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Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Contact MOFGA
About MOFGA
MOFGA History
MOFGA Timeline
Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Why Organic?
Common Ground Education Center
Board of Directors
Business Members
Volunteer Profiles
MOFGA Notes
Employment Opportunities
Agricultural Services
Buy Organic
Farm Apprenticeships
Farmer In Residence
Journeyperson Program
Maine Farm Resilience Program
MOFGA Farm Beginnings
Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards
Low Impact Forestry
Maine Heritage Orchard
Organic Farmer Loan Fund
Public Policy
The Fair
General Information
Activities & Events
Fair Volunteers
Fair News
MOFGA Events
The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener
Articles for Reprinting
Organic Gardening Tips
Fact Sheets
Pest Reports
Price Reports
Reports and Technical Papers
The Organic Sprout
Power Point Presentations
Contact MOFGA
Contact MOFGA
About MOFGA
MOFGA History
MOFGA History
MOFGA Timeline
MOFGA Timeline
Annual Report
Annual Report
Strategic Plan
Strategic Plan
Why Organic?
Why Organic?
Common Ground Education Center
Common Ground Education Center
Board of Directors
Board of Directors
Business Members
Business Members
Volunteer Profiles
Volunteer Profiles
MOFGA Notes
MOFGA Notes
Employment Opportunities
Employment Opportunities
Agricultural Services
Agricultural Services
Buy Organic
Buy Organic
Farm Apprenticeships
Farm Apprenticeships
Farmer In Residence
Farmer In Residence
Journeyperson Program
Journeyperson Program
Maine Farm Resilience Program
Maine Farm Resilience Program
MOFGA Farm Beginnings
MOFGA Farm Beginnings
Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards
Russell Libby Agricultural Scholar Awards
Low Impact Forestry
Low Impact Forestry
Maine Heritage Orchard
Organic Farmer Loan Fund
Organic Farmer Loan Fund
Public Policy
Public Policy
The Fair
General Information
General Information
Activities & Events
Activities & Events
Fair Volunteers
Fair Volunteers
Fair News
Fair News
MOFGA Events
MOFGA Events
The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener
The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener
Articles for Reprinting
Articles for Reprinting
Organic Gardening Tips
Organic Gardening Tips
Fact Sheets
Fact Sheets
Pest Reports
Pest Reports
Price Reports
Price Reports
Reports and Technical Papers
Reports and Technical Papers
The Organic Sprout
The Organic Sprout
Power Point Presentations
Power Point Presentations
Ways to give
Find Organic and Local Products
Quick links...
Ways to give
Find Organic and Local Products
News & Events
The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener
Summer 2007
News & Events
Harvey Wins Lawsuit
As of June 8, 2007, federal law will require that organic foods be better defined, thanks to a lawsuit brought against USDA by Maine blueberry grower Arthur Harvey. The appeal was heard in the First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston after being dismissed in 2002 in U.S. District Court in Portland. The Boston court agreed with Harvey that:
• cows producing milk labeled as organic may not receive conventional grain for a year before the product is so labeled. (Current rules used a three-month period for feeding organic grains.)
• the 5% of ingredients that need not be organic in processed foods labeled as organic must come from the national list of permitted ingredients, not from any agricultural product;
• producers must adhere to federal law requiring that after harvest, organic produce must not be treated with any artificial substances. (The USDA had developed a list of synthetics allowed in processing.) Intensive lobbying by manufacturers, however, got an amendment to the 2006 federal budget that allows synthetics after harvest. Harvey is attempting to get that amendment repealed.
Harvey's contributions were responsible for his recognition as the Organic Inspector of the Year and Inspector Asset of the Year by the Independent Organic Inspectors Association in Encinitas, Calif., in March.
Source: "Organic farmer's efforts to change labels honored," by Mary Standard ,
Lewiston Sun Journal,
March 27, 2007,
MAINE GARDENS: Nature and Design
A Four-Day Symposium
July 12-15
Maine Gardens: Nature and Design is a four-day symposium presented by The Garden Conservancy, The Farnsworth Art Museum and The Maine Olmsted Alliance for Parks and Landscapes. It will be held on July 12-15, 2007, in Midcoast Maine to engage people in exploring the history and beauty of Maine's landscapes.
Speakers will include: Patrick Chasse, ASLA, curator of landscape at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston; Page Dickey, garden writer, lecturer and cofounder of The Garden Conservancy's Open Garden Days; Kerry Hardy of Merryspring Nature Center, Camden, Maine; Maureen Heffernan of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens; Erica Hirschler, senior curator, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; Nancy Harmon Jenkins, food author and editor; Leslie Land, garden writer, The New York Times; Tovah Martin, garden writer, photographer, author; Theresa Mattor, author, landscape architect; Sandra Oliver, food historian, Islesboro; Pauline Runkel, flower designer, Boston; Lora Urbanelli, director of the Farnsworth Museum, Rockland.
Participants will explore the fruitful mingling of the natural and the carefully planned. They will discover writers and artists who imagined this American Paradise, hear from those who continue to do so, become acquainted with the works of the designers, ordinary people and eminent landscape architects who have shaped and softened the wild terrain.
Lectures and discussions will take place at the Strand Theatre in Rockland on July 12-14. Kids' Flower Hour will be at the Farnsworth Museum. Gardens and grounds from Belfast and Islesboro to Rockland, Camden, Lincolnville, Boothbay Harbor and North Haven will be open to participants, who will receive information on and directions to each site; the gardens will be listed in the Conservancy's Open Days Directory. Flower centered art will be displayed at galleries in Camden and Rockland. A land conservation exhibit is planned for Aldermere Farm involving the Coastal Mountains Land Trust, the Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Georges River Land Trust. Noted food writer Nancy Harmon Jenkins is organizing a feast in the Camden Amphitheatre for the evening of July 13 to highlight the sustainable landscape; the Belfast Maskers will perform one act of a Shakespeare play in the Amphitheatre after the feast.
Cosponsors of Maine Gardens include: Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockport; The Cultural Landscape Foundation, Washington, D.C.; The Garden Club of America, New York, N.Y.; Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay; The Strand Theatre, Rockland; Maine Preservation, Portland; Merryspring Nature Park, Camden; Maine Photographic Workshops, Rockport; and others.
Maine Garden Coordinator is Peggy Watson, landscape gardener and historian. For more information, contact firstname.lastname@example.com or visit
Rhododendrons and daffodils at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens: Maine's First
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens' 248 acres in Boothbay make up Maine's first, and New England's largest, botanical garden. Visitors discover masterfully designed ornamental gardens, sparkling waterfront, stonework and sculpture, as well as miles of trails that highlight the best of coastal Maine's natural beauty.
Beginning May 1, the Visitor Center will provide services including a gift shop and café. Programs, events and exhibits year-round offer opportunities for all ages to learn about plants, gardening and nature; experience fine art; and simply have fun.
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is off Barters Island Road, about 10 miles south of Route 1 and just over a mile from the Boothbay common.
For more information please visit
Maine Alpaca Association to Produce Maine Fiber Frolic
The Maine Alpaca Association has become the producer of the annual Maine Fiber Frolic. In its seventh year, the Fiber Frolic is a family-oriented animal and arts festival for fiber enthusiasts of all skill levels.
The 2007 Fiber Frolic will be held on Saturday and Sunday, June 9 and 10, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Windsor Fairgrounds in Windsor, Maine, rain or shine. Over 75 farms and retailers will showcase their livestock, fiber and products for 1,500 visitors. Instructional fiber arts workshops and free educational presentations will be held throughout the weekend. The event is organized by members of the Maine Llama Association, Maine Sheep Breeders Association, the Maine Alpaca Association, and dozens of volunteers.
Hundreds of llamas, alpacas, rabbits, sheep and goats will be displayed, and retail vendors will feature raw and value-added fibers, specialty products, supplies and equipment for sale. Special events include the Maine Llama Drill Team Parade, herding dog demonstrations, and youth goat, llama and sheep shows. Talks will address topics such as packing with llamas, and raising and breeding specialty livestock. Fiber-related activities will be available for children and adults.
The Maine Alpaca Association formed in 2003 to provide its members with education and support on all aspects of alpaca ownership, from husbandry to business planning and marketing, and to promote the benefits of the alpaca lifestyle to Maine's public. The Fiber Frolic was founded in 2000 by the Maine Llama Association to celebrate all things fiber.
For complete information about the 7th Annual Maine Fiber Frolic, please visit
Organic Seed Growers' Conference and Producers' Course in Oregon
February 13-15, 2008
The 5th Organic Seed Growers Conference will be held February 14-15, 2008, at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Oregon. The Conference, co-hosted by the Organic Seed Alliance, Oregon State University and Washington State University, is the largest meeting of seed professionals engaged in organic seed production, research and plant breeding in the United States. For more information, see
Input and proposals for presentations and posters must be submitted by June 1, 2007, to Micaela Colley at
. Applicants for presentations and posters will be notified by August 1, 2007. Suggestions for speakers and presentation topics are welcome, also.
A one-day, Feb. 13 pre-conference short course, funded by Western SARE, will address fundamentals of seed production and organic production for organic professionals and farmers interested in learning how to grow specialty seed.
For more information, see
or contact Organic Seed Alliance, PO Box 772, Port Townsend, WA 98368, 360-385-7192.
USDA Begins Organic Price Reporting
In response to producer demand, USDA is increasingly reporting organic prices for various crops and livestock products in the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS)
Livestock and Grain Market News
. You can sign up to receive biweekly updates via email (
Gigi DiGiacomo with the Univ. of Minnesota School of Agriculture Endowed Chair Program is working with AMS to gather the data for these reports. DiGiacomo is soliciting price information from organic buyers and sellers. Please contact her for more information:
, 612-710-1188.
For more information about the subscription process, contact James Bernau, Market Reporter with the AMS Livestock & Grain News,
, 515-284-4460.
Source: Scientific Congress on Organic Agriculture Research, SCOAR Bulletin #16, March 19, 2007;
Wood Prairie Farm's Potato Wins Award
Wood Prairie Farm, a MOFGA-certified organic farm in Bridgewater, Maine, offers seed potato of a new hybrid called King Harry, developed by Cornell University. King Harry's hairy leaves repel Colorado potato beetles, leaf hoppers and flea beetles. Wood Prairie won the Mailorder Gardening Association's Green Thumb Award – given for the five best new plant varieties each year – for the introduction. Wood Prairie trialed the round, white, early variety for Cornell. Although early, King Harry also stores well.
For more information, see
or call 1-800-829-9765.
Source: "Award-winning potato resists destructive bugs," by Tom Atwell, Maine Sunday Telegram, March 18, 2007.
Organic Corn Yields Surpass Conventional in 27-Year Study
New data from The Rodale Institute's 27-year Farming Systems Trial (FST) shows that over time, corn yields from organically managed fields can equal and even surpass yields from conventionally farmed fields. Organic practices also improve soil quality and result in fewer greenhouse gases in the air and less pollution in the water.
The 13-acre FST began in 1981, making it the United States' longest-running scientifically controlled comparison of organic and conventional crop production systems. During the first few years, while the organically farmed plots were going through the transition process and building up biological activity in the soil, yields from conventional corn fields were superior. But the organic plots soon entered a long phase, from 1985 until 1993, when their mean yields equalled those of the conventionally farmed plots.
From 1995 to 2006, mean yields from organic plots surpassed those of conventional plots; this period included both severe drought years and a record wet summer. During drought years, organic corn yields were 28 to 34% higher. During the rainy summer of 2004, organic yields were 13% higher and contained 15% more protein than corn grown in conventional plots.
These increased yields are the end result of more than two decades of continuous soil improvements through organic farming techniques. Tests show that from 1981 to today, soil quality has greatly increased in the plots under organic management, but has not increased in conventional plots. The organic soil now contains 30% more carbon, 15% more total nitrogen and 225% more biological activity than it did at the beginning of the project.
"This transformation of the organic fields is like the race of the tortoise and the hare," says Dr. Paul Hepperly, The Rodale Institute's research and training manager. "Our research has shown that the organic systems are now pulling ahead on four fronts: namely, soil quality, drought tolerance, crop quality and overall yield. While it takes time to change worn-out soil into rich, healthy soil, it is well worth the effort and wait."
The Rodale Institute's long-term commitment to research has demonstrated that agricultural chemical fertilizers and pesticides are not prerequisites for high, consistent field crop yields and quality. By patiently improving base soil fertility, organic farmers can make big changes. Over a period of years they can achieve yields that are competitive with conventional agriculture while cutting costs and energy consumption. Further, they can eliminate the negative environmental impact of agri-chemicals used in conventional food production.
Source: Rodale Institute Press Release, April 12, 2007. FMI: Kerry Boderman, 610-683-1456,
Sustainable Farming Boosts Poorest Farmers
Farming techniques such as crop rotation and organic methods can help eliminate poverty among the world's poorest farmers. Research conducted over four years and published in Environmental Science and Technology found an average 79% higher crop yields, reduced pesticide and water use, and greater profits among 280 projects in 57 developing nations.
Professor Jules Pretty of the University of Essex, co-author of the report, says, "In many ways farmers in developing countries are leading the way" in sustainable farming methods, working with local biodiversity and developing healthy soil.
Most methods were applied with no official policy mandates. "If there was more central support then we would expect to see these sorts of techniques and ideas spread more rapidly," says Pretty.
Sources: "Sustainable Farming Boosts World's Poorest Farmers, Study Says," by Ken Roseboro,
The Organic and Non-GMO Report,
Feb. 2007, at
. Original report: "Resource-Conserving Agriculture Increases Yields in Developing Countries," by J. N. Pretty, A. D. Noble, D. Bossio, J. Dixon, R. E. Hine, F. W. T. Penning de Vries, and J. I. L. Morison .
Environ. Sci. Technol.;
2006; 40(4) pp 1114 - 1119; (Policy Analysis) DOI: 10.1021/es051670d. To subscribe to the Organic and Non-GMO Report, call 1-800-854-0586 or visit
SPIN: Small Plot Intensive Farming
Wally Satzewich operates Wally's Urban Market Garden, a multi-locational, sub-acre, urban farm dispersed over 25 residential backyard plots in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, that are rented from homeowners. Sites range from 500 to 3000 sq. ft., and total half an acre. Produce is sold at The Saskatoon Farmers Market.
Satzewich and Gail Vandersteen were growing vegetables on some 20 acres of excellent, rural, irrigated land, but pests, deer and wind made the job difficult. The couple still lived in the city, where they grew small plots of 10 to 15 crops, such as radishes, scallions, carrots and salad mix. After six years of farming their rural site, the couple realized they could make more money growing multiple crops intensively in the city, so they sold the farm and became urban growers. They grow three crops a year in Saskatoon with much less work than mechanized, large-scale farming. They use a rototiller, a push-type seeder and a few hand tools. They sell quality organic produce at high-end prices.
Satzewich says the city provides a more controlled environment, with fewer pests, better wind protection and a longer growing season. The SPIN (Small Plot Intensive) method is based on their successful downsizing, which emphasizes minimal mechanization and maximum fiscal discipline and planning.
Roxanne Christensen is co-founder and president of the Institute for Innovations in Local Farming. In partnership with the Philadelphia Water Department, the Institute operates Somerton Tanks Farm, a prototype sub-acre urban farm in northeast Philadelphia that serves as the U.S. test bed for SPIN-FARMING. Christensen contends that the separation of country and city is a bankrupt concept. "As development erodes the rural way of life, agriculture is creeping closer and closer to metropolitan areas. SPIN-FARMING leverages this trend in a positive way – by capitalizing on limited resources and space. Creating Somerton Tanks Farm using the SPIN method required minimal upfront investment, and it keeps operating overhead low.
"For aspiring farmers, SPIN eliminates the two big barriers to entry – sizeable acreage and substantial startup capital. At the same time, its intensive relay growing techniques and precise revenue targeting formulas push yields to unprecedented levels and result in highly profitable income."
In 2003, its first year of operation, Somerton Tanks Farm grossed $26,100 from a half-acre during a nine-month growing season. In 2005, gross sales were $52,200.
The first SPIN-Farming workshop is coming to Michael Fields Agricultural Institute in East Troy, Wisc., on March 22-24, 2007. SPIN Cities: Farming Where We Live will equip a new generation of farmers with the know-how to farm commercially without having to own much, if any, land, and without making a large financial investment. Satzewich will show how to replicate his success. For more information about the workshop, contact Janet Gamble at Michael Fields Institute, 262-642-3303 or
