By Donald Null
The Worth County R-III Concert Choir will perform their rendition of Baba Yetu at the spring vocal concert to be held at 7 p.m., Tuesday evening, May 13, under the direction of Jim Spiers in the school gymnasium. The choir received a one rating, and a standing ovation, for their performance of the piece at district contest in Maryville. As always, I am amazed at what Jim and his kids are able to accomplish. That trip to Carnegie Hall was no fluke. Of course this year’s senor class is composed of some of the most musically talented performers I can remember. Since graduation is coming up this will likely be the last time you will see them perform together. I encourage you to attend the performance to see for yourselves what a wonderful vocal program we have in Worth county.
Now for a little background on the composer of Baba Yetu, the lead song for the upcoming performance. According to Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, the song was composed by Christopher Tin. Tin was born and raised in California. He worked on his undergraduate education at Oxford and Stanford University. He graduated in 1998, receiving a BA with Honors in music composition and English literature. He continued to study at Stanford and received an MA in humanities in 1999. He was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship, becoming the first to be awarded one for film scoring, to study composition and conducting at the Royal College of Music in London, and he graduated with a MMus with Distinction. Tin’s biggest break came in 2005, when Soren Johnson, his roommate at Stanford and now working as a game designer at Firaxis Games, asked him to compose the theme song for Civilization 4. Tin responded with "Baba Yetu," a choral piece performed by Stanford Talisman, with lyrics similar to the Lord's Prayer in Swahili.
A rough translation of Baba Yetu in Swahili is provided on the Civilization IV Game website: http://forums.civfanatics.com/showthread.php?t=123680
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Friday, May 2, 2008
Show-Me State of Mind for May 7th, 2008
We Need A Change to Save Economy
In 2001, newly elected President George W. Bush and a Congress chock-full of his staunchest allies inherited a $127 billion federal budget surplus, low unemployment, and $1.25 a gallon gas. Over the next five years, the bigwigs in Washington enacted an agenda that they said would strengthen our economy, bolster our national security, and balance the budget.
Unfortunately, for most Americans, it hasn't worked out that way. First of all, instead of surpluses, the Bush administration has run a deficit every single year since 2001, totaling $1.7 trillion through 2007. Now, maybe we wouldn't be so worried about the fact that the government will pay $244 billion in interest payments on the national debt this year if the economy were in better shape. But the middle-class squeeze is only getting worse.
Bush told us again and again that his economic policies would stimulate the economy and put money back into the hands of middle-class taxpayers. Instead, we are struggling through our second recession in 7 years, wages are stagnating, 1.6 million more Americans are unemployed and real household income has declined. Employers have announced almost 300,000 jobs to be eliminated in the first four months of 2008. And that stimulus check you're about to get? It won't even cover rising health care premiums, increased food costs, and skyrocketing gas prices.
Of course, not everyone has suffered as a result of the Bush administration's policies. Oil companies and hedge fund managers, for example, are living large. ExxonMobil made over $40 billion in 2007 and many hedge fund managers are raking in more than $2 billion a year.
What do all these billionaires have in common? They all benefit from tax breaks and loopholes that Congress has refused to repeal and they all contribute generously to lawmakers in Washington. So how do some members of Congress plan to alleviate the middle-class squeeze? By extending the tax cuts for oil companies and billionaires, cutting health programs for children, and continuing to spend $720 million per day on the war in Iraq. Sounds to me like just more of the same.
I say we've tried it their way and their way isn't working. Isn't it time for a change?
Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District
In 2001, newly elected President George W. Bush and a Congress chock-full of his staunchest allies inherited a $127 billion federal budget surplus, low unemployment, and $1.25 a gallon gas. Over the next five years, the bigwigs in Washington enacted an agenda that they said would strengthen our economy, bolster our national security, and balance the budget.
Unfortunately, for most Americans, it hasn't worked out that way. First of all, instead of surpluses, the Bush administration has run a deficit every single year since 2001, totaling $1.7 trillion through 2007. Now, maybe we wouldn't be so worried about the fact that the government will pay $244 billion in interest payments on the national debt this year if the economy were in better shape. But the middle-class squeeze is only getting worse.
