“Marriage is not a noun; it’s a verb. It isn’t something you get. It’s something you do. It’s the way you love your partner every day.”
― Barbara De Angelis
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Fabricating Terror
Chilling
When the US government has to go to such lengths to create “terrorists” out of hapless people, an undeclared agenda is being served. What could this agenda be?
The answer is many agendas. One agenda is to justify wars of aggression that are war crimes under the Nuremberg standard created by the US government itself. One way to avoid war crimes charges is to create acts of terrorism that justify the naked aggressions against “terrorist countries.”
Another agenda is to create a police state. A police state can control people who object to their impoverishment for the benefit of the superrich much more easily than can a democracy endowed with constitutional civil liberties.
Another agenda is to get rich. Terror plots, whether real or orchestrated, have created a market for security. Dual Israeli citizen Michael Chertoff, former head of US Homeland Security, is the lobbyist who represents Rapiscan, the company that manufactures the full body porno-scanners that, following the “underwear bomber” event, are now filling up US airports. Homeland Security has announced that they are going to purchase the porno-scanners for trains, buses, subways, court houses, and sports events. How can shopping malls and roads escape? Recently on Interstate 20 west of Atlanta, trucks had to drive through a similar device. Everyone has forgotten that the underwear bomber lacked required documents and was escorted aboard the airliner by an official.
The “war on terror” provides an opportunity for a few well-connected people to become very rich. If they leave Americans with a third world police state, they will be living it up in Gstaad.
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Monday, November 29, 2010
Banana Split Cheesecake
Can anything 'banana split' be bad? Try this banana split cheesecake for a unique twist on the dessert staple. You'll love how much this cheesecake reminds you of banana split, but also that it's a different kind of dessert!
Serves: 6
Cooking Time: 1 hr
Ingredients
* 1 1/2 packages graham crackers, crushed
*
* 6 tablespoons butter
* 2 pounds cream cheese, softened
* 5 jumbo eggs, room temp
* 1 cup plus 1/2 cup sugar
* 3 teaspoons lemon juice
* 1 cup sour cream
* 1 1/2 cups banana, mashed
* 1/4 cup cornstarch
* 1/2 cup heavy cream
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F with pan of water on bottom of oven.
2. Combine graham crackers, 1/2 cup of sugar and butter and pat into 10" springform pan, bottom and sides.
3. Beat the cheese until light. Add the rest of the sugar and beat again.
4. Add eggs one at a time, beating after each.
5. Stir in cream, sour cream, vanilla and cornstarch and blend well. Stir in banana.
6. Bake cake for 1 hour or so until edges firm.
Setting Expectations During the Holidays
Today's tough economy can provide a great opportunity for you to teach your children some powerful lessons about money and spending during the holidays. Help them learn the value of prioritizing by asking them to choose the top 3 items on their wish list. Doing so will help them identify the gifts they truly want. Remember when fulfilling a child's desire for gifts, it's easier to under-promise and over-deliver.
Families can steer away from pricey gifts by creating traditions such as cookie bake-offs, inexpensive family grab bags and pick-a-name gift exchanges.
Visit the new www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Families can steer away from pricey gifts by creating traditions such as cookie bake-offs, inexpensive family grab bags and pick-a-name gift exchanges.
Visit the new www.FeedthePig.org for more money-saving tips.
Top 10 Retailers for Customer Service
The top ten retailers for customer service, in alphabetical order, are:
* Amazon.com
* JCPenney
* Kohl's Department Stores
* Lands' End
* L.L.Bean
* Newegg
* Nordstrom
* Overstock.com
* QVC
* Zappos
Read article
* Amazon.com
* JCPenney
* Kohl's Department Stores
* Lands' End
* L.L.Bean
* Newegg
* Nordstrom
* Overstock.com
* QVC
* Zappos
Read article
The wonders of Tantric sex
You've read about it. You've wondered about it. Hours and hours of kissing. Soul-melding eye contact. Transcendental sex... hey, I'll have what they're having! But what's involved? And what does a weekend workshop in the poconos have to do with the real thing?
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Sunday, November 28, 2010
In Memoriam
This Week with Christiane Amanpour marks the passings of Lawrencia 'Bambi' Bembenek, David Nolan and Norris Church Mailer. In addition, the Pentagon has released the names of eight service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.
US Marines Sgt Jason T Smith, 28, Colorado Springs, CO
US Army SSG Loleni W Gandy, 36, Pago Pago, AS
US Army SGT David J Luff Jr, 29, Hamilton, OH
US Army SPC David S Robinson, 25, Fort Smith, AR
US Army SSG Sean M Flannery, 29, Wyomissing, PA
US Army SPC William K Middleton, 26, Norfolk, VA
US Marines LCpl Arden Joseph A Buenagua, 19, San Jose, CA
US Marines 1LT William J Donnelly IV, 27, Picayune, MS
A Good Troop
A nurse took the tired, anxious serviceman to the bedside..
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey.
His son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name?
The Nurse with tears in her eyes answered,
Mr. William Grey.............
"Your son is here," she said to the old man.
She had to repeat the words several times before the patient's eyes opened.
Heavily sedated because of the pain of his heart attack, he dimly saw the young uniformed Marine standing outside the oxygen tent. He reached out his hand. The Marine wrapped his toughened fingers around the old man's limp ones, squeezing a message of love and encouragement.
The nurse brought a chair so that the Marine could sit beside the bed. All through the night the young Marine sat there in the poorly lighted ward, holding the old man's hand and offering him words of love and strength. Occasionally, the nurse suggested that the Marine move away and rest awhile.
He refused. Whenever the nurse came into the ward, the Marine was oblivious of her and of the night noises of the hospital - the clanking of the oxygen tank, the laughter of the night staff members exchanging greetings, the cries and moans of the other patients.
Now and then she heard him say a few gentle words. The dying man said nothing, only held tightly to his son all through the night.
Along towards dawn, the old man died. The Marine released the now lifeless hand he had been holding and went to tell the nurse. While she did what she had to do, he waited.
Finally, she returned. She started to offer words of sympathy, but the Marine interrupted her.
"Who was that man?" he asked.
The nurse was startled, "He was your father," she answered.
"No, he wasn't," the Marine replied. "I never saw him before in my life."
"Then why didn't you say something when I took you to him?"
"I knew right away there had been a mistake, but I also knew he needed his son, and his son just wasn't here.
When I realized that he was too sick to tell whether or not I was his son, knowing how much he needed me, I stayed."
I came here tonight to find a Mr. William Grey.
His son was Killed in Iraq today, and I was sent to inform him. What was this Gentleman's Name?
The Nurse with tears in her eyes answered,
Mr. William Grey.............
