11 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba

Comment To "Why US Economic Policy Is Paralyzed" On Real Clear Markets

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Featherbedding In US Public Schools: Since 1970, Schools Doubled Teaching Staff While Enrollment Remained Basically Unchanged: In The 40 Years, US Students Show No Improvement In Math, Science Or English Test Scores Or HS Graduation Rates: $210 Billion Per Year Taxed And Spent Unnecessarily On Ineffective Additional Teachers

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Environmental Policy That Slows Growth Is Brown, Not Green

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Hooray For The Ever Increasing US Standard Of Living: The Lower 20 Percent In Income Today Have The Same Inflation Adjusted Income As 1950's Middle Class Families And Better Than The Top 1% In 1790

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Most US Workers Need Cars To Get To Work: Mass Transit Is Not An Option For Most Of The Employed

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9 Temmuz 2012 Pazartesi

Waterloo - Cliff Crofford & Billy Mize

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In this clip multi-instrumentalists and all-around talents Cliff Crofford & Billy Mize perform rollicking, stomping rendition of Waterloo. From 1959, this number is another prime example of the world famous Bakersfield Sound.


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New Orleans, the Crescent City - 1930s newsreel

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Newsreel documentary from the 1920's with photography and animations illustrating old New Orleans, the Crescent City, at work and at play.

Duelling oaks. Influences of colonial France and Spain. Iron grille work. The old townhouses surrounding open courts.

New Orleans, the industrial city, where ports and depot junctions distribute throughout, and out from, the heart of America.

Culture shipped to & from the world.

And, of course, Mardi Gras, Jazz age style.

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DAY OF THE FIGHT.

Coney Island: In Memoriam

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Coney Island, "the place where merriment is king!"

Take a trip back in time 50 years before the Mermaid Parade.

See masses of old school New Yorkers beat the heat by hitting the beach.

See Side Shows! Carnies! Freaks! Thrill rides! Includes the original Coney Island Hot Dog, the Bathing Girl Review, and people getting sick on rides.

Not to mention the Tiger Rag, if 1940's Coney Island existed today an insurance agent would have a field day.

Still, 1940's Coney Island kicks Disneyland's ass any day.

Amazon - Take a trip back to Coney Island here
Get your Freak on & Run away with the circus ...

NOW OPEN: The NEW Weirdo Video BETA
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Thanksgiving Redux: Dining Together - 1950

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This is a story of a holiday and home. Helping make ready a celebration is part of the fun. Especially for one of the nicest days of the year - Thanksgiving. There is happiness in the air, and the smell of turkey. Mmmmm, that does look good. Thanksgiving is a day for the best of everything. And friends invited to dinner. We remember the pilgrims had only rough tables on which to serve the first Thanksgiving feast, yet it was shared with friendy indians. It is good to share a holiday with friends. And it is good to have friends who like to come to our home. Good manners make people happy, and good table manners make eating together a happy time. We are thankful for our home and our happy meal. We are glad we have good table manners and know what to do with a napkin, how to use a spoon in eating soup easily, without noise. It just wouldn't be Thanksgiving without turkey. We know mother knows how to cook it, and father knows how to carve it. It is fine to sit-up and watch it being carved. You would know this is a holiday plate. At the first Thanksgiving dinner the indians didn't eat turkey with a fork, but it is easy to learn to use one the right way to take small mouthfuls. And how to butter and eat bread in small bites so we never have to talk with food in our mouth. It is good to have learned to chew with lips closed and know when to take a drink. Good table manners keep our meals happy meals and those who eat with us happy. Learning to use a knife the right way takes practice, yet each time we do it becomes easier. What to do with a knife and fork even when finished using them is part of eating well. Holidays are days to be glad, and all good manners are ways to make people glad. We like to offer help, or to help when asked. It is nice to talk with others, and to know when to wait and listen. We are glad to eat neatly without ... [?] Holidays are fun. And it is good to be part of a celebration, it is fine to have learned so much, and to have so much in hour home to make holiday celebrations happy. Now could you wish for more? The End.