Bush told us again and again that his economic policies would stimulate the economy and put money back into the hands of middle-class taxpayers. Instead, we are struggling through our second recession in 7 years, wages are stagnating, 1.6 million more Americans are unemployed and real household income has declined. Employers have announced almost 300,000 jobs to be eliminated in the first four months of 2008. And that stimulus check you're about to get? It won't even cover rising health care premiums, increased food costs, and skyrocketing gas prices.
Of course, not everyone has suffered as a result of the Bush administration's policies. Oil companies and hedge fund managers, for example, are living large. ExxonMobil made over $40 billion in 2007 and many hedge fund managers are raking in more than $2 billion a year.
What do all these billionaires have in common? They all benefit from tax breaks and loopholes that Congress has refused to repeal and they all contribute generously to lawmakers in Washington. So how do some members of Congress plan to alleviate the middle-class squeeze? By extending the tax cuts for oil companies and billionaires, cutting health programs for children, and continuing to spend $720 million per day on the war in Iraq. Sounds to me like just more of the same.
I say we've tried it their way and their way isn't working. Isn't it time for a change?
Kay Barnes is a candidate for U.S. representative for Missouri's 6th Congressional District
Makeover of Shopping Habits can Offset Rising Food Costs
Makeover of shopping habits can offset rising food costs
COLUMBIA, Mo. -A makeover of your shopping habits could offset rising food costs, said a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist.
"There is plenty of room for savings in the typical family food budget that can more than offset the current upswing in prices," said Cynthia Fauser. "It just takes some planning."
Food inflation has been running at a 5.3 percent annual rate in the past three months. Nearly half of the consumers in a USA Today/Gallup Poll say food inflation has caused a hardship for their families.
Before your next trip to grocery store, look in your refrigerator, said Fauser. Households throw away 14 percent of the food they buy. That adds up to about $600 a year, according to a University of Arizona study.
Fifteen percent of what is thrown away is unopened and within its expiration date.
Go to the grocery store armed with a list. Shop alone and get in and out of the store quickly. This cuts down on impulse buying of unneeded items. For every minute in a supermarket, consumers spend $2.17, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
Try store brands. These brands average 26 to 28 percent less than nationally advertised brands, Fauser said. A 2006 Consumer Reports test of 65 store-brand products found many of these products score at least as high in quality as national brands.
"In fact," she said, "many are made by the same companies."
Buying bigger is not always cheaper. While sometimes economical, bulk buying is more expensive about 25 percent of the time. Toilet paper, frozen orange juice and canned tuna frequently cost more in larger sizes. Take a calculator to compare unit prices. Sales tags often do not re-compute unit prices, she said.
Learn the pattern of your store's loss-leader items. Different sections of the store are featured each week in rotation. By knowing the pattern, you can stock up on each week's loss-leader items, especially staples like cereals, juice and paper towels.
"Use coupons, but don't let coupons entice you into buying products you would not ordinarily buy," she said.
Reach up and bend down. Bargain items are found on the top or bottom shelves. Companies pay a premium for shelf placement. Higher-profit items are more likely to be at eye level, she said.
Buy non-food item from discount stores. Grocery stores have high markups for pet food, cleaning supplies and personal care items.
Be careful when choosing convenience foods. A few, like mashed potato flakes, are even cheaper than fresh-made, but many items like grab-and-go soups come at a high store markup.
Cut back on foods with no nutritional value. Consumers spend about 12 percent of their food dollar on things like cookies, chips, donuts and soft drinks. Leave more dollars for healthier fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Creating a cost-saving food shopping strategy is a chance to evaluate your family's overall diet, said Ellen Schuster, MU state nutrition specialist.
"People need to rethink what is an appropriate amount of food and portion size. Maybe we are eating more food than we really need," Schuster said. "We want to get the best buy for our food dollars. Foods high in fats or sugar are not your best buy."
A good strategy is to shop the outer aisles of supermarkets, where you find vegetables, dairy products and meats. The inside aisles display processed foods and snacks, said Schuster.
