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Welcome all new members to the EASTWEST Forums! Please read this first
Hello and welcome.
We're glad to see you here, thanks for joining.
Lurkers, what are you waiting for? Register and participate so you can use our invaluable SEARCH functions!!
When you register, please fill out your profile as completely and accurately as you can so we can get to know you, and introduce yourself in that section of the forum. We figure if you introduce yourself, you are serious about participating here with us and want to stick around for a while.
If you put your real name in your signature line it will make things less "anonymous" for us. It's a pet peeve of mine that forum members use "pseudonyms", if you have nothing to hide, why not let us know who you are, and your background - I use my real name?
Post often, but always respect other Forum members opinions even if they clash with your own. Try and win them over to your side if you wish, but in a friendly way!
Don't be afraid to ask questions. No question is too dumb; it's how we learn. I think you will find our members are bright, passionate, articulate and intense about what they love (as they should be).
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To reduce spam, we moderate a new forum member's first post. If it's not spam we'll bump you from "New" to "Registered" status, and you'll be able to post without waiting for a moderator for all subsequent posts.
Keeping the peace:
Here at our Forum, we want you to feel comfortable in posting about what is important to YOU without fear of being slammed. I have given power to our moderators here to do what they think should be done. I do this because I cannot of course be here all of the time and I trust their judgment. I'm very grateful for their help and support.
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Our forum is to discuss EASTWEST, QUANTUM LEAP and EASTWEST distributed products. It is not to discuss our competitors products, there are other advertiser based forums that provide that service. Of course, discussing our products in use with other companies software or hardware is part of our mission also. We are here to help each other get the best use out of our products. If you can help someone with a problem or you have some tips please post an article. Here you can talk to the producers who created your products. We feel it's important to know what's on your mind, and hopefully you'll get valuable feedback to the music you post here also. Occassionally, we have composer contests here in the "music" section with great prizes!
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Last edited by admin; 08-14-2012 at 11:52 AM.
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At this site we maintain a list of the 5000 Largest Known Primes which is updated hourly. This list is the most important databases at The Prime Pages: a collection of research, records and results all about prime numbers. This page summarizes our information about one of these primes.
field (help)value
Description:1863 · 2621612 + 1
Verification status (*):Proven
Official Comment:
Proof-code(s): (*):L1204 : Brown1, PSieve, Srsieve, PrimeGrid, LLR
Decimal Digits:187128 (log10 is 187127.12787753)
Rank (*):29307 (digit rank is 1)
Entrance Rank (*):4803
Currently on list? (*):no
Submitted:2/2/2011 20:33:06 CDT
Last modified:2/2/2011 21:20:56 CDT
Removed (*):2/10/2011 05:13:47 CDT
Database id:97958
Status Flags:none
Score (*):41.4836 (normalized score 0.0671)
The Top 5000 Primes is a list for proven primes only. In order to maintain the
integrity of this list, we seek to verify the primality of all submissions.
We are currently unable to check all proofs (ECPP, KP, ...), but we will at least trial
divide and PRP
check every entry before it is included in the list.
machineDitto P4 P4
notesCommand: /home/ditto/client/TrialDiv/TrialDiv -q 1863 2 621612 1 2>&1[Elapsed time: 10.026 seconds]
modified2011-12-27 16:48:34
created2011-02-02 20:35:52
machineRedHat Virtual STEM Server
notesCommand: /home/caldwell/client/pfgw -t -q"1863*2^621612+1" 2>&1PFGW Version 188.8.131.5200405.x86_Stable [GWNUM 25.14]Primality testing 1863*2^621612+1 [N-1, Brillhart-Lehmer-Selfridge]Running N-1 test using base 11Calling Brillhart-Lehmer-Selfridge with factored part 100.00%1863*2^621612+1 is prime! (470.3547s+0.0006s)[Elapsed time: 7.83 minutes]
modified2011-03-25 10:27:31
created2011-02-02 21:00:31

subset: commoncrawl


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Perfection. Precision. Flawless results the first time, every time. With lashes locks and lips, it's all in the details.
Our mission at Lashes Locks & Lips is to make each client's experience as unique and important as their special event.
Welcome to Lashes Locks & Lips : Make-up Artistry by Aubrey James!


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If anyone wants to relive the grand adventure of the giraffe birthday party last year, please feel free to do so here or here. This year it was easy to choose a train theme since it is basically the only thing that Evans ever talks about. Seriously, y'all don't want to know how many times I hear the word "choo-choo" a day. It was only fitting.
Evans woke up on the morning of his birthday to a stash of loot comparable to a little prince. Deaner and I stocked up on Thomas trains when we were home this summer because we knew we were going to give him a train table for his birthday. Since everyone knows how I am with surprises, I'll just admit that we bought the train table and gave it to him weeks ago.
We lucked out with our weather on the day of the party with sunny skies and a high of 72 degrees. Not exactly the German norm. Evans got to celebrate in train style.


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As part of a planned gradual revamp of this project (that includes a possibly new mascot), we've (the core dev/project team) decided to work towards getting serious about a new project name. I've archived the older and more outdated thread.
Here's a google forms poll link that everyone's invited to take a look at and select the checkboxes for names they think fit our criteria for a future project name.
Namely our criteria is essentially that the project name should be simple, fitting and an attractive choice for being associated with PGE's core user-purpose and ideas.
Suggestions for a name not listed may be submitted using the 'Other' checkbox option provided in the form along with an explanation (provided at the bottom of the form) if possible.
Currently the poll is set to last for 6 days (subject to change). An optional tiebreaker might be held if necessary.
Here's hoping we'll hear from you all! Extended discussion or comments for particular name(s) are also encouraged to be posted in this thread.


