Today's Quote

“The only time you run out of chances is when you stop taking them.” 

-Unknown

As odd as it may sound, it can be comforting to accept that it’s just plain too late for you–that you can’t change careers, fall in love, or do whatever you once wanted to do in life.

When you resign yourself to believing there are no more chances, you don’t have to take responsibility for creating the world as you’d like to experience it. Instead you can blame external causes, anything from people to limited resources to time in general. Giving your power away like this can be a tremendous relief because then you don’t have to use it.

Use it.

Start today in some small way. Take a chance or even a step toward a chance. It may mean stepping outside your comfort zone, which can be scary at first; but in the long run, this type of courage will go a long way in creating a satisfying life.

Research shows feeling out of a control is leading cause of unhappiness and stress. Though there are things you cannot control, you are far more powerful than you realize. There is a lot you can accomplish when you’re willing to take a chance.

Lend A Hand, Help An Animal In Need

Please click one of the links below to post to your Facebook page or send as an email to as many folks as you can.

With all of the massive disasters in the world just this year - fires in Texas, floods along the Mississippi, tornados ravaging the South, and more - here's another way you can reach out and help out.

There are plenty of ways for people to help other people who've experienced disasters - and we fully support many of those operations, like the Red Cross.

However, many of Randi's listeners have written and asked after these disasters, "What can we do for the pets affected by disasters?"

The answer is an organization for animals in need, called Noah's Wish.
Noah's Wish is a unique animal welfare organization dedicated exclusively to rescuing and sheltering animals in disasters, throughout the United States and Canada.

Their mission is simple: save animals during disasters with rescue and recovery services, as well as reduce the impact of disasters on animals in the future, through educational outreach and preparation programs.

Lend a hand - or a paw - if you can, and find out more about Noah's Wish today.

Attack of the Sarah Palin Defenders

Another Blonde Joke

My blonde neighbor was thrilled to hear that a new car wash was opening
up in our neighborhood. "How convenient," she said. "I can
walk to it!"

Delerium

Radiation from cell phones may cause cancer

Mobile phone use is in the same "carcinogenic hazard" category as lead, engine exhaust and chloroform, the World Health Organization said today.

FULL STORY

Deep Thoughts

GOP to Hungry Americans: You Can Starve

Hunger and starvation is no excuse to welch off the Federal Government.

That's the Republican response, in any event, to how to deal with the budget deficit. While Republicans defend billions of dollars in subsidies for Big Oil and propose further tax cuts for the wealthy, they see food aid for hungry people here and around the world as a bad idea. Bug Guvmint should get out of the business of keeping people from starving. Now isn't that special:

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans are targeting domestic nutrition programs and international food assistance as they try to control spending in next year's budget.

Read more

Factory Farms Produce 100 Times More Waste Than All People In the US Combined and It's Killing Our Drinking Water

"Factory farms are dangerous to the environment; they are ticking time bombs of manure just waiting to be spilled into public waters."

READ MORE

The Really Simple Way to Get Work Done

Imagine getting a full day’s work done by noon. Sounds impossible, right? But it really shouldn’t be. If you eliminated all the time you spend procrastinating, distracted or stalled, getting a full day of work done by noon could be realized.

But being so productive is easier said than done. Most productivity advice comes in one of two flavors. Either slogans like, “Do it now!” which rarely work long-term, or complex systems like GTD, which work well, but require dozens of lists and obsessive dedication to pull off.

I want to share with you a third alternative. An approach that uses the psychology of procrastination to keep you focused while being simple enough that it needs little effort to maintain.

Read more

How Infidelity Affects the Kids

Arnold and Maria's kids are tweeting about the affair, but will they be forever altered by it? Alizah Salario on the long-term effects children suffer when a parent cheats.