COLUMBIA, Mo. -A makeover of your shopping habits could offset rising food costs, said a University of Missouri Extension nutrition and health education specialist.
"There is plenty of room for savings in the typical family food budget that can more than offset the current upswing in prices," said Cynthia Fauser. "It just takes some planning."
Food inflation has been running at a 5.3 percent annual rate in the past three months. Nearly half of the consumers in a USA Today/Gallup Poll say food inflation has caused a hardship for their families.
Before your next trip to grocery store, look in your refrigerator, said Fauser. Households throw away 14 percent of the food they buy. That adds up to about $600 a year, according to a University of Arizona study.
Fifteen percent of what is thrown away is unopened and within its expiration date.
Go to the grocery store armed with a list. Shop alone and get in and out of the store quickly. This cuts down on impulse buying of unneeded items. For every minute in a supermarket, consumers spend $2.17, according to the Food Marketing Institute.
Try store brands. These brands average 26 to 28 percent less than nationally advertised brands, Fauser said. A 2006 Consumer Reports test of 65 store-brand products found many of these products score at least as high in quality as national brands.
"In fact," she said, "many are made by the same companies."
Buying bigger is not always cheaper. While sometimes economical, bulk buying is more expensive about 25 percent of the time. Toilet paper, frozen orange juice and canned tuna frequently cost more in larger sizes. Take a calculator to compare unit prices. Sales tags often do not re-compute unit prices, she said.
Learn the pattern of your store's loss-leader items. Different sections of the store are featured each week in rotation. By knowing the pattern, you can stock up on each week's loss-leader items, especially staples like cereals, juice and paper towels.
"Use coupons, but don't let coupons entice you into buying products you would not ordinarily buy," she said.
Reach up and bend down. Bargain items are found on the top or bottom shelves. Companies pay a premium for shelf placement. Higher-profit items are more likely to be at eye level, she said.
Buy non-food item from discount stores. Grocery stores have high markups for pet food, cleaning supplies and personal care items.
Be careful when choosing convenience foods. A few, like mashed potato flakes, are even cheaper than fresh-made, but many items like grab-and-go soups come at a high store markup.
Cut back on foods with no nutritional value. Consumers spend about 12 percent of their food dollar on things like cookies, chips, donuts and soft drinks. Leave more dollars for healthier fruits, vegetables and whole grains.
Creating a cost-saving food shopping strategy is a chance to evaluate your family's overall diet, said Ellen Schuster, MU state nutrition specialist.
"People need to rethink what is an appropriate amount of food and portion size. Maybe we are eating more food than we really need," Schuster said. "We want to get the best buy for our food dollars. Foods high in fats or sugar are not your best buy."
A good strategy is to shop the outer aisles of supermarkets, where you find vegetables, dairy products and meats. The inside aisles display processed foods and snacks, said Schuster.
Barnes calls on Media to Stop Blaming Farmers
Kay Barnes, 6th District Congressional candidate, called on the national news media to stop unfairly blaming farmers and ethanol for the high price of food.
"I shop for groceries every week and see almost everything going up in addition to corn. The price of eggs, apples, and even bananas have gone through the roof, and we don't use these foods to make biofuel. Farmers receive very little of the eventual cost of food we buy at the market (see article below). The real culprits are the big oil companies. The national media needs to do their research and leave our farmers alone," said Barnes in a statement from her office in Clay County.
Barnes said that that just this week when she drove to Chariton County to meet with a group of residents in Keytesville, that the price of diesel was over $4.00 per gallon at gas station after gas station. The big oil industry, middle men, and Wall Street speculators are driving up the price of oil, gasoline and diesel. Members of the national media are not reporting what the truck drivers and farmers of Missouri know: that the increasing costs of food and other goods are a result of high fuel costs. Instead, they publish off-base articles and editorials which wrongly single out farmers.
Barnes concluded, "If the editorial writers from newspapers like the New York Times would come down from their ivory towers long enough to talk to real family farmers, they would know that they are working hard to make a living. Now, in addition to coping with high fuel prices, our farmers unfairly have to take the brunt of criticism for what the big oil companies have done to food prices."