. For more information on SPIN Farming, visit
Farm & Food News,
Nov. 2006.
Creekstone Farms Wins "Right" to Test for Mad Cow
After the discovery of another case of Mad Cow Disease in the United States last year, foreign markets tightened their ban on U.S. beef based on the fact that the USDA requires such a small percentage of meat to be tested for this fatal disease. In an attempt to maintain sales with customers overseas, Kansas-based Creekstone Farms announced it would voluntarily test all of its meat for Mad Cow Disease. The USDA responded that it was illegal for Creekstone to have such quality food safety testing. When Creekstone took the USDA to court, a federal judge ruled against the agency. The results of the case will likely create a domino effect in the industry where more meatpackers will voluntarily increase testing for Mad Cow Disease in order to gain customers. For more information, see
New Food Seal for Humanely Raised Farm Animals
The nonprofit Animal Welfare Institute (AWI) has launched Animal Welfare Approved, a seal for meat, poultry, dairy and eggs that features the highest standards for humane treatment of farm animals. More than 500 farms comply with AWI standards, which take into account all aspects of an animal's life, from opportunities to socialize and behave naturally to assurances of comfort and freedom from intensive confinement. Animal Welfare Approved is the first seal to guarantee that humanely-labeled products do not come from agribusinesses that raise the majority of their animals under cruel and unnatural conditions while also rearing some according to so-called humane standards. Only independent family farms can earn the Animal Welfare Approved seal, since AWI's program is designed to revitalize a culture of family-owned and managed farms.
Requirements for acceptance into the program are at
Source: Animal Welfare Approved,
, Jan. 31, 2007.
Livestock Generating Greenhouse Gases
The United Nations says the world's rapidly growing cattle herds are the greatest threat to the climate, forests and wildlife. They also contribute to acid rain, poisoned waters, dead zones in oceans and introduce alien species. A report by the U.N. Food and Agricultural Organization, entitled 'Livestock's Long Shadow,' notes damage by other farm animals but blames the world's 1.5 billion cattle for 18% of the greenhouse gases that cause global warming. Half of that 18% is from clearing vegetation for grazing, and from fuel used to produce fertilizer to grow feed, to produce meat and to transport it. Cattle's gases and manure emit more than one-third of the methane in the world; methane warms the world 20 times faster than carbon dioxide.
Source: "Livestock's Long Shadow," by Geoffrey Lean,
London Independent,
Dec. 10, 2006.
Green Roof Center
Green roofs are common in Germany, have been installed in the United States (notably on Chicago City Hall), and more are planned. Among their benefits, they are aesthetically pleasing, reduce the city "heat island" effect, reduce carbon dioxide impact, reduce air conditioning and heating demands, double or triple roof life, remove nitrogen pollution in rain, neutralize acid rain, reduce noise and storm water runoff and provide songbird habitat. Their design and plant selection depend on the depth of the growing medium and the local climate, but plants are almost always drought tolerant. Low growing plants such as grasses, sedums and other cactus-like plants are used where the medium is only a few inches deep. Where it is several feet deep, shrubs and small trees can be used. Although most easily used on flat roofs, a low pitch roof can also be "greened." Green roofs are a significant niche market for horticulturists, especially plant propagators. For more information, see
Farms and Forests Can Reduce Global Warming
America's farms and forests have a major role to play in reducing the threat of climate change, according to two reports released by the Pew Center on Global Climate Change. Changes in agricultural practices coupled with foresting marginal agricultural lands could offset up to one-fifth of current U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, while creating potential new sources of farming income. In addition, the nation could reduce emissions by 10 to 25% by replacing fossil fuels with biofuels made from agricultural crops.
The two reports are: "Agriculture's Role in Greenhouse Gas Mitigation," by Keith Paustian, John M. Antle, John Sheehan and Eldor A. Paul; and "Agricultural and Forestlands: U.S. Carbon Policy Strategies," by Kenneth R. Richards, R. Neil Sampson and Sandra Brown.
The reports cover agriculture and forestry as sources of greenhouse gases (including carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide) and as "sinks" that can remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. They also stress the need to bolster existing programs and develop new ones to capitalize on the opportunity to contribute to climate solutions in these two sectors.
The authors suggest "suitable payments" to encourage farmers to adopt management practices to store carbon in agricultural soils and reduce agricultural emissions of methane and nitrous oxide. Policy incentives also are needed, they say, to reduce costs of producing biofuels and accelerate key technologies. The report notes that climate mitigation could become a source of new income and cost reductions for farmers. However, access to financing, changes in economic conditions and technologies, and policies will be key factors affecting farmers' willingness to play a part in climate solutions.
The second report, "Agricultural and Forestlands: U.S. Carbon Policy Strategies," considers policies that would ensure a prominent role for U.S. agriculture and forests in national climate mitigation plans. Among potential policies: changing practices on public lands; land use regulations for privately owned forests; and incentives promoting climate-friendly practices on agricultural lands.
For more information, visit
Disappearing Honeybees
This winter, according to
The New York Times,
beekeepers in 24 states have noticed that 30 to more than 70% of their bees have vanished, without leaving dead bodies in or around hives. Most hives contain honey, pollen and larvae – but not worker bees. The latter seem to have flown off and never returned. This "colony collapse disorder" (CCD) is a potential problem, since 90-plus North American crops and about one-third of an American's diet depend on pollination by honeybees.
Many possible causes of the decline have been suggested, including diseases, mites, crowding in hives, nutritional problems, antibiotics, miticides, pesticide(s), stress due to a shorter off-season when they're not pollinating (as bees are transported to crops around the country for pollination), monocultures – or some combination of these and other hazards.
A German newspaper says that growers there are questioning whether genetically-engineered Bt corn pollen may be part of the problem, while some Texas beekeepers note that most of the affected hives are near corn fields. They wonder whether the insecticide imidacloprid, a neurotoxin that disorients bees, may be responsible. Some uses of imidacloprid have been banned in France since large die-offs of bees occurred there in the mid-1990s and the insecticide was thought to be involved.
Another hypothesis, based on limited data, suggests that electromagnetic radiation from cell phones may be to blame. When mobile phones were put near beehives, bees refused to return.
The CCD working group, which is studying the problem in the United States, is not focusing on GE crops or cell phones as possible causes, since they are not found near many CCD sites, says the group.
Sources: "Honeybees Vanish, Leaving Keepers in Peril," by Alexei Barrionuevo, The New York Times, Feb. 27, 2007.
; "Collapsing Colonies – Are GM Crops Killing Bees?" by Gunther Latsch, Der Spiegel, March 22, 2007,
; "A stinging loss for U.S. farmers as honeybees vanish," by Amy Ellis Nutt,
The Star Ledger,
April 15, 2007,
. "Are mobile phones wiping out our bees?" by Geoffrey Lean and Harriet Shawcross,
The Independent,
London, April 15, 2007; "Cell Phones To Blame For Deserted Bee Colonies?"
April 16, 2007,
; "Colony Collapse Disorder: Frequently Asked Questions", MAAREC [Mid-Atlantic Apiculture Research and Extension Consorium), March 2007.
Toxic Chemical Leaching into Canned Foods
The Environmental Working Group analyzed samples of canned fruit, vegetables, soda and baby formula sold in U.S. supermarkets and found that more than 50% were tainted with a chemical linked to birth defects, ADHD and cancer. The chemical, bisphenol A (BPA), is in plastics that line food cans. According to the study, the chemical has been leaching into foods at levels up to 200 times the government's recommended "safe" level of exposure. Dr. Frederick vom Saal, professor of biology at the University of Missouri-Columbia and an expert on BPA, says 94 studies indicate deleterious health effects from BPA. "If BPA was treated as a drug, it would have been pulled immediately. This chemical can be replaced right now by safer materials, and the public would never notice the difference."
Avoiding BPA
• Metal canned beverages appear to contain lower BPA residues, while metal canned pasta and soups contain the highest levels.
• Canned foods in glass containers are not a BPA risk.
• Plastics with the recycling labels #1, #2 and #4 on the bottom are safer choices and do not contain BPA.
• One-third of liquid baby formulas have high levels of BPA. Powdered formula packaging is generally considered safer.
• Avoid heating foods in plastic containers and do not wash plastic containers in a dishwasher.
• When possible, opt for glass, porcelain and stainless steel containers, particularly for hot food or liquids.
• Do not let plastic wrap touch food in the microwave, or avoid microwave ovens altogether.
• Many metal water bottles, such as those sold by the brand Sigg, are lined with a plastic coating that contains BPA. Look for stainless steel bottles, such as those sold by Real Wear and Kleen Kanteen that do not have a plastic liner.
Source: Organic Bytes, March 8, 2007, Organic Consumers Assoc.,
Free Guide Ranks Pesticide Contamination of Produce
If you can't always buy organic, you can still dramatically lower your family's exposure to chemical pesticides by choosing the least pesticide-contaminated fruits and vegetables with the
Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce.
Shopper's Guide
is a wallet-size card that lists the "Dirty Dozen" most contaminated fruits and vegetables, as well as the 12 most "Consistently Clean" items. The newest edition is available as a free download at www.foodnews.org in both English and Spanish.
Shopper's Guide
was developed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG), based on results of nearly 43,000 tests for pesticides on produce by the USDA and the FDA between 2000 and 2004. The EWG's analysis found that consumers could cut their pesticide exposure by almost 90% by avoiding the most contaminated produce and eating the least contaminated instead.
Eating the 12 most contaminated fruits and vegetables will expose a person to about 15 pesticides a day, on average. Eating the 12 least contaminated will expose a person to fewer than two pesticides a day.
EWG's analysis of federal testing data found:
* Peaches and apples topped the Dirty Dozen list. Almost 97% of peaches tested positive for pesticides, and almost 87% had two or more pesticide residues. About 92% of apples tested positive, and 79% had two or more pesticides. The rest of the Dirty Dozen include sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, imported grapes, spinach, lettuce and potatoes.
* Onions, avocados and sweet corn headed the Consistently Clean list. For all three, more than 90% of the samples tested had no detectable pesticide residues. Others on the Consistently Clean list include pineapples, mango, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, bananas, cabbage, broccoli and papaya.
There is growing scientific consensus that small doses of pesticides can adversely affect people, especially during vulnerable periods of fetal development and childhood when exposures can have long lasting effects. Because the toxic effects of pesticides are worrisome, not well understood, or in some cases completely unstudied, shoppers are wise to minimize exposure to pesticides whenever possible.
While washing and rinsing fresh produce can reduce levels of some pesticides, it does not eliminate them. Peeling also reduces exposures, but valuable nutrients often go down the drain with the peel. The best option is to eat a varied diet, wash all produce, and choose organic when possible to reduce exposure to potentially harmful chemicals.
Although the Shopper's Guide measures only pesticide residues on produce, buying organic also makes sense if you're concerned about bacterial contamination. Organic farmers meet all the sanitation standards required of conventional growers and, on top of that, meet tight restrictions on the use of compost and other organic material that do not apply to conventional fruit and vegetable growers.
"When Should You Buy Organic? Free Guide Ranks Pesticide Contamination of Fruits and Vegetables," Oct. 4, 2006, Environmental Working Group Public Affairs: (202) 667-6982.
Judge Orders Moratorium on GE Alfalfa
A Federal judge in California ruled on May 4, 2007, that the USDA 2005 approval of Monsanto's genetically engineered (GE) Roundup Ready alfalfa was illegal. The judge called on USDA to ban further planting of the GE seed until it conducts a complete Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the crop. The ruling followed a hearing brought by the Center for Food Safety (CFS) against the USDA for approving GE alfalfa without the required Environmental Impact Statement. Monsanto and Forage Genetics developed the seed. Judges in earlier rulings said that the USDA failed to address concerns that Roundup Ready alfalfa will contaminate conventional and organic alfalfa. For more information, see
In other recent decisions, a federal judge in Washington said in March that the USDA had not done adequate assessments before approving field trials of GE grass; and in August a federal judge in Hawaii ruled that the USDA had not adequately assessed the potential impact of GE pharmaceutical crops on endangered species.
Sources: Center for Food Safety,
; and Pesticide Action Network Updates Service, March 8, 2007;
; Press Release, The Cornucopia Institute, May 4, 2007,
USDA: No Undue Risk from Rice with Human Genes
The USDA has given preliminary approval for the first commercial GE food crop to contain human genes. The rice, which produces human immune system proteins that can fight diarrhea, is slated to grow in Kansas. The seed was developed by Ventria Bioscience of Sacramento. Opponents fear that the pharmaceutical genes will migrate to other rice crops and foods, so that people could get irregular doses of the medicine; and some people may be allergic to the protein; but USDA's draft environmental assessment concludes no undue risk is present.
Ventria has three varieties of rice, each with a different human gene to make human proteins. Two of the proteins, which fight bacteria, occur in breast milk and saliva. A third protein makes serum albumin for medical therapies.
Meanwhile, rice seed in Arkansas was found to be a GE variety called LL62, which was never released for marketing; and U.S., Mexican and other rice has been widely contaminated by yet another GE rice, LL601, as well. The LL601 variety, developed by Bayer CropScience, has not been grown since 2001. Neither Bayer nor USDA has been able to explain the contamination. In March, Mexico began requiring certification showing that rice imports from the United States are not contaminated with LL601.
Sources: "USDA Backs Production of Rice with Human Genes," by Rick Weiss,
Washington Post,
March 2, 2007; "Greenpeace Investigation Reveals U.S. Source of Genetic Contamination in Mexican Rice," Greenpeace Press Releases, March 9 and 15, 2007; Steve Smith, Greenpeace USA, Washington, (202) 465-5352; Doreen Stabinsky, Greenpeace, (202) 285-7398.
Monsanto Wants to Make rBGH Labeling Illegal
In early April, Monsanto filed a formal complaint with the FDA and Federal Trade Commission, demanding that labeling of rBGH-free diary products be made illegal. Due to escalating consumer demand, an increasing number of large U.S. dairies have declared themselves rBGH-free in the last couple of years. Monsanto, sole producer of the synthetic, genetically engineered hormone, has lost substantial sales as a result. The synthesized hormone is banned in most industrialized nations, including Europe and Canada. For more information and to sign a "Millions Against Monsanto" petition, see
Organic Bytes,
April 6, 2007; Organic Consumers Assoc.,
No Cloned Animal Products in Organic
In April, after being flooded with complaints from consumers, the USDA's National Organic Standards Board voted 12-0 (with one abstention) to ban foods from cloned animals and their progeny from the organic market. For more information, see
Jim Riddle, former chair of the NOSB and author of a cloning report for the Organic Center (see next news item), was pleased with the recommendation. "Cloning," added Riddle, "has no place in organic agriculture. As the FDA's own report shows, cloning is still very experimental with a high failure rate, it's inhumane and totally unnatural."
The action by the NOSB will likely add further support to a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate by Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) that would outlaw the use of cloned animals and their offspring in organic food production. When we went to press, the bill, S536, was in the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Organic Bytes,
April 6, 2007; Organic Consumers Assoc.; press release, The Cornucopia Institute, April 17, 2007,
Organic Center Critiques FDA Approval of Cloned Animal Products
A Critical Issue Report released by the Organic Center questions the Food and Drug Administration's decision to allow meat and milk from cloned animals to enter the food supply. One argument made by the FDA is that clones are "virtually indistinguishable" from normal progeny and therefore may enter the food supply. "Virtually indistinguishable is not a scientific standard," says Jim Riddle, organic outreach coordinator at the University of Minnesota, and author of the report. "The FDA report shows that subtle changes occur in four to seven percent of animals."
After the FDA released its proposed plan to allow (unlabeled) food from cloned animals into the food supply, it received 130,000 comments from consumers opposing the plan. According to a Pew Initiative poll, two-thirds of Americans are uncomfortable with animal cloning. The FDA should make a decision about food from cloned animals by the end of 2007.
Sources: "FDA receives 130,000 comments opposing food from clone,"
www.organicconsumers.org/ articles/article_5062.cfm
, May 3, 2007. The report is posted at


