News for today's 2018

The Weigh-In......Are you Ready?

11:49 AM Tukiyooo 0

The Weigh-In......Are you Ready?

This will be a short entry - I will give a full normal Blog tonight. Here is the video of my weigh in today on youtube! Pay close attentio...

Workers near victory in reform of faulty Calif. jobs program

11:03 AM Tukiyooo 0

California Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign legislation to change a corporate tax break that cost Teamsters their jobs. <br /><br />The state Assembly yesterday approved the bill, AB 93, yesterday.<br /><br />For years, companies across the Golden State used the $750 million-a-year enterprise zone program as a way to relocate good-paying jobs to other areas deemed economically challenged. Then the companies pay the workers less in the new location. In some cases, corporations used the tax breaks for hiring decisions made years earlier.<br /><br />Brown called the program wasteful and pushed for reform. The bill approved by both chambers of the California Legislature this week strips the power of the state's 40 locally owned enterprise zones. It replaces the program with a broader slate of statewide business incentives. About $200 million would be used for updated enterprise zones that target the hiring of the poor and unemployed.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-enterprise-zones-20130628,0,4776272,print.story">California Labor Federation</a> praised the legislation for replacing the existing program with one that will improve the state's job market:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">By flipping the broken enterprise zone program into Gov. Brown's smart, strategic plan for job growth, the Legislature strengthened California's economic recovery. We applaud the Legislature for rooting out the waste and abuse in California's enterprise zone program and shifting those tax dollars to create good jobs that boost local economies.</blockquote>The governor, unions and others had complained enterprise zones strayed from their original purpose. The program had turned into a big business giveaway for jobs that largely would have been available without the tax breaks. It often led a company to move from one place in the state to another. In several cases, employers left their unionized shops behind to set up non-union workplaces elsewhere.<br /><br />Earlier this year, we<span id="goog_1350215508"></span> <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/03/workers-pay-to-lose-their-jobs.html">noted</a> Teamsters from building products distributor Blue Linx and laboratory supply and distribution company VWR lost their jobs when their employers moved elsewhere in California and they were told they could not follow the company to its new location. The enterprise zones program allowed businesses to receive tax breaks of $37,500 for each new  employee they hired.<br /><br />

Workers near victory in reform of faulty Calif. jobs program

California Gov. Jerry Brown is expected to sign legislation to change a corporate tax break that cost Teamsters their jobs. The state Assemb...

Today's archidose #688

8:30 AM Tukiyooo 0

Here are some of my photos of <a href="http://codapartywall.com/"><i>Party Wall</i></a>, the <a href="http://momaps1.org/yap/view/16">2013 YAP installation</a> at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, by <a href="http://www.co-da.eu/">CODA</a>. The installation is up until August 31, 2013.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9158087481/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7350/9158087481_fe64f43eeb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9158100723/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3752/9158100723_0b1fed933b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9160321936/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3758/9160321936_20ed82ca9a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9160331658/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7306/9160331658_c0979a971a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9160327906/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7458/9160327906_e486edc032_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/archidose/9158107971/" title="Party Wall by CODA by archidose, on Flickr"><img alt="Party Wall by CODA" height="480" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3777/9158107971_5853238e90_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /><br />To contribute your Flickr images for consideration, just:<br /><blockquote>:: Join and add photos to the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/archi-dose/">archidose pool</a>, and/or<br />:: Tag your photos <span style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/tags/archidose/">archidose</a></span></blockquote>

Today's archidose #688

Here are some of my photos of Party Wall , the 2013 YAP installation at MoMA PS1 in Long Island City, Queens, by CODA . The installation is...

How CEOs are getting richer at your expense

6:57 AM Tukiyooo 0

<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/07/2121581/first-quarter-of-2013-saw-largest-wage-drop-ever/">Americans are recording the largest drop in wages ever</a> while</span> the average CEO received $14.1 million in combined pay and stock options last year.  At the same time, <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/26/2220511/americans-paycheck-to-paycheck/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">three-quarters of Americans didn’t have enough money for a basic emergency fund</span></a>.  The <a href="http://www.epi.org/">Economic Policy Institute</a> <a href="http://www.epi.org/files/2013/ceo-pay-2012-extraordinarily-high.pdf">reports</a>:</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">From 1978 to 2012, CEO compensation measured with options realized increased about 875 percent, arise more than double stock market growth and substantially greater than the painfully slow 5.4 percent growth in a typical worker’s compensation over the same period.</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">These findings support what we’ve known all along: trickle-down economics <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/02/arthur-laffer-worst-economist-in-us-is.html">are a cruel joke</a>. A third of Americans, over 10 percent more than in 2008, say <a href="http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2012/09/10/a-third-of-americans-now-say-they-are-in-the-lower-classes/">they are lower-middle and lower class</a>. <a href="http://www.brookings.edu/research/reports/2013/06/13-facts-higher-education">Income inequality is rapidly increasing</a> and <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chuck-collins/helping-the-kids-wealthy-_b_3354529.html">the chances of your kids ending up better off than you are rapidly decreasing</a>, no matter how hard they work.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">The fact that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/06/26/congrats-ceos-youre-making-273-times-the-pay-of-the-average-worker/">CEO pay is more than 270 times more than the average worker</a>isn’t a shock.  <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-top: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Turns out, even for one-percenters, CEOs are being paid ridiculous amounts:</span></div><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Over the last three decades, CEO compensation grew far faster than that of other highly paid workers, those earning more than 99.9 percent of other wage earners.  CEO compensation in 2010 was 4.70 times greater than that of the top 0.1 percent of wage earners, a ratio 1.62 higher (a wage gain roughly equivalent to that of 1.6 high wage earners) than the 3.08 ratio that prevailed over the 1947-1979 period.</span></blockquote><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">That’s right.  CEOs still make more money comparatively than even other really, really rich people.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;">   Too bad <a href="http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/06/07/2121581/first-quarter-of-2013-saw-largest-wage-drop-ever/">their nice bonuses doesn’t extend to your paycheck.</a></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; mso-no-proof: yes;"><o:p></o:p></span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVxpWTZ7NwFHg9wX0mn9nx43ldDWYTmdxmnxako1SUGeyLI2Q3QWPUhG0EUoxjaAX_xNldVrnouDf4P-U5at483LnNbYzjrJ9er9CGWhYdabKrFb5oAMmiSJngBKqNtDBNMV82oasfqdj/s626/Screen+Shot+2013-06-28+at+9.51.47+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJVxpWTZ7NwFHg9wX0mn9nx43ldDWYTmdxmnxako1SUGeyLI2Q3QWPUhG0EUoxjaAX_xNldVrnouDf4P-U5at483LnNbYzjrJ9er9CGWhYdabKrFb5oAMmiSJngBKqNtDBNMV82oasfqdj/s400/Screen+Shot+2013-06-28+at+9.51.47+AM.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><br /></div>

ceo inequality How CEOs are getting richer at your expense

Americans are recording the largest drop in wages ever while the average CEO received $14.1 million in combined pay and stock options last...