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Checking in on… the Mountain WestPosted by jstevrtc on January 29th, 2010
Andrew Murawa is the RTC correspondent for the Mountain West Conference.
Standings (as of 1/28):
- New Mexico 19-3 5-2
- San Diego State 14-6 3-3
- Colorado State 12-8 3-3
- Utah 10-10 3-3
- Wyoming 9-11 2-4
- Air Force 8-11 0-6
Team of the Week. New Mexico. For the second week in a row, it's the Lobos who win this prize, with this week's biggest scalp that of the number 12 team in the country, BYU. The Lobos have now won five games in a row and put themselves back in the thick of things in the MWC race, just a game back in the loss column, despite their recent shooting woes.
Player of the Week. Adam Waddell, Soph, Wyoming. There was plenty of competition here this week: Dairese Gary averaged 21 points and 4.5 assists in leading the team of the week to a win over previously-unbeaten-in-conference BYU, Tre'Von Willis went for 30 in a tough road win for UNLV, and Jimmer Fredette continued to be outstanding, averaging 30 PPG this week. But Waddell gets the nod, thanks to his big numbers on Wednesday night: 22 rebounds (a MWC record) while putting in 12 points, all despite leaving midway through the second half with a badly sprained ankle which may keep him out of the Cowboys' next game.
Newcomer of the Week. Desmar Jackson, Fr, Wyoming. Jackson stepped up in the absence of Wyoming's leading scorer, sophomore forward Afam Muojeke, who underwent season-ending surgery for a torn patellar tendon in his left knee this week. The freshman from Warren, Ohio scored 21 points in just 20 minutes, continuing what is becoming a bit of a trend for Jackson, stepping up when Muojeke can't go, as Jackson had 22 points in Muojeke's first game out after bruising the same knee in late November.
Game of the Week. New Mexico 76, BYU 72. It's likely that the BYU/San Diego State game from Saturday was the better game. It featured long runs by both teams, and really came down to the last possession, but this game had a little something extra throughout which that one didn't: atmosphere. While the Aztecs played with fire throughout their loss to the Cougars and proved themselves quite capable of being mentioned along with the other elites at the top of the conference, the Lobos were able to finish out in front of a wild and raucous Pit crowd. After the Lobos led for 20 straight minutes, the Cougs came back to tie the game at 46 early in the second half, but they weren't able to grab the lead back until around the three-minute mark on a deep (26-feet or so) three by Fredette. Then, sophomore guard Philip McDonald hit a tough runner with the shot-clock running out, got fouled, and knocked down the free throw. Sophomore forward A.J. Hardeman followed that up with an offensive stick-back. Gary added a 45-foot drive in the halfcourt that led to a finger roll, then proceeded to knock down multiple clutch free throws down the stretch as the Lobos handed BYU their first conference loss.
Games of the Upcoming Week. Utah @ BYU, Saturday January 30th, The MTN. The MWC quiets down slightly this week, as both New Mexico and UNLV only play once, but the Marriott Center will be jumping on Saturday night for the Holy War. While the Utes probably don't have the firepower or the consistency to be able to take down the Cougars, especially coming off their first loss, you can bet there will be plenty of intensity on display as they attempt it.
League Notes:
Next week at this time, the first half of the conference season will be in the books and the teams will turn the corner and start looking towards the conference tournament and postseason play. While BYU and New Mexico appear to be locks to get into the NCAA tournament (RPIs of 19 and 12, respectively and KenPom ratings of 4 and 41), and UNLV has positioned themselves well to get a third MWC bid (RPI 35, KenPom 53), San Diego State (RPI 43, KenPom 65) will need to make a run in the second half of their year, and likely add another quality win or two (over either BYU, New Mexico or UNLV) to be strongly considered. Even if they achieve that, it could be at the expense of UNLV. The Aztecs' best non-conference win was over Arizona, and although they added a win over New Mexico in the MWC opener, their tight loss to BYU at the Viejas Center on Saturday night may come back to haunt them on Selection Sunday.
Team Roundups:
Looking back: The Cougars went on the road this week for a couple of tough conference games, and while they came away with their first conference loss, they probably feel okay about the week's outcomes. The roadtrip started with a visit to San Diego State on Saturday, and the Cougars came out hot, building up a 22-10 lead early before the Aztecs came storming back. BYU responded with a 15-0 run midway through the second half to seemingly put the game away before the Aztecs came back again. But in the end, Fredette hit a great swooping scoop shot in the lane near the end of the shotclock with under 30 seconds to play, and sophomore swing Charles Abouo got a big block on the defensive end to seal the game for the Cougars. While things didn't turn out that way in Albuquerque on Wednesday (detailed in the Game of the Week section above), the Cougars fought hard in likely the toughest environment they will encounter this season and were right there within three in the last minute. The youngest Cougs didn't play very well against New Mexico (freshman Tyler Haws, for instance, was just three of eight from the field), and junior guard Jackson Emery remains mired in a slump (4-19 from the field and just 1-13 from behind the arc this week), but while a trip to Vegas looms on the not-too-distant horizon, the back-half of the conference schedule is a bit easier than the front.
Looking ahead: BYU hosts Utah and TCU this week before heading to UNLV on February 6th.
New Mexico
Looking back: The win against BYU was the big story of the week, but it wouldn't have meant much had the Lobos slipped up against Colorado State last Saturday. Coach Steve Alford made sure his team didn't look past the Rams, and the Lobos dominated on the glass (48-30), then went on a big 16-1 run before the end of the first half to get the Lobos most of the way to their 82-64 victory. The Lobos have had several players step up from week to week to take the reigns for this squad this year. It was McDonald in the first couple games, then junior swing Darington Hobson made his presence known; senior forward Roman Martinez led the team in scoring four straight games in early December, and Hardeman turned it on at the start of conference play. But this week was all Gary, not only leading the team in scoring and assists, but knocking down clutch free throws all over the place, hitting 22 of his whopping 27 free throw attempts this week, and harassing BYU's Fredette and Haws into just 11-29 shooting.
Looking ahead: The Lobos wrap up their MWC front nine (er, um… eight?) with a visit to TCU on Saturday, then get a week to prepare for San Diego State on February 6th.
Looking back: The Rebels' duo of Willis and Chace Stanback continue to lead the way, Willis contributing 21.5 PPG and Stanback averaging 15.5 PPG this week in wins at TCU and at home against Air Force. But the big news of the week was junior swing Derrick Jasper spraining his left MCL in the Air Force win, an injury likely to sideline Jasper all of February, pushing his return right up against the start of the MWC tournament. The Rebels responded well to the Jasper injury, outscoring the Falcons 39-26 in the second half on their way to a 10-point come-from-behind victory, sparked by junior guard Kendall Wallace hitting his first four threes of the second half. With the BYU loss on Wednesday, the Rebels move within a game (in the loss column) of first place.
Looking ahead: Short week for the Rebs, but a long trip to Wyoming awaits. Then they return home to host BYU in what figures to be a fight for first place.
San Diego State
Looking back: It was only a one-game week, but it was a tough one for the Aztecs. In an up-again, down-again battle against BYU on Saturday, the buzzer went off with the Aztecs on the down-again side. While the Aztecs dominated BYU inside (40-18 margin in points-in-the-paint), they were unable to get to the line — in fact, both teams combined for only 18 free throws, a stat that made for a very fun game to watch — and were unable to control Fredette, who went for 33 points on 11-19 shooting and 5-8 from behind the arc. While SDSU has gotten tons of production out of its front line, their backcourt play has been inconsistent. They haven't had a guard notch more than five assists this month, junior point D.J. Gay is shooting just 37% from the field this season, and has only a 1.6-to-1 assist to turnover ratio thus far. While it seems certain that head coach Steve Fisher will stick with Gay at the point, freshman Chase Tapley may be the better option. Tapley shoots 48% from the field, has a 2.1 A/TO ratio, defends better, rebounds better, and has significantly better offensive efficiency numbers than Gay. If the Aztecs hope to make a serious run at the NCAA tournament, moving to Tapley as their primary point guard seems to be a necessary move. But don't hold your breath waiting on that move.
Looking ahead: SDSU travels to Colorado State on Saturday before returning to the Mesa to host Air Force on Tuesday.
Colorado State
Looking back: This was the type of week that the Rams can expect most of the rest of the way. Face a team like New Mexico, expect a loss; face a team like TCU, gut out a win. Coach Tim Miles has done an excellent job of getting the most out of his group of players, a somewhat limited bunch. So, this week, after the Rams were shut down offensively and destroyed on the glass by a more talented and athletic New Mexico team, they rededicated themselves to working on the glass and getting some easy hoops against TCU. The results? Junior forward Andy Ogide grabbed ten boards to go with 14 points, junior forward Travis Franklin added nine boards and freshman forward Greg Smith got six more to go with a career-high 15 points as CSU controlled the game inside, outscoring TCU in the paint 32-14 and scoring 16 points off TCU turnovers.
Looking ahead: The Rams host San Diego State on Saturday, then travel to Salt Lake City to face the Utes on Wednesday.
Looking back: Yup. We said it here last week, just like we said it here a month or so back. Utah is as capable of beating a top-notch team (as they did when they beat UNLV on the road on January 16th) as they were of losing to a bottom-feeder. Well, they lost to their bottom feeder, losing to Wyoming on Wednesday, even though it was in Laramie. What's more, they lost to Wyoming while the Cowboys' best player watched with a knee injury. More and more, it looks like the Utes' main problem (and clearly their problems are plural) is at the point. While they are not a great shooting team, they have players that can score (witness junior Carlon Brown's 31 – including a strong 22 in the second half – against Wyoming, and freshman Marshall Henderson's 22 earlier in the week in a win over Air Force), but they just don't have a guy who is a born distributor. Brown and senior Luka Drca have made the effort, but they just aren't capable of running the point at this level. Unfortunately for coach Jim Boylen, there isn't a ready point who is going to walk through the door this season, so the Utes will have to make do with what they have.
Looking ahead: The Utes travel down the road to Provo for the basketball version of the Holy War on Saturday night, then return home to host Colorado State on Wednesday.
Looking back: The Horned Frogs opened their week by hosting UNLV on Saturday, and they gave the favored Rebels a bit of a scare. With just over a minute to play, senior forward Zvonko Buljan converted a three-point play to bring TCU within a bucket at 72-70. Unfortunately for the Frogs, UNLV scored the last seven points of the game (all on free throws) to seal the win. While TCU stayed in the game on the strength of their three-point shooting (11-27 from three), they were unable to stop the Rebels inside of the arc, allowing UNLV to shoot an amazing 74% on two-point field goals. Jim Christian's squad then traveled from Fort Worth to Fort Collins to face CSU on Wednesday, but Buljan failed to make the trip due to "personal reasons." TCU could have used him as they fell by six to the Rams and shot just 35% from the field along the way. Sophomore point guard Ronnie Moss had 21 in a losing cause, but only two of those 21 came in the second half.
Looking ahead: TCU hosts New Mexico on Saturday, and Buljan remains questionable to play in that game, although coach Christian reports that he is healthy. The Frogs will then wrap up a rough week with a road trip to BYU on Wednesday.
Looking back: Last week at this time, the extent of the injury was not known. Now, however, with Muojeke out for the season, it is time for the Cowboys to see who is going to step up and carry the team down the stretch as coach Heath Schroyer tries to find some players to build around for the future. Waddell and Jackson were the first to throw their hats in the ring, but junior forward Djibril Thiam (16 points), sophomore guard A.J. Davis (10 points) and sophomore guard JayDee Luster (five assists) all contributed strong games in Wyoming's win over Utah on Wednesday. With only one senior on the team (forward Ryan Dermody), the Cowboys will have a chance to get some much needed experience for players up and down the roster in the second half of the conference season.
Looking ahead: Wyoming faces Air Force on Saturday before traveling to UNLV on Wednesday.
Air Force
Looking back: After six long weeks watching, senior forward and leading scorer and rebounder Grant Parker finally returned from injury for the Falcons this week, and his impact was immediately felt. While Parker only played 15 minutes in a loss to Utah on Saturday, he returned to play 31 minutes at UNLV on Tuesday. Parker has not yet returned to form he showed early in the season, but he did contribute 11 points and seven rebounds in the what was the Falcons' best performance of the conference season, a ten-point loss to UNLV. No one expects Parker's presence to spark the Falcons to a wild second-half run to the .500 mark, but it will be interesting to see what this Falcon team looks like when healthy. The combination of Parker and junior guard Evan Washington was solid early in the season, and the addition of some now more seasoned younger players who got some run in Parker's stead (such as freshman Mike Fitzgerald, junior Derek Brooks and junior Tom Fow) could give Air Force a chance to trip up some of the middle-of-the-pack teams.
Looking ahead: The Falcons get to test out that theory right-quick, as they host Wyoming on Saturday, before traveling to San Diego State on Tuedsay.


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Two volunteer firefighters from Sedan, Minnesota deserve to be voted "best dressed."
A video of Ted Aubert and Ben Terhaar went viral this week after they went to work while wearing designer dresses at a St. Patrick's Day celebration. The men were all dolled up as a part of an annual fundraiser for their central Minnesota fire house, according to Fox 9 News.
Every year, the men in the Sedan Fire Department trade their firefighting frocks for designer dresses as part of a beauty pageant of sorts that raises money for new equipment; however, as they were getting ready to ride in the St. Patrick's Day parade, a pickup truck caught fire.
That blaze spread to another car, and both Aubart and Terhaar hitched up their skirts and sprang into action.
Despite all of the press and video views, the two guys are upbeat about the experience and attention.


