Today's Quote

"Ubunto' is the essence of being human. A person is a person through other persons. You can't be human in isolation. You are human only in relationships."

Archbishop Desmond Tutu

In Memoriam

The Wayback Juke Box - Elvis/J.D. Sumner And The Stamps Quartet Sweet Sweet Spirit

Today's Quote

“If you resist reading what you disagree with, how will you ever acquire deeper insights into what you believe? The things most worth reading are precisely those that challenge our convictions.”

– Anonymous

"The fact that we are here today to debate raising America's debt limit is a sign of leadership failure. It is a sign that the U.S. government can't pay its own bills. It is a sign that we now depend on ongoing financial assistance from foreign countries to finance our government's reckless fiscal policies. ... Increasing America's debt weakens us domestically and internationally. Leadership means that 'the buck stops here.' " --

Barack Hussein Obama 44th President of the United States - Source: 20 March 2006, prior to voting against a debt ceiling increase in the Senate

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" If there was ever a time in the modern history of America that the American people should become engaged in what's going on here in Washington, now is that time."

Bernie Sanders: July, 2011 - The longest serving independent member of Congress in American history.


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Living From Gratitude

For most of my adult life I believed that an attitude of gratitude is a good thing to have. As often as possible I tried to be humble and grateful for the blessings I received, but I didn't fully grasp just how powerful a gratitude practice could be until I set an intention to "Live From Gratitude" for an entire day.

What does that mean, to "Live From Gratitude?"

I decided that I would stay in a grateful state of mind and give deep, heartfelt thanks for everything I did, saw, felt, and experienced that day.

From the moment I opened my eyes early that morning, I began giving thanks for everything and everyone that entered my awareness. I thought about each of my family members and friends, and gave thanks for their presence in my life. I gave thanks for my home, my business, my car, my clothing, my health, and my cats.

As I moved through my daily activities, I gave thanks for everything I touched, ever ything I saw or heard, everything I felt, and everything that happened to me - even the annoying and challenging experiences.

I gave thanks for our dishes and utensils as I washed them, as well as the water I was washing them in, and for my hands that enabled me to wash them. A few of those items were wedding gifts for my husband and I, and as I washed each one, I recalled our wedding day with joy and gratitude, and gave thanks for my husband and the life we share together.

During my business activities that day, I gave heartfelt thanks for my clients and the passionate work that fulfills me and allows me to make a difference in the world. I also gave thanks for the challenges my work sometimes brings, simply because they strengthen me.

I expressed sincere gratitude for everything I saw, heard, felt, did or experienced throughout the entire day, big or small, good or bad. Not only did I SAY "thank you" for these things, I made sure to really FEEL the fee lings of gratitude and appreciation for them. As I'm sure you can imagine, that was a LOT of gratitude!

The results that came from my day of living from gratitude were astounding. It was one of the most powerful days of my life.

All day long I kept meeting the nicest, greatest people everywhere I went. My income for that day jumped up to roughly three times what it normally was, without me having to lift a finger to make it happen. I kept noticing awesome opportunities, tools, and resources that would help me grow my business or improve some aspect of my life. Some of these things had been right under my nose all along, but I'd never noticed them before.

I received so many great gifts as a result of my day of living from gratitude, but the true gift of that day is the way I felt all day long.

Never in my life can I remember feeling so humbled, so blessed, so RICH. Everything around me became SACRED in ways that I can't even describe.

Stru ggle, strain, anxiety, frustration, fear, anger . . . they all just faded away. Everything I saw and experienced was uplifting, inspiring and beneficial. My life was transformed that day, into something that I never dreamed would be possible. I'd thought my life was good before that - but my new attitude of gratitude took it to a whole new level of goodness.

That day stands out in my memory as one of the best days of my life. In fact, it was so powerful that I've since adopted my "living from gratitude" mind-set as an ongoing intention. Every day I strive to live from gratitude - and each day gets more and more magical the longer I do it.

Try it yourself and see if it doesn't have the same wonderful effect on your life.


Wendy Betterini

Mortgage Rates Fall: 5 Rules for Refinancing

The stalled economic recovery pushed mortgage interest rates down to 4.5% this week, creating another opportunity for homeowners to lock in record-low prices. For people in the most expensive real estate markets who want mortgages of $700,000 or more, this could be the last chance to capture the lowest rates.

The reason: So called “agency jumbo” loans are being phased out in September, says Keith Gumbinger, vice president of HSH.com, a loan research firm. These loans are about 0.3% cheaper than loans that can’t be sold into the secondary market.

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America's Disappeared

By Chris

American citizens can "legally" be assassinated. Illegal abductions, known euphemistically as "extraordinary rendition," are a staple of the war on terror.

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Easy Mock Apple Pie

Do not mock this mock apple pie, because it is one of the best Ritz cracker dessert recipes in existence. Ritz cracker recipes with dessert flavor are sweet, delicious and low budget too. Make this great recipe to see how great Ritz crackers recipes are.

Cooking Time: 20 min
Ingredients

* 2 cups water
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 2 teaspoons cream of tartar
* 25 Ritz Crackers, crushed
* 1 teaspoon butter
* 1 teaspoon cinnamon
* Pastry for two-crust pie

Instructions

1. Combine water, sugar and cream of tartar. Bring to a boil.

2. Add Ritz crackers and boil for 2 minutes without stirring. Pour into shell.

3. Dot with butter and sprinkle with cinnamon. Top with crust.

4. Bake at 400 degrees F for 15 to 20 minutes.

Notes

Neutralizing Sodium's Heart Impact

A new study suggests that in addition to cutting the amount of sodium in their diets to improve heart health, Americans should also increase consumption of a key mineral found in many fruits and vegetables: potassium.

The study, lead by researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, looked at more than 12,000 adults who participated in a federal nutrition study. It tracked their diets and followed them for nearly 15 years to observe rates of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and death. The study was published in this week's Archives of Internal Medicine.

