tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-378536552024-03-05T09:42:30.061-08:00The RutabaganAdvanced Rutabaga Studies Institute - Forest Grove, Oregon USA -
Rutabaga Capital of the World Since 1951M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-21765385675737836652012-01-08T13:47:00.000-08:002012-01-08T13:56:05.493-08:00NEWSFLASH: 14th Annual Rutabaga Curling World Championship results<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The <a href="http://www.rutabagacurl.com/2011.html">14th Annual Rutabaga Curling World Championship</a> was held in the usual bitter cold on Saturday, December 17, 2011, at the Farmer's Market in Ithaca, NY. Commissioner Steve reports that "this year's curl was great as usual" and <span style="color: red;">Gold Medal Winner Steve Paisley</span> will surely be a great ambassador for our sport." Steve adds that Mr. Paisley's enthralling account, <a href="http://everydayispoetry.com/2011/12/24/the-man-with-the-huge-oblong-rutabaga/">"The Man with the Huge Oblong Rutabaga"</a>, was "done so well that it really gives the flavor of our event from the eyes and mind of a contestant!" Highly recommended (including <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jerryfeist/sets/72157628479202581/">photos</a>)!<br />
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It is with some sadness, but also with <span style="color: red;">profound gratitude and congratulations</span>, that we note the following from Commissioner Steve:<br />
<blockquote>"I myself am <span style="color: red;">stepping down </span>as Commissioner (16 years is enough!) but am handing the role into the able hands of our Ithaca Farmers' market to be run by a Curl Committee as it seems like it will take at least 20 people to replace me!"</blockquote>Steve, rutabagans everywhere will miss you and <span style="color: red;">your unwavering support for global rutaculture </span>-- be sure to keep in touch!<br />
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</div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-79118385813051486042011-04-02T15:29:00.000-07:002011-04-02T15:58:09.635-07:00BREAKTHROUGH: Photosynthesis stimulated in human subjects<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h6 class="uiStreamMessage" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}" style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-weight: normal;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="messageBody">Now humans can literally "<span style="color: red;">veg out</span>!" A transgene of the common rutabaga (<i>Brassica napobrassica</i>) has been genetically modified in ARSI labs to permit treated <span style="color: red;">human skin tissue</span> to simulate photosynthesis and, in optimal sunlight conditions, generate +/- 1.23 kilocalories every 24 hours. <span style="color: red;">Photosynthesis </span>begins within 72 hours after topical application of a green gel (designated as <span style="color: red;">GL-4A</span>) made from <span style="color: red;">rutabaga extract</span> and continues for at least two weeks. Imagine the possibilities!</span></span></b></h6><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://collectingtokens.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/green_giant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://collectingtokens.files.wordpress.com/2007/06/green_giant.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial;"><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;">An independent </span><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.pnas.org/content/101/1/198.short">review</a></span><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;"> by the U.S. <span style="color: red;">National Academy of Sciences </span>found: "The photosynthesis rate can be enhanced through ingestion of copious quantities of organic herring or kelp emulsions. The possibility of making drastic reductions in human caloric requirements <span style="color: red;">on a planetary scale</span> has profound implications that hardly need to be elaborated."</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;">The NAS study adds: "A collateral benefit is a demonstrable <span style="color: red;">improvement in memory</span>. I</span><span style="font-size: large;">nduction of the <i>rutabaga</i> cDNA in experimental adult subjects corrects the olfactory memory impairment found in <i>rutabaga</i> mutants. Induction of the cDNA only during the larval and pupal stages was inconsequential to performance in olfactory memory tasks." </span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;">The original ARSI analysis found just <span style="color: red;">one known side effect</span>: "GL-4A creates a lasting greenish cast in the affected area" (as shown in the photo of one of ARSI's experimental subject). </span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Update</span>: The U.S. Surgeon General has given <span style="color: red;">tentative approva</span>l for sale of this product everywhere except the Pacific Northwest. The Surgeon General found that GL-4A would be ineffectual in that region unless it was applied in "toxic quantitities." ARSI is <span style="color: red;">appealing</span> that portion of the decision. </span><br />
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<span data-jsid="text" style="font-size: large;">[Stay tuned to this blog and <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">ARSI's website</a> for additional <span style="color: red;">updates</span>.]</span></div><br />
<span data-jsid="text"> </span></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-60188865286897874072010-03-12T16:18:00.000-08:002010-03-12T22:05:14.105-08:00Guest Blogger: The World's Fare<div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK_Gu0PwYJW6NekOCc7Z5Jekj6CT1FWkwHWj8rFm3tPQN2HL6HfLzzHrZYqsaAAdWvZjvUlCO74lK3NhLJMPEnc2gS7r27p6e0Tyv7eqSdX_1XA80ONnQZhbv-DxWJi1UnukG/s1600-h/62+rutabagas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK_Gu0PwYJW6NekOCc7Z5Jekj6CT1FWkwHWj8rFm3tPQN2HL6HfLzzHrZYqsaAAdWvZjvUlCO74lK3NhLJMPEnc2gS7r27p6e0Tyv7eqSdX_1XA80ONnQZhbv-DxWJi1UnukG/s320/62+rutabagas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This week's <span style="color: red;">guest blogger</span>, Diane at "<a href="http://theworldsfare.blogspot.com/2010/03/rutabaga-rutabaga-rah-rah-rah.html?showComment=1268439072669_AIe9_BGudig0M4EI5Wd2BdN1mNlkBT-uVck_tifJlcIAWPCMCe_maidFQ18AUMEQkoPS8Qpy4o9VULCZWWlYg_kk2-z6wX6BFbfBtOwrraRO2smyQydiZoxmpxrVzRgHUCi0DcSjtYXULCDGmqS3bZG1Kq-goqekCusloCy3KSsg6BgWxXJiGGYrL5xO5FlXYr54YY5exMuVYah4vN6xJPF8jCsgj9eG5SO-r9IZj3qTw9OlHu0OpDs#c727386954363959570">The World's Fare</a>," precedes her latest (and very informative) entry on the noble rutabaga with this quote from Garrison Keillor, whose enthusiasm for our favorite root vegetable is unsurpassed anywhere on the planet:<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span></b></span></div><blockquote><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-weight: bold;">"So many people <span style="color: red;">confuse rutabagas with turnips</span>. They're not alike at all. Rutabagas have a pleasant yellow-orange color, large friendly-looking leaves, and a smooth dense texture. Turnips are fish-belly white and purple on top like a bad bruise and have hairy leaves and taste brackish, like swamp water. Rutabagas are the root crop that <span style="color: red;">any sensible person</span> would prefer."</span></b></span></div><blockquote><span style="color: red;">— </span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="color: orange;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: red;">G</span></span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">arrison Keillor</span><span style="color: red;"> on </span><span style="color: red; font-weight: bold;">"Prairie Home Companion"</span></b></span></blockquote></blockquote><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Finally, ARSI takes long-delayed pleasure in announcing that <span style="color: red;">The Oregonian</span>, via Diane's blog and its own <a href="http://www.oregonlive.com/forest-grove/index.ssf/2010/03/oh_dont_turnip_forest_grove_is_the_rutabaga_capital_of_the_world.html">OregonLive</a> website, has finally recognized Forest Grove as the <span style="color: red;">Rutabaga Capital of the World</span> Since 1951.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We look forward to joining Diane and The Oregonian in getting out the word on all the festivities that are planned for the <span style="color: red;">International Year of the Rutabaga</span>.</b></span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>[Painting by <span style="color: red;">John Cummings</span> especially for ARSI<span style="font-size: x-large;">, </span></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b><b><b><b><b>©2010]</b></b></b></b></b></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-80587283474620328932010-02-28T20:47:00.000-08:002010-03-01T20:53:01.406-08:0012th Annual Rutabaga Curling Championship - the winning roll<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhTzwor2t3c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vhTzwor2t3c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
