Pop Quiz: Bernanke vs. Berezniki

Which one has the more unstoppable sinkhole policy?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Bernanke:</b></span><br /><br /><b>January 6, 2010</b><br /><a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/26/politics/main6141737.shtml">Obama Backs Bernanke for Likely 2nd Term - CBS News</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>The Fed is all but certain to keep its key bank lending rate - it affects a wide range of rates on consumer loans - at a record low near zero when the meeting concludes on Wednesday.<br /><br />It is also expected to renew a pledge to hold rates at record lows for an "extended period" to nurture the recovery. <span style="color: red;">Economists think that means rates will stay where they are for at least six more months.</span></i></div><br />At least 6 months! And in hindsight, give or take 5 years or more! Hurray!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Berezniki:</b></span><br /><br /><a href="http://webecoist.momtastic.com/2008/08/26/incredible-strange-amazing-sinkholes/">13 of the Biggest, Strangest, and Most Devastating Sinkholes on Earth</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i><b>2. Berezniki</b><br /><br />In Soviet Russia, the ground moves you. Berezniki’s sinkhole began in 1986 and just grows worse with each passing year. <span style="color: red;">It’s unstoppable.</span> Currently it’s over 200m deep, 80m long and 40m wide. In case you’re thinking “Berezniki? Who cares?” you should know that 10% of the world output of potash comes from this area, and <span style="color: red;">the sinkhole is very close to destroying the mine’s sole rail line</span>.</i></div><br />Unstoppable! Very close to destroying the mine's sole rail line! Hurray!<br /><br />Too much sarcasm?

Pop Quiz: Bernanke vs. Berezniki

Which one has the more unstoppable sinkhole policy?Bernanke:January 6, 2010Obama Backs Bernanke for Likely 2nd Term - CBS NewsThe Fed is all but certain to keep its key bank lending rate - it affects a wide range of rates on consumer loans - at a rec…

Read more »

Pizza Delivery Stories

This summary is not available. Please <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/09/pizza-delivery-stories.html"> click here </a> to view the post.

Pizza Delivery Stories

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.…

Read more »

Save me from myself

It's been a long couple days with work stuff and i had to take a class yesterday and today for my state licensure.  Yesterday I got to come home to an empty house, had time to chat with a friend and decompress before they got home.  Today I wasn't so lucky and walked into the heart of a tornado of chaos.<br /><br />My adhd medicine wears off mid-afternoon which is fine.  Sometimes though the time release doesn't work right and I crash hard.  This might leave me headachy and tired, or like today the tiniest thing sets me off into a big ball of anger.<br /><br />Not that any of it was a tiny thing, my husband and children were coming at me from every angle assaulting me with questions and well just bothering me!<br /><br />So i threw a tantrum.  There's no other word for it.  Stomping feet and slamming doors and yelling at everybody.  I'm not proud of this but it's what i did. <br /><br />Kids are long since off to bed and hubby's out at a game.  I'm just here alone.<br /><br />I'm really sad because I royally screwed up.  i was awful to everyone.  I wish somebody could just save me from me.  I wish i could just have a hug (IRL lol) or maybe hubby could say something or do anything to snap me out of it while I'm being like that.  And it's not over for us, this will fester and blow out of control again in a few days.  We've talked about that, he's not interested in giving me attention if i'm being or was being difficult.  It frustrates the crap out of me.  Even if he doesn't want to help me, or make life more pleasant for him, i just don't see why he doesn't want to help his kids grow up with a better mom.  It's hard not to compare my relationship with those of friends and what you read.  Kind of depressing, really.<br /><br />A friend did something for me yesterday that was really sweet and took so much effort but i wasn't as appreciative at the time as I wish i was... dunno just feel bad.<br /><br />Friends had a baby last night and i didn't stop to see the little guy.  I had plenty of time while i was being all crazy and now i can't.  And i didn't call.  They go home in the morning and I can visit this weekend... just not the same. <br /><br />So all in all i've just been a bad person today.  Really really disappointed in myself.  Tomorrow's a new day though, just gotta keep my chin up until he gets over it. 

Save me from myself

It's been a long couple days with work stuff and i had to take a class yesterday and today for my state licensure.  Yesterday I got to come home to an empty house, had time to chat with a friend and decompress before they got home.  Today I wasn't so…

Read more »

Real Retail And Food Services Sales per Retail Employee (Musical Tribute)

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBCreSFnBqn-yR57oeAtHLOGyphOMCgfkI8JISOyu4R8UU4gt-rhERrMTRmEVEK5uZ8xC3aa8yccYBLYP1q9CVoIBC_95zsuoxC5ic-yZfmjZXsYri8KKDcNEAD30u_Ih2Q2Q-N4sS_g/s1600/Real+Retail+and+Food+Services+Sales+per+Retail+Trade+Employee.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBCreSFnBqn-yR57oeAtHLOGyphOMCgfkI8JISOyu4R8UU4gt-rhERrMTRmEVEK5uZ8xC3aa8yccYBLYP1q9CVoIBC_95zsuoxC5ic-yZfmjZXsYri8KKDcNEAD30u_Ih2Q2Q-N4sS_g/s320/Real+Retail+and+Food+Services+Sales+per+Retail+Trade+Employee.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/4GtyMeEcPPE" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mzA">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Real Retail And Food Services Sales per Retail Employee (Musical Tribute)

Click to enlarge.Source Data:St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart…

Read more »

Book Review: Cities Without Ground

<a href="http://citieswithoutground.com/"><b><i>Cities Without Ground: A Hong Kong Guidebook</i></b></a> by Adam Frampton, Jonathan D. Solomon, Clara Wong<br /><a href="http://www.oroeditions.com//book/cities-without-ground">ORO Editions</a>, 2012<br />Paperback, 128 pages<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQd8TGP_i9O8mw0i9j1rcTIBKgY4dUHiQf8xYjbmG-dYUPO8F5iGvJ5st21REJcOkN5y5A1B3TBMNG091iPgNzgKu5LPVJx57Ez7w19g37yTCQqKY1WHQwl9w2sqH0jqSUdTL9dflP1DhQ/s1600/cover_CWG.jpg" /><br /><br />Think "guidebook" and most likely photos and descriptions highlighting particular objects—be they buildings, sculptures, parks, or even neighborhoods—comes to mind. But these entities are never separate from what is around them, a fact especially pronounced in cities, where new and old architecture, public art, and landscapes partake in almost constant negotiations with their surroundings. Then there are the networks—usually streets but comprising many more conduits in this age of infrastructure and flows—and this guide to Hong Kong, a "city without ground," is unique in this regard, for it focuses on the above- and below-grade walkways that traverse large sections of the city.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoiHCF9CQxV26kwJkJfPchmHAtK3DMkas4dmvBx8mMLHQxCUZArVwF8_9SO3NnFnZynTY5GH7hSkEEW_guR3aGMmgq49RIK9Ne1JTcGjVlcOFuiE90D2xu5I0wpH5kX4ka2oHyrS0g4pOR/s1600/11.jpg" /><br /><br />So given the carefully honed subject of the guidebook, the question is "how are the walkways presented?" Photographs, like the elevated walkway above, hardly do justice to the complicated network that winds its way between, above, below, and sometimes within buildings. So exploded axonometric drawings, as shown below, are used to describe the walkway networks in various fragments throughout the city. Buildings are ghosted and the vertical dimensions are exaggerated, both aiding the clarity of the diagrams.<br /><br /><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqgQGnuqOhJc_HIImZwIzPuu5z6hqLmyXiY6ZrVVyTnJYYohzzYPBuT2z2EMLujxEUHXZy6CR7sdF5nUCtrx-kHeFqT5xn3cQdVBzGx_AyjRgxie6tC6fLaZvvw23a1BBKqy2omcLs5Tfx/s1600/09.jpg" /><br /><br />Given the complexity of the routes, and therefore the concomitant complexity of their representations, it's fruitless for the reader to try to understand every map in its entirety. Aiding one's reading of the diagrams are the numerous notes (shops, restrooms, bus stops, etc.) and activities (gambling, fishing spot, drunken expat, and men with bird cages, to hint at the variety). The latter is a particularly important part of the book, because it inserts the observations of the authors and their compatriots that helped make the book into the mix; and because it enables the reader to fictionalize and even personalize places and routes.<br /><br />After all, is there a big difference between a map labelled with an important event (Mr. X was born/died here; the Battle of X occurred here; etc.) and one marking a relatively unimportant but potentially exotic occurrence? In reality yes, but in the realm of maps, not really. Both the important and the mundane exploit the conventions of maps and help people to remember <i>something</i> by locating it in space. In the case of <i>Cities Without Ground</i>, I like the idea (especially having never visited Hong Kong) of taking a virtual stroll around Shun Tak Centre and Sheung Wan, for example, watching the tourists come and go from the casinos, then jostling past other passengers as I make my way to the Fabric Bazaar, passing "Save the Children" activists and a giant newscast on the way. It's a walk in my imagination, but one I wouldn't have taken otherwise without this guidebook.<br /><br /><b>US: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1935935321/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1935935321&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.com" border="0" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan.gif" /></a> CA: <a href="http://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/1935935321/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1935935321&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.ca" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-ca.gif" width="90" /></a> UK: <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1935935321/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1935935321&linkCode=as2&tag=aweeklydoseof-20" target="_blank"><img alt="Buy from Amazon.co.uk" border="0" height="28" src="http://www.archidose.org/books/buy-from-tan-uk.gif" width="90" /></a></b>

