerations to the body; from the position of the limbs or behavior of the non-shackled birds, it appeared that there were broken legs and wings; one bird was upside down on the floor, struggling and probably severely injured (an uninjured turkey should be able to right herself/himself), while a worker continued with what he was doing, apparently oblivious to the suffering of the animal
Although I have seen a lot of cruel behavior towards nonhuman animals, what I witnessed in the video is about the worst. It is my hope that you will be able to file cruelty charges against the people and company involved. If you need an expert witness to testify if this comes to pass, I would be glad to be involved, my schedule permitting.
If it is desirable, I can send you a paper letter on university letterhead, providing my findings. In any case, you may use anything I have written without asking further permission. I provide my credentials below.
With reverence for all life,
Nedim C. Buyukmihci, V.M.D.
Emeritus Professor of Veterinary Medicine
University of California
P.O. Box 25
Dilley, Texas 78017-0025 U.S.A.
Investigation Video | Photos | Worker's Diary | What the Experts Say | You Can Help!


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WxPython in Action, by Robin Dunn and Noel Rappin, Manning 2006 552 pages.
"WxPython in Action" is a new and definitive guide to the popular wxPython GUI framework. WxPython has been growing in popularity by leaps and bounds in recent years but has been hampered by a comparative lack of good, comprehensive documentation, so much so that many people have turned to studying the documentation for the underlying wxWidgets framework, that is written in C++. "WxPython in Action" fills the void by combining a good introduction to the framework with a comprehensive and accessible reference document. At 552 pages, Manning Publications has produced a definitive book.
WxPython is one of the best cross-platform GUI toolkits for the open source Python programming language. It excels in matching the native look and feel of programs on Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. It is a mature project, being a well-developed wrapper of the underlying wxWidgets C++ toolkit. Another reason for its growing popularity is its very extensive number of widgets, making it a capable and modern tool for making professional-looking GUIs for applications in almost any field of endeavor. It has endured a reputation for having a steep learning curve, and for sometimes being difficult to install and easy to break during upgrades; both of which downsides should be lessened by the publishing of this book.
Written by Robin Dunn, the creator and moving force behind wxPython, and ably assisted by Noel Rappin, this book is definitive, authoritative and well-written. Part 1 fills the role of a good introduction to the toolkit, and Parts 2 and 3 are a thorough reference to the widgets, behavior and usage of the framework.
in Part 1, we learn the inside story behind the beginnings and the history of wxPython's development. We are walked through the creation of simple examples of the core functionality of the framework illustrating how to create and use the basic controls and event loops. Then, we get a more detailed explanation of the wxPython event loop, an introduction to PyCrust (a useful tool for wxPython programmers, essentially an interactive interpreter session, wrapped as a wx widget) a whole chapter on the Model-View-Controller paradigm, and a discourse on good factoring techniques for GUI programs. This is rather general programming knowledge, not necessarily specific to wxPython, and truly expert programmers will probably skip much of this material, but for many, like me, it is very useful, and for many others, it will be a good review of previously known material. The writing style is excellent but one weakness is that the authors return again and again to wxPython evangelism and boosterism, which is regrettable; but this is the only section of the book to suffer from this flaw.
Part 2 gives detailed coverage of each widget, control, frame, dialog, and menu in the toolkit, and this is the meat of the book and will be used and reused as core reference material by many a programmer. This is good stuff, thorough, well researched, and definitive. Next, the authors give an equally good explanation of how to use sizers and grids to layout and control your GUI application. Part 2 fills the previously missing gap in core wxPython documentation and, to folks who need it, is worth its weight in gold.
Part 3, called Advanced wxPython, gives welcome coverage to advanced layout and control issues. This subject of advanced layout is, in my opinion, where the rubber really hits the road in GUI design, and it is appropriate that this is where the authors spend the most time and effort, and with good result. The final chapter breaks new ground by walking the reader through the creation of a multithreaded wxPython application. This is great stuff, and the advanced readers will be left pining for even more on this timely topic of such growing importance. Fortunately, the authors are available online to communicate with users who truly master the material in the book and want to to pursue more advanced usage.
The book is at its best in documenting the core API for expert programmers who are new to wxPython. It is also a good introduction to wxPython for advanced programmers. For moderately experienced programmers, the book is excellent but will be a tough read; probably not to be mastered in a straight read thorough, the book will adequately reward this kind of reader who is dedicated and persistent. For novice programmers, especially those who have little to no previous experience in GUI programming, I believe the book may be beyond their grasp.
So, if you are a serious programmer who wants or needs to use the wxPython GUI toolkit, "wxPython in Action" is a must-have reference book. It is perfect for this kind of reader and will become a well-worn book that will be useful for at least the next five years. It is unlikely that any other book about wxPython will be published that could do a better job, given the authors' unparalleled understanding of the toolkit and the obvious patience, time and care they took in researching, writing, and editing this book. It is not a casual read, but to a serious student of the subject, that is a positive statement. The book is strong meat, a weighty and substantive technical tome.
The book really shines in the many pages devoted to User Interface design and implementation. This is where many programmers need help, and it is gratifying that this book goes into the most detail on this subject. This is very detailed coverage and one is left with a satisfaction that, while not easy reading, it is well worth while. I feel this is the book's strongest point.
I know that it sometimes seems there has been an inflation in the scoring of books, with reviewers giving so many high ratings that one wonders how meaningful those ratings are. This book is not for everybody, and it is not a work of great literature, but given the obvious need for such a work, and the careful and accurate fulfillment of this need by these authors, I feel justified in giving it a rating of ten stars. For the people who really need this book, it is about as good as it could get, and will be a most welcome addition to their technical library.


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Marlins can't hold lead, fall in extra frames
ATLANTA -- One streak was snapped on Saturday night, but the Marlins couldn't put a halt to another.
B.J. Upton capped a four-hit night with a two-out, walk-off single in the 11th inning, lifting the Braves to a 5-4 win over the Marlins at Turner Field.View Full Game Coverage
ATLANTA -- One streak was snapped on Saturday night, but the Marlins couldn't put a halt to another.