My new toys
Saturday, November 27, 2010
7 Sales Pitches Shoppers Can't Resist
We are all going to be exposed to a lot of marketing hype this week as Black Friday approaches. Here are some advertising and sales gimmicks that occur year-round that you should try to avoid falling for.
Bubba and Billy
Bubba and Billy were driving down the road while drinking beer when they spotted a roadblock ahead. "We're gonna get busted," whimpered Billy. "Don't worry," said Bubba. "We'll just pull over and finish drinkin' these beers, then peel off the label and stick it on our foreheads and then toss the bottles under the seat. Just let me do the talking." They downed the beer, threw the empties out of sight and put the labels on their foreheads. When they reached the roadblock, the police officer asked, "You boys been drinking?" "No, sir," said Bubba, pointing at the labels. "Me and Billy are on the patch."
The Best Green Toys of the Season
Whether you're buying for toddlers or teens, these green toys are sure to please.
Millions Are on the Brink of Disaster, as Extended Unemployment Benefits Are in Doubt
Congress has always extended benefits when unemployment was over 7.2%. Today's unemployment rate is over 9% and the lame duck session of Congress has so far failed to extend them.
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Friday, November 26, 2010
Website of the Day
How to Get a Grip
How To Get A Grip is about focusing on the important stuff.
It’s largely a rehashing of common sense, with a couple of practical tips for manning up and getting things done.
How To Get A Grip is about focusing on the important stuff.
It’s largely a rehashing of common sense, with a couple of practical tips for manning up and getting things done.
GOP lawmaker handcuffed for lurking with gun near abortion clinic
A Minnesota Republican lawmaker who was handcuffed and questioned by police after loitering with a gun near a Planned Parenthood clinic has been stripped of his leadership roles in the Minnesota House.
Security cameras recorded State House Rep. Tom Hackbarth as he was stopped by police last week after a security guard at a Planned Parenthood location in St. Paul called to report a man loitering with a handgun visible at his side.
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Security cameras recorded State House Rep. Tom Hackbarth as he was stopped by police last week after a security guard at a Planned Parenthood location in St. Paul called to report a man loitering with a handgun visible at his side.
Read more
Motor Trend editor shreds Limbaugh after attack on Chevy Volt: ‘Driving and Oxycontin don’t mix’
Rush Limbaugh may have met his match.
An editor from Motor Trend magazine has taken the radio talk show juggernaut to task, shredding Limbaugh after he attacked the magazine's credibility and GM's new electic car, the Chevy Volt.
The attack was fueled by comments Limbaugh made after the magazine named the Volt "Car of the Year." In a fit of Limbaughesque rancor, the editor, Todd Lassa, slammed Limbaugh personally, even going so far as to raise Limbaugh's onetime addiction to the painkiller Oxycontin.
Limbaugh attacked the car in little-noticed comments last week. "The Chevrolet Volt is the Car of the Year?" he asked. "Motor Trend magazine, that’s the end of them. How in the world do they have any credibility? Not one has been sold [and] the Volt is the Car of the Year."
Soon after, Motor Trend editor Todd Lassa went on the attack, in a blog post titled, "Rush to Judgment."
"Our credibility, Mr. Limbaugh, comes from actually driving and testing the car, and understanding its advanced technology," Lassa wrote in a blog post on the magazine's website. "It comes from driving and testing virtually every new car sold, and from doing this once a year with all the all-new or significantly improved models all at the same time. We test, make judgments and write about things we understand."
Read more
An editor from Motor Trend magazine has taken the radio talk show juggernaut to task, shredding Limbaugh after he attacked the magazine's credibility and GM's new electic car, the Chevy Volt.
The attack was fueled by comments Limbaugh made after the magazine named the Volt "Car of the Year." In a fit of Limbaughesque rancor, the editor, Todd Lassa, slammed Limbaugh personally, even going so far as to raise Limbaugh's onetime addiction to the painkiller Oxycontin.
Limbaugh attacked the car in little-noticed comments last week. "The Chevrolet Volt is the Car of the Year?" he asked. "Motor Trend magazine, that’s the end of them. How in the world do they have any credibility? Not one has been sold [and] the Volt is the Car of the Year."
Soon after, Motor Trend editor Todd Lassa went on the attack, in a blog post titled, "Rush to Judgment."
"Our credibility, Mr. Limbaugh, comes from actually driving and testing the car, and understanding its advanced technology," Lassa wrote in a blog post on the magazine's website. "It comes from driving and testing virtually every new car sold, and from doing this once a year with all the all-new or significantly improved models all at the same time. We test, make judgments and write about things we understand."
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The Problem
There's a box with a hole at each end and
there's a rabbit in the box. The rabbit sticks his head
out of the hole in one end, and a minute later he sticks
it out the other end.
Half a minute later, his head appears at the opposite end,
a fourth of a minute later it appears at the end opposite
to that one, an eighth of a minute later... etc., etc.
How long will it take before the rabbit sticks its head out
of both ends of the box at the same time?
In theory, two minutes. In practice, no answer is possible
unless you split hares.
there's a rabbit in the box. The rabbit sticks his head
out of the hole in one end, and a minute later he sticks
it out the other end.
Half a minute later, his head appears at the opposite end,
a fourth of a minute later it appears at the end opposite
to that one, an eighth of a minute later... etc., etc.
How long will it take before the rabbit sticks its head out
of both ends of the box at the same time?
In theory, two minutes. In practice, no answer is possible
unless you split hares.
AUSTERITY ON STEROIDS
Ireland is the latest flashpoint of the crisis--and political leaders who spared no expense when banks were in trouble now want workers to pay.
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Corporations Show Largest Profits in History Amidst Jobs Crisis
According to revised statistics, the US economy grew at a faster rate than first expected, up to 2.5%. Earlier growth in Q3 2010 was estimated at 2%. But the entire problem with looking at this topline number is reflected in these three paragraphs:
But the most recent increase in GDP still isn’t strong enough to make a dent in the country’s high unemployment rate, stuck at 9.6% in recent months. Analysts say GDP growth of at least 3% is needed to bring down the jobless figure, but many don’t expect the economy to perform that well in the fourth quarter or early next year.
The Federal Reserve’s latest economic outlook, to be released later Tuesday, is likely to reflect concerns among policymakers that unemployment will remain very high in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.
American corporations, on the other hand, have rebounded robustly from the recession. Tuesday’s report showed corporate profits jumped 28% in the third quarter from a year earlier, to an annualized total of $1.66 trillion. That’s a record high and reflects deep cost-cutting in the past and increases in demand for goods and services.
