Six legal items you may not know about | Chicago's Real Law Blog

By Michael Helfand, today at 8:19 am

Six legal items you may not know about

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As a lawyer, I certainly don?t know everything or as some people who call me will tell you, I don?t know anything.? I do learn new things about the law most weeks.? Here are some items that I became aware of in the last couple of years that most people don?t know about.

  1. When it comes to suing for discrimination, your damages for non-economic losses (e.g. your suffering) are capped at $300,000? This is a Federal law, but there is an exception if the discrimination is racial.? In that case there is no cap on damages.
  2. If your doctor blabs to others about your medical problems, you can?t sue him.? Under HIPAA, your physician is supposed to respect your right to privacy.? If they blow it, they could lose their license or the Department of Health could fine them up to $250,000, but you can?t sue them for violating HIPAA.
  3. If you sign a birth certificate and years later you are proven not to be the father, you are still on the hook for supporting the child.? The only way out of this is if the mom lets you off the hook.? Otherwise you are stuck.? Kind of a crappy law, but it?s true.
  4. A business can?t send someone an unsolicited text message.? If they do it?s spam, but since you have to pay for text messaging, they can be sued for it for up to $1,500 per violation.? So imagine if they send 1,000 spam texts.? Before they know if they could be facing a seven figure law suit.? The same is true for unwanted faxes.? But you can still send all the texts you want to the girl you are stalking as long as you aren?t trying to sell her something.
  5. If your spouse cheats, you can?t sue their lover, except . . .? You need to show actual damages which would be proven by getting counseling of some sort.? You can?t just testify about all of the grief you have had.? You almost never see these cases happen and when you do they usually don?t result in much of a recovery.
  6. Cell phone companies have a sneaky way of screwing you over.? Most cell phone companies add an arbitration clause in to their contracts with you.? It basically states that if there is a dispute you have to bring the case to arbitration and this prevents your claim from being a class action.? So if you are ripped off $100 and 50,000 other people have the exact same problem, you all need to bring your own individual cases.? Of course that?s not worth the time or effort so everyone just eats the crap sandwich and acts bitter about it.

Source: http://www.chicagonow.com/chicagos-real-law-blog/2012/10/six-legal-items-you-may-not-know-about/

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Retirement Guys: What is estate planning? | Toledo Newspaper

Time is ticking away and we are all heading to that fateful day when we will no longer be among those on this earth.? Sounds morbid, huh?? You may not think about this too much, or you may think about it a lot; It probably depends on what phase you are at in life.? If you are young, it may not cross your mind too much.? Since it is part of my our work, we think about it during the process of helping others think it through.? I (Mark) also think about it because I have reached the point of realization that life is flying and we should all make the most of it.

What is an ?estate??? It is defined as property or possessions.? In other words, all your stuff.? As the saying goes, ?You can?t take it with you.?? Estate planning is the process of determining where you want all your stuff to go when you die.? Estate planning allows you to exercise some control over where things go and how they get there.

During the course of our lives, we have the tendency to accumulate a lot of stuff ? things like houses, cars, money and tangible personal property.? Some of these assets may be of great monetary value while others may be of great sentimental value. Things we are sentimentally attached to are usually those that trigger good memories from the past or are things that have given us joy.? I am amazed at the amount of stuff I have accumulated over the years and yet, most of these things I probably would not miss if they were gone.? There are a few things like my bible, my wedding ring, my class ring, photos and several guitars that are very important to me.?? These are things that I would want to make sure ended up in the hands of the people that I love.

How should you plan getting your stuff where you want it to go?? There are several things that are important to know:

1. Everyone should have some type of legal document that directs where the assets of their estate should go when they die.? This document is most commonly referred to as a last will and testament.? Your will not only says who gets what, but it also says who will direct the process on your behalf (commonly know as your executor or personal representative).? Also, another popular legal document that may be used in the place of a will is a living trust.

2. A last will and testament does not necessarily control where everything goes.? Certain assets such as retirement accounts, annuities, life insurance, etc., are controlled by beneficiary designations.? Make sure that these designations are up to date and reflect your current wishes as to where these funds will go.