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<div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">The dramatic <span style="color: red;">winning roll</span> of this world-class annual event at the Farmer's Market in <span style="color: red;">Ithaca</span>, New York, which took place in <span style="color: red;">December 2009</span>. ARSI sends its congratulations to all participants for another spirited contest.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And here's a look back at the memorable <span style="color: red;">Podium Moment</span> and victory speech from the 2008 competition: </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xsQxPqVtPqQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xsQxPqVtPqQ&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> </span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">And, finally, a rousing <span style="color: red;">Rutabaga Chorus</span> from the choir in 2008:</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8TIMnP0tO6o&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8TIMnP0tO6o&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> </span></b><br />
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</div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-68271100352332174562010-02-12T09:46:00.000-08:002010-02-12T10:01:48.720-08:00Artist of the Month: David Gilhooly and his "Frog Series"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPLYkvNbaUDfElVlJBhffMQOAyiQZTijpoQbGerWz3spnUs72tNlXIhGWOaFcfZy9eh8ErIllU5V1WhQehweTB9ly44KcxTR69LnyxlMfr4P8PkclqrYtbLZyDLweqbl-ptfl/s1600-h/frog+rutabaga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikPLYkvNbaUDfElVlJBhffMQOAyiQZTijpoQbGerWz3spnUs72tNlXIhGWOaFcfZy9eh8ErIllU5V1WhQehweTB9ly44KcxTR69LnyxlMfr4P8PkclqrYtbLZyDLweqbl-ptfl/s320/frog+rutabaga.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span class="title" style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">Gilhooly's Work of the Month</span>: "Frog Seducing a Rutabaga in an Overstuffed Armchair" (1974)</span></b></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span class="title" style="font-size: large;">This <span style="color: red;">courageous and groundbreaking work</span>, best viewed as an <a href="http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Fire_Earth/Artists/Gilhooly/FrogAndRutabaga/FrogAndRutabagaEn.html">animated GIF</a>, delicately explores the amorous lives of a rutabaga and a frog. It's part of the <a href="http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Fire_Earth/Artists/Gilhooly/GilhoolycatEn.pdf">collection</a> of the <a href="http://www.burlingtonartcentre.on.ca/">Burlington Art Centre</a> (Ontario), which describes the work as follows:</span></b></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span class="title" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span class="title" style="font-size: large;">"Frog in blue jeans and a sleeveless shirt with a turnip [sic.] on its knee in a stuffed rose-coloured armchair with wooden feet; made during the time Gilhooly was in Canada." [With respect, I suggest that it's time for the curators of the BAC to appreciate the <span style="color: red;">obvious differences</span> between rutabagas and turnips.]</span></b></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-67334838757385028962010-02-07T19:42:00.000-08:002010-02-08T22:53:05.588-08:00Rutabagas in literature: "From beyond the stars..."<div style="color: orange; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J6Js1SGhsyoEkFoAhO6TwMu6D32eCvxzwf45wmns0jTpkE90OKdl23K-RogbYJ6gK9N_Ec7EWUMv7fIM933EI1QSTakvei-RhZG2YDveNCswJZKKvawHIBEMsfYQQMhm8X_J/s1600-h/beatnik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5J6Js1SGhsyoEkFoAhO6TwMu6D32eCvxzwf45wmns0jTpkE90OKdl23K-RogbYJ6gK9N_Ec7EWUMv7fIM933EI1QSTakvei-RhZG2YDveNCswJZKKvawHIBEMsfYQQMhm8X_J/s320/beatnik.jpg" /></a></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>As the literary influence of the rutabaga expands on earth, <span style="color: red;">new horizons</span> are rapidly opening up in space. Quentin Dodd's novel is a case in point. </b></span></div></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Publisher's Weekly</span> offers the following <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0374305153/ref=nosim/findnet0f-20">summary</a>: </b></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"In the spirit of Douglas Adams's Hitchhiker series comes a <span style="color: red;">spunky debut novel </span> about teenage science-fiction fans recruited by feuding alien races to serve as commanders in a major battle. Everyboy Walter Nutria agrees to help the Lirgonians, who look "like chubby middle-aged men... [in] too-tight pajamas with built-in feet, mittens, and hoods." His almost-girlfriend Yselle ("It's not like we've been out on dates or anything, but we watch movies together all the time," says Walter) is strategizing for their enemy, <span style="color: red;">the Wotwots, who look like giant rutabagas</span>. It's a wild ride, especially since the spaceships break, mysterious mice keep stealing everything in sight, and neither group of aliens has any military skill or even common sense. They're especially given to kvetching about each other: "I don't have to take this from the culture that plays kazoos at its weddings!" screams the Wotwot captain. Eventually, the teenagers convince the aliens to <span style="color: red;">unite in persecution of the havoc-wreaking Space Mice</span>, and they all wind up saving the universe from a power-mad villain named Doctoral Candidate X. This is not for readers who like their characters rational: people <span style="color: red;">risk their lives out of boredom and believe unbelievable lies</span>. But Dodd's agenda is laughs, and his extravagant imagination matches well with his flippant writing style. A lighter-than-air read that opts for wit over logic. Ages 10-up." </b></span><br />
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</div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-81997747776088189402010-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:002010-01-28T23:51:07.266-08:00At last: A recipe for Rutabaga Pudding<div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="color: #b45f06;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF4sWP-79VvMxzli-xcyVPVD4WwYd1sVfLkt6NgYt6PqEN4sW5pC306llsC2MDJzOCWIXs7ogRyTSTYEApws4Ucx97t8yRyI1Aq1HZ_xPy5OgpUcUaz-jQvr0frcNHb-vgCc7/s1600-h/pudding.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcF4sWP-79VvMxzli-xcyVPVD4WwYd1sVfLkt6NgYt6PqEN4sW5pC306llsC2MDJzOCWIXs7ogRyTSTYEApws4Ucx97t8yRyI1Aq1HZ_xPy5OgpUcUaz-jQvr0frcNHb-vgCc7/s200/pudding.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">Kudos</span> to Kara L. Kraemer of the <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-32993-Yakima-Healthy-Foods-Examiner">Yakima Healthy Foods Examiner</a> for her informative comments about the rutabaga and two tasty recipes: <a href="http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-32993-Yakima-Healthy-Foods-Examiner%7Ey2010m1d24-Mashed-Rutabagas?#comments">mashed rutabagas</a> and <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-32993-Yakima-Healthy-Foods-Examiner%7Ey2010m1d15-Winter-Rutabaga-Pudding">winter rutabaga pudding</a>, as well as a passing reference to <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">ARSI's website</a>. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>[<span style="color: red;">Photo</span>: rutabaga pudding fresh out of the oven, sprinkled with nutmeg.]<br />
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</div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-52479678998825339992010-01-08T10:19:00.000-08:002010-01-28T09:05:02.150-08:00Outrageous Canadian tariff on Rutabagas<div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: red;">UPDATE (January 28, 2010):</span> The Canadian government escalated the border incident described below by <span style="color: red;">confiscating </span>the entire shipment of ARSI rutabagas and placing them in "permanent quarantine" in an <span style="color: red;">abandoned uranium mine</span> near Radium Hot Springs, B.C. The rutabagas were sealed inside a concrete shell at a <span style="color: red;">depth of 6,879 ft.</span>, allegedly to "protect future generations from this highly-toxic, genetically-modified product." ARSI's team of litigators has filed a <span style="color: red;">formal protest</span> under NAFTA export rules.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">___________________________________<br />
</span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">On <span style="color: red;">January 6, 2010</span>, a tractor-trailer carrying a shipment of <span style="color: red;">2,680 kilograms of Grade A rutabagas</span> was blocked by Canadian customs authorities near Sumas, Washington. The rutabagas were recently harvested from ARSI's experimental rutabaga fields outside Forest Grove, Oregon. They were destined for <span style="color: red;">the tables and palates of the thousands of athletes and spectators</span> who will be attending next month's Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler, B.C. <br />
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</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <span style="color: red;">stated reasons</span> for blocking the shipment were specious. Canadian border authorities demanded:</span><br />
</div><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">1. That ARSI pay a </span><span style="color: red;">tariff</span><span style="color: red;"> </span>in the confiscatory sum of $2.44 CDN per kilo; <br />
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</div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">2. That the rutabagas be placed in <span style="color: red;">quarantine</span> for six months to demonstrate that they are free of a rare fungus known as <span style="color: red;">Karelian clubroot (</span><i style="color: red;">Puccinia sparganioides</i><span style="color: red;">)</span>; and,</span> <br />
