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I'm not sure the big elections this week told us much we didn't
already know. The two takeaway lessons have been long understood by both
sides of the aisle – it’s the economy, stupid; and divided you fail.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Contrary to popular opinion, the latest election results put more
pressure on enacting health care and climate change, not less. Talk to
anyone in the progressive movement and it’s understood that this is a
once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They must address these issues now or
the window of opportunity might close.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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I've always thought the Ron Pauls and Glen Becks of the world were a
little out there, kind of a version of Wayne Pacelle but from the other
side of the equation. However, when you actually read the
proposals/treaty to be discussed at the climate change summit in Denmark
next month, you have to wonder if their conspiracy mindset isn't based
in reality.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Troy Marshall
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Last week, I talked about how China had become the No.-1 obstacle to
what I call the Denmark accords (“China To The Rescue On Global
Warming”). My point was that China is simply unwilling to give up on
its economic growth at this time. But another strange coupling that is
emerging to stop the attack on modern agriculture and free markets is
found in Bill Gates and some developing countries.
Bill Gates and his Gates Foundation have committed over $1 billion to
finance ag research, with the belief that modern ag represents the
solution to feeding our planet and preventing harm to our environment.
Gates has used his celebrity and power as the world's richest man to
strongly advocate for reason as it relates to eliminating hunger in the
face of a growing world population.
Meanwhile, it was widely assumed that developing countries would support
the solutions that will be proposed in places like next month’s
climate change meeting in Denmark because they include such massive
transfers of wealth to their nations. Certainly money talks, but these
developing countries stand to experience the bulk of the anticipated
growth in world population. And they’re increasingly becoming aware
that this frontal attack on modern agriculture would actually work
against the environmental and economic sustainability they sorely need.
The developed world, through guilt or an urge to be politically correct,
may forsake prosperity for more intrinsic values. But for the developing
world, economic prosperity and the ability to feed its people are making
them question whether the short-term payouts justify the long-term
negative consequences.
-- Troy Marshall
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Daniel Boone had it right, elbow room is pretty dang nice. I know my
wife will cringe at this analogy, but Chris LeDoux sings about a rancher
who moves into town and longs for the wide open spaces of the ranch. A
verse in the song laments how he can no longer relieve himself off his
back porch.
It’s a long way from being poetic, but it concisely points up perhaps
one of the many things we take for granted living in rural America.
As I drove in to visit a friend/rancher this week, I didn't think twice
about the river bottoms I passed, the deer I spooked up along the road,
or the fact that when I got out I could have yelled at the top of my
lungs without disturbing a neighbor.
I did, however, notice the new roping arena down in this scenic valley.
It was a big pen, nearly 300 ft. long and 180 ft. wide. The white
continuous fence just glistened and the arena sand had been freshly
worked. It was downright pretty.
Roping is more than a hobby, it’s a passion. I didn't think anything
when he mentioned how he calves cows a mile south of the headquarters or
offered to show me his herd bulls in a pasture just three miles from the
house.
Nothing dawned on me until I was driving to a meeting later in Denver
and sitting in traffic on a three-lane interstate. Off to my left was a
housing development that literally stacked house upon house, while a
sign trumpeted starting prices as low as $290,000. Eight houses and a
little grassy area they called a park didn't take up as much space as my
friend’s roping arena!
While being able to relieve yourself off your back porch without having
to worry about neighbors, having the luxury of looking up in a night sky
to see millions of stars, or creating a full-size basketball court for
your kids in your Quonset might not pay a lot of bills, it sure does
make life more agreeable.
-- Troy Marshall
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Col. Mike Grimes, head of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture's
Investigative Services division, is reminding Oklahomans that state law
requires anyone who finds stray livestock to notify the county sheriff's
department within seven days. Waiting longer than that could result in
being charged with larceny.
"The law is very clear that anyone who finds livestock is responsible
for contacting the sheriff's office," he says. "They can claim
reimbursement for the cost of caring for the animals but they can’t
keep or sell the animals. That would amount to theft and could result in
charges being filed."
Several instances have been noted recently of people improperly
concealing or selling livestock that didn’t belong to them, Grimes
says. At least three of these cases have resulted in charges being
filed.