That’s right. Despite record unemployment, and no hope for reductions clearly in sight, corporations have experienced all-time record profits, the highest since the Commerce Department started tracking the figure 60 years ago. They’ve learned to produce as many or more goods without workers.
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But the most recent increase in GDP still isn’t strong enough to make a dent in the country’s high unemployment rate, stuck at 9.6% in recent months. Analysts say GDP growth of at least 3% is needed to bring down the jobless figure, but many don’t expect the economy to perform that well in the fourth quarter or early next year.
The Federal Reserve’s latest economic outlook, to be released later Tuesday, is likely to reflect concerns among policymakers that unemployment will remain very high in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.
American corporations, on the other hand, have rebounded robustly from the recession. Tuesday’s report showed corporate profits jumped 28% in the third quarter from a year earlier, to an annualized total of $1.66 trillion. That’s a record high and reflects deep cost-cutting in the past and increases in demand for goods and services.
That’s right. Despite record unemployment, and no hope for reductions clearly in sight, corporations have experienced all-time record profits, the highest since the Commerce Department started tracking the figure 60 years ago. They’ve learned to produce as many or more goods without workers.
Read more
Braggarts at 'site' of the crime
Facebook 'em, Dano.
Dopey criminals are making life easier for cops by bragging about their murders, rapes and robberies on social sites, often with telltale photos or clips that can put them away.
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube have become everyday crime-fighting tools, police say.
Gun-toting Manhattan thief James Roberts gave detectives all they needed to bust him: ill-advised crowing on his MySpace page a day after he mugged a man at a Chelsea bus stop.
"This guy's boasting, 'I've got new bling!' " said a police source.
Roberts, 27, sealed his fate with pictures of himself and his ill-gotten gain, which included an expensive watch and ring he swiped from the victim at 10th Avenue and 25th Street in 2008.
Read more
Dopey criminals are making life easier for cops by bragging about their murders, rapes and robberies on social sites, often with telltale photos or clips that can put them away.
Facebook, MySpace, Twitter and YouTube have become everyday crime-fighting tools, police say.
Gun-toting Manhattan thief James Roberts gave detectives all they needed to bust him: ill-advised crowing on his MySpace page a day after he mugged a man at a Chelsea bus stop.
"This guy's boasting, 'I've got new bling!' " said a police source.
Roberts, 27, sealed his fate with pictures of himself and his ill-gotten gain, which included an expensive watch and ring he swiped from the victim at 10th Avenue and 25th Street in 2008.
Read more
Why I'm Happy I Became a Prostitute
Some of the nicest men I've ever met were my clients. We must move beyond cartoonish depictions of villainous, lustful men victimizing vulnerable women.
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A Declaration of Deserving
You are worthy of your desires. Really wanting what you want gives you the power to get it. You were born free. (The more you try to earn your freedom, the more trapped you become.) You are worthy of love and respect. Lovable.
You deserve
: eye contact
: smiles in the morning
: food made with pure intention
: clean drinking water, fresh air
: Hello, Please, Thank you.
: time to think about it
: a chance to show them what you're made of
: a second chance
: an education
: health care, including dental
: multiple orgasms
: weekends and the summer off
: 8 hours of sleep
: play before work
: to change your mind
: to say no
: to say yes
: to have your deepest needs met
: to be seen
: to be loved for what is seen.
You deserve all this just because you showed up.
Yep, you're that monumental.
You deserve
: eye contact
: smiles in the morning
: food made with pure intention
: clean drinking water, fresh air
: Hello, Please, Thank you.
: time to think about it
: a chance to show them what you're made of
: a second chance
: an education
: health care, including dental
: multiple orgasms
: weekends and the summer off
: 8 hours of sleep
: play before work
: to change your mind
: to say no
: to say yes
: to have your deepest needs met
: to be seen
: to be loved for what is seen.
You deserve all this just because you showed up.
Yep, you're that monumental.
"The United States today is like a cruise ship on the Niagara River upstream of the most spectacular falls in North America," Johnson warned. "A few people on board have begun to pick up a slight hiss in the background, to observe a faint haze of mist in the air on their glasses, to note that the river current seems to be running slightly faster. But no one yet seems to have realized that it is almost too late to head for shore. Like the Chinese, Ottoman, Hapsburg, imperial German, Nazi, imperial Japanese, British, French, Dutch, Portuguese, and Soviet empires in the last century, we are approaching the edge of a huge waterfall and are about to plunge over it."
Chalmers Johnson
Chalmers Johnson
Save $ on your heat bills
Opt for a weatherproofing kit. If you buy plastic shrink wrap, weather stripping, and electrical-outlet sealers individually, you’ll pay about 30 percent more than if you buy them in a set ($58, amconservationgroup.com). Use all the components and you’ll reduce your energy costs by up to 20 percent.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Today's Quote
Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
- William Arthur Ward
23 Things We're Thankul For
From the Chilean miners' miracle rescue to the McRib's return and Suu Kyi's bravery, see the gallery of 23 cultural touchstones getting shout-outs at the Thanksgiving table this year.
Twas the night of Thanksgiving
Twas the night of Thanksgiving
But I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards
I tried counting sheep
The leftovers beckoned
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptations
with all of my might
Tossing and turning with anticipation
The thought of a snack became infatuation
so, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore
Gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round
Till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees
Happy eating ot all- Pass the cranberries , please
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump
May your potatoes N Gravy have nary a lump
May your Yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize
May your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs !!!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. There is so much to be thankful for.
But I just couldn't sleep
I tried counting backwards
I tried counting sheep
The leftovers beckoned
The dark meat and white
But I fought the temptations
with all of my might
Tossing and turning with anticipation
The thought of a snack became infatuation
so, I raced to the kitchen, flung open the door
and gazed at the fridge, full of goodies galore
Gobbled up turkey and buttered potatoes,
pickles and carrots, beans and tomatoes.
I felt myself swelling so plump and so round
Till all of a sudden, I rose off the ground
I crashed through the ceiling, floating into the sky
with a mouthful of pudding and a handful of pie
But, I managed to yell as I soared past the trees
Happy eating ot all- Pass the cranberries , please
May your stuffing be tasty
May your turkey be plump
May your potatoes N Gravy have nary a lump
May your Yams be delicious
May your pies take the prize
May your thanksgiving dinner stay off of your thighs !!!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone. There is so much to be thankful for.
My easy contributions for the Thanksgiving feast
Rolo Pretzel Snacks
Preheat oven to 250.
Cover baking sheet with parchment paper and place mini pretzels on parchment paper.
Place a piece of Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.
Bake at 250 for 5 minutes.
When you remove from oven place a pretzel on top of the softened Rolo.
Cool and enjoy!
Apple Salad
2 small containers Cool Whip.
