Richmond Times-Dispatch's non-endorsement for Virginia governor 2013 - UPDATED

<blockquote><i>"This marks, we believe, the first time in modern Virginia that The Times-Dispatch has not endorsed a gubernatorial nominee."</i> -- Richmond Times-Dispatch (October 20, 2013)</blockquote>In an editorial that laid it on the line, the <a href="http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/our-opinion/our-choice-for-governor-in-none-of-the-above/article_6a2c5e41-20f3-561a-a25d-52eedf4741f3.html"><i>Richmond Times-Dispatch</i></a> refused to endorse Democrat, Republican, or Libertarian for Virginia's 2013 gubernatorial race. That news ricocheted around the internet as citizens woke on a Sunday morning, met with raised eyebrows and mild surprise from some while others nodded in solemn agreement.<br /><br />This has, indeed, been an odd election year in Virginia.<br /><br />The <i>Times-Dispatch </i>notes many of the issues in question and the final results are the same: they are not comfortable endorsing. Indeed, they note:<br /><blockquote>In the past, <i>The Times-Dispatch</i> has endorsed candidates with varying degrees of enthusiasm. We find it impossible to endorse any of the 2013 candidates with even minimal zeal.<br /><br />Elections make voters complicit in the government they receive. If we would not urge a family member to vote this way or that, then we have no business recommending Cuccinelli, McAuliffe or Sarvis to our readers.</blockquote>Interestingly, the <a href="http://m.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bill-bolling-for-governor/article_38a77d40-3930-11e3-91a7-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm#.UmPLvqcRC4E.twitter"><i>Charlottesville Daily Progress</i></a>, finding itself in the same boat, endorsed Lieutenant Governor <a href="http://www.billbolling.com/">Bill Bolling</a> as a write-in candidate, noting, "Do the write thing. Put Bill Bolling’s name on your ballot on Nov. 5. Virginia needs him."<br /><br /><b>UPDATE October 28, 2013:</b> Another newspaper refused to endorse in the 2013 gubernatorial election. On Sunday, the <a href="http://www.newsadvance.com/opinion/editorials/article_b051cb8e-3dbd-11e3-bb5b-0019bb30f31a.html"><i>Lynchburg News & Advance</i></a> wrote, "<span class="paragraph-0">Put simply, not one of the three candidates for governor of Virginia deserves the office or has made a strong case that he is the best candidate. Not one of them, neither Democrat Terry McAuliffe, Republican Ken Cuccinelli nor Libertarian Robert Sarvis." And more.</span><br /><br /><span class="paragraph-0"><b>UPDATE October 31, 2013:</b> A third major Virginia newspaper has refused to endorse in the 2013 gubernatorial election. Is this unprecedented? The <i>Roanoke Times</i> editorial on Thursday noted, "... </span>an endorsement carries with it the credibility of this institution. When a candidate who receives our support visits ridicule or even shame on the commonwealth, we share in that disgrace."<br /><br />Then in a stunning reminder of the <a href="http://m.dailyprogress.com/opinion/editorials/bill-bolling-for-governor/article_38a77d40-3930-11e3-91a7-001a4bcf6878.html?mode=jqm#.UmPLvqcRC4E.twitter"><i>Charlottesville Daily Progress</i></a>' endorsement of Lieutenant Governor <b>Bill Bolling</b> as a write-in candidate, the <i>Roanoke Times</i> added, "<span class="paragraph-0">Those who cannot in good conscience vote for the official candidates should consider writing in Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling."</span><br /><br /><span class="paragraph-0">With five days left until election day, 2013 continues to be one of the oddest in my memory.... </span>

2013 gubernatorial election Bill Bolling Daily Progress Lynchburg News and Advance Richmond Times-Dispatch Roanoke Times Virginia Richmond Times-Dispatch's non-endorsement for Virginia governor 2013 - UPDATED

"This marks, we believe, the first time in modern Virginia that The Times-Dispatch has not endorsed a gubernatorial nominee." -- ...

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One Year Ago This Afternoon

Sandy's approach to the Delaware Valley was largely "known" by October 25th and 26th, with most guidance suggesting impact across our region. What had not been completely settled was where the storm's center was going to come ashore -- modeling was still varying in specific landfall points...but that was immaterial given the size of the storm. By Saturday and Sunday, most modeling was suggesting a South Jersey landfall point for the storm as it continued north and then northwest towards us.<br /><br />Sunday afternoon (which was the 28th), the local National Weather Service office released this powerful statement that underscored the impact of what was coming in.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd20NaJldflA1gM_gTAeFJpb5wgrX7LukiueHBRcoSlGgMwCOIhhWIh1KgalPTMcwgBDPzVSDmW_-ObPDF8qNdJP23zYQAOz2l6fzlbiseqAgAlJk_Gc1gMSYXm3o6qOFaXZdqwPsSaIg/s1600/102713-SANDY.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqd20NaJldflA1gM_gTAeFJpb5wgrX7LukiueHBRcoSlGgMwCOIhhWIh1KgalPTMcwgBDPzVSDmW_-ObPDF8qNdJP23zYQAOz2l6fzlbiseqAgAlJk_Gc1gMSYXm3o6qOFaXZdqwPsSaIg/s400/102713-SANDY.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Sandy was still about 24 hours away from its maximum fury being felt across the area. However, a year ago today the first bands of the storm were pushing in from the east in advance of the storm, despite the center of <a href="http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/al18/al182012.public.026.shtml?" target="_blank">Sandy still being east of the Carolina coastline</a>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVILAlRoPF3juQYxG4SLhACDrCwWg7UGAhvWKLoq1z_lN35TtIKNCZgcD5tM7FPgpGIaBj2E-8mePkMVYq_jgcqJdF1VuQRJLRpzwIpRf-aPbN10uRG0oyXrPQpvuVw-QyCqcw-kV0tBj/s1600/102713-SANDY3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYVILAlRoPF3juQYxG4SLhACDrCwWg7UGAhvWKLoq1z_lN35TtIKNCZgcD5tM7FPgpGIaBj2E-8mePkMVYq_jgcqJdF1VuQRJLRpzwIpRf-aPbN10uRG0oyXrPQpvuVw-QyCqcw-kV0tBj/s400/102713-SANDY3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Here's another image of Sandy from Sunday morning as it spun northeast through the Atlantic. The size of the storm is remarkable already at this point -- covering real estate from Maine to just north of the Bahamas, from the Carolinas east to Bermuda.  The storm would only grow in size over the next 24 hours before it made landfall...but Sunday (one year ago) marked that final day of preparation for many along the East Coast as Sandy approached.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwLaPDkKUVMIJCfEpkHREnlHOXDqD7BY6qfVSlv6-lxizW0JOTGxNK8MAXgP9Z8BcYrRWh4Ki53YDpIS1gMr6yohg984oK-IjHPDDA7JE-reklYcAvs6mYapdkVY0PvCOt-nPPE_1mbi5/s1600/102713-SANDY2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwLaPDkKUVMIJCfEpkHREnlHOXDqD7BY6qfVSlv6-lxizW0JOTGxNK8MAXgP9Z8BcYrRWh4Ki53YDpIS1gMr6yohg984oK-IjHPDDA7JE-reklYcAvs6mYapdkVY0PvCOt-nPPE_1mbi5/s400/102713-SANDY2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />

NWS past weather Sandy One Year Ago This Afternoon

Sandy's approach to the Delaware Valley was largely "known" by October 25th and 26th, with most guidance suggesting impact acr...