</div></blockquote><blockquote style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div style="color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;">3. That the experimental rutabagas (ARSI Lot #2009-ZX2375-VNB4) be shown to be "<span style="color: red;">safe for human and animal consumption</span>" before they can be admitted into Canada, preferably by "providing at least three peer-reviewed articles from reputable horticultural journals." </span><br />
</div></blockquote><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">While she was detained at the border for over six hours, ARSI's truck driver <span style="color: red;">overheard a Canadian customs official</span> making the following remark to an inspector: "And if they manage to do all that, we'll come up with <span style="color: red;">another list</span>. That garbage will never get past the border as long as I'm wearing this uniform."</span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzzWWqz6V45uMc80NMDiFDwbCkdHj8OUcm7pZkppSsFwUg73cfclodElz7ycA4B2wAKJY_8g0TVGSY-tXwMw6ZVlL6NKtAkp5jl1l8dDsk4nn8EgICsyHbg3hyUuNxFbNcw7Q/s1600-h/rutabaga-winter-vegetable-lg-58704022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyzzWWqz6V45uMc80NMDiFDwbCkdHj8OUcm7pZkppSsFwUg73cfclodElz7ycA4B2wAKJY_8g0TVGSY-tXwMw6ZVlL6NKtAkp5jl1l8dDsk4nn8EgICsyHbg3hyUuNxFbNcw7Q/s200/rutabaga-winter-vegetable-lg-58704022.jpg" /></a></span><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;">The refusal to admit the shipment is rapidly escalating into an <span style="color: red;">international incident </span>that could threaten the close ties between Canada and the U.S. ARSI's legal counsel has requested that the Obama adminitration file a <span style="color: red;">formal protest</span> and take further legal action "including, but not limited to, <span style="color: red;">trade sanctions</span> against producers of Canadian rutabagas and turnips."</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At last report, the rutabagas are being stored temporarily in a warehouse near Sumas, Washington. As the <span style="color: red;">photograph </span>(left) shows, they have been carefully crated and remain in excellent condition.</span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The <span style="color: red;">real reason</span> for all the bureaucratic obstacles seems clear enough: Canadian rutabaga and turnip farmers, especially the huge co-ops in Saskatoon and Halifax, Nova Scotia, have always <span style="color: red;">opposed ARSI's genetic innovations and open competition</span> in a free market. </span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
</div><div style="color: #b45f06;"><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">ARSI encourages its friends and supporters to contact their <span style="color: red;">representatives in Congress </span>to demand immediate measures to reverse this insupportable decision by Canadian customs authorities.</span><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span><br />
</div><br />
</div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-67286315522296349812009-11-27T16:38:00.001-08:002010-01-04T21:02:44.364-08:00Dawn Wells Potato Peeling Video<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><object height="350" width="425"><param value='http://youtube.com/v/z4W0qIPJmoo' name='movie'/><embed height='350' width='425' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' src='http://youtube.com/v/z4W0qIPJmoo'/></object><br />
<div style="color: #783f04; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Would this work on a rutabaga? </b><br />
</div></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-45219509998986145052009-09-02T21:53:00.000-07:002010-02-09T15:10:34.071-08:00On to new horizons: the Himalayan foothills<span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;"><br />
In an exciting and unexpected development, ARSI <span style="color: red;">President for Life Obie MacAroon</span> sent the following dispatch from <span style="color: red;">Santiago, Chile</span>, on September 1st:</span><br />
<blockquote face="arial" style="color: #cc6600; font-weight: bold;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR3biHSQO9Vgh8Qe36Cm966TjBtplqVGADIDGUcJN43YfOZW6HD-_iANIfK8x0avOXvJD21eqdIdy-DOdqj7racoW2eVpl4AGAHUZ1OF61GnuMcYtyeRgBDwcy_eixh1lKZbJ/s1600-h/rutadna.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377104128389317890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdR3biHSQO9Vgh8Qe36Cm966TjBtplqVGADIDGUcJN43YfOZW6HD-_iANIfK8x0avOXvJD21eqdIdy-DOdqj7racoW2eVpl4AGAHUZ1OF61GnuMcYtyeRgBDwcy_eixh1lKZbJ/s320/rutadna.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 216px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 320px;" /></a>"Our search for the tropical rutabaga will now shift to the <span style="color: red;">Himalayan foothills</span>, where several promising discoveries have recently been reported by a Uzbeki botanical research team funded by a major grant from the ARSI Rutascience Foundation in Forest Grove. The tropical <span style="color: red;">Terai region</span> of Nepal will be the focus of our initial investigations. While our collection of spores from the Andes awaits further DNA analysis (photo) at ARSI's lab complex, we'll be moving our search <span style="color: red;">back to the northern hemisphere</span>." </blockquote><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">In honor of the occasion, President MacAroon has declared:</span><br />
<br />
<h2 style="color: red; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 100%;">INTERNATIONAL RUTABAGA MONTH - SEPTEMBER, 2009</span></h2><br />
<span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;">As of this writing, President MacAroon and his team are <span style="color: red;">en route to Kathmandu</span> via chartered jet. Check back regularly for updates on the progress of this ambitious effort.</span><br />
<span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;"><br />
<span style="color: red;">PHOTO</span>: Electron microscope of </span><span style="color: #cc6600; font-family: arial; font-size: 100%; font-weight: bold;">the enhancer detector line of a <span style="color: red;">tropical rutabaga suspect</span> highlighting the mushroom body neurons.<br />
<br />
</span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-48554496763587328642009-08-02T01:20:00.000-07:002009-09-03T01:18:20.628-07:00President for Life MacAroon returns to ARSI's expedition in Chile<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />In honor of the safe return of ARSI <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">President for Life Obie MacAroon III</span> to his expedition in the Chilean highlands, </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >the Board of the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute (ARSI) has <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">declared</a>:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><h2><span style="font-size:100%;">INTERNATIONAL RUTABAGA MONTH - AUGUST, 2009</span></h2><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXIZ1OIMRg6GmuWHokU6SdDhPTyTwSye6cfReXsKXelqQbM9pgizecKosLdADBkAFgxEypersaFXN7qxgOnc1aKuDpEXxGlulafxlYP7-H1yFNNLYjwtFN-od9dsQKzl1c_5B/s1600-h/San-Pedro-jail.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRXIZ1OIMRg6GmuWHokU6SdDhPTyTwSye6cfReXsKXelqQbM9pgizecKosLdADBkAFgxEypersaFXN7qxgOnc1aKuDpEXxGlulafxlYP7-H1yFNNLYjwtFN-od9dsQKzl1c_5B/s320/San-Pedro-jail.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365290596050162562" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Last week President MacAroon was released from jail in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Pintodos</span> after being taken into custody on a fugitive warrant from the U.S. based on allegations of tax fraud that his team of Chilean lawyers described as <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"completely bogus."</span> The release was effected as soon as cash payments could be arranged for certain <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"routine fees"</span> to local officials.<br /><br />While the human-rights community awaits additional details concerning this <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">unfortunate misunderstanding</span>, we are pleased to report that the ARSI expedition will immediately resume its intensive search for the legendary tropical rutabaga (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Brassica napobrassica tropicales</span>).<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO:</span> Police and curious onlookers outside the </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Pintodos jail await Obie MacAroon III's release.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-14020978442174003262009-06-14T16:15:00.000-07:002009-06-14T16:43:05.048-07:00ARSI's 55th Anniversary!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTuPFgTPX56hRWxQUPTyjWOhOFeLbRrbuj1zI3Zh-5gO1gsM7Emv_uaaJ9sTVS9W0sP4Xr5GMzAWViZxMnnYX1g963R5iXy01eAUvbMvnsO7vFws7NMz5TdCjjjPi0Qtyshgj/s1600-h/Chile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXTuPFgTPX56hRWxQUPTyjWOhOFeLbRrbuj1zI3Zh-5gO1gsM7Emv_uaaJ9sTVS9W0sP4Xr5GMzAWViZxMnnYX1g963R5iXy01eAUvbMvnsO7vFws7NMz5TdCjjjPi0Qtyshgj/s320/Chile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5347331660598697234" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Tuesday, June 16th, is the<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> 55th Anniversar</span>y of ARSI's founding by Obie MacAroon, our mentor and continuing inspiration. Appropriately enough, the ARSI Board of Directors has declared June to be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">INTERNATIONAL RUTABAGA MONTH.