1 bag mini marshmallows
Granny Smith Apples - cut in bite size pieces.
Dry roasted peanuts
seedless grapes - cut in bite size pieces
mini Snickers bars - cut into small pieces
chopped celery
Mix all together in proportions you desire.
Keep refrigerated.
Banana Split Brownies
Bake one family size box of brownies according to package instructions.
Cool.
Top with sliced bananas.
Cover bananas with Cool whip.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Place chopped pecans and maraschino cherries cut in half on top for decoration.
Keep refrigerated.
I picked up a candy jar at the dollar store and filled it with these, added some ribbon and presto....instant hostess gift!
Preheat oven to 250.
Cover baking sheet with parchment paper and place mini pretzels on parchment paper.
Place a piece of Rolo candy on top of each pretzel.
Bake at 250 for 5 minutes.
When you remove from oven place a pretzel on top of the softened Rolo.
Cool and enjoy!
Apple Salad
2 small containers Cool Whip.
1 bag mini marshmallows
Granny Smith Apples - cut in bite size pieces.
Dry roasted peanuts
seedless grapes - cut in bite size pieces
mini Snickers bars - cut into small pieces
chopped celery
Mix all together in proportions you desire.
Keep refrigerated.
Banana Split Brownies
Bake one family size box of brownies according to package instructions.
Cool.
Top with sliced bananas.
Cover bananas with Cool whip.
Drizzle with chocolate syrup.
Place chopped pecans and maraschino cherries cut in half on top for decoration.
Keep refrigerated.
Tips for a happy Thanksgiving
Do you want to have a regret-free holiday? Then you need this 15-point Thanksgiving pledge.
Thanksgiving Prayer
A 4-year-old boy was asked to pray before Thanksgiving dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation.
He began his prayer, thanking the Lord for all his friends, naming them one by one.
Then he thanked the Lord for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank the Lord for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.
Then he paused, and everyone waited -- and waited.
After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank the Lord for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?"
He began his prayer, thanking the Lord for all his friends, naming them one by one.
Then he thanked the Lord for Mommy, Daddy, brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank the Lord for the food. He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad, the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.
Then he paused, and everyone waited -- and waited.
After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, "If I thank the Lord for the broccoli, won't he know that I'm lying?"
Sweet Potato Biscuits
2 Tsp Baking Powder
1/2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Salt
1/4 Cup Butter, chilled and cubed
1 Cup Sweet Potatoes, cooked & mashed
1/3 Cup Milk
2 Tbsp Honey
Cooking Spray
Preheat oven to 400 F.
Place the first 4 ingredients in a food processor and pulse to combine.
Add butter and pulse till it resembles coarse meal.
Add sweet potatoes, milk and honey and pulse till dough comes together.
Place dough onto parchment paper and knead 5 times together and shape into a flat disk.
Place another parchment paper on top and roll out 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick and cut into biscuits.
Place biscuits on a silpat or parchment lined baking sheet coated with cooking spray.
Bake for 15 minutes or until lightly golden.
Cool and serve.
5 Ways to Deal With Your Conservative Relatives This Thanksgiving
How does one deal with the conservatives at the family table while avoiding a massive food fight? Stay calm and relaxed, and follow these simple guidelines.
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8 Things Progressive Can Be Thankful For
Chin up, after all we've got Rachel Maddow, health care, Pittsburgh's f-you to corporate control, and a whole lot more to be thankful for.
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Wednesday, November 24, 2010
US Designates 'Critical' Polar Bear Habitat in Arctic
The US government on Wednesday designated "critical habitat" for polar bears who live on Alaska's disappearing sea ice, a move that could impact new oil and gas drilling projects in the Arctic.
The Fish and Wildlife Service set aside 187,000 square miles (484,000 square kilometers) off Alaska as the threatened bears' habitat, which means any project that could impact the animals' way of life must undergo careful review.
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The Fish and Wildlife Service set aside 187,000 square miles (484,000 square kilometers) off Alaska as the threatened bears' habitat, which means any project that could impact the animals' way of life must undergo careful review.
Read more
New poll undercuts GOP claims of a midterm mandate
A majority of Americans want the Congress to keep the new health care law or actually expand it, despite Republican claims that they have a mandate from the people to kill it, a new McClatchy-Marist poll shows. The poll also shows that a majority also wants to end the Bush-era taxcuts for the wealthy.
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Caramel-Drizzled Pumpkin Poke Cake
1 box Betty Crocker® SuperMoist® yellow cake mix
1 cup (from 15-oz can) pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup vegetable oil
4 eggs
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Topping
1 can (14 oz) sweetened condensed milk
2 jars (12 oz each) hot fudge topping
1 container (12 oz) Betty Crocker® Whipped fluffy white frosting
1/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted
2 tablespoons caramel topping
1. Heat oven to 350°F (325°F for dark or nonstick pan). Grease or spray bottom of 13x9-inch pan.
2. In large bowl, beat cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs and pumpkin pie spice with electric mixer on low speed until moistened. Beat 2 minutes on medium speed. Pour into pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until cake springs back when touched lightly in center.
3. Immediately poke cake every inch with handle of wooden spoon halfway into cake. Drizzle condensed milk evenly over top of cake; let stand until milk has been absorbed into cake, about 5 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, place hot fudge in medium microwavable bowl. Microwave uncovered on High 15 to 30 seconds or until smooth. Spoon and spread over cake, pressing slightly into holes. Run knife around sides of pan to loosen cake. Cover and refrigerate about 2 hours or until chilled.
5. Spread frosting over top of cake. Sprinkle with pecans.
6. Just before serving, drizzle caramel sauce over each serving of cake. Store cake loosely covered in refrigerator.
Nothing is impossible: How one man with Locked-in Syndrome defied doctors to live life to the fullest
Driving across South Africa on a quad bike, writing two books and taking up scuba diving is an impressive list of feats for anyone.
But what makes Dr Cival Mills achievement truly remarkable is that he can barely move a muscle.
On December 8, 2000, Cival then 26, was just five days from finishing his hospital internship when he was involved in a car crash.
When he awoke in intensive care following surgery he was horrified to realise he had locked-in syndrome. This is a ‘living nightmare’ condition, where patients are fully conscious but can only move their eyes.
‘I knew that I was in hospital and that I could not breathe - a machine was breathing for me,’ Dr Mills explained, via a computer pad he operates with his left hand.
‘My body felt heavy and weightless and completely out of my control. I could not speak or move at all I couldn’t even swallow my own saliva.
‘I would try to lift my arm or move my tongue and there was nothing. It was like living in a submarine and peering out a periscope at the world.
‘All I could hear was the sound of the different machines keeping me alive. And when I fell asleep I had terrible recurring dreams.