Read more

Banana Brownie Skillet

Prep Time:20 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 15 min
makes:12 servings (1 skillet)

1 cup semisweet chocolate pieces
2/3 cup Gold Medal® whole wheat flour
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
Nonstick cooking spray
1 large banana, sliced
Lemon juice
2 tablespoons powdered sugar
1 1/2 cups sliced fresh strawberries
1 1/2 cups frozen fat-free whipped dessert topping, thawed

1. In a large bowl, stir together chocolate pieces, flour, sugar, dry milk powder, cocoa powder, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt; make a well in the center of the flour mixture.

2. In a medium bowl, stir together egg whites, buttermilk, and vanilla; add all at once to chocolate mixture. Stir until combined.

3. Preheat oven to 350?F. Lightly coat an 8- to 9-inch springform pan or cast-iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Spread batter in pan; arrange banana slices on top. Lightly brush banana slices with lemon juice. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and brownie edge starts to pull away from side of pan. For springform pan, cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes; loosen side of pan and cool for 30 minutes before removing side of pan. For skillet, cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes before serving; serve warm. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped topping.

4. Grill Variation: Lightly coat an 8- to 9-inch cast-iron skillet with nonstick cooking spray. (Or nest two 8-inch square or round disposable foil pans together to make a double-thick layer; lightly coat with nonstick cooking spray.) Spoon batter into prepared skillet or foil pan. Arrange banana slices on top. Brush banana slices lightly with lemon juice.

5. Arrange medium coals around the edges of a grill. Test for medium-low heat in the center of the grill (not over coals). Place pan or skillet on grill rack in the center of the grill (not over coals). Cover and grill for 25 to 30 minutes or until brownie edges start to pull away from the side of the skillet or pan. (For a gas grill, preheat grill. Reduce heat to medium. Adjust heat for indirect cooking. Place pan or skillet on grill rack. Cover and grill as above. Cool for 30 minutes; serve warm. Sprinkle with powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped topping.

Mediterranean Chicken & Rice Bake

Prep Time: 10 min. Bake Time: 50 min.

1 3/4 cups  Chicken Broth or Chicken Stock
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup sliced pitted ripe olives
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 can (14.5 ounces) stewed tomatoes
1 1/4 cups uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Paprika

1. Stir the broth, parsley, olives, lemon juice, black pepper, tomatoes and rice in a 3-quart shallow baking dish. Cover the baking dish.

2. Bake at 375°F. for 20 minutes. Uncover the baking dish. Place the chicken onto the rice mixture. Sprinkle with the garlic powder and paprika. Cover the baking dish.

3. Bake for 30 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender.

Recipe based on  using a 4-to 5-ounce skinless, boneless chicken breast half per serving. However, there are a range of sizes available in-store, from the butcher counter to the meat case and the freezer section. Use whichever you prefer- just follow the recipe as written above for the best result. If you're using larger chicken breasts they may require a little longer cooking time.

Makes: 6 servings.

Greek kalamata olives are a natural in this dish - if you have them, feel free to use them. They have a bright, tangy flavor that adds a deliciously authentic dimension.

Stress

A lecturer when explaining stress management to an audience,
raised a glass of water and asked, "How heavy is this glass of water?"

Answers called out ranged from 20g to 500g.

The lecturer replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter.
It depends on how long you try to hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, that's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my right arm.
If I hold it for a day, you'll have to call an ambulance
In each case, it's the same weight, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes."

He continued, "And that's the way it is with stress management.
If we carry our burdens all the time, sooner or later,
As the burden becomes increasingly heavy,
We won't be able to carry on."
"As with the glass of water,
You have to put it down for a while and rest before holding it again.
When we're refreshed, we can carry on with the burden."
"So, before you return home tonight, put the burden of work down. Don't carry it home You can pick it up tomorrow."

"Whatever burdens you're carrying now,
Let them down for a moment if you can.
So, my friend, Put down anything that may be a burden to you right now. Don't pick it up again until after you've rested a while."

