As Recession Deepens, So Does Milk Surplus

As Recession Deepens, So Does Surplus of Milk – NYTimes.com

As Recession Deepens, So Does Milk Surplus

By ANDREW MARTIN

FOWLER, Calif. — The long economic boom, fueled by easy credit that allowed people to spend money they did not have, led to a huge oversupply of cars, houses and shopping malls, as recent months have made clear. Now, add one more item to the list: an oversupply of cows.

And it turns out that shutting down the milk supply is not as easy as closing an automobile assembly line.

As a breakneck expansion in the global dairy industry turns to bust, Roger Van Groningen must deal with the consequences. In a warehouse that his company runs here, 8 to 20 trucks pull up every day to unload milk powder. Bags of the stuff — surplus that nobody will buy, at least not at a price the dairy industry regards as acceptable — are unloaded and stacked into towering rows that nearly fill the warehouse.

Mr. Van Groningen’s company does not own the surplus milk powder, but merely stores it for the new owners: the taxpayers of the United States. To date, the government has agreed to buy about $91 million worth of milk powder.CLICK FOR MORE

Congress needles wrestling

BY CHRISTIAN RED
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Friday, January 2nd 2009, 9:01 PM

Dovarganes/AP/AP

Rep. Henry Waxman

Henry Waxman fired one more anti-steroid salvo as outgoing chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, shifting his focus from baseball to professional wrestling, a sport with a long history of alleged steroid and drug abuse.

In Friday’s letter addressed to the director of the government’s Office of National Drug Control Policy, Waxman (D-Calif.) requested that ONDCP chief John Walters “examine steroid use in professional wrestling and take appropriate steps to address this problem.”

The Oversight Committee began its own investigation into pro wrestling’s doping problem a year ago, interviewing sport officials and examining drug testing policies for World Wrestling Entertainment and its competitor, Total Nonstop Action.

In 2005, the Oversight Committee lambasted baseball during a congressional hearing, prompting MLB to enact stricter drug testing policies and more severe punishments for offenders. But Waxman suggested in his letter Friday that pro wrestling has a long way to go toward eradicating its doping culture, starting with the woefully inadequate drug testing programs in place.

“In the first year of WWE’s testing program, which began in March 2006, 40% of wrestlers tested positive for steroids and other drugs, even after being warned in advance that they were going to be tested,” wrote Waxman.

Waxman also detailed how wrestlers who test positive for performance enhancers receive light punishment and can often participate in wrestling events even after steroid violations. The committee investigation also uncovered how easily wrestlers can secure therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) – permission to take banned substances for medical reasons – so they can continue performing while using steroids. When Waxman’s staff interviewed Dr. Tracy Ray, a physician contracted by WWE, Ray claimed there was “shadiness in almost every (TUE) case that I’ve reviewed.”

“(Ray) stated that he does not examine wrestlers, discuss their medical conditions with their doctors, or conduct detailed reviews of their medical conditions before granting (TUEs),” wrote Waxman.

WWE chairman Vince McMahon comes off even less flattering in his interview. McMahon told the committee he is “not subject to the WWE substance abuse policy,” even though he still performs in WWE events.

“When asked whether steroids could cause impairment and risks to wrestlers and others in the ring, Mr. McMahon indicated that he had never considered the question,” Waxman wrote.

Waxman will become chairman of the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee this month. Walters could not be reached for comment. Calls left with WWE were not returned.

TRANSIT ADVISORIES

Weekend Service Advisories

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, uptown 46 trains run express from Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall to Grand Central-42nd Street due to a track chip-out north of Spring Street.

From 4 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 4, Manhattan-bound 6 trains run express from Pelham Bay Park to Parkchester due to track panel installation from Castle Hill Avenue to Parkchester. The last stop for some Bronx-bound 6 trains is 3rd Avenue-138th Street.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and the following weekend Jan 9-12), there are no 7 trains between Times Square-42nd Street and Queensboro Plaza due to track panel installation on the Davis Street curve and security conduit and cable installation in the under river tube. The NQ and free shuttle buses provide alternate service.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, downtown A trains skip 50th, 23rd, and Spring Streets due to fan plant rehabilitation south of 7th Avenue.