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Old Orchard Juice Review and giveaway!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvIBzW6EdTM/Um7ZpADl-KI/AAAAAAAAKag/xqMb8TRNKtk/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pvIBzW6EdTM/Um7ZpADl-KI/AAAAAAAAKag/xqMb8TRNKtk/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I don't know about you but when I have breakfast I want something sweet and delicious to drink and <a href="http://oldorchard.com/">Old Orchard</a> juices sure are yummy, and best of all kids love them too!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They come in many varieties such as:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pineapple orange</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Berry blend</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Apple cherry </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Apple</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Apple passion mango</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blueberry pomegranate </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Apple strawberry banana </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Grape</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pineapple</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> And more!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was sent some coupons for review to try out their new fruit and veggie juices but silly me bought the wrong juice!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Oh no!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I will buy them myself and tell you how they taste!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They offer the fruit and veggie ones in these tasty flavors:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Strawberry banana</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Peach mango</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And blueberry pomegranate </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sweet facts:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Full serving of vegetables and fruit</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No artificial preserver actives, colors or sweeteners </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>No added sugars</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>100% vitamin c</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Enter below to try fruit and veggie frozen drinks for yourself!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Good luck on the giveaway!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div id="pgt255627588pgt" class="pgtContainpgt"><a href="//giveawaytools.com/giveaway.php?sk=255627588" rel="nofollow" target="_BLANK2">Entry</a><script type="text/javascript" src="//giveawaytools.com/wid/embed.php?sk=255627588"></script><a href="//giveawaytools.com/giveaway.php?sk=255627588" rel="nofollow" target="_BLANK2">-Form</a></div>

Old Orchard Juice Review and giveaway!

I don't know about you but when I have breakfast I want something sweet and delicious to drink and  Old Orchard  juices sure are yummy, ...

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Ten takeaways from the African Storybook Project Colloquium in Stellenbosch recently