Here are some great ways of dealing with the burdens of life:
* Accept that some days you're the pigeon, And some days you're the statue.
* Always keep your words soft and sweet, Just in case you have to eat them.
* Drive carefully. It's not only cars that can be "Recalled" by their maker.
* If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
* If you lend someone $20 and never see that person again, It was probably worth it.
* It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to be kind to others.
* Never put both feet in your mouth at the same time, Because then you won't have a leg to stand on.
* Nobody cares if you can't dance well. Just get up and dance.
* When everything's coming your way, You're in the wrong lane.
* Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live.
* You may be only one person in the world,But you may also be the world to one person.
* Some mistakes are too much fun to only make once.
* We could learn a lot from crayons... Some are sharp, some are pretty and some are dull. Some have weird names, and all are different colors, but they all have to live in the same box.
*A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.

Have an awesome week!

Jaz

Not a real good pic as its hard to get one of her standing still...but gives you an idea of how small she is. Don't let the size fool you though. She is big dog trapped in a small body.

Jason Isbell - Dress Blues

Xav at Route 66 Stop

Memorial Day

Memorial Day in the U.S. is a day to pay tribute to the individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to the United States.

It was first established on a national level in 1868 (3 years after the Civil War) and became a federal holiday in 1971.

In 1950, the Congress, by a joint resolution, approved a request to the president to issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe each Memorial Day as a day of prayer for permanent peace and designating a period on that day when the people might unite in prayer – 11 am local time.

Also, Congress designated 3 pm local time as a time for all Americans to observe the National Moment of Remembrance (1 minute of silence... lights on if you're driving) to remember and honor those who died in service to the United States.

Meaning of Flag Draped Coffin

All Americans should be given this lesson. Those who think that America is an arrogant nation should really reconsider that thought. Our founding fathers used GOD's word and teachings to establish our Great Nation and I think it's high time Americans get re-educated about this Nation's history.

I hope you take the time to read this ... To understand what the flag draped coffin really means ... Here is how to understand the flag that laid upon it and is surrendered to so many widows and widowers.

Do you know that at military funerals, the 21-gun salute stands for the sum of the numbers in the year 1776?

Have you ever noticed the honor guard pays meticulous attention to correctly folding the United States of America Flag 13 times? You probably thought it was to symbolize the original 13 colonies, but we learn something new every day!

The 1st fold of the flag is a symbol of life.
The 2nd fold is a symbol of the belief in eternal life.
The 3rd fold is made in honor and remembrance of the veterans departing the ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of the country to attain peace throughout the world.

The 4th fold represents the weaker nature, for as American citizens trusting in God, it is to Him we turn in times of peace as well as in time of war for His divine guidance.

The 5th fold is a tribute to the country, for in the words of Stephen Decatur, 'Our Country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but it is still our country, right or wrong.'

The 6th fold is for where people's hearts lie. It is with their heart that they pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God , indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

The 7th fold is a tribute to its Armed Forces, for it is through the Armed Forces that they protect their country and their flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of their republic.

The 8th fold is a tribute to the one who entered into the valley of the shadow of death , that we might see the light of day.

The 9th fold is a tribute to womanhood, and Mothers. For it has been through their faith, their love, loyalty and devotion that the character of the men and women who have made this country great has been molded.

The 10th fold is a tribute to the father, for he, too, has given his sons and daughters for the defense of their country since they were first born.

The 11th fold represents the lower portion of the seal of King David and King Solomon and glorifies in the Hebrews eyes, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob .

The 12th fold represents an emblem of eternity and glorifies, in the Christians eyes, God the Father, the Son and Holy Spirit .

The 13th fold, or when the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost reminding them of their nations motto, 'In God We Trust.'

After the flag is completely folded and tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat, ever reminding us of the soldiers who served under General George Washington, and the Sailors and Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, who were followed by their comrades and shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, preserving for them the rights, privileges and freedoms they enjoy today.

There are some traditions and ways of doing things that have deep meaning.

In the future, you'll see flags folded and now you will know why.

Share this with the children you love and all others who love what is referred to, the symbol of 'Liberty and Freedom.'