text:
DIY Puzzle 3D Wooden Dimensional Animal House Model Learning Toys For Kids children Gift
- Sellerwww.shoppingblog.us
- List PriceUS$4.29piece
- Sale PriceUS$4.09piece
- ShippingFree Shipping
- Ratings
Product Description
It is a great toy for your kids to develop their intelligence,Cultivate imagination and creativity, Train children 's ability to read simple text graphics and instructions
Item: Wooden Animal House model
Type: DIY
Material:High quality environmentally friendly wood plywood
Packing: environmental protection plastic bags shrink packaging
Recommended Age: 8+
Animal and House are Lively and vivid
Entertaining, set view, play, ceremony, decorated in one
Attention to detail:Exclusive design,Perfect structure layout
Condition: 100% brand new and good quality.
Amazing DIY experience.
A step For step image manual, easy to build it.
Note: Be careful about the sharp parts! This item comes with metal sheets only, not a finished model.
Package Included:
1 x DIY Animal House Model
1 x Product assembly diagram Instruction
1 x Environmental Sandpaper

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Big Time Rush Have Fun in the Sun in New 'Windows Down' Video
Big Time Rush are all about having fun in the sun in their new music video for 'Windows Down.' In the clip, fans get a glimpse of how the boy band recently took in the natural beauty of Hawaii.
With a few ladies in tow, the Nickelodeon pop stars are shown paddle boarding in the ocean, enjoying waterfalls and taking long drives. The summery party jam is just the soundtrack for their awesome day, and the sample of Blur's 'Song 2' is used all too appropriately.
"Windows down is a song that completely embodies fun and we wanted to shoot a video that captured the four of us doing just that," Logan Henderson told Us Weekly. "We shot the video in Maui and did everything from cliff diving to paddle boarding to a house party with the locals. Our fans will get a chance to see a more mature and playful side of BTR."
Fans can expect to find the song on Big Time Rush's next album, but for now, the guys are gearing up for their summer tour with Cody Simpson and Rachel Crow, which kicks off on July 5.
Watch the Big Time Rush 'Windows Down' Video