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW1mHYRTqX4UZefr2nRYl-NbvRnR3lTs8SEuo4YTVQZJPgn1nyZWj6gEe5MFv5akAHe2XCJccSxjeYmV6goliqIz63iJ_YRLDG49jJnIFnaiy83CVz7u1dKuHyQwGKOXLY_YrLUxqlbxk/s1600-h/image%25255B7%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="86" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CZgJSNnpDAjiFYja0KlEfa-dVy5RSiDjZTcdkLcGZ8o61ntlJfs4fmKBSiuU84SOr6FEP1iGSsuetwgqzDZA97UQrZbK5mFmfV47NqHrP_YICTTAY7CDrYZA8pwKBjh1IQViLOucCa8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Submitted by Fiona Beal</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The African Storybook Project is well under way to scale up the availability of free reading material for African children in Grades 1-3 through the digital medium. (I have written about this project<span style="background-color: white;"> in </span><a href="http://e-blogschool.blogspot.com/search/label/African%20Storybook%20Project" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: white;">previous </span>posts</a> on the SchoolNet blog.) It is planned that the African Storybook website that will house this collection of stories will be released in early 2014. This post serves to highlight the African Storybook Colloquium which was held at Stellenbosch University on 17-19th October 2013. This Colloquium introduced the African Storybook project, its stories and pilot sites (Uganda. Kenya and South Africa) and its international partners to our South African and other African universities with the intention of providing a basis for the development of a collaborative research framework for the project. The Colloquium was organised by Bonny Norton from the University of British Colombia and Tessa Welch the project leader of Saide’s African Storybook Project. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was privileged to attend this colloquium in Stellenbosch and these are my ten take-aways from this event.  There were 40 participants at the Colloquium from 6 African countries, 10 Universities and 5 research and development projects. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesVgN07htNNfiZ-QD15OKrtDbcS0QjJGt49PYuTMy4UChHoQI5are6wmH9KlWqn6s05TQGXe6IArkK_ChETAb0frTCZFe-zgwIQqI5WTW8P4_Ora_jinZyy21zsl4oIIFukdukjEdoc8/?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiesVgN07htNNfiZ-QD15OKrtDbcS0QjJGt49PYuTMy4UChHoQI5are6wmH9KlWqn6s05TQGXe6IArkK_ChETAb0frTCZFe-zgwIQqI5WTW8P4_Ora_jinZyy21zsl4oIIFukdukjEdoc8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. The opening keynote was an absolute highlight for me. It was given by Brent Kaulback, the Assistant Superintendent of the South Slave Divisional Education Council in the Northwest Territories of Canada: <a href="http://www.ssdec.nt.ca/">http://www.ssdec.nt.ca/</a>. Brent called his session ‘Creating Futures’. He gave such insight into the communities found in the North West Terrirotoes and showed how they are capturing history through the creation of e-books. These e-books impact dramatically on children’s reading. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9m84aUtq_f0vtac6-q0qx_-ZXoqFgZMBbTKSzB_jiPptH3dM1LYiCfbG2jTAU1hqV6xqob3iiBytT0lcRQ7Tfgguzd2T7lxd_O9sVLMbA8gGw7sXzA630VZLf1es9JjSC1iZ_wrQelrE/s1600-h/image%25255B14%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. The three country co-ordinators for the African Storybook project from Uganda. Kenya and South Africa gave very interesting input on what they are doing in their respective country pilots with regard to story acquisition.   </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. I loved the various discussions on ‘What is digital storytelling?’, versioning and chunking a story, what is suitable content for children, and using stories for literacy development. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. It was fascinating to hear what the different SA universities, African Universities and global partnerships are doing in researching literacy. Each representative from the various universities gave a 5-10 minute talk on their roles at their respective institutions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoNZ1fEAbnvkHAoq5H1g9AjLkUhsy5m5S2CHJ8gEaX-IidT3yvUH5ppc1XR6V3vRFRbMlJheLuBsyxkYT4zIgLXH49t5VDYtydICrwVd3dNatpjBzabhBNpOMlHGa1BMRWhnyo16v7jQ/?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoNZ1fEAbnvkHAoq5H1g9AjLkUhsy5m5S2CHJ8gEaX-IidT3yvUH5ppc1XR6V3vRFRbMlJheLuBsyxkYT4zIgLXH49t5VDYtydICrwVd3dNatpjBzabhBNpOMlHGa1BMRWhnyo16v7jQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="260" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I really enjoyed Elinor Sizulu’s public lecture on ‘Why I write for children’. Elinor Sisulu is the founder of the Puku Children’s Literature Foundation – <a href="http://www.puku.co.za/">http://www.puku.co.za</a> and she is also the author of the award-winning children’s book ‘<em>The day Gogo went to vo</em>te’. It was fascinating listening to Elinor reminsicing events from her childhood that led to her passion for children’s literature. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtJkeI6__SMMQyejSwupfz4-EDZJdBwBrd7yB72O3u3s1Bx1VvJakYkHFPFUzf7DQA0BkvB7FQ87-hTw4rgT_qIZ8GNoNSr2noxTwkDNq-lgZV-bRAf-8ozkvkVy46CvXl_SQElOM-Y8/s1600-h/image%25255B4%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. One of the presentations was given to us via Skype by Suzanne Romaine from Oxford University. Suzanne emailed her presentation to Tessa who clicked on the slides as Suzanne elaborated on them. Suzanne is well known for her paper entitled ‘Keeping the promise of the Millennium Development Goals: Why language matters’. </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7gXPMIhxIdPWD8h5v-AIGCC375eHXeuhqEW1ew0E75lwAgsMEhGGuIsd06pTuIY67WgswxeYRw0AR0Fy6F5Bf8XN-LVkXvxIa5eXrnV2WZ6QJ7kV-7yse-o4PGbcwztiMemApe7ia7o4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="365" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. It was interesting to hear about the work of the different research and development projects regarding Literacy development. </span><br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Danielle Melville from the Mandela Centre of Memory: Danielle Melville: <a href="http://www.nelsonmandela.org/">http://www.nelsonmandela.org/</a> joined us via Skype. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Carole Bloch and Arabella Koopman represented PRAESA and Nal’ibali: : <a href="http://www.praesa.org.za/">http://www.praesa.org.za/</a>.  </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Xolisa Guluza: represented the Nelson Mandela Institute for Education & Rural Development, Univ of Fort Hare: <a href="http://www.ufh.ac.za/faculties/edu/NMiRED.html">http://www.ufh.ac.za/faculties/edu/NMiRED.html</a> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jenny Katz and Femi Otujala represented Molteno Institute for Language & Literacy: <a href="http://www.molteno.co.za/">http://www.molteno.co.za/</a> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My presentation (representing SchoolNet SA <a href="http://www.schoolnet.org.za/">http://www.schoolnet.org.za/</a>)   fell under this section. I reported back on the Digital Storytelling Course that SchoolNet  ran on behalf of the African Storybook Project, and I showed the wiki where all the stories from the course are currently stored. <a href="http://africanstorybookproject.wikispaces.com/">http://africanstorybookproject.wikispaces.com/</a></span></li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LBmDfjn6mHTbQOQ1fn6Oxyklm6iPN6aQ6tLaO2VQBblUe4EfNkN7ELAVnl34wclWEL6LP4eDzZcR7YQWpYutY4bNeZKghXbI51nVnt2YqSWJ8G8sJ8y5U3hsQPPdA3SrWIgx4Vusnxw/?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="63" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-LBmDfjn6mHTbQOQ1fn6Oxyklm6iPN6aQ6tLaO2VQBblUe4EfNkN7ELAVnl34wclWEL6LP4eDzZcR7YQWpYutY4bNeZKghXbI51nVnt2YqSWJ8G8sJ8y5U3hsQPPdA3SrWIgx4Vusnxw/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="400" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj72lwKDTiFinot-5qQHrMfEfEfrMXhUvCLS4rEytXngtem55x8zf9da5l1dUe92BVValyT3ywVByvxoyCmImlLB_jT3_FrEKPtRjdCKC9CviugnImW4j_N_m-uirPZScMensxFfTpzoaA/s1600-h/image%25255B24%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></a><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Bonny Norton highlighted a new tool, Scribjab (<a href="http://www.scribjab.com/">http://www.scribjab.com/</a>), which is a multilingual tool to create and share digital stories in 2 different languages. I really want to explore this tool.  </span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5-bpKoV9svl5AWibjOt7VSOr8I37iUW_KqnpL3e58l944BmUlOWXZrdBC2Vd-pqBcPuGlXSFG4DkuDkOXYW2g7Fx3L4M7lb6jLzielm9D2Rcy1fE8rAgrYIGCALy356av_kbEa3MSSE/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Bonny Norton from the University of British Colombia and Tessa Welch the Project Leader from Saide led the Colloquium with such ease and efficiency, pulling together all the threads into a usable framework. The last session concentrated on developing a research framework from the various issues that had been highlighted during the Colloquium.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCpP0WJZ5oIo_qj84CvFt6nnUPO_WTDaQZd7navl9JHjq2r2hiq1nGFX_XMttZe6ArlxGGhkw3TzZcnAHuCkiQzg5zaAUBO_3PIQr81TJQ1oHy2ZE25n3JYtoevgDC0NgKHAg7jJ3Bqgs/s1600-h/image%25255B17%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3e8TYBGt7ftiLZoUxawbkqQqSRmfc0VFqTzLFOIT6LRrWvzHUk5Sn2SKx2wBMi4aBDbkQY5CcH15ndN-FyEU-ZrfDOtj1fwf4_Cee_v5BlDfqdrjc0VpgtjvyBpJNxhREWCi9ZQvs1Qs/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="244" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzer3oQFcIEEjEpqg1G3OUiXlTH8l9ZNp5TO8075oC7OZIV_jNfc9b44LL-xZHDLlWdtKjHdOBwtmAdgSgb6wnGadU0avegiuaU3BMtJvTL_Uh6StInaeUqxNPXa4XFMrXT-X-xzcRCTo/s1600-h/image%25255B21%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5STuzlKLylJORt2I5eJt5DgxxIybaIzKLcWT-2pTCktZQYYCYY2UyDYsCyJfGdnwSWyPOqtvBLOHfwkoXRRcMXYKis6P9gS-_1YlRYsU8clIaVjO2SJdJtAV9tI_7tYqWxgx8ugyU-M/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="107" /></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. Last but not least – the beautiful surroundings in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch made our stay very memorable.  We were accommodated in the various guest houses in the town - what a privilege to dwell amidst such beauty.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" style="width: 400px;"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsIISOLT15eS0E9-FUZD3LImxkSZsa7ui13JA1xNkNiUCVKSwLbwh40uWFUeXL8XNWRsWVIHmQ2ZYiEJrON6-7wdgnuulpWcLXHIhqeXdZPz4q7cVfd0behW4oBAfGrBFgyHyBzDxs6VU/s1600-h/image%25255B35%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="120" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwwnCWAVY-XGHpR2HyLaKlvialbwjuGFVHhm4PSIu70mSRHZvx7vtk1dncEvsMnU1ZbTqdKHY1wMqOloxb7DVAiXcrbznDpaT2GumBsNXkoNbQCaCrCn6En4HtvTUCVuNo3uuNYcCcMd4/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="198" /></span></a></td> <td valign="top" width="200"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XFPaK5meynZY7aA5Ikc4H9rQrQ7MutjqvAvyrTn5wv1Viw8_WrlgW4ZwwfcZEqHBJRnA_VzHpBJW6HplMTqU0gp6bHfs_Nlsan09l_eAYsmDpHnjR41gqZs8PsUk4OP5NcR4jeShSAs/s1600-h/image%25255B36%25255D.png"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpwsLdNLPqLkCMvtvrnuMymbbP0Ws11YHExd0NNg-iA4Ohvx0pcMMTOLIMgVE4L_wgW3qjtKsZLfXljTx52rQm9QFUD29eRFhir8Z3-hoM1HZzS2nmEzeQpQ8KzOOzATPO-N2kVs5phQ/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; border-right: 0px; border-top: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="219" /></span></a></td></tr></tbody></table></div>

Ten takeaways from the African Storybook Project Colloquium in Stellenbosch recently

Submitted by Fiona Beal The African Storybook Project is well under way to scale up the availability of free reading material for African ch...