From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday, Manhattan-bound A trains skip Shepherd, Van Siclen and Liberty Avenues due to track cleaning.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, free shuttle buses replace A trains between 168th and 207th Streets due to tunnel lighting work north of 168th Street. Customers may transfer between the Broadway or Ft. Washington Avenue shuttle bus and the A train at 168th Street.

From 10:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, free shuttle buses replace A trains between Beach 90th Street and Far Rockaway due to track panel work.

From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, January 4, Manhattan-bound A trains skip Rockaway and Ralph Avenues due to track cleaning.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, there are no C trains running due to fan plant rehabilitation south of 7th Avenue. Customers should take the A train instead.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, downtown D trains run on the A from 145th Street to West 4th Streets due to fan plant rehabilitation south of 7th Avenue.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, the D train runs in two sections (due to fan plant rehabilitation south of 7th Avenue):

• Between 205th Street and Broadway-Lafayette Street
• Between Broadway-Lafayette Street and Stillwell Avenue

Customers may transfer at Broadway-Lafayette Street to continue their trip.

From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Sunday, January 4, Manhattan-bound F trains run local from Roosevelt Avenue to 21st Street-Queensbridge due to track cleaning.

From 12:01 a.m. to 5 a.m. Saturday, January 3, Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue F trains run local from Forest Hills-71st Avenue to Roosevelt Avenue due to track cleaning.

From 8:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5, there are no G trains between Forest Hills-71st Avenue due to subway tunnel rehabilitation between Whitehall and Canal Streets.

From 5:30 a.m. Saturday, January 3 to 10 p.m. Sunday, January 4, free shuttle buses replace J trains between Broadway Junction and Cypress Hills due to fiber optic cable installation Crescent Street and Broadway Junction.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and weekends through February 2), there are no L trains between 8th Avenue and Union Square due to switch renewal near 8th Avenue. Customers may use the M14 bus instead.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2, to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and weekends through February 2), L trains run in two sections (due to switch renewal near 8th Avenue):

• Between Union Square and Bedford Avenue, skipping 3rd Avenue and
• Between Bedford Avenue and Rockaway Parkway

Customers must transfer at Bedford Avenue to continue their trip

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 and 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and the following weekend Jan 10-12), NR trains are rerouted over the Manhattan Bridge between DeKalb Avenue and Canal Street in both directions due to subway tunnel rehabilitation between Whitehall and Canal Streets.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 and 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and the following weekend Jan 10-12), NQ trains run local between Canal Street and 57th Street due to track panel installation on the Davis Street curve and security conduit and cable installation in the under river tube.

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, January 3 and 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and the following weekend Jan 10-12), Q trains are extended to Ditmars Blvd. due to track panel installation on the Davis Street curve and security conduit and cable installation in the under river tube.

From 11:30 p.m. Friday, January 2 to 5 a.m. Monday, January 5 (and the following weekend Jan 9-12), the 42nd Street Shuttle S operated overnight.

Web Site Points the Way to Where Drinks Are on the House

Myopenbar.com Lists Where Drinks Are Free – NYTimes.com

Web Site Points the Way to Where Drinks Are on the House

Myopenbar.com has been around since 2005 but is now attracting more listings, promotions and readers than ever, despite — or perhaps because of — the tanking economy and shrinking advertising dollars and liquor sales at bars. The site’s founders, Seva Granik and Jason Fried, said that more bars and restaurants are clamoring to get their events listed, eager to drive customers through the door. And, to no one’s surprise, demand for free drinks is skyrocketing. (Liquor sales are considered recession-proof, though one recent study by the Nielsen Company suggests that while sales at liquor stores have increased, people are going out to nightclubs and bars far less frequently.)