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WEIRDO VIDEO has MOVED!

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Weirdo Video is changing it's online location.

Please visit us at our new landing spot, www.weirdovideo.com.

*Although Weirdo Video has moved, most video's posted at our Blogger location will still be accessible into the near future. However, to view our latest vintage films, stay up-to-date at our new and improved site, with more features and a finer experience, at www.weirdovideo.com.

And thank you for your support,

Roland Faust,
Sr. Archivist,
Weirdo Video
weirdovideo.com

8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar

Stand Your Ground Laws Increase Homicide Deaths By Firearms Of Whites But Not Blacks

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From NBER Working Paper Series, "Stand Your Ground Laws And Homicides" by Chandler B Mcclellan, Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University and Erdal Tekin, Department of Economics, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University, Working Paper 18187, June 2012:
We find that the SYG [Stand Your Ground] laws increase firearm related homicides among whites, especially white males. Our results indicate that between 4.4 and 7.4 additional white males are killed each month as a result of these laws. We find no evidence to indicate that these laws cause an increase in homicides among blacks. Our results are robust to a number of specifications and unlikely to be driven entirely by the killings of assailants. These findings raise serious doubts about the claim that SYG laws make America safer
.

South Korea's Low Female Workforce Participation Rate Hurting Future Economic Growth

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From Bloomberg, "South Korea Shuns Moms At Peril A Workforce Shrinks" by Eunkyung Seo:
The failure of South Korea, one of the world’s fastest- aging societies, to tackle a shrinking labor pool threatens to undermine growth and lessen the nation’s odds of producing the next Samsung Electronics Co. or Hyundai Motor Co. Only half of women aged 15 years or older were working last year and the participation of females with higher education is the lowest among the 34 members of the Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development.

"The choice for women between a job and family is still stark," said Kim Tae Hong, research director at the state-run Korea Women’s Development Institute in Seoul. "Policies alone can’t change the people’s long-held belief that mom is fully responsible for child care."

South Korea’s working-age population will begin to contract by 2016, curbing growth by as much as 1.7 percentage points to 2.5 percent by 2050, Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc said in a June 13 report.

Getting mothers back into the workforce would help offset the declines, RBS said. If South Korea could reach the same level as the U.K. in employing women, potential growth and GDP per capita growth could be boosted by 0.3 percentage points by 2050, the bank said.

25 Percent Of Teens Electronically Sent (Sext) A Nude Photo Of Themselves

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From Bloomberg, "Nude Photo ‘Sexts’ Sent By One In Four Teens, Study Finds" by Jeanna Smialek
More than a quarter of American teenagers sent nude photos of themselves electronically, and those who engaged in ‘sexting’ were almost twice as likely as their peers to have had sex, researchers found.

About half of almost 1,000 students ages 14 to 19 from seven public high schools in Texas said they had been asked to send a naked photo electronically, according to a study published today in the Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. Another third reported asking someone else to send them a nude picture.
***
More boys asked for a ‘sext,’ though the same percentage of boys and girls had sent one, according to the study.
Possession of a nude photo of a minor can be considered possession of child pornography and a criminal offense under federal and state laws.

Clean Water Act Has Been Ineffective In Improving Water Quality In Fresh Water Lakes: Water Today At Same Quality As In 1975

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From the abstract to "Has Surface Water Quality Improved Since the Clean Water Act?" by V. Kerry Smith and Carlos Valcarcel Wolloh, NBER Working Paper No. 18192, June 2012:
On the fortieth anniversary of the Clean Water Act this paper reports the first quantitative assessment of the aggregate trends in water quality in the U.S. using a single standard over the years 1975 to 2011. The analysis suggests that fresh water lakes for the nation as a whole are about at the same quality levels as they were in 1975. In short, viewed in the aggregate, nothing has changed.