Low-Fat Fettuccine Alfredo

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 15m

Ingredients

* 12 ounces fettuccine
* 1 head broccoli, cut into florets, stalk peeled and sliced
* 1 1/2 cups skim milk
* 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
* 1 tablespoon flour
* 3/4 cup cup freshly grated Parmesan, plus more for serving
* kosher salt




Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Drain.

2. Meanwhile, bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the broccoli until tender, 3 minutes. Drain.

3. Heat the milk and butter in a large saucepan over low heat and slowly whisk in the flour. Simmer until slightly thickened, whisking constantly, 1 to 2 minutes.

4. Remove from heat and stir in the Parmesan and ½ teaspoon salt. Add the pasta and broccoli and cook, stirring, over low heat until heated through.

5. Top each serving with extra Parmesan.

3 Rules for Getting Organized This Summer

The organizing expert shows you how to keep your summer clutter-free.

13 Common Car Buying Mistakes

If a new car is on your shopping list this spring, don't fall into any of these traps. [slide show]

Record Carbon Emissions in 2010

Puts hopes of containing global warming out of reach.

In the wake of the devastating tornadoes in the central U.S., the International Energy Agency has reported that, despite the recession, greenhouse-gas emissions increased by a record amount last year to the highest carbon output in history. A record 30.6 gigatons of carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere last year, mainly from the burning of fossil fuels—up 1.6Gt from 2009. The shocking numbers mean that the goal of preventing a temperature rise of more than 2 degrees Celsius—which scientists claim is the threshold for potentially “dangerous climate change”—is “a nice Utopia,” according to the IEA. "Such warming would disrupt the lives and livelihoods of hundreds of millions of people across the planet, leading to widespread mass migration and conflict,” Professor Lord Stern of the London School of Economics told The Guardian. “That is a risk any sane person would seek to drastically reduce."

Read more

Today's Quote

“Idleness is not doing nothing. Idleness is being free to do anything.”

― Floyd Dell

Gil Scott-Heron - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised

RIP GSH

In Memoriam

Corona Margarita's

1 12oz can of lemon-lime soda (7-Up, Sprite, etc)
1 12 oz can frozen lime concentrate
12oz of your favorite tequila
1 12oz bottle of Corona beer

Blend and enjoy!

Ryan Revises History on Medicare Reform

The Wisconsin lawmaker wrongly suggests Bill Clinton endorsed a 1999 proposal to change Medicare.

What it took to get an 8th grade education in 1895

Remember when grandparents and great-grandparents stated that they only had an 8th grade education? Well, check this out. Could any of us have passed the 8th grade in 1895?

This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 in Salina , Kansas , USA . It was taken from the original document on file at the Smokey Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina , and reprinted by the Salina Journal.

8th Grade Final Exam: Salina , KS - 1895
Grammar (Time, one hour)
1. Give nine rules for the use of capital letters.
2. Name the parts of speech and define those that have no modifications.
3. Define verse, stanza and paragraph
4. What are the principal parts of a verb? Give principal parts of 'lie,''play,' and 'run.'
5. Define case; illustrate each case.
6. What is punctuation? Give rules for principal marks of punctuation.
7 - 10. Write a composition of about 150 words and show therein that you understand the practical use of the rules of grammar.

Arithmetic (Time, 1 hour 15 minutes)
1. Name and define the Fundamental Rules of Arithmetic.
2. A wagon box is 2 ft. Deep, 10 feet long, and 3 ft. Wide. How many bushels of wheat will it hold?
3. If a load of wheat weighs 3,942 lbs., what is it worth at 50cts/bushel, deducting 1,050 lbs. For tare?
4. District No 33 has a valuation of $35,000. What is the necessary levy to carry on a school seven months at $50 per month, and have $104 for incidentals?
5. Find the cost of 6,720 lbs. Coal at $6.00 per ton.
6. Find the interest of $512.60 for 8 months and 18 days at 7 percent.
7. What is the cost of 40 boards 12 inches wide and 16 ft. Long at $20 per metre?
8. Find bank discount on $300 for 90 days (no grace) at 10 percent.
9. What is the cost of a square farm at $15 per acre, the distance of which is 640 rods?
10. Write a Bank Check, a Promissory Note, and a Receipt