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5 reasons why cutting Social Security is irrational...

<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_main_image/CuttingSocialSecurityisIrrational102813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Article image" border="0" class="imagecache imagecache-article_main_image" height="240" src="http://www.nationofchange.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_main_image/CuttingSocialSecurityisIrrational102813.jpg" title="article image" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>By Paul Buchheit</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.nationofchange.org/">nationofchange.org</a></b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Even for Congress. They, and others who apparently don't study the facts, believe that Social Security is a government handout. But 'entitlement' means that people who have paid into a program all their lives are entitled to a reasonable return on their investment. A better definition, as pointed out by <a href="http://truth-out.org/buzzflash/commentary/item/18268-social-security-pumps-$2-into-us-economy-for-every-benefit-dollar-spent">Mark Karlin</a> at Truthout, is a "mandated retirement savings plan."</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Cutting this popular and well-run and <i>life-sustaining</i> program would be irrational. There are many reasons for this.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>1. Americans Have Paid For It Throughout Their Working Lives</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>As of 2010, according to the <a href="http://www.urban.org/UploadedPDF/412660-Social-Security-and-Medicare-Taxes-and-Benefits-Over-a-Lifetime.pdf">Urban Institute</a>, the average two-earner couple making average wages throughout their lifetimes receives less in Social Security benefits than they paid in. It is the same for single males and same, by now, for single females. One-earner couples get back more than they paid in.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>2. It's a Small Benefit, But Most Seniors Depend On It</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The average Social Security benefit is less than <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/video/2013/04/05">$15,000</a> a year, but most of our <a href="http://truth-out.org/news/item/16213-social-securitys-explosive-injustices">seniors rely</a> on this for the majority of their income. Even the <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/dont-cut-social-security-double-it">second richest</a> quartile of Americans depends on Social Security for over half of its retirement income.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>3. It's Been Well-Run for Over Half a Century </b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The poverty rate has <a href="http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/11023-ignore-the-deficit-hawks-social-security-is-easy-to-fix">decreased</a> dramatically over the past 50 years, in large part because of the benefits of the Social Security program. </b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><br /><div class="imgcontainer" style="margin-bottom: 16px; position: relative;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span> </div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Social Security is running on a <a href="http://ssa.gov/oact/TRSUM/index.html">surplus</a> of $2.6 trillion, it's funded until <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/dont-cut-social-security-double-it">2037</a>, it <a href="http://www.forbes.com/sites/johntharvey/2013/01/07/social-security-rerun/">cannot</a> run out of money, it <a href="http://www.cepr.net/index.php/blogs/beat-the-press/lesson-for-reporters-social-security-does-not-add-to-the-budget-deficit">cannot</a> contribute to the deficit, it has <a href="http://www.nextnewdeal.net/deficit-hawks-we-people-know-best-social-security">lower</a> administrative costs than private sector 401k retirement plans, and it's wildly <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/158834/economy-entitlements-iran-americans-top-priorities.aspx">popular</a>.</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>  </b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>On top of all this, a report by the <a href="http://www.aarp.org/politics-society/advocacy/info-09-2013/social-security-strengthens-us-economy.html">AARP Public Policy Institute</a> found that Social Security stimulates the economy, adding more than $1 trillion to the U.S. economy each year as recipients spend their benefits on goods and services.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.alternet.org/election-2012/why-big-bucks-donors-dont-want-president-obama-champion-social-security">Dean Baker</a> calls Social Security "perhaps the greatest success story of any program in US history."</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>4. The Free-Market Alternative Doesn't Work</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The free-market alternative is everybody for them. That's fine for people with good jobs and retirement plans. But stunningly, the number of private sector workers <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/dont-cut-social-security-double-it">covered by a pension</a> with a guaranteed payout has dropped from 60 percent to 10 percent in a little over thirty years.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Americans are <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/many-americans-accumulating-debt-faster-than-theyre-saving-for-retirement/2013/10/23/b7a9c85e-3b3e-11e3-b6a9-da62c264f40e_story.html">going into debt</a> faster than they're saving for retirement, and those able to put something aside often make <a href="http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/05/01/it_s_a_401_k_world_and_it_sucks.html">wrong choices</a> with their money.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Financial experts, who generally speak for the people with enough money to hire a financial expert, tell us to have $200,000 to $300,000 in personal retirement <a href="http://www.alternet.org/economy/dont-cut-social-security-double-it">savings</a>. Most Americans have about a tenth of that, less than <a href="http://www.ebri.org/publications/ib/index.cfm?fa=ibDisp&content_id=5175">$25,000</a>.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>5. Redistribution Has Moved Retirement Money from the Middle Class to the Rich</b></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Tax Expenditures -- subsidies from special deductions, exemptions, exclusions, credits, capital gains, and loopholes that move <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/imagepages/2012/04/13/opinion/sunday/0415web-leonhardt2.html?ref=business">tax money to the richest</a> taxpayers -- are <a href="http://www.taxpolicycenter.org/UploadedPDF/412404-Tax-Expenditure-Trends.pdf">estimated</a> to be worth up to <a href="http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/julyaugust_2011/features/20000_leagues_under_the_state030498.php">8 percent</a> of the GDP, or about $1.2 trillion.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>That alone is more than enough to pay for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013_United_States_federal_budget">Social Security</a> ($883 billion).</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Because of this misdirected revenue, government has been forced to <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-social-security-adds-budget-deficit-161813776.html">borrow from Social Security</a> to fund its programs. Most notably, <a href="http://www.commondreams.org/view/2013/01/26-1">George W. Bush</a> took our retirement money to pay for his two wars and his tax cuts for the rich.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>This last reason, more than any of the others, reveals the overwhelming unfairness of cutting Social Security. In effect, the middle class is being told to <i>replenish its own savings account</i> after those savings were passed along to the military and the super-rich.</b></span></span>

CONSUMER NEWS HEALTH NATIONAL NEWS SENIORS TRUTH 5 reasons why cutting Social Security is irrational...

By Paul Buchheit nationofchange.org Even for Congress. They, and others who apparently don't study the facts, believe that Social Secur...

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Pot plants popping up in protest