"I shop for groceries every week and see almost everything going up in addition to corn. The price of eggs, apples, and even bananas have gone through the roof, and we don't use these foods to make biofuel. Farmers receive very little of the eventual cost of food we buy at the market (see article below). The real culprits are the big oil companies. The national media needs to do their research and leave our farmers alone," said Barnes in a statement from her office in Clay County.
Barnes said that that just this week when she drove to Chariton County to meet with a group of residents in Keytesville, that the price of diesel was over $4.00 per gallon at gas station after gas station. The big oil industry, middle men, and Wall Street speculators are driving up the price of oil, gasoline and diesel. Members of the national media are not reporting what the truck drivers and farmers of Missouri know: that the increasing costs of food and other goods are a result of high fuel costs. Instead, they publish off-base articles and editorials which wrongly single out farmers.
Barnes concluded, "If the editorial writers from newspapers like the New York Times would come down from their ivory towers long enough to talk to real family farmers, they would know that they are working hard to make a living. Now, in addition to coping with high fuel prices, our farmers unfairly have to take the brunt of criticism for what the big oil companies have done to food prices."
House Happenings for May 7th, 2008
As the General Assembly nears the end of regular session, the pace increases on consideration of bills. Most of the bills which are currently being heard in the House of Representatives originated in the Senate and are now ready for "Third Reading", and final passage by the House before going to the Governor. Some of these are bad bills (they really are); perhaps even most of them may be bad, from different perspectives. I vote in opposition to those bills when I can determine that serious problems will result from the new proposals. Sometimes I vote no, based on suspicions and years of experience seeing "unintended consequences" develop from hastily-handled legislation. I would probably exercise the "No vote", in even more cases, except I believe that one must limit opposition to appropriate battles. It could be difficult to maintain credibility among other members and have their necessary support regarding our issues if I oppose too many bills.
An example of one bill that appears to justify opposition is HCS SCS SB 1038, which would repeal limits of political campaign contributions. I realize that sometimes Missouri voters have made choices which might need future changes; however, changes, if necessary, perhaps belong in the hands of all voters, rather than the General Assembly. Missouri voters passed "Proposition A", in 1994, which set limits and individual donations to political candidates. That action, along with similar action establishing term limits for legislators, enabled "incumbents" and "non-incumbents" to have relatively even chances of being elected to Missouri’s General Assembly. Eventually, the balance of power shifted from one political party, which had enjoyed a majority for a long time, to the other, and now, guess what? The new rules aren’t satisfactory with the new majority. The current majority is very determined to remove donation limits because they are now in a more favorable position to benefit from unlimited donations. Removing limits protects the "incumbency" and now, to a lesser degree, we are also hearing rumors of adjusting, extending or even removing "term limits". Isn’t it funny how time slips away and history is destined to repeat itself.
Back to the campaign limits. The General Assembly passed HB 1900 in 2006 and for several months, donations were sometimes "huge". Several exceeded $100,000 and three to five thousand dollar donations were routine (at least for some members, excluding yours truly). The Missouri Supreme Court ruled HB 1900 unconstitutional on procedural grounds so HCS SCS SB 1038 is here for another round. Incidentally, it’s here in time to influence the general election of 2008, if enacted. Our government is not supposed to be "for sale" and it’s our own fault when we allow that to happen. Unfortunately, more and more voters are unduly influenced with overwhelming advertisements rather than obtaining factual information on which to base their decisions. I think the amount of money that is involved in our political process is a sin, and ought to be a crime. As far as I know, I’ll be voting "no" again when HCS SCS SB 1038 lights up "The Board".
Please share your thoughts during these last two weeks of session on legislative issues that are of importance to you. You can contact me at jim.whorton@house.mo.gov or 573-751-1649.