U.S. History (Time, 45 minutes)
1. Give the epochs into which U.S. History is divided
2. Give an account of the discovery of America by Columbus
3. Relate the causes and results of the Revolutionary War.
4. Show the territorial growth of the United States
5. Tell what you can of the history of Kansas
6. Describe three of the most prominent battles of the Rebellion.
7. Who were the following: Morse, Whitney, Fulton , Bell , Lincoln , Penn, and Howe?
8. Name events connected with the following dates: 1607, 1620, 1800, 1849, 1865.

Orthography (Time, one hour)
[Do we even know what this is??]
1. What is meant by the following: alphabet, phonetic, orthography, etymology, syllabication
2. What are elementary sounds? How classified?
3. What are the following, and give examples of each: trigraph, subvocals, diphthong, cognate letters, linguals
4. Give four substitutes for caret 'u.' (HUH?)
5. Give two rules for spelling words with final 'e.' Name two exceptions under each rule.
6. Give two uses of silent letters in spelling. Illustrate each.
7. Define the following prefixes and use in connection with a word: bi, dis-mis, pre, semi, post, non, inter, mono, sup.
8. Mark diacritically and divide into syllables the following, and name the sign that indicates the sound: card, ball, mercy, sir, odd, cell, rise, blood, fare, last.
9. Use the following correctly in sentences: cite, site, sight, fane, fain, feign, vane, vain, vein, raze, raise, rays.
10. Write 10 words frequently mispronounced and indicate pronunciation by use of diacritical marks and by syllabication.

Geography (Time, one hour)
1 What is climate? Upon what does climate depend?
2. How do you account for the extremes of climate in Kansas ?
3. Of what use are rivers? Of what use is the ocean?
4. Describe the mountains of North America
5. Name and describe the following: Monrovia , Odessa , Denver , Manitoba , Hecla , Yukon , St. Helena, Juan Fernandez, Aspinwall and Orinoco
6. Name and locate the principal trade centers of the U.S. Name all the republics of Europe and give the capital of each.
8. Why is the Atlantic Coast colder than the Pacific in the same latitude?
9. Describe the process by which the water of the ocean returns to the sources of rivers.
10. Describe the movements of the earth. Give the inclination of the earth.

Notice that the exam took FIVE HOURS to complete.

Gives the saying 'he only had an 8th grade education' a whole new meaning, doesn't it?!

States That Lost the Most to War

As the nation honors the fallen, The Daily Beast crunches the numbers to figure out the state-by-state totals of those who made the ultimate sacrifice since World War II.

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How America Screws Its Soldiers

As the 10th anniversary of the Global War on Terror approaches, this Memorial Day in particular has spawned a slew of "support our troops" slogans. But telling the military to do whatever it wants works for everyone—while screwing the soldiers.

Read more

My $100 find at the JCP Outlet Store

This was the only one they had - someone returned it. Was marked $109 - I talked her down another 10%. My sister came down with her husbands truck - so I didn't even have to assemble it.  It's actually funny because I have been picturing this in my head and for some unknown reason I happened to wander in the JCP Outlet that day (I RARELY go there) - and wasn't looking for anything - which is something else I don't do - wander around looking for something to buy.

High School Student Stands Up Against Prayer at Public School and Is Ostracized, Demeaned and Threatened

When a high school atheist tried to stop prayer at his graduation, he was harassed and kicked out of his house. But the atheist community stepped in.