text:
Get Balanced. Come to the Circus Adventure program of TSNY Beantown! Hang from two flying trapeze rigs and learn how to swing, hang and do back flip dismounts. Then try other circus activities like trampoline, juggling, and hula hoop.
This specal program from GSEM is for Cadette Scouts and Juliette Scouts in grades 6-7-8.
The program will be held on Friday, Feb. 19 (School vacation week) from 2 to 4 p.m. at the TSNY Beantown inside Jordan's Furniture in Reading.
Registration fee is $63 per Scout.
Safety-wise rules apply.
Registration is closing soon. Visit the GSEM Council Web site to sign up your Troop.


text:
You've gone too far. Reloading last forum page...
the बिना सोचे समझे ऐनीमे rp मंचों
the बिना सोचे समझे ऐनीमे rp मंचों The बिना सोचे समझे ऐनीमे RP Part 7
lumforever posted on Dec 30, 2011 at 07:21PM
HI guys! welcome back! Anyone from parts 1-6 is welcome back and if your new just make sure to ask one of us. so... Let's start off where we left off! ;)
(a girl is sitting in a dark room looking threw a glass ball. she can see our characters in their current situations: Arekkusu & Holo, Star in the hospital etc..)
Girl: The time has come. (laughs)
Bat: For what?
Girl: You'll see. he he. (touches the tip of the ball) oh you'll see.
InuYasha: where the hell is Moka?!
kagome: InuYasha relax. she said that she'll be back in a while. she just had to take care of some stuff.
Moka: (walks towards out characters) Hi guys! im sorry i was late! i just had to deal with something. (smiles)
Rin-ne: How is Star doing?
the बिना सोचे समझे ऐनीमे rp मंचों 4361 उत्तरों
Click here to write a response...


text:
One mistake costs Lackey in LA
LOS ANGELES -- The storyline is getting annoyingly familiar for John Lackey. The right-hander keeps pitching well, with nothing but encouraging pats on the back to show for his effort.
It happened again Friday night at Dodger Stadium, as Lackey fired an eight-inning complete game, but the Red Sox lost to the Dodgers, 2-0.View Full Game Coverage
LOS ANGELES -- The storyline is getting annoyingly familiar for John Lackey. The right-hander keeps pitching well, with nothing but encouraging pats on the back to show for his effort.
It happened again Friday night at Dodger Stadium, as Lackey fired an eight-inning complete game, but the Red Sox lost to the Dodgers, 2-0.View Full Game Coverage
In Lackey's 23 starts, Boston has been shut out five times and scored three runs or fewer 13 times.
So even as Lackey has made a terrific comeback from Tommy John surgery, he has an 8-11 record. Lackey's 3.17 ERA is of little consolation to him.
"I want to win the game. I didn't come here for ERA. I came here to try to win a championship," Lackey said.
For all the talk about Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez leading in to this series, it was another player who used to be property of the Red Sox that came back to haunt his old team at Dodger Stadium.
Hanley Ramirez belted a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth inning, and that proved to be the difference in the game.
Once a top prospect for the Red Sox, Ramirez was dealt to the Marlins for current Dodger Josh Beckett and Mike Lowell in November 2005.
"All I know is he was pitching good and I made a good swing," Ramirez said. "I was lucky the ball went out. Especially against a guy like him, you have to stay tough and keep fighting until a mistake happens. We knew it wasn't going to be easy with him. We ended up with a 'W.'"
The Boston bats, meanwhile, were completely stifled by Ricky Nolasco, who allowed two hits and no walks over eight innings.
"He had good stuff working," Stephen Drew said. "He definitely was mixing pitches really well. We hit balls hard at guys, and we don't have anything to show for it. Lackey threw his tail off, threw the ball well, and it just wasn't our night."
With the loss, the Red Sox dropped back into a first-place tie with the Tampa Bay Rays in the American League East. Tampa Bay actually leads Boston by two in the loss column. Of late, manager John Farrell's team has been in a bit of a rut, losing eight out of 13.
"We went through a stretch a while ago where we did this sort of thing and we came out of it," said Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava. "I think everyone in this clubhouse believes we can. At the same time, it's frustrating that we haven't as of late."
Meanwhile, the Dodgers just keep chugging along, with a 29-5 record since the All-Star break.
"We know it was a big series against a great team and if you don't bring your game these guys can knock you around pretty good," said Nolasco. "I was just trying to stay focused and trying to keep a good tempo going."
This was the first regular-season game at Dodger Stadium for the Red Sox since 2002.
Crawford set the table in the fourth when he led off with a single to right. With two outs, Crawford stole second. Ramirez then belted a two-run homer to center.
The deficit loomed large the way Nolasco was pitching.
For the entire contest, the only semblance of a rally the Sox had was in the top of the fifth, when Nava was hit by a pitch and Drew drilled a single into right. But Nolasco got a double play off the bat of Will Middlebrooks to end the inning.
"You're never thinking you're only going to get one [rally] in that point of the game," said Farrell. "But he stayed strong. He was not only committed to the pitches he was throwing, but he was durable. He carried all of his stuff all the way through the eighth innings of work tonight."
The same was true of Lackey.
"Their guy was really good," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly. "I know he struggled over there last year, had some injuries and stuff like that. But this looks like the old guy I saw with the Angels. He's throwing the ball good."
In the meantime, all Lackey can do is hang with 'em, hoping his fortunes will turn around at some point.
"Well it's frustrating for us, too," said Nava. "We want to go out there and give him some runs. He has pitched well and it's frustrating because you want to give a guy, who is giving a good outing like that, you want to be able to support him. It's not lot for a lack of effort."
Ian Browne is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Brownie Points, and follow him on Twitter @IanMBrowne.