B.J. Upton capped a four-hit night with a two-out, walk-off single in the 11th inning, lifting the Braves to a 5-4 win over the Marlins at Turner Field.View Full Game Coverage
Upton repeatedly came up big, including a tying two-run homer in the sixth inning.
The Marlins have now dropped six straight, and 10 of 11.
From an offensive production standpoint, the four runs by Miami snapped a string of nine straight games of not scoring more than three.
"For us, four runs is like 25 runs for some teams," Marlins manager Mike Redmond said. "You've got to try to find a way to win that ballgame. We didn't."
Justin Ruggiano and Giancarlo Stanton each homered for the Marlins, who finished 8-20 in August.
Atlanta has won six straight and heads into September with a commanding 15-game lead in the National League East. At home, the Braves are especially strong, as they improved to 49-18 at Turner Field. The Marlins, meanwhile, fell to 49-85 on the season.
The Braves showcased their overall depth, as Upton enjoyed a big night despite entering the game batting .187. He improved the average to .195.
"Over the course of the season, I think we've done a pretty good job holding him at bay," Redmond said. "Out of that whole lineup, you get down in that lineup and you've got to make those guys [at the bottom] beat you. Tonight, he did."
The Marlins fell to 5-12 in extra innings this season, and they are 18-29 in one-run games.
"It was a hard-fought game," Ruggiano said. "Both teams struggled for hits at the right time. I like the way we fought out there. We played hard all 11. We just didn't get the hits when we needed to."
The Braves set up their walk-off drama with a one-out single by Chris Johnson off Ryan Webb. And with two outs, Paul Janish pinch-ran after Johnson advanced to second on Brian McCann's groundout to second. Dan Uggla walked and Upton ended it with his run-scoring single to right-center, ending the game that lasted three hours and 59 minutes.
"I'm just going to stay the course and not trying to do too much," Upton said. "We've got a very good ball club. It's not going to be one guy every night. It just so happened tonight was my night."
Marlins starter Jacob Turner wasn't involved in the decision, giving up three runs (two earned) in 5 2/3 innings. Turner achieved a dubious Marlins record as he committed three errors. The right-hander joins Gary Sheffield as the only player in club history with three errors in a game. Sheffield did so on Sept. 30, 1993.
Miami reclaimed the lead in the seventh inning on Ruggiano's single and Logan Morrison's RBI single to center. The advantage was short-lived, as the Braves pulled even at 4 in the seventh on McCann's RBI single off Mike Dunn. Johnson kept the inning alive with a two-out double. Atlanta loaded the bases, but A.J. Ramos struck out Upton on a full-count fastball.
In the first inning, the Marlins finally capitalized on a two-out walk to Stanton, and opened the scoring on Ruggiano's two-run homer off Atlanta lefty Mike Minor. Before Stanton crossed home plate, the Marlins had a streak of 38 straight walks without that player scoring. The longest walk-scoreless drought in franchise history was 40 in 2003.
The homer was Ruggiano's 16th, and second this season off Minor.
After the Marlins grabbed an early two-run lead, the Braves chipped back with an unearned run in the first. Atlanta cashed in on Turner's error, which allowed leadoff hitter Jordan Schafer to reach. Schafer tapped a grounder to Morrison at first. But covering the bag, Turner dropped Morrison's toss.
Schafter stole second and moved to third on Elliot Johnson's sacrifice bunt. Freddie Freeman's sacrifice fly to left put the Braves on the board.
"That's what happens when you go on a bad little roll like we have now," Ruggiano said. "Mistakes seem to cost you. But you can't dwell on each. You have to turn the page and come back tomorrow and act like we've been winning. We have to get over this little funk that we're in right now, and collectively as a group, work hard and not worry about yesterday."
Ruggiano's two-run homer gave him 42 RBIs, which moved him into the team lead. However, that distinction lasted a couple of innings.
In the fourth inning, Stanton belted an opposite-field homer, making it 3-1. Like Ruggiano, Stanton collected his 42nd RBI.
Turner worked out of trouble in the fifth inning, a frame where he committed two errors on one play. The right-hander bobbled Schafer's sacrifice bunt for an error, and then made a wild flip that went past Morrison at first. Still, the righty got out of the jam.
But in the sixth inning, a leadoff walk to McCann came back to haunt Turner. With one out, Upton blasted a two-run homer that pulled Atlanta even at 3. Turner was lifted after issuing a two-out walk to Minor.
"We threw it all out there," Redmond said. "We just couldn't get it done."
Joe Frisaro is a reporter for MLB.com. He writes a blog, called The Fish Pond. Follow him on Twitter @JoeFrisaro.


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AG eyes whether credibility issue may undermine some Rockingham County convictionsBy JAMES A. KIMBLE
Union Leader Correspondent
December 18. 2013 10:32PM
BRENTWOOD — State prosecutors are investigating whether defendants in Rockingham County may have grounds to seek new trials because the county attorney's office failed to disclose that one of its employees had a potential credibility issue, the New Hampshire Union Leader has learned.
In one case, a Danville man serving a 40 to 80 year prison term has already been notified that he might be entitled to some kind of legal relief from his 2006 conviction.
The employee is Tara Longo, a victim-witness coordinator who was placed on administrative leave Nov. 6 in the wake of state and federal investigation into the county attorney's office, according to interviews and court records.
Her boss, embattled County Attorney James Reams, is now the focus of a criminal investigation scrutinizing his management of a forfeiture account, his alleged lewd behavior toward female employees and other operational issues in his office.
While the probe has publicly remained fixed on Reams, state prosecutors have been quietly soliciting input from defense lawyers about cases that Longo has participated in during her 16-year career in Rockingham County.