READ MORE

Raspberry Velvet Tart

Cooking Time: 30 min
Ingredients

* For Crust:
* 1/4 cup sugar
* 1/2 cup (about 1 stick) unsalted butter, chilled and cut into pieces
* 1 tablespoon whipping cream
* 1 egg yolk
* 1 1/2 cups flour
* 2 tablespoons ice water
* For Filling:
* 10 ounces of premium white chocolate
* 1/2 cup hot whipping cream (but do not boil, or it will curdle)
* 1/4 cup (about 1/2 stick) unsalted butter, at room temperature
* 2 cups fresh raspberries
* powdered sugar

Instructions

For Crust:

1. Mix flour and sugar. Cut in the butter until mixture resembles coarse meal.

2. Beat together the egg yolk and whipping cream and pour over flour mixture.

3. Stir dough, adding just enough of the water to make a dough.

4. Form a ball and flatten into a disk. Wrap in plastic and refrigerate 30 minutes.

5. On a lightly floured surface, roll out dough into a 1/8 inch thick round.

6. Transfer to a 9 inch tart pan with removable bottom.

7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

8. Fit dough into bottom and up sides of pan.

9. Prick crust all over and cover edges with foil (remove during last 5 minutes of baking).

10. Bake crust in at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool completely on wire rack.

For Filling:

1. Melt chocolate in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth.

2. Mix in cream and butter. Remove from water.

3. Sprinkle raspberries over bottom of prepared crust, saving a few berries for garnish.

4. Pour filling over berries and refrigerate until firm, about 1 hour (this can be prepared 1 day ahead and refrigerated, but allow tart to stand at room temperature one hour before serving).

5. Garnish with reserved berries and sift powdered sugar over top.

Tornado Survivor Reunites with Lost Cat On Camera

Judy Pugh rushed to her hallway with her three cats when she saw debris spinning in the air on April 27th. As the roof blew away a wall fell on top of her.

"I tried to get to my hands and knees but I couldn't. I heard the young men calling Ms. Judy, Ms. Judy. are you in there."

Judy escaped with black eyes. but says she would have been sucked away by that tornado if weren't for that very wall.
Two of her cats survived, one hasn't been seen since the storm.

Unbelievably during our Wednesday evening visit, Judy's shaggy friend of 10 years came out of nowhere.

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There's a Secret Patriot Act, Senator Says

You may think you understand how the Patriot Act allows the government to spy on its citizens. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) says it's worse than you've heard.

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Limbaugh, Hannity see worst ratings in months

Rush Limbaugh’s ratings have fallen 30% in the last six months

Are 1,500 U.S. Troop Deaths in Afghanistan Enough Reasons to End the War?

Two Greenland Glaciers Lose Enough Ice to Fill Lake Erie

A new study aimed at refining the way scientists measure ice loss in Greenland is providing a "high-definition picture" of climate-caused changes on the island. And the picture isn't pretty. In the last decade, two of the largest three glaciers draining that frozen landscape have lost enough ice that, if melted, could have filled Lake Erie.

Read more

My new bible

10 Commandments of Housebreaking

In a perfect world

Xavier

Up to 100 whales 'saved' from mass stranding in Scotland

Scotland's largest ever mass whale stranding was averted yesterday after marine experts said the mammals had broken into smaller groups and moved back into deeper water .

Read more

20 Most Tornado-Prone States

Where people are most likely to be nature's next target.

as Lawmaker Says Women Should Plan Ahead For Rape: ‘I Have A Spare Tire’

The anti-choice tidal wave stemming from the 2010 elections has produced nearly 1,000 anti-choice bills this year alone. When Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) took office last year, he called on the state legislature to create “a culture of life” and, in the last 15 minutes of their annual session, they delivered. The Republican majority passed a law to ban insurance companies from offering abortion coverage in their general health plans, except when a woman’s life is at risk.

However, one pro-choice Republican, state Rep. Barbara Bollier, feared that Republicans were cutting off “a way for women to cover the cost of terminating pregnancies” — particularly when they’re unintended. During the House debate, she “questioned whether women would buy abortion-only policies long before they have crisis or unwanted pregnancies or are rape victims.” But state Rep. Pete DeGraaf (R) was ready with a shocking retort. DeGraaf said women should plan ahead for situations such as rape because, after all, “I have a spare tire on my car“

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The U.S.: Where Europe Comes to Slum

Its leading companies are investing in the U.S. because they can do things here they would never think of doing at home.