Book Review: Cities Without Ground

Cities Without Ground: A Hong Kong Guidebook by Adam Frampton, Jonathan D. Solomon, Clara WongORO Editions, 2012Paperback, 128 pagesThink "guidebook" and most likely photos and descriptions highlighting particular objects—be they buildings, sculpture…

Read more »

Autumn food creations!

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7EDHL4J4Sk/UkIkFY4wIXI/AAAAAAAAJ18/ZUlDGHhcr6M/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-X7EDHL4J4Sk/UkIkFY4wIXI/AAAAAAAAJ18/ZUlDGHhcr6M/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since summer has come to an end I've been feeling very creative with recipes to cook up, not sure if it has to do with the change of season or what!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It all started with the popular website called Pinterest, I tell you it's addicting! </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You can spend all day on there looking at all kinds of recipes, crafts and all kinds of things!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've been on a smoothie kick lately and have one each morning for breakfast, and holds me over till lunch.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fall food finds:</span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTFVjXDbm4Q/UkNTrNCS64I/AAAAAAAAJ3U/l9VFOkSLTq8/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fTFVjXDbm4Q/UkNTrNCS64I/AAAAAAAAJ3U/l9VFOkSLTq8/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Went to trader joes and such the other day hunting down the famous pumpkin Greek yogurt but couldn't find any, I found some other pumpkin products though!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apples</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin patch cookies</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin butter</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin pie Lara bar</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin cream cheese</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin spice granola</span></i><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Some of these products would go great in a smoothie or even on a bagel!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also have one for dessert or an after workout recovery!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qaoKGaNt9Wk/UkIj8LHGxII/AAAAAAAAJ1s/2rhw3lhXo2I/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qaoKGaNt9Wk/UkIj8LHGxII/AAAAAAAAJ1s/2rhw3lhXo2I/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">They are simple to make and oh so delicious!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Apple pie smoothie:</span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTahuOhqSBI/UkB5da_tt0I/AAAAAAAAJzE/RRHqh9l2S44/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xTahuOhqSBI/UkB5da_tt0I/AAAAAAAAJzE/RRHqh9l2S44/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">All I did was dice up an apple and toss it in the blender along with a cup of almond milk, a cup of cinnamon apple sauce, a teaspoon of vanilla extract and a half of a teaspoon of cinnamon sugar and blended it all up.</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It was sweet and delicious, great apple flavor and I added some truwhip on top with a cinnamon graham cracker and a dash of cinnamon sugar on top!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Since the holidays are approaching and the leaves are changing their pretty colors, I've been browsing Pinterest just looking for recipes to test out and so glad I came across this delicious and creamy pumpkin pie recipe!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's on of my favorite things to eat during the holidays but can get very fattening depending on what you use.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aoIOKDrhak/UjuJoZRLWpI/AAAAAAAAJwk/3EBKDswpzjY/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1aoIOKDrhak/UjuJoZRLWpI/AAAAAAAAJwk/3EBKDswpzjY/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></span></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can't go wrong with Greek yogurt, almond milk, banana, ice and pumpkin purée for this delightful festive drink!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Tonight was the first time I've made it and wow!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Robust creamy pumpkin flavor topped off with some truwhip topping, crumbled graham cracker and cinnamon sugar it tasted exactly like pie!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just about freaked when I saw that the orange leaf frozen yogurt shop had a new flavor for Fall !</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Can you guess what it was?!</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin pie:</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ6Exl5ux7I/UjjwKfFCs3I/AAAAAAAAJt4/TEfuuvTG8SQ/s1600/IMG_20130917_180640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bQ6Exl5ux7I/UjjwKfFCs3I/AAAAAAAAJt4/TEfuuvTG8SQ/s320/IMG_20130917_180640.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Delicious pumpkin pie frozen yogurt tasted just like pie but better because it was froyo and the spices tasted just right and went along perfectly with the graham crackers we had in the car!</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pumpkin cheesecake smoothie:</span></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ojITNEeG5jo/UjybC8mcfiI/AAAAAAAAJxc/IAlwCsVUjqU/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ojITNEeG5jo/UjybC8mcfiI/AAAAAAAAJxc/IAlwCsVUjqU/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i><i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Similar to the pumpkin pie smoothie but with cottage cheese and a crunchy graham cracker blended in to make smooth and creamy just like pumpkin cheesecake!</span></i></div>

Autumn food creations!

Since summer has come to an end I've been feeling very creative with recipes to cook up, not sure if it has to do with the change of season or what!It all started with the popular website called Pinterest, I tell you it's addicting! You can spend all…

Read more »

Teamster women get fired up at New Orleans conference

<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQTni6Gg7hT6Sz9tMAwJIgFO9LTSAs4L5fQsEsxZkk_Uw9At3yveDEltmfFM0-kYNgf584Cuwg6OYbXm25vAGti4oc9_dgas8fr4TL7lWFvLE-f-fNnWTHgJzdGR7q-1m8Ifcv4k_May/s1600/women's+conference+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7FQTni6Gg7hT6Sz9tMAwJIgFO9LTSAs4L5fQsEsxZkk_Uw9At3yveDEltmfFM0-kYNgf584Cuwg6OYbXm25vAGti4oc9_dgas8fr4TL7lWFvLE-f-fNnWTHgJzdGR7q-1m8Ifcv4k_May/s400/women's+conference+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Teamster women find sisterhood is powerful!</td></tr></tbody></table>One thousand Teamster women -- the most ever -- are in New Orleans through Saturday to re-energize for the next year of battles against the enemies of working people.<br /><br />Commentator Donna Brazile, a New Orleans native, fired up the crowd during the opening session today with a rock 'em, sock 'em speech about the attacks on workers. Brazile said the battle we're fighting is unlike anything she's ever seen. She had special scorn for Congress, who, she said, "is picking on people who are too busy working two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet."<br /><br />"Get your butt out and vote," she implored the Teamster women.<br /><br />(Brazile's cousin, by the way, is a member of Teamsters Local 279 in New Orleans.)<br /><br />She echoed Teamsters General President Jim Hoffa's message. "There's a war on workers and a war on women," he said.<br /><br />That war looks the same, he said, wherever right-wing governors are attacking workers: in Ohio, with Gov. John Kasich, in Wisconsin, with Gov. Scott Walker, in Michigan, with Gov. Rick Snyder.<br /><br />Becky Strzechoski, director of the Teamsters Women's Conference, led the general session with a warning that the attacks on workers so prevalent in the United States are bleeding into Canada. And she reminded the crowd that a Teamsters contract is gender neutral.<br /><br />Teamster women will spend most of the next two days at workshops, learning about tools and tactics to use in fighting the war on workers -- and women.<br /><br /><br />

Teamsters Women's Conference Teamster women get fired up at New Orleans conference

Teamster women find sisterhood is powerful!One thousand Teamster women -- the most ever -- are in New Orleans through Saturday to re-energize for the next year of battles against the enemies of working people.Commentator Donna Brazile, a New Orleans …

Read more »