Small Percentage Of Medicare Patients, Often The Young On Disability, Account For Most Of Costs

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From The Wall Street Journal "The Crushing Cost of Care: A small percentage of challenging cases, often at the end of life, make up the great bulk of Medicare spending on hospital care. Are we anywhere close to containing the costs?" by Janet Adamy and Tom McGinty:
In 2009, the top 10% of Medicare beneficiaries who received hospital care accounted for 64% of the program's hospital spending, the Journal's analysis found.
***
Notably, the costliest patients aren't necessarily the oldest, even though Medicare mainly cares for people 65 or older. Of the top 10 costliest people on Medicare in 2009, eight were on disability, including Mr. Crawford. Disability is the main way people under 65 qualify for Medicare.

See my April 22, 2011 post, "Small Percentage Of Medicare Beneficiaries Account For Most Of Its Costs: Maybe Medicare Needs To Be Split Into Two."

7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi

Steak Recipes - Cooking Tips for the Best Steak Dishes

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Though it is generally agreed that steak is a meal that is highly nutritious and delicious, different people want their steaks prepared in different ways. Some may want it fried; others may want it grilled, while others may want it broiled. Whichever method of cooking you prefer, you can always make the best steak dishes if you have the right meat and know how to grill steak or cook steak properly.

There are various beef cuts that you can use to make different steak recipes. There are actually many beef grades that you can use for cooking the best steak dishes. The beef can be graded depending on what the cow was fed on. The first step is thus choosing the beef that you prefer most. Some of the choices include filet, scotch filet, rump, porterhouse and T-bone. The grading of the beef is, in most cases, dependent on the maturity and the marbling of the meat.

Which one is better, the grass fed or the grain fed cow? People differ on which one is superior to the other. On the one hand, expert opinion tends to show that the beef from grass fed cows is the healthiest, as grass is the most natural and recommended food for the cow. On the other hand, the meat of a cow that is fed on grains has more flavor and marbling. Based on these facts, it is up to you to choose the beef from grain fed or grass fed beef, based on your preferences and interests.

The maturity of meat is yet another important thing to consider. It is recommended that you buy meat from a butcher that hangs his meat for a long period of time. The meat should most preferably be hung in a meat locker for about 27 days before it is carved. The long period of hanging helps tenderize the meat because the tissues and muscles become relaxed and fluids drain out.

Porterhouse and rump steak cuts are firmer. The rump is chewier compared to all other steaks. These steaks have a fat strip and it is this fat that helps tenderize and flavor the steak during the cooking process. Scotch filet is well marbled with fat and because of this marbling it is tender and delicious. If you need the tenderest beef, you should choose filet, but you need to season it in order to give it the desired flavor. The T-bone steak has both porterhouse and filet on either side of the bone.

The Best Tips for Steak Recipes

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It is no secret that any pictures showing succulent and delicious ready cooked and ready to eat steak cuts drive many people to the point of wanting to learn how to cook steak. Regardless of the motivation or factor responsible for making someone learn these skills, the truth is that steak is one of the most popular types of meat, or food in general, in the world.

Salting your steaks is one of the best tips for steak recipes. While some people advise that steak should be salted for one hour before grilling, others advise for this important process to be carried out just before the grilling starts. Whichever option sits well with you, the important fact that should not be missed here is that salting should be mandatory. This should be done generously, rather than be sprinkled on the meat.

In order to create the best steak recipes, it is important to use dry heat which burns the outside of the meat just slightly, causing it to brown and create a sort of complex yet appealing flavor. When placed on a heated surface, such as a grill or barbecue, the steak loses its water through evaporation while any juice inherent in the meat gets concentrated in one location. This process is what creates the attractive and appealing browning associated with grilled steak.