‘I remember thinking: “This can not be forever, please don’t let this be forever.”’
Read more
But what makes Dr Cival Mills achievement truly remarkable is that he can barely move a muscle.
On December 8, 2000, Cival then 26, was just five days from finishing his hospital internship when he was involved in a car crash.
When he awoke in intensive care following surgery he was horrified to realise he had locked-in syndrome. This is a ‘living nightmare’ condition, where patients are fully conscious but can only move their eyes.
‘I knew that I was in hospital and that I could not breathe - a machine was breathing for me,’ Dr Mills explained, via a computer pad he operates with his left hand.
‘My body felt heavy and weightless and completely out of my control. I could not speak or move at all I couldn’t even swallow my own saliva.
‘I would try to lift my arm or move my tongue and there was nothing. It was like living in a submarine and peering out a periscope at the world.
‘All I could hear was the sound of the different machines keeping me alive. And when I fell asleep I had terrible recurring dreams.
‘I remember thinking: “This can not be forever, please don’t let this be forever.”’
Read more
10 Award Winning Toys Under $10
When it comes to holiday shopping for the perfect toys, everybody loves a winner. This season, as we determine how to make the most of our gift budget, leading toy experts have highlighted the best of the bunch with awards and honors designed to shine a spotlight on serious fun.
After months of road testing and evaluating hundreds of new and updated toys and games, the toy-ologists at Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the Tillywig Awards, Dr. Toy, Disney's Family Fun Magazine, the Parent's Choice Awards and the esteemed members of the Toy Industry Association came up with their recommendations for the best of 2010.
After reviewing the award lists, WalletPop selected 10 winners priced at a budget-friendly $10 or less.
Read more
After months of road testing and evaluating hundreds of new and updated toys and games, the toy-ologists at Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, the Tillywig Awards, Dr. Toy, Disney's Family Fun Magazine, the Parent's Choice Awards and the esteemed members of the Toy Industry Association came up with their recommendations for the best of 2010.
After reviewing the award lists, WalletPop selected 10 winners priced at a budget-friendly $10 or less.
Read more
Ten Toasty-Warm Cocktails for a Cold Winter Night
By Vicki Santillano
Hot cocktails are the perfect prescription for chilly autumn and winter nights. Fortified with brown liquors and heavy creams and spiced with seasonal flavors, like cinnamon and mint, these hearty beverages are comfort in a glass.
Read more
Hot cocktails are the perfect prescription for chilly autumn and winter nights. Fortified with brown liquors and heavy creams and spiced with seasonal flavors, like cinnamon and mint, these hearty beverages are comfort in a glass.
Read more
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
2010 Worst Toys List
As you make your holiday shopping list, here are this year's nominees for unsafe toys, that experts don't recommend buying. Remember also that age recommendations such as ones that say age three and up, have less to do with skill and ability levels necessary to enjoy the toy, and more to do with the fact that it might contain small parts that could become a choking hazard for very young children.
Pumpkin Cheesecake with Caramel Sauce
2 cups crushed teddy bear-shaped cinnamon graham snacks (from 10-oz box)
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
Filling
4 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
3/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
Spiced Caramel-Rum Sauce
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup light or dark corn syrup
2 tablespoons butter or margarine
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon spiced rum or 1/4 teaspoon rum extract
Garnish
Sweetened whipped cream, if desired
1. Heat oven to 300°F. Spray 9-inch springform pan with cooking spray. Wrap foil around pan to catch drips. In small bowl, mix crust ingredients. Press mixture in bottom and 1 inch up side of pan. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool 5 minutes. To minimize cracking, place shallow pan half full of hot water on lower oven rack.
2. In large bowl, beat cream cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended. Spoon 3 cups of the mixture onto crust; spread evenly. To remaining cream cheese mixture, add pumpkin, pumpkin pie spice and cardamom; mix with wire whisk until smooth. Spoon over mixture in pan.
3. Bake 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 25 minutes or until edge of cheesecake is set at least 2 inches from edge of pan but center of cheesecake still jiggles slightly when moved. Run small metal spatula around edge of pan to loosen cheesecake. Turn oven off; open oven door at least 4 inches. Let cheesecake remain in oven 30 minutes. Cool in pan on cooling rack 30 minutes. Cover loosely; refrigerate at least 6 hours but no longer than 24 hours.
4. In small saucepan, heat brown sugar, corn syrup and 2 tablespoons butter to boiling over medium-low heat, stirring constantly. Boil 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in whipping cream; heat to boiling. Remove from heat; stir in rum. Cool until warm.
5. Just before serving, run small metal spatula around edge of pan; carefully remove side of pan. Top individual slices with warm sauce and a dollop of whipped cream. Cover and refrigerate any remaining cheesecake.
Here's the joke
Bob hadn't been to a class reunion in decades. When he walked
into this latest one, he thought he recognized a woman over
in the corner, so he approached her and extended his hand in
greeting, saying, "You look like Helen Brown."
"Well," the woman snapped back, "you don't look so great in
blue, either!"
into this latest one, he thought he recognized a woman over
in the corner, so he approached her and extended his hand in
greeting, saying, "You look like Helen Brown."
"Well," the woman snapped back, "you don't look so great in
blue, either!"
The Plot to Discredit 'Sicko'
The same people who were duped over us invading Iraq - are mostly the same people duped with regards to health care. These clips show how desperate the industry was to dupe you!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Website of the Day
You’re just, say, $2.95 away from qualifying for free shipping from Amazon.com, but how can you reach that magical $25? Head to Filleritem.com, type “$2.95” into the search field, and you’ll get a list of Amazon-sold products that cost about that much.
The story of Ralph and Edna
From Spadoman at Round Circle
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'
Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'
Just because someone doesn't love you the way you want them to, doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have Ralph and Edna were both patients in a mental hospital. One day while they were walking past the hospital swimming pool. Ralph suddenly jumped into the deep end.
He sank to the bottom of the pool and stayed there.
Edna promptly jumped in to save him. She swam to the bottom and pulled him out. When the Head Nurse Director became aware of Edna's heroic act she immediately ordered her to be discharged from the hospital, as she now considered her to be mentally stable.
When she went to tell Edna the news she said, 'Edna, I have good news and bad news. The good news is you're being discharged, since you were able to rationally respond to a crisis by jumping in and saving the life of the person you love. I have concluded that your act displays sound mindedness.
The bad news is, Ralph hung himself in the bathroom with his bathrobe belt right after you saved him. I am so sorry, but he's dead.'
Edna replied, 'He didn't hang himself, I put him there to dry. How soon can I go home?'
Islamophobia Inc.