3. If you wish that certain sentimental items go to specific individuals, make sure that you designate these as specific gifts in your will.? Otherwise, these items may or may not get to the person that you wish to have them.

4. If you have minor children, make sure you have named guardians to take care of them should you die prematurely.? Think through issues like whether these potential guardians have the financial means, do they share your views on how children should be raised, do they share your religious views, where are they located, etc.

5. Make sure you have enough life insurance.? Life insurance is a powerful tool in estate planning.? It can be used to provide liquid funds to replace lost income, pay off a mortgage, pay for a college education, pay debts, pay taxes or just provide a better life to the beneficiaries.? Or you may just want to leave more money to those that you love.? Current assets can be used to pay for insurance that will create large dollar amounts later.? The Retirement Guys call it leveraging.

6. Make sure you have a durable power of attorney and health care directives in place.? These documents allow someone to manage your assets and your care should you reach a point that you are unable to.

These are some of the important things to consider when planning for where you want your stuff to go when you die.? Each person?s situation can be somewhat unique and there are other issues that may need to be considered.? Be smart and seek out a qualified professional to consult with about creating your estate plan.? Your loved ones will someday be glad you did.

For more information about The Retirement Guys, tune in every Saturday at 1 p.m. on 1370 WSPD or visit www.retirementguysnetwork.com.? Securities and Investment Advisory Services are offered through NEXT Financial Group Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC.? NEXT Financial Group, Inc. does not provide tax or legal advice.? The Retirement Guys are not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group. The office is at 1700 Woodlands Drive, Suite 100, Maumee, OH 43537. (419) 842-0550

Tags: Retirement Guys

Source: http://www.toledofreepress.com/2012/10/20/retirement-guys-what-is-estate-planning/

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2am Dessert Bar ? Contemporary Desserts with Wine Pairings ...

It?s no secret Singapore lacks a wine culture. For most, the urge to splurge on a bottle of wine costing as much as the meal itself just doesn?t seem all that appealing. It doesn?t help that when a wine menu arrives, one meets lines and lines of words that seem all too foreign. Not wanting to buy something that we might not enjoy, we typically settle for a lesser soft drink or a more approachable beer.

Harbouring such feelings for the longest time, I decided to take a little more initiative over the past 2 months by attending wine tastings. Rather than just buying bottles off the rack, I think wine tastings are the best way to get a crash course on wine appreciation. That?s because by trying different wines one after another, you will be better able to appreciate the subtle and not so subtle differences between different labels.

The latest wine tasting I attended was at 2am Dessert Bar, an event organized by the SMU Wine Appreciation Club. I paid a nominal fee of $30 for 3 desserts with wine pairings and if you are vaguely aware of 2am?s price catalogue, you would have realized that I probably saved about $90, much thanks to SMU subsidizing my meals! Now you now why SMU charges school fees that are 20% higher than NUS?s and NTU?s?

While there?s classical fare like Tiramisu, Cheesecake and Chocolate Cake available, I?d imagine that 2am prides itself more on creating contemporary desserts that play on all your senses. To enhance the whole dessert experience, every dessert on the menu also comes with a recommended wine pairing. Friend R tried their degustation menu a while back and told me for one of the courses, she was given a test tube smelling of Popcorn to whiff at while having her Popcorn dessert. Interesting much?

The first dessert I had was the Popcorn ($17++) but it wasn?t the same one as what R got previously if that?s why you are wondering. It?s a creative concept, where 2 different types of popcorn mousses (sweet and salty) sprinkled with dehydrated popcorn are at the opposite ends of the dish, with Passionfruit sorbet in the centre. The silky popcorn mousses totally worked for me, with both varieties tasting exactly how actual popcorn tastes like. Despite being polar opposites, I still found trouble deciding on my favorite. My only gripe was that the sorbet was extremely sour, much too sharp for the delicate tasting popcorn mousse in my humble opinion.

Pairing this dessert was Prophet?s Rock Pinot Gris Central Otago 2oo8 ($18++), a white wine from New Zealand. Despite taking down tasting notes, I shan?t go into describing the wines because I believe the articulation of wine flavours varies quite greatly from person to person and I?d hate to sound like a pretentious snob saying the wine tastes of vanilla, pine nuts and lychee.