The best steaks are prime cuts, which are followed by choice cuts. These are the types of cuts to look for, but only if you can afford it and if these steaks are available. Their texture should be fine and feel firm. Their color should be red. You could go for deep red steaks but there will be a slight difference in taste to the lighter colored ones

When you use recipes for grilled steaks, you will see that they should be removed from the fridge at least one hour before grilling. Once you start grilling, each side should be grilled at least once for between three and four minutes. The inside of the grill should always be coated with some oil from a spray bottle to prevent the meat from sticking to the grill. It is always important to let the steak rest for a few minutes before serving them, in order for the internal juice to settle and create a juicy steak.

How To Prepare Your New York Strip Steak For Grilling

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New York strip steak is the most popular steak in America for a number of reasons. The reason why this kind of steak is so popular is because it is greatly marbled, tender, very juicy and full of flavor. The strip steak comes from a part of the animal muscle that does very little work and this is the main reason why this steak is so tender. It is also a good option if you are not looking to spend a fortune for Kobe steaks. Another great thing about this meat is the fact that you can purchase New York strip steak online.

Kobe steaks are no doubt great steaks, but the New York strip steak also makes for a good alternative. Once you buy your New York strip steak online, you need to know how to prepare it properly so that you can enjoy the best that the steak has to offer. New York strip steak is boneless, making it much better for grilling. Here are a few pointers to help you grill your New York strip steak and get the most out of it.

The best part about purchasing your New York strip steak online is that you are guaranteed fresh meat. Before you can start grilling, you need to make sure that the meat is at room temperature. This procedure is actually the same for Kobe steaks as well as other prime cuts of meat. This is very important, especially if you want to get the best out of this cut of meat. Secondly, you need to trim the fat so that it is no more than an inch thick.

Next, you need to bush the steak lightly with good olive oil, making sure that you do not put on too much, or else it will flare up on the grill. At this point, you should sprinkle each side of the steak with salt and black pepper. Again, this is not much different from how you would deal with Kobe steaks before grilling.

Before you can place the steak on to your grill, you need to make sure that you oil the grate to ensure that it is preheated to the highest temperature. Next, you want to put the steak on the grill for three minutes on either side. After this, you should cook the meat for 12 minutes; and be careful when turning the meat. Rather than slide it across the grill, use tongs to pick up the meat and flip it over.

Carefully check for the desired wellness of your steak. When you are satisfied with the result, take the meat off the grill and serve it while it is still hot. You and your friends would find that New York strip steaks are great and make for a mouth watering treat.

Finding the Best T-bone Steak Online

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Buying T-bone steak online is a great idea, as you are assured that you will be getting some good quality steaks that are perfect for grilling. There is a lot that goes into choosing your prime cut of beef, so you need to check for the United Stated Department of Agriculture rating before you purchase steaks online. Buying your T-bone steak online also means that you can choose from different meat dealers as well as check their prices to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

The best way to find your T-bone steak online is to go for cattle that have been bred strictly for beef consumption. This information should be made available to you by your meat supplier; and is a great measure of how good the steak is going to be once it is grilled. Additionally, you need to investigate further into the background of the cattle before you purchase steaks online. Here, you need to look at whether the cattle have been fed corn as part of their daily diet. Good beef is usually fed with corn; and this a great way to find out whether it is the best cut of beef.

Additionally, you need to check when the beef was slaughtered while looking for your perfect T-bone steak online. Here, a good age usually is between 18 months and two years; this time frame usually gives you a great T-bone steak that you are going to love.

When looking at the USDA rating for your T-bone steak, you need to ensure that it is a prime cut. The prime cut is pricy, but if you are looking for the best and do not mind forking out more to get a great piece of steak, then prime cut is the way to go. Another good option is the choice cut; and it is another one you are definitely going to love. It is much cheaper than the prime cut but is still very good.

Additionally when looking for your perfect T-bone steak online, you need to ensure that the meat company adheres to the standards set for raising cattle for beef. This means that you will not only be getting a great cut of beef, but it is also safe for you to consume it without worrying about any complications. All of these are great tips that will ensure that you find the perfect T-bone steak online.