"Apparently, when Ms. Longo applied for her job, she presented a (resume) that was not entirely accurate," Randy Hawkes, executive director to the state's Public Defender program, said in a Dec. 4 e-mail obtained by the New Hampshire Union Leader. "When the (county attorney) later became aware of the misrepresentation, Ms. Longo was allowed to remain in her position, despite the obvious credibility question raised."
That credibility question is now coming back in a 2006 sexual assault trial involving a twice-convicted sex offender.
Longo testified in the March 2006 trial of Harold Baird, then a 70-year-old Danville man with sexual assault convictions from 1974 and 1990, according to interviews and a review of court records.
Baird was convicted by a jury of aggravated felonious sexual assault for molesting a five-year-old girl from China.
A judge sentenced Baird, now 77, to serve 40 to 80 years in state prison.
Longo testified for the state to rebut claims by Baird's attorney, Rodkey Craighead, that the victim's testimony had been coached.
The Rockingham County Attorney's Office, under its interim leadership, recently sent a letter to Craighead notifying him for the first time that Longo had a potential credibility issue. Craighead declined to comment about the letter he received regarding the matter.
Interim-County Attorney James Boffetti acknowledged that Craighead had been notified about the testimony in Baird's case, but said he could not elaborate further.
"I am aware of the issue and this office takes that issue very seriously," Boffetti said. "We will fulfill our ethical obligations."
Longo joined the office in 1997 and earns $55,733.50 annually, according to county records.
She is one of three victim-witness coordinators that work in the Rockingham County Attorney's Office. Their duties include guiding victims of crime through the criminal justice process, including plea hearings and trials.
County Commissioners placed Longo and Deputy County Attorney Tom Reid on paid administrative leave Nov. 6 following Reams' suspension by the Attorney General's Office.
Their job status has not changed as of Wednesday.
A Listserv e-mail that cited the Attorney General's investigation into Longo's cases was sent to about 280 New Hampshire criminal defense lawyers statewide.
"I am aware of that e-mail, and I can confirm that it is accurate," Associate Attorney General Jane Young said, declining to comment about the investigation.
Longo's attorney, Adam Bernstein, said whatever issues the Attorney General's Office may be investigating, it has nothing to do with his client.
"From my perspective, this has no negative impact on my client," he said. "My client had no obligation to testify and make a disclosure."
Bernstein said that unlike New Hampshire attorneys, Longo was not bound by the same ethical obligations to report any potential issue about her credibility – even if she had one.
"It has nothing to do with Tara at all," Bernstein said. "It has to do with whether the Attorney General, Jim Reams or Tom Reid had an ethical obligation to disclose it."
Reams said that he has "always been opposed" to letting his victim-witness coordinators testify.
He said that he was aware of one trial where Longo testified, but added that the decision to put her on the witness stand was made "on the fly" and without his permission.
"I don't believe I knew for quite some time afterward," Reams said.
Reams said he believes that team leaders – prosecutors who provide some oversight in the office – were notified about Longo's issue.
But a memo written by Reams about "the potential of having to disclose the falsehood" regarding Longo was never disclosed prior to Longo taking the witness stand, Reams' lawyer, Michael Ramsdell, said in a court motion.
Legal experts say that New Hampshire prosecutors are required to disclose any evidence favorable to a defendant prior to trial. New Hampshire's Professional Rules of Conduct also mandate that prosecutors are required to notify defendants of information that could be favorable to their case, they said.
"If a witness has some credibility problem, that needs to be turned over to the defense," said Andrew Schulman, president of the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
Schulman said that in his 28 years of practicing law, he has seen nothing like the investigation and legal disputes unfolding with the Rockingham County Attorney's Office.
Baird has not requested a new trial at this point.
But New Hampshire's courts have largely viewed evidence that is favorable to a defendant as a constitutional right, according to Charles Temple, director of the Criminal Practice Clinic at the University of New Hampshire School of Law.
If someone like Baird complained that he was deprived of favorable evidence he was entitled to, then prosecutors would have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt it would not have changed the outcome of the trial, Temple said.
"A lot of cases can come down to the credibility of a witness," he said, noting that the obligation to report the discovery never goes away.
"It's a continuing obligation," he said.
No criminal charges have been filed in the county attorney probe. Reams is due back in court today to contest his temporary suspension by Attorney General Joe Foster.
Crime, law and justice Politics Brentwood Top Section Stories


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It is possible that the main title of the report Myasthenia Gravis is not the name you expected. Please check the synonyms listing to find the alternate name(s) and disorder subdivision(s) covered by this report.
Myasthenia gravis is a neuromuscular disorder primarily characterized by muscle weakness and muscle fatigue. Although the disorder usually becomes apparent during adulthood, symptom onset may occur at any age. The condition may be restricted to certain muscle groups, particularly those of the eyes (ocular myasthenia gravis), or may become more generalized (generalized myasthenia gravis), involving multiple muscle groups.
Most individuals with myasthenia gravis develop weakness and drooping of the eyelids (ptosis); weakness of eye muscles, resulting in double vision (diplopia); and excessive muscle fatigue following activity. Additional features commonly include weakness of facial muscles; impaired articulation of speech (dysarthria); difficulties chewing and swallowing (dysphagia); and weakness of the upper arms and legs (proximal limb weakness). In addition, in about 10 percent of cases, affected individuals may develop potentially life-threatening complications due to severe involvement of muscles used during breathing (myasthenic crisis).
Myasthenia gravis results from an abnormal immune reaction in which the body's natural immune defenses (i.e., antibodies) inappropriately attack and gradually destroy certain receptors in muscles that receive nerve impulses (antibody-mediated autoimmune response).
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America
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Fax: (301)402-2186
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Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
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Myasthenia Gravis Links
Web Site on the Internet
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MUMS National Parent-to-Parent Network
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AutoImmunity Community
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This is an abstract of a report from the National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. ® (NORD). A copy of the complete report can be obtained for a small fee by visiting the NORD website. The complete report contains additional information including symptoms, causes, affected population, related disorders, standard and investigational treatments (if available), and references from medical literature. For a full-text version of this topic, see http://www.rarediseases.org/search/rdblist.html
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This disease entry is based upon medical information available through the date at the end of the topic. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder.