freshening the foyer - part 2

6:19 AM Anonymous 0

Previously, on Freshening the Foyer...<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnTL2WKCtW37D4WpdvfB-i4ocGdVpGnSXzH-JtQTArrQaUNJi4eg9bRo_O-CTw-Lzv7d4NfBqLLs5nAu2MlsuQNDua0jxw5VvSq5AFLSs4sghqVmarV53N7fYDKB5LMVtAmNqQImOcVM3/s640/wallpaperremoved.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHnTL2WKCtW37D4WpdvfB-i4ocGdVpGnSXzH-JtQTArrQaUNJi4eg9bRo_O-CTw-Lzv7d4NfBqLLs5nAu2MlsuQNDua0jxw5VvSq5AFLSs4sghqVmarV53N7fYDKB5LMVtAmNqQImOcVM3/s400/wallpaperremoved.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />We were left with a blank space<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuofiW9yKiW3kkNkMbTPNi9CxvUWH1xYXiSfocVYUbhSqaieZdgqzPog5YbX38hjD7LCPyyw-55KBh6pxoP6Ogha1neNyvwiRlPHCQQJ_kW5xedonvY_TqgFYS18RY2IVaEUAVK7CTTe/s1600/IMG_1493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtzuofiW9yKiW3kkNkMbTPNi9CxvUWH1xYXiSfocVYUbhSqaieZdgqzPog5YbX38hjD7LCPyyw-55KBh6pxoP6Ogha1neNyvwiRlPHCQQJ_kW5xedonvY_TqgFYS18RY2IVaEUAVK7CTTe/s320/IMG_1493.JPG" width="239" /></a></div><br />and a can of this.<br /><br />Specifically, <a href="http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/luckyshamrock" target="_blank">Lucky Shamrock</a> by Benjamin Moore. <span style="text-align: center;">I have a lot of blue in my house and I really do love blue. But I didn't want to become one big blue house. So what goes with blue? What's welcoming and cheery? What would I want to see when I walk in the house everyday? </span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51tOUzdp4Z0sn1plbDC-YdNK-A2spw5OVSRa_TXCMFm3XEOv4DbQG1dwMzGc1mFs1nNrYv8IrMVOKgKziY0X215imUnzk1G1B6Jy8tS7pdKUW3ku9LKH4uKMssrrtCjX6Q4iT-PsoX8sG/s1305/LuckyShamrockCeiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51tOUzdp4Z0sn1plbDC-YdNK-A2spw5OVSRa_TXCMFm3XEOv4DbQG1dwMzGc1mFs1nNrYv8IrMVOKgKziY0X215imUnzk1G1B6Jy8tS7pdKUW3ku9LKH4uKMssrrtCjX6Q4iT-PsoX8sG/s400/LuckyShamrockCeiling.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><br />Green.<br /><br />And you all know how I like a good lookin' ceiling (like <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/03/one-room-challenge-reveal.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/p/living-room.html" target="_blank">here</a>) so I took that paint up north. Happy green ceiling - complete. Now for the walls.<br /><br />My ultimate dream would be some <a href="http://www.porterspaints.com/wallpapers/designer-for-porters/anna-spiro" target="_blank">Anna Spiro wallpaper</a> but for now that isn't in the budget. So I went with <a href="http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/sari-paisley-allover-stencil.html" target="_blank">this stencil</a> from <a href="http://www.cuttingedgestencils.com/" target="_blank">Cutting Edge Stencils</a> thanks to a Sadie + Stella discount code a while back. (Thanks <a href="http://www.sadieandstella.com/" target="_blank">Lindsay</a>)<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY-SuvDUwCI1PB3qNLvl4w9Sz4mp66a0FZ0QA-6kLRL-2VuVTpx1TBbHt4VOnhJ0mChTwMfMezfD7dnPndwoa5GPlelJiEXkqm2MACIqfAMtOTzTOW2BYVm9WgFy8HIZghLcp-FMBYbeI/s1600/Stencils.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSY-SuvDUwCI1PB3qNLvl4w9Sz4mp66a0FZ0QA-6kLRL-2VuVTpx1TBbHt4VOnhJ0mChTwMfMezfD7dnPndwoa5GPlelJiEXkqm2MACIqfAMtOTzTOW2BYVm9WgFy8HIZghLcp-FMBYbeI/s400/Stencils.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />And here is where this little spruce up went off the tracks a bit. I got the stencil, I was excited to use it and the walls were painted and ready. The hubs and I skimmed thru the directions (first mistake) and got to work.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSIgViEmD7XoUwhqeHQedmUdOzFF4jpk5gra0k1zOMv15097OXZLYwiLa6HbQiLx3OzET8qXFBRSnPDzfe5Y9sMzWW3fLTonYEgH0SIVs9dNlEyCqc_zPC4_wsPuQ1u7JibQyfiBnkHyA/s1600/StencilFailed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSIgViEmD7XoUwhqeHQedmUdOzFF4jpk5gra0k1zOMv15097OXZLYwiLa6HbQiLx3OzET8qXFBRSnPDzfe5Y9sMzWW3fLTonYEgH0SIVs9dNlEyCqc_zPC4_wsPuQ1u7JibQyfiBnkHyA/s400/StencilFailed.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />And ended up with this. Ruh roh.<br /><br />How's this for real life DIY? They don't always go so smoothly, am I right? I blame the little dots in the stencil. They threw us off some how. To be honest, I don't know what happened. The whole process went so fast (which I was rather surprised about) we didn't realize it until we stepped back to admire our finished work.<br /><br />Major let down.<br /><br />This all happened right before the <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/06/party-like-its-1963-50th-wedding.html" target="_blank">party</a>, of course, so it was a good lesson in letting things go. There was no time to fix it and I just didn't have the mental fortitude to make it happen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloN9S703Kokbk3g0903k-dab7cbuEW0RkINcfswDYBNJdaB68Fyb98WMT-0kqFBgEKfq9v5eSh6yYJYkkDr31t1qrpx-PXESi1PpeUkdwAbHh45fPnF8x4rEcs6fn6-ZruHA0hy4zVuUG/s1600/StencilBeforeRoundMirror.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgloN9S703Kokbk3g0903k-dab7cbuEW0RkINcfswDYBNJdaB68Fyb98WMT-0kqFBgEKfq9v5eSh6yYJYkkDr31t1qrpx-PXESi1PpeUkdwAbHh45fPnF8x4rEcs6fn6-ZruHA0hy4zVuUG/s640/StencilBeforeRoundMirror.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />So this is how it looked for a few weeks. And it drove me bonkers. The stencil is on crack, the mirror doesn't play well with the bench and its hung too high. And the trim still needs to be painted. Calgon, take me away.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwCPUVgWgjy1kWLO3-m0EKD9Lqy9JHjtFQTXdVquE84vUQ-qw2nN1xO-bCdLL4l6a2Rkuu3DkLKDS0PlPftmEf78O77bnU7QhuDyyIHdU_8uyw7wdQomwhqMaHBEDIL5Gp7M2YDie-tYc/s1600/StencilStartover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNwCPUVgWgjy1kWLO3-m0EKD9Lqy9JHjtFQTXdVquE84vUQ-qw2nN1xO-bCdLL4l6a2Rkuu3DkLKDS0PlPftmEf78O77bnU7QhuDyyIHdU_8uyw7wdQomwhqMaHBEDIL5Gp7M2YDie-tYc/s400/StencilStartover.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Finally I psyched myself up to try this again. I repainted the whole space (thank god it is small) and after playing with the stencil BEFORE painting, revolutionary I know, I figured out what I needed to do.<br /><br />So learn from my mistakes.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZhnyfJdJwvsU6MYnPHAmJ2evVVxbe9fgUxwY1mlj38EFZkihzmPbUMU3iLLrQdfARucYKph6Ycnt1_nvHnJR36BybeAppzRmi5k1BUH458hNFGfXxL8Btpo9owkAFwlXWzbF8NjdxYIg/s1600/StencilDoOver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ZhnyfJdJwvsU6MYnPHAmJ2evVVxbe9fgUxwY1mlj38EFZkihzmPbUMU3iLLrQdfARucYKph6Ycnt1_nvHnJR36BybeAppzRmi5k1BUH458hNFGfXxL8Btpo9owkAFwlXWzbF8NjdxYIg/s400/StencilDoOver.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is not something you can rush thru, even if it may seem straightforward. You will need to do one sheet and step back to check your work. Then place the sheet in the next spot and step back and check your work. Then roll the next sheet and, you guessed it, step back and check your work.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXJmHvZTVbdq9HVMLuMllR7Axlw2qImadlaY0mafq3AQpALW2XDeo4cYkuej0XmwemZ5H8l2fX-A-VT3XCqVbNdG3eB3B-HGOeoeNGZn4jnfjLaSXWhHH5vMPuj_eWuSM-0tFAePAoEsR/s1600/StencilProgress.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXJmHvZTVbdq9HVMLuMllR7Axlw2qImadlaY0mafq3AQpALW2XDeo4cYkuej0XmwemZ5H8l2fX-A-VT3XCqVbNdG3eB3B-HGOeoeNGZn4jnfjLaSXWhHH5vMPuj_eWuSM-0tFAePAoEsR/s400/StencilProgress.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br />You will want to go over the stencil several times with your roller. Don't. It just makes a mess. And always roll in the one direction. Never back and forth or you will just end up with a big smeared blob.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3s38TeQLIRMmzUMUCTGMNjjj_3IvP3ahyphenhyphengOK3ka8Lj-YsRWsj169gYoH_nADMtnHuc78OotmHsbn3pxFsjDB-HVgXbZeHDo86NzbDDrmeZ2Luo3-CRhzVLS9jmTYqguRwD_Q9b3dOsAV/s1600/StencilProgress2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3s38TeQLIRMmzUMUCTGMNjjj_3IvP3ahyphenhyphengOK3ka8Lj-YsRWsj169gYoH_nADMtnHuc78OotmHsbn3pxFsjDB-HVgXbZeHDo86NzbDDrmeZ2Luo3-CRhzVLS9jmTYqguRwD_Q9b3dOsAV/s400/StencilProgress2.jpg" width="323" /></a></div><br />Play with the amount of paint on your roller a bit before starting. The key is to find the perfect combo of the right amount of paint and the right amount of pressure so you can get the stencil on in one roll.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMnI9LtY4ph2KRcstrwBAmQ0V1DWr-THv8G8aKqscEhg7OWraBaSFeYfLX8noP-_A2Rdsbka344jI0SPBzNoeouUw-Ba8XRsnWOJ33uo4lqL7LSh5kZwXowTuKIHuoUfhlWtXszALMe8A/s1600/StencilFinished.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglMnI9LtY4ph2KRcstrwBAmQ0V1DWr-THv8G8aKqscEhg7OWraBaSFeYfLX8noP-_A2Rdsbka344jI0SPBzNoeouUw-Ba8XRsnWOJ33uo4lqL7LSh5kZwXowTuKIHuoUfhlWtXszALMe8A/s640/StencilFinished.jpg" width="577" /></a></div><br />Much better.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ETlc1pMqUdnDa1E7mYcTj0UfE4QpZvB04UyjJYF-trYzb1Q6BpKAq02CDk4E4jdT7U_PHrkk3fBMf95xbwkQPeIYwS_d54gIKSHSblZP0HrKjvG-TR9UoGO9M-_Tv7EddgMeEfSO1b5/s1600/Greenceiling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7ETlc1pMqUdnDa1E7mYcTj0UfE4QpZvB04UyjJYF-trYzb1Q6BpKAq02CDk4E4jdT7U_PHrkk3fBMf95xbwkQPeIYwS_d54gIKSHSblZP0HrKjvG-TR9UoGO9M-_Tv7EddgMeEfSO1b5/s640/Greenceiling.jpg" width="593" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTFvyH88oxdpVP7W9J7wa0P1xitJz65QIxDWjeE57lSUHljPy7fMnOUuHDLhBVuWBB45c1SaZxJz5XGsgsr_9zUAihYfM5pChY74IV57YE789krswb2d39iROzgbWpE8gqQwEcIL_HS_3/s1600/Greenceilingstencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYTFvyH88oxdpVP7W9J7wa0P1xitJz65QIxDWjeE57lSUHljPy7fMnOUuHDLhBVuWBB45c1SaZxJz5XGsgsr_9zUAihYfM5pChY74IV57YE789krswb2d39iROzgbWpE8gqQwEcIL_HS_3/s640/Greenceilingstencil.jpg" width="611" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH452PX9qrANvwzJjoS0DmSkQ6uYmPUwuoz5PYun95pVm4tOIycHLlexe7ZfuY32cxsLwV_WgDuelG2SvLx3IOtCOowisH02wJ4zbqsS69OnrD56bT4jk1QcafyWjrvpB_ucUFfzWTxX_o/s1600/GreenFoyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH452PX9qrANvwzJjoS0DmSkQ6uYmPUwuoz5PYun95pVm4tOIycHLlexe7ZfuY32cxsLwV_WgDuelG2SvLx3IOtCOowisH02wJ4zbqsS69OnrD56bT4jk1QcafyWjrvpB_ucUFfzWTxX_o/s640/GreenFoyer.jpg" width="488" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now all that is left is some styling, finding some sconces and figuring out a solution for the mirror. The round one that was there originally just didn't work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This mirror is from the family room and I like it's size but I don't like the pine with the bench. But this mirror is from my parents and it is certainly a 'paint it and die' piece.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt91mWdMPZaNTvzXeUgltzo50FDP8psJx0i9j5TtTrmCFoSrjUzuz4QCVoRk3lGpcM21CWCnujuBub1Sgy_-EkxpQXUFmzoq02kTa-H_7hP23IJq-gEk57V_MQwZaUjI96COlzgxh6d4Tk/s1600/FinishedEntry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt91mWdMPZaNTvzXeUgltzo50FDP8psJx0i9j5TtTrmCFoSrjUzuz4QCVoRk3lGpcM21CWCnujuBub1Sgy_-EkxpQXUFmzoq02kTa-H_7hP23IJq-gEk57V_MQwZaUjI96COlzgxh6d4Tk/s640/FinishedEntry.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><br />So my best girl <a href="http://www.callingithome.com/" target="_blank">Linda</a> is helping me to scour Craigslist and I've already got a few options. With her mad skills, I bet I'll find something in no time. What kind of mirror would you add?<br /><br />Look forward to the next installment of Freshening the Foyer to find out how this all ends. Will I get the trim painted? Will I find a mirror? Will I ever clean that floor properly? Too much excitement, I know.<br /><br />And don't forget Google Reader is donezo on July 1. Have no fear though, you can continue to follow my sparkling personality and quick wit on <a href="http://www.bloglovin.com/" target="_blank">Bloglovin</a>. Find out how to import your list from Google Reader <a href="http://hisugarplum.blogspot.com/2013/06/hasta-la-vista-google-reader-now-what.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br /><br />Happy Day!