text:
Review loan periods and fees
Request materials (SLC, MeL)
Get a floorplan to the: Main Library, North Branch or South Branch
You are responsible for all materials borrowed on your card and agree to abide by library lending rules and all policies and regulations. If you lose your library card, there is a $1 replacement charge for customers who routinely loose their cards. Lost cards should be reported immediately.
Resident Card | Courtesy Card | Nonresident Card | Michicard | Purchased Card | Purchased Visitor Card
People who live or own property in Clinton or Macomb Townships will be issued a residents borrower's card upon application without fee. Appropriate identification will be required at the time of registration. The library supports the ALA Freedom to Read statement and does not have the right to limit juvenile access in place of the parents or guardians.


text:
As the range entry model, the Oceanis 31 bears a strong family resemblance to its sisters, combining elegance with ingenuity for maximum cruising pleasure. In addition to a keel boat version, a lested lifting keel and twin-rudder version is offered. The interior surprises with plenty of storage in a boat this size, and a very spacious aft cabin.
Check out all our new Beneteaus at www.cape-yachts.com.
Cape Yachts
252 Elm Street
South Dartmouth, MA 02748
United States


text:
Rylan wrote:Does NYC hire special contractors to clean up Spider Man's cobwebs?
I belive in the original comic book, in which Peter Parker shoots webs from devices that he designed himself, the chemical formula for the webs makes them dissolve on their own in a certain amount of time. In the movies, where the ability to shoot webs is part of the mutation from the spider, I don't think that question has ever been answered.


text:
(Reuters) - The wintry motif for an NFL postseason that climaxes next month in the first cold weather Super Bowl will have a fittingly frigid launch in this weekend's opening NFC playoff games.
A snowstorm sweeping through the U.S. Northeast on Friday is expected to set the scene in Philadelphia, where the NFC East champion Eagles (10-6) host the wild card New Orleans Saints (11-5) in sub-freezing conditions on Saturday.7
Sunday follows with NFC North winners Green Bay Packers (8-7-1) entertaining the wild card San Francisco 49ers (12-4) in temperatures that could hit zero Fahrenheit (-18 Celsius).
The Eagles-Saints showdown holds the potential for a high-scoring clash with potent offenses directed by tried and true New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees and Philadelphia's second-year sensation Nick Foles.
Brees, who marched the Saints to the Super Bowl title in 2010, finished the regular season with 39 touchdown passes, 12 interceptions, and 5,162 yards, second only to Peyton Manning's record 5,477. New Orleans ranked fourth in total offense.
Foles threw for 27 touchdowns and two interceptions, and a league-leading passer rating of 119.2 after taking over as starter and directing the Eagles' No. 2 ranked offense.
Besides passes, Brees and Foles could swap high school stories as the dueling quarterbacks share even more on their resumes having both attended Westlake High in Austin, Texas.
Brees, who at 34 is 10 years older than Foles, marveled at the job his younger counterpart has done.
"Those are pretty impressive numbers, especially for a guy who's in his first year as a starter," Brees told reporters.
"I'm very happy for his success. Not just the fact that we're from the same high school and I kind of know the road he's traveled. But he seems like a tremendous young man."
The contest will test the road readiness of the Saints, who were 8-0 in their climate-controlled Superdome home and 3-5 when playing in hostile environments.
Philadelphia, after struggling at home, have run off four victories in a row at Lincoln Financial Field and won seven of their last eight games to snare the division crown.
While the Saints, under new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, ranked fourth in fewest yards allowed per game, they must deal with a balanced Eagles attack that also features the nifty running of LeSean McCoy, who led the NFL in rushing this year.
New Orleans ranked 19th in the 32-team league defending against the run.
Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson, who had 1,332 receiving yards this season, felt that being home could prove to be a strong advantage.
"Our fans are going to go wild," he said. "It's a great opportunity to bring the playoffs to Philadelphia."
Reporting by Larry Fine in New York; Editing by Frank Pingue


text:
Nanoelectronic Modeling Lecture 26: NEMO1D -
Licensed according to this deed.
Published on
NEMO1D demonstrated the first industrial strength implementation of NEGF into a simulator that quantitatively simulated resonant tunneling diodes. The development of efficient algorithms that simulate scattering from polar optical phonons, acoustic phonons, alloy disorder, and interface roughness were critical in testing the theory towards its general capability to deliver quantitative matches to experimental data for low temperature devices. That quantitative agreement at low temperature devices and disagreement at room temperature led to a significant conclusion on the importance of full bandstructure models for devices which have material and potential variations on the order of 5nm.
This presentation oveviews the computational flow of the various scattering models implemented in NEMO1D: single sequential scattering, multiple sequential scattering, multiple sequential scattering at coupled energies, and self-consistent first Born approximations. For the derivations of the equations and further detail I just refer here to the Journal of Applied Physics publication in 1997 [1]. This presentation is NOT intended to teach anyone NEGF. It is merely a computational flow overview. For true NEGF teaching material I refer to Datta's NEGF topic page on nanoHUB [2]Learning Objectives:
- Understand the general concept of sequential scattering, multiple sequential scattering, and self-consistent first Born approximation
- Appreciate the complexity of of the the flow of computational objects in a large scale simulation engine
- Roger Lake, Gerhard Klimeck, R. Chris Bowen and Dejan Jovanovic, "Single and multiband modeling of quantum electron transport through layered semiconductor devices", J. of Appl. Phys. 81, 7845 (1997).
- Supriyo Datta maintains an excellent web page on nanoHUB.org which contains tutorials, On-Line seminars, Ph.D. theses, and tool examples.
Cite this work
Researchers should cite this work as follows:
Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy


text:
About Answer Financial
Answer Financial offers shoppers the opportunity to compare prices and purchase auto and home insurance from top companies through its award-winning website or customer call center.
Answer Financial offers shoppers the opportunity to compare prices and purchase auto and home insurance from top companies through its award-winning website or customer call center.
vehicles and homes insured
average savings
Answer Financial is one of the original and longest established auto insurance shopping innovators. As the company has grown and evolved, it has taken on a group of professionals from a variety of backgrounds, all uniting with the joint purpose of pushing the boundaries of customer satisfaction. A focus on cooperation and collaboration has allowed Answer Financial to rise as a leader in the auto insurance agency business and will continue to serve the company as it moves forward. Read more about our Leadership Team.
We at Answer Financial are in the business of providing consumers with an excellent insurance shopping service and the means to save on their insurance needs. For our marketing partners, we provide the knowledge, expertise and reliability that comes from building a robust roster of customizable marketing programs, and a wholly-owned infrastructure that supports each and every program and partnership. Specifically, we offer partners an opportunity to create additional revenue streams. More about some of our marketing partners.
At Answer Financial we are not locked into a single insurance carrier. Our goal is to find the right insurance solutions for your insurance needs. In order to provide you with the most complete coverage, we work only with highly rated insurance carriers. Read more about our carrier partners.
What Customers Say About Our Service
More than 1,000,000 customers have shopped to save with us. Here is what a few of those customers had to say about their experience.
Answer Financial is a member of the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, a national alliance of independent insurance agents representing multiple carriers to offer more options for our clients.
Business practices disclosure for Answer Financial and its affiliates. Read our Purpose and disclosure statement.
If you're a company that's looking to expand your partner network and increase your revenue, then you've come to the right place. Answer Financial is one of the top names in online auto and home insurance. By combining the best of technology with insurance industry know-how, we're able to offer hassle-free auto and home insurance coverage at competitive prices. Email us at email@example.com to find out more about Answer Financial's ever increasing affiliate network.


text: I'm running ISPConfig 22.214.171.124 and Centos 5.7 I have 3 IP Addresses and 3 Websites. Everything was set up fine and website A and IP A have been running fine. Today I have added two more IP's and two more Websites, again also fine. In ISP config I have assigned an IP address to each website and the main website websiteA.co.uk is still running fine. The problem is when I go to websiteB.co.uk it takes me to: websiteB.co.uk/www.websiteA.co.uk And therefore displays Website A's 404 message. This is also the same if I go to website B's IP address. Can someone please shed some light to where i'm going wrong. Thanks


text:
Israel News - Stay Informed, Pray Informed
Doctors at the Sheba Medical Center in central Israel on Sunday said there has been no change in the condition of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, who has been in a coma since suffering a major stroke nearly two years ago.
After meeting with medical staff, former Sharon aide and close family friend Raanan Gissin told reporters that doctors have been unable to detect any brain wave activity in the fallen leader. Nevertheless, Gissin said the Sharon family refuses to have him disconnected from a feeding tube and respirator in hopes that he will still make a full recovery.
In addition to the machines keeping him alive, Sharon has undergone three brain operations, abdominal surgery and three minor surgical procedures to stabilize his condition.
Want more news from Israel?
Click Here to sign up for our FREE daily email updates
For Information & Reservations:
E-Mail: firstname.lastname@example.com
Israel Today
Free to Your Inbox


text:
Rayman DS – Cheats
1000th Yellow Lum
In Tomb of the Ancients, you can find the 1000th lum.
1. In the room with the blocks that rise out of the water, go to the top of the ledge, but don't fall down into the next area.
2. While facing the entrance to the room (out towards the water), go to the right side, but not past the fence.
3. Jump off of the right side and helicopter down, but only helicopter to the right for about 3-5 seconds.
4. Once there, there is an indentation in the wall, go foward towards the wall and turn right. You should see a hole by the water, that
you can't see from the top ledge.
5. Fly towards the hole and continue down that path. You should enter a secret area.
6. You should see a large skull and 2 pirates will pop out of the eye sockets. Fight them and continue on the stones in the water.
Pirates will pop out of the eye sockets as you continue forward, just beat them and go on.
7. At the last stone, you should see a yellow lum in the left eye socket. Jump onto the left spider web and jump up to collect the lum.
Congratulations, you can now get all 1000 lums instead of 999. The only thing that happens is that once you get all 1000 you will have 100%. However, when playing the game, the game never registers the lum, so don't worry when you still have 999/999 at the end.
Contributed By: plasmatic5.
Know Something We Don't?
You can submit new cheats for this game and help our users gain an edge.
Have We Been Fooled?
You can submit a problem report for any non-working or fake code in the lists above.