For additional information and assistance about rare disorders, please contact the National Organization for Rare Disorders at P.O. Box 1968, Danbury, CT 06813-1968; phone (203) 744-0100; web site www.rarediseases.org or email email@example.com
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Hub Distributions:
Urban Harvest has set up five HUB gardens as sites for free materials distribution and education for affiliate gardens. On Saturday, October 6, at 9AM, assorted brassica transplants, fall seeds, and MicroLife fertilizer will be distributed along with education on proper planting and maintenance, and other garden education. The distribution will be held from 9AM - 11AM.
HUB distributions strive to connect gardens in neighboring communities with one another, as a way to share ideas and resources. This is our sixth distribution, and we are proud to invite all of our affiliate gardens to participate and receive free materials.
Hub Sites:
HUB 1: Alabama Garden -
2818 Alabama St., Houston, TX 77004;
Garden Representative: J.D. Green
HUB 2: Palm Center Community Garden -
5400 Griggs Rd. at Beeckman St., Houston, TX 77021
Garden Representative: Terry Garner
HUB 3: Westbury Community Garden -
12581 Dunlap St., Houston, TX 77035
Garden Representative: Betsy Longoria
Garden Representative: Betsy Longoria
HUB 4: Gregory Lincoln Education Center Garden -
1101 Taft St., Houston, TX 77019
Garden Reresentative: Garland Kerr
Garden Reresentative: Garland Kerr
HUB 5: Wilchester Elementary
13618 St. Mary's Ln., Houston, TX 77079
Garden Reresentatives: Jean Fefer and Irv Robbins
Garden Reresentatives: Jean Fefer and Irv Robbins
Please RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com if your garden plans to attend.


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7/7 woman achieves Paralympic dream
A woman who lost both her legs after being horrifically injured in the 7/7 bombings has described her "goosebumps" after fulfilling her dream of representing her country at the Paralympics.
Martine Wright, who proudly wears the number seven shirt in recognition of the day that changed her life, took her place in Britain's sitting volleyball team.
Along with the rest of the country, she was happily celebrating London's successful Olympic and Paralympic bid hours before the terror attack rocked Britain seven years ago. Since then, she has become the embodiment of the Games by fighting back to fitness before taking to the court on Friday alongside her team-mates.
Despite going down 3-0 to Ukraine at the ExCeL Arena, Wright, 39, from Tring, Hertfordshire, told of her love for the sport and praised the incredible crowd.
She said: "The biggest crowd we have played in front of before today was 250, so to come here is really amazing. As a team we are really proud of ourselves. We have only got two-and-a-half years of experience and this is the first ever GB team so I am really proud, and this is the start of our journey."
She added: "I have goosebumps now and to come out here and represent my country in a sport I love is amazing. It's a dream and a dream I would never have had before July 7."
The mother of one, whose son Oscar was due to watch from the sidelines, is among the 21 players who make up Britain's first ever men's and women's Paralympics sitting volleyball teams.
She was one of the last people to be pulled from the wreckage of the Tube train at Aldgate. She spent 10 days in a coma, and lost both her legs. Being just 3ft away from one of the bombers, she considers herself lucky to be alive following the blast.
Doctors told her she had lost 75% of the blood in her body and if it had not been for another passenger, off-duty police officer Elizabeth Kenworthy, who helped tie a makeshift tourniquet around one of her legs, she would not have survived.
Wright quit her job and used the incident as a platform to embark on a whole new life, including the decision to compete for Great Britain at the Paralympics. She tried a taster Paralympic day and fell in love with the team sport of sitting volleyball.


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All I said was I saw a "woman in a pant suit that is two sizes too small" and a man in a sport coat "that is too long for his shorter body and makes him look sloppy."
This I pointed out in a Facebook post as I sat observing people at Starbucks who clearly were there for job interviews, and it may seem picky on my part.
But, I added, how you look is just one of the many things employers tell me they notice when evaluating potential employees' judgment.
That post got more views, responses and conversation than anything I've ever said on Facebook.
One person added a comment about some of the hideous clothing she's seen job hunters wear to interviews at Starbucks. Another pointed out that she "never understood the conducting an interview at Starbucks thing."
Why so much interest in job interviews at Starbucks? And why is this locale so popular for interviews?
Do employers get more out of interviews at Starbucks than in their offices? Many say, yes.
An employer who regularly conducts interviews at Starbucks told me he does it because "It's a good pre-screening tool."
It takes a lot of preparation to hold an interview, including coordinating the schedules of several people. Sometimes it's easier to see if all of that coordination is worth the effort.
A brief get-together at Starbucks can tell them a lot — more on that later.
An employer may not even have a job opening — yet — but is willing to meet informally to get to know you for the future. Or the potential employer may not want others in the company to know about the possibility of hiring someone new.
A small-business owner told me, "We don't have some glitzy office, so we don't want to blow the illusion before someone is even interested in working for us."
Also, a ton of people don't have offices in brick and mortar buildings. Starbucks is their satellite office because they work from a home office and hire contract workers who also will work from home.
Most employers say meeting at a place like Starbucks, which also has free Wi-Fi, is simply less formal.
"It's more comfortable for everyone. It's a neutral space, more of a shared experience than a lopsided one where a person is sitting in your waiting room and then your office," another manager said.
Safe to say, meeting at a place like Starbucks is less intimidating.
There's something about knocking knees under that little table you're sharing that makes sharing your thoughts easier.
The experience feels more like a conversation, which is what an interview should be. And that brings me to the extra boost, aside from coffee, that employers get from interviews at a place like Starbucks.
Because you feel as if you're on equal footing, you're likely to be more relaxed. You may even interact with others at the next table, which can be telling for an employer.
In that more relaxed, communal environment, you may also "tell me things you might not otherwise say," one company owner said.
In other words, employers can get a better feel for what kind of person you are.
Indeed, that's precisely what they hope for.