freshening the foyer - part 2

Previously, on Freshening the Foyer... We were left with a blank space and a can of this. Specifically, Lucky Shamrock by Benjamin Moore. ...

Today's Teamster News 06.28.13

3:59 AM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/business/us-to-suspend-trade-privileges-with-bangladesh-officials-say.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&emc=edit_na_20130627&adxnnlx=1372346958-KTm9yJ1m5T2k+H7buNvy5g&">U.S. to Suspend Trade Privileges With Bangladesh</a>  New York Times   ...The Obama administration on Thursday will suspend trade privileges for Bangladesh over concerns about safety problems and labor rights violations in that country’s garment industry, according to administration and Congressional officials...<br /><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/macys-agrees-pay-175000-civil-penalty-immigrant-worker-treatment-here-are-h1-visa-workers-macys">Macy’s Agrees To Pay $175,000 Civil Penalty For Immigrant Worker Treatment; Here Are The H1 Visa Workers Macy's Asked For In 2011</a>  International Business Times   ...Congress is currently debating a major immigration reform bill that would increase the number of these and other categories of guest workers allowed to work in the United States...<br /><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/27/chile-student-protesters-evicted-schools">Chilean police evict student protesters from schools</a>  The Guardian   ...Chilean police have evicted student protesters from 21 Santiago schools that will be used as polling stations for the weekend's primary elections, a day after a massive march for education reform in the capital...<br /><a href="http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-27/ecuador-cancels-trade-pact-over-u-s-blackmail-in-snowden-case.html">Ecuador Scraps Trade Pact Over U.S. Threats in Snowden Case</a>  Bloomberg   ...Ecuador, the South American nation considering an asylum request from fugitive U.S. intelligence leaker Edward Snowden, renounced its U.S. trade benefits today, saying they were being used as “blackmail.”...<br /><a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20130626/AUTO01/306260127/1361/Mulally-warns-feds-about-impact-of-Japanese-trade-on-U.S.-auto-sales">Mulally warns feds about impact of Japanese trade on U.S. auto sales</a>  Detroit News   ...Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Alan Mulally warned senators and Obama administration office about the impact of Japanese trade and currency policies on U.S. auto sales. He said his message was needed for free trade agreements and the “importance of letting the markets establish the currencies” and ensuring that they reflect “the global trade rules.”...<br /><a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/koch-brothers-pac-off-to-fast-start-2013-6">The Koch Brothers' PAC Is Off To Its Fastest Start Ever In A Federal Election Cycle</a>  Business Insider   ...KOCHPAC donated $559,000 to federal-level political candidates and committees during the first five months of the year, according to a Center for Public Integrity review of Federal Election Commission disclosure released today...<br /><a href="http://cironline.org/reports/license-plate-readers-let-police-collect-millions-records-drivers-4883">License-plate readers let police collect millions of records on drivers</a>  ThinkProgress   ...At a rapid pace, and mostly hidden from the public, police agencies throughout California have been collecting millions of records on drivers and feeding them to intelligence fusion centers operated by local, state and federal law enforcement...<br /><a href="http://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/public-research-for-private-gain/Content?oid=3619535">Public Research for Private Gain</a>  East Bay Express   ...UC Regents recently approved a new corporate entity that will likely give a group of well-connected businesspeople control over how academic research is used...<br /><a href="http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/06/27/toronto-sunrise-propane-explosion-verdict.html">Toronto propane firm guilty in fatal 2008 blast</a>  CBC News   ...The directors of Sunrise Propane have been found guilty of environmental and workplace safety violations following an explosion in 2008 in northwest Toronto that killed a worker and forced thousands from their homes...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/delaware-judge-approves-139-million-settlement-in-shareholder-lawsuit-against-news-corp/2013/06/26/c720cbee-de9a-11e2-ad2e-fcd1bf42174d_story.html">Judge approves $139 million settlement in lawsuit against News Corp.</a>  Associated Press  ...A Delaware judge on Wednesday approved a $139 million cash settlement between News Corp. and shareholders in a lawsuit over the British phone hacking scandal and the media conglomerate’s purchase of an entertainment company run by News Corp. founder Rupert Murdoch’s daughter...<br /><a href="http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/06/26/floridas-governor-wants-you-to-go-to-work-sick/">Florida’s governor wants you to go to work sick</a>  The Guardian   ...As attempts to dehumanize the workplace go, few could be more sadistic than forcing workers to come to work sick, but that’s precisely what the Florida legislature and Governor Rick Scott recently did...<br /><a href="http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode-island/2013/06/26/senate-vote-paid-family-leave-bill/SRHQJKN2tatRFtJphNMZbM/story.html">RI Senate to vote on paid family leave bill</a>  Associated Press   ...A proposal that would allow workers in Rhode Island to take paid time off to care for a new child or sick loved one is heading to a vote in the state Senate...<br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-leadership/wp/2013/06/27/new-york-passes-paid-sick-leave-law-but-u-s-still-far-behind/">Paid sick leave is now the law in NYC</a>  Washington Post   ...It will now be much easier for many New Yorkers to take a sick day from work . Early Thursday, lawmakers overrode a veto by Mayor Michael Bloomberg to pass a law that would require businesses to offer <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nyc-becomes-most-populous-place-in-us-to-require-businesses-to-provide-workers-paid-sick-leave/2013/06/27/40ab33aa-def5-11e2-ad2e-fcd1bf42174d_story.html">paid sick leave</a> for their workers...<br /><a href="http://www.silive.com/news/index.ssf/2013/06/fast_food_workers_rally_for_be.html">At New York City Hall, fast-food workers rally for better pay and allege 'wage theft'</a>  Staten Island Live   ...Fast food workers had a simple message outside City Hall Thursday morning: "We can't survive on $7.25."...<br /><a href="http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/BART-Negotiations-Underway-as-Strike-Looms-213369591.html">BART Negotiations Underway as Strike Looms</a>  NBC Bay Area   ...BART has asked Gov. Jerry Brown not to order a 60-day cooling off period that would delay a strike if an agreement isn't reached by Sunday. The unions' contracts expire Sunday at 11:59 p.m. If no agreement is reached, a  Monday strike looms.<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/teamsters-approve-national-abf-agreement-most-supplements-also-approved">Teamsters Approve National ABF Agreement; Most Supplements Also Approved</a>  IBT   ...Teamsters employed at ABF Freight System, Inc. have voted to approve the national master portion of the ABF National Master Freight Agreement as well as 21 of the 27 supplements. Some local/area supplemental agreements, however, were rejected and issues in those areas must be addressed before the national agreement can be implemented...<br /><a href="http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50740/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8300">Ask Congress To Fund High Speed Rail And Amtrak</a>  IBT   ...The Republicans in the House have taken a whack at funding for Amtrak and eliminated funding for high speed rail. They want to cut federal spending on Amtrak by 29 percent and eliminate funding for High Speed Rail. Please ask your representatives in Washington to support expanding the system in 2014...<br /><a href="http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/2989e6d883644c3ca35ad34930610ffd/US--Star-Ledger-Contract-Talks">Publisher threatens to close NJ's largest paper by year's end if unions don't make concessions</a>  Associated Press   ...The owners of The Star-Ledger plan to close New Jersey's largest newspaper by year's end if its production unions don't make concessions in contract negotiations, the publisher said...<br /><a href="http://www.mlive.com/auto/index.ssf/2013/06/landmark_union_agreement_will.html#/0">'Landmark' union agreement will help Detroit auto show, officials say</a>  Michigan Live   ...A new labor pact between five unions and the Detroit Regional Convention Facility Authority should help improve the North American International Auto Show...<br /><a href="http://www.teamster.org/content/unfair-labor-practice-charges-filed-against-funeral-giant-sci">Unfair Labor Practice Charges Filed Against Funeral Giant SCI</a>   IBT   ...Teamsters Local 727, which represents funeral directors and drivers at Service Corporation International (NYSE: SCI), filed unfair labor practice charges against the company today... <br /><a href="http://ricksmithshow.com/june-25%2C-2013-show">Getting Down With The ‘Roots!</a>   Rick Smith Show   ...The Rick Smith Show came to San Jose June 21-22 to talk to attendees at the Netroots Nation conference about the state of labor where employees of Wal-Mart and Google also shared the challenges they face in the workplace. <span id="goog_3853321"></span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/">Listen here</a><span id="goog_3853322"></span>. Visit the <a href="http://www.teamster.org/ricksmithtour">People’s Tour of America</a> page daily to hear the latest from Rick Smith’s road travels...