<div class="main_image"><img alt="Article image" class="imagecache imagecache-article_main_image" height="240" src="http://www.nationofchange.org/sites/default/files/imagecache/article_main_image/GermansPlantingCannabisAroundCities102813.jpg" title="article image" width="400" /> </div><div class="main_image"><h1 class="times-thin" id="art_headline" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-weight: normal; line-height: 48px;"></h1><div class="author times"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>By Christina Sarich</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br /><div class="source times"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://naturalsociety.com/cannabis-plants-germany-protest/" style="color: #4f4f50;">Natural Society</a> / News Report</b></span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span><br /><div class="published"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> Published: Monday 28 October 2013</b></span></span></div><div class="published"><a href="http://nationofchange.org/"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>nationofchange.org</b></span></span></a></div><div class="published"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span></span> </div></div><div id="bodycount" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>In the small, university town of <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2372554/Cannabis-plants-spring-German-town-campaigners-plant-thousands-seeds-protest-demonisation-drug.html">Gottingen, Germany</a>, a handful of autonomously acting ‘Flower Children’ have decided to rogue-plant cannabis seed in the hundreds of thousands as an act of defiance against the ‘demonization’ of a plant that has been proven to treat multiple ailments. To put it in simper terms, citizens are planting cannabis plants randomly throughout the town to <i>really</i> show officials what the people want.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The pro-marijuana supporters point to Germany’s restrictive laws, and many comment on the plants abilities to do more than just get people high. Police continue to pull the plants up, no matter where they sprout, and often mistake non-cannabis plants as the work of the activists. They have been told to be vigilant about removing anything that looks like cannabis.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b> This form of guerilla gardening is nothing new. Another activist gardener, <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/ron_finley_a_guerilla_gardener_in_south_central_la.html">Ron Finley</a>, decided to start planting fruit, vegetables, and herbs in abandoned public spaces like lots, traffic medians, and along curbsides in LA as a means to improve his own neighborhood and provide food and community to his fellow people.</b></span></span></div><div id="bodycount" style="clear: both;"><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Though the pot-planters are meeting resistance with the local police in Germany, they are successfully demonstrating a form of protest through the appearance of multitudes of cannabis plants that are popping up all over the town. This causes discussion among the residents and causes the people of Gottingen to ask ‘why not pot?” <a href="http://naturalsociety.com/marijuana-and-cancer-relationship-destroy-cancer-cells/"><b>Why is marijuana illegal</b></a>?</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>There are thousands of peer-reviewed medical journals that point to the efficacy of cannabis as a healing plant, so the activists’ questioning of the current demonization of the plant are not unfounded. The healing plant has been shown to help those with osteoporosis, <a href="http://www.europeanneuropsychopharmacology.com/article/PIIS0924977X13001958/abstract">depression</a>, nausea, headaches, insomnia, and has been shown to <a href="http://naturalsociety.com/non-stop-seizures-halted-medicinal-marijuana/">treat untreatable seizures</a>.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The <a href="http://naturalsociety.com/cannabis-marijuana/"><b>marijuana and cancer</b></a> connection is especially strong, with countless studies showing how the plant can beat cancer.</b></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b></b></span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>The cannabis plants that appeared at the police station in the German town were removed immediately, but they are still popping up all over parks, and gardens elsewhere in the city.</b></span></span></div>

EDUCATION GOOD NEWS HEALTH Pot plants popping up in protest

  By Christina Sarich Natural Society / News Report Published: Monday 28 October 2013 nationofchange.org   In the small, universit...

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Yves Rocher eyeshadows review!

<div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiiUFq2gOZU/Um7QrLhbnUI/AAAAAAAAKaA/-6baC0I9SMg/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NiiUFq2gOZU/Um7QrLhbnUI/AAAAAAAAKaA/-6baC0I9SMg/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></a></div><i><br /></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.yvesrocherusa.com/control/main">Yves Rocher </a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Whether your going out with a bunch of friends or with your honey you wear some sort of makeup whether it's blush, lipgloss, mascara or eye shadow to feel fancy, am I right?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Well I got a very colorful review from yves rocher makeup for you!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>In the photo above I was wearing a purple eyeshadow and loved the color it wasn't too dark and shimmered on my eyelids making them look ever so beautiful!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I was sent an assortment of eye shadows for review and couldn't wait to swipe them on my eyelids and try them!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Was wearing a bronze color in this photo:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Loved the color and went along great with the sweater I was wearing!</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYqCf2WCuC0/Uls5MgB9v9I/AAAAAAAAKPM/VZuK1Dl7Y5s/s1600/20130927_152649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XYqCf2WCuC0/Uls5MgB9v9I/AAAAAAAAKPM/VZuK1Dl7Y5s/s320/20130927_152649.jpg" width="240" /></a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In this photo I'm wearing a light blue eyeshadow and absolutely love the color it looks fantastic on me and it's not too dark.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFukHIO3opIVT5LJTBQukcnWF07jwBPcifSNO2uukjlSJZbpACnNga7kWGchC34NvMMVZAL9fK_FP4gKE0P5rGkfjs7vCdi11KIvxmU1T2MNBp8_ZEVLhsmXNdPIwMxjYcB_LcXGHrVY/s1600/20131106_125408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFukHIO3opIVT5LJTBQukcnWF07jwBPcifSNO2uukjlSJZbpACnNga7kWGchC34NvMMVZAL9fK_FP4gKE0P5rGkfjs7vCdi11KIvxmU1T2MNBp8_ZEVLhsmXNdPIwMxjYcB_LcXGHrVY/s320/20131106_125408.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Some colors don't look right whether it's too dark of a color or too light.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I have a light skin complexion and love blue eyeshadow, brown or even purple. My eyes are brown</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> so they bring out the colors of my eyes and with mascara they pop out even more!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I still have many eye shadows to test out so will be updating!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Yves Rocher eyeshadows review!

Yves Rocher Whether your going out with a bunch of friends or with your honey you wear some sort of makeup whether it's blush, lipgloss,...

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Kochs are at it again, attacking your Social Security

<div style="background-color: white;">Sen. Bernie Sanders is raising the alarm about greedy billionaires like the  <strike style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16.890625px;"><a href="http://teamsternation.blogspot.com/2011/10/bombshell-kochs-sold-oil-equipment-to.html" style="color: #336699;">Benedict Arnold</a></strike> Koch brothers trying to cut our Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. Because their greed knows no limit, they want more for themselves.<br /><br />We received an email from Bernie that we thought we'd share with you:<br /><blockquote>They're at it again. </blockquote><blockquote>Billionaires like the Koch Brothers, Pete Peterson, Stanley Druckenmiller and others are leading the charge to cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid. </blockquote><blockquote>If they succeed, millions of senior citizens, working families, disabled veterans and children will suffer. We must not allow that to happen. </blockquote><blockquote>Today, the middle class is disappearing, real unemployment is extremely high, poverty is increasing and working families throughout the country are struggling to keep their heads above water economically. Meanwhile, the gap between the very rich and everyone else is growing wider and wider and the wealthiest people and the largest corporations are doing phenomenally well. </blockquote><blockquote>We must not balance the budget on the backs of working families, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor. </blockquote><blockquote>As Vermont's senator, I have the honor of serving on the Budget Conference Committee which will be negotiating a new federal budget over the next few months -- and where I am fearful that a deal could be struck to slash Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://teamster.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://caf.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2%26c=aQsw3tIOFnxpop08Xau3ZjVH3RGaJD3v" target="_blank">As the founder of the Defending Social Security Caucus, please stand with me, our friends at Social Security Works and our coalition partners in demanding; "No grand bargain in exchange for cuts to Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits."</a> </blockquote><blockquote>Let's be clear. Despite right-wing rhetoric:<ul style="background-color: white;"><li>Social Security is not going broke. According to the Social Security Administration, Social Security has a surplus today of $2.8 trillion and can pay out every benefit owed to every eligible person for the next 20 years.</li></ul><ul style="background-color: white;"><li>Social Security has not contributed to the deficit. Social Security is funded independently by FICA taxes which are paid by workers and their employers.</li></ul><a class="buttonthing" href="https://teamster.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://caf.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2%26c=26YuB4UzYGhHBKb3QANTLklE39OdngJ8" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Sign this petition.</a> </blockquote><blockquote>The so-called chained-CPI, which recalculates how COLA's are formulated, is not a "modest tweak." If the chained CPI went into effect today, a senior aged 65 would receive $658 a year less in Social Security benefits when he/she is 75, and $1,100 a year less at age 85. Further, the average disabled veteran would lose tens of thousands of dollars in benefits over his/her lifetime. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://teamster.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://caf.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2%26c=P5gEI205klVWPxZZYFMWIElE39OdngJ8" target="_blank">Please stand with me today and demand that Congress and the President oppose any grand bargain which cuts Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.</a> </blockquote><blockquote><br />When one out of four U.S. corporations pay nothing in federal income taxes; when Bush's tax breaks for the rich remain in place for many wealthy Americans; when the U.S. spends almost as much as the rest of the world combined on defense, there are much fairer and economically sound ways to address the budget than cutting programs desperately needed by the most vulnerable people in our country. </blockquote><blockquote><a href="https://teamster.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://caf.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2%26c=4Etw6IQzVgW8pu8KEYXPlUlE39OdngJ8" target="_blank">Please stand with me and Campaign for America's Future in protecting the future of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid benefits.</a> </blockquote><blockquote>Let's go forward together. Thanks for your continued support. </blockquote><blockquote>Sincerely,<br /><img alt="Bernie Sanders" src="https://teamster.org/exchweb/img/clear1x1.gif" /><br />U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders</blockquote></div><span style="background-color: white;"></span>