Real Annualized International Trade per Capita

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXdrZXI8oHW0hp5WTW0vcWc6hYSkOjlVj0qjmcnlK9IG8VApQfBOHFEz-E7k6IPWPD2LTBfrrT3CNrpwjiTzTUWZ7gOOVyqOoFiFs8Wznl9ACXVUaVZMo4BbWKtlrpYnZRD4ebI1EIZE/s1600/International+Trade+per+Capita+-+Long-Term.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXdrZXI8oHW0hp5WTW0vcWc6hYSkOjlVj0qjmcnlK9IG8VApQfBOHFEz-E7k6IPWPD2LTBfrrT3CNrpwjiTzTUWZ7gOOVyqOoFiFs8Wznl9ACXVUaVZMo4BbWKtlrpYnZRD4ebI1EIZE/s320/International+Trade+per+Capita+-+Long-Term.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />Let's zoom in for a closer look.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVufb153qC-vQyaRU4ygHPrz7sGzl8nxM8Ynh8hr1-hNbov3GhvAlw8PGD4kh2ERrvQf7t38uVAo1dqsFG2KyAE7pgNW-Lzyx4uIn3dhZGwfvueQ7LbHA1vETDSKhIxGBgYOoGx4OVjMk/s1600/International+Trade+per+Capita+-+Short-Term.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVufb153qC-vQyaRU4ygHPrz7sGzl8nxM8Ynh8hr1-hNbov3GhvAlw8PGD4kh2ERrvQf7t38uVAo1dqsFG2KyAE7pgNW-Lzyx4uIn3dhZGwfvueQ7LbHA1vETDSKhIxGBgYOoGx4OVjMk/s320/International+Trade+per+Capita+-+Short-Term.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />Sorry, China. It looks like we're pretty much done being your exponential growth engine.<br /><br /><b>August 11, 2013</b><br /><a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/russellflannery/2013/08/11/china-faces-years-of-slowing-gdp-growth-top-strategist-says/">China Faces Years Of Slowing GDP Growth, Top Strategist Says</a><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>“We need to get used to the fact that the boom is over,” said Andy Rothman, China macro strategist at brokerage CLSA. <span style="color: red;">“The days when you could just roll out of bed and make money, or the days when you could expect that the growth rate for most things was going to be faster next year — that’s done. We should expect that for the foreseeable future, every year on average, most major economic data points are going to be growing more slowly.”</span></i></div><br />It could never happen here of course. This is America. Thanks to <a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mzd">perma-ZIRP</a>, booms will never end again! Hurray!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="236" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/yFFljFuGfmc" width="420"></iframe><br /><br /><div style="color: #666666;"><i>Don't mind us we're just spilling our guts<br />If this is love I don't wanna be hanging by the neck<br />Before an audience of death</i></div><br /><b>See Also:</b><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2010/06/sarcasm-disclaimer.html">Sarcasm Disclaimer</a><br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=mz9">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

Real Annualized International Trade per Capita

Click to enlarge.Let's zoom in for a closer look.Click to enlarge.Sorry, China. It looks like we're pretty much done being your exponential growth engine.August 11, 2013China Faces Years Of Slowing GDP Growth, Top Strategist Says“We need to get used …

Read more »

TPP + China = even more reason to worry

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s1600/tpp.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL5GNPh4L9dyFEjafZgdiLgok9fpP5_M0vgNOuTOWAXZejHvGXGnGsP1spLECr7NtKsbzE1Y7RlXgK3QNdhzmGV_vRO4iWp0vuqjkx_b7TV33eLlje3d5hnhidRw71jJ4kMMouyRMMkqih/s320/tpp.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just when you think the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) can’t get any worse, it does. Now </span><a href="http://dyn.politico.com/printstory.cfm?uuid=33B91A19-6BFF-4BF3-965A-1E0084ABD1DD" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">China is making rumblings that it wants to participate</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> in the TPP. You know, the country that put the “sweat” in sweatshops!<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">America has seen what China can do to U.S. jobs, and it’s not good. This nation </span><a href="http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/08/24/report-america-lost-27-million-jobs-to-china-in-10-years" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">lost 2.7 million jobs to the Chinese</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> during the first 10 years after China was accepted into the World Trade Organization, but that is only the beginning if the world’s most populated nation is allowed to join the current 12-country Pacific Rim trade pact. <o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> And did we mention that the </span><a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/china-drives-uptick-in-us-trade-deficit-96257.html" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">U.S. trade deficit with China topped $30 billion</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> for the first time in July? Good times!<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While trade negotiators are in the nation’s capital to try and work out unresolved portions of the TPP, those who support workers and their allies are </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/450001515036305/451382368231553/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">taking to the street tomorrow</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to say the public deserves to be heard on this trade agreement. There should be no quick up-or-down vote in Congress on something so important.</span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's make them remember that when the U.S. negotiates a trade agreement, every provision should benefit working families, not big corporations. America doesn't need anymore "free" trade deals, it needs fair trade deals.</span></div>

China fair labor fair trade TPP TPP + China = even more reason to worry

Just when you think the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) can’t get any worse, it does. Now China is making rumblings that it wants to participate in the TPP. You know, the country that put the “sweat” in sweatshops! America has seen what China can do …

Read more »

So Where's The Outrage?

For years and years there has been a low grade howling that occasionally peaks at an ear shattering crescendo over gun control. It's like clockwork.<br /><br /><a href="https://www.propublica.org/article/how-many-die-from-medical-mistakes-in-us-hospitals?google_editors_picks=true">There is a new study that just came out that shows medical malpractice deaths dwarf gun deaths, automobile deaths and accidental deaths, combined.</a><br /><br />This new study shows that the problem is so rampant that they estimate it to be the third leading cause of death in America trailing only heart disease and all cancers combined.<br /><br /> <blockquote>In 2010, the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services said that bad hospital care contributed to the deaths of 180,000 patients in Medicare alone in a given year.<br /><br />Now comes a study in the current issue of the Journal of Patient Safety that says the numbers may be much higher — between 210,000 and 440,000 patients each year who go to the hospital for care suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death, the study says.<br /><br />That would make medical errors the third-leading cause of death in America, behind heart disease, which is the first, and cancer, which is second. </blockquote><br />What kind of outrage do we hear about this?<br /><br />Crickets.<br /><br /><br />It seems medical malpractice isn't so messy and visually in your face.<br /><br />It's nice and tidy.<br /><br />My father almost kicked the bucket recently because a new doctor he was seeing prescribed him a new heart medication that built up in his body and started poisoning him.<br /><br />He was in the hospital for two weeks and had multiple "heart episodes" which is hospital speak for heart attack.<br />The medicine burned his lungs chemically. This was misdiagnosed as pneumonia at one point and he kept taking the medicine until it finally put him in the hospital.<br />His regular doctor finally figured out what the problem was but not before it damn near killed him.<br /><br /><br />This is just one example of the now estimated <i>Half A Million People A Year </i>that die because of medical malpractice yet you do not see angry mothers on the television demanding action, do you?<br /><br />This country has it's priorities fucked up and it is the media and special interests who are fanning the hysteria.<br /><br />I expect we will see more about this issue in the near future though.

So Where's The Outrage?

For years and years there has been a low grade howling that occasionally peaks at an ear shattering crescendo over gun control. It's like clockwork.There is a new study that just came out that shows medical malpractice deaths dwarf gun deaths, automo…

Read more »