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Q I'm not going to complain about the narrow lanes through the Mountain View/Palo Alto section of Highway 101. I'm not going to complain about the walls, the endless stream of uncovered gravel trucks, the very short ramp merges, the poor drivers, the suicidal lane-splitting motorcyclists, the stop-and-go traffic, or any other such things. Construction will eventually be finished (perhaps even in our lifetimes), and the situation will (perhaps) get better.
Mark Warren
Santa Clara
Q But you are going to complain about one rough ride, right?
A Can anything be done in the meantime about the quality of the pavement on southbound 101 between University Avenue and Highway 85? Please? With the lanes shifted to accommodate construction, the ruts of the old lane markers are bad enough, but the gaps and potholes make this a bit too much of an adventure. The No. 2 lane has areas with a nasty separation between what used to be the No. 1 lane and what used to be the shoulder, and it's positioned exactly where you'd want your tires to be, so most drivers either shift to the left or right edges of this lane to avoid this tire-eating gap.
I know this probably will be resurfaced when construction is complete, but can even some minor repairs be done in the meantime?
Please, please, please?
Mark Warren
A Three pleases deserves immediate action — and that's what you and so many others who have had to negotiate this minefield deserve. Caltrans will begin making repairs this week and should finish before Halloween. The area now under construction will be repaved after the widening ends next summer.
Q Apparently, I am not the only one freaked out by the situation on southbound 101 from Palo Alto to 85. I now refuse to take the Oregon Expressway entrance to 101 southbound that has extremely short merges, zero shoulders and fast 101 traffic. I now tell my friends returning to San Jose to go up Page Mill Road to 280 for their return trips. I don't want to lose them!
Kathryn Linz-Cox
Palo Alto
A Now, that is good advice.
Q The onramp from northbound Almaden Expressway to north 85 has two lanes, one of which is carpool-only. The far right lane on north Almaden is an exit-only to this ramp. However, carpools could use the next lane on the expressway to directly enter the carpool-only lane on the ramp, thereby avoiding a long line of cars in the exit-only lane during rush hours.
But this summer, a bike lane was added between the "exit-only" lane and the lane next to it, and this bike lane has solid white lines enclosing it near the ramp. So, to directly enter the carpool lane like before, one has to cross these solid white lines, which many people do every day. Is this legal?
Vivek Bhat
San Jose
A No. All cars traveling north on Almaden to the 85 onramp need to enter the same lane, but once on the ramp carpoolers can then move into the diamond lane. County engineers will monitor traffic and may repaint the area to start the carpool lane a few feet farther up the ramp to curb the habits of impatient drivers making illegal right turns.
Q I see that El Camino Real is having some paving improvements in Sunnyvale. Will this include striping for bike lanes? It would be inexcusable to neglect cyclists along this arterial route, since the options are essentially nonexistent.
Ralph Durham
A Caltrans will refresh the striping, but the current work will not provide new bike lanes.
Follow Gary Richards' tweets at Twitter.com/mrroadshow or go to Roadshow's expanded online presence at www.mercurynews.com/mr-roadshow and look for rules of the road, construction updates and favorite stories. Look for Gary at Facebook.com/mr.roadshow or contact him at firstname.lastname@example.com or 408-920-5335.


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Entering into Bugsy's is like going back almost 100 years in a time machine to the "Roaring Twenties," a decade which earned its name because of the combination of increased rights for women, increased income (the national average doubled!), more people moving to the city, and prohibition - a law that made alcohol illegal. Prohibition led to the speakeasy - secret, underground bars that existed either unbeknownst to the police, or as a result of a payoff by a mobster like Bugsy Siegel, the inspiration for our name!
Though many speakeasies of the 1920s had fake businesses as cover operations, our cover operation in front of Bugsy's, "Gouda's Italian Deli" is completely legitimate! At Bugsy's, we encourage people not to take their freedom for granted, and to enjoy themselves so much it almost FEELS illegal. We offer a wide selection of drinks, both current, as well as throwback vintage cocktails from the 1920s. Our staff is dressed in 20s-style attire, and includes our "Showstopper Dancers," who are gorgeous ladies who dance and provide entertainment. Speaking of entertainment, we also have live music Thursdays through Saturdays after 9pm.


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Spectrum program supports autistic students
A. Sue Weisler
Forrest Shooster, a first-year game design and development honors student from Parkland, Fla., got a 4.0 his first quarter at RIT while also pursuing courses for a pre-med track. Additionally, he's writing a horror/adventure novel, is involved in seven clubs and organizations on campus and is a black belt in karate.
Shooster is also part of a growing group of students at RIT—and in higher education across the country—who are within the autism spectrum.
Autism, a complex developmental disability that affects a person's ability to communicate and interact with others, is known as a "spectrum disorder" because it impacts individuals in varying degrees.
"The basic idea is that individuals with autism often struggle with social interactions, while at the same time showing strong academic potential," says Nicole Boulais, assistant vice president of Student Learning, Support and Assessment at RIT. "Some individuals may have trouble starting a conversation, while others will not know how to end one."
Autism is the fastest-growing serious developmental disability in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it affects one in every 88 births. Although there is no known single cause of autism, increased awareness and funding has helped individuals succeed, allowing more of these students to enroll in college than ever before.
"Here at RIT, we have personally seen this wave of diagnosed students—going from 10 students in 2008 to more than 60 this year," says Laurie Ackles, director of RIT's Spectrum Support Program. "To help these students succeed in transitioning to college life, we established a formal support program which is now one of the largest of any university in the nation."
Students who choose to enroll in the program get to know the campus during a pre-orientation, participate in social events, work on interviewing skills in a specialized career seminar and can meet regularly with peer coaches from RIT's school psychology graduate program. Peer coaches help facilitate communication among professors, academic advisers and other support systems, while developing social and academic goals for the students.
"One of my students had difficulty managing his stress level," says Amy Dasaro, a 2012 graduate of RIT's school psychology master's program who now works part-time with the spectrum program. "Using individualized goal-oriented support, we were able to get organized, access the necessary resources and keep him on track."
While providing services for students, the program also promotes research in the area, co-hosting an autism spectrum in higher education conference Nov. 7 with MIT and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. At RIT, the team works to increase awareness throughout the community by educating faculty, staff and resident and orientation advisers about autism.
"You don't necessarily need to know that someone is diagnosed with autism," Boulais says. "When you see someone exhibiting these behaviors, like anxiety or repetitive behaviors, you can work to help them feel more comfortable."
According to federal health officials, people with autism are a growing portion of our population due to better and broader diagnoses by professionals. RIT specifically has a larger percentage because of the computing, engineering and design- based programs that often require less social interaction.
"Any student who can get into RIT—and many of these students do so with perfect SAT scores—should have the appropriate support services to help them succeed," says Ackles. "These are unique students that view the world differently, but it's that different lens that could allow them to solve some of the world's greatest problems."


text:
Develop software tools for digital acquisition, archiving, interactive delivery of endangered cultural heritage database entries, managing internet-integrated multimedia database and electronic copyright trading environment.
Project ID:
Raising the productivity and competitiveness of European businesses through technology. Boosting national economies on the international market, and strengthening the basis for sustainable prosperity and employment.


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– The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford has introduced two new minors in the field of criminal justice, criminal forensic studies and legal studies.
The criminal forensic studies minor codifies work students have been doing in the campus's Crime Scene Investigation House.
Having the minor on their transcripts will highlight students' experience and expertise in criminal forensics, said Dr. Tony Gaskew, director of the criminal justice program and associate professor of criminal justice who will serve as the program coordinator for both new minors.
Gaskew added that students have requested the minor.
In addition to existing courses in the CSI lab, the minor also includes a computer information systems and technology course designed to give students a basic understanding of computer forensics.
"We have a good variety of courses," Gaskew said. A total of 20 credits are required for the minor, which also includes Introduction to Forensic Science, Criminal Law and Procedure, and Criminal Evidence and Investigations.
"Pitt-Bradford students who have taken our criminal forensics courses in the last three years have all placed within the top two percent of their police academy courses," Gaskew said.
Gaskew said that students had also requested the legal studies minor, which dovetails with the pre-law advising track. The minor is for students of all majors, but particularly criminal justice or political science, who intend to apply to law school.
The minor is designed to give students an interdisciplinary understanding of the nature of law and crime. A total of 18 credits are required for the minor. Courses include Philosophy and Public Issues, Sociology of Deviance, Law and the Courts, Law and Social Control in Society, Criminal Law and Procedure and an elective from the fields of political science, administration of justice, psychology or philosophy.
Both minors are now available. For more information, contact Gaskew at email@example.com or (814)362-7636.
For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Disabilities Resources and Service at (814)362-7609 or email@example.com.