austerity Koch brothers social security Kochs are at it again, attacking your Social Security

Sen. Bernie Sanders is raising the alarm about greedy billionaires like the   Benedict Arnold  Koch brothers trying to cut our Social Securi...

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When It Comes To Losing Weight, We Want To Do It In The Fastest Time Possible.

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Abagail Eaton</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>With obesity at an all time high one of the best selling product lines are those that are geared towards assisting in weight loss.<br /> <br /> There are hundreds of weight loss supplements available. The question everyone wants to know before they spend their hard earned dollars is, does the product work? Of all products researched the Lipo 6 reviews appear to have an edge over their competition.<br /> <br /> One of such supplements is Lipo-6. Lipo-6 is a diet pill that, with proper diet and exercise, will help you lose significant amounts of weight quickly.<br /> <br /> I was hoping that would work. Now, I'll be honest and say that I do workout and I like to eat healthy foods.<br /> <br /> The Lipo 6 product contains Synephrine and Yohimbe HCL, Bioperine, Caffeine Anhydrous USP and Guggulsterones Z and E. It comes as a liquid capsule which is considered to be more effective for the best absorption and assimilation into the body. Most weight loss pills are in tablet, caplet or capsule forms which are not as easily digested.<br /> <br /> I wanted my abs to show. I wanted a great looking stomach so that I can show off at the beach.<br /> <br /> And before using Lipo 6 I couldn't get rid of the belly fat. I'm glad I came across those Lipo 6 customer reviews and bought the fat burner. If I wouldn't have, I probably wouldn't have lost the weight I needed to lose.<br /> <br /> When taking the supplement, it took me a couple of weeks to get the results I was looking for. But from day one, I could feel the product working. You will feel the increase in energy and you won't get as hungry.<br /> <br /> There are a total of 6 clinically proven ingredients in Lipo-6 that will burn the fat while feeding muscle to give you the physique you desire.<br /> <br /> I know how hard it can be sometimes to lose weight. Especially when you feel like you've hit a plateau and the weight just won't come off no matter what you do.<br /> <br /> That's exactly what happened to me. And luckily, I found Lipo 6 and it helped me lose the weight I was looking to lose. And it helped me lose it fast.<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'>If you want to have a free bottle offer of <a href="http://youtu.be/7EWhM_mzSsY">lipo-6 reviews</a> to test then you have to watch the reviews first.</div><br /> </div><br />

When It Comes To Losing Weight, We Want To Do It In The Fastest Time Possible.

By Abagail Eaton With obesity at an all time high one of the best selling product lines are those that are geared towards assisting in w...

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Lose Weight By Studying And Pursuing These Tips

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel Will</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Don't be enticed by incorrectly marketed incredible and guaranteed goods when looking searching to lose weight. Ultimately, the only foolproof approach to attain a healthy body weight is to adopt a nutritionally sound eating plan and incorporate physical activity.<br /> <br /> One way to increase your fat loss is usually to full your cardio schedule well before breakfast time. There has been reports done indicating that undertaking aerobic first thing each day burns up energy about three hundred or so % greater than if accomplished at in other cases during the day.<br /> <br /> Produce new valuable weight reduction practices rather than attempting to cease awful an increase in weight behavior. This positions you in a beneficial way of thinking, that makes it simpler to follow a diet program. Don't think a lot about what you can't have, but center on trading some thing very good - similar to a fruit shake - for this sausage and egg cell day biscuit you applied to grab. It is actually much simpler to start out new behavior as opposed to trying to eradicate older ones.<br /> <br /> Starting up a cardiovascular system regimen can help you lose fat easily. Aerobic involves jogging, jogging and riding in the bicycle or elliptical in the club. Whenever you increase you heart rate this is actually the best time to lose weight. Make an effort to match half an hour or more of cardio exercise into at least 72 hours of every week.<br /> <br /> If you wish to reduce weight, but usually consume snack foods on a regular basis, see if you can discover prepared models of the preferred goods. They have much less fat and unhealthy calories and flavor wonderful.<br /> <br /> Eat a bigger amount of low calorie meals through the day. Five or half a dozen small food can be better than a few huge ones. This will boost your body's fat burning capacity during the day.<br /> <br /> Commemorate each and every time you success each of your desired goals. Get yourself a modest, healthful treat or take action for yourself that you adore. This will help keep you determined when it comes to getting to your objectives.<br /> <br /> Should you be weight loss, there's no problem with not concluding your meals. Being raised, we were usually shared with to finish everything on our plate. This youth notion has guided a lot of men and women into harmful weight gain. Getting foods residence along after food out is completely satisfactory. Do not power straight down food items should you be not eager. Focus on the meals you might be ingesting and give up once you start to really feel happy.<br /> <br /> Whole grains are a crucial part of any healthful weight loss regime. Talk to a diet professional to enable them to explain to you what you must try to eat. Prevent purchasing food containing terms like "enriched" or "highly processed" on the packaging. It can be very preferred for food processing firms to incorporate cereals in packaged foods merchandise. Your quest is to look for the merchandise flavor great to you personally and this fit into how you live.<br /> <br /> Try to stay encompassed by other active men and women. Once the people close to you are active, it will motivate anyone to go out and savor an active way of living your self. Someone who won't leave the couch may have the exact opposite impact.<br /> <br /> Be sure that you beverage a good quantity of drinking water in your everyday schedule. Lots of people ingest about seven eyeglasses day-to-day to keep hydrated. It is advisable to consume much more if it is popular. Drinking plenty of normal water helps keep your gastrointestinal system relocating and make you feel satisfied, which means you won't eat too much.<br /> <br /> Complete your diet with slim protein, tasty fruits and diet-dense fresh vegetables. It really is a error to rely on low-fat, reduced-calories refined food that offer little to no nutritional value. Although this helps them slim down, they don't feel that very good total.<br /> <br /> You do not have to lose weight by yourself. Attempt to discover family members or good friends who will exercise routine along with you. When you can't get any, become a member of on the web forums to locate those who can support you. Who knows, you might even find a person on-line who lifestyles nearby and will be your weight reduction friend.<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'>This post will reveal helpful information about <a href="http://raspberryketonereview.me">Raspberry Ketone</a>.</div><br /> </div><br />

Lose Weight By Studying And Pursuing These Tips

By Daniel Will Don't be enticed by incorrectly marketed incredible and guaranteed goods when looking searching to lose weight. Ultim...