Sodium, a key component of salt, has been shown to raise blood pressure, which in turn raises the risk of heart disease, but studies have shown inconsistent results as to whether high-sodium diets actually boost the risk of heart-related problems. Potassium has been found to offset sodium's impact on blood pressure.

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When Does Food Really Expire?

Date codes on products can be confusing. Some say "sell by", others "best if used by", and really nasty ones are completely in code. Here is a list of common products and their expected shelf-life (after opening in some cases).

Funny Quotes

The secret of a good sermon is to have a good beginning and a good ending; and to have the two as close together as possible.
- George Burns

Santa Claus has the right idea. Visit people only once a year.
- Victor Borge

Be careful about reading health books. You may die of a misprint.
- Mark Twain


My wife has a slight impediment in her speech. Every now and then she stops to breathe.
- Jimmy Durante

My luck is so bad that if I bought a cemetery, people would stop dying.
- Rodney Dangerfield
 
Until I was thirteen, I thought my name was SHUT UP .
- Joe Namath

I don't feel old.. I don't feel anything until noon. Then it's time for my nap.
- Bob Hope

We could certainly slow the aging process down if it had to work its way through Congress.
- Will Rogers

By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he's too old to go anywhere.
- Billy Crystal

And the cardiologist's diet: - If it tastes good spit it out.

Japanese Bug Spray Commercial

10 Ways People Waste Money on their Cars

Bad maintenance, usage habits, and believing in old wives' tales can be costly when it comes to the amount of money you spend on your car. Here are 10 money saving car care tips.

Southern-Style Barbecued Chicken

Prep Time: 10 min.
Grill Time: 35 min.

1 can (26 ounces) Condensed Tomato Soup
1/4 cup honey
2 teaspoons dry mustard
1 teaspoon onion powder
8 bone-in chicken breast halves (about 4 pounds), skin removed

1. Stir the soup, honey, mustard and onion powder in a 1-quart saucepan.

2. Lightly oil the grill rack and heat the grill to medium. Grill the chicken for 20 minutes, turning the chicken over once during grilling. Brush the chicken with the soup mixture and grill for 15 minutes or until cooked through, turning and brushing often with the soup mixture.

3. Heat the remaining soup mixture to a boil and serve with the chicken.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with grilled corn-on-the-cob and a green salad with tomatoes, olives and feta cheese. For dessert serve watermelon slices.

This recipe can be halved to make 4 servings. Use a 10 3/4-ounce can Condensed Tomato Soup, and reduce the other ingredients by half.

Makes: 8 servings.

Before pouring the honey into the measuring cup, spritz the cup with a bit of nonstick cooking spray. The measured honey will slide right out!

Man who 'appeared gay' rejected for blood donation

Twenty-two-year-old Aaron Pace was trying to donate blood and plasma at a local blood center in Gary, Indiana, when he was informed in an interview during the screening process that he was ineligible to give blood because he "appears to be a homosexual".

Because of a 1983 measure adopted by the Food and Drug Administration, all men who have had sex with another man since 1977 are banned from giving blood. Workers at Bio-Blood Components, Incorporated assumed that Pace was gay, apparently based on his "looks, character, and behavior".

Pace, who is not gay, is understandably miffed. He says he was "humiliated and embarrassed". He also says, "It's not right that homeless people can give blood but homosexuals can't. And I'm not even a homosexual."

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Today's Quote

“To forgive is to set a prisoner free and realize that prisoner was you.” 

-Lewis B. Smedes

Nothing hurts more than resentment. When you sit around reliving painful stories, feeling angry and justified, it doesn’t right past wrongs. It doesn’t teach people how to treat you. It doesn’t in any way heal you.

All anger does is force you to relive a moment that’s come and gone. And all that dwelling can actually cause you emotional and physical disease–stress, anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, stomach ulcers, and even heart attack.

Every day we have a choice as to what we see in the world, and it starts in where we focus our thoughts. Forgiveness sets you free. It allows you to experience all the kindness in front of you without the weight of the hurtful behind you.

Only we can open our eyes to what’s good in our today by releasing the bad in yesterday. What do you need to let go of today to create space for peace?

Van Halen - Runnin' With The Devil

Xavier

Plum Upside-Down Cake

Serves 8
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 2hr 20m

Ingredients

* 1/2 cup (1 stick) plus 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, plus extra for the pan, at room temperature
* 4 firm, ripe plums, each cut into 8 wedges
* 1/4 cup plus 2/3 cup granulated sugar
* 1 cup all-purpose flour
* 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 large egg
* 2/3 cup sour cream
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract




Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Butter an 8-inch cake pan and line the bottom with parchment paper.

2. Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the plums and 1/4 cup of the sugar and cook, tossing, until the sugar dissolves and the juices from the plums become syrupy, 3 to 4 minutes. Arrange the plums in the cake pan in slightly overlapping concentric circles, starting from the outside. Spoon any pan juices over the top.

3. In a small bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

4. With an electric mixer, beat the remaining 1/2 cup of the butter and 2/3 cup of the sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, sour cream, and vanilla. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing just until incorporated.

5. Pour the batter over the plums and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50 to 55 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 1 hour. Place a large plate over the cake pan and invert the cake onto the plate.