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Health and wellness program
Check out this new video
The backbone of a successful business is its workers, and the backbone of Ohio is its workforce. At BWC, we take our mission to take care of Ohio's workforce seriously.
That's why we're offering Better You, Better Ohio!™ - a program designed to provide health and wellness resources and services to workers who work for small employers (150 or fewer workers) in high-risk industries*. Better You, Better Ohio! is designed to help both workers and their employers at no cost and through a simple, paperless process.
Why is BWC offering a health and wellness program?
Ohio, like much of the nation, is facing major health challenges driven primarily by obesity, aging and the rise in chronic diseases (e.g. diabetes and cardiovascular diseases). As of 2017, Ohio's health ranking stood at 39th among the 50 states. These health challenges and outcomes are mostly associated with lifestyle behaviors. Individuals can improve these behaviors by using the resources and support services health and wellness programs offer.
Better You, Better Ohio!™ provides these resources and support services to segments of Ohio's workforce and injured workers to improve their overall health and wellness. Better You, Better Ohio! can:
- Prevent injuries because of improved workforce health and safety.
- Reduce absenteeism and improve presenteeism.
- Reduce the severity of an injury.
- Increase the speed of recovery from an injury.
- Reduce time away from work due to an injury.
Statistics show that prevention works and we know that Ohio's workforce and employers can reap great benefits by advancing health and wellness programming to the workforce and in workplaces across Ohio.
How it helps employers
Employers can reap great benefits from having a healthy workforce. Healthy employees are less prone to injury. And, when they are injured, their ability to recover is enhanced greatly. Overall, employers with a healthy workforce have lower workers' compensation and health-care costs. Better You, Better Ohio! can:
- Help prevent injuries through improved workforce health and safety.
- Reduce absenteeism and improve presenteeism.
- Reduce the severity of an injury.
- Improve the recovery time from an injury.
- Reduce time away from work due to an injury.
How it helps Ohio's workforce
Better You, Better Ohio! gives workers a wealth of resources to help them take ownership of their health and well-being. They can proactively pursue a healthier lifestyle through free:
- Health and wellness awareness, education and training.
- Health assessments and biometric screenings for better understanding of their health and well-being.
- A member engagement website that allows them to develop health plans and track their progress to achieve their health goals.
- A state-of-the art mobile app for creating weekly action plans and getting health tips.
- Digital coaching to help them on their journey to better health.
Better health pays off
Employers can use Better You, Better Ohio! to help manage and reduce their workers' compensation and health-care costs by having a healthier workforce. Meanwhile, workers can earn financial rewards for taking steps to improve their health and wellness such as completing a health assessment and a biometric screening.
I'm an invited injured worker, how do I join?
If you have received an invitation to join from the managed care organization handling your claim as well as a phone call or email from AHM with sign-up instructions, visit go.activehealth.com/betteryoubetterohio then click the Sign up now button. From there, ActiveHealth® Management will ask you to enter some basic information to set up your account. Your individual health information is private and confidential. ActiveHealth doesn't share it with your employer or BWC.
I'm part of Ohio's workforce who meets the participation conditions, how do I join?
If you meet all the conditions for participating, which include that:
- You work for an employer with 150 or fewer employees.
- Your employer does not have a health and wellness program for its employees.
- Your employer is in one of the approved industries*.
You can sign up for Better You, Better Ohio! by visiting go.activehealth.com/betteryoubetterohio, clicking the Request to enroll button and completing the online form. ActiveHealth will verify you meet the participation conditions and will send you a confirmation email within 24 hours of submitting the form. The email will include instructions for signing up for the program. Your individual health information is private and confidential. ActiveHealth doesn't share it with your employer or BWC.
*Agriculture; automotive repair and service; construction; firefighters; health care; manufacturing; police and public safety; public employers; restaurant and food service; transportation and trucking; trash collection; wholesale and retail
I'm an Ohio employer, can my employees participate in the program?
Your employees can participate in the program, if your organization meets the following conditions.
- You employ 150 or fewer employees.
- You do not have an existing health and wellness program for your employees.
- You are an employer in one of the approved industries*.
*Agriculture; automotive repair and service; construction; firefighters; health care; manufacturing; police and public safety; public employers; restaurant and food service; transportation and trucking; trash collection; wholesale and retail
For your convenience, BWC is conducting free 25-minute webinars to learn more about the Better You, Better Ohio! Program.
Click the link below to register:
- Better You, Better Ohio! information packet (PDF)
- Wellness Champion Guide (PDF)
- Recursos sobre ¡Mejor Tú! ¡Mejor Ohio!
- MCO referral for the Better You, Better Ohio! program
- ${title}${badge}


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Born in China in 1972, Wang Zi graduated from the An Yang Normal College Fine Art Department and pursued further studies in the Center of Academic Fine Art. With a series focusing on the juxtaposition of various significant pop culture icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Chairman Mao, and the artist himself being portrayed alongside popular actresses, he attempts to bring forth the realistic aspects of lives behind camera and film, and the power of realistic art that can bring together fantastical contexts as if they were actual happenings. His art exemplifies contrasts such as Capitalism vs Communism, West vs East, Liberal vs Conservative, Sensual vs Virtuous and so on. Read More
We ship using DHL.
Estimated delivery time to United States is up to 4 weeks. Please be advised that taxes may be imposed at the country of destination. More info


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Glide along @CB_Connector from #CincyCyclones Stop 1 @TheBanksCincy to #FindlayMarket and #OTR and back again. Pa… https://t.co/Bt3rB8ws3b
Gibbs' Cheese and Sausage opened at Findlay Market in 1922 as a butter and egg stand. Today, Jeff Gibbs still sells butter and eggs, as well as lunchmeat, cheese, sausage, natural peanut butter, Amish jams, homemade noodles, and dozens of flavo...read more


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Real Estate Auction
Carol Baker Estate
Come see this charming home in a great area, just a few blocks of Kiehl Ave. in the heart of the Sherwood/North Little Rock area. 3 Bed/ 2 bath, 1919 sqft., ready to move into!
Ended: 02/02/18 at 11:20 AM CST
Location: 4348 Spring Glen Dr., Sherwood, AR 72120
Cargile Auctions will be selling a wonderful home from the Carol Baker Estate. This home consists of 3 bedrooms & 2 baths, and has 1919 Sqft, heated and cooled.
Split bedroom floorplan, with lots of storage, and a gas log fireplace, as well as privacy fenced back yard.
Don't miss this opportunity to purchase a home in a great area, very centrally located within blocks of Kiehl Ave. and North Hills golf course.
This home will sell at auction at 11:00AM on February 2nd. For more information on how to place a bid, or for a personal tour before the auction, please call Cargile Auctions TODAY (501)268-7653.
Real Estate Auction (Live & Online)
Terms & Conditions
Bidding Procedures: Announcements made on the day of the auction will take precedence over all printed material or oral statements made. Method, order of sale, and bidding increments shall be at the sole discretion of the auctioneer.
Bidding: All bidding is open to the public without regard to race, color, sex, religion, or national origin. As used in these conditions of sale the term "the final bid" means the highest bid acknowledged by the auctioneer, and the term "purchase price" means the sum of the final bid and the buyer's premium. The highest bidder acknowledged by the auctioneer shall be the "buyer". Please contact our offices for information on absentee and or phone bidding. The final bid is subject to Seller confirmation.
Buyer's Premium: A 10% buyer's premium will be added to the final bid on the property.
Example: High Bid on the Property is: $100,000
Add 10% Buyer's Premium: + 10,000
Total on Sales Contract (Purchase Price) = $110,000
Deposit: The buyer shall be required to pay a deposit of $5,000.00 (Five Thousand Dollars) immediately after confirmation of final bid. This deposit will be held in a non-interest bearing escrow account until settlement. Buyer must remit cash, complete wire transfer or cashiers check made payable to Cargile Auctions LLC if you are the winning bidder.
Closing: The successful buyer must sign all documents and contracts immediately after the acceptance of the final bid. The closing will occur within 45 days from date of auction. Buyer acknowledges and agrees that time is of the essence.
Closing Costs: Seller shall furnish at Seller's expense, ½ of the Revenue or Deed Stamps, ½ of the Real Estate Closing fee to the Closing Company, an owner's policy of title insurance and a deed. All other costs associated with the transaction shall be the responsibility of the buyer.
Financing: Sale of the property is not contingent upon the buyer obtaining financing.
Conditions of Default: If any conditions contained herein are not complied with by the buyer, Auction Company may, in addition to asserting all remedies available by law, including the right to hold defaulting buyer liable for the purchase price, either, a) cancel the sale, retaining as liquidated damages any payments made by such buyer, b) resell the property at public auction or privately on seven (7) days' notice to such buyer, or c) take such other action as it deems necessary or appropriated. If Auction Company resells the property, the original defaulting buyer shall be liable for the payment of any deficiency between the purchase price and all costs and expenses, the expenses of both sales, reasonable attorney's fees, commissions, incidental damages and all other charges due hereunder. In any event, the buyer's deposit will be retained by Auction Company as liquidated damages.
State Laws: The respective rights and obligations of the parties with respect to the Conditions of Sale and the conduct of the auction shall by governed and interpreted by the laws of the state in which the auction is held. By bidding at an auction, whether present in person or by agent, by written bid, telephone or other means, the buyer shall be deemed to have consented to the jurisdiction of the courts of such state and the federal courts sitting in such state.
Real Estate Brokers/Agents: When offered, a specified commission will be paid to any qualified broker who is duly licensed and whose properly registered client successfully buys and closes on the property. To qualify for a commission the licensed broker/agent must first register the prospective bidder on the Auction Company website or on Auction Company's Broker Participation Acknowledgement Form. Registration letters must be countersigned by the prospect and include the broker's and agent's license number, identification of the property, any agency disclosure statements, the letter and participation acknowledgement form. All forms, letters and statements must be received no later than 5:00 P.M. (CST) two (2) days prior to the auction. Commission is contingent upon, and will only be paid if the broker participation form is received by Auction Company no later than 5:00 P.M. two days prior to the auction. In addition, agents must also attend the auction with their prospects, when applicable. Auction Company will accept only one client per auction from any one Real Estate Broker/Agent unless prior approval is given by Cargile Auctions.
Inspection: All property is sold "As Is, With All Faults." Descriptions are provided as a service to customers only and do not constitute a warranty, either expressed or implied. Auction Company disclaims all responsibility for physical condition. All buyers are responsible for prior inspection of properties on which they bid, and by bidding are deemed to have so inspected the property. Placing a bid on the offered property, whether in person, or by agent, by written bid, telephone bid or other means, constitutes an agreement by bidder to these conditions of sale. Square footage dimensions and acreage are approximate and should be independently verified prior to bidding. Auction Company, its agents, and the sellers assume no liability for errors or omissions in this or any other property listing or advertising or promotional/publicity statements and materials. All information and dimensions were derived from sources believed to be correct, but are not guaranteed. Buyers shall rely on their own information, judgment, and inspection of the property. All auction day announcements take precedence over any previously printed material or any other oral statements made.
Additional Online Auction Terms
1. Registration: To gain access to the Auctioneer's bidding system, you will need to register and obtain a bidder number. You must be eighteen years old or older to register. You agree that all information that you provide during the registration process will be true and accurate. You will be banned from participation in the Auctioneer's auctions indefinitely should you provide any false information during the registration process.
2. Bidder's Duty to Update Information: Whether you are a new or returning bidder, you agree that if any of the information associated with your bidder number – including contact information and credit card information – changes at any time prior to, during, or after this sale, you will notify the Auctioneer of the change by updating your bidder profile.
3. Conduct of Sale: All deposits, bids, and credits in this sale will be made in United States Dollars. You agree not to use any hardware, software, program, or system that would interfere with the orderly conduct of this sale. You further agree not to copy, reproduce, or publically display any content from the Auctioneer's website without first obtaining written permission from the Auctioneer.
4. When You Have Been Outbid: If you are outbid during the course of this auction, you will be notified by email. You can review your bids at any time.
5. Limitations: These Terms and Conditions do not – nor are they intended to – create any agency-, partnership-, joint venture-, employer-employee-, or franchisor-franchisee relationship. These Terms and Conditions cannot be altered except in writing by the Auctioneer.
Cargile Auctions
606 E. Booth Road Searcy, AR 72143