"The maximum penalty is seven years in the state penitentiary," he
notes. "The bottom line is that if you find stray livestock, don't try
to keep it or sell it. Be safe and report it right away."
-- Ron Hays, Radio Oklahoma Network
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Longhorns and Florida ranches make up the fare of two 2010 calendars
now available. The 2010 Texas Longhorn Celebrity Calendar features
colorful ranch scenes and portraits of prominent Longhorns, while the
2010 Florida Ranches Calendar offers a photographic tribute to the
natural and cultural beauty of Florida’s oldest industry.
The 2010 Texas Longhorn Celebrity Calendar features 16 photos selected
from ranches in Indiana, Mississippi, Florida, Ohio, Texas, South
Carolina, Colorado, Missouri and Oklahoma. Internationally famous cattle
such as Heavy Hitter, Tom Jones, Jamakizm, Super Fast, Gun Smoke, Bubba,
and Rebel elegantly decorate each calendar month.
Published for 31 years, the $12 calendar features a 13-by-20-in. wall
size and its photos are suitable for framing. Order by writing to Texas
Longhorn Celebrity Calendar, 35000 Muskrat, Barnesville, OH 43713.
Meanwhile, the 2010 Florida Ranches Calendar captures a unique look at
the generations of environmental stewardship that have occurred on the
featured cattle ranches and the critical role they play in honoring and
preserving Florida’s agricultural and cultural heritage. Among the
featured ranches are the Deseret Ranch, Seminole Tribe’s Brighton and
Big Cypress Reservations, Treasure Hammock Ranch, Thomas’ Two Rivers
Ranch, Clay Ranch, Platt Ranch, Kanapaha Prairie, Faithful W Ranch,
Cedar Hill Ranch, Ward Ranch and Lightsey Ranch.
Featured is the photography of Carlton Ward Jr., Robert Stone and Bob
Montanaro, along with informational articles about historic cracker
traditions, current conservation planning efforts and agricultural
initiatives.
For more info on the calendars ($15 each), call 772-287-5272, email
info@fireflyforyou.com or
visit www.fireflyforyou.com.
-- News releases
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“If the beef industry is looking for more ways to unify, unifying
behind a beef quality assistance (BQA) program that has a very specific
humane handling component will go a long way,” says Dave Weaber,
economic analyst with Food Lion grocery stores. “Food safety, humane
handling, those kinds of things, those aren’t value-added components
of our product. Those are expectations that consumers have every
day.”
Weaber, who grew up on a ranch in Southern Colorado, says because the
beef businesses is segmented, it’s more challenging to implement a
top-to-bottom BQA program. But it’s necessary.
“It’s a lot easier in the pork segment because they’re more
integrated,” he says. “But 100% of our pork products come from
vendors that are 100% compliant with BQA plus, which has the animal
handling and transportation component. If we could say that on the beef
side, we would have a lot more ability to sell that to our customers. I
think there’s some value in that.”
Weaber relates it to a whole-herd vaccination program. “It gives us a
perimeter of defense against HSUS and other activists who are trying to
pick off the parts of us that are the weak parts. A self police force is
really the only defense mechanism we’ve got,” he says.
-- Burt Rutherford
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The severity of problems in ag credit markets will depend primarily
on three factors: How soon net farm income rebounds, what happens to
land values, and how soon and how much interest rates increase.
That’s the learned opinion of Danny Klinefelter, AgriLife Extension ag
economist. “Net farm income is forecast to be $54 billion this year,
$33.1 billion lower than in 2008, he says. “Another year of net farm
income below $60 billion would make the ag credit situation markedly
more difficult. Land price declines of less than 10% should be
manageable and not have significant impacts on credit markets. A decline
of 20% would cause some problems in specific areas while a decline of
30% or more would be a BIG deal because virtually all ag loans are
secured by real estate.”
Klinefelter doesn’t see any significant increases for interest rates
in the next two years but does believe they could rise in 2012 and
beyond depending on the speed of recovery in the economy and the rate of
productivity growth during any recovery.
A few other points:
- If 2008 has taught us anything, it is that the “tails” of
the distributions of possible economic/financial outcomes are larger
than normal distributions would suggest. That means that risk models,
including those used by ratings services such as Moody’s and Dunn and
Bradstreet, grossly underestimated the probability of these extreme
events and thus underestimated the true risk embodied in financial
instruments.