Veggie Grilled Pizza

* YIELD: 5 servings (serving size: 2 pieces)
* COURSE: Main Dishes

Ingredients

* 1 cup warm water (100° to 110°), divided
* 10 ounce bread flour (about 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons)
* 1 package dry yeast (about 2 1/4 teaspoons)
* 10 teaspoon olive oil, divided
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
* Cooking spray
* 2 tablespoons yellow cornmeal
* 12 ounces baby eggplant, cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices
* 1 medium zucchini, cut crosswise into 1-inch-thick slices
* 1 large red bell pepper, quartered and seeded
* 3 garlic cloves, minced
* 2/3 cup Basic Pizza Sauce
* 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
* 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded fontina cheese
* 1/4 cup small mint leaves
* 2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves

Preparation

* 1. Pour 3/4 cup warm water in the bowl of a stand mixer with dough hook attached. Weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and spoons; level with a knife. Add flour to 3/4 cup water; mix until combined. Cover and let stand 20 minutes. Combine remaining 1/4 cup water and yeast in a small bowl; let stand 5 minutes or until bubbly. Add yeast mixture, 4 teaspoons oil, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to flour mixture; mix 5 minutes or until a soft dough forms. Place dough in a large bowl coated with cooking spray; cover surface of dough with plastic wrap lightly coated with cooking spray. Refrigerate 24 hours.

* 2. Prepare grill to high.

* 3. Remove dough from refrigerator. Let stand, covered, 1 hour or until dough comes to room temperature. Punch dough down. Press dough out to a 12-inch oval on a lightly floured baking sheet sprinkled with cornmeal. Crimp edges to form a 1/2-inch border. Cover dough loosely with plastic wrap.

* 4. Brush eggplant, zucchini, and bell pepper with remaining 2 tablespoons oil. Grill eggplant 4 minutes on each side or until tender; place in a bowl. Grill zucchini 3 minutes on each side or until tender; add to eggplant. Place pepper quarters, skin side down, on grill rack; grill 6 minutes or until blistered. Place peppers in a zip-top plastic bag; seal. Let stand 10 minutes. Peel peppers; add to vegetable mixture. Coarsely chop vegetables. Add garlic to vegetables; toss to combine.

* 5. Place pizza dough, cornmeal side up, on grill rack coated with cooking spray, and grill for 4 minutes or until blistered. Turn dough over; grill 3 minutes. Remove from grill. Spread Basic Pizza Sauce evenly over top side of crust, leaving a 1/2-inch border. Arrange vegetable mixture evenly over sauce; sprinkle evenly with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt and black pepper. Top with cheese. Return pizza to grill rack, and grill for 4 minutes or until thoroughly cooked. Cut pizza into 10 pieces; sprinkle with mint and thyme.

The Pursuit of Moral Perfection

by Alexander Green

A number of exceptional men and women were present at the founding of the United States. Few, however, matched the sheer genius of Benjamin Franklin.

He was a printer, postman, scientist, musician, inventor, author, activist, statesman and diplomat. He was a major figure in the history of physics, discovering new theories of electricity. He invented bifocals, the lightning rod, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer and the glass harmonica. He formed the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania.

Franklin was a member of the Committee of Five that drafted the Declaration of Independence. He was our first ambassador to France, an early abolitionist, and a key player at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Yet in the second half of his life, after building the most successful publishing empire in colonial America, he scaled back his career in order to devote most his time to learning, civic activities and philanthropy.

When his mother expressed puzzlement, he explained to her, "I would rather have it said, 'He lived usefully,' than 'He died rich.'"

Franklin decided to pursue what he called "moral perfection," a phrase that, in today's world, may sound proud, pompous, sanctimonious... or unrealistic. But Franklin believed the new republic could survive only if the people were virtuous. It was widely reported that at the close of the Constitutional Convention a woman in the crowd called out, "Mr. Franklin! What kind of a government have you given us?"

He replied, "A Republic, Madam, if you can keep it."

He was right. Witness how fledgling democracies often falter in nations where there is widespread hatred, mistrust, or ethnic rivalries.

Franklin rejected the religious austerity of his Puritan parents, however. Instead he spent much of his life seeking the "codes of behavior" that would help him and his fellow Americans live meaningful lives in an uncertain world.

Over the years, he devised a plan to cultivate his character by 13 virtues. His autobiography - a literary classic and paean to the value of education, thrift, honesty and hard work - lists these virtues as:

"Temperance. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation."
"Silence. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation."
"Order. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time."
"Resolution. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
"Frugality. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing."
"Industry. Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions."
"Sincerity. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly."
"Justice. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty."
"Moderation. Avoid extremes; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve."
"Cleanliness. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, clothes, or habitation."
"Tranquility. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable."
"Chastity. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dullness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation."
"Humility. Imitate Jesus and Socrates."
Franklin insisted it was too ambitious to tackle all 13 virtues at once. Instead he advocated working on one and only one virtue each week, then repeating the process after 13 weeks.

A realist, Franklin conceded that he often fell short of these standards. Yet he said just the attempt made him a better man and contributed greatly to his success and happiness.

In his autobiography, Franklin wrote, "I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit."

Tabloid - Trailer

Picture which best illlustrates my mood today.....so happy and blessed

Husband and wife ‘kill and dismember mother of his sons a MONTH after having baby so family can start new life in Virgin Islands’

* Head and torso found separately in 'one of most gruesome scenes' of sheriff's career
* Husband and wife 'hired ice chests to transport body 1,200 miles to Texas'
* Former couple in acrimonious year-long custody battle over two young sons
* Ex-boyfriend had baby girl with wife just weeks before former ex died
* Friend says he was planning to move to Virgin Islands


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The Wayback Juke Box - The Beatles - And Your Bird Can Sing - 2009 Remaster [Stereo]

New table and chairs I got for out back

Got these cute little flowering bushes on clearance at Lowe's

Great time to get perennials at a deep sale and get them in the ground for next year. I run over there twice a week to nab clearance plants.

Garden Week #9

My sister brought me these gnomes.....

I have lots and lots of gnomes...they're my good luck charms.....this is the first 'gnome couple' I have.

This Is What A Collapsing Ponzi Scheme Looks Like

Housing Market Headed Off A Cliff As A Shocking 10.8 Million Mortgages At Risk Of Default

Boehner: ‘A Lot’ Of Republicans Want To Force Default, Create ‘Enough Chaos’ To Pass Balanced Budget Amendment

Soooo Dems were right all along......there was no good faith effort on the other side to reach an agreement.