In that first encounter, they are wondering:
— Are you someone I would like to work with?
— Do you have the right attitude?
— Do I feel good with you?
— Are you enthusiastic?
— Do you connect with what I need?
— Do you come off as genuine?
— Are you flexible?
— Do you look and act mature and professional?
Yes, skills matter, but not as much as who you are and how you come across to the person on the other side of that table at a Starbucks near you.
Career consultant Andrea Kay is the author of "Life's a Bitch and Then You Change Careers: 9 steps to get out of your funk and on to your future," www.andreakay.com or www.lifesabitchchangecareers.com. Write to her in care of USA TODAY/Gannett, 7950 Jones Branch Drive, McLean, Va. 22108. Email: firstname.lastname@example.com. Twitter: @AndreaKayCareer. Facebook: facebook.com/AndreaKayCareerAdvice.
Important interviews take place in nearby coffee shop
All I said was I saw a "woman in a pant suit that is two sizes too small" and a man in a sport coat "that is too long for his shorter body and makes him look sloppy."


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The crowded animal shelter on the Hawaii island of Kauai has come up with a novel way of getting some of its dogs adopted.
The Kauai Humane Society since December has been reaching out to tourists and other travelers willing to bring a dog with them as extra luggage when they fly to California and Oregon.
The shelter gets a lot of stray and abandoned dogs derived from hunting breeds that are used for hunting feral pigs on Kauai. So far, 24 dogs have been adopted through the program, which also is working with the Oregon Humane Society in Portland.
Shelter officials say the Hawaii dogs get snatched up quickly after languishing in Kauai's shelter for months because they are different from what is normally offered for adoption.


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Stockton, CA
Guillermo Trejo
Sep. 17, 1939 - Nov. 9, 2013
Guillermo Trejo, 74 years old, was born in Cadereyta, N.L, Mex., a resident of Stockton for 33 years.
Guillermo was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is
survived by his loving wife of 55 years Maria, his 10 children:
Martha, Guillermo, Delia, Daniel, Maria, Sara, Jesus, Joel, Reynaldo, and Narcedalia, 39 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren, and 4 siblings.
Guillermo was a hardworking man and great role model of perseverance and strength for his family. He will be missed and cherished in his family's hearts forever.
Rosary: Monday, Nov. 18, 5:30 p.m. at Casa Bonita Memorial Chapel. Committal/Graveside Service: Tues., Nov., 19, 11:30 a.m. at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery.


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Critics say bill to regulate oil pre-buys falls short of protecting consumersBy Garry Rayno
State House Staff Writer
February 12. 2013 3:02PM
CONCORD - Requiring heating fuel dealers to establish escrow accounts or other financial vehicles to protect the money of customers who enter pre-buy contracts ties the hands of businesses, opponents to Senate Bill 114 said Tuesday.
The bill, sponsored by Sen. Molly Kelly, D-Keene, would require fuel dealers to use either escrow accounts, a letter of credit or a surety bond to protect consumer pre-buys of heating fuel.
Propane and fuel oil dealers opposed the bill, saying it does away with a provision in current law that allows buying futures contracts.
Joseph Gagne, president of Propane Gas Association of New England, said the bill does not offer consumers the protections supporters say it does, noting a company in trouble will drain an escrow account before it goes out of business.


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President, Council on Foreign Relations
Bio Info
A preeminent, behind-the-scenes statesman, Richard Haass provides an update on the state of the world and the complexities of foreign relations during these tenuous times.
Topics: Africa, American Politics, Asia, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Managing/Leading It, China, Current Events, Cyber Security, Economic Forecast, Emerging Markets, Europe, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy - U.S., Global Economy, Global Trade, Latin America, Leadership, Middle East, National Security, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Terrorism
U.S. Secretary of Defense (2013–2015); U.S. Senator (1997–2009); Former Chairman, Atlantic Council; President's Intelligence Advisory Board (2009–2012); Former Member, The Systemic Risk Council; Distinguished Professor, Georgetown University; and Co-founder, Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc.
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male, Military Service, University Professor
Bio Info
A true patriotic, bipartisan voice, Chuck Hagel has never shied away from speaking his mind and doing what is right in the face of doing what is politically expedient. He discusses with audiences a wide variety of domestic and global issues facing the world today.
Topics: Africa, American Politics, Asia, Change: Managing/Leading It, China, Crisis Management, Current Events, Cyber Security, Disaster Preparedness, Diversity, Education, Europe, Fiscal Policy, Foreign Policy - U.S., Global Economy, Government Regulation, Health Care Policy, Human Resource Issues, Human Rights, Infrastructure, Latin America, Leadership, Middle East, National Security, Negotiation, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Patriotism, Risk Management, Teamwork, Terrorism , Workforce Issues
Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University—Stern School of Business and Author of New York Times Best Seller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
Types: Author, Male, TED, University Professor
Bio Info
Named one of the top 100 Global Thinkers by Foreign Policy magazine, Jonathan Haidt is among the world's top experts on the psychology of morality and politics. His work can help leaders and organizations improve their cultures, elevate their ethics, and engage their employees' passions.
Deputy Technology Editor, The New York Times and Technology and Business Expert
Bio Info
Award-winning journalist, popular speaker and frequent television commentator, Quentin Hardy delivers analysis on technology, economics and global business with fearlessness, intelligence and wit. Pragmatic and audience-focused, Hardy offers timely, real-world insights you can use right away, uncovering the lessons to be found at the nexus of technology and future growth.
International Speaker and Strategist; Expert in Organizational Dynamics, Leadership, Sales Behavior and Corporate Education; Author of The DNA of Creative Ventures: 21 Building Blocks of Success
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male
Bio Info
Complexity threatens all aspects of the client experience, while simplicity, an almost universal goal, remains elusive for most companies. Steve Harvill and his Creative Ventures team have isolated the patterns that form simple, elegant and powerful strategies creating impact and opportunity.