Today's Teamster News 06.28.13

U.S. to Suspend Trade Privileges With Bangladesh New York Times ...The Obama administration on Thursday will suspend trade privileges fo...

A Safe Place to Be Yourself and Do Your Thing

9:00 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="MsoNormal">Hola! So yesterday, a day which will live in infamy, Matt-Man got to strike something off of his Bucket List. He finally got to do an <a href="http://news-these-days.blogspot.com/2013/06/paula-deen-does-not-hate-niggers.html">N-Word post</a>. Okay, I’m kidding. Kinda. Anyway, that satirical post accomplished its primary goal. Lots and lots and lots of page views! Hell yeah! *Hi-5’s Matt virtually* <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">There were a few people who didn’t enjoy that post though. No really! Some people found that post to be in poor taste or thought it was unnecessary to use the N-Word and blah, blah, blah. Well look, would I have written that post? OH HAIL NAW! Not on your life. But, that doesn’t really matter cause this blog here is a safe place for Matt, me or anyone else who is posting to speak honestly and post whatever they want. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This includes a satirical posts from Paula Deen. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">This is primarily a humor/comedy blog. Matt-Man and I are both free to post whatever we want here. We don’t stop each other from talking about any topic or anything else, nor should we. Too many people censor themselves on their own damn blogs because they’re afraid they’re gonna upset someone or offend people or whatever. I've been known to do that myself. We shouldn’t be doing that. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Your blog is the only place where you will ever be totally free to be yourself, or anyone else you want to be. Even if you want to be Racist Paula Deen.  Back in the day I did a post on my old blog where I blasted Elizabeth Edwards that resulted in someone calling me a “pig” in the comments section and then telling me “I hope you get cancer and die!” Okay, fair enough. I like it when people speak their mind. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdWI6brFGfmFGC89XAwNP_BiW7Yb1BfGR0dw5QNrNtqXcB_bJKOjt-Qqx_uAiNkFDAUiRp9T8JVXK0nZ0xqa5Jx-AkdjjFOy593_T9hIXQY-OwczRxZd86nf8FL3ZqbJSWPHvMuEBHww/s700/Hyuna-Hot-Legs-Sexy-Nude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYdWI6brFGfmFGC89XAwNP_BiW7Yb1BfGR0dw5QNrNtqXcB_bJKOjt-Qqx_uAiNkFDAUiRp9T8JVXK0nZ0xqa5Jx-AkdjjFOy593_T9hIXQY-OwczRxZd86nf8FL3ZqbJSWPHvMuEBHww/s320/Hyuna-Hot-Legs-Sexy-Nude.jpg" width="189" /></a>Having said that, I don’t always agree with Matt and he doesn’t always agree with me. I don’t always like what he posts and he doesn’t always like what I post. I’m sure there are times when Matt rolls his eyes at how hard I work to find a way to post a pic of a hot Asian babe even though it doesn’t really fit with what the blog was about. That’s perfectly acceptable.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">So, why am I bringing this up? Well, I‘ll tell ya why. Whenever you happen to read a post here that you fine offensive or upsetting we most definitely want you to let us know. It’s a little odd that the only time we get any feedback from people is when they aren’t happy, but that’s okay. We very much respect your opinions and beliefs as long as you respect ours. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">Yesterday, I got a few messages and emails from people who thought Matts’ post was in bad taste that thought we shouldn’t allow the “N-Word” on the blog. Plus a comment on a pic posted to the official <a href="https://www.facebook.com/iwsradio?ref=hl">IWS Facebook Fan Page</a>. But, I dismiss that cause it came from a guy who I know to be a raging fucking hypocrite. I have no doubt Matt has also heard from people who either don’t like me or don’t think I’m funny or are bitter middle-aged white women who are jealous of hot, petite, sexy and exotic Asian babes. I’m just guessing on that last part. Point is you can't always make everybody happy and you can always worry about people's sensibilities. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The people who had something to say about Matt’s post did so nicely and without name calling or rudeness or over the top OMG I’M SO OUTRAGED crap. I really appreciate that. But, there is one thing Matt and I would like to request of people who feel strongly enough about something to email and express their feelings. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><i>Please make sure you direct your comments to the person who actually wrote the post.</i><br /><br />That’s really all we ask and we think that’s more than fair. Seriously, we put our name on the posts ya know.Thanks for your cooperation. <o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:Jayman3768@gmail.com">Jayman3768@gmail.com</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Jayman68">Facebook.com/Jayman68</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/jayman_iws">@Jayman_IWS</a><o:p></o:p></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div></div>

A Safe Place to Be Yourself and Do Your Thing

Hola! So yesterday, a day which will live in infamy, Matt-Man got to strike something off of his Bucket List. He finally got to do an N-Word...

U.S. House schedule for Friday, June 28, 2013

7:40 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://majorityleader.gov/"><i>From Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office....</i></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH </b></u><br />On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. <br />First and last votes expected: 10:00 - 11:00 a.m.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><b>One Minute Speeches</b><br /><br /><b>Complete Consideration of <a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=343574-6846703" target="_blank">H.R. 2231</a></b> - Offshore Energy and Jobs Act, Rules Committee Print <br />(Structured Rule) <i>(Sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings / Natural Resources Committee)</i><br /><blockquote>The Rule provides for no further general debate and makes in order the following remaining amendments:</blockquote><blockquote><blockquote><b>Rep. Peter DeFazio Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Paul Broun Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Rep. Alan Grayson Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)<br /><b>Reps. Capps / Brownley / Lowenthal Amendment </b>(10 minutes of debate)</blockquote></blockquote><b>Special Order Speeches</b><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><u><b>COMMITTEE ACTIVITY OF THE DAY</b></u><br />Oversight & Government Reform Committee mark up of "<a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=343575-6846703" target="_blank">Resolution<b> </b>Determining that Lois Lerner Waived Her Fifth Amendment Privilege</a>” (Friday, June 28th, at 9:00 a.m.)<br /></div><a href="http://republicanleaderforms.house.gov/Components/Redirect/r.aspx?ID=343576-6846703" target="_blank">Printable PDF</a>

From Majority Leader Eric Cantor's office.... FRIDAY, JUNE 28TH On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Fi...

Breaking a sweat - sort of......???