Kobe Steaks Taste Great And Are Good For Your Health

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If you love to eat steak but are worried about health risks, there is a great choice for you, try eating Kobe steaks. These steaks not only taste great but are also beneficial for your health. This means that you can enjoy some great flavor and still reap the great health benefits that you usually do not get from regular beef. This is a good alternative if you are tired of the normal steaks you purchase, such as the New York strip steak online.

Wagyu beef is world renowned for its quality meat and has become synonymous with Kobe beef. Kobe steaks are great tasting and have also been seen to reduce the risk of getting certain health problems and diseases. This is a healthier choice than the New York strip steak, and tastes great as well.

When it comes to Kobe steaks, the prime grade is the highest quality that you can get. This kind of beef has been seen to provide the human body with the energy to perform the tasks of everyday life, as well as protect the heart from various diseases, in addition to keeping it healthy.

Kobe beef is marbled and this greatly increases the flavor of the meat. Additionally, the meat is also very tender, which means you can cut it anyway you like and cook it in a variety of styles, depending on your preferences. It also has a high level of minerals, vitamins and proteins, which are great for keeping the body healthy and protecting it from disease. Although you would have to pay more than the traditional New York strip steaks online, you can see that you are paying for better quality and more health benefits.

The main reason why Kobe steaks have such great flavor and are so delicious is because of the marbling of the meat. It is also advisable to eat Kobe steaks in addition to the milk from Wagyu cattle which, in combination, have some really great health benefits for you to enjoy.

Kobe steaks are great for boosting the immune system and can help the body to fight various diseases that we might be prone to. This means that people who love meat no longer have to worry about staying away from it for health reasons. Kobe steaks are great for any barbeque and are a healthy treat for your family and friends. So make a change from the traditional New York strip steaks online and go for something different that you are really going to love.

There is no denying that Kobe beef has made a huge impact around the world. Kobe steaks are widely considered to be a gourmet food; and for those that have a taste for the finer things in life, it is a great choice. For anyone looking for a unique culinary experience that is beneficial to the health, Kobe steaks are the way to go.

5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe

More Cleveland area residents are turning to the Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland for support in difficult times

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The Plain Dealer Reports, “The [Hunger] Network casts a wider net these days”, distributing emergency food to 60,000 people throughout Cuyahoga County each month. Children make up almost half of the population served.

The article tells the story of Nisa Park-Bey who was employed as a manager, until two heart attacks left her disabled, as she simultaneously became legal guardian to her nieces. Park-Bey says of the Hunger Network “They help me in so many ways, they give me good, have gotten me a refrigerator and helped me get coats for the kids”.

Michelle Wohlfeiler, Director of special events and marketing coordinator for the Hunger Network described the population the network serves; “There are the chronically poor and people who are disabled, and seniors who can’t get by, but increasingly, we are seeing the unemployed and underpaid who need us for a shorter period, just to get through the difficult times”.

To read the entire article click here: http://www.cleveland.com/holidays/blog/index.ssf/2011/12/holiday_spirit_agencies_that_d.html

Gas Prices likely to rise until spring 2012

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posted January 18, 2012

As the year kicks off, the corporate office of gas station companies are determining prices. Large jumps of 20 to 25 cents will be likely instead of a series of small, continuous increases.

Due to reduced inventories, rising wholesale prices, and political tension in the Strait of Hormuz, global markets are seeing increases in the price of gasoline. Approximately one-third of the oil sent to the United States passes through the Strait of Hormuz. Any rise in the cost of gas would impact the transportation costs associated with delivering food to supermarkets and hunger centers.

Read more here.