Skateboarding Legend, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
Types: Athlete, Male, Philanthropist
Bio Info
Legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk, a pioneer of social media, philanthropist, successful entrepreneur, and the first skater to ever land a 900, talks about his experience creating authentic brands and giving back.
New York Times Best-Selling Author and Professor
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male, University Professor
Bio Info
The co-author of four New York Times best-selling books on business, Chip Heath offers a breadth of expertise to teach audiences at any level how to utilize the power of moments to manage and lead successful change, make communication stickier, and improve their decision-making skills.
New York Times Bestselling Books, Including Switch
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Male, University Professor
Bio Info
The co-author of four New York Times best-selling books on business, Dan Heath offers a breadth of expertise to teach audiences at any level how to utilize the power of moments to manage and lead successful change, make communication stickier, and improve their decision-making skills.
CEO, Triad Consulting; Lecturer, Harvard Law School; Co-Author, Difficult Conversations and Thanks for the Feedback
Types: Author, Female, University Professor
Bio Info
With two New York Times best sellers and through 20 years at the Harvard Negotiation Project and Triad Consulting Group, Sheila Heen shows us how to engage the conversations that are critical to learning, collaboration, innovation and sound decision-making in your organization.
Thanks for the Feedback (Even When It's Off-Base, Unfair, Poorly Delivered, and Frankly, You're Not in the Mood)
CEO, Entrepreneur, Author and Columnist, The Huffington Post and Inc.com
Types: Author, Entrepreneur, Female, TED, Top Executives , University Professor
Bio Info
CEO and business thinker Margaret Heffernan challenges the most common business practices that make us feel comfortable - but leave us in the dark.
Topics: Branding, Business Growth/Strategy/Trends, Change: Living with It, Change: Managing/Leading It, Consumer Trends, Corporate Culture, Corporate Governance, Creativity, Design, Diversity, Family Relationships, Infrastructure, Innovation, Leadership, Marketing, Overcoming Obstacles and Challenges, Peak Performance, Social Media/New Media, Teamwork, Women's Issues, Workforce Issues


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Guelph Storm book place in Memorial Cup final
No team in the Ontario Hockey League could shut down the Guelph Storm's offence this season.
Not much has changed at the Memorial Cup.
The Canadian Hockey League's goal-scoring machine torched Val d'Or star goalie Antoine Bibeau for six in two periods, chasing the Leafs pick to the bench while booking a berth in Sunday's Cup final with a 6-3 victory before 8,796 Monday night at Budweiser Gardens.
For good measure, they held Anthony Mantha and the Foreurs' potent top line in check. Chadd Bauman, kicked out in the third for a kneeing major, sent Val d'Or star defenceman Guillaume Gelinas to the dressing room favouring his left knee.
Guelph last reached the final 16 years ago when George Burnett's team lost in overtime to the Portland Winterhawks in Spokane. The Storm have never won the title but the city's Jacques Martin-coached 1986 Platers, which later moved to Owen Sound, beat Hull in the final at Portland.
Guelph locked up first place in the round-robin portion of the schedule, but it's not done yet.
The Storm can ensure a much quieter championship final if they end the host London Knights' season — again — on Wednesday
The Storm also knocked the Knights out of the second round of the playoffs. The way they're playing, they have a real good chance to celebrate a championship on their Midwest Division rival's home ice.
They didn't waste much time overwhelming the Foreurs.
The Storm stuck for three goals 5:50 into the game, forcing Val d'Or head coach to burn his timeout in an effort the regroup.
Bibeau, who stopped all 51 shots he faced Friday against London, surrendered three on Guelph's first seven shots.
Kerby Rychel finished off a pretty passing play for his third of the tournament in the game's first minute. Linemate Zack Mitchell's heavy blow found its mark and Jason Dickinson finished off a strong individual effort with a sneaky low shot.
"We go over stuff like (where to shoot on a goalie)," said Guelph defenceman Nick Ebert, who came over from Windsor with Rychel in the OHL's blockbuster deal. "There's different things we can do with each team. There's just some small things we do, but most importantly, we want to play our game.
"We like to keep it loose and when the game time comes, we turn it up to another level."
The Storm scored three more in the second period and had 36 shots through two, which was enough for Bibeau.
The Foreurs will play Western league champion Edmonton on Tuesday for a berth in Friday's semifinal. But it's clear the Quebec league's three-year run as Cup champions is in peril.
That danger may have started the moment Rychel arrived in Guelph and was immediately placed on a line with Robby Fabbri and Zack Mitchell.
Their entire line scored a goal.
Durocher, with last change, chose to keep Mantha's line away from the high-flying trio. It didn't work.
Guelph's top defensive pairing of captain Matt Finn and Ebert played a large role in that. Ebert came into the OHL intent on winning a Memorial Cup with the Spitfires, who bid to hold this year's Cup.
Instead, he is one win away in a Storm uniform.
"When there's a big trade like that, there's going to be pressure no matter what," the Los Angeles Kings draft pick said, "but you've just got to handle it. Coming in, Kerby and I had to be big pieces of this team. I think we've been big pieces so far and in order to win here, we're going to have to be the same."
— — —
Storm 6, Foreurs 3
Free Press 3 Stars
1. Zack Mitchell, Storm. Took over early.
2. Scott Kosmachuk, Storm. Effective first line.
3. Matt Finn, Storm. Stuffed Mantha.
First period
1. Guelph, Rychel 3 (Mitchell, Fabbri) 0:59
Beauty passing play.
2. Guelph, Mitchell 1 (Ebert, Finn) 4:00
Heavy shot from overager.
3. Guelph, Dickinson 1 (Kosmachuk, McGinn) 5:50
Good individual effort.
Penalties – Presseault, Vdo (high-sticking) 8:42, Bertuzzi, Gue (delay of game) 11:39, Kosmachuk, Gue, Henley, Vdo (roughing) 15:40, Richard, Vdo (goalie interference) 17:24.
Second period
4. Guelph, Suter 1 (McGinn, Kosmachuk) 8:13
Cleaned up juicy rebound.