6:07 PM Tukiyooo 0

Last night I texted Karen to tell them they need to be on standby today because, get this, I was going to WORK OUT!!  I wanted to make sure that I had the doc on standby for the anticipated breaks, sprains, swelling!!   My friend Britton has a guest pass for her gym so I went with her today.  Now, this may surprise you, but I actually have a lifetime membership at 24 Hour Fitness - I pay $45 dollars per year.  BUT I HATE GOING ALONE!!!!  I'll get more into my work out later.<br /><br />Today for lunch Britton brought this yummy chicken, pasta (whole wheat), broccoli cooked in a tomatos.  It was REALLY good.  I cut my portion size to what I would normally call "barely" which was about 2 cups total, maybe not even that much.  I chopped fresh vegetables for a salad and ate plenty of fresh raw veggies.  It was good!!<br /><br />Tonight, I am going to figure out diner, probably a chicken breast and some vegetables.  I'm not that hungry so I have to tell myself EAT!<br /><br />Ok, so, the gym.  Where do I start?  So, we get to the gym and I feel like the fat kid.  Wait, I AM the fat kid!  Britton was so great to get on the treadmill next to me to encourage me.  She usually does those step glider thingies.  I knew not to even TRY one of those.  That's like committing orthopedic suicide!  Anyway, she jogged while I walked.  I did a good 30 minutes at the speed of "2.5" whatever that was ha!!  It was a pretty good pace for a start.<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05V1OmjOMaNpjAc_1oeQsZPoreK7wDqI35kM2DcbcLYmnEe4cP5CQkuPfDJVOwV_V-UzfUu3tB-Sj4IDaG6nvROGvHGfyKJZ95haWL5QX1cFgg-JEQrR396V6slnPmYNbxbBIdBhL-Q0/s640/IMG_5419%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh05V1OmjOMaNpjAc_1oeQsZPoreK7wDqI35kM2DcbcLYmnEe4cP5CQkuPfDJVOwV_V-UzfUu3tB-Sj4IDaG6nvROGvHGfyKJZ95haWL5QX1cFgg-JEQrR396V6slnPmYNbxbBIdBhL-Q0/s320/IMG_5419%5B1%5D.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>As you can tell, I am not exactly Miss Peppy workout queen</em></strong></div><br /><br /> I started off at 1.5 and ended at the 2.5   My legs started bothering me.  Well, I mean, if you had to carry this weight, I guess you'd be bothered too!!!  <br />So, I said, "I'll sit on the stationary bike".  <br /><br />I originally wasn't going to even do it in fear of my knees going on a permanent strike.  Well, the machine fascinated me so I decided to give it a go.  I broke the first machine!  NO JOKE haha!  I slid the seat too far back and we couldn't get it to move forward.  So, I jumped on the one next to me.  I was able to ride for about 10 minutes maybe at the most.  My knees were SCREAMING, so I decided to not push it.  <br /><br />This is an absolutely HIDEOUS picture.  But, I am all about exposing the good, the bad, and the ugly.  Ok, so the ugly is now exposed, I'm ready to promote to the bad!!  But, I am working out!!!!!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvrCR5UGJXmbYtzYjAF8DLXEyFtsxWUnQZOaVAAb1aMk1vMOSjFo9Ei_C51bnpO7Z9M9A2Ro6habpDkC0q4sa3dcUzMRHVVFVueqQkVcaDd9r-IrH85TIqnXxHRFggdMliD8vbywbgss/s960/IMG_5424%5B1%5D.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvrCR5UGJXmbYtzYjAF8DLXEyFtsxWUnQZOaVAAb1aMk1vMOSjFo9Ei_C51bnpO7Z9M9A2Ro6habpDkC0q4sa3dcUzMRHVVFVueqQkVcaDd9r-IrH85TIqnXxHRFggdMliD8vbywbgss/s320/IMG_5424%5B1%5D.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><div align="center"></div>This is why I am the photographer.  I do NOT like to be in front of the lens.  Thanks to Britton for capturing this ugly moment, per my request.  Who does that?  Hey, I am ugly, sweaty, and I am making noises I didn't know I could make, can you capture that for me for my blog?  I want to give my viewers the TOTAL experience!!!  (You should be thankful you cant scratch n' sniff the photo).<br /><br />The good news, other then a little wind, nothing else broke!  I limped out a little and I am TOTALLY feeling it in my legs, but that's what a pain pill is for!  Yes, I will be taking 1/2 of one tonight.  I think we will be trying this again tomorrow.  I wonder if I can conveniently forget my workout clothes - if Britton will notice that it was intentional?<br /><br />Tomorrow is the big day!!  I am going to weigh in for the FIRST TIME since I started taking Belviq one week ago!  I am NERVOUS.  I hope I lost at least 2 lbs!!  I would be happy with even just 1 pound!  I will be recording the weigh in tomorrow.  I will also officially tell you all tomorrow what my starting weight is!!  So, everyone, start taking bets.  1.  What was my starting weight (YOU WILL NOT OFFEND ME: 200, 300, 400, 500 LOL - just take a guess). and 2.  How much do you THINK I lost based of what you read on my blog this week.<br /><br />Feel free to post it in a comment like 500/2 - 500 is the starting and 2 is what I lost.  I want to see how in tuned you are.  Just a little background information, I am 5'7.  <br /><br />Ready, set, guess................................................<br /><br />Tune in tomorrow!!!

Breaking a sweat - sort of......???

Last night I texted Karen to tell them they need to be on standby today because, get this, I was going to WORK OUT!! I wanted to make sure ...

The Reason Why A Personal Trainer Carlsbad Encourages You To Play Sports

2:50 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Brandon Watkins</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>Exercise is gradually becoming a daily part of several people's lives nowadays as they are slowly gaining a lot more interest in becoming fit and healthy. There are lots of forms of exercise, as any good personal trainer Carlsbad can tell you. Most people choose a certain number of forms that best suit their situation, need and schedule. One of the most commonly chosen ways to keep your body in shape is to play a sport.<br />  <br />  How Sports Could Help You<br />  <br />  Sports are among the best ways for a person to stay active. Not only do they keep your body moving, they also provide a variety of opportunities for you to improve yourself, with different ones depending on the particular sport. Among some of the most common reasons why people choose sports over workouts in the gym are:<br />  <br />  * The team sports teach people how to work effectively together and how to trust each other.<br />  <br />  * They are much more of a social activity than gym sessions can be as depending on the sport, any number of people can join in.<br />  <br />  * They can be done anywhere suitable, which means giving you the chance to breath in fresh air and have a good variety in scenery.<br />  <br />  * They generally need little equipment and require almost no payment to play.<br />  <br />  The Most Recommended Sports<br />  <br />  Your personal trainer Carlsbad is going to have a good list of sports that you'll be able to play. They'll have been chosen based on what you're shooting for, what your current fitness status is and how much free time you've got in your personal schedule. The sports that are most commonly played for their fitness benefits are:<br />  <br />  * Volleyball<br />  <br />  As a personal trainer Carlsbad will tell you, this sport can be done with either one or more people, making it both a good team sport and a solitary sport. It makes for a great way to improve your strength and gives your cardiorespiratory system a good workout.<br />  <br />  * Rowing<br />  <br />  As a personal trainer Carlsbad will tell you, this sport can be done with either one or more people, making it both a good team sport and a solitary sport. It makes for a great way to improve your strength and gives your cardiorespiratory system a good workout.<br />  <br />  * Swimming<br />  <br />  This sport has similar effects on your body as volleyball. However, it focuses more on your legs than your arms, and helps you increase your overall speed, while teaching you how to cooperate quickly with your teammates.<br />  <br />  * Soccer<br />  <br />  This sport has similar effects on your body as volleyball. However, it focuses more on your legs than your arms, and helps you increase your overall speed, while teaching you how to cooperate quickly with your teammates.<br />  <br />  Why Listen To A Personal Trainer Carlsbad<br />  <br />  A personal trainer Carlsbad has been trained well to know that each person is unique and will therefore need a personal way to become physically fit. This includes choosing the appropriate type of sports for you. Carlsbad is an area that is known for its love of exercise, and due to the many people there who are looking to be fit, there are many options in terms of working out.<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'>Being in excellent condition with the help of <a href="http://www.theperfectworkout.com/personal-trainer-carlsbad/">Personal Trainer Carlsbad</a> not just improves your entire body but also your health too. The advantages that one can obtain from <a href="https://plus.google.com/117219889004260885472/about">Carlsbad Personal Trainer</a> are countless.</div><br />  </div><br />

The Reason Why A Personal Trainer Carlsbad Encourages You To Play Sports

By Brandon Watkins Exercise is gradually becoming a daily part of several people's lives nowadays as they are slowly gaining a lot m...

