It may seem like we are patting ourselves on the back a bit, but once in a while you just have to tout your own horn!

Last month in Food Engineering, we closed the year as we have for over two decades with our annual Job Satisfaction and Salary Survey.

It's that time of year when Food Engineering takes a few minutes to focus not so much on engineering challenges and operations success stories, but on the people running food and beverage manufacturing plants.

Day after day we sit and listen to the news or read in the newspapers about the war in Iraq-the daily suicide bombers, executions and shootings with innocent civilian and American lives lost.

Practical business information is a precious commodity-concise and current information is even more invaluable.

I am sure most of you reacted with horror as you learned about the animal abuse reports last month at Pilgrim's Pride chicken processing plant. I certainly did.

While a few famous people have been known to say, "I invented the Internet," a decade ago I was known to say, "I just don't get the Internet." Back then I remember writing an editorial column entitled "World Wide Web Limitless Opportunities Currently Limited."

I really don't want to turn this column into a monthly tirade on the woes of the overweight American population.

Congress continues to support the food industry in stopping nuisance law suits brought by consumers who say they gained weight after using a food or beverage manufacturer's product.

I AM ALL IN FAVOR OF THE NEW technologies that will make our food safer and our industry a robust environment for all manufacturers and suppliers.