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The Job Hunt Continues

There are currently about 14 million people looking for work, according to CNNMoney. Are you part of this group? Whether you're just entering the workforce or making a career change, here are some tips to help you find your way.

Be flexible.

• When on the job hunt it's important that you keep an open mind when reading through job descriptions; instead of thinking "that's not what I'm looking for," ask yourself "could this work for me?" 
• Stay open to the pay, position, location and schedule of any job that is offered.

Review your résumé. 

• Edit your résumé for each submission. You should list the experience, skills and knowledge that are most applicable to the position. 
• Put together one complete copy of your résumé with all of your experience, positions, skills, etc., and use this as an information bank to put together a unique résumé for each job for which you apply. Employers don't need to know everything you've done, they want to know makes you a prime candidate.
• Have at least one person review your résumé. There are career services available for this, but you can save money by asking family members or friends in the professional world to proof your résumés instead.

Network and connect.

• When a company is flooded with applications for an open position, an internal referral can help an applicant stand out. Think about the people in your life, and who may have connections to people and places that could aid you in finding a job. School and organization alumni often notify past and present members/students of job opportunities and may even give you a referral.
• Social media outlets also offer great, free opportunities for networking. 

Dress the part.

• Submitting your résumé is only half the hunt. You also have to nail your interview. Make sure that you have appropriate attire should you receive an interview opportunity. Secondhand stores are a great place to find skirts, suits, ties and more, all at affordable prices.
• You should also take the time to hold mock interviews for yourself; ask family members or friends in the professional world to help and give you feedback. 

Finding a job is a difficult endeavor. The most important thing you can do is stay positive and persevere. Keep looking and keep applying. The more applications you submit, the higher your chances of landing a job. Plus, you can deduct amounts you spend for preparing and mailing copies of your résumé to prospective employers as long as you are looking for a new job in your present occupation. Click here for more job hunt deductions. If you start to feel discouraged in your job hunt, remember, you're not alone. There is a multitude of information and resources available both online and in person. You can do it!

Visit www.feedthepig.org for more money-saving tips.

20/20: Inside Infomercials

It slices, it dices, ... but wait, there's more. We've come a long way since those infamous words were first uttered (or have we?). ABC and Consumer Reports go behind the scenes of infomercials to see their inner workings, as well as which products work and which don't. Here are the best segments: "Infomercial Ads...part 2" and "Testing Products with Consumer Reports...part 3".

Sea levels set to rise by up to a meter: report

Sea levels are set to rise by up to a metre within a century due to global warming, a new Australian report said Monday as it warned this could make "once-a-century" coastal flooding much more common.

The government's first Climate Commission report said the evidence that the Earth's surface was warming rapidly was beyond doubt.

Drawn from the most up-to-date climate science from around the world, the report said greenhouse gas emissions created by human industry was the likely culprit behind rising temperatures, warming oceans, and rising sea levels.

Read more

Do you want to know a secret?

Watch the full episode. See more FRONTLINE.

Thursday marked the one-year anniversary of Bradley Manning’s incarceration for espionage—but it took this week’s episode of Frontline to make us realize how little we knew about his actions or motives, or the very weird circumstances leading up to his arrest.

Manning was barely into his twenties, a deeply out-of-place Army intelligence analyst who’d fallen in with computer hackers and ended up passing 250,000 diplomatic cables and surveillance videos to WikiLeaks. Frontline’s team interviewed his father, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, Assange’s ertswhile partner Daniel Domscheit-Berg, top editors at the New York Times and the Guardian, and Adrian Lamo, the hacker who turned Manning in to the FBI. That’s a lot to go on, and the resulting report is evenhanded, and more engrossing than anything you’d see on the big screen. (streaming online).

Today's Quote

"I truly believe it is one of the greatest gifts we teach our children to show them through actions that they can make a positive difference in the lives of others."

— Sandra Magsamen

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