So, was it really a $16 muffin? The Justice Department’s acting inspector general said it was a $16 muffin. Her office’s 148-page audit report http://www.washingtonpost.com/r/2010-2019/WashingtonPost/2011/09/30/Editorial-Opinion/Graphics/justice-muffin-report.pdf cites it nine times as an example of profligacy. I think the IG makes a good case that Justice spends too much on conferences. But I don’t think it was a $16 muffin, and several things tell me it wasn’t: the IG’s own numbers; a statement from Hilton Hotels; a visit to the Capital Hilton’s restaurant, which is a few hundred feet from The Post; and my experience going to and setting up events in Washington. The total cost of food and beverage for the five-day conference, with 534 attendees, was $39,360, including an automatic 20 percent service fee the hotel puts on food for conferences. That amounts to $7,872 per day for breakfast and snacks. Divide that by 534 people attending, and you get $14.74 per person per day for continental breakfast and snacks. That’s 2 pennies per person per day above the Justice guidelines on what can be spent each day on refreshments. Gosh, two cents. The IG’s report acknowledges that figure is correct, notes that Justice officials asked Hilton to keep the price to about $14 per head, and credits Justice for not providing other meals for the five-day conference. So why did the IG’s office say the immigration judges were eating $16 muffins? Because the itemized receipts from Hilton are imprecise: The coffee and fruit were provided free, and they allocated all the fees to the muffins, croissants, bagels, brownies and cookies provided for morning and afternoon refreshment. Hence it looks like $16 per morning pastry and $9 for afternoon brownies, cookies, and bags of chips. But really it was $14.72 per head per day. Patrick B. Pexton http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/another-look-at-justice-departments-16-muffin/2011/09/30/gIQARIYBBL_story.html
Caution: Check the facts on Internet rumors before spreading them further.

For scenery, consider the spectacular views of the Blue Ridge Mountains from Charles Frazier's front lawn, perched on a narrow ridge, a 10-minute drive up a twisty road from downtown Asheville. To the north, through the morning mist, he points out Tennessee, more than 30 miles away. And to the west, 6,030-foot-high Cold Mountain, made famous by Frazier's 1997 Civil War best seller. Cold Mountain was a debut novel that came out of nowhere, as they say in publishing, and grew into a phenomenon. For back roads, Frazier, 60, hits the nearby mountain bike trails. He maintains a daily tally of the miles he rides and the words he writes. "I try to do 1,000 miles over the summer," he says. And the words? "Well, I'm a slow writer," he replies with a shy smile. "For me, a good day is a page, maybe a page and a half. I'd love to be more efficient, but I am not." Cold Mountain was a rare literary best seller: a debut by an unknown former English professor. It was popular even before it won the National Book Award or was turned into a hit movie in 2003 starring Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Frazier has eclectic taste in music, from old-time fiddling to Gillian Welch. "If I had to give up reading or give up listening to music," he says, "I suspect I'd stick with the music." http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/story/2011-09-26/charles-frazier-nightwoods-cold-mountain/50561620/1

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), and the Bureau of Justice Assistance(BJA). The IC3 accepts online Internet crime complaints from either the actual victim or from a third party to the complainant. http://www.ic3.gov/default.aspx

TIPS ON AVOIDING FRAUDULENT CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTION SCHEMES
Do not respond to unsolicited (SPAM) e-mail.
Be skeptical of individuals representing themselves as officials soliciting via e-mail for donations.
Do not click on links contained within an unsolicited e-mail.
Be cautious of e-mail claiming to contain pictures in attached files, as the files may contain viruses. Only open attachments from known senders.
To ensure contributions are received and used for intended purposes, make contributions directly to known organizations rather than relying on others to make the donation on your behalf.
Validate the legitimacy of the organization by directly accessing the recognized charity or aid organization's website rather than following an alleged link to the site.
Attempt to verify the legitimacy of the non-profit status of the organization by using various Internet-based resources, which also may assist in confirming the actual existence of the organization.
Do not provide personal or financial information to anyone who solicits contributions: providing such information may compromise your identity and make you vulnerable to identity theft.
http://www.ic3.gov/media/2011/110311.aspx

New Release: Statistical Abstract of the United States 2012 September 29, 2011
This annual factbook contains more than 1,400 tables of social, political and economic facts about our nation and the world. Among the broad topics covered are marriage and divorce, health, education, law enforcement, national security, social insurance, business, science and technology, agriculture, natural resources, energy, information and communications, banking and international statistics. Find full article at: http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/

ProQuest Expands Historical Newspaper Collection September 28, 2011
The world’s largest digital newspaper archive is expanding to provide researchers with access to unique, targeted perspectives on the news as ProQuest digitizes collections of historic American Jewish and regional newspapers. The papers, dating from 1841 and covering regions such as Boston, the Ohio valley and New York City will be added to ProQuest’s Historical Newspaper collection. Find link to full article at: http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/

Origin of the names of the months
January Named after the Roman god of beginnings and endings Janus (the month Januarius).
February The name comes either from the old-Italian god Februus or else from februa, signifying the festivals of purification celebrated in Rome during this month.
March This is the first month of the Roman year. It is named after the Roman god of war, Mars.
April Called Aprilis, from aperire, "to open". Possible because it is the month in which the buds begin to open.
May The third month of the Roman calendar. The name probably comes from Maiesta, the Roman goddess of honor and reverence.
June The fourth month was named in honor of Juno. However, the name might also come from iuniores (young men; juniors) as opposed to maiores (grown men; majors) for May, the two months being dedicated to young and old men.
July It was the month in which Julius Caesar was born, and named Julius in his honor in 44 BCE, the year of his assassination. Also called Quintilis (fifth month).
August Originally this month was called Sextilis (from sextus, "six"), but the name was later changed in honor of the first of the Roman emperors, Augustus (because several fortunate events of his life occurred during this month).
September The name comes from septem, "seven".
October The name comes from octo, "eight"
November The name comes from novem, "nine".
December The name comes from decem, "ten".
http://www.pantheon.org/miscellaneous/origin_months.html
Note that the earliest Latin calendar began with the month of March.

Oct. 4 Word of the Day Bona fides boh-nuh-FYE-deez (noun) Good faith; sincerity; evidence of one's good faith or genuineness; evidence of one's qualifications or achievements
Today’s Featured Birthday Author Anne Rice (70)
Daily Quote “One of the tests of the civilization of people is the treatment of its criminals.” President Rutherford B. Hayes, who was born on this date in 1822.
http://www.taftmidwaydriller.com/newsnow/x26168051/Morning-Minutes-Oct-4