What I learned visiting my mom at the hospital - The Globe and Mail

<i><br>The 14th floor of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto is an art gallery of sorts.<br><br>Its plantless courtyard displays a group of sculptures depicting men, women and children. Recalling the échorchés of bygone illustrated medical atlases, these dancing metal figures leap and squat, their skin stripped from their bodies to reveal bones and musculature. Pieces of steel, crusted by time and the elements, form sharp skeletons rounded out at the ribs, buttocks and biceps.<br><br>"What do you say they are again?" my mother asks, her IV pole in tow. "Aychorshays?"<br><br>I drone on about my graduate seminar on the politics of medical representations and the animation of corpses in anatomy books until another patient walks by.<br><br>"Enjoying your walk?" my mom asks.<br><br>"It's my Central Park," he replies.<br><br>We are in the hematology ward, 14A.<br><br>As I walk the halls, I'm filled with pride for Canada's generous and cutting-edge universal health care system, and sadness at why I am getting to know it first hand.<br><br>At 69, my mom is one of the oldest patients here. Eight months ago, she could walk two kilometres for grocery shopping, and swim with my three-year-old in Florida. She already had terminal leukemia but we didn't know it.<br><br>Like my mother, most patients are here for a chemotherapy regimen: seven days receiving chemicals by intravenous followed by four to eight weeks to recover and hope for remission and a possible stem-cell transplant.<br><br>Confined to the hospital because of their suppressed immune systems and reliance on blood transfusions, these patients walk the halls of this small space – once around the nurses' station, past the very sick young woman and the witty pretty one, past the visiting room and the family that brings in the delicious breaded chicken, then back to the elevators and the échorchés.<br><br>Pictures line the walls along their walk. Some are beautiful. I like the bright yellow painting of a girl made by a patient, and the framed child's drawing. There is a charming watercolour, and even the posters telling us to "remember to wash your hands" and "report any coughing or diarrhea" are not all that bad in design.<br><br>Suddenly, my mother stops in front of a framed colour print. "I hate this one," she says.<br><br>The picture is of a boy fishing from a rock, and there's a ghostly image of his grandfather in the background, hunched over and faintly rendered. "I can't believe they have this here," my mom says. "Wait, this one is worse."<br><br>The next print shows two empty Muskoka chairs on a cottage dock in the fall, and is titled The Last Visit. It is hokey and seemingly harmless. But my mom gets teary, and then I do too. We know there won't be another cottage season for us as a whole family.<br><br>My father arrives and wonders what is going on. It is strange to be crying here, in front of these awful artworks. So we start to laugh. "I'm going to avoid this stretch," says my mother as we continue walking the loop.<br><br>Later that afternoon, we talk about the pictures and our reactions to them. All have been donated in memory of a friend, a parent, a sibling or a spouse. We don't mock the tastes of others or the intention of the givers. Nor do we blame anyone – everything about these artworks and their display is grounded in love and generosity.<br><br>The problem is that many of these pictures were chosen while mourning. They are memorials, and carry the weight of tombs.<br><br>I fantasize about taking them down and putting them in a small room, one framed picture above the other from floor to ceiling, along with their tiny brass plaques – like a memorial wall in a cemetery. These pictures need to be placed somewhere to remember the dead, not here, where the living are pulling their clanking IVs along the linoleum, performing feats that make marathoners look weak.<br><br>I wonder if my visceral reaction is due to my occupation – I am an art history professor.<br><br>When I ask nurses and doctors their thoughts about them, most say they have never looked or noticed. They are busy. I don't blame them for not looking at art when their objects of study demand close visual examinations with life-or-death consequences.<br><br>Nonetheless, whenever my mom introduces me as her daughter the art historian, the talk turns to the pictures. The patients know them well. The wonderfully witty woman down the hall has even covered up one in her room on account of its fading sunset, its memorial plaque and what they imply.<br><br>When I leave the hospital after my visit, I pass the portraits of the men (and some women) who greeted me when I first arrived on the ground floor. Suited and stiff, or elegantly dressed and posed, these doctors, researchers and donors are celebrated through paint and photography.<br><br>Art matters here in the foyer: It lets us know who is important and to whom we should be thankful. But art also matters on the 14th floor: It starts conversations, creates environments, makes us laugh and cry. Art donated in memory of a loved one should not reflect the grief of the living, but embody the joy, energy and authenticity of the deceased.<br><br>My mother died in March. I am still looking for the perfect picture to donate.<br><br><a href="http://m.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/what-i-learned-visiting-my-mom-at-the-hospital/article14346103/?service=mobile#!/">http://m.theglobeandmail.com/life/facts-and-arguments/what-i-learned-visiting-my-mom-at-the-hospital/article14346103/?service=mobile#!/</a></i>

What I learned visiting my mom at the hospital - The Globe and Mail

The 14th floor of Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto is an art gallery of sorts.Its plantless courtyard displays a group of sculptures depicting men, women and children. Recalling the échorchés of bygone illustrated medical atlases, these dancing …

Read more »

Librarian II - New Haven Free Public Library

<strong>Librarian II - </strong><strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">New Haven Free Public Library</span></strong></strong>. Salary: Minimum $43,748 annualized. Closing Date: <span style="color: red;">September 27, 2013</span>. Nature of Work: This is professional library work beyond entry level. Incumbents are expected to have acquired the basic knowledge, skills and abilities necessary to perform the full range of tasks required at a fully capable level of competence. Duties are performed within the framework of established library policy under the general supervision and review of a higher level librarian. In addition, this position involves responsibility for the organization and maintenance of a special library collection or service. This current assignment is in the Young Minds / Youth Services area. Minimum Requirements: Masters degree in Library Science from an American Library Association accredited library school. Minimum of two years experience as a professional librarian and the necessary knowledge, abilities and skills, in addition to those from Librarian I, as stated in the job description, including but not limited to: Ability to organize and maintain a specialized library collection or service within a department; experience with a variety of on-line databases and the ability to apply this knowledge in planning and implementation of research or catalog work; Ability to evaluate and advise on the disposition of reference questions, or on matters of cataloging practice; Ability to instruct and train Librarian I and support staff. Instructions: Online job applications can be submitted to: <a _fcksavedurl="http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/HumanResources/CityJobPostings.asp" href="http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/HumanResources/CityJobPostings.asp" target="_blank">http://www.cityofnewhaven.com/HumanResources/CityJobPostings.asp</a>.

Librarian II - New Haven Free Public Library

Librarian II - New Haven Free Public Library. Salary: Minimum $43,748 annualized. Closing Date: September 27, 2013. Nature of Work: This is professional library work beyond entry level. Incumbents are expected to have acquired the basic knowledge, …

Read more »

Kochs’ vast dark money network exposed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OPJCPhfJhuq8sLoGzOIOFOGAtvnm_NH_ZcEnMbsy3l2Fi93oa9CXdB25rKILltx7P6cUwLXGlqJ0YWoLcctA-gxFU6B4bTtey5D7UDw49p2kkxtXAg9vG896QMiFGT1XrnsDsd8bD8t/s1600/Koch-Brothers-Exposed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI3OPJCPhfJhuq8sLoGzOIOFOGAtvnm_NH_ZcEnMbsy3l2Fi93oa9CXdB25rKILltx7P6cUwLXGlqJ0YWoLcctA-gxFU6B4bTtey5D7UDw49p2kkxtXAg9vG896QMiFGT1XrnsDsd8bD8t/s200/Koch-Brothers-Exposed.png" width="200" /></a></div>New tax filings by a Koch-funded front group reveal the staggering scope of the political machine that wants to destroy workers' rights and turn us into feudal serfs. Exposed secret political spending by “<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2013/09/behind-the-curtain-exclusive-the-koch-brothers-secret-bank-96669.html" rel="nofollow">Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce,” which included $250 million during the 2012 election cycle</a>, shines a light on the vast shadowy network of organizations, LLCs and business groups promoting anti-worker causes.<br /><br /><div>Our friends at the <a href="http://www.prwatch.org/cmd" rel="nofollow">Center for Media and Democracy</a> have <a href="http://prwatch.org/news/2013/09/12247/breaking-new-list-dark-money-shell-game-groups-connected-kochs" rel="nofollow">the story</a>:</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce's tax filing also lists the names and amounts of all of the entities it funded between late 2011 and the eve of the 2012 elections. Here is the list of the top five groups to which the Kochs' Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce funneled millions:</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"Corner Table LLC," known as the "<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Center_to_Protect_Patient_Rights" rel="nofollow">Center to Protect Patient Rights</a></strong>" (CPPR): three infusions of cash totaling $114,678,000. CPPR is at the center of a probe by the California Elections Board on "dark money" spent through shell groups to influence two ballot initiatives, among other concerns that have been raised about it.    </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"PR Dist LLC," described as "<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Americans_for_Prosperity" rel="nofollow">Americans for Prosperity</a></strong>," which is directed by David Koch: two infusions totaling $31,600,000.  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>The 60 Plus Association Inc.</strong>," $15,660,000  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Future_Fund" rel="nofollow">American Future Fund</a></strong>," $13,600,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>Concerned Women for American</strong> Legislative Action Committee," $8,150,000 </li></ul></blockquote><div>Freedom Partners’ tax report also shows it owns five other shell game groups that all share the same Washington DC street address: “American Entrepreneur Fund LLC,” “American Enterprise Group LLC,” “American Strategies Group LLC,” “MIC LLC,” and “American Strategic Innovations LLC."<br /><br />Creepy!<br /><br />CMD reports that the “<a href="http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Federation_of_Independent_Business" rel="nofollow">National Federation of Independent Business</a>” received $2.5 from the Koch-funded “Freedom Partners” group. The NFIB claims to represent the interests of small business owners, yet it’s getting millions from the Kochs’ big corporation ... which would just as soon crush the small businesses that try to compete with it.<br /></div><div>And in case you needed a reminder of how intricate and well-funded the right-wing anti-worker arsenal is, there’s more:</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce spent another $50 million on other groups, cumulatively, some of which are well known and some of which have flown below the public's radar:</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Commitment" rel="nofollow">American Commitment</a></strong>," $6,260,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>Partnership for Ohio's Future</strong>," $500,000  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>West Michigan Policy Forum</strong>," $1,000,000  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/American_Energy_Alliance" rel="nofollow">American Energy Alliance</a></strong>," $1,460,000 (has previously been connected to the Kochs) </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>American Values Action</strong>," $230,000 (spent $14 million on "independent expenditures" including phone calls against Obama during the 2012 election; donors unknown/not registered as a PAC)  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>Common Sense Issues, Inc.</strong>," $50,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>Heritage Action for America, Inc.</strong>," $500,000 (connected to the Heritage Foundation, which has deep Koch connections)  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"ORRA LLC (<strong>EVANGCH4 Trust</strong>)," $5,055,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"POFN LLC (<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Public_Notice" rel="nofollow">Public Notice</a></strong>)," $5,466,250  </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Republican_Jewish_Coalition" rel="nofollow">Republican Jewish Coalition</a></strong>," $700,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"RION LLC (<strong>Center for Shared Service Trust</strong>), $2,738,000 (closely connected to the Charles Koch Foundation) </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"SLAH LLC (<strong>Public Engagement Trust</strong>)," $1,500,000 (Arlington)</li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong>State Tea Party Express</strong>," $600,000 (operates out of Willows, California) </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"STN LLC (<strong>Themis Trust</strong>)," $5,781,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"TONA LLC (<strong>Libre Initiative Trust</strong>)," $3,112,000 </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Tea_Party_Patriots" rel="nofollow">Tea Party Patriots</a></strong>," $200,000 (operating out of Woodstock, Georgia)</li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li>"TRGN LLC (<strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php/Generation_Opportunity" rel="nofollow">Generation Opportunity</a></strong>), $5,040,000 (a group aimed at Gen X that tries to pin the economic crash that began under President George W. Bush on Democrats) </li></ul></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><ul><li><strong>"The </strong><a href="http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=National_Right_to_Work_Committee" rel="nofollow"><strong>National Right to Work Committee</strong></a><strong>," $1,000,000 (which pushes anti-worker, union-busting measures)</strong></li></ul></blockquote><div>The next time you hear about a “grassroots” organization of concerned citizens whining about “big government” and “big labor” while calling for things like “right to work” for less laws and financial deregulation, odds are that those ordinary folks are in fact right-wing billionaire goons – or at least they’re getting paid by right-wing billionaire goons.   </div>

