(1) The surface of the moon is a球形.
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Opinion
University Daily Kansan, October 11, 1982
Confusing wheat story reaps a harvest of harsh criticism
A Wall Street Journal story about a fungus discovered in the 1982 winter wheat crop has been blamed for causing buyers to shy away from the markets in Kansas and Nebraska.
The July 15 story, written from the Journal's Chicago bureau soon after the problem was discovered, quoted experts as saying the fungus had created two types of toxins "in levels far above what is considered acceptable for human and animal consumption."
Officials in the Kansas Wheat Commission and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as researchers at Kansas State University, call the story "alarming," "distorted" and a "drastic overstatement."
"In my more severe criticisms, I felt that they were resorting to yellow journalism to make a spectacular story," said William Willis, a K-State plant pathologist.
A. USDA study released last week reported that the fungus affected only 3.5 percent of the crop. The study also
concluded that the levels of toxin averaged 0.77 parts per million. The maximum the Food and Drug Administration allows is 1.0 parts per million for human consumption.
The Journal's only response came from Chicago bureau chief Dick Martin, who said he had not heard any complaints from anyone.
However questionable the Journal's handling of the story may be, it is difficult to fix all the blame for the confusion on it. Officials who don't grasp the impact of their statements until they see them in print — and by then it is too late — often complain of "yellow journalism."
But why didn't the Journal attend the conferences conducted to clarify the extent of the fungus problem, when the New York Times and Reuters News Agency did?
The follow-up to the main story is the meat and potatoes to journalism.
The saying, "Never let the facts stand in the way of a good story," may apply here.
Once again, utilities want consumers to pick up the tab
It's going to be a long, cold winter, and with the price of natural gas, electric blankets might become a necessity.
We were lucky this summer. It was cool enough that we did not have to spend too much time outdoors.
This winter, however, the weather might not be as cooperative, and chances are that the bills for heating our houses or apartments will go up because we are anticipating a colder than usual winter.
That alone would be enough to send most budgets into a tailsin, but now Cities Service
CATHERINE BEHAN
Gas Co. wants to raise natural gas bills. The cost to the buver could be staggering.
Citizen Services supplies gas to many Kansas residents and gas companies, including the local gas utility.
The privately owned KPS operates under a franchise agreement with the city of Lawrence and is regulated by the City Commission. Many local laws are also regulated by the Kansas Corporation Commission.
In a unanimous vote, the City Commission decided last Tuesday to join the KCC in protesting the proposed rate increase to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The RCC is leading an attempt to show that the rate jump is "misrepresented" — that Cities
The proposed increase, 30 percent, represents a lot of money. Cities Service's public relations director, Langdon Toland, said that the increase was necessary to pay for an additional $130 million worth of gas it had bought and was summing to Kansas' and other states' residents.
The proposed rate jump could cost the city about $85,000 on its annual gas bill, bringing the average down to $72.50 a month.
Although the city must approve all rate increases and can lower or raise rates suggested by KPS in order to balance residents' needs with company needs, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has final authority over "pass-through" utility increases. Pass-through increases are intended to compensate utilities for the increased costs of the energy they supply.
Gas companies must give proposals to regulatory bodies for all increases except those necessitated by the cost of the gas. These high rate hikes often go through almost automated
But Lawrence Mayor Marci Francisco said she thought the City Commission should go along with the KCC protest, because the KCC has been telling us to be selling more expensive gas than it needs to.
The KCC is requesting a hearing to present evidence that Cities Service has misrepresented its need and that Cities Service entered into a contract with a company that sells expensive natural gas. This contract stipulates that Cities Service pay for the gas, whether it takes the gas or not.
The company does have other, cheaper natural gas available to it, the KCC and the commission said, and Lawrence residents will be responsible for Giles Service's had contract.
The KCC has also said that the Cities Service has a surplus of gas.
Francisco said the commission joined the KCC action because Lawrence residents would not be helped if the KCZ alone won the action — that the increase would be passed through Lawrence anyway because KPS is regulated by the City Commission and not the KCC.
According to KPS, the increase, scheduled to begin Oct. 23, could raise the average Lawrence
Toland said Cities Service estimated that the average customer in the average town would pay about $10 more each month.
But, he said, "We don't get a dime from that procedure, and neither will the local gas
The City Commission plans to talk to KPS officials about establishing a "Life-Lite" program to help elderly, low-income and people with a break on their heating bills.
Some people are still paying off last winter's gas bills, and with these large rate increases, you may want to consider a switch.
Although three other states — California, Ohio and New York — have tried to challenge pass-through rate increases, they have failed. The KCC thinks it has more evidence than those other states to prove that the increase is unnecessary.
The rest of the Lawrence residents would pick up the tab for these people and still pay the rent.
I hope so. I'm cold just thinking about it.
Show makes game of judiciary
The television networks may be creating a nation of armchair lawyers
As they did for armchair quarterbacks, the TV networks have provided an outlet for people who want to watch them.
Now viewers aren't limited to yelling at football coaches and players; they can second guess the decisions of court judges in supposedly actual law cases.