text: "Mark Kosmowski" <mark.kosmowski at gmail.com> writes: > Have you tried searching for Infinipath drivers at the SUSE 10.3 > repositories? They're certainly not in opensuse separate from the kernel packages. > If you're using OpenSUSE rather than SLED / SLES, > perhaps it would be worth checking the community build repository too. > Maybe someone has already done the build work for you. Thanks, but it's not a problem building from source, and I want the source to be able to do kernel upgrades. > I'm continually amazed at the useful stuff I find there that I was > certain I'd have to build for myself. [SuSE isn't nearly as good as Debian in that respect.] > For that matter, a clean install may be in order as a last resort. Er, no! The relevant info I was missing was that there was better module source to use, but thanks anyhow. In case it helps anyone else: openSuSE 10.3 (openSuSE generally?) isn't supported in the infinitpath 2.2 distribution, and the modules collection won't build directly with make-install.sh. I hacked build-guards.sh to recognize the system as 2.6.22_FC6, since it has a 2.6.22.<something> kernel, and killed the code in drivers-2.6.22_FC6/kernel_addons/backport/2.6.22/include/scsi/scsi_cmnd.h that duplicates stuff in the scsi_cmnd.h in the SuSE kernel sources. (Although I only want the ib_ipath module, it was simplest just to make that change.) Then it will build/install.


text:
Creating tags from Gambit library C files
From Gambit wiki
Work in progress. See also User:dpeschel.
The hand-written C files in the Gambit
lib/ directory contain many small functions, so it would be useful to have a list. The GNU
etags program can create lists in a format that Emacs can use and in a different format that vi and Vim can use. These lists support interactive browsing within Emacs, vi, and Vim. With your cursor on a symbol, you jump to its definition. Unfortunately the lsits are not very useful to read by themselves (to get a quick overview of functions and the order they are defined in, or to get sublists of symbols sorted by type).
Another program, Exuberant Ctags, has some features
etags doesn't, but I haven't gotten Exuberant working yet.
I don't think the original UNIX
ctags is flexible enough to parse the Gambit library. I haven't tried yet.
There is no point in parsing C files that were compiled from Scheme, if I can parse the original Scheme.
The extensive use of preprocessor macros in the library code means
etags's default parser can do very little with the files. Luckily you can extend the lines recognized by
etags through its
--regex option. The regular expressions used must:
- Match the entire text of a line or group of lines (this is not documented in the
etags</code. manual page).
- Contain a subexpression that matches the name of the function being defined.
- Handle enough C syntax to match all and only the correct uses of the macros.
- <code>etags doesn't tag forward declarations, so these expressions are designed to fail on forward declarations.
- It is not possible to associate expressions with different parts of a C function definition, like return type and linkage type, or the signature after a name. The expression must match all those parts in order. However,
etagsdoes not need to know where those parts are within the matched text, except the function name as described above.
use /m modifier, recent version of etags


text:
Monday Morning Standings…and Olympic Highlights
Well these will be the standings until the beginning of March, however I will continue to use the space to highlight what has happened at the Olympics as well (and not just hockey).
The Oilers…well, they are just not that good. Its going to be a super interesting right after the Olympic break, but I am starting to think that we might not see that much movement from the Oil. Not because Tambellini isn't trying, I just think the other GM's are vultures and want picks from us to take bad contracts. Pisani and Comrie are good to go for picks, Souray, Cogliano, Grebber Grabber are all mentioned as well and they should land prospects and picks, but I don't see the others going away. Now the off season might be a different story, but thats just what I see.
Now on to the standings, and keep reading for a recap of the Canadian Olympic results to date.
Continue reading 'Monday Morning Standings…and Olympic Highlights'»


text:
Meet the couples taking action for marriage in NC 2 years after Amendment One
May 08, 2014
Today, May 8, marks two years since the passage of Amendment One, a harmful constitutional amendment passed in North Carolina that bans same-sex couples from marrying in the state and bans any and all protections for these families, including lesser forms of family status like civil union and domestic partnership.
A lot has happened in North Carolina in the past two years: New relationships have formed. Children have been welcomed into the world. Families have continued leading their lives. But every day in the state, loving, committed couples are building their families without the fundamental protections of marriage, enduring the discriminatory Amendment One and looking toward a future where no one in North Carolina - or in any state - is denied the freedom to marry the person they love.
That's why today, couples in Raleigh, NC are taking a stand with the Campaign for Southern Equality, friends, family members, and clergy, through the WE DO campaign. These couples will request marriage licenses and provoke denials from the Wake County Register of Deeds, and married couples will pay $26 to record their commitment in the county as a way of demonstrating that laws like Amendment One are hurting real people and real families in this community.
"These brave couples from North Carolina will do everything in their power to have their marriages recognized or to be married at last - including creating a public record of their love, commitment, and marriage," Rev. Jasmine Beach Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, wrote yesterday in a guest post for Freedom to Marry. "The WE DO Campaign is about targeting discriminatory laws in the moment of their enforcement. By requesting a marriage license or recording a marriage license, these couples are making this discrimination visible: Together, we are putting pressure on systems that persecute by provoking their enforcement."
Freedom to Marry caught up with eight of the couples participating in the WE DO campaign today. Read more about them, and make sure to follow the action - at 9:00am ET - on Twitter at @South4Marriage and @CSELive with #WeDoNC.
TJ & Justine Price-O'Neil
It didn't take long after meeting in their graduate school program at NC State University for TJ and Justine to fall in love and realize that there they shared a special bond.They started dating soon after they met in 2004, and over the next few years, they graduated, bought a home, began raising dogs, and entered the workforce.
In 2010, they celebrated their commitment in front of all of their family members and friends at their church in Raleigh, then received a marriage license in Massachusetts before welcoming a baby girl, Prestyn, into the world in June 2012. That was one month after Amendment One passed, in May 2012.
"Justine was 8 months pregnant with Prestyn when Amendment One passed," TJ explained. "It was hard to bring a child into a world where hatred was being written into our state's constitution."
"Even though we have ridden the high or our wedding ceremony and celebration for many years, slowly North Carolina's denial of respect for our marriage has seeped into our daily lives," Justin added. "The fact that TJ can't adopt Prestyn is the most glaringly obvious: Tax breaks and insurance benefits pale in comparison to not truly being your child's mother in the eyes of the law."
As TJ and Justine take this action with the Campaign for Southern Equality, they know that they are speaking up for equality for all.
"Taking taking this action on the anniversary of the passage of Amendment One gives us a voice," TJ said. "It allows us to finally say, you were wrong, North Carolina. We love you - but you were wrong. We forgive you, but you were wrong. We are here, North Carolina - love us back."
Christopher & Jeff Priela-Tam
Chris and Jeff are rapidly approaching their first wedding anniversary - they tied the knot on June 8 in Washington, D.C. last year - and when they celebrate, they'll be doing so with thousands of miles in between them: As a member of the United States Navy, Jeff is currently deployed.
Shortly before Chris' deployment, the men moved from Honolulu, HI to Jacksonville, NC, where they live on the military base there.
It's a unique, odd situation for Chris to be living on base in North Carolina now that he and Jeff are married; in many ways, it's a relief - because he and Jeff are husbands, and because the federal government respects their marriage thanks to the Supreme Court striking down the core of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, they are treated as just as married as any other couple while on base.
But as soon as he steps off base into North Carolina, the state views Chris and Jeff as legal strangers. That's hard enough to endure when your husband is right by your side - it's been even harder in the past few weeks, while Chris is already dealing with Jeff's deployment.
Today with the Campaign for Southern Equality, Chris is entering his marriage license with Jeff into the North Carolina public record, where they are taking the next step in their lives together.
It's the latest in a long history of Chris and Jeff speaking up for equality. Jeff is a former board member of Equality Hawaii and a current member of OutServe-SLDN, and they have spoken out for equality with the American Military Partner Association and Hawaii United for Marriage.
It all ties into how Chris views the world: "You've got to have Aloha for everyone - not just for some," he has said. "Love is love."
Paula Womack & Jane Weidig
When Paula and Jane first connected more than 19 years ago, it was online - before Facebook, before Twitter, and before Internet dating sites. The women - both ordained ministers - started communicating over online, religion-focused bulletin boards where discussions ranged from theology to Star Trek. They exchanged many messages, eventually talked on the phone, and decided to meet in person - in between Cleveland, where Jane lived, and Memphis, where Paula lived.
Soon after their first meeting, they fell in love, moved together to North Carolina, and promised their commitment to each other in a beautiful Service of Covenant at their church in Chapel Hill, NC.
They've been living in NC ever since - and in November 2012, they legally married in Massachusetts.
"We were planning to go up to Massachusetts, where my mother lives, for Thanksgiving," Jane said, explaining that her mother suffers from Alzheimer's. "Shortly before our trip, we were talking on the phone and, out of the blue, she said, 'Hey, why don't you two get married while you're up here?'" Paula and Jane had always planned to wait to marry until they could in their home state - but her question made them reconsider: Realizing that it was important to Mom, and wanting her to be able to participate and understand what was happening, they changed their plans. Just after Thanksgiving, after nearly two decades together, Jane and Paula legally said "I do."
"It means so much to know that our marriage will be recorded in the public record. Our love, our marriage, will be documented - and that is a firm statement that we are here."
Now, of course, North Carolina does not respect their marriage - Amendment One, the anti-marriage amendment that Jane describes as "a punch in the gut" - denies any and all protections for same-sex couples in the state.
That's a constant blow for Paula and Jane, an ever-present reminder that the state they love is treating them unequally. But even in very tangible ways, the women are confronted with discrimination solely because North Carolina denies them this respect: For example, should Paula need to access family medical leave to care for Jane, because of Amendment One, Paula's employer is not obligated to grant the couple that basic protection that Paula;s straight co-workers receive when they are married.
That's why they are standing up against Amendment One with today's action of recording their marriage.
"It's amazing that this change has happened in such a short period of time," Jane said. "I remember five years ago thinking that we would never see gay couples getting married in some of these states - and now, it's legal in 17 states. It's moving with such force: It's like the switch has been thrown, and the change is happening."
"It means so much to know that our marriage will be recorded in the public record," Paula continued. "Our love, our marriage, will be documented - and that is a firm statement that we are here and that we are just like everyone else."
Jeff Evans & Dave Parnell
Jeff and Dave have been together for more than 25 years, and for many of those years, they've been living in Raleigh.
As a county employee, Dave should be allowed to share his county health care benefits and other protections with Jeff - but since North Carolina does not respect their 25 years of commitment - and does not grant them any legal respect for their marriage license from Vermont, Jeff and Dave cannot be treated with fairness in the state that they love.
When they record their marriage license in Wake County today, they'll be doing so as a tribute to their 25 years together, taking it as an opportunity to raise their hand and tell North Carolina that there are real people and real relationships behind discriminatory laws like Amendment One.
The men had their relationship blessed during a Holy Union service at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh, NC in 2004 - and they've continued to gather at Pullen each week to grow closer together and stronger in their faith.
Megan Borgaard & Judy
After three years of love and commitment, Megan and Judy are taking a stand against Amendment One and declaring that their love is deserving of the same respect and equal treatment that all other families in NC receive.
They are not yet married - but deeply wish to have the freedom to marry in North Carolina.
"We look forward to the day that our love is fully recognized by the state of North Carolina," Megan said. "We are excited for the opportunity to stand up for equality. We're fortunate that we have such an amazing group of family, friends and co-workers who support us and care about us - and we know that in the end, love will win."
Dennis Massenburg & Clifton
As they prepare for their wedding ceremony in Raleigh, NC - after nearly a year of being engaged - Dennis and Clifton
"Participating in this movement throughout this process has strengthened our voice and our point of view in this community."
The men met while working together on a musical ministry project - and it didn't take long for them to hit it off and fall in love.
One of the most unifying aspects of their life is their faith: "Faith plays a central part in our existence," Dennis said. "It is truly in God that we live, move, and have my being. Being able to marry each other and having it publicly and legally acknowledge will bring about a sense for wholeness for the both of us."
Today, two years to the day of Amendment One passing, Dennis and Clifton will request a marriage license with the Campaign for Southern Equality right where they live, in Wake County.
"Participating in this movement throughout this process has strengthened our voice and our point of view in this community," Dennis said.
Tiffany Maddux & Carlie Fink-Maddux
Earlier this week, on May 4, Tiffany and Carlie celebrated the first anniversary of their commitment ceremony in Chapel Hill, NC - the day when they stood before their family members and friends, declared their love for each other, and promised their commitment to building a family.
Shortly after their commitment ceremony, they received a marriage license in New York.
"Returning back to North Carolina knowing our marriage license was insignificant in NC was heartbreaking," Tiffany said. "But we choose to believe and act the way it should be: equal. We choose to believe and act as equal recognized citizens in North Carolina."
Last year, around the anniversary of Amendment One passing, Carlie and Tiffany were celebrating their commitment with their loved ones, and they couldn't help but reflect on the previous year, when the anti-marriage amendment passed in their state.
"Being able to vote against Amendment One was extremely gratifying," Carlie said. "And even though the amendment passed, it opened up the door for more individuals to gain knowledge about the lives of same-sex couples. We both worked with a great deal of people who were pro-Amendment One, and during that campaign, we helped to educate our coworkers on how it would hurt our family. We lived our lives as an example, and we were able to change the hearts and minds of some of our fellow colleagues, which was rewarding."
With today's action, they're continuing to raise their voices against Amendment One - they are recording that marriage license in their home state of North Carolina and telling their state, undeniably, that they are married and waiting for the day where they are granted the respect they need.
"Being able to be a part of the We Do action gives us courage," they said. "We hope we will be the stone that takes the first skip across the water in hopes of creating a ripple effect in our community."
Doug Jones & Sandy Ceppos
When Doug and Sandy met for the first time in 2001, they quickly formed an important friendship, supporting each other through tough personal times - including coming out as gay for the first time.
"One of the first things he did was invite me to church," Sandy said. "That really impressed me, because my faith has always been a defining part of who I am. Doug's friendship was crucial to my journey of facing the new world of being gay - and I really admired his values and his mentoring."
After about six months of friendship, both men sensed that their relationship had become more than that - and by the end of 2001, they were living together and ready to commit their lives to each other.
They married in Bethesda, Maryland at a United Church of Christ church, saying "I do" to each other alongside another couple, close friends of theirs, and before their minister.
"Coming back to North Carolina after the wedding was a rude dose of reality recognizing that nothing had really changed, according to our state," Sandy said. "Oddly enough, filing our federal tax returns as a married couple was our first real experience of being legally married in North Carolina."
"It's important for us to stand up and be recognized as a married gay couple living in North Carolina - not just for ourselves, but for future generations," he continued. "Taking the public action on May 8 gives us the opportunity to place our relationship into the public record. And although the action won't change our marital status in the eyes of the state, it will force others to recognize our marriage - to acknowledge that we are here."