dark money Koch brothers right to work (for LESS) vast right-wing conspiracy Kochs’ vast dark money network exposed

New tax filings by a Koch-funded front group reveal the staggering scope of the political machine that wants to destroy workers' rights and turn us into feudal serfs. Exposed secret political spending by “Freedom Partners Chamber of Commerce,” which …

Read more »

Legislative Librarian - Connecticut General Assembly, Hartford

<strong>Legislative Librarian - </strong><strong><span style="color: #48286d;">Connecticut General Assembly</span></strong>’s nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research seeks one full-time legislative librarian (Hartford). Primary responsibilities are cataloging, indexing, and reference. This is an entry level position. Requires superior oral and written communication abilities; sound judgment; attention to detail; and excellent personal relations skills. Must be able to work under pressure and be willing to work overtime during legislative sessions. Working knowledge of Microsoft applications preferred. MLS required. Salary is commensurate with qualifications and relevant experience. The beginning salary for a candidate is $52,151. Send résumé and cover letter by <span style="color: red;">October 1, 2013</span> to: Selection Committee, Office of Legislative Research, Room 5300, Legislative Office Building, Hartford, CT 06106; Fax to 860-240-8881; or email to <a _fcksavedurl="mailto:olrlibapplicant@cga.ct.gov" href="mailto:olrlibapplicant@cga.ct.gov">olrlibapplicant@cga.ct.gov</a>. No phone inquiries please. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Legislative Librarian - Connecticut General Assembly, Hartford

Legislative Librarian - Connecticut General Assembly’s nonpartisan Office of Legislative Research seeks one full-time legislative librarian (Hartford). Primary responsibilities are cataloging, indexing, and reference. This is an entry level posi…

Read more »

Things To Look For In Evaluating Green Coffee Supplements

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Sunni Tetu</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Drinking coffee has been part of many people's lives especially in the morning when a quick caffeine fix is needed. But are you aware that there is a specific type of coffee that can also help you shed the pounds? Enter green coffee bean extract - it's just the same coffee beans, except this one didn't undergo the roasting process. Its popularity is hugely credited to it being featured in the Dr. Oz show.<br /> <br /> The secret to the powers of green coffee bean extract is a substance known as chlorogenic acid. While the roasting process used in coffee beans takes out its bitter taste, it also causes the chlorogenic acid to be reduced significantly, if not completely destroyed. There have been quite a number of scientific tests conducted on green coffee and all of them caused reduction of fat and body weight.<br /> <br /> One thing that is quite noticeable in weight-loss supplements being sold these days is that quite a lot are actually made from green coffee bean extract. Since it contains chlorogenic acid, the bloodstream is able to delay the absorption of glucose and consequently cause absorption of fat to be reduced. When looking for a supplement, make sure it contains either GCA (green coffee antioxidant) or Svetol.<br /> <br /> Another important thing is that the supplement should contain a minimum of 45% chlorogenic acid. Anything below 45% may not be very effective for weight loss. You should also take note of the dosage, which can be anywhere from 200mg to 800mg per serving. Based on the study conducted by the Dr. Oz research team, the recommended was 400mg and taken 3 times a day.<br /> <br /> When choosing a weight loss supplement made with green coffee extract, make sure to check the list of ingredients. Stay away from any product that does not provide an ingredients list. There shouldn't be any hint of fillers or artificial ingredients in the label. If you find any ingredients in the list that sound weird or look off, it may be wise to call or email the manufacturer and ask about it.<br /> <br /> To minimize risk, always buy from a reputable brand, particularly those that have been in the business for several years. Their product should have very good reviews and feedback from consumers. It is always a good idea to do some research on different brands and take note of the features, price, and reviews and then make an informed decision will work best with your situation.<br /> <br /> When used properly, supplements made from green coffee bean extract are generally safe and do not cause any negative side effects. But just like any other product, using it beyond the intended dosage may be detrimental to your health, especially if you are allergic to caffeine. Also, keep in mind that weight-loss supplements such as this are not recommended for pregnant women.<br /> <br /> Another thing to remember before you buy any green coffee bean extract is that there is still no substitute to having a balanced diet and proper exercise whenever you want to achieve ideal weight reduction. Diet supplements like this can indeed work, and you would be able to get results faster if you are consuming less calories than the amount you are burning when you exercise.<br /> <br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawresource'><br /> <div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawabout'><br /> About the Author:<br /> </div><br /> <div class='uawlinks'>Have you heard about the wonderful benefits that green coffee bean extract can do for your figure? Do you know the proper way to use it? <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Green-Coffee-Extract-Capsules-Nutrizap/dp/B00EG3Y8CS">www.amazon.com/Green-Coffee-Extract-Capsules-Nutrizap/dp/B00EG3Y8CS</a> offers a collection of resources that can help you understand more about this supplement - we invite you check it out.</div><br /> </div><br />

Things To Look For In Evaluating Green Coffee Supplements

By Sunni Tetu Drinking coffee has been part of many people's lives especially in the morning when a quick caffeine fix is needed. But are you aware that there is a specific type of coffee that can also help you shed the pounds? Enter green coffee …

Read more »