An entire industry dedicated to anti-Muslim bigotry has sprung up since 9/11--and it's big business for a motley assortment of racists and reactionaries.
Read more
Read more
Sunday, November 21, 2010
In Memoriam
This Week with Christiane Amanpour notes the passings of John K. Beling and Liang Congjie. In addition, the Pentagon has released the names of eighteen service members killed in Afghanistan.
US Air Force SrA Andrew S Bubacz, 23, Dalzell, SC
US Army CPL Shawn D Fannin, 32, Wheelersberg, OH
US Army SGT Edward H Bolen, 25, Chittenango, NY
US Army SPC Shannon Chihuahua, 25, Thomasville, GA
US Army SPC David C Lutes, 28, Frostberg, MD
US Army SSG Juan L Rivadeneira, 27, Davie, FL
US Army CPL Jacob R Carver, 20, Freeman, MO
US Army SPC Jacob C Carroll, 20, Clemmons, NC
US Army SSG Kevin M Pape, 30, Fort Wayne, IN
US Marines SSgt Javier O Ortiz Rivera, 26, Rochester, NY
US Army SPC Shane H Ahmed, 31, Chesterfield, MI
US Army SPC Nathan E Lillard, 26, Knoxville, TN
US Army SPC Scott T Nagorski, 27, Greenfield, WI
US Army SPC Jesse A Snow, 25, Fairborn, OH
US Army PFC Christian M Warriner, 19, Mills River, NC
US Army SSG David P Senft, 27, Grass Valley, CA
US Army PFC Kyle M Holder, 18, Conroe, TX
US Army SPC Justin E Culbreth, 26, Colorado Springs, CO
Another Blonde Joke
A blonde went to a helicopter flight school insisting she wanted to learn to fly that day.
As all the planes were currently in use, the owner agreed to instruct her on how to pilot the helicopter solo by radio.
He took her out, showed her how to start it and gave her the basics, and sent her on her way.
After she climbed 1000 feet, she radioed in. "I'm doing great! I love it! The view is so beautiful, and I'm starting to get the hang of this."
After 2000 feet, she radioed again, saying how easy it was becoming to fly.
The instructor watched her climb over 3000 feet, and was beginning to worry that she hadn't radioed in.
A few minutes later, he watched in horror as she crashed about half a mile away.
He ran over and pulled her from the wreckage. When he asked what happened, she said: "I don't know! Everything was going fine, but as I got higher, I was starting to get cold. I can't remember anything after I turned off the big fan."
As all the planes were currently in use, the owner agreed to instruct her on how to pilot the helicopter solo by radio.
He took her out, showed her how to start it and gave her the basics, and sent her on her way.
After she climbed 1000 feet, she radioed in. "I'm doing great! I love it! The view is so beautiful, and I'm starting to get the hang of this."
After 2000 feet, she radioed again, saying how easy it was becoming to fly.
The instructor watched her climb over 3000 feet, and was beginning to worry that she hadn't radioed in.
A few minutes later, he watched in horror as she crashed about half a mile away.
He ran over and pulled her from the wreckage. When he asked what happened, she said: "I don't know! Everything was going fine, but as I got higher, I was starting to get cold. I can't remember anything after I turned off the big fan."
Truisims
1. The first pancake always turns out badly.
2. You don’t have to get along with everyone, or make everyone like you.
3. Love makes you stupid.
4. You always have at least 2 choices, even if you don’t like your choices.
5. Sometimes even women need to learn to MTFU.
6. Most people operate out of selfish motivations.
7. It’s rarely about you.
8. Soda is evil.
9. It’s okay to break the rules, as long as you are good enough not to get caught, and you aren’t hurting anyone.
10. “Be kinder than necessary ’cause everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
11. There’s three sides to every story- his, hers, and the truth.
12. Time doesn’t heal anything- it’s what you do with that time.
13. Complaining and blaming other people doesn’t help anything, and makes you miserable company.
14. Everything in your life is your responsibility.
15. You train people how to treat you.
16. There’s always hope.
17. You can always be grateful for something.
18. If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t trying hard enough.
19. You never really become an adult. You just get more responsibility, and become wiser.
20. Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness. Knowing when it is appropriate is a skill.
21. Google can answer anything.
22. Being silly is one of my favorite qualities in a person.
23. Honesty is always the easiest route. Even if it’s not in the short term.
24. You should never stop learning, or trying to be a better person.
25. Worrying is useless, unless it motivates you to take action.
26. When people show you who they are, believe them.
27. There is only fear, and love. And one of them is way more fun.
2. You don’t have to get along with everyone, or make everyone like you.
3. Love makes you stupid.
4. You always have at least 2 choices, even if you don’t like your choices.
5. Sometimes even women need to learn to MTFU.
6. Most people operate out of selfish motivations.
7. It’s rarely about you.
8. Soda is evil.
9. It’s okay to break the rules, as long as you are good enough not to get caught, and you aren’t hurting anyone.
10. “Be kinder than necessary ’cause everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.”
11. There’s three sides to every story- his, hers, and the truth.
12. Time doesn’t heal anything- it’s what you do with that time.
13. Complaining and blaming other people doesn’t help anything, and makes you miserable company.
14. Everything in your life is your responsibility.
15. You train people how to treat you.
16. There’s always hope.
17. You can always be grateful for something.
18. If you aren’t making mistakes, you aren’t trying hard enough.
19. You never really become an adult. You just get more responsibility, and become wiser.
20. Showing emotion is not a sign of weakness. Knowing when it is appropriate is a skill.
21. Google can answer anything.
22. Being silly is one of my favorite qualities in a person.
23. Honesty is always the easiest route. Even if it’s not in the short term.
24. You should never stop learning, or trying to be a better person.
25. Worrying is useless, unless it motivates you to take action.
26. When people show you who they are, believe them.
27. There is only fear, and love. And one of them is way more fun.
Website of the Day
Unsure whether that head of lettuce is still edible? Visit Stilltasty.com to find out if your greens should be tossed or not. Simply search for the food (or beverage) in question, indicate how long you’ve had it and whether it has been opened, and you’ll find out if you can safely nosh.
Chocolate Pecan Pie
What's even better than a piping hot pecan pie? A piping hot pecan CHOCOLATE pie!
Ingredients
* 1 9 inch pie crust
* 3 eggs, slightly beaten
* 1 cup Karo light or dark corn syrup
* 1/2 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips, melted
* 2 tablespoons butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/2 pecans
Instructions
1. Combine eggs, corn syrup, sugar, chocolate, butter and vanilla until well blended. Stir in pecans. Pour into pie crust.
2. Bake in 350 degrees F oven for 50 to 60 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Cool before serving.
Rebooting the American Dream: Bring My Job Home!