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THE ILLUSION OF A SKINNY LIFE

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THE ILLUSION OF A SKINNY LIFE

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October 29th, 2013 Forecast

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjmUBMc6lhZDsBdkb4ZRV8c1WSB1s7iXnGu9Od6cggQNRfLz6wIZEy8vLs3JSgGSR3_aQ_vJ26nbI8fnrBMiy2NnIUSf8Ku3Ai9f6NjDEz7sP42T-1xJwoZMTtkpcKU7JNY7FD3_jwBQ/s1600/7dayphilly-1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxjmUBMc6lhZDsBdkb4ZRV8c1WSB1s7iXnGu9Od6cggQNRfLz6wIZEy8vLs3JSgGSR3_aQ_vJ26nbI8fnrBMiy2NnIUSf8Ku3Ai9f6NjDEz7sP42T-1xJwoZMTtkpcKU7JNY7FD3_jwBQ/s400/7dayphilly-1.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">With a few clouds in the sky tonight, temperatures won't drop to levels quite as cool as they did last night.  Many of the suburbs will be in the 35 to 40 range, but Philadelphia should only bottom out in the low 40s (as compared to 39 last night).</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">There will be a brief step-back in temperatures for Tuesday due to a cooler northeast flow off the Atlantic.  Puffy cumulus clouds will likely bubble up due to the extra moisture from the ocean.  The northern and western suburbs should see more sunshine than the southern and eastern suburbs.  Highs in Philadelphia will reach the mid to upper 50s with most of the suburbs in the mid 50s.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We should get back to 60 for Wednesday, but a disturbance in the upper atmosphere could spawn a spotty shower or two during the afternoon.  Our next cold front will approach by Thursday night into Friday, and out ahead of it we should warm up to around 70 for Halloween.  The weather looks great for trick-or-treating as any rain should hold off until we're sleeping.  The first half of Friday looks showery, but it looks like we'll dry out late in the afternoon.  Cooler air will slowly build in for the weekend, so the second half of the weekend will be much cooler than the first.</span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIS6QwKRhdddvjFxLW23MCW-wvSS8gTblXnZbtkDpU0fztr6XWVHHP-6ULZWh36gM_E6gm3qRPpdDcgaXCXOlC5cvpOEnsCQjVIb9A4qUlWzxP1waliesSK3PBNQlpHMlKsmhoM3TFk8/s1600/7dayphilly-2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIS6QwKRhdddvjFxLW23MCW-wvSS8gTblXnZbtkDpU0fztr6XWVHHP-6ULZWh36gM_E6gm3qRPpdDcgaXCXOlC5cvpOEnsCQjVIb9A4qUlWzxP1waliesSK3PBNQlpHMlKsmhoM3TFk8/s400/7dayphilly-2.gif" width="400" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Tuesday Planner</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wake-Up:  42 degrees, Cool Start</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Lunchtime:  52 degrees, Mix of Sun & Clouds</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">P.M. High 57 degrees, Cooler</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunrise 7:27 AM</span><br /><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Sunset 6:02 PM</span>

daily forecast October 29th, 2013 Forecast

With a few clouds in the sky tonight, temperatures won't drop to levels quite as cool as they did last night.  Many of the suburbs will ...

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Litlsquirts natural fruit juice review!

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hagWXI81lFs/Um6v0473BLI/AAAAAAAAKZY/1FKsT6Tb4Oc/s1600/13+-+1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><i><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hagWXI81lFs/Um6v0473BLI/AAAAAAAAKZY/1FKsT6Tb4Oc/s320/13+-+1" width="320" /></i></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ever wonder what's in your juices that you and your kids consume on a daily basis at breakfast time?</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's time to rethink your drink people, most drinks have an average of a days worth of sugar in them which we all could cut back on very easily by switching just one drink a day with litlsquirts whether it be soda or sports drink!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><a href="http://www.litlsquirts.com/">Litlsquirts </a> sent me some of their flavorful spring waters for a review!</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>I couldn't wait to try them!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>I opened them right away and took a taste from each one of them!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);"><i>I couldn't believe how great they tasted, and it tasted just like one of those junk drinks we all secretly love!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blueberry apple: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>absolutely loved the taste, to me it tasted like a grape juice without all those nasty chemicals that our bodies don't need!great flavor and a juice that kids will love!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Raspberry apple: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>great taste! Tasted just like juicy juice !</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Blueberry lemonade: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>delicious blueberry flavor with a hint of lemon on the tip of your tongue!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Facts:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Less than 90 calories per bottle of fruity goodness </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Portion controlled </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Made with clean and pure Maine spring water</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Low in sodium</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Great for kids</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Naturally sweetened </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>When I came across these drinks I just knew I had to try them because not only are they healthy but they are flavored and that's what I love especially when it's water because sometimes plain old water can get pretty boring and tasteless!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Loved that they aren't too sugary and are the perfect size for grabbing one on the go!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Links:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Website:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><a href="http://www.litlsquirts.com/">http://www.litlsquirts.com</a></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Facebook:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/LitlSquirts"><i>https://www.facebook.com/LitlSquirts</i></a></div>

Litlsquirts natural fruit juice review!

Ever wonder what's in your juices that you and your kids consume on a daily basis at breakfast time? It's time to rethink your drink...

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3rd Time's the Curse

The following chart shows nominal department store sales (in black) compared to the federal funds rate (in red).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDKV97FE-GUnTbs1Z_SJeyo40gk7GsEV6iS2i4QqU6rDAZhwixDu-KRMhnILGIdEu-X1K6Pk_RHlo4t6rnEsHWieW0WiY_0pP4Qjo0My_aO1KuXE8ds28RvByPlDBb2QeUIz4bm1cR-4/s1600/Department+Stores+vs+Fed+Funds.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZDKV97FE-GUnTbs1Z_SJeyo40gk7GsEV6iS2i4QqU6rDAZhwixDu-KRMhnILGIdEu-X1K6Pk_RHlo4t6rnEsHWieW0WiY_0pP4Qjo0My_aO1KuXE8ds28RvByPlDBb2QeUIz4bm1cR-4/s320/Department+Stores+vs+Fed+Funds.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">Click to enlarge.</span><br /><br />On the off chance we were to enter a recession while still in ZIRP, then what exactly would we expect the Fed to do?<br /><br />Oh, wait. I forgot that it is common knowledge that the Fed has permanently put a stop to recessions. Never mind. Silly question.<br /><br /><b>Source Data:</b><br /><a href="http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=nOp">St. Louis Fed: Custom Chart</a>

3rd Time's the Curse

The following chart shows nominal department store sales (in black) compared to the federal funds rate (in red). Click to enlarge. On the of...