An example of one bill that appears to justify opposition is HCS SCS SB 1038, which would repeal limits of political campaign contributions. I realize that sometimes Missouri voters have made choices which might need future changes; however, changes, if necessary, perhaps belong in the hands of all voters, rather than the General Assembly. Missouri voters passed "Proposition A", in 1994, which set limits and individual donations to political candidates. That action, along with similar action establishing term limits for legislators, enabled "incumbents" and "non-incumbents" to have relatively even chances of being elected to Missouri’s General Assembly. Eventually, the balance of power shifted from one political party, which had enjoyed a majority for a long time, to the other, and now, guess what? The new rules aren’t satisfactory with the new majority. The current majority is very determined to remove donation limits because they are now in a more favorable position to benefit from unlimited donations. Removing limits protects the "incumbency" and now, to a lesser degree, we are also hearing rumors of adjusting, extending or even removing "term limits". Isn’t it funny how time slips away and history is destined to repeat itself.
Back to the campaign limits. The General Assembly passed HB 1900 in 2006 and for several months, donations were sometimes "huge". Several exceeded $100,000 and three to five thousand dollar donations were routine (at least for some members, excluding yours truly). The Missouri Supreme Court ruled HB 1900 unconstitutional on procedural grounds so HCS SCS SB 1038 is here for another round. Incidentally, it’s here in time to influence the general election of 2008, if enacted. Our government is not supposed to be "for sale" and it’s our own fault when we allow that to happen. Unfortunately, more and more voters are unduly influenced with overwhelming advertisements rather than obtaining factual information on which to base their decisions. I think the amount of money that is involved in our political process is a sin, and ought to be a crime. As far as I know, I’ll be voting "no" again when HCS SCS SB 1038 lights up "The Board".
Please share your thoughts during these last two weeks of session on legislative issues that are of importance to you. You can contact me at jim.whorton@house.mo.gov or 573-751-1649.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
May is Stroke Awareness Month
Every 45 seconds, someone in the US experiences a stroke. Yet, despite being the third leading cause of death and the leading cause of adult disability in this country, fewer than one in five Americans can recognize a symptom of a stroke. In addition, some people still believe that this condition is simply a "stroke of fate," not realizing that stroke is preventable and treatable.
May is National Stroke Awareness Month and the National Stroke Association is urging people to take charge of their health by knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke, asking their doctors about stroke prevention, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems, provided that you pay proper attention to lifestyle and medical risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Furthermore, treatment exists to help minimize the effects of a stroke; however, it must be given within the first three hours of the first symptom. So, it is important for people to be able to recognize the symptoms of stroke and seek emergency medical attention. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you learn to act F.A.S.T.
F = Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face drop?
A = Arm Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Ask that person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = Time If you observe any of these signs, then it is time to call emergency services personnel.
Studies show that stroke patients who arrive at the hospital by ambulance receive quicker treatment than those that arrive by their own means. But where are the best hospitals to go for the treatment of stroke? There are numerous hospitals across the country that have been certified as stroke centers and specialize in the treatment of stroke. To find a stroke center in your area, please visit www.stroke.org and clock on the emergency stroke center locations or call 1-800-STROKES.
-Tri-County Health Department
May is National Stroke Awareness Month and the National Stroke Association is urging people to take charge of their health by knowing the signs and symptoms of a stroke, asking their doctors about stroke prevention, and adopting healthy lifestyle habits.
Stroke is one of the most preventable of all life-threatening health problems, provided that you pay proper attention to lifestyle and medical risk factors, such as smoking, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. Furthermore, treatment exists to help minimize the effects of a stroke; however, it must be given within the first three hours of the first symptom. So, it is important for people to be able to recognize the symptoms of stroke and seek emergency medical attention. Recognizing stroke symptoms can be easy if you learn to act F.A.S.T.
F = Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face drop?
A = Arm Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
S = Speech Ask that person to repeat a simple phrase. Does the speech sound slurred or strange?
T = Time If you observe any of these signs, then it is time to call emergency services personnel.
Studies show that stroke patients who arrive at the hospital by ambulance receive quicker treatment than those that arrive by their own means. But where are the best hospitals to go for the treatment of stroke? There are numerous hospitals across the country that have been certified as stroke centers and specialize in the treatment of stroke. To find a stroke center in your area, please visit www.stroke.org and clock on the emergency stroke center locations or call 1-800-STROKES.