Thom Hartmann
"The simple fact is that we no longer make computers or TVs or clothes or power tools or toys or pretty much anything in the USA, except military hardware, processed food, and pharmaceuticals. So when we 'stimulate' our economy by putting money into the pockets of working people, they go to Wal-Mart and buy things made in Asia - creating jobs in that part of the world. So here is the first big way we can reboot the economy: lose our recent fascination - obsession, really - with 'free trade,' get back to protectionism, and impose tariffs (import taxes) on imported consumer goods as we used to do."
Read the Article
"The simple fact is that we no longer make computers or TVs or clothes or power tools or toys or pretty much anything in the USA, except military hardware, processed food, and pharmaceuticals. So when we 'stimulate' our economy by putting money into the pockets of working people, they go to Wal-Mart and buy things made in Asia - creating jobs in that part of the world. So here is the first big way we can reboot the economy: lose our recent fascination - obsession, really - with 'free trade,' get back to protectionism, and impose tariffs (import taxes) on imported consumer goods as we used to do."
Read the Article
Sales are a Pitch
"Hey I'll give you two toys next week if you give me yours today." To a 6-year-old, this may seem tempting, but it still doesn't solve the problem of being toy-less now. Sales pitches have the same motive as an eager 6-year-old: they want your toys. But think back to when you were a child; would you have really given up that toy? As you prepare for holiday shopping in the upcoming weeks, be wary of special offers like these:
Time-contingent: "For a limited time only!" Anytime a person feels that they may miss out on something, rational thinking tends to slip. And "limited" sales often continue past their advertised end-date, or come back a week or so later.
Limits: "Only 4 per customer." Just like with time, when a person feels limited, they're much more likely to make rash decisions. So remember, just because you can buy only three turkeys, doesn't mean you need to.
"Free" Gifts: Oh the temptation of that free commemorative glass, free lamp, or free shipping. Slap "free" across just about anything and you get people's attention. But if you're $10 away from a "free" gift, that gift is costing you $10 more than you were going to spend in the first place.
Discounts: OK, so discounts can be a great deal, if they're for something already on your list. Stores are great at catching shoppers' attention with 30% off this and $50 off that, but the discount is only as good the actual savings you receive. Why save $50 on a new TV if you're going to end up spending $250 more than planned?
Buying in Bulk: 2 for 1, 3 for 5 . . . sure it's a great discount, but do you really need two toasters? Even though you're getting a discount, if you were not going to buy multiples of something to begin with, don't let bulk get the better of you.
Accessories: Stores love to place all sorts of enticing extras right where you can't miss them – the register. Maybe it's that matching necklace, or clearance pair of gloves. Either way, don't let last minute temptations get the better of you.
If you're in the market for a new stove, and there happens to be one with a promotion, great! Just remember, if it's not on your list, do you really need it? Writing out a shopping list before you enter a store is always a good idea to help you avoid becoming a victim of the holiday sales come-ons.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
Time-contingent: "For a limited time only!" Anytime a person feels that they may miss out on something, rational thinking tends to slip. And "limited" sales often continue past their advertised end-date, or come back a week or so later.
Limits: "Only 4 per customer." Just like with time, when a person feels limited, they're much more likely to make rash decisions. So remember, just because you can buy only three turkeys, doesn't mean you need to.
"Free" Gifts: Oh the temptation of that free commemorative glass, free lamp, or free shipping. Slap "free" across just about anything and you get people's attention. But if you're $10 away from a "free" gift, that gift is costing you $10 more than you were going to spend in the first place.
Discounts: OK, so discounts can be a great deal, if they're for something already on your list. Stores are great at catching shoppers' attention with 30% off this and $50 off that, but the discount is only as good the actual savings you receive. Why save $50 on a new TV if you're going to end up spending $250 more than planned?
Buying in Bulk: 2 for 1, 3 for 5 . . . sure it's a great discount, but do you really need two toasters? Even though you're getting a discount, if you were not going to buy multiples of something to begin with, don't let bulk get the better of you.
Accessories: Stores love to place all sorts of enticing extras right where you can't miss them – the register. Maybe it's that matching necklace, or clearance pair of gloves. Either way, don't let last minute temptations get the better of you.
If you're in the market for a new stove, and there happens to be one with a promotion, great! Just remember, if it's not on your list, do you really need it? Writing out a shopping list before you enter a store is always a good idea to help you avoid becoming a victim of the holiday sales come-ons.
Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
A Declaration of Deserving
You are worthy of your desires. Really wanting what you want gives you the power to get it. You were born free. (The more you try to earn your freedom, the more trapped you become.) You are worthy of love and respect. Lovable.
You deserve
: eye contact
: smiles in the morning
: food made with pure intention
: clean drinking water, fresh air
: Hello, Please, Thank you.
: time to think about it
: a chance to show them what you're made of
: a second chance
: an education
: health care, including dental
: multiple orgasms
: weekends and the summer off
: 8 hours of sleep
: play before work
: to change your mind
: to say no
: to say yes
: to have your deepest needs met
: to be seen
: to be loved for what is seen.
You deserve all this just because you showed up.
Yep, you're that monumental.
You deserve
: eye contact
: smiles in the morning
: food made with pure intention
: clean drinking water, fresh air
: Hello, Please, Thank you.
: time to think about it
: a chance to show them what you're made of
: a second chance
: an education
: health care, including dental
: multiple orgasms
: weekends and the summer off
: 8 hours of sleep
: play before work
: to change your mind
: to say no
: to say yes
: to have your deepest needs met
: to be seen
: to be loved for what is seen.
You deserve all this just because you showed up.
Yep, you're that monumental.
The Manifesto of Encouragement
Right now:
There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.
Someone you haven't met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.
Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.
Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God's children.
A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, "nourish them."
Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you. Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favourite food is, and treat you to a movie. Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you -- for free.
Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.
The next great song is being rehearsed.
Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.
Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.
Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they'll be thriving like never before. They just can't see it from where they're at.
Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to ARRIVE, will get precisely what they want -- and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it's reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all "So worth the wait."
Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche -- this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.
Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.
Someone is fighting the fight so that you don't have to.
Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe. Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.
Someone is regaining their sanity. Someone is coming back from the dead. Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable. Someone is curing the incurable.
There are Tibetan Buddhist monks in a temple in the Himalayas endlessly reciting mantras for the cessation of your suffering and for the flourishing of your happiness.
Someone you haven't met yet is already dreaming of adoring you.
Someone is writing a book that you will read in the next two years that will change how you look at life.
Nuns in the Alps are in endless vigil, praying for the Holy Spirit to alight the hearts of all of God's children.
A farmer is looking at his organic crops and whispering, "nourish them."