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) said today that some members of his own caucus who are refusing to agree to a compromise debt ceiling deal are hoping to unleash “chaos” and thus force the White House and Senate Democrats to make bigger concessions than they’re already offering. As many as 40 House Republicans, especially Tea Party members and freshmen, have demanded nothing short of changing the Constitution to include a balanced budget amendment before they would vote to raise debt ceiling, even though that has zero chance before the U.S. faces potential default on Aug. 2.

Speaking on conservative radio host Laura Ingraham’s show this morning, Boehner agreed that failing to raise the limit before the deadline would be devastating.

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My non perm, perm!

Got a great hair cut which transformed my curly, frizzy hair into "Elaine Benes" hair! I actually went to get a perm put in and ended up saving myself about $75.  That's all natural curl and natural color!

Spaghetti with Chunky Chicken-Vegetable Sauce

Prep Time: 10 min. Cook Time: 20 min.

1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into cubes
1 jar (24 ounces) Prego® Chunky Garden Tomato, Onion & Garlic Italian Sauce
2 small zucchini, sliced (about 2 cups)
6 cups hot cooked thin spaghetti
Grated Parmesan cheese

1. Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it's browned. Remove the chicken from the skillet. Pour off any fat.

2. Stir the sauce and zucchini in the skillet and heat to a boil. Return the chicken to the skillet. Reduce the heat to low. Cover and cook for 5 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the zucchini is tender. Serve over the spaghetti. Sprinkle with the cheese.

Makes: 5 servings (about 2 cups each).


Kitchen Clip
Let the season dictate what vegetables go into this dish: Zucchini is outstanding right now, but cubed eggplant, yellow summer squash and green beans would be terrific choices, too.

The Campaign of Economic Shock and Awe Continues

Tim Geithner: ‘We Can’t Protect the American People’ & Constitution to be Torched by New ‘Super Congress’

No rest for the wicked… Geithner issues another ominous threat as the Two-Party Oligarchy uses this “manufactured crisis” to torch the Constitution by creating a new “Super Congress.”



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Blackberry Crumb Cake

Serves 8
Hands-On Time: 20m
Total Time: 2hr 20m

Ingredients

* FOR THE CRUMB TOPPING:
* 1/2 cup pecans
* 1/3 cup brown sugar, firmly packed
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
* 2 tablespoons cold unsalted butter
* FOR THE CAKE:
* 1/2 cup (1 stick) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces, plus more for the pan
* 2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled
* 1 cup granulated sugar
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 2 large eggs
* 1 cup whole milk
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1 pound fresh blackberries (about 3 1/2 cups)

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350º F.

2. Make the crumb topping: In a food processor, pulse the pecans, brown sugar, flour, and butter until crumbly; transfer to a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the food processor.

3. Make the cake: Butter an 8-inch square baking pan. In the food processor, pulse the butter, flour, granulated sugar, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon until crumbly. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Add the flour mixture and mix just until combined.

4. Transfer the cake batter to the prepared pan. Sprinkle with the blackberries and crumb topping. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Let cool completely in the pan before serving.

Barbeque Fries

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 10m
Total Time: 40m

Ingredients

* 5 tablespoons olive oil
* 6 tablespoons barbecue sauce
* 1/2 to 1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
* 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
* 1/2 teaspoon paprika (optional)
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
* 2 pounds russet or baking potatoes (3 potatoes), scrubbed
* sour cream (optional)



Directions

1. Heat oven to 450° F.

2. Drizzle 1 tablespoon of the oil onto a rimmed baking sheet.

3. In a large bowl, combine the remaining oil, the barbecue sauce, hot pepper sauce, black pepper, and paprika and cumin (if using).

4. Cut each potato lengthwise into 8 to 10 wedges. Add them to the bowl and toss. Spread the potatoes in a single layer on the prepared sheet. Bake, turning once, until golden and tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve hot with the sour cream for dipping (if desired).

Chicken Cutlets With Smashed Potatoes and Peas

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 25m
Total Time: 25m

Ingredients

* 1 pound small new potatoes (about 10)
* kosher salt and black pepper
* 1 10-ounce package frozen peas
* 2 scallions, sliced
* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
* 8 small chicken cutlets (about 1 1/4 pounds)
* 2 tablespoons flour
* 2 tablespoons olive oil




Directions

1. Place the potatoes in a saucepan with enough water to cover. Add 1 teaspoon salt. Simmer until tender, 15 to 18 minutes, adding the peas in the last 2 minutes; drain. Gently mash with the scallions, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon each salt and pepper.

2. Meanwhile, season the chicken with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Coat with the flour, shaking off the excess.

3. Heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook half the chicken until golden brown and cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes per side; transfer to plates. Repeat with the remaining oil and chicken. Serve with the potatoes.

It Gets Better

'We the People' or 'I the Person'?

There is a concerted effort these days by the powers that be to break down the structures that allow people to come together.

It is no accident that we see the Supreme Court taking rights and power away from groups of citizens and workers while increasing the powers of the ruling class and corporations. On state and federal levels we see rulings that restrict the formation of unions, negate collective bargaining, and squelch class-action suits.

It is harder and harder to hold public demonstrations and protests as codes, laws, and fees limit where, when and how we can gather. We have lost many of our common spaces--places where we can come together and speak truth to power. The rights of civic/social leaders and organizers are threatened with scrutiny and abuse. Exorbitant prison sentences and fines are imposed on those who gather to protest and/or do civil disobedience. The making of crowd control devices is a strong industry in the U.S. (and in our ally, Israel.) We are becoming a police state and the military is waiting in the wings.