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CH Saint Lazar's Ring Of Fire
Well, we thought we were done for the evening, but we got some really interesting results from Tulsa OK and we couldn't wait to share them with you. It's a four day set in Tulsa and the Seminole Kennel Club has the first two days. Friday Peter Green gathered the English Cocker Spaniel, CH Tevershall Texas Jack, the 15" Beagle, CH Torquay Midnight Confession, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Horizon's Poetic Justice, the Standard Manchester Terrier, CH Saint Lazar's Ring Of Fire, the Pekingese, CH PalaceGarden Malachy, a Boston Terrier to be named later, and the Beauceron, CH Dillinger Du Chateau Rocher. BIS went to the nation's Number One Toy Dog, the Peke, Malachy. Malachy has been on a roll lately and now has 18 all breed BIS more than any other dog in America, save one.
Donna Cole took over final ring duty today and saw the same Cocker, the Pharaoh Hound, Northgate's As you Like It, the Doberman Pinscher, CH Paradign Paradise Regain'd Na Naj, the above named Manchester Terrier, the Peke, Malachy, the Standard Poodle, CH Dawin Spitfire, and the Australian Shepherd, CH Copperridges's Fire N Bayouland. Her Best In Show was the Manchester, Cash. Cash won his very first Terrier Group last week and now has three Terrier Groups and an all breed BIS. Congratulations to breeders/owners Wanda and Charles Walker, owners Dr Roger Travis DPM, Marcelo Chagas and Mrs Pat Hall. Marcelo is the expert at the end of the lead.


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Personal Milestones
There are days in shoulder surgery rehabilitation that made me feel as if I was in a deep, dark hole that I couldn't escape from. I would drive to the baseball field each day, yet never be able to step on it. I could hold a baseball, yet only for shoulder exercises. I could watch other guys run out there and toss the ball around, take ground balls, throw bullpens, and pitch in games. However, I couldn't. The game that I love so much was taken from me. Slowly but surely I dug myself out of that hole. I scratched and clawed my way back. Little daily victories, followed by weekly victories, followed by monthly ones. I slipped and fell a few times on my way back out of that dark hole. I hit the ground hard, but got back up and started scratching and clawing again. There was only one option for me. To overcome. To play baseball again. I wasn't going to let anything stop me.
3 Comments
Congrats, Michael, one step closer to being back!
I really like the stop-start routine you're going to be doing, it's a great idea to simulate the idea of sitting down for half an inning to help get your body set back up.
Best of luck to you! 🙂
Congrats! I've been following you on Twitter for a while now and it's great to hear you're finally able to go out and pitch some live BP! You're so inspiring and, as always, I wish you the best of luck! 🙂
Congrats and Never Give Up… I want to see you in the majors someday, even if it is the Rangers. 🙂


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Thursday, December 20, 2007
Happy new ears on internet radio
In between programmes of music by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Colin McPhee and Alvin Curran I have been working on three Christmas specials commissioned by Future Radio featuring Tchaikovsky's great ballets. The hour long programmes will be presented by my wife, and musical highlights from each ballet are linked by a summary of the plot. The project has been a delight from start to finish, and not only because my wife is easier on the ear (and eye) than me. What wonderful music Tchaikovsky wrote, and that's a view shared by some pretty influential people.
'The sheer inventiveness of Prince of the Pagodas is extraordinary - so many memorable ideas - as is the sustained brilliance of the orchestral writing. The quality of the music is the equal of the Tchaikovsky ballets, which served as Britten's model for a large part of the score (Ronald Duncan recalls that Britten told him he kept a score of Sleeping Beauty beside his bed while writing the piece)' - from Britten by David Matthews (Haus Publishing ISBN 190434139).
Our programmes use the recordings of the Tchaikovsky ballets made by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden conducted by Mark Ermler (sleeve above). These were recorded for the now defunct Conifer label in the late 1980s. They were chosen for their authentically Russian style and excellent sound captured in All Saints' Church, Tooting, with the bonus that the wordless chorus in the Dance of the Snowflakes scene in the Nutcracker is sung by the local Halesworth Middle School Choir.
The conductor Mark Ermler (1932-2002) was born in Leningrad and worked with the Bolshoi Theatre as well as Covent Garden. He had a wide repertoire and conducted the first public performance of Prokofiev's last opera Story of a Real Man in Moscow in 1960. Our Christmas ballet specials are being broadcast by Future Radio on FM locally in Norwich, UK and worldwide on the internet on Christmas Day (Nutcracker 6.00pm), Boxing Day (Swan Lake 3.00pm) and New Year's Day (Sleeping Beauty 4.00pm). The audio stream can be launched from the right side-bar where there is also a time zone converter.
In November 2007 Future Radio commissioned an independent listener survey, and this showed that 5.5% of the station's total audience listened to the Overgrown Path programmes, a figure that is not too far behind some of their specialist rock shows. I am only too aware of the danger of comparisons across different data sets, but to give a perspective RAJAR figures show that 1.2% of the total UK radio audience listens to BBC Radio 3.
The results of the Future Radio survey are very pleasing as the basic rule for my programmes has been 'no compromise'. All the works are broadcast complete, there are no long-winded explanations of the music, no cult of the presenter, and no listener phone-ins. Around 95% of each programme is music, and linking announcements are minimised. This allows the music to speak for itself and the listeners to judge the music for themselves.
The composer listings for the five months that the programme has been on air are also strictly 'no compromise' - Pierre Boulez, Elisabeth Lutyens, Colin McPhee, Elizabeth Maconchy, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Vanessa Lann, Lou Harrison, Beata Moon, William Alwyn, Thea Musgrave, Alvin Curran, Paul Creston, Judith Weir, Terry Riley, Rebecca Saunders and many more.
Overgrown Path radio is an experiment that is just a small part of a long tail. But the results of the listener survey show that when you treat your audience as intelligent equals they respond. That is something much bigger radio stations have forgotten. And they have also forgotten the vital point made by Libby Purves' in her book Radio: A True Love Story. "All that you can do is to make - and publicise - the best and most passionately well-crafted programmes you can think of. Ratings have to be watched, but calmly and with a sense of proportion. You have to believe that if even one person is swayed, or inspired, or changed, or comforted, by a programme, then that programme has been worthwhile".
Now playing - Britten's The Prince of the Pagodas Suite with Leonard Slatkin conducting the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Regular readers will know that Leonard Slatkin's lacklustre tenure with the BBCSO did not make me a big fan of his conducting. This Chandos CD, which couples the Britten ballet suite with Colin McPhee's Tabu-Tabuhan and the 1941 recording of Britten and McPhee playing a Balinese transcription for two pianos, is a good summary of Slatkin's period with the orchestra.
The CD is worth buying for the performance of Tabu-Tabuhan which is persuasive, and this is the recording I used for my recent webcast. The Britten suite is useful for those who don't want to invest in Britten's own recording of the complete work, but there is little else to recommend it. The performance sounds under-rehearsed and routine. Fine for a budget release of a concert performance, but not for a full price CD.
More wonderful Tchaikovsky from Russia here.
Any copyrighted material on these pages is included as "fair use", for the purpose of study, review or critical analysis only, and will be removed at the request of copyright owner(s). Report broken links, missing images and errors to - overgrownpath at hotmail dot co dot uk
7 comments:
- Pliable said...
Elsewhere it is nice to see that BBC Radio 3 has the theme of 'forgotten Brits' for their morning programmes this week.
Today it was Edmund Rubbra's Fifth Symphony (which I broadcast on Nov 18). Tomorrow it is music from Elisabeth Lutyens and Elizabeth Maconchy (who featured on Future Radio on Sept 9).
Good to see that once again great minds think alike - http://www.overgrownpath.com/2007/08/echoes-of-rudolph-dunbar-on-bbc.html
- 12:08 pm
- Drew80 said...
As always, another beautiful post, Pliable.
Merry Christmas to you and yours!
- 3:27 pm
- rchrd said...
If you like the music of Colin McPhee, then you will also like the music of Boston-based composer Evan Ziporyn. In particular his recent CD,
Frog's Eye, on Cantaloupe CA21040 (2006)
and his gamelan pieces on New Albion, esp his piano piece Pandok (New Albion 53). Balinese music in the manner of McPhee is alive and well.
- 7:37 pm
- Pliable said...
Thx Richard.
Find Evan Ziporyn at
and the audio samples at Amazon give a good sample of his music
- 8:35 pm
- Pliable said...
While over on BBC Radio 3 this morning presenter Sarah Walker manages to play Copland's Clarinet Concerto instead of Barber's Second Symphony, and doesn't seem to be able to tell the two works apart.
More Sarah Walker puck ups here -
- 2:42 pm
- Don Cox said...
Britten's recording of the "Pagodas" is abridged, which is a pity, but I still greatly prefer it to Oliver Knussen's complete recording. There is a good version of "Tabuh-Tabuhan" conducted by Hanson on the Mercury label.
- 3:20 pm
- Unknown said...
Dear Pliable, As memory serves, only the first of the ROH Ballet series - Swan Lake - was recorded in All Saints Tooting. The others, together with some Prokofiev, Adam etc were recorded in All Saints Petersham and St Judes Hampstead Garden Suberb, both of which, as orchestral recording venues, are now as defunct as the Conifer label.
- 1:04 pm