- Macroeconomics is just as important as microeconomics for the
health of the ag sector. Ag economists and analysts have traditionally
been able to take a relatively narrow view and make correct inferences
about markets. But macro factors such as exchange rates, unemployment,
yield curves and global economic indicators are much more important now.
- Traditional indicators of the ag sector’s financial health may not
be the best, especially in terms of timing. As evidence, Klinefelter
says that debt:asset ratio for U.S. ag has long been a major barometer
used by farm policy and credit analysts. But it didn’t warn of the
1980s farm crisis until 1982 at the earliest.
The debt:income ratio, however, pointed to problems in U.S. ag as early
as 1976 when the ratio first went above 4. The spike to over 10 came in
1980 – two full years before the debt:asset ratio sounded an alarm.
The reason, of course, is that income levels change more quickly than do
asset valuations. Note that the debt:income ratio is forecast to grow
sharply in 2009 while the debt:asset ratio is forecast to decline. Is
this an early warning of looming difficulties?
- The current situation will change the way ag lenders do business.
Interest rate spreads will grow in response to higher risk levels.
Higher risk premiums will be charged and lenders will place much higher
emphasis on producers’ risk management skills.
To see Klinefleter’s presentation, go to accordent.powerstream.net
-- CME Group Daily Livestock Report
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Rain in the fall usually is welcomed despite the delays it causes
with crop harvest. Pastures and alfalfa benefit from extra growth and
winterizing capabilities, while wheat and other small grains get well
established as do any new fields of alfalfa or pasture. And the reserve
moisture stored in the soil will get good use during next year’s
growing season.
But rain also reduces the feed value of corn stalks in fields already
combined, and even on standing stalks, says Bruce Anderson, University
of Nebraska Extension forage specialist. He says rain reduces corn stalk
quality several ways. Most easily noticed is how fast stalks get soiled
or trampled into the ground when fields are muddy.
But less noticeable are the nutritional changes. Heavy rain soaks into
dry corn stalk residue and leaches out some of the soluble nutrients.
Most serious is the loss of sugars and other energy-dense nutrients,
which lowers the total digestible nutrients (TDN) or energy value of the
stalks. These same nutrients also disappear if stalks begin to mold or
rot in the field or especially in the bale. Then palatability and intake
also decline.
While there’s little you can do to prevent these losses, producers can
help alleviate the effects by beginning to supplement a little earlier
than usual.
“Since weathering by rain reduces TDN more than it reduces protein,
consider the energy value of your supplements as well as protein
content,” Anderson says. “Weathered corn stalks still are economical
feeds. Just supplement them accordingly.”
-- Bruce Anderson, University of Nebraska
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Brazil’s upper house has approved a bill that will enforce a
simpler and more affordable, but compulsory, cattle traceability system
within two years, meatradenewsdaily.com reports. Brazil’s
current voluntary SISBOV system is considered to be bureaucratic and not
profitable, given its high costs and low price mark-ups over non-traced
cattle. However, the bill does not eliminate or replace SISBOV, as it
will remain as one of the ID options.
According to Brazilian authorities, the new system isn’t aimed at
opening new markets, but providing a safety assurance system throughout
the animal’s life stages for the whole Brazilian herd, through to the
final product supply chain.
All animals will need to carry property ID via a burn mark, tattoo,
electronic ID or other voluntary system. And all agents involved in the
cattle supply chain will be responsible for maintaining records of
cattle transaction and invoices for a period of five years. In addition,
other documents, such as Animal Transit Records and sanitary inspection
records, will be required as proof of traceability.
Producers will have a period of two years to adopt the new rules, after
which all producers and meatpackers will only be able to purchase cattle
with the appropriate identification, the article says.
-- Muriel Elizabeth Hayes
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The Meat Industry Hall of Fame, a permanent repository for the
accomplishments of the meat, poultry and livestock industries’ leading
figures and epic events, has inducted its 21 initial members. The
charter members and their affiliations include:
- Dell Allen, Kansas State University and Cargill Meat Solutions.
- Donald L. Houston, USDA.
- Donald Tyson, Tyson Foods.
- Earl Olson, Jennie-O Turkey Co.
- Frank Perdue, Perdue Farms.