TALAY – W. Harlem gets new hot spot

TALAY | Crain’s New York Business.com

TALAY

W. Harlem gets new hot spot

Talay is the latest building block in the restaurant renaissance of West Harlem. A Thai-Latin eatery with fire-breathing stone dragons flanking its entrance, the newcomer offers global flair from two talented chefs.

This is one way to win attention in a neighborhood where takeout from Fairway and barbecue at Dinosaur were the whole enchilada until a year ago. Then came Chef Ricardo Cardona’s duplex Hudson River Cafe one block north, at West 133rd Street.

Now the culinary compass swings further north, and for the first time in memory, parking becomes an issue at the tip of 12th Avenue.

Talay joins its block mate Covo Trattoria/Pizzeria. Both have long, rectangular street-level dining rooms with open kitchens on one end, plus comfy cocktail lounges upstairs. Both offer al fresco dining with viaduct views.

Talay’s owner, Pedro Veras, is banking on his unpronounceable top toque tandem of King Phojanakong and Soulayphet (“Phet”) Schwader. Both men blend ethnic smarts with experience under some of New York’s finest French chefs.

The result uptown is a short but highly appealing menu, replete with Southeast Asian ideas and ingredients, and a few delicious Latin licks.

Friendly Talay wait staffers, in red shirts and black slacks, point out that this is sharing food, and dishes may arrive in any order. Regardless of the order, the dishes share clean, attractive visuals and fresh, zesty flavor profiles. Prices are right, too.

Some of the small plates ($7 to $12) demonstrating Talay’s dining duality are Thai beef salad on the one hand, and ropa vieja on the other.

Slices of tender marinated beef, charred crisp around the edges, recline on succulent chunks of green papaya and slivers of Granny Smith apples to add crunch. Rather than the usual shredded beef approach to the “old clothes” recipe of the Caribbean, this ropa vieja is several small squares of brisket simmered with Asian root vegetables and tomatoes, and sprinkled with white and black sesame seeds. Each square yields easily to the pressure of a fork to deliver moist and memorable taste.

Pickled bamboo shoots, cilantro, apples, papaya and sweet chiles are the backdrop for first-rate grilled octopus. Kaffir lime curry and coconut milk intensify the broth for steaming Prince Edward Island mussels.

“Wok-roasted Asian market greens” is the only flat-out flop among small dishes. It somehow translates as steamed baby bok choy.

But you’ll flip for the lemongrass and garlic-marinated baby back ribs—five to an order for $15—lean and finger-licking good in the extreme. Another meat of merit is charred bistek churrasco, grilled to order, sliced and served with three dipping sauces—sweet, sour and salty. Sweet chile mango sauce is the foil with whole crispy snapper, and aromatic ginger sauce sets off exceptionally fine seared, sliced ahi tuna, crusted in Szechuan peppers.

Two items from the noodles and rice category are crowd-pleasers. Pad Thai contains enough stir-fried rice noodles, tofu, chicken and peanuts to provide a next-day lunch. Arroz valenciana, offered in a half portion or as a full-size entree, is a wealthy welter of saffron rice, sausage, chicken, shrimp and mussels.The stew’s seasonings are nicely balanced, as they are throughout Talay’s fare.

Tarted-up desserts such as lime-basil infused flan and spring roll-wrapped fried plantains in caramel-mango coulis are of no consequence. So, too, is the minuscule wine list, but there are Thai and Latin beers of interest.

Service is uncommonly sensitive. One captain, Andres, a Bard graduate from Ecuador, can talk opera with the best of them—another unexpected treat in a new spot with many of them.

Restaurant Info

Rating:

Address: 701 W. 135th St. (at 12th Avenue)

City: New York

State: NY

Phone: (212) 491-8300

Dress: No Code

website: www.talayrestaurant.com

Price: $15-$25

Credit Cards: All major

Noise: Loud

Reservations: Recommended

Wine: 25 Choices, Eight By The Glass

Wine Markup: 175%-280%

Hours: Dinner daily, 5 p.m.-midnight; Lunch, Sat.-Sun., 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m.