Difficult Economic Times Increases Demand and Prices for Staple Grocery Items

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Posted: Wednesday, February 22, 2012


A recent USDA report shows the prices for traditional food items such as ground beef, turkey, and eggs have increased a staggering 10%. Simultaneously, Cleveland families are struggling to cut expenses by purchasing cheaper fare and stretch their dollar due to high unemployment, medical and utility bills as well as increasing gas prices. The USDA's Economic Research Services reports that the reason staple grocery items went up so quickly was because of increasing demand caused by "high unemployment, low wages, and other economic pressures [that] have pushed many consumers to save money by eating at home". Unfortunately, given the circumstances we have seen a less drastic increase in demand for expensive grocery items such as steaks and fish relative to the rapid increase in demand for milk, apples and potatoes. Restaurants are also bearing the weight of increase in food costs and a sluggish consumer economy. Most restaurants are making cuts in other areas such as labor, overhead and other expenses to avoid "passing along their cost increase to consumers" thus making them less competitive.

Read the Full Article here:

One in five Americans are unable to buy food for family in 2011

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Posted: Monday February 27, 2012
According to data recently released from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) million struggled with hunger throughout the 2011 year. The survey asked "have there been times in the past twelve months when you did not have enough money to buy food that you or your family needed?" to which one in five [18.6%] Americans answered 'yes'
FRAC President Jim Weill attributes the high rates to "continuing high unemployment and underemployment, flat food stamp benefit allotments and inflated food prices which caused food stamp beneficiaries to lose more than six percent of their food purchasing power"
On February 28, 2012- 700 anti-hunger advocates will gather in Washington D.C. for the National Anti-Hunger Policy Conference on Capitol Hill in order to share data with lawmakers in an effort to demonstrate the broad support for the federal nutrition program and for a stronger role by government in ending hunger. The conference seeks to persuade officials not to support budget cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program i.e. food stamps) benefits that would put children and adults at right for poor nutrition.
Read the FRAC article HERE

After 30 Years, Ethanol's Federal Tax Credit Expires

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Posted: Monday, April 23, 2012

For the last 30 years, The U.S. Federal government has been subsidizing the use of Ethanol, which is mostly produced from corn. Since the tax credits' expiration earlier this year, the issue of renewing the federal subsidy has been difficult for candidates seeking office throughout the Midwest. The Ethanol subsidy, "In the last year, when Congress was preoccupied with deficits and debt, became a symbol of corporate welfare."

Currently, almost 40% of the nation's corn crop contributes to the creation of Ethanol and related products, including animal feed. Over the last 30 years, more than $20 billion in subsidies have been provided to encourage the use of the product. Generally, proponents of the Ethanol tax break accepted the expiration of the tax credit without a big battle. However, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and a leading advocate for the Ethanol subsidy noted that Ethanol is used to reduced retail gasoline prices for America and reliance on foreign oil.

"The end of this giant subsidy is a win for taxpayers, the environment and people struggling to put food on the table" said Michal L. Rosenoer, a policy analyst from Friends of the Earth "Production of ethanol, with its use of pesticides and fertilizers and heavy industrial machinery, causes soil erosion and air and water pollution. And it means that less land is available for growing food, so food prices go up"

Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said; "with record deficits and a ballooning national debt, it was ludicrous to expect taxpayers to pay billions to prop up a mature industry that should be able to fend for itself."

Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/energy-environment/after-three-d
ecades-federal-tax-credit-for-ethanol-expires.html 

4 Temmuz 2012 Çarşamba

New study: 1.46 million are living on less then $2 per day

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Posted: Monday, March 5, 2012
In a new study from researchers at the University of Michigan and Harvard University, "the number of families living on $2 or less per person per day for at least a month in the U.S. has more than doubled in 15 years to 1.46 million" people.
Last year, state and federal governments spent $900 billion on 70 different programs that help those in need, from energy assistance and college grants to health care and food stamps. According to a researcher at the Heritage Foundation, most of the aid provided to the poor comes in the form of non-cash assistance. "Because the study shows households in extreme poverty for a month, it is more reflective of people losing jobs, getting divorces or having short-term crises"
Read the full article here: http://www.usatoday.com/NEWS/usaedition/2012-02-24-extreme-poverty_ST_U.htm