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Fans, critics greet U.S. chamber chief
U.S. Chamber of Commerce chief executive Tom Donahue got a warm welcome from the audience attending the Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry's annual meeting today. After the Brooklyn native gave a spirited speech praising the job-creating power of business, one attendee asked if he had a clone who could run for president.
But outside the Seawell Grand Ballroom at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, where Donohue spoke, sentiments were less friendly.
"Thomas J. Donohue, we've got the dope on you!" chanted a group of about 10 protesters on the sidewalk. Earlier, they had entered the ballroom lobby and attempted to confront the titans of Colorado business gathering inside for lunch. DCPA officials called the police, who kept the group almost out of earshot from CACI's gathering.
Read more…


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HOUSTON — Snack and soda makers that often are blamed for fueling the nation's obesity rates also play a role in educating the dietitians who advise Americans on healthy eating.
Frito-Lay, Kellogg, Coca-Cola and others are essentially teaching the teachers. Their workshops and online classes for the nation's dietitians are part of a behind-the-scenes effort to burnish the images of their snacks and drinks.
The practice has raised ethical concerns among some who say it gives the food industry too much influence over dietitians, who take the classes to earn the education credits they need to maintain their licenses.
"It's not education. It's PR," said Andy Bellatti, a Las Vegas-based dietitian who helped found Dietitians for Professional Integrity, a group of about a dozen dietitians who are calling for an end to the practice.
With two-thirds of Americans considered overweight or obese, the makers of processed foods have shouldered much of the blame for aggressively marketing sugary and salty products. Critics say companies use the classes, which are usually free and more convenient than other courses dietitians can take, as a way to cast their products in a positive nutritional light. Not to mention that companies often collect the contact information of dietitians to mail them samples or coupons, in some cases to distribute to their patients.
Food and beverage companies, meanwhile, say their classes are intended to inject perspective into the public debate over nutrition.
At the annual Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo, the industry offered several workshops on nutrition for the thousands of dietitians who show up there each year.
In Houston last fall, Frito-Lay explained to dietitians how it removed trans fats from its Lay's potato chips and other snacks. The makers of high fructose corn syrup encouraged them to question a study that ties the prevalence of the sweetener to higher rates of Type 2 diabetes. And the company famous for its Frosted Flakes cereal taught about the benefits of fiber.
"Has anyone tried our new chickpea burgers?" asked an employee of Kellogg, which also makes Special K and Morningstar veggie burgers.
Of course, the matter of corporate influence isn't limited to dietitians. In 1997, the Food and Drug Administration issued guidance intended to address concerns regarding the role of drugmakers in continuing medical education for doctors. The guidance drew distinctions between ads and education, essentially stating that drug companies shouldn't influence the latter.
Those barriers don't exist between food companies and dietitians. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, a professional group that's based in Chicago and has more than 75,000 members, governs the path to becoming a registered dietitian and oversees the accreditation for continuing education providers.
Glenna McCollum, president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, said dietitians are trained to question any findings that might not seem sound. "Some of the information provided may need to be challenged," she said. "That's part of the job."
For registered dietitians, continuing education is a requirement, not an option. After earning a bachelor's degree in nutrition, completing an internship program and taking an exam, they must earn 75 credits of continuing education every five years. An hour-long class typically translates to one credit.
Education providers, which must pay a $250 application fee and a $300 annual maintenance fee thereafter, have to abide by certain standards. Classes must be based on relevant subjects, for example, and conducted by qualified personnel. But materials for individual classes are not pre-screened.
A variety of organizations provide continuing education, including universities and professional groups. But the classes can be costly. Meanwhile, the classes offered by food companies are usually online and free.
Deborah Myers, chair of the nutrition and dietetics program at Bluffton University, a small school in Ohio, estimated she spends between $700 and $1,000 a year on continuing education when factoring in travel.
She is reimbursed for professional development costs by her employer. That's not a luxury all dietitians have.
Teaching dietitians isn't a new practice in the food industry. General Mills, which makes Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Yoplait yogurt, Pillsbury dough and Progresso soup, has been an education provider through its Bell Institute of Health and Nutrition for at least 15 years, for example.
But the practice came under scrutiny after a report by public health lawyer and vocal food industry critic Michele Simon last year that detailed the industry's deep ties to the field. Shortly afterward, a small group formed Dietitians for Professional Integrity to call for changes.
A petition by the group on the subject got more than 25,000 supporters on Change.org; the academy provided an audit to the AP that said only 600 of those signatures were by its members.
Others also question the practice.
Bill Dietz, a former director of the division of nutrition and physical activity at the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, noted that an online class by Coke entitled "Understanding Dietary Sugars and Health" was taught by instructors who both had industry ties. One disclosed ties to the Sugar Association and companies including candy bar maker Mars. The other disclosed ties to the Corn Growers Association on the subject of high fructose corn syrup.
At one point during the online class, one instructor said he doesn't think there should be dietary guidelines regarding sugar intake; Dietz noted that viewpoint is in contrast to the positions held by many reputable groups, including the American Heart Association, which recommends women consume no more than 6 teaspoons daily and men consume no more than 9 teaspoons daily.
When classes are approved for continuing education, there's an assumption that the content is essentially endorsed by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietz said. As such, he said the academy should be responsible for ensuring they provide balanced perspectives.
Still, he said that doesn't mean companies should outright be banned from playing a role in the education of dietitians.
"It's hard to be black and white about this," he said, noting there are experts on nutrition who work in the industry.
Companies say their classes provide nutrition information to dietitians.
Coca-Cola, which makes drinks including Dasani water and Minute Maid juice, offers about a dozen seminars each year through its Beverage Institute for Health and Wellness. On average, Coke said the live, hour-long classes get more than 5,000 participants. It plans to increase the number of webinars it offers each year.
Ben Sheidler, a spokesman for Coca-Cola, said the company's course materials are based on independent, third-party research. He said Coca-Cola is acting responsibly by working to provide professionals with the facts surrounding its products.
Coca-Cola also said its surveys show the vast majority of participants in its classes find them helpful and "free of commercial bias."
But some say companies would never present information that doesn't serve their interests. Elizabeth Lee, a registered dietitian in Los Angeles and one of the founders of Dietitians for Professional Integrity, noted that the classes typically have a message that supports the company's products.
"It's getting harder and harder to really find something that isn't total baloney," said Debra Riedesel, another registered dietitian based in Des Moines, Iowa.
Part of what makes the issue so thorny is the deluge of research on nutrition, which is rarely definitive and often conflicting.
It's often said, for example, that snacking between meals can lead to weight gain. But a report earlier this year in the New England Journal of Medicine contended that no high-quality studies supported the claim. Underscoring how tangled matters can become, many of the report's authors had financial ties to food, beverage and weight-loss product makers.
"When it comes to research, the truth is somewhere in the middle," said Tina Miller, a registered dietitian in South Lyon, Mich.
For companies, the classes can be a chance to spotlight new products. At culinary demonstrations at the conference in Houston, for example, Kellogg and PepsiCo showcased recipes incorporating their products.
And the educational outreach to dietitians doesn't end in the classroom. Frito-Lay, which is owned by PepsiCo Inc., said more than a thousand dietitians are signed up to receive "SnackSense," a newsletter from its online resource for health professionals. A recent issue highlighted the moderate sodium levels of a new line of Tostitos and offered recipes using the chips.
Several times a year, the company also hosts tours of its plants for dietitians it identifies as being quoted in the media on healthy eating tips, according to a Frito-Lay spokesman.
PepsiCo also recently established the Quaker Center for Excellence to research and promote the benefits of oats. Candace Mueller Medina, a spokeswoman for the company's Quaker division, which makes a variety of products including oatmeal packets, bars and breakfast cookies, said the center's "first goal is to educate key opinion makers and influencers."
At the convention in Houston, Frito-Lay's booth displayed an ear of corn, a bottle of oil and a small bowl of salt in front of a bag of Fritos; the idea was to illustrate the simple ingredients used in its snacks. Nearby, a Frito-Lay employee explained to a packed class of dietitians during a 20-minute briefing how the company removed trans fats from its chips over the years.
"Another thing I like to remind people about is that not all our chips are that high in sodium," she said, noting that bread is the No. 1 source of sodium for Americans. Later, she invited them to try the company's new barbecue flavored chips.
Attendees earned a credit for sitting in on three such sessions.
(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)