- Gary C. Smith, Colorado State University.
- H. Russell Cross, Texas A&M University.
- Jimmy Dean, Founder, Jimmy Dean Sausage Co.
- Joseph Luter III, Smithfield Foods.
- Kenneth W. Monfort, Monfort Inc.
- Lawrence Starr, Koch Equipment LLC.
- Louis “Mick” Colvin, Certified Angus Beef.
- Mel Coleman, Sr., Coleman Natural Meats.
- Paul Engler, Founder, Cactus Feeders.
- Phillip M. Seng, U.S. Meat Export Federation.
- Ray Townsend, Townsend Engineering.
- Richard L. Knowlton, Hormel Foods.
- Richard E. Lyng, USDA and American Meat Institute.
- Rosemary Mucklow, National Meat Association.
- Robert Peterson, IBP Inc.
- Temple Grandin, Colorado State University.
For full bios on the inductees, go to www.meatindustryhalloffame.org.
-- Meat Industry Hall Of Fame release
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The registration deadline for the Dec. 4-5 National Beef Cattle
Evaluation Consortium (NBCEC) is drawing near. Pre-registration for the
NBCEC’s Symposium on Genetics of Reproduction set for the Denver
Airport Marriott is Thursday, Nov. 12.
The meeting will address topics in the prediction of genetic merit of
animals for reproductive performance traits. Topics focus on alternative
phenotypic measures of reproduction, the economics of reproduction,
genetic evaluations and projects designed to develop DNA marker tests
for reproductive traits.
The registration fee of $300 includes lunch and dinner on Friday, all
breaks and meeting materials. For more information, call Susan Herbert
at 607-255-4416 or shh4@cornell.edu, or visit
www.nbcec.org/workshops/genetic_repro.html.
-- Susan Herbert, Cornell University
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Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved Issue 2, a ballot measure to
amend the state constitution and create a livestock care standards
board. The constitutional amendment will create a state Livestock Care
Standards Board, a 13-member board of farmers, veterinarians and ag
industry leaders that will create and implement livestock care
guidelines.
John Lumpe, president of the Ohioans for Livestock Care Political Action
Committee (PAC), says: "Passage of Issue 2 is a win for everyone who
acknowledges the essential relationship between excellent farm animal
care and a safe, affordable, locally grown food supply. Voters agree
with Ohio's farm community and our diverse base of supporters –
decisions about food and farming should be made in Ohio, by Ohioans.”
The Humane Society of the U.S. (HSUS) had hoped to create livestock care
standards in Ohio like those negotiated earlier in Colorado and
Michigan. Specifically, HSUS wanted to ban the use of poultry cages,
veal crates and gestation stalls in the Buckeye State, and threatened to
go to legislators with a 2010 ballot initiative if Ohio ag groups chose
not to work with them.
Instead, Ohio ag leaders pushed a constitutional amendment that would
create the livestock care standards board.
"The Livestock Care Standards Board created through passage of Issue 2
will provide an effective mechanism for determining and enforcing
guidelines for the care and well-being of livestock and poultry, and for
ensuring the quality, safety and availability of locally produced food
in Ohio,” Lumpe says.
Meanwhile, Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau
Federation, lauded passage of the Ohio measure, which passed by roughly
a 2-to-1 margin.
“Voters made a solid statement that acknowledged the role farmers play
in caring for farm animals and providing a safe and quality food supply
in the Buckeye State. Clearly, Ohio has blazed a bold new trail for
other states to follow on the issue of livestock care and well-being. It
is clear that voters in that state know farmers and ranchers share their
values regarding the care of farm animals,” Stallman says.
-- Joe Roybal
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The Fit-to-Finish Show Cattle Camp is scheduled for Dec. 12-13 in
Texas A&M University’s (TAMU) Pearce Pavilion.
“There’s no question that the 4-H and FFA members who exhibit cattle
in the state of Texas represent some of the most competitive and well
respected exhibitors in the nation. The concept of the upcoming camp is
to emphasize the grooming and fitting skills needed to maximize a
student’s cattle project,” says Paul Maulsby, event coordinator and
TAMU Beef Center manager.