5. Val d'Or, Gazzola 1 (Gelinas, Mantha) 11:59 (pp)
Accurate shot from point.
6. Val d'Or, Sille 1 (Presseault, Ouellette-St-Amant) 12:55
Right spot at side of net.
7. Guelph, Fabbri 1 (Mitchell, Rychel) 16:04
Rewarded for scooting to net.
8. Guelph, Bertuzzi 3 (Finn, Kosmachuk) 19:52
Just 7.1 seconds left.
Penalties – Galipeau, Vdo (tripping) 5:58, McGinn, Gue (slashing) 11:20.
Third period
9. Val d'Or, Beauregard 1 (Sille, Fraser) 12:32 (pp)
Cut across on Nichols.
Penalties – Graves, Vdo (checking from behind) 4:32, Bauman, Gue (kneeing, game misconduct) 7:50, Gravel, Vdo (slashing) 15:34, Fraser, Vdo (roughing) 18:45, Finn, Gue (holding) 19:11.
Shots on goal by
Guelph 19 17 13—49
Val d'Or 13 13 7—33
Goal (shots-saves): Guelph: Nichols (W, 2-0); Val d'Or: Bibeau (36-30) (L, 1-1); Bouchard (13-13, 0:00 of third period)
Power plays (goals-chances): Gue 0-6. Vdo 2-4.
Referees – Mario Maillet, Scott Oakman. Linesmen – Cory Piche, Dustin McCrank.
Attendance – 8,796 (8,863).


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Complimentary delivery on all orders
Orders will be processed and shipped on the same business day when placed before 12:00pm EST and within 24 hours when placed after 12:00pm EST. Orders placed on Saturday, Sunday and federal holidays will be processed and shipped on the following business day and delivered according to chosen shipping method.
A lightly scented and alcohol-free formula for lasting, gentle protection.


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Embassy Theatre
6 South Main Street,
5 people favorited this theater
The Embassy Theatre was opened on October 17, 1927. After years as the crown jewel of movie theaters in Lewistown, the 1970's saw the Embassy Theatre's fortunes nose-dive and it finally shut its doors in 1981.
Ten years later, as the Embassy Theatre stood by waiting for a savior, the Friends of the Embassy Theatre was organized in 1991 to save this classic theater from being lost forever.
The Embassy Theatre is currently raising money to repair its marquee and its interior in hopes of being brought back to life as a performing arts center for the Pennsylvania town. In the early-2000's, the Embassy Theatre restored its box office and front doors.
Recent comments (view all 8 comments)
Thank you for listing the Embassy Theatre on your wonderful website! I'd like to submit a change regarding our webpage…. the new url is:
Thank you!!
Barb Musial
Now it is: http://www.embassytheatre.org/
Small update: The Embassy webpage is being updated on a regular basis now, take a look at our new site.
Brian Powers
What progress has been made on renovating this theatre since 2004.
I hope there has been progress made.
Love that marquee on the outside of the theatre. Thanks for the photo, Lost Memory.
establish/renew link
Updated post with a live link
Here's a blog posting with images of the Embassy.
My first 'real' job was as an usher at the Embassy in 1955. It was a great time at local theaters, and one of the few places in Lewistown with summer A/C!!
Bob Samuelson
Just login to your account and subscribe to this theater


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Long Good Friday: Special Edition, The (US - DVD R1)
Gabe grabs a shooter and reviews the classic Cockney Gangster flick on DVD
All powerful underground crime boss, Harold Shand (Bob Hoskins), is about to make the deal of a lifetime with 'business men' from the United States. For ten years Harold has kept a peaceful balance in the crime world, and today should be no different, the air of legitimacy should make the deal go smoothly. When the deal is done, there will be billions in revenue to go around.
But Good Friday begins with a bang, as Harold's mother's car is blown up at church and his best friend is stabbed to death at a public pool. With his world crashing down around him, Harold attempts to gather his druthers, and exact his vengeance, and quickly if he's going to keep the American's interested in the deal. But the plot thickens as the nature of the crimes begins to surface. It's going to be a very long Good Friday.
Quite often, when one happens across one of those 'classic' films everyone's hyped to a critical mass, one finds one's self watching a fine film in a pre-jaded mindset. This is the reason I've never seen Titanic. I know that I cannot look at it with fresh eyes no matter how hard I may try. When The Long Good Friday appeared in my mailbox I was apprehensive. Here I was presented with a film considered one of the top twenty finest made in British film history, the granddaddy of the modern UK gangster flick. It couldn't possibly be that good.
Well, I opened my mind as wide as possible, and discovered a real classic. The Long Good Friday is just as good as the critics say, and in some ways even better. Most write-ups on the flick make special mention of the brutality of Bob Hoskins' star making performance, comparing him to all the classic gangsters of the classic Hollywood mould. Wasn't I surprised when I realized Harold Shand was not a barbaric monster, but a heartbreakingly sympathetic man who happen to do some awful things, out of what can only be described as love for his dead friend. Yeah, he wants his deal to go smoothly, but underneath it all, the angry fireplug is really seeking vengeance for the untimely death of his best friend.
The political underpinnings have been mentioned more eloquently by better writers, but I'll give it a go here. The biggest and most obviously controversial aspect is the politically ambiguous inclusion of the IRA during a time where their terrorist/freedom fighting activities were at their most prolific. Who'd have thought that nearly thirty years later the base subject of the film would be even more relevant than it was upon the film's initial release? Then we have the allegorical goals of the main character. Made at the beginning of Margaret Thatcher's reinventing of the UK, the film presents its protagonist as the ultimate Capitalist Patriot, a man who's bought into the promises of Thatcherism. The question is; is the film presenting Harold Shand as a sympathetic victim of the ultimate failure of the ultra-conservative movement, or as a villainised representation of the movement's aggression?