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Why choose the Les Aspin Center?
Washington, D.C., is not only the center of the American political process, but is a global city with foreign embassies, media outlets, and international corporations and organizations. Studying in our nation's capital is a unique complement a university education and lets students experience a new environment, opening their eyes to the world beyond campus.
Real-world experience
There is no substitute for observing and participating in the political process firsthand. The center's internship experiences provide a behind-the-scenes look at how public policy is made. Students work closely with Congress members and their staffs, as well as civil servants in various executive branch agencies. The education and insight provided by these experiences allow for more than an appreciation of our political system. Students become a part of it.
And internships often lead to opportunities after students' time in Washington, D.C., ends. Dozens of students — because of their experience and connections — have joined congressional staffs, campaigns, and the offices of interest groups and lobbying firms. The Les Aspin Center has nearly 50 alumni working as full-time staff members in congressional offices and hundreds of others in the Washington, D.C., area.
Focused curriculum, close interaction
The Les Aspin Center emphasizes close interaction among students and faculty as they live, study, work and pray together. Small class sizes and a dedicated faculty allow tremendous attention to be paid to the intellectual development of each student. Students receive instruction in seminar-style classes in which individual participation and focused study are demanded. The academic rigors of the program, which features courses in political science, philosophy and fine arts, set it apart from other similar programs in Washington. And the wide range of classes allows students to fulfill several of their academic requirements. Political science courses can be counted toward elective requirements, and fine arts courses can be counted toward core course work.
Making real leaders
The Les Aspin Center is committed to leadership and public service. Students are given opportunities to grow and develop as active members of their communities. They are encouraged to do volunteer work and reach out to those around them, amounting in almost limitless opportunities to give back in the Washington, D.C., community. They leave the program more engaged in the political process and informed about how to make a difference.


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Cyprien Gaillard: Cities of Gold and Mirrors
Art House at the Jones Center, a contemporary art space in Austin, just reopened in a brand new building designed by New York based architects Lewis.Tsurumaki.Lewis. By far the most stunning of its six inaugural shows is Cities of Gold and Mirrors, a film by the young French artist and recent recipient of the Prix Marcel Duchamp, Cyprien Gaillard. Cities of Gold and Mirrors is[…..]


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Shakopee appears ready to embrace the craft beer and wine- and spirits-making craze as it considers zoning changes to open more parts of the city to small breweries, wineries and distilleries.
The businesses currently are permitted only in light and industrial districts as production operations. But the boutique breweries, wineries and distilleries now popping up around the metro area are more retail in nature. The proposed zoning change in Shakopee specifies size restrictions for the businesses that could go into the commercial areas now populated by stores and restaurants, including downtown.
The Planning Commission recently recommended the City Council approve the revisions. Community Development Director Michael Leek said he expects the council to consider the new rules next month.
Leek said the city decided to look at the possible changes after getting several inquiries from people interested in sites for brewpubs, microbreweries and small wineries and distilleries.
"We don't have someone at the door right now, but we want to put this forward so we would be prepared to respond based on the inquiries we've been getting," Leek said.
Shakopee Mayor Brad Tabke said he's glad city planners used the inquiries as a springboard for examining current zoning rules and proposing the revisions.
"I'm really excited about city staff moving forward on this, something for improving our business climate," Tabke said. He said the addition of a brewpub could be "a perfect fit for Shakopee's historic downtown."
In addition to downtown, the city also has fielded queries on sites along Hwy. 101 and 169, some in the Southbridge commercial area, Leek said. He said the interest has come from entrepreneurs, like home-brewing enthusiasts eager to take the next step and open small commercial operations.
Among them is a group of three area residents who unsuccessfully tried to buy the old fire station downtown from the city to convert the building into a microbrewery and taproom. Leek said the group has inquired about other sites which he declined to identify.
The council rejected the brewery partners' purchase price of $100,000 for the old station. But zoning also would have been an issue under the existing code. The proposed revisions would take care of that.
The brewery partners include Dave Luskey, a Prior Lake resident and veteran home-brewing enthusiast. He began making beer in 1989 and makes several different varieties.
Luskey said he and his partners have continued to scout the Shakopee area for sites.
"The craft-brewing business is a logical step from home-brewing," said Luskey. "I don't think this movement is going to die; it's just going to continue going on."
Precise figures for the number of people engaged in home brewing are difficult to come by, according to Michael Cote, president of the Minnesota Home Brewers Association. He said sales of businesses that supply home-brewing enthusiasts provide the best barometer.
"They are booming," Cote said.
The commercial craft-brewing business also has exploded in Minnesota, mirroring a nationwide trend. The Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild has 45 member breweries, 10 more than a year ago and more than twice the number of five years ago.
The possible changes in Shakopee come as plans proceed for Scott County's first small-batch commercial brewery in Jordan.
Chaska resident Tim Roets has leased space on the vacant first floor of the historic Jordan Brewery building and is renovating it to transform it into a taproom and "nanobrewery" — a smaller version of a microbrewery.


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Southerners for the Freedom to Marry expands in Tennessee and Kentucky
May 30, 2014
As marriage cases continue to progress quickly through the courts across the country, Freedom to Marry is proud to be working with our partners at Campaign for Southern Equality, Tennessee Equality Project, and the Fairness Campaign of Kentucky to expand our efforts and bring marriage to loving, gay couples in the South.
Earlier this year in partnership with 16 state and regional organizations and 14 co-chairs, we formed Southerners for the Freedom to Marry, a public education effort that includes grassroots organizing, paid advertising, and digital strategy.
Just last week, more than a dozen faith leaders in Kentucky stood on the steps of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church in Louisville to show that they support the freedom to marry for same-sex couples because of their faith, not in spite of it. Read more about that moving press conference, and some quotes from the faith leaders who were there, here.
Last month, I joined the Tennessee Equality Project in Nashville and Jackson for public meetings with marriage supporters, couples, and families, as we continue to work to find new ways to share the compelling stories of same-sex couples who deserve the freedom to marry.
A record-high Washington Post poll found that 50% of Southerners support marriage for same-sex couples. In Tennessee and Kentucky, federal judges have invoked constitutional guarantees of equal protection, concluding these states must respect the marriages of same-sex couples performed in other states. The rulings are now on appeal before the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals. Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway joined other state attorneys general in several states by concluding that the state's marriage discrimination could not be defended under the Constitution.
"The marriage conversation has come to every corner of the country, including Kentucky and Tennessee, and together with our strong new partners, Freedom to Marry wants to ensure that the voices of families and supporters are heard alongside the judges who are ruling in their favor," said Evan Wolfson, President of Freedom to Marry. "The South is home to hundreds of thousands of loving, committed same-sex couples – and to a majority of the more than 70 federal marriage cases now underway in courts across the nation. Growing southern support will add to the momentum that will end marriage discrimination nationwide."
"We're proud of our strong partnership with Freedom to Marry as we strive to achieve marriage equality all across the South," said Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality. "Southerners now support the freedom to marry at unprecedented levels as they understand how their friends and neighbors are personally harmed by discriminatory marriage bans. Our WE DO Campaign tells the stories of loving, committed couples who seek to marry, and Freedom to Marry's longstanding support is instrumental in this effort."