Historical Food Timeline

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Posted: Wednesday March 7, 2012
Foodtimeline.org provides an interesting historical overview and timeline that transitions from origins of U.S. food moving throughout history up to current U.S. food trends and popularity. The website allows users to connect with various cited sources and resources for perspective into the American food history. For those looking to sample a recipe from the Colonial era, timeline users can visit the Food Timeline's 17th and 18th century American foodway's page available here: http://foodtimeline.org/foodpioneer.html
This site is a fantastic source for all historical 'Foodies' - explore the home page where the timeline carefully documents the progression of food, its origins and popularity throughout history.
View the website here: http://foodtimeline.org/

Food Company Owner Pleas Guilty in Tomato Price-Fixing Scam

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Posted: Wednesday, March 28, 2012
In California, a food company owner pled guilty to racketeering in a tomato price-fixing scam that authorities believe had driven up the cost of tomato and tomato products to people across the United States. Charged with bribing purchasing managers at large food companies such as Kraft Foods and Frito Lay, Frederick Scott Salyer and his co-conspirators rigged bids and fixed prices for the sale of tomato products. Salyer's plea agreement to the two chargers of racketeering and price fixing lands him in jail for four to seven years.
Source: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/03/24/2080271/tomato-price-fixer-left-wit

h-egg.html

Kobe Beef Food Fraud

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Posted: Monday, April 23, 2012

Many restaurants across the country feature dishes with Kobe beef - a delicacy, renowned for its flavor, tenderness and fatty well-marbled texture - on their menus. However, if you are eating Kobe beef in the United States, it is likely that it is not real Kobe Beef.

Real Kobe beef comes from a breed of cow known as Tajima which has to be slaughtered in Japan's Hyogo prefecture. Yet, the slaughter houses that produce real Kobe beef in Hyogo have not been approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for export their products. Authentic Japanese Kobe Beef is not available for sale anywhere outside of Japan, with the only exception of Macau.

Real the whole article here: http://www.npr.org/2012/04/22/151153503/fake-food-thats-not-kobe-beef-youre-
eating 

After 30 Years, Ethanol's Federal Tax Credit Expires

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Posted: Monday, April 23, 2012

For the last 30 years, The U.S. Federal government has been subsidizing the use of Ethanol, which is mostly produced from corn. Since the tax credits' expiration earlier this year, the issue of renewing the federal subsidy has been difficult for candidates seeking office throughout the Midwest. The Ethanol subsidy, "In the last year, when Congress was preoccupied with deficits and debt, became a symbol of corporate welfare."

Currently, almost 40% of the nation's corn crop contributes to the creation of Ethanol and related products, including animal feed. Over the last 30 years, more than $20 billion in subsidies have been provided to encourage the use of the product. Generally, proponents of the Ethanol tax break accepted the expiration of the tax credit without a big battle. However, Senator Charles E. Grassley, Republican of Iowa and a leading advocate for the Ethanol subsidy noted that Ethanol is used to reduced retail gasoline prices for America and reliance on foreign oil.

"The end of this giant subsidy is a win for taxpayers, the environment and people struggling to put food on the table" said Michal L. Rosenoer, a policy analyst from Friends of the Earth "Production of ethanol, with its use of pesticides and fertilizers and heavy industrial machinery, causes soil erosion and air and water pollution. And it means that less land is available for growing food, so food prices go up"

Representative Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona, said; "with record deficits and a ballooning national debt, it was ludicrous to expect taxpayers to pay billions to prop up a mature industry that should be able to fend for itself."

Read the full article here: https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/02/business/energy-environment/after-three-d
ecades-federal-tax-credit-for-ethanol-expires.html