Topics to be covered are grooming and fitting practices of the beef
cattle project, whether it is breeding heifers or steers, both haired
and slick. Additionally, time management for show preparation and
showmanship sessions will be available and directed by some of the
state’s most talented fitters, exhibitors and judges, Maulsby says.
Registration is $175/student and $75 for each additional parent or
leader. For more info, contact Maulsby at 979-587-2835 or go to animalscience.tamu.edu/images/pdf.
-- TAMU release
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According to Monte Cluck, outgoing chairman of the Texas Cattle
Feeders Association (TCFA), the fundamental strength of the cattle
business is still very much intact, in spite of a devastating two-year
run of losses in cattle feeding.
During his year as TCFA chairman, Cluck visited nearly half of the
group’s feedyard members. He found the visits inspiring. “Here we
are in one of the toughest times ever for our business, yet no one was
ready to quit the fight.” That strength and will to survive, he says,
is what differentiates cattlemen from any other group. “To quote John
Wayne, ‘Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.’
That’s what we do.”
Times are tough and they have been tough for a while, he admits. “But
we know we will get through this. We know because we have survived so
many other hard times – the beef boycott of 1973, the Wreck of 1974,
the Dairy Herd Buyout in 1986, and, of course, BSE in 2003. Nothing will
stop us from bouncing back. Not radical animal rights activists. Not
yellow journalism. Not junk science about imaginary threats to our
environment. And for darn sure, not socialism.”
The reason for his optimism, he says, is because cattlemen are a tough
bunch inspired by the generations that came before.
“They have bred into us not to give up and to always look forward. To
be honest and always deal with integrity. To say what we mean and do
what we say. To love our Lord and our families. To look forward and not
backward. To leave this place better than it was when we got here. We
are a family. And as long as we keep that in mind, there’s no obstacle
big enough to keep us from succeeding,” he says.
-- Burt Rutherford
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The U.S. is the leading producer of milk, beef, chicken and poultry,
and second in pork, eggs and game meat worldwide. This has primarily
been achieved via highly efficient ag practices. But those techniques
are increasingly under fire from environmental activists, which is
particularly concerning in light of the prediction that the global
population will grow to 9.5 billion people in the year 2050.
But, Jude Capper, Washington State University assistant professor of
dairy sciences, recently told the 71st Cornell Nutrition Conference that
the “intuitively correct” food choice is often the least
environmentally friendly option.
“As a food industry, we must use a whole-system approach and assess
environmental impact per gallon of milk, pound of beef or dozen eggs,
not per farm or per acre."
She says this important distinction is the basis of a life-cycle
assessment (LCA) approach, which evaluates all inputs and outputs within
the food-production system, and allows the correct comparison of
different production systems.
Capper was referring to the paper, “ Demystifying The Environmental
Sustainability Of Food,” co-authored with Roger Cady, Elanco senior
technical consultant, and Dale Bauman, Liberty Hyde Bailey Professor at
Cornell University. See it at: wsu.academia.edu/documents
Capper points out that in 2007, the U.S. dairy industry produced 8.3
billion more gallons of milk than in 1944, but due to improved
productivity, the carbon footprint of the entire dairy farm industry was
reduced by 41% during the same time period.
Similarly, pasture- or grass-fed meat is growing in popularity partly
due to the perception that it’s more eco-friendly than conventionally
produced beef.
“However, the time needed to grow an animal to slaughter weight is
nearly double that of animals fed corn. This means that energy use and
greenhouse gas emissions per pound of beef are increased three-fold in
grass-fed beef cattle. In total, finishing the current U.S. population
of 9.8 million fed cattle on pasture would require an extra 60 million
acres of land. Again, the intuitively environmentally friendly option
has a far higher resource and environmental cost.”
Another emerging trend among American consumers is the desire to
purchase food grown locally. "Often ‘locally grown’ food is thought
to have a lower environmental impact than food transported over long
distances due to carbon emissions from fuel," explains Capper. The
phrase "food miles" has become a popular buzzword, defined simply as the
distance that food travels from its place of origin to its place of
final consumption.
"Although well-intentioned, it is incorrect to assume that the distance
that food travels from point of origin to point of consumption is an
accurate reflection of environmental impact," Capper says. "This
simplistic approach fails to consider the productivity of the
transportation system, which has tremendous impact on the energy
expended per unit of food."