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Celebrations at ARSI's headquarters complex in Forest Grove have been temporarily <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">placed on hold </span>due to an inexplicable lack of contact with Obie MacAroon III, President for Life, from his expedition's base camp at 16,400 ft. / 5,000 m. in the Chilean Andes.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >In his last email transmission via satellite on June 2nd, President MacAroon mentioned <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">threatening late-fall weather</span>, including thunderstorms and high-altitude rockslides. The photograph (above) was taken the previous week during a brief clearing period.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >MacAroon and his team of rutabotanists also reported progress in their search for the elusive tropical rutabaga, including an abundance of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">airborne rutabaga spores</span> in the vicinity of the camp.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The Rutabagan will be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">updated </span>as soon as we receive further news from the expedition in Chile.<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-15237748491328438762009-05-01T16:51:00.000-07:002009-05-01T17:43:48.788-07:00Tropical rutabaga discovered, at last?<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />The Board of the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute (ARSI) has <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">declared</a>:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><h2><span style="font-size:130%;">NATIONAL RUTABAGA MONTH - MAY, 2009</span><br /></h2><br /></div><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Writing via satellite email from his advanced base camp on Bolivia's <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Machacamarca plateau</span>, ARSI <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">President for Life Obie MacAroon</span> reports:<br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjhrbg-NQwQiYqposYdEE61j1zKA8U4hBX5H9g1J234fkzxMD3yM20II8IsHYO5aiek4HzdaCde9b9RkHi23FtKEOreKJA8Ca1ztboGFZSlFpCiCe5BMOZ5p6hsYds3bo7l_1/s1600-h/Rutabaga+trop.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpjhrbg-NQwQiYqposYdEE61j1zKA8U4hBX5H9g1J234fkzxMD3yM20II8IsHYO5aiek4HzdaCde9b9RkHi23FtKEOreKJA8Ca1ztboGFZSlFpCiCe5BMOZ5p6hsYds3bo7l_1/s320/Rutabaga+trop.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331009038650046818" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"Thanks again to ARSI's Board for this <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">unprecedented honor</span>."<br /><br />"I am very pleased on this occasion to report that, on April 27th, a team of ARSI rutabotanists found a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">single specimen of an exotic root vegetable</span> (left) that bears a significant resemblance to the familiar rutabaga. It was located in an alpine meadow on t<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">he slopes of Illimani at 17,253 ft. / 5,260 meters</span>, not far from La Paz. The tuber's color and cylindrical shape may not instantly evoke the rutabaga, but the odor and texture of the flesh are nearly identical. Small tissue samples have been sent to ARSI's labs in Forest Grove for <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">DNA analysis</span> to determine whether this discovery could be the fabled tropical rutabaga, </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >(<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Brassica napobrassica tropicale<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);font-family:arial;" >s</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >).</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br /><br />"Finally, with only 45 days until the celebration of <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">ARSI's 55th Anniversary</a>, I have written a personal letter to my friend President Barack Obama and suggested that this would be an appropriate time to draft a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">proclamation</span> suitable to the occasion. I'll keep you posted on the response."<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >PHOTO: </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > President for Life Obie MacAroon III (Copyright 2009)<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-21504641818957978272009-04-02T16:24:00.000-07:002009-04-02T16:50:36.368-07:00It's National Rutabaga Month!<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />The Board of the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute (ARSI) has <a href="http://rutabagas.tripod.com/">declared</a>:<br /><br /></span><div style="text-align: center; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><h2><span style="font-size:130%;">NATIONAL RUTABAGA MONTH - APRIL, 2009</span></h2></div><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />Writing via satellite email from his advanced base camp on Bolivia's <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Machacamarca plateau</span>, ARSI <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">President for Life Obie MacAroon</span> notes: "I am humbled and honored once again by our Board as we move ever closer to our goal of a confirmed discovery of the elusive tropical rutabaga (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Brassica napobrassica tropicales</span>)."</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXjG-g8B6V_03eRtLXNHbnYpMp3xBV3HGWyCVOZA_JdsvI8mPMcpqrBPcwld9uG-z21KIhTD7i-TZl8DRfFd-fLpQscP0hNeSALplcm1TeN3zatpwNpTDl04g6qbYOBvcQrf7/s1600-h/ARSI+lab+constr.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXjG-g8B6V_03eRtLXNHbnYpMp3xBV3HGWyCVOZA_JdsvI8mPMcpqrBPcwld9uG-z21KIhTD7i-TZl8DRfFd-fLpQscP0hNeSALplcm1TeN3zatpwNpTDl04g6qbYOBvcQrf7/s400/ARSI+lab+constr.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5320244429875259186" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO</span>: The <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obie MacAroon III Nanotechnology Center</span>, nearing completion at ARSI's vast laboratory complex near Forest Grove, Oregon - <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Rutabaga Capital of the World Since</span> 1954.</span><br /><span style="font-family:timesnewroman;"><b><span style="color:red;"><br /></span></b></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-14032693909205891102009-03-19T01:50:00.000-07:002009-03-19T02:09:45.609-07:00ARSI: A new presence on Facebook<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">ARSI is pleased to announce that our new </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Rutabaga Studies</span> </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">group on </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;" href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php">Facebook</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"> has been enthusiastically received. The group, open to all Facebook users, offers the following mission statement:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">Dedicated to the preservation and expansion of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rutabaga agronomy and culture</span> through science, art, cuisine and athletics. This is the official Facebook representative for the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute (ARSI), located in Forest Grove, Oregon, USA -- the Rutabaga Capital of the World Since 1951.<br /></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">At a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">press conference</span> in Peru, ARSI President for Life Obie MacAroon III stated: "We are pleased to take yet another step towards expanding ARSI's outreach efforts in every corner of the planet."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;">In response to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">persistent questioning</span> from reporters, President MacAroon vigorously denied rumors that he had awarded himself a $62 million <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">bonus from stimulus funds </span>obtained by ARSI under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. "My actual bonus was less than half that amount," he declared. "Furthermore, my attorneys advised me that I had no choice but to give myself the bonus due to a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">pre-existing contractual obligation.</span>"<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-78867516711275042952009-03-01T14:47:00.001-08:002009-03-02T02:13:20.140-08:002008 Curling Championship: The Vociferous Cruciferous Choir<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEYnnllrlrd-s3-Ou2IHOOtYqQVwOhDx6d6vvzLDq4REtcR_gmq59MmmGw-BLs3astEquQnq1GQ6XeBk-zBewUGw2GA7EzZCViHNkraXUKesMhljjdec2hM-BKN9P-M6F6p9-/s1600-h/Half+rutabaga.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEYnnllrlrd-s3-Ou2IHOOtYqQVwOhDx6d6vvzLDq4REtcR_gmq59MmmGw-BLs3astEquQnq1GQ6XeBk-zBewUGw2GA7EzZCViHNkraXUKesMhljjdec2hM-BKN9P-M6F6p9-/s200/Half+rutabaga.