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Helps you provide a children's programming experience that closely mirrors the Sunday readings. Celebrate offers children the same worshipping opportunities that are part of the larger assembly. It gives them the chance to proclaim the gospel, profess their faith and pray together - all in their own terms and on their own "turf."
Celebrate the Good News follows the 3-year Revised Common Lectionary cycle and is available quarterly for fall, winter, spring and summer.
The program includes:
Complete and easy preparation materials that provide a step-by-step plan, including each week's gospel reading and background and prayer suggestions
Hands-on activities that reinforce the gospel message and involve children in interactive ways
Enough weekly material for 20-40 minute sessions
At-a-glance material lists each week
The program includes:
Read More


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Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
Primary tabs
The measles, mumps, rubella vaccine is a "3-in-1" vaccine. It protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. These are serious diseases that can be life-threatening.
Alternative Names
Vaccine - MMR; Immunization - MMR; Rubella vaccination; Mumps vaccination; Measles - mumps - rubella vaccine
Measles, mumps, and rubella are illnesses that are each caused by a virus.
The measles, mumps, rubella vaccine is called MMR for short. The vaccine contains live but very weak viruses of the three diseases. After receiving the shot, the viruses cause a harmless infection. Usually there are no symptoms or the symptoms are mild.
After getting the vaccine, the body learns to attack the measles, mumps, or rubella virus if the person is exposed to it. As a result, it is unlikely the person will get sick with any of the three diseases.
MMR is one of the recommended childhood vaccines. Nearly all states require proof that a child has received MMR before starting school.
Children should get two doses (shots) of MMR at each of the following ages:
- 12 to 15 months
- 4 to 6 years
Your health care provider may recommend that your child receive a vaccine that combines MMR with the chickenpox (VAR) vaccine. Your health care provider can tell you if this vaccine is right for your child.
Adults 18 years old or who were born after 1956 should get at least one dose (shot) of the MMR vaccine if:
- They have never received an MMR shot
- They are not sure whether or when they received an MMR shot
- They have never had any of the three diseases
Adults born during or before 1956 are protected because they likely had the actual diseases during childhood.
Women who can become pregnant and who have not had the MMR vaccine in the past should have a blood test to see if they are protected (immune). If they are not immune, they should receive the MMR vaccine. Women should not receive this vaccine if they are pregnant or planning to become pregnant within the next 4 weeks. The vaccine may harm the baby.
- Persons who received a dose of MMR and developed an allergy from it.
- Persons who are severely allergic to the antibiotic neomycin (MMR contains a tiny amount of neomycin).
- Women who are pregnant (women should not become pregnant within 1 month of receiving MMR).
- Persons with a weakened immune system due to certain cancers and their treatment, HIV, steroid medicines, or other medicines that suppress the immune system.
- Persons who are ill with something more severe than a cold or have a fever should reschedule their vaccination until after they are recovered.
Persons should check with their health care provider about the proper time to get MMR if they have:
- Received blood or platelet transfusions
- Received other blood products (including gamma globulin)
- Low platelet counts
Most persons who get MMR have no problems from it. Others may have mild problems such as soreness and redness where the shot was given or a low fever. More severe problems from MMR are rare.
If a rash or swelling of the cheek or neck glands develops without other symptoms, no treatment is needed. The symptoms should go away within several days.
Severe side effects may include:
- Allergic reaction (rare)
- Long-term seizure, brain damage, or deafness (so rare that it is unlikely the vaccine is the cause)
There is no proof that the MMR vaccine is linked to the development of autism.
No vaccine works all of the time. It is still possible, though unlikely, to get measles, mumps, or rubella even after receiving all doses (shots) of MMR.
- You are not sure if a person should get MMR
- Mild or serious symptoms develop after getting the vaccine
- You have questions or concerns about the vaccine
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Recommended Immunization Schedules for Persons Aged 0 Through 18 Years and Adults Aged 19 Years and Older - United States, 2013. MMWR. 2013;62(Suppl1):1-19.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Vaccine safety and adverse events. Available at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/safety/default.htm. Accessed April 19, 2013.
DeStefano F, Price CS, Weintraub ES. Increasing exposure to antibody-stimulating proteins and polysaccharides in vaccines is not associated with risk of autism. J Pediatr. 2013; DOI10.1016/j.peds.2013.02.001.
Institute of Medicine. Immunization Safety Review Committee. Imunization Safety Review: Vaccines and Autism. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press; 2004.
Orenstein WA, Atkinson WL. Immunization. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman's Cecil Medicine. 24th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Elsevier Saunders; 2011:chap 17.