When the news covers demonstrations they always focus on the most radical looking people. They don’t show the old women and the families walking peacefully with their children. The media relishes any show of violence or aggression. The message is clear. These people are not like you. People like you don’t take to the street and protest. We are taught to fear the masses.

And what shall we gather around? It becomes more and more difficult to sort out truth from lies, especially when the lies are echoed across the corporate-owned media and halls of power. Support for Wiki-leaks, or any other organization that exposes the truth behind what is really going on, is labeled as treason. There is a crack down on whistleblowers.

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Today I Will Make A Difference

Today I will make a difference. I will begin by controlling my thoughts. A person is the product of his thoughts. I want to be happy and hopeful. Therefore, I will have thoughts that are happy and hopeful. I refuse to be victimized by my circumstances. I will not let petty inconveniences such as stoplights, long lines, and traffic jams be my masters. I will avoid negativism and gossip. Optimism will be my companion, and victory will be my hallmark. Today I will make a difference.

I will be grateful for the twenty-four hours that are before me. Time is a precious commodity. I refuse to allow what little time I have to be contaminated by self-pity, anxiety, or boredom. I will face this day with the joy of a child and the courage of a giant. I will drink each minute as though it is my last. When tomorrow comes, today will be gone forever. While it is here, I will use it for loving and giving. Today I will make a difference.

I will not let past failures haunt me. Even though my life is scarred with mistakes, I refuse to rummage through my trash heap of failures. I will admit them. I will correct them. I will press on. Victoriously. No failure is fatal. It's OK to stumble...I will get up. It's OK to fail...I will rise again. Today I will make a difference.

I will spend time with those I love. My spouse, my children, my family. A man can own the world but be poor for the lack of love. A man can own nothing and yet be wealthy in relationships. Today I will spend at least five minutes with the significant people in my world. Five quality minutes of talking or hugging or thanking or listening. Five undiluted minutes with my mate, children, and friends.

Today I will make a difference.

Max Lucado
From "On The Anvil"

Even Dear Abby is stumped

Dear Abby,
A couple of women moved in across the hall from me. One is a middle-aged gym teacher and the other is a social worker in her mid twenties. These two women go everywhere together, and I've never seen a man go into or leave their apartment. Do you think they could be Lebanese?


Dear Abby,
What can I do about all the Sex, Nudity, Fowl Language and Violence on my VCR?


Dear Abby,
I have a man I can't trust. He cheats so much, I'm not even sure the baby I'm carrying is his.


Dear Abby,
I am a twenty-three year old liberated woman who has been on the pill for two years. It's getting expensive and I think my boyfriend should share half the cost, but I don't know him well enough to discuss money with him.


Dear Abby,
I've suspected that my husband has been fooling around, and when confronted with the evidence, he denied everything and said it would never happen again.


Dear Abby,
Our son writes that he is taking Judo. Why would a boy who was raised in a good Christian home turn against his own?


Dear Abby,
I joined the Navy to see the world. I've seen it. Now how do I get out?


Dear Abby,
My forty year old son has been paying a psychiatrist $50.00 an hour every week for two and a half years. He must be crazy.


Dear Abby,
I was married to Bill for three months and I didn't know he drank until one night he came home sober.


Dear Abby,
My mother is mean and short tempered I think she is going through mental pause.


Dear Abby,
You told some woman whose husband had lost all interest in sex to send him to a doctor. Well, my husband lost all interest in sex and he is a doctor. Now what do I do?

The new party of Reagan

By Dana Milbank,

After he switched to the Republican Party in 1962, Ronald Reagan famously quipped: “I didn’t leave the Democratic Party. The party left me.”

Now, the Republican Party is doing the same thing to him — and Democrats are happy to take Reagan back.

“Congress consistently brings the government to the edge of default before facing its responsibility,” Reagan says in the clip. “This brinkmanship threatens the holders of government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and veterans benefits. Interest rates would skyrocket, instability would occur in financial markets, and the federal deficit would soar. The United States has a special responsibility to itself and the world to meet its obligations.”

“Kind of sums things up,” Larson said, playing the same clip again at a news conference.

Nobody knows what Reagan, who died in 2004, would make of the current fight over the debt limit. But 100 years after Reagan’s birth, it’s clear that the Tea Party Republicans have little regard for the policies of the president they claim to venerate.

Tea Party Republicans call a vote to raise the debt ceiling a threat to their very existence; Reagan presided over 18 increases in the debt ceiling during his presidency.

Tea Party Republicans say they would sooner default on the national debt than raise taxes; Reagan agreed to raise taxes 11 times.

Read more

Today's Quote

"When you speak of someone or about someone, you should speak as though they were in the room with you. The ears that you speak to today are attached to the mouth that could relay the message tomorrow."

William 'Biddy' Allen

1903-2001, Bus Driver - Loving father of 7 children

Amy Winehouse - Love is a Loosing Game

Tragic.  Makes me sad that she passed - now she's singing for an eternity.

RIP

Website of the Day

Flavors.me offers a supremely easy, intuitive way to design and launch your very own home page.

The service is free and takes just a few minutes, but the results look totally professional. (Flavor.me’s own home page lets you see pages that other users have made; all of them look great, and a few are actually delightful.) To start, type in your e-mail address, a user name, and a password. Your home page appears right away, and that’s where the fun begins: You can upload images; select backgrounds, layouts, colors, and fonts; connect up to four feeds; and link to various social-media outlets. There’s also a “metadata” feature, which helps boost your search-engine ranking (it costs extra), and a small fee ($20 a year) gives you more fonts and layout options to play with, lets you connect any number of feeds, and (small-business owners, take note!) provides you with your own URL.

Why Medicare is the Solution - Not the Problem

Robert Reich, Robert Reich's Blog:

"Not only is Social Security on the chopping block in order to respond to Republican extortion. So is Medicare. But Medicare isn't the nation's budgetary problems. It's the solution. The real problem is the soaring costs of health care that lie beneath Medicare. They're costs all of us are bearing in the form of soaring premiums, co-payments, and deductibles. Medicare offers a means of reducing these costs - if Washington would let it."