Proven Weight Loss Ideas From The Experts

2:46 PM Tukiyooo 0

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By John Taylor</div><br /><br />  <div class='uawarticle'>If you have decided that your are overweight and want to lose some stubborn pounds, the very first place to make changes is to your daily diet. What you eat gets the most significant effect on your size. Physical fitness should accompany a sensible diet program as well, although primary emphasis should be on changing the foods you consume. The next article is packed with tips and advice to help maximize your weight loss.<br />  <br />  A good idea for losing weight is to begin drinking green tea. Green tea extract is proven to enhance metabolism and it's a fantastic natural solution to get power. Just have a glass of green tea each morning prior to your workout and you'll have more energy.<br />  <br />  Weight reduction will go faster in the event that you contain the bread. Eating out isn't necessarily a negative thing. Unfortunately if you eat out, servers quickly shuffle over with chips, dips, combinations, and warm loaves of bread. Do not take them. Send them right back for those who have to. Your stomach will thank you.<br />  <br />  Losing weight is something, but keeping that core weight soon becomes a fresh problem. To-do this, you are going to need to stay to a similar regime to the one that brought you to this new goal and improve it where need be. Don't let yourself go because you think the job is done after you lose the weight.<br />  <br />  Feeling hungry causes us to consume. Eating causes us to gain weight. Feeling total decreases our experience of hunger. Therefore a method to lose weight is to complete more often. One of the ways you can "trick" your body into feeling complete more generally is by eating spicy foods that have more capsaicin in them, including foods lightly spiced with cayenne or jalapeno pepper. No need to overdo it, adequate to burn off a bit will do fine.<br />  <br />  A simple way to lose fat is by eating a salad before every meal. Soups contain plenty of fibre that will fill you up without supplying you with excess calories to lose. Try not to put additional dressing or cheese to the salad, since this can just add fat and calories that you simply want to avoid.<br />  <br />  You could lose weight by drinking milk before a meal. Work will allow you to feel whole, thus, drinking it before meals will cause you never to overeat. In addition, milk is rich in calcium, which ensures you strong bones and healthy muscles.<br />  <br />  Popcorn is a good snack for slimming down. Avoid movie theater popcorn or making popcorn with lots of extra butter or oils. Corn is a whole grain and whole grains are extremely important to digest when on a <a href="http://themissingbridges1.blogspot.in/">weight loss program</a>. Buy or borrow popcorn air popper. The air going method is very healthy. In the event the popcorn choices too mundane for you, try playing with spices or even adding Parmesan cheese to the popcorn for different taste a few ideas that are not fat and laden with butters or oils.<br />  <br />  Make sure you are exercising, when you're striving toward your weight reduction goals. You do not want to exercise simply to exercise both, you want to create every exercise count. Remember, it's the caliber of the exercise that counts and not the amount. You can walk all day long and though it may help in reducing your weight, running will help you lose weight even more quickly.<br />  <br />  Before attending a vacation party or dinner, ask the coordinator to talk about the menu with you. Once you learn what's being offered, you can determine beforehand what you will eat. Bring a plate on a bit of paper and piece it out. Seeing it written down will make you feel committed to those parts while at the dinner. The less you have to make spur of-the moment decisions, a lot more likely you're to keep to your diet program.<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'>Weight loss is deceptively simple, and as long as you have <a href="http://themistsbirch.weebly.com/">the information</a>, it is accessible.</div><br />  </div><br />

Proven Weight Loss Ideas From The Experts

By John Taylor If you have decided that your are overweight and want to lose some stubborn pounds, the very first place to make changes ...

Obama to suspend Bangladesh trade privileges. Now let's fix the real problem.

2:12 PM Tukiyooo 0

<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/28/business/us-to-suspend-trade-privileges-with-bangladesh-officials-say.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0">Reports have been flying around today</a> that the Obama administration would suspend Bangladesh’s trade privileges in response to continued concerns over worker safety, yielding to pressure from labor and Democrats in Congress.<br /><br />Bangladesh has come under fire after <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/world/asia/report-on-bangladesh-building-collapse-finds-widespread-blame.html">1,129 workers lost their lives</a> when a factory collapsed this past April, capturing the world’s attention and calling into question the country’s commitment to improving working conditions and workers’ rights. The country’s track record is horrible, with many labor and human rights advocates <a href="http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/04/25/bangladesh-tragedy-shows-urgency-worker-protections">questioning the Bangladesh’s Ministry of Labour’s Inspection Department’s competency</a>.<br /><br />The <a href="http://www.laborrights.org/">International Labor Rights Forum</a> has taken action by drafting its “<a href="http://laborrights.org/sites/default/files/publications-and-resources/Accord_on_Fire_and_Building_Safety_in_Bangladesh_2013-05-13.pdf">Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh</a>” which calls on clothing manufacturers to take responsibility for the conditions at the factories where their products are produced. More than 40 apparel and retail companies have signed the agreement that requires companies to participate in and fund a program of independent safety inspections, remediation, and worker safety trainings with the involvement of trade unions. <u1:p></u1:p><o:p></o:p><br /><br />However, this is not a problem unique to Bangladesh, nor can we depend on the industry to fix the problem. The garment industry as a whole is viewed as being reluctant to take an active role in promoting worker safety and rights at facilities in countries that have weak or nonexistent labor laws. <br /><br />The only way to ensure that workers’ rights are protected is to change the way the U.S. drafts it trade agreements, building in human and worker’s rights provisions that must be followed by the trade partners. Until the U.S. holds its trade partners responsible for improving working conditions in poor, developing nations, we will continue to see tragedies like April’s horrific accident occur. Workers will continue to toil away for low pay in unsafe conditions with no recourse.  <br /><br />

Obama to suspend Bangladesh trade privileges. Now let's fix the real problem.

Reports have been flying around today that the Obama administration would suspend Bangladesh’s trade privileges in response to continued co...

Disruptions: Medicine That Monitors You - NYTimes.com

1:31 PM Tukiyooo 0

They look like normal pills, oblong and a little smaller than a daily vitamin. But if your doctor writes a prescription for these pills in the not-too-distant future, you might hear a new twist on an old cliché: "Take two of these ingestible computers, and they will e-mail me in the morning."<br /><br><br /><br>As society struggles with the privacy implications of wearable computers like Google Glass, scientists, researchers and some start-ups are already preparing the next, even more intrusive wave of computing: ingestible computers and minuscule sensors stuffed inside pills.<br /><br><br /><br><br /><br>For people in extreme professions, like space travel, various versions of these pills have been used for some time. But in the next year, your family doctor — at least if he's technologically adept — could also have them in his medicinal tool kit.Although these tiny devices are not yet mainstream, some people on the cutting edge are already swallowing them to monitor a range of health data and wirelessly share this information with a doctor. And there are prototypes of tiny, ingestible devices that can do things like automatically open car doors or fill in passwords.<br /><br><br /><br>Inside these pills are tiny sensors and transmitters. You swallow them with water, or milk if you'd prefer. After that, the devices make their way to the stomach and stay intact as they travel through the intestinal tract.<br /><br><br /><br>"You will — voluntarily, I might add — take a pill, which you think of as a pill but is in fact a microscopic robot, which will monitor your systems" and wirelessly transmit what is happening, Eric E. Schmidt, the executive chairman of Google, said last fall at a company conference. "If it makes the difference between health and death, you're going to want this thing."<br /><br><br /><br>One of the pills, made by Proteus Digital Health, a small company in Redwood City, Calif., does not need a battery. Instead, the body is the power source. Just as a potato can power a light bulb, Proteus has added magnesium and copper on each side of its tiny sensor, which generates just enough electricity from stomach acids.<br /><br><br /><br>As a Proteus pill hits the bottom of the stomach, it sends information to a cellphone app through a patch worn on the body. The tiny computer can track medication-taking behaviors — "did Grandma take her pills today, and what time?" — and monitor how a patient's body is responding to medicine. It also detects the person's movements and rest patterns.<br /><br><br /><br>Executives at the company, which recently raised $62.5 million from investors, say they believe that these pills will help patients with physical and neurological problems. People with heart failure-related difficulties could monitor blood flow and body temperature; those with central nervous system issues, including schizophrenia and Alzheimer's disease, could take the pills to monitor vital signs in real time. The Food and Drug Administration approved the Proteus pill last year.<br /><br><br /><br>A pill called the CorTemp Ingestible Core Body Temperature Sensor, made by HQ Inc. in Palmetto, Fla., has a built-in battery and wirelessly transmits real-time body temperature as it travels through a patient.<br /><br><br /><br>Firefighters, football players, soldiers and astronauts have used the device so their employers can monitor them and ensure they do not overheat in high temperatures. CorTemp began in 2006 as a research collaboration from the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.<br /><br><br /><br>Lee Carbonelli, HQ's marketing director, said the company hoped, in the next year, to have a consumer version that would wirelessly communicate to a smartphone app.<br /><br><br /><br>Future generations of these pills could even be convenience tools.<br /><br><br /><br>Last month, Regina Dugan, senior vice president for Motorola Mobility's advanced technology and projects group, showed off an example, along with wearable radio frequency identification tattoos that attach to the skin like a sticker, at the D: All Things Digital technology conference.<br /><br><br /><br>Once that pill is in your body, you could pick up your smartphone and not have to type in a password. Instead, you are the password. Sit in the car and it will start. Touch the handle to your home door and it will automatically unlock. "Essentially, your entire body becomes your authentication token," Ms. Dugan said.<br /><br><br /><br>But if people are worried about the privacy implications of wearable computing devices, just wait until they try to wrap their heads around ingestible computing.<br /><br><br /><br>"This is yet another one of these technologies where there are wonderful options and terrible options, simultaneously," said John Perry Barlow, a founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, a privacy advocacy group. "The wonderful is that there are a great number of things you want to know about yourself on a continual basis, especially if you're diabetic or suffer from another disease. The terrible is that health insurance companies could know about the inner workings of your body."<br /><br><br /><br>And the implications of a tiny computer inside your body being hacked? Let's say they are troubling.<br /><br><br /><br>There is, of course, one last question for this little pill. After it has done its job, flowing down around the stomach and through the intestinal tract, what happens next?<br /><br><br /><br>"It passes naturally through the body in about 24 hours," Ms. Carbonelli said, but since each pill costs $46, "some people choose to recover and recycle it."<br /><br><br /><br><a href="http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/disruptions-medicine-that-monitors-you/?src=me">http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/06/23/disruptions-medicine-that-monitors-you/?src=me</a>

Disruptions: Medicine That Monitors You - NYTimes.com

They look like normal pills, oblong and a little smaller than a daily vitamin. But if your doctor writes a prescription for these pills in t...