For the 2nd dessert, I had the Kayambe H2O ($18++), which is essentially Chocolate Rocks with Caramel, a Burnt Caramel ball, Chocolate Soil and Yuzu Sorbet, made using 72% Michel Cluizel Chocolate (a French chocolate with 72% cocoa content), and Evian water. This dessert didn?t quite agree with me as the chocolate comes across as a little too heavy. The best thing in this dish was probably the yuzu sorbet.

This dessert was paired with Finca Constancia Petit Verdot & Syrah 2010 ($21++), a red wine from Spain that smells of matured fruit (imagine stewed fruit) rather than fresh ones. Anyway a random wine tip I learnt at this juncture was that as red wines get older, it gets a lighter shade. When white wines get lighter, it gets a darker shade.

Lastly, I had the Cheese Avalanche ($18++), a deconstructed Cheesecake with Biscotti, Candied Figs, Spanish Corn and sous vide Cantaloupe (a classy synonym for Rock Melon). My favourite of the 3 desserts, I was amazed at how balanced this dish was in flavour. The cheesecake was smooth but by itself, it would have been merely pleasant and uninteresting. I liked how the rock melon cubes added the extra sweetness while the spanish corn (tastes like those corn snacks you get from Philippines) added a savoury tone and distinct crunch.

This dessert was paired with Pauleczki Tokaji 3 Hungary 2000 ($16++), a sweet dessert wine that goes down pretty smoothly, downplaying the actual alcohol content.

Desserts take centre stage at 2am Dessert Bar so apart from the few snacks like Fries and Drumlets, there isn?t much ?proper food? here. Then again, you might be surprised at how 3 desserts can fill you up quite nicely for dinner.

2am Dessert Bar

21A Lorong Liput, Holland Village

Tel: +65 6291 9727

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Source: http://yumyumformytumtum.com/2012/10/22/2am-dessert-bar-contemporary-desserts-with-wine-pairings/

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Can I become my own real estate broker and buy my ... - Zillow Real ...

Hello Everyone I am interested in becoming a real estate investor, mainly dealing with foreclosed properties and I have been having an issue with finding a realtor who does not mind working with me with low priced foreclosed properties. I understand that they only receive 2-3% of the purchase price, and it may not be in their best of interest. So, I have thought about getting my license to become a Real Estate Broker here in Chicago, because they no longer accept just sales agents anymore. Am I able to negotiate and buy my own properties with the commission too? I know I will still have to find a sponsoring broker, and I am prepared to pay those fees to them also. How can I go about this? I have tried communicating with numerous of realtors about my plans, but they really do look down on foreclosed properties and since I find and research all of my properties myself, why can't I buy them alone? Thanks for any input and advice!

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Source: http://www.zillow.com/advice-thread/Can-I-become-my-own-real-estate-broker-and-buy-my-own-properties/464994/

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Insight: Schroeder a la francaise won't work for Hollande

PARIS (Reuters) - A left-wing leader takes office in a troubled European nation. Company bankruptcies are piling up and unemployment is on the rise. His pledge to pull off long-overdue economic reforms is greeted with weary skepticism.

The scene that played out in Germany a decade ago is being repeated in France today.

But whereas Gerhard Schroeder in 2003 launched deep labor reforms that helped revive a moribund German economy, Francois Hollande will find his room for maneuver hemmed in by the global slowdown and France's prickly industrial relations.

"This is not about copying someone else's model - just improving our own," said Lionel Fontagne, an economics professor at Paris's Sorbonne university who has tracked France's gradual decline as a global economic force.

"But it is very difficult to discuss the real issues."

Hollande came to power five months ago on promises to revamp France's economy and halt a spate of industry closures that have pushed joblessness to a 13-year high of over three million.

In a nod to the "Agenda 2010" label that Schroeder gave to his reform drive, he has christened his own push "Agenda 2014" - the ambitious deadline he has set to restore jobs and growth.

He has tasked trade unions and employers with negotiating a "historic" overhaul of the French labor market and charged Louis Gallois, ex-head of European aerospace concern EADS, to propose by November 5 measures to boost French competitiveness.

It is a bold timetable that, in coming months, will show whether the euro zone's second biggest economy can follow the largest in grasping the nettle of reform.