-Tri-County Health Department
Spring Planting Notes
Corn Hybrids Will Adjust to Late Planting
Growers are heading into fields planting corn between rain events. Typically, the majority of growers plant corn between April 20 and May 10, that is the target. Those with large acreages plant earlier and those growers whom have smaller acreages have the flexibility to wait till soil planting conditions are ideal.
In the back of many growers’ minds, if planting is delayed, should one choose shorter season hybrids? The answer is no. Hybrids adjust to delayed planting dates and we have seen this at the Graves-Chapple Farm with three years of planting date demonstrations.
As planting date is delayed, the hybrids speed up the time between planting and silking. The plant adjusts especially the longer season hybrids compared to early maturity hybrids.
Corn responds and adjusts to the growing season to compensate for later planting dates.
However, it is wise if weather delays planting, it is important to plant the longest maturity hybrids first. This allows the plants to take advantage of the longest growing season.
Inoculate Soybean Seed When Planting Into CRP
Soybean nitrogen fertilization is not recommended as it generally does not increase soybean yields. The number of nodules that form by Rhizobium on the soybean plants decrease with increasing amounts of nitrogen in the soil. Soybeans will take up a significant amount from the soil if it is available first, and then make their own nitrogen with the use of Rhizobium.
In situations that have not been in soybean production for three to five years, it is important to inoculate the seed so the Rhizobium will make the plants own nitrogen.
Fields that have been in CRP for a number of years and now being planted to soybean should soybean seed inoculated. Also, any other acres that have not been planted in soybeans for last three to five years should also be planted with inoculated seed. Another situation to apply inoculants is low pH soils that have been corrected with a liming application.
Typically in a corn soybean rotation, in Missouri, we do not see any advantage to inoculating soybean seed yearly. When soybeans are planted often, the soils will have a natural level of Rhizobium that will establish on soybeans and allow them to make their own nitrogen.
For more information, contact Wayne Flanary, Regional Agronomist, University of Missouri Extension at 660-446-3724.
Growers are heading into fields planting corn between rain events. Typically, the majority of growers plant corn between April 20 and May 10, that is the target. Those with large acreages plant earlier and those growers whom have smaller acreages have the flexibility to wait till soil planting conditions are ideal.
In the back of many growers’ minds, if planting is delayed, should one choose shorter season hybrids? The answer is no. Hybrids adjust to delayed planting dates and we have seen this at the Graves-Chapple Farm with three years of planting date demonstrations.
As planting date is delayed, the hybrids speed up the time between planting and silking. The plant adjusts especially the longer season hybrids compared to early maturity hybrids.
Corn responds and adjusts to the growing season to compensate for later planting dates.
However, it is wise if weather delays planting, it is important to plant the longest maturity hybrids first. This allows the plants to take advantage of the longest growing season.
Inoculate Soybean Seed When Planting Into CRP
Soybean nitrogen fertilization is not recommended as it generally does not increase soybean yields. The number of nodules that form by Rhizobium on the soybean plants decrease with increasing amounts of nitrogen in the soil. Soybeans will take up a significant amount from the soil if it is available first, and then make their own nitrogen with the use of Rhizobium.
In situations that have not been in soybean production for three to five years, it is important to inoculate the seed so the Rhizobium will make the plants own nitrogen.
Fields that have been in CRP for a number of years and now being planted to soybean should soybean seed inoculated. Also, any other acres that have not been planted in soybeans for last three to five years should also be planted with inoculated seed. Another situation to apply inoculants is low pH soils that have been corrected with a liming application.
Typically in a corn soybean rotation, in Missouri, we do not see any advantage to inoculating soybean seed yearly. When soybeans are planted often, the soils will have a natural level of Rhizobium that will establish on soybeans and allow them to make their own nitrogen.
For more information, contact Wayne Flanary, Regional Agronomist, University of Missouri Extension at 660-446-3724.
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