Someone wants to kiss you, to hold you, to make tea for you. Someone is willing to lend you money, wants to know what your favourite food is, and treat you to a movie. Someone in your orbit has something immensely valuable to give you -- for free.
Something is being invented this year that will change how your generation lives, communicates, heals and passes on.
The next great song is being rehearsed.
Thousands of people are in yoga classes right now intentionally sending light out from their heart chakras and wrapping it around the earth.
Millions of children are assuming that everything is amazing and will always be that way.
Someone is in profound pain, and a few months from now, they'll be thriving like never before. They just can't see it from where they're at.
Someone who is craving to be partnered, to be acknowledged, to ARRIVE, will get precisely what they want -- and even more. And because that gift will be so fantastical in it's reach and sweetness, it will quite magically alter their memory of angsty longing and render it all "So worth the wait."
Someone has recently cracked open their joyous, genuine nature because they did the hard work of hauling years of oppression off of their psyche -- this luminous juju is floating in the ether, and is accessible to you.
Someone just this second wished for world peace, in earnest.
Someone is fighting the fight so that you don't have to.
Some civil servant is making sure that you get your mail, and your garbage is picked up, that the trains are running on time, and that you are generally safe. Someone is dedicating their days to protecting your civil liberties and clean drinking water.
Someone is regaining their sanity. Someone is coming back from the dead. Someone is genuinely forgiving the seemingly unforgivable. Someone is curing the incurable.
The Truth About Health Insurance Premiums
The new law has brought increases for some. But GOP leaders exaggerate.
Leading Republicans in Congress are blaming the new health care law for double-digit rate increases being sought by insurance companies in Washington state, New York and Connecticut. But insurance regulators, leading health care experts and the companies themselves mostly blame an old culprit: rising medical costs.
Improved benefits required by the new law are responsible for a relatively small portion of the increases. Furthermore, the increases apply mostly to those buying policies individually, not the majority who get private insurance through employers. Those with employer-provided plans won’t see as much of an increase in premiums, since many of their policies already include the required benefits, a spokesman for an insurance trade association told us.
Some Republicans have claimed the law is responsible for "whopping" premium increases, but they have misrepresented the facts in the process. For example:
* House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner said premiums will "skyrocket" because of the law, citing a report on rising premiums by the Kaiser Family Foundation. But the Kaiser report covered increases that took effect before the law was signed.
* Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell points to a news story about a Washington insurance provider that blamed premium increases on the health care law. But the state insurance commissioner says the increase had "absolutely nothing to do with health care reform," and the insurance company later admitted the law is only partly at fault.
* Both politicians refer to premiums for new plans on the individual market, where only about 6 percent of those with insurance now get their coverage.
Stories about some big increases may come as a shock to those who recall President Barack Obama’s often-repeated promise that the new law would reduce most people’s premiums and bring about lower medical costs — optimistic promises that remain question marks at this point. Still, Republicans go too far when they say the law, rather than rising medical costs, is chiefly responsible for big premium hikes.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed at FactCheck.org
Summary
Leading Republicans in Congress are blaming the new health care law for double-digit rate increases being sought by insurance companies in Washington state, New York and Connecticut. But insurance regulators, leading health care experts and the companies themselves mostly blame an old culprit: rising medical costs.
Improved benefits required by the new law are responsible for a relatively small portion of the increases. Furthermore, the increases apply mostly to those buying policies individually, not the majority who get private insurance through employers. Those with employer-provided plans won’t see as much of an increase in premiums, since many of their policies already include the required benefits, a spokesman for an insurance trade association told us.
Some Republicans have claimed the law is responsible for "whopping" premium increases, but they have misrepresented the facts in the process. For example:
* House Speaker-in-waiting John Boehner said premiums will "skyrocket" because of the law, citing a report on rising premiums by the Kaiser Family Foundation. But the Kaiser report covered increases that took effect before the law was signed.
* Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell points to a news story about a Washington insurance provider that blamed premium increases on the health care law. But the state insurance commissioner says the increase had "absolutely nothing to do with health care reform," and the insurance company later admitted the law is only partly at fault.
* Both politicians refer to premiums for new plans on the individual market, where only about 6 percent of those with insurance now get their coverage.
Stories about some big increases may come as a shock to those who recall President Barack Obama’s often-repeated promise that the new law would reduce most people’s premiums and bring about lower medical costs — optimistic promises that remain question marks at this point. Still, Republicans go too far when they say the law, rather than rising medical costs, is chiefly responsible for big premium hikes.
Note: This is a summary only. The full article with analysis, images and citations may be viewed at FactCheck.org
The GOP bring us.....DEATH PANELS!!!!!!!!!
Website of the Day
Enter any URL into the free website Web2pdfconvert.com and with the click of a button you can convert the Web page into a PDF—your bank statement or a cookie recipe, for example.
World Comparison Shows Sorry State of US Healthcare
A third of Americans say they have gone without medical care or skipped filling a prescription because of cost, compared to 5 percent in the Netherlands, according to study released on Thursday.
The study is the latest in a series by the non-profit Commonwealth Fund showing that while Americans pay far more per capita for healthcare, they are unhappier with the results and less healthy than people in other rich countries.
Read more
The study is the latest in a series by the non-profit Commonwealth Fund showing that while Americans pay far more per capita for healthcare, they are unhappier with the results and less healthy than people in other rich countries.
Read more
Friday, November 19, 2010
Republicans vote unanimously against equal pay for women
Senate Republicans voted unanimously Wednesday against a bill that would work to ensure fair pay for women, the Paycheck Fairness Act. The vote was 58-41.
Despite the Senate having majority support, Democrats couldn't muster the 60 votes they needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.
Several Republicans who voted for another women's rights bill last year, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, opposed this iteration.
Read more
Despite the Senate having majority support, Democrats couldn't muster the 60 votes they needed to overcome a Republican filibuster.
Several Republicans who voted for another women's rights bill last year, The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, opposed this iteration.
Read more
Website of the Day
energystar.gov
Depending on where you live, you may not need insulation with the highest R-value (a measure of its ability to resist heat flow). For example, outfitting an 800-square-foot attic in Florida with high-quality R-60 fiberglass loose fill would cost about $2,480, whereas using R-30, which is sufficient in warmer climates, would run only about $1,120. To find out how much insulation you need, go to energystar.gov.
Depending on where you live, you may not need insulation with the highest R-value (a measure of its ability to resist heat flow). For example, outfitting an 800-square-foot attic in Florida with high-quality R-60 fiberglass loose fill would cost about $2,480, whereas using R-30, which is sufficient in warmer climates, would run only about $1,120. To find out how much insulation you need, go to energystar.gov.
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