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308406702431388546" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >If you need further proof that the </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://rutablogger.blogspot.com/2009/01/results-are-in-for-2008-rutabaga-curl.html">2008 Rutabaga Curling Championship</a></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > was the best ever, despite the arctic conditions, take a look at the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">brilliant and spirited performance</span> of the </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/DianePetunia/2008RutabagaCurl?feat=email#5282651059040131218">Rutabaga Chorus</a> by the hardy <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Vociferous Cruciferous Choir</span> in Ithaca, New York. (For those with a high-speed connection, it works best in High Quality, with "Smooth Video" selected.)<br /><br />Choir member Tad Brennan, who reports that he "</span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >discovered the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">long-lost lyrics</span> in the archives at Cornell University's Rare Manuscript collection," gives us the opportunity to sing along: </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ></span></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Rutabaga! Sport of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">odder Ithacan natives</span>. The rutabaga curled nearest the cone is winner of our sport, and of first prize. [Repeat refrain forever and ever]. Fling that thing! The sport of sports. Root of roots, and sport of sports. Rutabaga!"</span></blockquote><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >Tad says that he's "the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">tall guy in the back row </span>wearing the Carhartt coveralls, bow-tie, and cummerbund."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">High Commissioner Steve</span> describes how his many followers can find him in the video: </span></span><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:100%;">"When the camera pans off to the right onto the stage soon after the song begins there are 2 of us up there...one with the cowboy hat/poncho (Peter MacDonald our emcee) and me...blue jacket/top hat/crazy ear muffs/enhanced side burns. On <a href="http://www.rutabagacurl.com/">our own website</a> we hope to soon have a cast of characters section so you can get more of a feel for the event.<span style="font-weight: bold;">"</span><br /></span></blockquote><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Congratulations once more to all our good friends in Ithaca, and a special<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> tip 'o the hat</span> to </span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" >Diane Petunia, Commissioner Steve and Tad Brennan.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><br /><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO:</span> Perfection! A sliced rutabaga showing the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">special qualities</span> prized by rutabaga curlers everywhere: a spherical shape, extreme density and variegated color. This specially-bred specimen, measuring an impressive </span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">9.86 on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohs_scale_of_mineral_hardness">Mohs hardness scale</a></span>, could only be cut with a diamond-studded industrial saw.</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;font-size:100%;" > [Wikimedia Commons]<br /></span><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold; font-family: arial;"><br /></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-33878889789985503882009-02-07T23:27:00.001-08:002009-02-17T01:37:23.917-08:00New U.S. Stamp commemorates Obie MacAroon I<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aCCO6A40hdA6mFwsobHC8tBSuCJJJ-fxms6KxHHq91BRcwDyYye4LSfTX0BP4LBKtLxAbovqk0VSOJpDK1RS6sx4gvo3WUYvKNNgLjxCvUO4GpuLGP6Hdml11Qy64xHLRWZk/s1600-h/obie+stamp.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 235px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3aCCO6A40hdA6mFwsobHC8tBSuCJJJ-fxms6KxHHq91BRcwDyYye4LSfTX0BP4LBKtLxAbovqk0VSOJpDK1RS6sx4gvo3WUYvKNNgLjxCvUO4GpuLGP6Hdml11Qy64xHLRWZk/s320/obie+stamp.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300325244683135170" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >ARSI takes great pleasure in announcing, in cooperation with the<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> U.S. Postal Service, </span>a new <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">8-cent Commemorative Stamp</span> in honor of </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial;" href="http://members.tripod.com/%7Erutabagas/macaroon.html">Obie MacAroon I</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >, our Founder and ongoing inspiration.<br /><br />The new stamp will be issued in a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">limited edition</span> on April 1, 2009. </span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >The familiar portrait of Obie MacAroon was painted by </span><b style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">celebrated artist<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">P.W.C. Magillicuddy</span> in 1954. It shows our Founder at the very moment he conceived the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute and its complex of laboratories, now located outside scenic Forest Grove, Oregon. </b><p style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;"> <b>MacAroon was born on June 16, 1904, at the family homestead near <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Trout Lake, Washington</span>. As a child of five, he began to explore the intricate world of horticulture in the rutabaga patch adjoining his humble one-room cabin. Entirely self-educated, he went on to conduct experiments in <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rutabaga hybridization</span> that attracted the attention of several neighboring farmers. </b></p><p style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;"> <b>After an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the Pentagon to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">add rutabagas to C-Rations</span> during World War II, MacAroon moved to Forest Grove, Oregon, and planted </b><b>his first commercial rutabaga crop in 1951. After three years of successful harvests, he established the modest </b><b><a href="http://rutablogger.blogspot.com/2007/09/arsis-first-hq-national-historic.html">first headquarters</a></b><b> of the Advanced Rutabaga Studies Institute in 1954. </b></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSPViQT9YOJWM10j5VkRdka4NSjnExSR6ldLgtu2cwpC4SCRGrvQcUkH_kvHb4RGxwfew_j-PutakJ9g9qoceG5JKsSWOSGx5g0aRMu9RjbzxtwF0GONZrdNj-qR54lDT6PXf/s1600-h/Obie+birthplace.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 283px; height: 189px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSPViQT9YOJWM10j5VkRdka4NSjnExSR6ldLgtu2cwpC4SCRGrvQcUkH_kvHb4RGxwfew_j-PutakJ9g9qoceG5JKsSWOSGx5g0aRMu9RjbzxtwF0GONZrdNj-qR54lDT6PXf/s320/Obie+birthplace.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300327767220947634" border="0" /></a><b>On the 50th anniversary of ARSI's founding, a petition was filed to establish Our Founder's <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">birthplace</span> (left) as a National Historic Monument. For unexplained reasons, the application has languished in "administrative review status" for nearly eight years.<br /></b></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><b>Reached via satellite phone at his botanical field station in the <a href="http://rutablogger.blogspot.com/2009/01/new-years-message-from-obie-macaroon.html">Peruvian Andes</a>, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI President for Life Obie MacAroon III</span> commented on the MacAroon stamp: "This long-overdue recognition represents a complete vindication of my grandfather's efforts, which regrettably were not fully appreciated during his long and fruitful lifetime." President MacAroon expressed understandable dismay when he was informed that the USPS has refused to share revenues from the sale of stamps with ARSI.<br /></b></p><p face="arial" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><br /></p>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-77756090926462689402009-01-19T16:26:00.000-08:002009-01-19T16:49:39.785-08:00Results are in for the 2008 Rutabaga Curl<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXC0vr5xrYX-IUV2T0Jkqq0j_ntQJv_h1uuDjJvOsrvy_ZYX9oRYhEEc1kUsopZnYPTN4Sc-Xj272HDTgKmfP2KVSHCUjrOIqxOOhUqSXQyvXLk7_CE6CX1gXPVjQBhaZBcKY6/s1600-h/rutabagapile.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXC0vr5xrYX-IUV2T0Jkqq0j_ntQJv_h1uuDjJvOsrvy_ZYX9oRYhEEc1kUsopZnYPTN4Sc-Xj272HDTgKmfP2KVSHCUjrOIqxOOhUqSXQyvXLk7_CE6CX1gXPVjQBhaZBcKY6/s320/rutabagapile.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293169895209378114" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Our good friend <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Commissioner Steve</span> gives us the following update on our favorite sporting competition:<br /></span><blockquote><div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;">"The </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">2008 International Rutabaga Curling World Championship</span> was held in the usual Ithaca, NY Farmers' Market venue. It was perhaps our coldest Curl on record which kept the crowd size down and had many athletes reconsidering the wisdom of heading out to hurl vegetables in extreme cold. It was however one of the most exciting Curl's in our history. This was the first field with fewer than 100 athletes in many years; just over 60 curlers braved the weather.