GERMANY IN BETTER SHAPE

Back in 2003, Germany was struggling to digest the cost of the 1990 reunification of west and east. Over 4.4 million had no job and the head of the revered Ifo economics institute said Germany was "the sick man of Europe", its citizens lagging behind the rising income per head elsewhere in Europe.

But World Bank data put German income at $39,211 a head last year against $34,993 in France, with Germany outdoing its southern neighbor on just about every economic benchmark.

Schroeder's reforms such as the creation of a new low-wage sector and wage moderation pacts with unions have meant German labor costs have risen less than 10 percent in the past decade, compared to 30 percent in France.

Critics say the "Hartz reforms" - named after Peter Hartz, the personnel director of auto giant Volkswagen whom Schroeder named to draft the plans - led to a generation of "working poor" in Germany, sometimes paid less than one euro an hour.

While that carries a social cost, few dispute the German economy as a whole is currently in a better shape than France's.

Where German exports are at record levels, France's share of total euro zone exports has crumbled from around 17 percent at the turn of the century to 12.9 percent. Unemployment is at 6.8 percent in Germany against over 10 percent in France.

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Schroeder's left-leaning credentials helped persuade unions to moderate wage claims in return for future job security.

Socialist diehard Hollande enjoys similar confidence with France's main unions. But the way French industrial relations work will make it harder for him to get the same result.

Whereas German unions such as the auto sector's IG Metall can strike wage deals across an entire industry, French accords are made at company or individual level and so cannot be used as a policy tool for nationwide wage restraint.

Schroeder also had the benefit of a more predictable trade union scene: workable contacts with the main umbrella group, the German Trade Union Federation (DGB), and unionists who were less inclined to call for strikes because their statute gave them "co-determination" rights to influence company policy.

In contrast, Hollande must deal with at least a handful of main trade unions ranging from moderate to militant and which compensate for lacking the statutory powers of their German counterparts by having earlier recourse to the street.

"French trade unions are structurally weak but time and time again they show their ability to mobilize," Jacques Freyssinet of France's Centre of Labour Studies (CEE) said of protests and strikes that sporadically bring the country grinding to a halt.

With the economy near recession, Hollande cannot risk protests such as a 1995 strike over welfare cuts that brought France to a halt for weeks, or fierce 2010 protests against pension reforms by his predecessor Nicolas Sarkozy.

Yet even if he can find some common ground with the unions, things are less promising on the employers' side.

Whereas Schroeder cultivated a pro-business image - and even enjoyed the nickname "Comrade of the Bosses" - Hollande campaigned on a solidly leftist platform of reining in the excesses of big business and the world of finance.

His first annual budget targeted the wealthy and corporate world, with a symbolic 75 percent tax on the super-rich among a raft of tax hikes aimed at bolstering public finances.

The government has poured cold water on demands for at least 30 billion euros ($39 billion) of social charges businesses pay to be transferred to other levies such as value added tax (VAT).

Employers insist such cuts are vital, pointing to the fact that French labour charges are among the highest in the European Union alongside those in Belgium and Sweden.

But the government fears a shift of those charges onto VAT or other taxes would hurt consumer spending, for years one of the main props of the French economy.

"We are looking at all the options," said a source close to Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault. "But we won't be looking at any transfers that would bring on a recession."

TECHNOLOGY RACE

Prospects for France to follow Germany in establishing a low-wage sector of "mini-jobs" also appear dim.

Not even employers dare suggest scrapping the current minimum wage of 9.40 euros an hour, and unions are furious that more companies are turning to temporary contracts to avoid permanent contracts that are hugely expensive to terminate.

"Each time we give them a bit of flexibility they want more," said Francois Chereque, head of the moderate CFDT union.

With anything more than a small chipping away at labour costs unlikely, the government argues France can maintain a competitive edge by moving upmarket to offer high-value goods for which the world is ready to pay a premium.

That tactic has worked for German companies such as Mercedes-maker Daimler AG and specific sectors in France such as aeronautics or the luxury goods industries.

But engineering a more widespread shift would take years. Firms such as Franco-Italian microchip-maker STMicroelectronics say the race to keep one step ahead of low-cost rivals is getting tougher by the year.