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Guidance for Industry: Sanitary Transportation of Food April 2010
- Docket Number:
- Issued by:
Guidance Issuing OfficeCenter for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
This guidance represents the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA's) current thinking on this topic. It does not create or confer any rights for or on any person and does not operate to bind FDA or the public. You can use an alternative approach if the approach satisfies the requirements of the applicable statutes and regulations.
Table of Contents
Appendix. FDA Regulations and Guidances Addressing the Transportation of Food
I. Introduction
This guidance is intended for persons engaged in food transport, including persons who transport food (and store it during transport) as well as manufacturers or other persons who arrange for the transportation of food. The term "food" means articles used for food or drink for man or other animals, and components of any such article. (21 U.C.S. 231(f)).
We are issuing this guidance to provide all sectors of the food industry with broadly applicable recommendations for controls to prevent food safety problems during transport while we are implementing the Sanitary Food Transportation Act of 2005 (2005 SFTA; Pub. L. No. 109-59, 119 Stat. 1911). When those regulations are finalized, FDA will reassess the need for this guidance.
FDA's guidance documents, including this guidance, do not establish legally enforceable responsibilities. Instead, guidances describe the Agency's current thinking on a topic and should be viewed only as recommendations, unless specific regulatory or statutory requirements are cited. The use of the word should in Agency guidances means that something is suggested or recommended, but not required.
II. Background
In 2005, Congress passed the 2005 SFTA, which in part created section 416 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the act) (21 U.S.C. 350e). Section 416 of the act requires FDA to promulgate regulations setting forth sanitary transportation practices to be followed by shippers, carriers by motor vehicle or rail vehicle, receivers, and others engaged in food transport to ensure that food is not transported under conditions that may render the food adulterated. As part of our implementation of the 2005 SFTA, FDA issued an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in 2010 (the 2010 ANPRM) (Federal Register of April 30, 2010; 75 FR 22713) to obtain data and information from the public about certain food transportation issues. As discussed in the 2010 ANPRM, over the past few decades there have been several incidents in which food was contaminated during transport, or which demonstrated the potential for food to become contaminated during transportation.
Over the years, FDA has addressed the transportation of food in several regulations and guidance documents (see Appendix). However, each of these regulations and guidance documents is limited in scope - e.g., to a particular circumstance (such as decontamination of food transport vehicles that have been flooded or otherwise impacted by hurricanes, before being placed back in service to transport or store food (Ref. 1)) or to a particular segment of the food supply (such as fresh produce (Refs. 2 and 3)). This guidance differs from the prior regulations and guidance in that it provides all sectors of the food industry with broadly applicable recommendations.
In the 2010 ANPRM, we described a 2009 report developed by Eastern Research Group, Inc. (ERG), under contract to us, regarding the findings of a study designed to characterize current baseline practices in the sectors involved in food transportation and to identify current areas where food is at risk for adulteration (Ref. 4; the ERG report). The ERG report describes the results of a comprehensive literature review pertaining to food handling practices in the food transportation industry. The ERG report also presents the findings from an expert opinion elicitation study, which ERG conducted to identify the main problems that pose microbiological, chemical, and/or physical safety hazards to food during transportation and storage, and to determine the preventive controls needed to address each of the problems identified. The findings of the expert panel, as presented in the ERG report, are broadly consistent with agency policies, and we have incorporated many of their findings into our recommendations.
III. Discussion
In our effort to assist the food transport industry in preventing food safety problems during transport while we are implementing the 2005 SFTA, we want them to be aware of the following problem areas where food may be at risk for physical, chemical, or biological contamination during food transport:
- Improper refrigeration or temperature control of food products (temperature abuse).
- Improper management of transportation units (or storage facilities used during transport) to preclude cross-contamination, including improper sanitation, backhauling hazardous materials, not maintaining tanker wash records, improper disposal of wastewater, and aluminum phosphide fumigation methods in railcar transit;
- Improper packing of transportation units (or storage facilities used during transport), including incorrect use of packing materials and poor pallet quality;
- Improper loading practices, conditions, or equipment, including improper sanitation of loading equipment, not using dedicated units where appropriate, inappropriate loading patterns, and transporting mixed loads that increase the risk for cross-contamination;
- Improper unloading practices, conditions, or equipment, including improper sanitation of equipment and leaving raw materials on loading docks after hours;
- Poor pest control in transportation units (or storage facilities used during transport);
- Lack of driver/employee training and/or supervisor/manager/owner knowledge of food safety and/or security;
- Poor transportation unit design and construction;
- Inadequate preventive maintenance for transportation units (or storage facilities used during transport), resulting in roof leaks, gaps in doors, and dripping condensation or ice accumulations;
- Poor employee hygiene;
- Inadequate policies for the safe and/or secure transport (or storage during transport) of foods, e.g., lack of or improper use of security seals;
- Improper handling and tracking of rejected loads and salvaged, reworked, and returned products or products destined for disposal; and
- Improper holding practices for food products awaiting shipment or inspection, including unattended product, delayed holding of product, shipping of product while in quarantine, and poor rotation and throughput.
To address some of the problems enumerated above, we recommend that persons engaged in food transport concentrate their efforts at this time on the following, broadly applicable preventive controls:
- Appropriate temperature control during transport;
- Sanitation, including:
- Monitoring and ensuring the sanitation and condition of transportation vehicles as appropriate;
- Pest control; and
- Sanitation associated with loading/unloading procedures;
- Appropriate packaging/packing of food products and transportation units (e.g., good quality pallets, correct use of packing materials);
- Good communications between shipper, transporter and receiver; and
- Employee awareness and training.
IV. References
The following references are on display in Docket No. FDA-2010-N-0013 in the Division of Dockets Management, Food and Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852. You may see them at that location between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- FDA. 2006. A Notice from FDA to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products on Decontamination of Transport Vehicles.
- FDA. 1998. Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables.
- FDA. 2008. Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables.
- Eastern Research Group, Inc. 2009. Characteristics Of Current Food Transportation And Holding Practices For Food Commodities. GSA MOBIS SIN 874-1. Contract No. GS-10F-0125P. Order No. HHSF223200730236G. ERG Task No. 0193.16.001.001.
- FDA. 1998. FDA Guidance for Industry 68. Small Entities Compliance Guide For Protein Blenders, Feed Manufacturers, And Distributors.
- The White House. Office of the Press Secretary. 1997. President Clinton Announces Initiative To Ensure The Safety Of Imported And Domestic Fruits And Vegetables. Accessed and printed on November 30, 2009.
- FDA. 2003. Guidance for Industry: Juice HACCP; Small Entity Compliance Guide.
- FDA. 2003. Guidance on Bulk Transport of Juice Concentrates and Certain Shelf Stable Juices.
- FDA. 2007. Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Transporters, Bulk Milk Transfer Stations and Fluid Milk Processors: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.
- FDA. 2007. Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance.
- FDA. 2004. Guidance for Industry 122. Manufacture And Labeling Of Raw Meat Foods For Companion And Captive Non-companion Carnivores And Omnivores.
- FDA. 2004. What You Need to Know About Establishment and Maintenance of Records.
- Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance. Appendix B - Milk Sampling, Hauling and Transportation.
Appendix: FDA Regulations and Guidances Addressing the Transportation of Food
|Year &
(21 CFR 225.65; 41 FR 52618; November 30, 1976)
|Current Good Manufacturing Practice for Medicated Feeds; Equipment Cleanout Procedures
|Requires adequate cleanout procedures for all equipment used in the manufacture or distribution of medicated feeds that are essential to avoiding unsafe contamination of feeds with drugs
|Implemented requirements in section 501(a)(2)(B) of the act (21 U.S.C. 351(a)(2)(B))
51 FR 22458; June 19, 1986)
|Current Good Manufacturing Practice In Manufacturing, Packing, Or Holding Human Food; Warehousing and distribution
|Requires that storage and transportation of finished food be under conditions that will protect food against physical, chemical, and microbial contamination as well as against deterioration of the food and the container
|Issued as part of a broad revision to our CGMP regulations for food
|1997 (21 CFR 589.2000(c) -(e); 62 FR 30936; June 5, 1997), updated in
(21 CFR 589.2000(c) - (e); 73 FR 22719; April 25, 2008) [Related Small Entity Compliance Guide (SECG) published in 1998 (Ref. 5)]
|Listing of Specific Substances Prohibited From Use in Animal Food or Feed; Requirements for renderers; Requirements for protein blenders, feed manufacturers, and distributors; and Requirements for persons that intend to separate mammalian and nonmammalian materials
|Requires distributors of mammalian and nonmammalian materials for animal food to provide for measures to avoid commingling or cross-contamination of the materials
|To provide animal feed protections by prohibiting the feeding of mammalian protein to ruminant animals
(Ref. 2)
|Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards for Fresh Fruits and Vegetables*
|Includes recommendations regarding microbial food safety hazards and good agricultural and management practices common to the growing, packing, and transporting of most fresh fruits and vegetables
|Issued as part of the 1997 Presidential "Initiative to Ensure the Safety of Imported and Domestic Fruits and Vegetables" (Ref. 6)
(21 CFR 120.24(c)); 66 FR 6138 at 6172, January 19, 2001) [Related SECG published in 2003 (Ref. 7)]
|Hazard Analysis And Critical Control Point (HACCP) Systems; Process Controls
|Requires that juice processors complete a 5-log pathogen reduction treatment and final product packaging within a single processing facility operating under CGMPs ** ("single facility requirement")
|Added to the final rule to address comments expressing concern about the potential for recontamination or regrowth of surviving pathogens if individual treatments designed to achieve a 5-log reduction are separated by time or space
(Ref. 8)
|Guidance on Bulk Transport of Juice Concentrates and Certain Shelf Stable Juices
|Provides industry with recommendations for appropriate control measures to use in the bulk transport of covered juice products to ensure that the products do not become contaminated or re-contaminated with microbial pathogens during bulk transport, and stated FDA's intent to consider the exercise of enforcement discretion with respect to the single facility requirement in 21 CFR 120.24(c) provided that certain conditions are met.
|Issued in response to a citizen petition requesting an exemption from the requirement in 21 CFR 120.24(c) when certain products manufactured in one facility are sent to another facility for final packaging
|2003 (updated 2007);
(Ref. 9)
|Dairy Farms, Bulk Milk Transporters, Bulk Milk Transfer Stations and Fluid Milk Processors: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
|Identifies the kinds of preventive measures operators of bulk milk transportation operations may take to minimize the risk that fluid milk under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions
|Issued in light of the potential for tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions
|2003 (updated 2007)
(Ref. 10)
|Food Producers, Processors, and Transporters: Food Security Preventive Measures Guidance
|Identifies the kinds of preventive measures operators of human or animal food establishments (including firms that distribute or transport food or food ingredients) may take to minimize the risk that food under their control will be subject to tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions
|Issued in light of the potential for tampering or other malicious, criminal, or terrorist actions
(Ref. 11)
|Guidance for Industry #122: Manufacture and Labeling of Raw Meat Foods for Companion and Captive Noncompanion Carnivores and Omnivores
|Provides guidance on transport of foods that contain raw meat, or other raw animal tissues, for consumption by dogs, cats, other companion or pet animals, and captive noncompanion animal carnivores and omnivores
|Issued to address health risks when raw meat foods are used, particularly by pet owners
(21 CFR 1.352, 1.360 - 1.363; 69 FR 71561; December 9, 2004) [Related SECG published in 2004 (Ref. 12)]
|Establishment, Maintenance, and Availability of Records: What information must transporters establish and maintain?; What are the record retention requirements?; What are the record availability requirements?; What records are excluded from this subpart?; What are the consequences of failing to establish or maintain records or make them available to FDA?
|Requires persons who transport food for humans and animals to establish and maintain records identifying the immediate previous source of all food received, and the immediate subsequent recipient of all food released, as well as certain other information related to the transported food; Sets forth the record retention and record availability requirements for transporters
|Implementation of section 306 of the 2002 Bioterrorism Act, which directs the HHS Secretary to issue regulations requiring persons who manufacture, process, pack, transport, distribute, receive, hold, or import food for humans and animals to establish and maintain records identifying the immediate previous source of all food received, and the immediate subsequent recipient of all food released
2006) (Ref. 1)
|Notice from FDA to Growers, Food Manufacturers, Food Warehouse Managers, and Transporters of Food Products on Decontamination of Transport Vehicles
|Provides information and references that can be used for the decontamination of food transport vehicles that have been flooded or otherwise impacted by hurricanes, before being placed back in service to transport or store food
|Developed following Hurricanes Katrina and Rita in August and September 2005
(Ref. 13)
|Grade A Pasteurized Milk Ordinance, Appendix B, Milk Sampling, Hauling and Transportation
|Model standard for voluntary adoption by State and local authorities
|Sets forth training requirements, evaluation criteria, and standards to be met by bulk milk haulers and milk transporters
|To facilitate the shipment and acceptance of milk and milk products of high sanitary quality in interstate and intrastate commerce
|2008 (Ref. 3)
|Guidance for Industry: Guide to Minimize Microbial Food Safety Hazards of Fresh-cut Fruits and Vegetables
|Recommends practices for transporting fresh-cut produce under conditions that will protect the food against physical, chemical, and microbiological contamination
|Part of recommendations to enhance the safety of fresh-cut produce by minimizing microbial food safety hazards
|2008 (21 CFR 589.2001(c); 73 FR 22719; April 25, 2008)
|Cattle Materials Prohibited in Animal Food or Feed to Prevent the Transmission of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy
|Requires the use of dedicated equipment for handling and transporting cattle materials prohibited in animal feed
|To provide an additional layer of animal feed protections by removing that material at highest risk for transmitting BSE through animal feed
|2009 (21 CFR 118.1(b) and 118.4(e)); 74 FR 33029; July 9, 2009)
|Production, Storage, And Transportation Of Shell Eggs
|Establishes requirements for refrigeration of shell eggs during storage and transportation
|Part of a rule requiring measures to prevent Salmonella from contaminating eggs on the farm and from further growth during storage and transportation
1.This guidance has been prepared by the Division of Plant and Dairy Food Safety in the Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition and the Office of Surveillance and Compliance in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Submit Comments
You can submit online or written comments on any guidance at any time (see 21 CFR 10.115(g)(5))
If unable to submit comments online, please mail written comments to:
Dockets Management
Food and Drug Administration
5630 Fishers Lane, Rm 1061
Rockville, MD 20852
All written comments should be identified with this document's docket number: FDA-2013-S-0610.