Oakland gives sweetheart deal to anti-worker creep

<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take a look at this: A Teamster-hating, worker-screwing California business owner, who swindled port truck drivers out of nearly $1 million, is </span><a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/oakland-to-spend-15-million-to-help-influential-contractor/Content?oid=3713472" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">getting a $1.5 million handout</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> from the city of Oakland. And to top it off, the city doesn’t have the money to cover the deal with the influence-wielding contractor -- Bill Aboudi.<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTzwKEGtnelIvRMfZUMNy7reLsKbG7l-9iOso93Tqo5xgu9ZzFlp8FK6rw_pYliweDmTwSNRexCUOixvWjbXQTJb_fBCH9FRlkv-7hV8WVGIDtAaOusVK6KqaY5dqe6OzuPWUPpCB_M71/s1600/aboudi.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQTzwKEGtnelIvRMfZUMNy7reLsKbG7l-9iOso93Tqo5xgu9ZzFlp8FK6rw_pYliweDmTwSNRexCUOixvWjbXQTJb_fBCH9FRlkv-7hV8WVGIDtAaOusVK6KqaY5dqe6OzuPWUPpCB_M71/s320/aboudi.jpeg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aboudi, who </span><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/judge-says-greedy-oakland-hustler-owes.html"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">an Alameda County Superior Court judge determined in June had stolen $965,000 in wages</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> from 73 current and former employees, just doesn’t like to follow the rules. And in addition to screwing his workers, his company, Oakland Maritime Support Services, has also been discharging storm water pollution into the San Francisco Bay in violation of state and federal environmental laws, court documents show.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> That, however, seems of little concern to Oakland officials, who gave him the money to offset his move from a former Army base being redeveloped by the city. By the way, did we mention Aboudi has also repeatedly missed rent payments in excess of $235,000 and that his business has been effectively exempted from having to pay parking taxes?<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Doug Bloch of </span><a href="http://www.teamstersjc7.org/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Teamsters Joint Council 7</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> said he is befuddled by the turn of events:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I’m speechless. It’s a gift of public funds.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What’s really going on here? </span><a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/" rel="nofollow"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The East Bay Express</span></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> explains:<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So why has the city been assisting a contractor who fails to pay his workers and has polluted the environment? And why does it continue to do financial favors for him? Aboudi has strong defenders on the city council: namely, Councilmembers Larry Reid, Desley Brooks, and Rebecca Kaplan.</span></blockquote></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aboudi also has exploited citizen fears of trucks parking in West Oakland neighborhoods by telling folks that if the city does not provide him with another truck-parking location, then truckers will park their big rigs in front of people's homes — even though such long-term parking is illegal. And Aboudi's threats are hollow because the port also operates a thirty-acre truck-parking facility, and thus provides plenty of truck parking in the area.</span></blockquote></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Port officials also have been less accommodating toward Aboudi than the city has. The port balked at agreeing to a multi-year lease with the city because of Aboudi's many legal troubles and the $1 million court judgment against him. As a result, city officials ordered the Army Base development team, led by Oakland developer Phil Tagami, to move part of its construction-staging area to the port property so that Aboudi could move his business onto the land that Tagami's team had planned to use.<o:p></o:p></span></blockquote></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> See the switch-a-roo they pulled?<o:p></o:p></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But there’s a snag. The switch will cost an extra $1.465 million, Tagami said late last week, because the port property has to be readied for use as a construction-staging site. That's $1.465 million that the city doesn't have -- and wouldn't otherwise have to spend were the city weren’t making accommodations for Aboudi. "The city wrote a letter accepting responsibility," Tagami said of the extra costs, "but doesn't have the money to pay for it."</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><o:p>So to recap, powerful city contractor with lots of connections is getting something for nothing while he screws drivers who work for him, taxpayers and the environment. Got it!</o:p></span></div>

California ports wage theft Oakland gives sweetheart deal to anti-worker creep

Take a look at this: A Teamster-hating, worker-screwing California business owner, who swindled port truck drivers out of nearly $1 million, is getting a $1.5 million handout from the city of Oakland. And to top it off, the city doesn’t have the mone…

Read more »

BlackBerry’s New Smartphone: Z30

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Blackberry launch its new smartphone with 5-inch display and new version of OS on Wednesday. Another weapon of BlackBerry to fight the battleship of smartphone and it is interesting to see that will it help BlackBerry to win in the battleship.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSIwAnwp1FA/UjsRKdkdiaI/AAAAAAAAAXs/E6SnymG2X6A/s1600/blackberry-z30-635.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SSIwAnwp1FA/UjsRKdkdiaI/AAAAAAAAAXs/E6SnymG2X6A/s1600/blackberry-z30-635.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ndtvgadgets</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Recently BlackBerry launch its low cost smartphone in market with the tag of <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/09/low-cost-smartphones-from-samsung.html" target="_blank">9720</a>. The device Z30 will run on BlackBerry’s latest version of 10.2. The unveil event was organize at Kualalumpur, Malaysia.<br />The smartphone will compete to iPhone <a href="http://pc-gadgetworld.blogspot.in/2013/09/iphone-5s-and-5c-unlocked-comes-with.html" target="_blank">5S</a> and Samsung Galaxy 4. According to company Z30 is "biggest, fastest and most advanced smartphone" to date. The smartphone will be available in market early of the next week. Smartphone will available in selected in countries like UK and some parts of Middle East. No technical specifications are available yet.<br /><br />The specifications, availability and price will  declare by BlackBarry’s partners at the time of respective launches. <br /><br /><div><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://plus.google.com/100638775997274345522" rel="author">Anil Swami</a></div></div>

iPhone 5S samsung galaxy S4 BlackBerry’s New Smartphone: Z30

Blackberry launch its new smartphone with 5-inch display and new version of OS on Wednesday. Another weapon of BlackBerry to fight the battleship of smartphone and it is interesting to see that will it help BlackBerry to win in the battleship.ndtvgad…

Read more »

September Goals

<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you happened to catch my <a href="http://weightloss-stories.blogspot.com/2013/09/good-evening-blog-friends-hello-anyone.html" target="_blank">post the other day</a> you know I have some BIG goals in the weight loss department {read: 30+lbs to lose}! Something that helped me the first time I lost weight was setting monthly goals so I'm going to do that again.</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><img alt="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ef/38/b0/ef38b028d9206a3d1dd36f1693e7acf1.jpg" class="decoded" height="300" src="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ef/38/b0/ef38b028d9206a3d1dd36f1693e7acf1.jpg" width="400" /> </span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">September is already over half over, but I'm still going to set a few small goals to get me going in the right direction! Without further ado, here my goals for the renaming part of the month to get me going in the right direction. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1. workout 3 days/week</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2. use My Fitness Pal to track <strong><u>ALL</u></strong> eats everyday</span></span> <br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3. weigh 181 by 9.30.13</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Those are three fairly basic goals, but I'm starting small and plan to get a little more specific and intense in October.  They may be simple but they are measurable. You better believe on September 30th {or Oct 1st!} I'll be doing a "September Goals Recap" to let you know how I SMASHED these goals!</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What is your plan of attack when you set goals? Simple or more complex? </span></span></b></i> </div>

September Goals

If you happened to catch my post the other day you know I have some BIG goals in the weight loss department {read: 30+lbs to lose}! Something that helped me the first time I lost weight was setting monthly goals so I'm going to do that again. Septemb…

Read more »

'Which Founder Are You?' ... James Madison?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN8hWkTJlNHqD3GJnQslbhg4csVJYnLtnMBYOP2c4yGPzZFZH96I82hfGY_-UoZL-wZOXZWufEzONM9_7Vt3JS8BK8yTW_PuLxm7ZaWk7CyFm3dcgmyvsUfumsWLY58Wm25tTNqJOfzw0/s1600/James+Madison.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNN8hWkTJlNHqD3GJnQslbhg4csVJYnLtnMBYOP2c4yGPzZFZH96I82hfGY_-UoZL-wZOXZWufEzONM9_7Vt3JS8BK8yTW_PuLxm7ZaWk7CyFm3dcgmyvsUfumsWLY58Wm25tTNqJOfzw0/s1600/James+Madison.jpg" /></a></div><br />There's a <a href="http://constitutioncenter.org/foundersquiz/">Constitutional quiz</a> making the rounds of Facebook so this morning I decided to answer the eleven questions and see which Founding Father I was most like, just for the fun of it.<br /><br />The history geek in me was surprised to find that I was considered to be most like fellow Virginian James Madison who was "diligent, scholarly, and shy," according to the Constitution Center's <a href="http://constitutioncenter.org/foundersquiz/">"Which Founder Are You?"</a> quiz. Madison is known as the Father of the Constitution and was co-author of the Federalist Papers. Wonder if he would be a photographer of the beautiful Virginia countryside if still alive today?<br /><br />Wonder if I got extra points for my son graduating from Mr. Madison's University in Harrisonburg?<br /><br />Here's the Constitution Center's brief bio of Madison (1751-1836):<br /><blockquote>The oldest of ten children born to a distinguished planter family, Madison received a good education from tutors and the College of New Jersey. Despite a long and relatively healthy life, Madison was something of a hypochondriac, perhaps due to a sickly and frail childhood. <br /><br />Even before he chose a profession, Madison decided on a life in politics; he threw himself enthusiastically into the independence movement, serving on the local Committee of Safety and in the Virginia convention, where he demonstrated his abilities for constitution writing by framing his state constitution. During the war he served in the assembly and in the Council of State, kept from military service by poor health. In 1780 Madison became the youngest delegate to the Continental Congress. <br /><br />An early advocate of a strong central government, Madison attended both the Mount Vernon conference and the Annapolis convention before earning the title "Architect of the Constitution" for his work at the Philadelphia convention. He campaigned tirelessly for ratification in Virginia and reached out to influence New York as well by his contributions to the essays known as The Federalist Papers. <br /><br />Madison won a seat in the first House of Representatives, where he served until 1797. By this time he was a committed leader of the Democratic-Republicans, and he became secretary of state in 1801 when his friend and cofounder of that party, Thomas Jefferson, became president. Madison succeeded Jefferson in 1809, and it was during his administration that the long-standing tensions between Britain and the United States finally erupted into war. <br /><br />After his second term as president, Madison retired to his plantation, Montpelier, where he edited the journal he kept during the Constitutional Convention. He wrote newspaper articles supporting fellow Democratic-Republican and Virginian President James Monroe and acted as Monroe's informal adviser on foreign policy. In his last years, Madison became actively involved in the American Colonization Society, an organization that encouraged the emancipation of slaves and their resettlement in Africa.</blockquote>Earlier this month we visited Thomas Jefferson's Monticello with both my sisters and a brother-in-law who is from Colorado and had never seen that beautiful historical spot. At the time I noted to my husband that I had never visited <a href="http://www.montpelier.org/">Montpelier</a>, home of James Madison in nearby Orange located north of Charlottesville, and would like to make a trip over there one day. Maybe we should go in October when there are lots of <a href="http://www.montpelier.org/visit/calendar-events">activities</a> planned including <a href="http://www.montpelier.org/visit/homeschool-day">Homeschool Day</a>. Montpelier has definitely been added to the bucket list.