As an example, one dozen eggs, transported several hundred miles to a
grocery store in a tractor-trailer that can carry 23,400 dozen eggs is a
more fuel-efficient, eco-friendly option than a dozen eggs purchased at
a farmers’ market (4.5 times more fuel used) or local farm (17.2 times
more fuel used).
"The high-capacity vehicles used in modern transportation systems
improve productivity, allowing food moved over long distances to be
highly fuel-efficient and environmentally friendly compared to locally
grown food," Capper explains.
The desire to protect the environment and to do so, in part, by altering
personal behaviors, is admirable, Capper says. However, she emphasizes
that those personal decisions must be based on logic rather than
intuition.
"Consumers might think they are making the responsible, virtuous food
choices, when, in truth, they are supporting production practices that
consume more natural resources, cause greater pollution and create a
larger carbon footprint than more efficient, technology-driven,
conventional methods," she concludes.
-- Cornell Nutrition Conference release
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The U.S. average retail price for regular gasoline gained 2¢ for
the week ending Nov. 2 to reach $2.694/gal., and surpassing the previous
2009 weekly high of $2.691 set June 22. Meanwhile, the national average
price of diesel fuel ticked up by 1¢ to $2.81.
The national average for gasoline is now 29¢/gal. higher than a year
ago. Prices for the week were up in all regions. The Rocky Mountains
added 3¢, the Midwest and Gulf Coasts 1½¢, and the East and West
Coasts 2¢. California was flat at $2.99.
Despite a four-week increase of 23¢/gal., the diesel national average
remains 28¢/gal. under a year ago. Prices were up for the week on the
East Coast (2¢ to $2.83), the Gulf Coast and West Coast (1¢ to $2.75
and $2.91, respectively), and the Rocky Mountains (3¢ to $2.81). The
Midwest was unchanged at $2.79, and California added 1¢ to $2.97.
-- U.S. Energy Information Administration
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The Taiwanese government proclaimed the opening of bone-in beef
imports from the U.S. as official this week despite widespread
opposition based on health concerns. The agreement allows the import of
bone-in beef, ground beef and offal not contaminated with specific risk
materials from Nov. 10, as well as brains, eyes, skulls and spinal nerve
roots from cattle younger than 30 months of age, reports the Taiwan
News.
The announcement provoked uproar over the threat of BSE, with the
Consumers Foundation and other social organization saying they plan to
collect 90,000 signatures within two weeks, a move supported by
Taiwan’s Democratic Progressive Party. According to the Referendum
Act, an application to hold a referendum must be accompanied by the
signatures of 0.5% of eligible voters in the last presidential election,
or about 86,000. In a second phase, 5% of eligible voters, or 860,000,
must provide their signatures before the application can be investigated
by the Referendum Review Committee.
Meanwhile, USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative released a joint
statement on the relaxed Taiwanese market requirements for U.S. beef.
"After over two years of extensive negotiations and scientific and
technical exchanges, the U.S. has been looking forward to an
announcement from Taiwan authorities that Taiwan would fully open its
market to American beef and beef products on the basis of the bilateral
protocol we have negotiated. The protocol that Taiwan promulgated today
is science-based and follows the guidelines of World Organization of
Animal Health (OIE) as well as the findings of Taiwan's own risk
assessment on the safety of U.S. beef.
“We understand today that Taiwan also announced a number of other
additional domestic measures regarding beef and beef products. We are
currently reviewing these measures to ensure they allow Taiwan consumers
the opportunity to enjoy the same safe American beef and beef products
that American families eat.
“We look forward to working with our partners in Taiwan to ensure that
Taiwan's domestic requirements are consistent with the protocol, the
science, the OIE guidelines, and Taiwan's international obligations."
-- Joe Roybal
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The footage is both excruciating and infuriating to watch. It’s
not much different than watching the torture of puppies or kittens, and
it should make every livestock producer boiling angry.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Joe Roybal
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A long standing joke by cattle feeders when asked what kind of
cattle they like to feed is to respond, “the kind that can walk up to
the feedbunk.” In the days of yore, when everything was sold on
averages in the cash market, that answer wasn't really a joke. With a
few exceptions, it was pretty much standard operating procedure. That
was then; this is now.
-- Click on headline to read the rest of this
story by Burt Rutherford
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