Read the Article

... A THOUSAND CUTS

Expert: Parents should lose custody of obese kids

Dr. David Ludwig, an obesity specialist at Harvard-affiliated Children’s Hospital Boston, is arguing that parents should lose custody of obese children.

State intervention “ideally will support not just the child but the whole family, with the goal of reuniting child and family as soon as possible,” Ludwig told The Associated Press. “That may require instruction on parenting.”

Read more/Video

Why You Might Be Dangerously Dehydrated

When you skimp on fluids, it's hard on your body, which makes sense because water is essential to just about every process in our body and, in fact, to the very existence of life on Earth. Life first emerged in the salty, primordial ocean; it stayed there until it was able to capture a bit of that water inside itself, the so-called "milieu intérieur" in which cells are bathed. Our inner ocean is a calm, salty broth providing cells with the raw materials they need to function, removing waste products, allowing them to communicate with each other and buffering them from the unpredictable world outside.

This water within accounts for about 60 percent of our body -- about 11 gallons, or 92 pounds, inside a 155-pound person. Most of it lurks inside our cells (where all sorts of important substances are dissolved in water) and outside them (the milieu interieur), but we also use it to cool our body with sweat, to circulate oxygen and fuel to our organs and to take away waste products via blood. The elderly, infants and sick children are most prone to dehydration, but no one is risk-free. "lf you're really busy, it's easy for all morning to go by and you don't really drink much until you notice you are thirsty, at which point you're already slightly dehydrated," says Cheuvront. And when we exercise hard, such as playing soccer or football or running distances in the summer, and forget to hydrate, we can easily lose 4 to 5 percent of our body weight.

Read more

Blueberry Tart

Serves 8|
Hands-On Time: 15m
Total Time: 48m

Ingredients

* flour for the work surface
* 1 8-ounce sheet frozen puff pastry, thawed
* 1 large egg, beaten
* 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
* 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
* 1/4 cup heavy cream
* 1/2 teaspoon grated lemon zest
* 3 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
* 2 cups blueberries



Directions

1. Heat oven to 375° F. On a lightly floured surface, unfold the sheet of pastry and roll it into a 10-by-12-inch rectangle. Transfer to a parchment-lined baking sheet.

2. Using the tip of a knife, score a 1-inch border around the pastry without cutting all the way through. Brush the border with the egg and sprinkle with the granulated sugar. Bake until golden and puffed, 18 to 22 minutes.

3. Using the tip of a knife, rescore the border of the cooked pastry without cutting all the way through. Gently press down on the center of the pastry sheet to flatten it. Let cool to room temperature, 15 to 20 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, with an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese until smooth. Add the cream, lemon zest, and 2 tablespoons of the confectioners’ sugar and beat until smooth. Spread the cream cheese mixture evenly within the borders of the pastry.

5. Arrange the blueberries in a single layer over the filling and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of confectioners’ sugar.

Today's Blissful Place

Traditional Zucchini Bread

Zucchini bread is a wonderful and easy snack to make. If you're looking to make homemade zucchini bread with the traditional flavors you know and love, turn to traditional zucchini bread.

Cooking Time: 1 hr
Ingredients

* 3 cups grated zucchini
* 1 cup oil (salad)
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 3 eggs, beaten
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 3 cups flour
* 1 1/2 baking powder
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ginger
* 1 cup chopped nuts
* 1 cup raisins

Instructions

1. Combine zucchini, oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, soda, cinnamon, salt and ginger and blend into zucchini mixture.

3. Beat 4 minutes.

4. Stir in nuts and raisins.

5. Place in greased loaf pan and bake 1 hour at 350 degrees F.

Notes

This recipe freezes well.

I Didn't Fight For Your Freedom

By Jude

I didn't fight for your freedoms. In the six years I was in, - Neither did anyone who went to Iraq, or Afghanistan, or Vietnam. It's all Bullshi*.

Read more

Shampoo Prank

Tex-Mex Chicken & Rice Bake

Prep Time: 5 min. Bake Time: 45 min.

1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup (Regular or 98% Fat Free)
1 cup  Picante Sauce
1/2 cup water
1 cup whole kernel corn
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound)
Paprika
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese

1. Stir the soup, picante sauce, water, corn and rice in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with the chicken. Sprinkle with the paprika. Cover the baking dish.

2. Bake at 375°F. for 45 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the rice is tender. Sprinkle with the cheese. Let stand until the cheese is melted.

Makes: 4 servings.

To complete the meal serve the chicken and rice with sliced tomatoes and avocados drizzled with fresh lime juice and a sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper.

Sparklehorse - Saturday

Amy Winehouse Dead: Singer Found Dead At London Home

Troubled singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her North London home, Sky News is reporting. The Daily Mail reports that police have confirmed the passing.

The Grammy-winning singer, best known for her hit song, "Rehab," died of a suspected drug overdose, Nick Buckley of the Sunday Mirror tweeted. Tim Gatt, of Sky News, tweeted that her "death [is] being treated as unexplained by police."

She's battled drug addiction for years, having most recently checked back into rehabilitation in May.

Winehouse entered treatment in late 2007 for drug problems, including admitted heroin use.

Read more

Arizona Lawmaker Points Gun at Reporter

The latest example in Arizona insanity: A state senator, Lori Klein, pointed a gun at the chest of a reporter from the Arizona Republic during an interview. Klein was apparently demonstrating the gun, which she also carried into the state legislature two days after Gabby Giffords’ shooting. “Oh it’s so cute,” she said, before turning on the laser sight and aiming it at his chest. The gun lacked a safety, but she told him not to worry because "I just didn't have my hand on the trigger.” Klein originally replied to the report by accusing the reporter of stepping in front of the gun while she showed it off; however, in a later statement, in which she said she’d give no interviews, she did not blame the reporter.