Father of the Constitution Federalist Papers James Madison James Madison University Montpelier 'Which Founder Are You?' ... James Madison?

There's a Constitutional quiz making the rounds of Facebook so this morning I decided to answer the eleven questions and see which Founding Father I was most like, just for the fun of it.The history geek in me was surprised to find that I was conside…

Read more »

Wine and Architecture - Win a Trip to Spain

Here is proof of what I'd call <i>archenotourism</i>—an assemblage of <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/architourism">architourism</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enotourism">enotourism</a>: <i>Wine Enthusiast Magazine</i> is giving away a four-day trip for two to the Marqués de Riscal winery and hotel in Rioja, and Madrid. Details are <a href="http://buyingguide.winemag.com/features/destinations/2013/marques-de-riscal/contest">here</a> and below. <br /><br /><a href="http://buyingguide.winemag.com/features/destinations/2013/marques-de-riscal/contest" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicj7-oXW7u1VlMkqjW4XbLdgbifSP5_PESnjpKu54FljDIQ3JCrZV1MK4Sm1Qwt2DSoDy-mK5D7v8gfM3FhHAOl6HFXIFHbn_XPmJ3YPtEsdUOdNixDYSlo1nR-ScCuc4sVaNm0wgSI1mm/s1600/lux1539ex-640.jpg" /></a><br />[City of Wine Complex for Marques de Riscal Winery, Frank Gehry, 2006]<br /><br /><b>The winner of this prize receives:</b><br /><ul><li class="first">Round-trip flights for two from the U.S. to Madrid, Spain</li><li>Two-night accomodations at the Marqués de Riscal hotel, featuring: <ul><li class="first">A private wine tasting and winery tour</li><li>Treatments at onsite Spa Caudalie Vinotherapy, valued at $300</li><li class="last">Breakfast daily, and a welcome dinner at the Michelin-starred Marqués de Riscal Restaurant, valued at $500</li></ul></li><li>Visit to the nearby town of Logroño for sightseeing and a tapas-and-wine pairing dinner</li><li class="last">One-night stay for two at a Madrid hotel</li></ul><a href="http://buyingguide.winemag.com/features/destinations/2013/marques-de-riscal/contest">Visit <i>Wine Enthusiast</i> to enter</a>.

Wine and Architecture - Win a Trip to Spain

Here is proof of what I'd call archenotourism—an assemblage of architourism and enotourism: Wine Enthusiast Magazine is giving away a four-day trip for two to the Marqués de Riscal winery and hotel in Rioja, and Madrid. Details are here and below. [C…

Read more »

Today's Teamster News 09.19.13

<a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-praise-sec-proposed-rule-corporate-pay" rel="nofollow">Teamsters Praise SEC For Proposed Rule On Corporate Pay</a>  teamster.org   ...The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today applauded the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announcement of a new proposed rule requiring corporations to disclose the ratio between chief executive and worker pay...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/ballots-seven-ups-supplementsriders-mail-today" rel="nofollow">Ballots for Seven UPS Supplements/Riders Mailed September 18</a>  teamster.org   ...Ballots for UPS Teamsters covered under the following supplements and riders were mailed yesterday, September 18...<br /><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/2013/09/cardinal-healths-political-spending.html?page=all" rel="nofollow">Cardinal Health’s Political Spending Target of Teamsters’ Shareholder Proposal</a>  Columbia Business First   ...Cardinal Health Inc. is the latest public company fielding a shareholder proposal for more reporting on corporate political contributions in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/darigold-walks-out-federal-mediation" rel="nofollow">Darigold Walks Out of Federal Mediation</a>  teamster.org   ...Darigold walked out of federal mediation late Monday night setting the stage for a potential lockout or strike at the company’s production facilities in Issaquah and Seattle...|<br /><a href="http://www.automotivelogisticsmagazine.com/news/%E2%80%8Bjack-cooper-set-to-acquire-allied-holdings?utm_source=Adestra&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=read%20more&utm_campaign=Automotive%20Logistics%20News%20180913" rel="nofollow">Jack Cooper Set To Buy Allied Holdings</a>  Automotive Logistics   ...North American vehicle hauler Jack Cooper is to acquire the business of bankrupt rival Allied System Holdings following a successful bid confirmed this week...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/jack-cooper-purchase-clears-another-hurdle-next-step-anti-trust-review" rel="nofollow">Jack Cooper Purchase Clears Another Hurdle; Next Step Is Anti-Trust Review</a>  teamster.org  ...On Tuesday, September 17, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher S. Sontchi approved the sale of most of Allied Systems Holdings assets to Jack Cooper Transport...<br /><a href="http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/news/local/marquez-union-supporters-press-on-despite-setbacks/article_2247ffe6-1fb0-11e3-a9ef-0019bb2963f4.html">Marquez union supporters press on despite setbacks</a>  Hanford Sentinel ...Workers will have another shot at supporting the Teamsters in an election on Oct. 4 despite the company’s decision earlier this month to no longer recognize the union...<br /><a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/18883-government-hands-more-than-1-trillion-to-wealthy-while-deficit-is-642-billion" rel="nofollow">Government Hands More Than $1 Trillion to Wealthy While Deficit Is $642 Billion</a>  truthout   ...All tax breaks for individuals will exceed $1 trillion this year, with about 17% of the biggest individual tax breaks going to the top 1% of earners...<br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2424576/Chinas-second-richest-man-Zong-Qinghou-injured-knife-attack-unemployed-labourer.html">China's second richest man has tendons in hand severed after labourer begged for job and was turned down</a>  Daily Mail   ...He sought out Mr Zong near his home after seeing him help impoverished migrant workers on a television programme and asked the self-made billionaire for a job...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-19/women-waiting-tables-provide-most-of-female-gains-in-u-s-.html" rel="nofollow">Women Waiting Tables Provide Most of Female Gains in U.S.</a>  Bloomberg   ...the gains have been largely in lower-paying industries such as waitresses, in-home health care, food preparation and housekeeping. About 60 percent of the increase in employment for women from 2009 to 2012 was in jobs that pay less than $10.10 an hour, compared with 20 percent for men...<br /><a href="http://www.alternet.org/culture/young-peoples-unhappiness-comes-our-broken-economic-system-and-they-shouldnt-shut-about-it" rel="nofollow">Young People's Unhappiness Comes from Our Broken Economic System -- And They Shouldn't Shut Up About It</a>  Alternet   ...realities are quite harsh — making around $25,000 a year while trying to afford rent and food while paying back their more than $20,000 student loans...<br /><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/business/columns/jim-gallagher/missouri-treasurer-wants-to-ban-pension-advances/article_32153f61-2258-56b6-9233-5b2f5be30307.html">Missouri treasurer wants to ban 'pension advances'</a>  St. Louis Post-Dispatch   ...Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel <a href="http://www.treasurer.mo.gov/newsroom/news-and-events/item/2013/09/17/state-treasurer-clint-zweifel-warns-missourians-about-pension-advances-seeks-legislative-restrictions-on-practice" rel="nofollow">wants the state to ban</a> “pension advance” offers aimed at state retirees. He says they're bad deals...<br /><a href="http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/mailbag/letters-to-the-editor/expand-medicaid-to-help-senior-citizens/article_d7a08cfb-91c1-51bb-a787-71068d35cdd9.html" rel="nofollow">Expand Medicaid to help senior citizens</a>  St. Louis Post-Dispatch (opinion)   ...In the editorial “Do no harm" (Sept. 3), the editorial board highlights some of the hardships facing Missouri if we don’t pass Medicaid expansion. The editorial does not specifically mention the especially large burdens of our senior citizens...<br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/money/la-fi-mo-penny-pritzker-20130917,0,6445636.story" rel="nofollow">Commerce secretary touts opportunities in Mexico, Pacific trade pact</a>  Los Angeles Times  ...Recently installed U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker said trade opportunities with Mexico will expand as economic and security conditions improve in America's southern neighbor...<br /><a href="http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/police-cell-phone-search-warrant-supreme-court" rel="nofollow">Will the Supreme Court Stop Cops From Reading Your Text Messages?</a>  Mother Jones   ...In many states, police can rifle through your smartphone—even if you've just been arrested for not putting on your seat belt...<br /><a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/17/poverty-line-struggle_n_3936497.html?utm_hp_ref=business" rel="nofollow">Millions Living Above The Poverty Line Also Struggle To Get By</a>  Huffington Post   ...For nearly 30 years, Elena Keating made a career helping low-income Americans find and keep affordable housing. Now, she's the one struggling and one of millions in this country just scraping by after being out of a job for the past nine months...<br /><a href="http://www.mintpressnews.com/unemployment-gap-between-rich-and-poor-widens-to-a-10-year-extreme/169071/" rel="nofollow">Unemployment Gap Between Rich And Poor Widens To A 10-Year Extreme</a>  MintPress News   ...Unemployment gaps between the wealthiest and the poorest Americans have reached their highest level since government officials began tracking the statistic a decade ago...<br /><a href="http://usfinancepost.com/workers-win-wage-battle-against-victorias-secret-7195.html" rel="nofollow">Workers win wage battle against Victoria’s Secret</a>  Finance Post   ...Victoria’s Secret has apparently had several secrets. Low wages and few hours for part-time workers were among them. However, some employees have taken the secrets public and the result was an increase in wages...<br /><a href="http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/09/16/jpmorgan-set-to-pay-fines-for-whale-trading-losses/?_r=0" rel="nofollow">JPMorgan Chase Is Said to Admit Fault in Settlement of Trade Loss</a>  New York Times   ...JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay about $800 million to a host of government agencies in Washington and London — and make a groundbreaking admission of wrongdoing — to settle allegations stemming from a multibillion-dollar trading loss...<br /><a href="http://nationwide%20protests%20against%20neonazi%20murder/" rel="nofollow">Nationwide protests against neonazi murder</a>  Enet English   ...Police fired fired tear gas and deployed water canon at a number of the protests after some protesters set dumpsters on fire and started hurling projectiles at police lines...<br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/18/nyregion/in-new-york-having-a-job-or-2-doesnt-mean-having-a-home.html?ref=todayspaper&_r=1&" rel="nofollow">In New York, Having a Job, or 2, Doesn’t Mean Having a Home</a>  New York Times   ...With New York City’s homeless population in shelters at a record high of 50,000, a growing number of New Yorkers punch out of work and then sign in to a shelter, city officials and advocates for the homeless say...<br /><a href="http://www.twincities.com/politics/ci_24118443/wisconsin-mixed-decision-judge-rules-state-cant-enforce" rel="nofollow">Wisconsin: Judge rules state can't enforce parts of Walker law</a>  Milwaukee Journal Sentinel...A Dane County judge ruled Tuesday the state cannot enforce key provisions of a law limiting collective bargaining against local government unions...