Teamster tells Congress why Amtrak needs funding

1:30 PM Tukiyooo 0

Amtrak desperately needs long-term funding, but Republicans in the House of Representatives want to cut federal spending on Amtrak by 29 percent and eliminate funding for high speed rail.<br /><br />Brother John Tolman from the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen today urged<a href="http://transportation.house.gov/subcommittees/railroads-pipelines-and-hazardous-materials"> members of Congress</a> to support long-term funding for Amtrak. Tolman was speaking on behalf of 37,000 active BLET members and over 70,000 Rail Conference members. He told the Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials subcommittee:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The BLET supports of the concept of a unified national plan for our nation’s passenger and freight railroads, as it is consistent with our desire for long-term planning and financing of rail. It also is imperative that any National Rail Policy would protect the interests of the men and women who work in the railroad industry. </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">In order for our nation to meet the economic and environmental challenges that we face, we must continue to invest in infrastructure and to develop and plan for new means to get goods and people from place to place, in the most fuel efficient means possible; Rail clearly is the best means of doing this.</blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEiO-Xv61_tCPI7RnX8mUpnAQ6uAAy0AfYcox0CHFvB6nvMm35nngnlJNKVsVLZFvXhyphenhyphen8CHceQHa_R8zaU9Obbwo-QLIV8-bKThd9Z-A_mW1UepwexWB4Q3Tpg5DbJFFHNtpBucPwMkl5/s300/john+tolman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBEiO-Xv61_tCPI7RnX8mUpnAQ6uAAy0AfYcox0CHFvB6nvMm35nngnlJNKVsVLZFvXhyphenhyphen8CHceQHa_R8zaU9Obbwo-QLIV8-bKThd9Z-A_mW1UepwexWB4Q3Tpg5DbJFFHNtpBucPwMkl5/s300/john+tolman.jpg" /></a></div>Tolman cited Amtrak's successes:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">On the passenger side, Amtrak and other intercity and commuter railroads, and its employees, have the knowledge, skills and abilities to develop, implement and grow passenger rail in this country. They have done great work and continue to set ridership records, across the US. Passenger rail is a great example of the old quote (Field of Dreams) “if you build it, they will come”. On Amtrak, this cycle of underfunding must end, they desperately need long term funding.</blockquote>And he pleaded for safety:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Too often, cost benefit analysis is used as the sole objection against moving ahead on a Rail Safety Projects.  </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">If we could rewind time and freeze the moment before any fatal accident — such as Macdona, Texas or Graniteville, NC, occurred and talk to that train crew, or residents,  who among us would like to explain them that they would die in the accident, not from the accident itself but from smoke or hazardous materials inhalation because the Congressionally-mandated emergency escape breathing apparatus or switch point indicators failed a cost benefit analysis?  </blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Let’s work to implement feasible, protective safety opportunities for the public and the employees. As Ed Hamburger, testified last week in the Senate, and stated “Job Safety is the number 1 issue, for the industry.” Let’s walk the walk and talk the talk, and get things done together.</blockquote>You can join the chorus of voices urging adequate funding for Amtrak and high-speed rail by sending a letter to Congress <a href="http://salsa4.salsalabs.com/o/50740/p/dia/action3/common/public/?action_KEY=8300">here</a>.

Teamster tells Congress why Amtrak needs funding

Amtrak desperately needs long-term funding, but Republicans in the House of Representatives want to cut federal spending on Amtrak by 29 per...

D.C. Council backs higher minimum wage for Walmart, big box stores

12:32 PM Tukiyooo 0

The Washington, D.C., City Council took an important step to ensure large retailers like Walmart pay a fair wage. The Council tentatively approved a bill yesterday requiring such companies to pay their employees at least $12.50 an hour.<br /><br />By an 8-to-5 vote, the council backed a measure that would raise the minimum wage for those who work at big box retailers by $4.25 an hour. Workers qualify if they are employed at non-union shops that are at least 75,000 square feet and whose parent companies gross above $1 billion annually. Lawmakers are expected to take a final vote on the legislation next month.<br /><br />Three Walmart stores are currently being built in the nation's capital, and two are expected to open this year. Other D.C. retailers that could be affected include Target and Home Depot.<br /><br />One of the bill's sponsors, Council member Vincent Orange <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/living-wage-bill-passes-initial-dc-council-vote/2013/06/26/3231680c-de83-11e2-b797-cbd4cb13f9c6_print.html">said</a> it is time for workers' interests to be supported in the city.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">For once in your life, stop worrying about business, because business is going to take care of itself.</blockquote>Other people took to Twitter to express their support of the legislation. Sam Jewler tweeted the measure could have the effect of increasing salaries across the city.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">This bill says lets have the biggest market actors pull wages UP instead of DOWN. Very simple idea, benefits all.</blockquote>The vote is a victory for workers who have stood up to the nation's largest retailer as part of the <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/walmart-workers-on-strike-tell-ceo-stop.html">Our Walmart</a> campaign. Scores of workers have periodically gone on strike in recent months across the country to protest low pay and benefits at the retail chain. That effort is expected to continue for the foreseeable future. <br /><br />The Teamsters are supporting Walmart workers in their quest for better  treatment. Teamsters around the country joined actions at local Walmart stores on June 7,  the day of the chain's annual meeting. Rallies were held at<a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2013/06/walmart-workers-on-strike-tell-ceo-stop.html"><span style="color: #336699;">  dozens of Walmart stores around the U.S</span></a>. that day.

D.C. Council backs higher minimum wage for Walmart, big box stores

The Washington, D.C., City Council took an important step to ensure large retailers like Walmart pay a fair wage. The Council tentatively ap...

Chicago Teamster funeral directors hope they won't have to strike

11:48 AM Tukiyooo 0

As Teamster funeral directors in Chicago head into talks with corporate giant <a href="http://www.sci-corp.com/SCICORP/home.aspx">SCI</a> tomorrow, they're hoping they don't have to sanction a possible strike or job actions at local funeral homes and cemeteries.<br /><br />But the company's unchecked greed and indignation may force strikes and labor disputes.<br /><br />The Teamster funeral directors' new website, <a href="http://integrityinillinois.com/">integrityinillinois.com</a>, explains SCI is a $3.8 billion company with about 13 percent of the market share in the funeral industry.<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">Founded in 1962, SCI has grown into a company with 1,423 funeral service locations and 374 cemeteries (including 214 funeral service/cemetery combination locations) in North America. The company’s business model is based on buying successful funeral homes that are well known in any given community. The company then retains the home’s original name and often the home’s original owners as managers. Many times the affected community doesn’t even know a multi-billion dollar corporation now owns the funeral home. </blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYcAGGA8Xe0l9PBaR5Rk0NjfxLRhJJjJeW3B9TPwK15s4XDf0DKakmeolWj5ItCtAELn0KD2hbPo-Pj8rwSeOdowQ9ZfMlc3W12-kA_eq9O_pqo7qzAk0rL8bZmusVWO5wf164l8PQnLU/s1600/funeral+directors+rally.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYcAGGA8Xe0l9PBaR5Rk0NjfxLRhJJjJeW3B9TPwK15s4XDf0DKakmeolWj5ItCtAELn0KD2hbPo-Pj8rwSeOdowQ9ZfMlc3W12-kA_eq9O_pqo7qzAk0rL8bZmusVWO5wf164l8PQnLU/s320/funeral+directors+rally.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>You'd think a company would reward its employees after its stock rose 56 percent in the last year. You'd be wrong. SCI is demanding 40 concessions from the funeral directors who have made it so successful. <span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;">The funeral home giant wants to eliminate the  pension plan, raise the cost of health insurance, freeze wages for new hires and remove protections for disabled employees.</span><br /><br />You can help your brothers and sisters at Chicago funeral homes by signing the petition <a href="http://www.integrityinillinois.com/online-petition.html">here</a>. It says, in part, <br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">These workers are professionals who provide an invaluable service to grieving families, and they deserve the same respect they give to our communities.</blockquote>We'll keep you posted on the negotiations.

Chicago Teamster funeral directors hope they won't have to strike

As Teamster funeral directors in Chicago head into talks with corporate giant SCI tomorrow, they're hoping they don't have to sanct...