Read more

Human Rights Watch: Prosecute Bush

Hope George W. Bush wasn’t planning any overseas vacations: Human Rights Watch has called on foreign governments to prosecute the former president and some of his senior officials for war crimes. The call on foreign governments is, in part, because HRW says the Obama administration has refused to investigate the matter. "It's become abundantly clear that there is no longer any movement on the part of the Obama administration to live up to its responsibilities to investigate these cases when the evidence just keeps piling up … Under international law any country has jurisdiction over torture and war crimes.” Bush has admitted to two cases where he approved waterboarding and also approved the CIA’s detention and rendition programs.

16% Think It's OK for a Man to Hit His Wife? 5 Shocking Facts About Gender in America

A new report reveals that some Americans still think it’s okay for a man to hit his wife, the insane wage gap between women of color and white men, and other disturbing trends.

READ MORE

Manufacturing Deficit Fear

Pursuing a plan to kill social security, politicians are relying on a credulous public and compliant media to ramp up debt panic

Woman Gives Birth to 16-Pound Baby

This could not have been easy: On Sunday, a Texas woman gave birth to a two-foot-long, 16-pound boy, which is more than double the average size of a newborn. Janet Johnson’s doctors had warned her toward the end of her pregnancy that her son would be big, perhaps due to the fact that she was diagnosed with gestational diabetes when she was pregnant. “It’s a beautiful baby, but for health reasons we’d rather not see a baby this large,” said a nurse who helped deliver JaMichael Brown, Johnson’s fourth child. Doctors say JaMichael is doing OK so far in an intensive-care unit, where they are helping him breathe and eat. The Guinness Book of World Records says the biggest ever born weighed in at 23 pounds and 12 ounces, back in 1879. Sadly, that baby died 11 hours later.

Read more

THE JOBS MELTDOWN

Two years after the official start of an economic "recovery," the latest government report on jobs shows things are as bad as ever for the unemployed.

Read more

Two Kinds of Legacy

When you die, your possessions will be distributed according to a will in which you allocated property to specific people. Objects left in a will are called a legacy.

But "legacy" also has a much deeper meaning.

In Jewish tradition, people write "ethical wills" in which they pass on to the next generation, especially their children, the gift of wisdom and good wishes. This legacy is far more profound and permanent than bequests of property.

An ethical will is often a personal letter to the most important people in our lives. It conveys our values, convictions and hopes. An ethical will is also an autobiography - not of events and dates, but of the insights and intuitions that define who we are and tell the world what we stand for and what we think is important.

These documents provide a priceless and prized source of loving advice and can become treasured family heirlooms. Because they are about ethics, they also can become a moral compass that helps loved ones navigate their way to worthy and happy lives.

Yet no matter how highly cherished these letters can be for those who receive them, the process of writing them can change your perspective and cause you to readjust your own priorities.

What would you put in your ethical will? When you can, begin writing down everything you might want to pass on to the people you love. But know this: Once you start, it will be hard to stop as you'll experience a surge of thoughts that will engulf you with all the subconscious beliefs that make you who you are and what you will be.

According to Socrates, the touchstone of wisdom is to first know thyself. Try it, and you'll see why.

Michael Josephson
Speaker and Radio Commentator
www.charactercounts.org

12 Ways Americans are Cutting Back

Only a quarter of Americans think the economy will get better this year. As such, many of us are cutting back and finding ways to stretch our dollars. Here is a slideshow depicting the 12 ways many people are trying to save money. (And here are more detailed study results.)

Who Rules America? An Investment Manager Breaks Down the Economic Top 1%, Says 0.1% Controls Political and Legislative Process

Work by various economists and tax experts make it indisputable that the top 1% controls a widely disproportionate share of the income and wealth in the United States. When does one enter that top 1%? (I’ll use “k” for 1,000 and “M” for 1,000,000 as we usually do when communicating with clients or discussing money; thousands and millions take too much time to say.) Available data isn’t exact. but a family enters the top 1% or so today with somewhere around $300k to $400k in pre-tax income and over $1.2M in net worth. Compared to the average American family with a pre-tax income in the mid-$50k range and net worth around $120k, this probably seems like a lot of money. But, there are big differences within that top 1%, with the wealth distribution highly skewed towards the top 0.1%.

Read more

Yellow Cake With Strawberry Filling and Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting

Serves 12
Hands-On Time: 45m
Total Time: 3hr 00m

Ingredients

* 1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature, plus more for the pans
* 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour, spooned and leveled, plus more for the pans
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
* 1 1/2 cups sugar
* 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
* 3 large eggs, at room temperature
* 1 cup whole milk
* 1 recipe Fresh Strawberry Filling
* 1 recipe Chocolate Sour Cream Frosting
* 1 quart strawberries, thinly sliced
* 1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam, warmed

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350°F. Butter two 8- or 9-inch round cake pans, line the bottoms with parchment, butter again, and dust with flour, tapping out the excess. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

2. Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar on medium-high until fluffy, 2 to 3 minutes. Beat in the vanilla, then the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary.

3. Reduce mixer speed to low. Add the flour mixture in 3 additions and the milk in 2 additions, beginning and ending with the flour mixture. Mix just until combined (do not overmix).

4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pans and bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 25 to 30 minutes for 8-inch pans and 22 to 25 minutes for 9-inch pans. Cool the cakes in the pans for 15 minutes, then turn out onto racks to cool completely.

5. Transfer one of the cooled cakes to a plate and spread with 1 to 1½ cups of the filling. Top with the remaining cake and refrigerate to set, 30 minutes. Spread the top and sides with the frosting.

6. Starting from the outside perimeter, place a ring of the sliced strawberries around the cake, points facing out. Continue layering concentric rings around the cake until you reach the center. Carefully brush with the jam.