"The real differentiator is labour cost and flexibility," STMicroelectronics director Gerard Matheron said, citing the example of Taiwanese workers who worked longer than the 32 hours a week of their French counterparts for a fifth of the salary.

"To keep producing in Europe we have to continually find the right mix between research and production to keep up with the most up-to-date technologies."

Yet high labour costs are trapping many French firms in a vicious circle of lower profit that prevents investment in new technologies, argues Axa chief economist Eric Chaney.

Using official EU data, Chaney calculates French research and development spending has remained flat at 1.4 percent of national output over the past decade while Germany's has risen from the same level to over 1.9 percent of output.

French research group Coe-Rexecode estimates gross operating margins in the French manufacturing sector have fallen from 37 percent in 2000 to 29.9 percent last year, while German margins are up from 27 percent to 34.4 percent.

"French companies are not profitable enough to spend as much on R&D as German ones. Why? Labour costs," concluded Chaney, who in 2007 investment note entitled "France - the new sick man of Europe", was among the first to sound the alarm on its economy.

Hollande is creating a state agency to foster innovation with a budget of around 40 billion euros but the challenge is whether the civil servants spend the money on industry's needs.

It may be the middle of 2013 before any progress in talks between unions and employers and Gallois' proposals start to be translated into reforms and longer before the economy benefits.

Worryingly for Hollande, Schroeder did not survive in office to see his reforms take effect. As unemployment continued to rise into 2005, he lost support with core left-wing voters and was ousted in a September poll by conservative Angela Merkel.

He told adoring French business leaders in August: "Courage means putting reform of your country before staying power." ($1 = 0.7679 euros)

(Additional reporting by Marc Joanny, Nick Vinocur, Emmanuel Jarry and Jean-Baptiste Vey; editing by Anna Willard)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/insight-schroeder-la-francaise-wont-hollande-105853392--business.html

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New Program Spurs Solar Development on Public Land

The government recently announced a new plan to facilitate the development of solar energy projects on public land in six Western states. Lawrence Susskind, a professor of urban and environmental planning at MIT, explains what it means for the future of renewable energy.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2012/10/19/163245526/new-program-spurs-solar-development-on-public-land?ft=1&f=1007

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Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack visits Montgomery County UT ...

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Facility has received several USDA grants, created jobs and trained hundreds

UT Extension OfficeClarksville, TN ? It?s not just pie in the sky. A commercially equipped kitchen in Montgomery County is using baked goods to help small and emerging rural businesses grow and create jobs and income.

Operated jointly by University of Tennessee Extension and Tennessee State University Extension, the kitchen has benefited from several USDA grants, and on Friday, Oct. 19, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the facility and checked out some of the products created by local culinary entrepreneurs. Vilsack stopped by following a roundtable discussion with Tennessee producers to discuss the resiliency and productivity of American agriculture and the importance of passing comprehensive food, farm and jobs legislation.

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Along with Martha Pile, UT Extension family and consumer sciences agent and manager of the kitchen, seven users of the kitchen were on hand during the Secretary?s visit. Secretary Vilsack commented on how the kitchen was contributing to the local food movement and how it assisted local businesses. ?These entrepreneurs have a dream and a product that?s important to them. Several of them had lost employment opportunities and they use it as an opportunity to become their own boss. The kitchen gives them the capacity and ability to get started,? he said. ?It?s exciting to see what the university is doing and how much help they?re providing.?

Jean Bragg of Jean?s Breadbasket & More

Jean Bragg of Jean?s Breadbasket & More

Tiffany Abbott, owner of Any Sweet Reason.

Tiffany Abbott, owner of Any Sweet Reason.

Two entrepreneurs were actually using the kitchen during the visit: Jean Bragg of Jean?s Breadbasket & More, and Tiffany Abbott, owner of Any Sweet Reason. Bragg was baking her signature pumpkin bread and Abbott was decorating a batch of fresh peach cobbler cupcakes.

Bragg?s recipe for pumpkin bread is more than 100 years old, but her business is just getting started. She?s been using the kitchen for about two months. ?If it hadn?t been for the domestic kitchen and UT Extension, I would never have been able to start this business. I didn?t have the financial backing to get started, but I met Martha through a friend, and was able to use the equipment to get going,? she said.