Each weekday morning, WAFAT-VI, Kansas City's NBC affiliate, broadcasts the People's Court, an independently produced show that covers the outcome of various legal claims court cases.
The show reeks of the excess dramatics that plagued early television shows like Mason Perman or Dragnet. But instead of depicting criminal cases "where the names have been changed to protect the innocent," "the People's Court utilizes a retired judge and people who have decided to settle their cases out of court and en-act them on TV.
Since professional football fans are confined to watching Canadian Football League games, maybe the People's Court can provide the need for audience participation in television viewing.
Imagine the beer-swerving, potato chip-gobbling football fan yelling at a white-haired judge to change his decision because the fan has $10 riding on the case's outcome.
I find the possibility very promising, especially after hearing the excitement of several
In this particular case, an artist had brought action against an Italian restaurant owner. The
artist contended that the restaurant owner* had commissioned him to create an oil painting, and the owner denied that any agreement had been made
It was a classic example of one person's word against the other's — neither man having much knowledge of it.
The restaurant owner, complete with thicky accented English, told the judge he had never seen such a character.
TOM HUTTON
contract with the artist. The artist wasn't much better as far as providing an understandable case. Like so many people, he tried to present his case using incorrect legal jargon. The judgment was for the Italian restaurant owner, probably a bar owner, who was not standable than the painter's legal double talk.
The reaction of my friends, most of whom had completed a business law class, was mediatable.
"I knew that little guy would win all along" or "the judge felt sorry for him because he couldn't speak English" were the most common responses.
It was also apparent from the response of the viewers that certain extraneous facts easily were ignored.
Comments about the artist's clothes, which may have been common in Los Angeles, where People's Court is filled, abounded.
"Look at that shirt," exclaimed several devoted preppies when the camera zoomed on in the artist's large collar lapels. It apparently was a blow to them to see a shirt that obviously hadn't come from Brooks Brothers or Jack Henrys on the Country Club Plaza.
It was obvious, too, that they didn't appreciate the painter's attempt to bluff his knowledge of small claims court procedures. But the person who drew the most reaction was neither the painter nor the restaurant owner; it was the show's commenter. This smooth-talking fool, who resembled a frustrated game show host, managed to jump in front of both people while they were attempting to leave the courtroom and pick up their appearance fee.
After showing the microphone into each man's face, the commentator asked television's most interesting question.
The commentator also pegged the case with a name that sounded as if it had been stolen from a Hardy Boy novels. This particular case was titled "The case of the unasked-for painting."
Yes, the People's Court may be creating a nation of frustrated armchair lawyers with its portrayal of the American judicial system. And it could be responsible for an increase in the number of college students attempting to enter law school.
But I think the show's intent is more likely to be traced back to Chuck Berries' *Ghow Show*. It was a hit in 1984 when he wrote
Letters to the Editor
KU cutting back on everything but water
To the Editor:
During the period of hot weather at the beginning of the semester, the people who manage the budget decided to turn off the air conditioning and do with budget cuts and asked me for tolerance.
Toward the end of September, the people who manage the budget decided the heat would not be turned on until mid-November. They said it had to budget cuts and asked me for patience.
The next time the people who manage the budget feel the need for tolerance, patience and understanding, I suggest they cuddle up to a blade of grass.
Last week, the people who manage the budget decided my wife, a University faculty member, may lose her job in January. They claimed it had affected our budget cuts and asked me for understanding.
On Wednesday, in the middle of autumn, white storm clouds rolled over the campus and rain began to fall, the people who manage the budget decided it was a good day to spend money watering the lawn. They told me nothing and asked me nothing.
David R. Moulle
Edwardsville graduate student
Seats already paid for
For the Editor
I'm sure this year's juniors expect a good seat next year. But if seating for the whole season becomes open (which apparently has been suggested), forget that. You'll have to be at the stadium two hours before kickoff to claim a decent seat. That's bad news, folks.
I'm writing in reference to the athletic department's open seating policy at the KU-
Oh, sure, many probably are saying that it doesn't hurt to give up my seat for one game, and that students should be able to sit with their parents on Parents' Day. Well, most students can be without their parents for a couple hours. We've been away from home all semester. Giving up my $25, 50-yard line seat for even one game is an unreasonable request.
some unfamiliar body. The athletic department owes me a little more respect than that. Jim Lesigess says he wants to bring more student support to the athletic program. But how can he expect more enthusiasm for KU athletics when a coach has to fight for his already reserved seat?
To the Editor:
Being a senior and owning a 50-yard seat are both privileges. Neither of those should be able
I waited four years to secure my seat on the 50-vard line, only to find it occupied Oct. 2 by
Clayton Hunter Meriden senior
The University Daily KANSAN
The University Daykan Kawan (USHPD 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 113 First Hall. The University Daykan Kawan (USHPD 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 113 First Hall. The University Daykan Kawan (USHPD 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 113 First Hall. The University Daykan Kawan (USHPD 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 113 First Hall. The University Daykan Kawan (USHPD 600-640) is published at the University of Kansas, 113 First Hall.
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