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >"A separate <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Turnip Toss</span> was held for athletes 8 years and younger. Many young people are attracted to our sport but are unable to handle the demands of the heftier rutabaga...a Turnip Toss offers a smaller more delicate projectile, the throw distance is significantly shorter than the 79 foot Rutabaga Curl distance; pitching distance is a function of contestants' age. Five year old Zeke Lawrence took home the coveted Gold Medal, Phoenix Uticone took Silver while Henry Toori took third place.<br /><br /></span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >"In the Rutabaga Curl itself there were many no shows as teams that had trained all year were noticeably absent due to the severe weather. This created a wide open, unpredictable field. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Tom Mansell</span>, a 25 year old Cornell graduate student took home the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Gold</span>. His first curled rutabaga took a bad hop off a wooden beam and split perfectly in 2 pieces. After much discussion by referees and the Commissioner it was decided that Tom's initial rutabaga was faulty ( hollow) and a replacement rutabaga was allowed along with a new shot at the target. Tom's rutabaga both in his heat and in the final round were consistently closest to the target. Tom modestly proclaimed that "anyone could have done this" ...but we know otherwise. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Ray Schlather</span> of Ithaca took the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Silver</span> medal; his medal was significant in that he is the first athlete ever to medal more than once as he won the bronze the year before. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">David Kingsbury</span>, a potter who is a vendor at the Ithaca Farmers' Market, took the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">bronze </span>medal marking the first market vendor to medal in many years."</span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style="font-size:100%;"> </span></div> <div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br />--Commissioner Steve for the Rutabaga Curl </span> </span></div></blockquote><div style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);"><span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >Thanks, Steve. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obie MacAroon III</span> and all the rest of us at ARSI extend our <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">heartiest congratulations</span> to you and the other participants for another successful curling event, despite the arduous circumstances.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO:</span> A pile of ARSI rutabagas, genetically engineered to be suitable for curling and ready to roll (Wikimedia)<br /><br /></span></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-46983834782764115252009-01-01T22:01:00.000-08:002009-01-01T22:22:57.438-08:00New Year's Message from Obie MacAroon III<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZy_Rtngcrokr4WaQbFrgFWfDvWJqb9W1zcyvJoDjV0YZyGCznV0awcv1RltqTAVuEsT3VpUI-J78XICs7qUs8IQZH87RzbLu1GDqLC47rdP7haBZHI0w204yKhlWxCtdSKd3/s1600-h/Peru207.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLZy_Rtngcrokr4WaQbFrgFWfDvWJqb9W1zcyvJoDjV0YZyGCznV0awcv1RltqTAVuEsT3VpUI-J78XICs7qUs8IQZH87RzbLu1GDqLC47rdP7haBZHI0w204yKhlWxCtdSKd3/s320/Peru207.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286576812309143794" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Obie MacAroon III, in a<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> text message</span> from his <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">winter quarters</span> near <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Iquitos, Peru</span>, writes:</span> <blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"Greetings</span> once again from Iquitos!<br /><br />"This picture, taken with my satellite phone, shows the<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> large crowd</span> that gathered in traditional dress to celebrate my return to Iquitos after a foray into the Andes in search of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">legendary and elusive tropical rutabaga</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">Brassical napobrassica tropicales</span>). Despite its length (2 hours, 53 minutes), my speech was well-received by the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">gracious crowd. </span><br /><br />"While our botanists discovered what appeared to be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">rutabaga spores</span> at high altitude (16,200 feet) on Cerro de Pasco, the search to date has been inconclusive. We will, of course, <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">persevere</span>.<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"A Peaceful and Happy New Year to rutabagans everywhere!</span>"<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obie MacAroon III</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI President for Life</span><br /></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Next month President MacAroon and his expedition will move south to <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Bolivia's</span> <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Machacamarca plateau</span>, where local farmers are reported to be cultivating a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">variant </span>of the tropical rutabaga.<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-36496226898186058052008-12-06T13:35:00.000-08:002008-12-07T01:49:37.357-08:00Paula's mashed rutabaga recipe<a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07195501048403959 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-07195501048403959 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-06765276684674024 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1"></a><a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-06765276684674024 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/d7elbV4bKYI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><br />From <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Paula Deen's </span></span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Best Dishes </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >show on the Food Network. (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Vegetarians</span> will want to lose the "streak o' lean," needless to say.)<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-1144408215113174622008-12-06T13:09:00.001-08:002008-12-07T01:49:52.349-08:00New world record: 77.9 lbs / 35.4 kg.!<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" ><br />A giant rutabaga grown by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Norm Craven of Cannington, Ontario</span>, Canada, has established a new </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/nature/largest_rutabaga-world_record_set_by_Norm_Craven_80442.htm">world record</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" > for a non-GMO rutabaga. Mr. Craven's rutabaga weighed in at a hefty <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">77.8 lbs. / 35.4 kg. </span> </span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" >Despite ARSI's vehement </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://rutablogger.blogspot.com/2007/02/worlds-largest.html">protests</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" > over the years, the World Record Academy and Guinness Book of World Records will not accept weight and size records <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">established by GMO's (genetically-modified organisms)</span>. In 2006, for example, Guinness </span><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: arial; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);" href="http://rutablogger.blogspot.com/2007/02/worlds-largest.html">refused</a><span style=";font-family:Arial,Helvetica;font-size:100%;" ><b><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > to even acknowledge the existence of a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">378.22 pound / 172 kg.</span> rutabaga grown in ARSI's experimental labs on the ground that it was "genetically engineered." </span><br /><br /></b></span> <a href="http://www.worldrecordsacademy.org/nature/largest_rutabaga-world_record_set_by_Norm_Craven_80442.htm"></a>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-37125330485343721362008-12-05T13:18:00.000-08:002008-12-06T01:34:52.261-08:00Annual Rutabaga Curl - Ithaca, NY<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JWoB-mfIOmB9fp3Z_6_06Xk_0gTeTnxyu8_T_jQKUMRk42wPO-pgu-vgOsfp-OOwruxLvvOJjaV9oIEVNkytR_hR08MV-X_gMdmPme1C9kVvdDuYJ0wwyml0TVAWuSqMxtle/s1600-h/rutacurl.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 301px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2JWoB-mfIOmB9fp3Z_6_06Xk_0gTeTnxyu8_T_jQKUMRk42wPO-pgu-vgOsfp-OOwruxLvvOJjaV9oIEVNkytR_hR08MV-X_gMdmPme1C9kVvdDuYJ0wwyml0TVAWuSqMxtle/s400/rutacurl.