Pasta With Zucchini and Goat Cheese

Serves 4
Hands-On Time: 20m 
Total Time: 20m

Ingredients

* 12 ounces linguine (3/4 box)
* 1 tablespoon olive oil
* 1 pound zucchini, sliced into thin half-moons
* kosher salt and pepper
* 1 clove garlic, chopped
* 5 ounces fresh goat cheese, crumbled
* 2 teaspoons grated lemon zest





Directions

1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water, drain the pasta, and return it to the pot.

2. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the zucchini, ½ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

3. Cook, stirring, until the zucchini is tender and any liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the garlic and cook 1 minute more.

5. Add all but 2 tablespoons of the cheese to the pasta. Add the reserved cooking water, ¾ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Stir until creamy.

6. Serve the pasta topped with the zucchini, lemon zest, and remaining 2 tablespoons chees

The Goldberg Brothers

The Goldberg Brothers - The Inventors of the Automobile Air Conditioner

Here's a little factoid for automotive buffs or just to dazzle your friends.

The four Goldberg brothers, Lowell, Norman, Hiram, and Max, invented and developed the first automobile air-conditioner. On July 17, 1946, the temperature in Detroit was 97 degrees.

The four brothers walked into old man Henry Ford's office and sweet-talked his secretary into telling him that four gentlemen were there with the most exciting innovation in the auto industry since the electric starter.

Henry was curious and invited them into his office. They refused and instead asked that he come out to the parking lot to their car.

They persuaded him to get into the car, which was about 130 degrees, turned on the air conditioner, and cooled the car off immediately.

The old man got very excited and invited them back to the office, where he offered them $3 million for the patent.

The brothers refused, saying they would settle for $2 million, but they wanted the recognition by having a label, 'The Goldberg Air Conditioner,' on the dashboard of each car in which it was installed.

Now old man Ford was more than just a little anti-Semitic, and there was no way he was going to put the Goldberg's name on two million Fords.

They haggled back and forth for about two hours and finally agreed on $4 million and that just their first names would be shown.

And so, to this day, all Ford air conditioners show - Lo, Norm, Hi, and Max -- on the controls.

Today's Quote

"Believe it can be done. When you believe something can be done, really believe, your mind will find the ways to do it. Believing a solution paves the way to solution."

Dr. David Schwartz

Author of The Magic of Thinking Big

Today's Quote

“Gardening requires lots of water—most of it in the form of perspiration.”

― Lou Erickson

Important Women's Health Issue

* Do you have feelings of inadequacy?
* Do you suffer from shyness?
* Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?
* Do you suffer exhaustion from the day to day grind?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or
pharmacist about Margaritas.

Margaritas are the safe, *natural* way to feel better and more confident
about yourself and your actions. Margaritas can help ease you out of
your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing
to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Margaritas
almost immediately and with a regimen of regular doses you can
overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want
to live.

Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past and you will
discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start
living, with Margaritas.

Margaritas may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or
nursing should not use Margaritas. However, women who wouldn't mind
nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it.

Side effects may include:
- Dizziness
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Incarceration
- Erotic lustfulness
- Loss of motor control
- Loss of clothing
- Loss of money
- Loss of virginity
- Table dancing
- Headache
- Dehydration
- Dry mouth
- And a desire to sing Karaoke

WARNINGS:
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you are whispering
when you are not.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to tell your friends over
and over again that you love them.
* The consumption of Margaritas may cause you to think you can sing.
* The consumption of Margaritas may make you think you can logically
converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.

Please share this with other women who may need Margaritas.

Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer

..HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM EDT
THIS EVENING...

..EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN WILMINGTON HAS ISSUED AN
EXCESSIVE HEAT WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM WEDNESDAY
AFTERNOON THROUGH WEDNESDAY EVENING. A HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN
EFFECT FROM NOON TODAY TO 9 PM EDT THIS EVENING.

* HEAT INDEX VALUES...UP TO 104.

* TIMING...HEAT INDICES OF 100 TO 105 WILL OCCUR ON TUESDAY
AFTERNOON AND EVENING.

* IMPACTS...HEAT EXHAUSTION...HEAT STROKE AND OTHER HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES

Beware New Scam to Get Your Credit Card Number

Credit card thieves have found a new way to prey on unsuspecting victims, calling them in the middle of the night in their hotel rooms.

The Better Business Bureau says the caller pretends to be a hotel employee, and says the hotel's computer system has crashed, and they need your credit card number again.

The caller sometimes offers a discount on the room price for the inconvenience of waking you from your slumber.

The BBB says it's not sure if the calls are coming from another guest in the hotel, or from someone outside the hotel who has access to the phone numbers of each room.

Read more

Today's Quote

"The loudest and most influential voice you hear is your own inner voice, your self critic. It can work for you or against you, depending on the messages you allow."

— Keith Harrell: Was a motivational speaker, trainer, and coach

Jazzie Show: Mugger Surprise

Pork Chop and Spanish Rice Bake

Prep Time: 5 min.
Bake Time: 45 min.


1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Condensed Tomato Soup
1 cup water
1 cup frozen whole kernel corn
3/4 cup uncooked regular long-grain white rice
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried thyme leaves, crushed
4 boneless pork chops, 3/4-inch thick (about 1 pound)

1. Stir the soup, water, corn, rice, onion powder, black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon of the thyme in a 2-quart shallow baking dish. Top with the pork. Sprinkle the pork with additional black pepper and the remaining thyme. Cover the baking dish.

2. Bake at 375° F. for 45 minutes or until the pork is cooked through and the rice is tender.

Ingredient Note: For saucier rice, increase the water to 1 1/3 cups.
Makes: 4 servings.

Frozen corn is great year-round but as the summer progresses, try using fresh corn cut from the cob instead. Don't worry about precooking it for recipes like this one - it'll be fine straight from the cob.