How unions make you safer on the road

10:34 AM Tukiyooo 0

Unionized drivers in the curbside bus industry are laying down rules that make the trip safer for everyone -- and more profitable for the company.<br /><br />After years of frustration with dangerous working conditions, low pay, and terrible healthcare, contract negotiations with Megabus workers in <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/02/woo-hoo-another-teamster-victory-in-nj.html">Chicago</a> at Local 777 and <a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/02/woo-hoo-another-teamster-victory-in-nj.html">Springfield, N.J.,</a> at Local 102 have made their buses safer.<br /><br />Since organizing in 2011, Chicago Megabus drivers have better working conditions in a company that has <a href="http://www.kcrg.com/home/top-9/TV9-Investigation-Megabus-Has-Poor-Record-for-Driver-Fatigue-180788161.html">a history of ignoring driver fatigue.</a><br /><br />“If you are respected by your company, you have this sense that this is a profession,” said Courtney Bell, business agent for Teamsters Local 777.  “Drivers have enforceable safety standards (and) Megabus is held accountable to (that) contract.”<br /><br /><a href="http://atu.3cdn.net/2e6f3bbd046be7f383_nrm6bsrsc.pdf">Driver-related problems account for 60 percent of fatalities</a> in the curbside bus industry, according to a report published by the Amalgamated Transit Union.  Driver fatigue (38 percent) and driver medical condition (18 percent) head the list. <br /><br />The Chicago contract set a living wage standard, provided a choice of different affordable healthcare plans and added co-drivers for most drives so tired drivers can switch places.<br /><br />Legally, bus drivers aren’t required to receive overtime -- or, <a href="http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/public-transit/290565-transit-union-to-administration-address-bus-driver-fatigue">even minimum wage</a>.   Without union representation, many drivers are pressured to <a href="http://www.labornotes.org/2012/04/asleep-wheel">work up to 100 hours a week</a>.  ATU president Larry Hanley notes that:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The wages of most of these drivers are abysmally low. The website Glassdoor.com pegs the top wage of drivers at just $29,000 per year. The low wages often force workers to take a second job during their off hours—hours in which they should be resting before their next run. </blockquote>In order to save even more money, discount operators encourage or coerce their drivers to work overtime, thus avoiding the need to hire enough drivers to actually do the work.<br /><br />The prevalence of unsafe, non-union companies is such a huge concern that the National Transportation Safety Board actually <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/01/nyregion/federal-officials-shut-down-26-bus-operators.html?pagewanted=1&_r=0">shut down</a> <a href="http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/20130308/chinatown/feds-shut-down-another-chinatown-bus-company-over-safety-violations">a bunch of</a> <a href="http://gothamist.com/2013/03/02/rip_fung_wah_feds_pull_chinatown_bu.php">the unregulated death traps</a> over the past year.<br /><br />One of the non-union companies not only routinely falsified bus documents, but <a href="http://ohsonline.com/articles/2013/06/14/virginia-bus-company-shut-down-for-being-imminent-safety-hazard.aspx?admgarea=news">also racked up 39 safety violations </a>in just two months:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">The company repeatedly dispatched another driver whose medical certificate had expired and had been falsified.  Drivers were not required by the company to turn in hours-of-service records or other required documentation such as driving itineraries and fuel receipts.</blockquote>Without strong union support, drivers aren’t the only people left vulnerable.  The public is safer with rested, healthy and professional drivers – and the reputation of the company has flourished because of it.<br /><br />Since Megabus drivers in the Chicago and New Jersey hubs become Teamsters two years ago, Megabus has almost doubled its total amount of customer trips.  Unlike other companies, the unionized Megabus hubs are doing more business than ever.<br /><br /> <br /><br />

How unions make you safer on the road

Unionized drivers in the curbside bus industry are laying down rules that make the trip safer for everyone -- and more profitable for the co...

USA AND RUSSIA: FULL SCALE WAR IN SYRIA IMMINENT?

10:08 AM Tukiyooo 0

<br /> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrzDLyD0Orvqq9u0PT8ZVZtiT0rYJklPJgwVzuSupqltP_X1ghnYj0Xl0NqR0RwAdrs0YOXs-U-bY83BZU7H5E-rxcGXRmmAZNxoAkIJgD8Wtbw92GNg-TDHCAUNZLbSbJGTRkipsb_oc/s391/arton172205-da5e8.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrzDLyD0Orvqq9u0PT8ZVZtiT0rYJklPJgwVzuSupqltP_X1ghnYj0Xl0NqR0RwAdrs0YOXs-U-bY83BZU7H5E-rxcGXRmmAZNxoAkIJgD8Wtbw92GNg-TDHCAUNZLbSbJGTRkipsb_oc/s400/arton172205-da5e8.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";">RUSSIA EVACUATES TARTUS, ALSO MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL FROM SYRIA. HIGH WAR ALERT IN ISRAEL</span></b></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span lang="DE-AT" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: DE-AT; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Via DEBKAfile </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">RUSSIA announced that the evacuation of all military and diplomatic personnel from SYRIA was now complete, including the Russian naval base at Tartus.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“RUSSIA decided to withdraw its personnel because of the risks from the conflict in SYRIA, as well as the fear of an incident involving the RUSSIAN military that could have larger consequences,” said a defense ministry official in Moscow. He stressed that a 16-ship naval task force in the eastern MEDITERRANEAN remains on post and arms shipments, including anti-air weapons, would continue to the SYRIAN government in keeping with former contracts.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In another sign of an impending escalation in SYRIA, the ISRAELI GOLAN brigade staged an unannounced war maneuver on the Golan, attended by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and top army chiefs. In London, Prime Minister David Cameron called the government’s National Security Council into session in Downing Street on SYRIA. Opposition leader Ed Milliband was invited to attend the meeting, a custom observed only when issues of the highest security importance are discussed.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5NQH9g17sJd9pyCl124IdwjZ-THnw-eXu0wXVoAmuZWyZkj4fkNCZqcfihhqTNo2aSNtKsSPqoCuSXrlmzKSG3r5Wuc1rWEqRAjm_pxsV1mAMKY3JCua52sp9JR2ixWib9XkyJ2jpR3t/s450/OPUTIN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5NQH9g17sJd9pyCl124IdwjZ-THnw-eXu0wXVoAmuZWyZkj4fkNCZqcfihhqTNo2aSNtKsSPqoCuSXrlmzKSG3r5Wuc1rWEqRAjm_pxsV1mAMKY3JCua52sp9JR2ixWib9XkyJ2jpR3t/s320/OPUTIN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The sullen confrontation between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Barack Obama at the G8 Summit in NORTHERN IRELAND last week condemned SYRIA to five months of escalating, unresolved vicious warfare – that is until the two leaders meet again in September.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For now, tempers are heating up between Washington and Moscow on SYRIA and other things too, notably the elusive AMERICAN fugitive Edward Snowden.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #cc0000;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">USA AND ISRAELI INTELLIGENCE WATCHERS SEE THE SYRIAN CRISIS ENTERING SEVEN OMINOUS PHASES</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />1. A five-month bloodbath centering on the battle for Aleppo, a city of 2.2 million inhabitants. The SYRIAN army plus allies and the fully-mobilized opposition will hurl all their manpower and weapons into winning the city. Military experts don’t expect the rebels to hold out against Assad’s forces beyond late August.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">2.  Neither side has enough manpower or game-changing weaponry for winning the war outright. That is, unless Presidents Obama or Putin steps in to retilt the balance.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">3. The US and RUSSIA are poised for more military intervention in the conflict up until a point just short of a military clash on SYRIAN soil – or elsewhere in the MIDDLE EAST. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: blue;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">US intelligence analysts have judged Putin ready to go all the way on SYRIA against the US - no holds barred.</span></b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></span>The RUSSIAN president is meanwhile deliberately goading Washington and raising temperatures by playing hide-and-seek over the former NSA contractor Edward Snowden, charged with espionage for stealing and leaking classified intelligence. At home, he is considered variously as a traitor and a brave whistleblower.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">For several hours Snowden vanished between Hong Kong and Moscow – until the RUSSIAN president admitted he was holed up in the transit area of Moscow airport and would not be extradited by RUSSIA to the UNITED STATES.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">4.  IRAN, Hizballah and IRAQ will likewise ratchet up their battlefield presence.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">5. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">A violent encounter is building up between Middle East Shiites flocking to SYRIA to save the Assad regime alongside RUSSIA, and the US-backed Sunni-dominated rebel forces.</span><br /></b>It could scuttle the secret US-IRANIAN negotiating track on its nuclear program, which was buoyed up by the election of the pragmatic Hassan Rouhani as President of IRAN.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">6.  The Geneva-2 Conference for a political solution for the SYRIAN crisis is dead in the water. Moscow and the US are divided by unbridgeable issues of principle, such whether Bashar Assad should stay or go and IRANIAN representation. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">7.  So long as the diplomatic remains stuck in the mud, the prospects of a regional war spreading out of the SYRIAN conflict are rising. IRAN, ISRAEL, JORDAN and LEBANON may be dragged in at any moment – if they have not already, like LEBANON.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A small mistake by one of the SYRIAN warring parties in SYRIA could, for example, touch off ISRAELI retaliation and a wholesale spillover of violence.</span></div>

USA AND RUSSIA: FULL SCALE WAR IN SYRIA IMMINENT?

RUSSIA EVACUATES TARTUS, ALSO MILITARY, DIPLOMATIC PERSONNEL FROM SYRIA. HIGH WAR ALERT IN ISRAEL Via DEBKAfile RUSSIA announced that the ...