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276607349561120482" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Our good friend <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Steve Sierigk</span>, Commissioner of the </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.rutabagacurl.com/">Annual Rutabaga Curl</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > in Ithaca, New York, sends the following announcement about this year's competition and last year's highlights:</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><div>"We are beginning preparations for yet another great Rutabaga Curl...our eleventh annual! This year's event is scheduled for <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Saturday, December 20th </span>at high noon!</div><br /><div>"We have had quite a year. Our torch bearer set out on a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">goodwill tour</span> of the U.S. earlier this summer. This generally goes off without too much incident; but this year our torch bearer was hounded and harassed unmercifully. <span style=";font-family:Arial;font-size:100%;" >It turns out that our Rutabaga Curl's Torch bearer (a Swede of great stature no less) was being confused with the torch bearer from another sporting event which was apparently not as popular as our own.</span> Our torch bearer has finally come out of hiding and is fortunately making his way back to Ithaca, home of our Annual Rutabaga Curl. Unlike that other sporting event referred to earlier we welcome protests & protesters of all kinds as it only adds to the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ambience</span> that makes our Curling event great!</div><br /><div>"Apparently another NY State county (<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Steuben</span>) will hold their first annual Rutabaga Curl, fully sanctioned by the Commissioner. So our sport continues to grow.</div><br /><div>"By the way early music scholars at Cornell found an early draft of George Frederic <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Handel's Messiah</span>. The words were not Hallelujah! but rather Rutabaga! The first ever live performance of this piece will be unveiled at this year's Curl! We hope to have the piece on our rutabaga curl site soon after the event.</div><br /><div>"Lastly a farmer friend sent me a link to a <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">curious sport</span> also involving the <a href="http://www.mangoldhurling.co.uk/">hurling</a> of root vegetables...see below.</div><br /><div>"Have A Great Winter!"</div></blockquote> <div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuIqGznB0NtANXgkkvB4y0Aq3f12Ms1FEDBVf9-CVyuryPCfRiR6f7v4byEzps30fufIazSdll5WB_mk9Ai4zTJv_udAqlXEpuJRmohPJwdKf3RYmFblfW6h5SAc3Ua2Olox5/s1600-h/rutacam.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 130px; height: 130px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuIqGznB0NtANXgkkvB4y0Aq3f12Ms1FEDBVf9-CVyuryPCfRiR6f7v4byEzps30fufIazSdll5WB_mk9Ai4zTJv_udAqlXEpuJRmohPJwdKf3RYmFblfW6h5SAc3Ua2Olox5/s400/rutacam.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5276424692417453122" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Thanks, Steve, for keeping us posted once again. We look forward to receiving the official results, which we assume will be delayed until January pending the outcome of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">usual lab tests</span> for performance-enhancing substances.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >ARSI staff also appreciates the link to the </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.mangoldhurling.co.uk/">Mangold Hurling Association</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > the U.K. We've taken the liberty of forwarding it to Obie MacAroon III at his <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">research station</span> in the upper Amazonian basin of Peru.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO <span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">(above):</span></span> ARSI #23PN237-432A, a genetically-modified, high-density rutabaga specifically <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">designed for curling</span>. </span><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MICHAE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MICHAE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MICHAE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/MICHAE%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.jpg" alt="" /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">POSTER</span> (top): Courtesy of </span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Steve Sierigk</span>, Commissioner of the </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.rutabagacurl.com/">Annual Rutabaga Curl.</a><br /><br /></div>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-32457743161179185772008-11-09T20:13:00.000-08:002008-11-22T01:23:29.633-08:00ARSI: Working for safer highways<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC906ULe-Ox_5HAp31cfc8Z0P8lOeezBXUGM5JyAxfIRlRaRY1Dg0Ojjb_8WR8KrdF4p63w4XgFN9oORJV882_xiXlMgpc9NAInAnJepCVVZMKjyDZ8rPTnizb37VUVinSvlzW/s1600-h/Truck.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 217px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC906ULe-Ox_5HAp31cfc8Z0P8lOeezBXUGM5JyAxfIRlRaRY1Dg0Ojjb_8WR8KrdF4p63w4XgFN9oORJV882_xiXlMgpc9NAInAnJepCVVZMKjyDZ8rPTnizb37VUVinSvlzW/s400/Truck.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5266896753007706818" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Few people realize that <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI truckers</span> log over 925,000 miles per year while delivering 2.73 million tons of rutabagas to various destinations around North America. That's why ARSI, along with several other large shippers, was chosen to take part in an extensive study of driver behavior by the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Motorized Information-Sharing Technology Survey (MISTS) </span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >at the University of Southwestern North Dakota. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The focus of MISTS was on the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">effects of familiar distractions</span> reported by drivers everywhere, including the rampant use of modern technologies. The authors assumed that, "unfortunately, many drivers routinely allow themselves to be distracted from the road by hunger, boredom and the perceived need to constantly communicate with others." Reading, text-messaging, frequent laptop use, snacking and napping were by far the most common distractions reported by drivers.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Some of the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">results and recommendations</span> of MISTS were surprising:</span><br /><ul style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;"><li>Some highway <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">snacks</span> are safer than others. French fries and potato chips, though easily consumed while still watching the road ahead, were especially dangerous. Why? "They tend to be greasy, causing the fingers to slip off the steering wheel more readily," the authors note. Pizza posed relatively few risks, especially if the crust was thicker and therefore less likely to spill hot mozzerella onto the driver's lap.</li><li>While there's no doubt that M&M's "melt in your mouth,not in your hand," this treat is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">less than idea</span>l for snacking while driving. The reason? Drivers are likely to become distracted while groping on the seat or floor for dropped candies. Traditional chocolate bars may be safer.<br /></li><li><span style="font-style: italic;">USA Today</span> was the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">safest newspaper </span>to read while driving, while <span style="font-style: italic;">The New York Times</span> was the most dangerous. The reason? <span style="font-style: italic;">USA Today</span> has short articles, with shorter words, and the articles all appear on the same page. Turning newspaper pages while driving was particularly hazardous. And <span style="font-style: italic;">Readers</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Digest </span>is far safer than the novels of Proust or Joyce.<br /></li><li>Text-messaging and email drafting should be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">limited to straight stretches</span> of the highway, with no more than five words entered at any one time. Be sure to allow a few extra seconds between yourself and the car ahead of you. Use abbreviations or acronyms where possible and do not feel that you need to respond instantly to incoming messages.<br /></li><li>In another surprising finding, many drivers could <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">nap without incident</span> on long straightaways during periods of light traffic, provided they set an alarm to limit snoozing to no more than 30 seconds. Napping drivers should <span style="font-style: italic;">never </span>set their cruise control at speeds higher than the limit.</li><li>If you're going to watch a <span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">YouTube</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> video</span> that's longer than 30 seconds, be sure to slow to within 10 mph of the speed limit.</li></ul><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >In response to these findings, ARSI immediately initiated an <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ambitious program</span> to retrain its drivers. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The authors of the MISTS study <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">conclude</span>: "While we don't want to encourage dangerous driving behaviors, we simply must recognize that many drivers will seek out distractions from the tedious chore of driving. Our goal is therefore to identify and stigmatize the most dangerous behaviors in the hope of encouraging safer driving habits."<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">PHOTO:</span> ARSI delivery truck loaded and ready to roll (unmarked to discourage road piracy).<br /><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-49379114963815084142008-11-02T13:25:00.000-08:002008-11-02T15:02:42.195-08:00ARSI endorses Obama - Tuesday is "National Rutobama Day"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQxwVqd0pKiqGzPUCPlS3vLl_wwb8AGdqPCUaFlIvEzvOtZ1gTdiv_PpAjXpmHOSW79ebOhPm3_U5I496aTT1reanmj8lOKVFwumc0OlPOoMEHK-RWygb105DseNeYOB0GEcw/s1600-h/Barack_Obama.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 89px; height: 120px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQxwVqd0pKiqGzPUCPlS3vLl_wwb8AGdqPCUaFlIvEzvOtZ1gTdiv_PpAjXpmHOSW79ebOhPm3_U5I496aTT1reanmj8lOKVFwumc0OlPOoMEHK-RWygb105DseNeYOB0GEcw/s400/Barack_Obama.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264185443578204834" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The following <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI Press Release</span>, personally drafted by <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI President for Life Obie MacAroon III</span>, was text-messaged by satellite from the Amazon rainforests of Peru:</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ></span><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"For the first time in its long history, ARSI is pleased to endorse a presidential candidate:</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" > <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Barack Obama</span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"Although it is not known whether Senator Obama has ever even tasted rutabagas, it is clear that he is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">open to recognizing the virtues of root vegetables</span> other than the potato. The evidence? In recent stump </span><a style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-family: arial; font-weight: bold;" href="http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalradar/2008/10/obamas-new-slog.html">speeches</a><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >, he has been referring to "sweet potato pie" in terms like the following: "We might have to have a </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >sweet potato pie contest</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >. I'll be the judge. Cause I know my sweet potato pie."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"Surely a candidate who recognizes the appeal of the lowly sweet potato would be <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">equally susceptible to the </span></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >charms of rutabaga pie</span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">.</span> We at ARSI will make every effort to include rutabaga pie in the contest that he's offered to judge.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"Unlike his opponents [see below for details], Obama offers rutabagans everywhere </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >a priceless commodity: hope.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >"With the power vested in me by our organization, I take pride in declaring that Election Day, 2008, shall be known as <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">NATIONAL RUTOBAMA DAY!</span>"<br /><br />--<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obie MacAroon III - Iquitos, Peru</span><br /></span></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ></span><blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"></span></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >This coveted endorsement followed <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">weeks of appraisals</span> of the candidates' opinions on rutabagas and other root vegetables.</span><blockquote></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >The <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">McCain campaign</span>, in response to an email inquiry, tersely replied: "Go f*** yourselves!"</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Sarah Palin</span> was more receptive, exclaiming: "Yes, we grow giant rutabagas in Alaska, and I can even look out my window and see a patch or two. Let me think about it." A few minutes later, though, a staffer called and said: "Sorry, no can do. We hear you people are a bunch of whack jobs."</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Joe Biden</span>, reached by telephone, said "Are you joking?" before hanging up in apparent disgust.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Based on its careful evaluation of the candidates, ARSI is <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">pleased to endorse Barack Obama for President.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 102, 0);font-family:arial;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">UPDATE (11/2/08):</span><br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >A six-figure donation to Obama/Biden, personally signed by Obie MacAroon, was <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"politely but firmly rejected"</span> by the campaign, according to an Obama representative in Chicago.</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37853655.post-35061659614943977862008-10-14T13:13:00.000-07:002008-10-14T14:06:19.818-07:00Obie MacAroon III speaks<span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >ARSI's corporate office has just received the following <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">email dispatch</span> from Obie MacAroon III, President for Life. For the last two years, President MacAroon has been exploring the upper Amazon basin in Peru with an expert team of botanists.</span><br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;">October 14, 2008<br />Iquitos, Peru<br /><br />My friends,<br /><br />It has recently come to my attention, thanks to an intrepid correspondent, that<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">no entries whatsover</span> </span>have been made on The Rutabagan since January 1st of this year. This is totally unacceptable to me -- an outrage, in fact. I remind you all that ARSI's current budget includes a $1.2 million line item to fund a staff of 84 bloggers and support staff to update and maintain The Rutabagan on "a regular basis," as it says in their contracts.<br /><br />Needless to say, I hereby direct that the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">entire Rutabagan staff</span> be fired immediately: i.e., by 5:00 p.m. today. Before being allowed to leave, each staffer should be thoroughly searched for stolen valuables such as office supplies and highly-sensitive trade secrets from our experimental labs. I further direct that our legal team pursue a relentless litigation strategy to hold staff accountable for its nonfeasance and neglect of duty.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the search for the <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">"tropical rutabaga"</span> continues in the lowlands of central Peru, with many promising leads that we intend to pursue in the coming months and years. With global warming, of course, the discovery of this species could greatly promote the spread of rutaculture worldwide.<br /><br />Finally, my congratulations to loyal staff on the recent designation of October, 2008, as <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">National Rutabaga Month</span>. Keep up the good work!<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Obie MacAroon III</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">ARSI President for Life</span><br /></blockquote><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >Rest assured, rutabagans, that President MacAroon's directive will be pursued immediately and without remorse. As pictured below, ARSI's private <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">security detail</span> has already assumed control of the offices and outbuildings of <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The Rutabagan</span>. Slight resistance from staff was quickly overcome.</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0lnRG1POMSCpWbOydsAT-B9ojIWG96M4q5Lnst_vaEw6caQu7KFWvFRU77IWRqjpEskSBW_yP5dKUS5gvoMEILK8SVplws6EJjniiiVHq39ABztDNh4Bk9uX5X-_FeR8DEGv/s1600-h/United_States_Marshals_Service_Special-production.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim0lnRG1POMSCpWbOydsAT-B9ojIWG96M4q5Lnst_vaEw6caQu7KFWvFRU77IWRqjpEskSBW_yP5dKUS5gvoMEILK8SVplws6EJjniiiVHq39ABztDNh4Bk9uX5X-_FeR8DEGv/s400/United_States_Marshals_Service_Special-production.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257111791008442274" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0); font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >ARSI will immediately hire an <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">entirely new staff</span> to upgrade and maintain The Rutabagan. We apologize to our many readers for the paucity of recent entries -- a problem that will be corrected in the very near future. Please stay tuned, and thanks for your patience.</span><br /><blockquote></blockquote>M.J. O'Brienhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494821452318393286noreply@blogger.com8