Just as the ads will tell you, The Long Good Friday is the direct kin of such recent cockney hits as Guy Ritchie's Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch, and Matthew Vaughn's wonderfully cool Layer Cake, along with about a jillion other, lesser gangster incarnations. The lead villains of both Ritchie's magnum opi (remember when he made films people liked) make appearances as Hoskins' heavies, but those films are at their base, comedies, and this film is most definitely a drama. Sure, there's plenty of humour to be had, but the drama is what makes the film so gripping.
Like the best of the genre, The Long Good Friday has some cracking cockney dialogue. Alliterations, slang, and an unnaturally large thesaurus of vocabulary are all on display, and shine like some of the brightest ever written. In the end, beyond the setting, the dialogue is really what makes a Brit gangster flick special, as plenty of US, Italian, and French films have more than covered the grit, grime, and violence the genre implies. Though The Long Good Friday isn't the first rough and tumble cockney gangster flick, or even the first popular one (that honour would likely go to Michael Cain's Get Carter), it does what it does better and more interestingly than the bulk of the output.
The '70s crime film revival, led by classics like The French Connection, Point Blank, and Dirty Harry, really do sort of culminate here, and though this film isn't necessarily as good as those, it does learn its lessons from them, even building on the themes to create more sympathetic and deep characters. The great actors, of course, help matters in this department, though even among such larger than life personalities, Hoskins really does steal the show, his only major competition being Helen Mirren, who may be the best gangster's wife in film history, even topping Diane Keaton's wonderful Godfather performances—though, in all fairness, Keaton had the time to develop her character much deeper than Mirren, over the course of three, three hour films.
I could go on, and though it's by no means a perfect film, The Long Good Friday actually deserves its praise. The plot is thick, and the filmmakers have no qualms about throwing the audience into a situation they don't understand, allowing them to figure out what's going on along with the main character. The camera work is not intrusive, and captures the conflict perfectly without ever becoming too flashy. The acting is fantastic, and fans of modern cinema will be delighted to see younger incarnations of some of their favourite British players. A grand film that begs to be viewed by film fanatics from all walks of life.
Anchor Bay has, again, produced a solid DVD transfer from less than desirable materials. All daylight scenes look great, with vibrant colours, and clearness uncommon in aged film. Film grain is always prevalent, but never intrusive, during these sequences. I've notice that several Anchor Bay releases seem to really push the black levels, to the point that some black bleeds a bit, but I have to admit that I actually like this look, and find that it adds to the film experience rather than detracting.
Night and darker interior scenes suffer from heavier grain and a lack of true black. Several blacks appear more bluish in tint. For the most part this is acceptable, but there are a few occasions when the image becomes muddy. These muddy sequences also produce quite a bit of noticeable ghosting effects and some fancy comet tales. Again, these are all forgivable offences. The big oops is what appears to be two or three frames of missing footage towards the finale, which creates a very obvious jump.
Sometimes Mono tracks can really get the job done, and with the right balance can actually create a very immersive track. Though not explosive, this particular Dolby Digital Mono track is layered thick, without losing quality or becoming muddy. The score, which I'll go on record (and probably get a few e-mails about) is good, but often distracting and inappropriate, sounds spectacular, only distorting a few times. There is a sync problem, which makes it so that lips and words occasionally don't link up. This might have something to do with those occasional missing frames I spoke of in the Video section.
Anchor Bay used to be the company you could count on for superior special editions of cult films, but ever since their stellar Dawn of the Dead: Ultimate Edition release, they seem to be putting less and less effort into special features. The Long Good Friday is a welcome return to form for the studio, who has presented one of the finest single disc editions I've seen in a long while.
The credit for this resurgence in quality goes almost 90% to the newly created documentary Bloody Business: The Making of The Long Good Friday, which is the studio's finest retrospective documentary since, of course, their Dawn of the Dead release. Running about an hour in length, the doc covers just about every aspect of the film's production and release, even managing to score an interview with bit player Pierce Bronsnan, who made his motion picture début as a silent, gum-chewing assassin. The director, producer, and cinematographer all do their part to actually make one appreciate the film more after viewing the doc, without ever stooping to narcissism. The release of the film was a story onto itself, including the re-dubbing of Hoskins by the studio, cries of treachery from patriotic Brits, and a nearly two year time span until its final US release. Fascinating stuff.
The rest of the features are more par for the course type stuff. This includes an intriguing and enthusiastic commentary with director John Mackenzie, which is ultimately rendered kind of moot by the awesome documentary. Mackenzie is a talent I'm not at all familiar with, and I will pursue as much of his back catalogue as I can now that I've been properly introduced to his work. The features are concluded with the US and UK trailers (which give away too much), thick, but somewhat non-inclusive talent bios (only the main actors and director are covered), a small poster gallery, and the sets most intriguing but disappointing feature, a 'Cockney English Slang Glossary'. The glossary really could've been ten times larger and still not inclusive enough to satisfy the film's American fans, which may still have trouble with some of the dialogue.
The first film I've seen in a long time to live up to the hype, The Long Good Friday is a real modern classic. We've got great acting, wonderful camera work, and a cracking original script that all but defines the genre. All you Guy Ritchie fans out there will definitely want to give it a look, and all hold over fans will want to give up their old Criterion disc in favour of this anamorphic presentation and excellent documentary feature.
Review by Gabriel Powers
Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian
Disc Details
Release Date: 4th April 2006
Discs: 1
Disc Type: Single side, dual layer
RCE: No
Video: NTSC
Aspect: 1.78:1
Anamorphic: Yes
Colour: Yes
Audio: Dolby Digital Mono English
Subtitles: None
Extras: Bloody Business: Making The Long Good Friday, Audio Commentary With Director John Mackenzie, U.S. and U.K.Trailer, Cockney Slang Glossary, Poster & Still Gallery, Talent Bios, Also On DVD, DVDROM Screenplay
Easter Egg: No
Feature Details
Director: John Mackenzie
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Helen Mirren, Dave King, Bryan Marshall, Derek Thompson
Genre: Crime
Length: 109 minutes
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