Any Sweet Reason has been in business for two years and owner Tiffany Abbott, a veteran and now a military spouse, sells her creations at the local farmers market. She makes all sorts of cookies and confections and caters parties. ?I have two dogs that are my baby boys, and there?s no way I could get rid of them to produce in my house. So luckily Ms. Pile told me about the kitchen, and I immediately took advantage of it,? she said. ?I certainly hope to expand the business. It?s fun and I really enjoy it.?

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits with Gary and Chad Collier of Papa C Pies

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visits with Gary and Chad Collier of Papa C Pies

Other successful entrepreneurs who have utilized the kitchen include pie makers Papa C Pies operated by Gary and Chad Collier of Franklin and Old Fashioned Fried Pies operated by Jenny Chandler and Brenda Presson of Ashland City. Pappas? Peppers, which bottles pepper oils for cooking and baking and Natural Choices Botanica, which packages and sells legacy tea blends, have also started successful businesses in the Montgomery County kitchen.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talks with Jenny Chandler and Brenda Presson of Old Fashioned Fried Pies

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack talks with Jenny Chandler and Brenda Presson of Old Fashioned Fried Pies

The kitchen is part of Extension?s Sustainable Tennessee program. Sustainable Tennessee is intended to help citizens create local income through the expansion of entrepreneurial skills. In the case of the Montgomery County Extension Commercial Kitchen, the goal is to enhance marketable culinary skills. Pile says the kitchen is open to anyone who completes food safety training. ?Once an entrepreneur completes food safety training, he or she is allowed access to the kitchen to create custom culinary products packaged for resale to the public.?

Eighteen entrepreneurs have used the kitchen, and two of them have been so successful that they now operate their own commercial kitchens. Pile says an additional 12 entrepreneurs are currently undergoing food safety training or have recently received certification to use the kitchen. She estimates the current income generated by participants collectively values more than $200,000 annually.

The kitchen has been in operation approximately nine years and was outfitted with funding from Montgomery County government and USDA SARE and Rural Development grants. Pile says it?s a shining example of wise use of existing resources. ?When county Extension personnel were compelled to occupy an old school building after a tornado destroyed our office space, we recognized the value of the school cafeteria?s existing stainless steel sinks and countertops. We were able to outfit the kitchen for commercial use through grant opportunities,? she said.

Dr. Tim Cross, dean of UT Extension; Dr. Shirley Hastings, associate dean and head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Martha Pile, UT Extension family and consumer sciences agent; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

Dr. Tim Cross, dean of UT Extension; Dr. Shirley Hastings, associate dean and head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences; Martha Pile, UT Extension family and consumer sciences agent; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

On hand to greet Secretary Vilsack were Dr. Tim Cross, dean of UT Extension, and Dr. Shirley Hastings, associate dean and head of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences. Both were more than pleased to have Secretary Vilsack experience the fruits of USDA?s investments.

?Our Extension educational programs are funded through a partnership with USDA, the State of Tennessee, and our county governments. This visit by Secretary Vilsack is great evidence of USDA?s commitment to serving Tennesseans through research-based information delivered by our Extension agents and specialists. We?re very pleased that Secretary Vilsack has taken the time to see first-hand how our education helps food-based entrepreneurs develop their products and grow their businesses,? said Cross.

The kitchen has also been used for food safety training for more than 165 people on the use of commercial equipment and regulations for starting your own food-processing business. An additional 230 people (youth and adults) have participated in safe food preparation and preservation classes (canning and drying) held at the facility. Hastings notes that the training ongoing at the facility combined with the commercial uses makes the kitchen a valuable asset to the county and region. ?It?s an example of Extension?s efforts to increase the quality of life and economic viability of rural communities,? she said.

Pile says kitchen users often participate in regional ?Gatherings,? which are community-based groups of entrepreneurs helping each other succeed in business. Extension organized the Gatherings as well as a local Winter Market, which operates after the local farmers markets close for the season. Karla Kean, TSU Extension agent in Montgomery County is among the regional organizers of the Gathering and the Winter Market.