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Representatives of the world's Historic Peace Churches gathered in Solo, Indonesia in December 2007, to ask what "Peace in Our Land" means practically - through the interrelated topics of injustice, religious pluralism, and poverty.
These churches - which see peace and nonviolence as central to the Christian Gospel, rather than an "optional extra" - include the Church of the Brethren, the Mennonites and Brethren in Christ, and the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers).
This was the third in a series of international conferences of the peace churches, invited by the Decade to Overcome Violence program of the World Council of Churches. Previous gatherings had been held in Beinenberg, Switzerland, in 2001; and in Kenya in 2004. Each gathering has been funded and planned by the peace churches themselves.
The gathering included participants from Australia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Representatives came from a wide array of backgrounds in professions and industry in addition to church work.
The Brethren were represented regionally by 17 persons from the Church of the Brethren in India, which has roots in the mission efforts of the US church to India beginning in 1895. Five representatives of the Church of the Brethren in the US also attended including Stanley Noffsinger, general secretary of the General Board, and Donald Miller, emeritus faculty at Bethany Theological Seminary who served on the planning committee for the conference. Darryl Sankey served on the planning committee representing the Church of the Brethren in India.
Presenters told stories of the poverty and injustices of their specific contexts, and how the church was responding. Christians are small minorities in many countries in Asia, so in every case religious diversity was a factor. Poverty also undermines peace in these societies. The Church of the Brethren group observed that a government role can be relevant in peace building, sometimes as an instrument of fairness and inclusion and at other times fostering injustice and conflict.
Some of the stories of struggle also gave cause for hope. Loving and courageous actions by churches in very difficult settings were a challenge and witness. It was reported by some that Christianity in the East often is seen as a foreign religion, and is associated with the worst aspects of the West. This perception creates a credibility challenge for Asian churches.
In addition to speakers, plenary sessions, and small group discussions, the conference integrated visits to Indonesian churches, and also included cultural events and short trips that helped to ground discussion in the local reality.
Differences within the region had surfaced by the end of the week. The activist approach of the Australian and New Zealand participants, who felt free to speak out and confront their governments, contrasted with the real risk of such expression in some nations. As a result, a slower, relationship-building approach to peacebuilding is used by most Asian churches within their communities and nation.
Sankey reflected on the event at its conclusion: "As the Church of the Brethren in India, we have learned what the Historic Peace Churches actually mean. For the last several years, we have felt left out of this process, of relating to other churches. This (was an) opportunity to participate in an international conference where we, as a peace church, have realized the importance of being a peace church. This has been a very great learning experience, not only for me, but for everyone who has been part of this delegation . I think this could be a revival for our church."
For the text of a "Message from the Third International Historic Peace Churches Consultation," go to www.brethren.org/genbd/newsline. A photo journal is available at www.brethren.org/pjournal/2007/AsiaPeaceConference%26IndiaVisit.
The Church of the Brethren is a Christian denomination committed to continuing the work of Jesus peacefully and simply, and to living out its faith in community.
The denomination is based in the Anabaptist and Pietist faith traditions and is one of the three Historic Peace Churches. It celebrates its 300th anniversary in 2008. It counts almost 130,000 members across the United States and Puerto Rico, and has missions and sister churches in Nigeria, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, and India.
With kind acknowledgements to Cheryl Brumbaugh-Cayford


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Overreaching Regulations Continue to be a Burden on Cattlemen
By Ashley McDonald, NCBA Deputy Environmental Counsel
If you haven't heard by now, the fiscal cliff is looming. Congress and the White House remain locked in tough negotiations over the "cliff" which is a set of tax hikes and spending cuts that will go into effect in January if Washington doesn't get its act together. Inaction by the government will undoubtedly affect farmers and ranchers. However, another looming issue that may not be receiving as much attention during this critical time in our government is the "environmental cliff," the overreaching environmental regulations which continue to plague cattle producers. The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) continues to lead the charge in defending cattlemen and women from an extreme environmental agenda which not only hurts producers, but economy as a whole.
The particulate matter (PM) standard, commonly known as the dust standard, remains one of the most important environmental issues facing cattle producers. Every five years, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to review scientific studies associated with criteria pollutants regulated under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), many times setting the levels without regard to the costs of implementing such a stricter standard. PM, or dust, is one of these criteria pollutants. Agricultural operations in arid parts of the country can have a difficult time attaining compliance with the dust standard at its current level. Mother Nature in that part of the country makes compliance virtually impossible when you consider the amount of naturally occurring windblown dust. If you add to that the dust kicked up by cattle moving around in feedlots, you end up in what's called a "nonattainment" area, meaning farmers and ranchers often have to implement costly practices in order to mitigate dust.
In April 2011 EPA staff recommended to Administrator Jackson that she should double the stringency of the current dust standard. After NCBA commissioned a study to find out what kind of impact that kind of change would cause across cattle country, it was apparent the entire Midwest, West and Southwest would be in nonattainment, or at the brink of it; 15 miles per hour speed limits on dirt roads, paving dirt and gravel roads, wind breaks along country roads and a prohibition on harvesting or tilling during the day could now become real regulatory requirements in our country's breadbasket. NCBA went on the defensive, inciting what became a rural America political backlash, the likes of which EPA has never seen. In the end, Administrator Jackson was forced to say she would not propose to lower the standard. Holding true to her promise, in June of this year EPA proposed retaining the current dust standard. NCBA, our state affiliates and members submitted comments encouraging EPA to make the proposal final. EPA is scheduled to publish the final standard by Dec. 14.
The Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) rule is back in the environmental news circuit. EPA announced in October another round of comments on the Clean Water Act (CWA) regulation for CAFOs. The request for comments is in response to requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act, which requires that a review of the impacts of a regulation that's been certified to have a substantial effect on small businesses be conducted by the issuing agency within ten years of the regulation's publication. The agency may use the review to determine whether the regulation should be continued without change, or should be amended or rescinded. It's estimated that 40 percent of all CAFO facilities fall under the small entity provision, according to EPA. Even though in its announcement the agency said that it is looking for comments on "whether there is a 'continued need' for regulations on CAFOs," and "the extent to which the rule overlaps, duplicates, or conflicts with other federal, state, or local government regulations," it is unlikely that EPA will ease the burden of the CAFO rule on farmers and ranchers. Originally set to close on Dec. 31, the comment period is likely to be extended until Mar. 1, 2013. NCBA will submit comments to EPA on behalf of the cattle industry.
In this issue of Beltway Beef we cover the topic of Florida's battle with EPA on the state's Numeric Nutrient Criteria (NNC). Even though the final ruling on the state-created standards is a win for the agriculture industry in Florida there is still a long way to go. Other states are being pressured by EPA to develop numeric criteria, and environmental extremist groups are rushing to sue over provisions they say significantly deters efforts to regulate discharges. These groups continue to tie things up in the court system, wasting valuable time and financial resources, and all too often EPA sides with their agenda, creating more problems for cattle producers. We hope that the decision by the agency to uphold Florida's own NNC standards sets a precedent for other states that are currently fighting to maintain their position as an equal partner in implementation of the CWA. Cattlemen and women should encourage their state officials to stand up for their own rights under the CWA and not to let EPA commandeer the entire system.
Though EPA continues to attempt to expand its regulatory authority beyond what Congress intended and implement overreaching, nonsensical rules, NCBA continues to be a strong opposing force to these regulations in Washington and across the country. From dust regulation, numeric nutrient criteria and greenhouse gas regulations, to protection from intrusive government fly-overs, NCBA will work hard during the next year to advance our environmental issues and prevent regulatory overreach from stifling productivity and growth in the cattle industry.