Today's Teamster News 09.19.13

Teamsters Praise SEC For Proposed Rule On Corporate Pay  teamster.org   ...The International Brotherhood of Teamsters today applauded the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announcement of a new proposed rule requiring corporations to disclose…

Read more »

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/19/2013

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://blog.questia.com/blogging-contest-by-questia-enter-for-a-chance-to-win-250-and-be-published/">Student blogging contest by Questia – Enter for a chance to win $250 and be published! | Citations</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">If you have some blogging students, here's a contest they may want to enter. The contest ends Friday. The students can end prizes and be published on their blog. Pass this along to your students.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/news">news</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/blogging">blogging</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/education">education</a> <a href="https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/contest">contest</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='https://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='https://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Daily Education and Technology News for Schools 09/19/2013

Student blogging contest by Questia – Enter for a chance to win $250 and be published! | Citations If you have some blogging students, here's a contest they may want to enter. The contest ends Friday. The studen…

Read more »

Above And Beyond Technical Help

I swear,I have never seen someone able to help a complete stranger with an electrical/cable problem by using not one, but two Blogs!<br /><br /><a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/09/my-fucking-internet-connection-was-out.html">I was pitching yet another fit about my internet connection again the other day </a>and got a few comments but one of the commenter's went way the hell above and beyond to help me try to figure out what the hell is wrong, over the internet!<br /><br />Where real life professional cable technicians have tried repeatedly and failed,<a href="http://yourcrazyunclebubba.blogspot.com/"> SteveieRayV from Your Crazy Uncle Bubba</a> fame<a href="http://yourcrazyunclebubba.blogspot.com/2013/09/ok-phillip-heres-what-we-are-looking-for.html"> may have just pulled off a win that can't be believed.</a><br /><br />He is an ex cable tv tech and obviously knows that of which he speaks.<br /><br />He was nice enough to offer me some tips and things to look for in the comments but when it came down to something I wasn't able to visualize, he went the extra mile and took pictures of what he was talking about from his own house and <a href="http://yourcrazyunclebubba.blogspot.com/2013/09/ok-phillip-heres-what-we-are-looking-for.html">then put them in a special post on his Blog</a> , just for me......<br /><br />I really don't know what to say except Thank You from the bottom of my heart.<br /><br />That has to be one of the top ten nicest damn things I have ever seen for someone to do for a person they don't even know.<br /><br />I will be out there tomorrow replacing that mess,it certainly has to be a big part of the problem, and when I am done I am going to send StevieRayV an Email letting him know how it turned out. <br /><br />I think I can honestly say I owe him a jug just for what he has done already.<br /><br />You sir, are The Man.<br /><br />

Above And Beyond Technical Help

I swear,I have never seen someone able to help a complete stranger with an electrical/cable problem by using not one, but two Blogs!I was pitching yet another fit about my internet connection again the other day and got a few comments but one of the …

Read more »

Inspiring Ideas

<span style="font-size: large;">Inspiring Ideas in Blanchardstown is open until 9pm on Wednesday and to incentivize a visit they are giving 10% off craft supplies between 6-9pm.</span><br /><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvEM9QUJZs3dajs8h4ufycZrvPyWwufmnHl-1fFFMfiQWYDGQFbsLPFmqgmcjnXXWQDMUzCq5UuT0TruNvkaseoHimW-icjh7e2ck7OjPjR3Z8QeD_oV1xo8MCKxj-2dlkpMjorCVm-Hv/s640/blogger-image-1548937353.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGvEM9QUJZs3dajs8h4ufycZrvPyWwufmnHl-1fFFMfiQWYDGQFbsLPFmqgmcjnXXWQDMUzCq5UuT0TruNvkaseoHimW-icjh7e2ck7OjPjR3Z8QeD_oV1xo8MCKxj-2dlkpMjorCVm-Hv/s640/blogger-image-1548937353.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back in Starbucks for the Autumn, with the tag line "Fall in love again"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQluh1HV49sWKylObevEEDv_oA7T3OnBYS3zd2qB1Cyet-FylFIYRoGVA4-cRLsRZcN6qjYeFmD9gZ3PPRWIbSWjls5La3Y3MDEY4qCQGJQnCt9fDVNL0l4T7UL62r6176SpW5yl-V9Lq/s640/blogger-image--897894367.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglQluh1HV49sWKylObevEEDv_oA7T3OnBYS3zd2qB1Cyet-FylFIYRoGVA4-cRLsRZcN6qjYeFmD9gZ3PPRWIbSWjls5La3Y3MDEY4qCQGJQnCt9fDVNL0l4T7UL62r6176SpW5yl-V9Lq/s640/blogger-image--897894367.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><br /></div>

Inspiring Ideas

Inspiring Ideas in Blanchardstown is open until 9pm on Wednesday and to incentivize a visit they are giving 10% off craft supplies between 6-9pm.The Pumpkin Spice Latte is back in Starbucks for the Autumn, with the tag line "Fall in love again"…

Read more »