UT Extension provides a gateway to the University of Tennessee as the outreach unit of the Institute of Agriculture. With an office in every Tennessee county, UT Extension delivers educational programs and research-based information to citizens throughout the state. In cooperation with Tennessee State University, UT Extension works with farmers, families, youth and communities to improve lives by addressing problems and issues at the local, state and national levels.

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Any Sweet Reason, Brenda Presson, Chad Collier, Gary Collier, Gatherings, Jean Bragg, Jean's Breadbasket & More, Jenny Chandler, Martha Pile, Montgomery County Extension Commercial Kitchen, Natural Choice Botanica, Old Fashioned Fried Pies, Papa C Pies, Pappas' Peppers, Shirley Hastings, Sustainable Tennessee, Tiffany Abbott, Tim Cross, Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture, UT Agricultural Extension Office, UT Department of Family and Consumer Sciences, UT EXtension, UT Institute of Agriculture, Winter Market

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Source: http://www.clarksvilleonline.com/2012/10/20/secretary-of-agriculture-vilsack-visits-montgomery-county-extension-commercial-kitchen/

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A Libertarian Fix to American Foreign Policy Part 1: Agricultural ...

The United States needs a new approach to foreign policy that emphasizes success domestically without compromising the sovereignty of international actors. Deregulation and emphasizing free trade is the best approach to contemporary foreign policy. The first step to a better foreign policy is ending American farm subsidies.

Farm subsidies were first created in 1922 and expanded through the Great Depression to save American farmers. Unlike ninety years ago, however, most Americans do not rely on farming for income. Of the 307 million people living in the United States, 2% live on farms, and only 1% claim to be farmers. Despite these small numbers, the United States spent $177.6 billion on subsidies between 1995 and 2006; the amount that the US spends is highly disproportionate to the population and demand for the product. Given that so few people benefit at such a high cost to the nation, Congress should consider cutting farm subsidies.

The real 1%

In addition to wasting taxpayer dollars, agriculture subsidies also promote poor food choices. Interest in the success of invested foods influences scientific research alongside corporate gains. While growing agriculture business flourishes with the nod of the federal government, Americans have no access to the real market prices of their groceries. For example, corn subsidies led to mass consumption of high fructose corn syrup. Resultantly, the obesity rate continues to grow. Agriculture subsidies create a critical public health problem.

Opponents of subsidy repeal fear backlash; they argue that without subsidies, farmers will no longer be able to make a living, adding to unemployment in America. While this may be true in some cases, a repeat of the farmer job loss comparable to the Great Depression is highly unlikely in today?s technological economy. Most individuals receiving farm subsidies are a part of a larger agrarian business that has resources to restructure to better fit the country?s farming needs. These companies should change their business models in response to real demand, not just guaranteed subsidies. This shift may lead to planting different crops to diversify income, resulting in not only farmers keeping their jobs, but a more varied grocery market. While cutting subsidies does not guarantee job creation, the potential for balancing the budget, granting greater access to food, and aiding the domestic and world economy far outweighs the cons of continuing agriculture subsidies.

The effect of this domestic policy is global. Excess produce that is not sold in the United States moves into the international market at subsidized prices. The artificially low cost gives American food a distinct advantage over competing economies because it is cheaper, so much so that it ultimately prohibiting emergent economies (that tend to have much larger farming populations) from competing. Thus, the US agrarian business keeps farmers in agrarian countries from making a profit from the international market. While US agriculture subsidies do provide cheaper food for the poor internationally, they also keep the poor at a disadvantage.

These kinds of policies hurt India especially hard.

More than 3000 children die every day across India from illnesses related to malnutrition and hunger, while billions of dollars of Indian food rots that could not enter the market due to US policies.

Because of farm subsidies, access to food in America has spread from a domestic issue to an international predicament. While these government grants had legitimacy in the past, there is no longer a need for their continuance. As the world maintains its steady course into recession, policy makers must place faith in the free market. Ending farm subsidies will end needless taxes, aid the poor domestically and internationally, and restructure the grocery business. Politicians should cut these needless subsidies in an effort to promote free trade and rejuvenate the economy.

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Source: http://thoughtsonliberty.com/a-libertarian-fix-to-american-foreign-policy-part-1-agricultural-subsidies

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