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Banks screwing students the way they screwed homeowners

<span style="font-family: inherit;">Once again, family finances are in danger from big banks.  Thousands of students with loans are complaining their student loan companies are breaking laws in the same way mortgage servicers did during the foreclosure crisis. That's according to a newly released <a href="http://www.consumerfinance.gov/" rel="nofollow">Consumer Financial Protection Bureau</a> (CFPB) report that <a href="http://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/201310_cfpb_student-loan-ombudsman-annual-report.pdf" rel="nofollow">warns of increased fees and financial trouble to come</a>:</span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Many of the private student loan complaints mirror the problems heard from consumers in the mortgage market following the wake of the financial crisis.</span></blockquote>In the past year, CFPB received 3,800 complaints from student loan borrowers. Eight servicing companies received 87 percent of the complaints, including <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/08/sallie-mae-education-military_n_3729092.html" rel="nofollow">Sallie Mae</a>, <a href="http://seekingalpha.com/article/1767202-wall-street-breakfast-must-know-news?source=google_news" rel="nofollow">Wells Fargo</a>, <a href="http://www.cnbc.com/id/101075961" rel="nofollow">Citi</a> and <a href="http://www.theatlanticwire.com/politics/2013/10/next-13-billion-fine-doj-investigating-9-more-banks/70908/" rel="nofollow">JPMorgan Chase</a>.<br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Lenders pay other companies, called servicers, to process loans.  These subcontractors make the least money when people pay back the loan on time -- and the most when people are struggling, since the subcontractors keep all of the late fees for themselves.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">CFPB's report suggests a pattern of lawbreaking by student loan servicers. And why not? Wall Street saw how profitable foreclosing on families was.  Although millions of Americans lost their homes due to criminal behavior, banks were just handed tax-deductible fines and banned from messing with the housing market like that again.  But the student loan market remained open -- and  too-big-to-fail banks knew they could get away with it again.</span><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">As David Dayen points out in <a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/10/23/paging_elizabeth_warren_student_loan_providers_are_likely_screwing_you_over/" rel="nofollow">Salon</a>: </span><br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">the past performance of regulators on mortgage servicing has been pretty toothless. And that’s why student loan servicers believe they have a license to steal.</blockquote>Here's what the student loan services are up to, according to the CFPB report: <br /><ul><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Violating the Truth in Lending Act by charging student lenders fees for prepaying their private student loans. </span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Forcing military borrowers -- including those in combat zones -- to resubmit unnecessary paperwork and then charging higher interest rates when they can't come up with the paperwork.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: inherit;">Making it too complicated and difficult for<a href="http://www.salon.com/2013/10/23/paging_elizabeth_warren_student_loan_providers_are_likely_screwing_you_over/" rel="nofollow"> most struggling graduates to refinance their loans</a>.</span></li></ul><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's no surprise <a href="http://www2.ed.gov/offices/OSFAP/defaultmanagement/cdr.html" rel="nofollow">over 14 percent of 2010 graduates defaulted on their loans within three years</a>. Without reform and actual enforcement of lending laws, the default rate is only going to rise.  We just wonder why this is still legal.</span>

mortgage abuse mortgage fraud old dogs and new tricks student debt student loans Banks screwing students the way they screwed homeowners

Once again, family finances are in danger from big banks.  Thousands of students with loans are complaining their student loan companies are...

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How To Obtain The Lean Physique Of Actor Jason Statham

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Russ Howe</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>Following celebrity workout plans is a growing trend in gym users around the world. One of the most popular choices these days, particularly among men looking to achieve an action hero physique, is the Jason Statham workout routine.<br /> <br /> This particular workout routine is not your standard 3 x 12 workout by any means. In fact, it is one of the most unusual plans in Hollywood today, incorporating tons of variety and obscure exercises which most people have never performed before.<br /> <br /> Exercises included in the session may be unfamiliar, as it borrows from various different styles including power lifting and crossfit, meaning gym regulars are often replaced with new and difficult variations to incorporate more explosive speed or power into the move. Functional fitness is certainly a key ingredient, with a large importance placed upon your core strength.<br /> <br /> The workout is performed as a circuit, with three stages. They are:<br /> <br /> Stage 1: Cardio warm up.<br /> <br /> Stage 2: A 15 minute HIIT workout, again using cardiovascular equipment.<br /> <br /> Stage 3: Full body resistance circuit.<br /> <br /> The first phase requires a ten minute warm-up to be performed on any piece of cardiovascular equipment in your gym. Given the nature of the upcoming exercises, it would be wise to turn your attention away from machines which focus on one part of the body and instead choose something which will get your full body warmed up sufficiently, such as a rowing machine. Stage two moves on to a 15 minute interval session.<br /> <br /> Those familiar with HIIT will know the high/low protocol already, but those who have never tried it before might want to practice it first to gage what kind of levels they are capable of. A bike or an elliptical trainer are good choices for this phase as they allow for quick transitions. You do not want to choose a piece of gym equipment which takes a long time to transition between an easy and hard gear, for example a treadmill. Perform 15 minutes of HIIT with a '30 seconds high, two minutes moderate' protocol.<br /> <br /> By the time you reach stage three you should already be feeling the effects of this workout. Phase three consists of a circuit involving body weight exercises, compound lifts and functional strength moves. You can fill this circuit with any exercises you choose, so long as you are careful to ensure it offers you a full body workout and doesn't stick to one particular muscle group. However, if you want to workout exactly like your favorite action hero then these exercises would be the group to choose from:<br /> <br /> Full leg raise x 20 reps - ensuring your bum comes off the floor with every rep.<br /> <br /> Triceps dips x 20 reps - using a bench.<br /> <br /> Weighted rope pull x 5<br /> <br /> Climb x 5 reps - climb a 20 foot rope 5 times, beating your time on each rep if possible.<br /> <br /> High Knee Skipping x 30 seconds<br /> <br /> Wide-grip pull-ups x 15<br /> <br /> Romanian deadlift x 20 reps - ensure correct form.<br /> <br /> Front squat x 20 reps - using a barbell.<br /> <br /> Dumbbell bench press x 20 reps - on a flat bench.<br /> <br /> Barbell Clean And Press x 20<br /> <br /> Kettlebell Swing x 20<br /> <br /> You form your own individual circuit either by choosing six of the moves above or inserting your own into any of the six available slots. As long as the focus is on a full body workout, the exercises can be changed as much as you like. Push through all six exercises before taking a 3-4 minute rest period and then going through it again. Aim to get through about 5 rounds in total.<br /> <br /> While the Jason Statham workout certainly offers the ability to tone you up and build lean muscle, it's primary skill is it's ability to improve your strength and physical performance. Each exercise should be performed with intensity and force, maintaining an explosive but strict form.<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'>Next step: Russ Howe PTI is a hugely successful <a href="http://www.russhowepti.com">online personal trainer</a> from the UK. You can pick up the full brutally intense routine he used for the <a href="http://www.russhowepti.com/the-jason-statham-workout/">jason statham workout</a> via his website now.</div><br /> </div><br />

How To Obtain The Lean Physique Of Actor Jason Statham

By Russ Howe Following celebrity workout plans is a growing trend in gym users around the world. One of the most popular choices these d...

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Hypnotized

Anyone who's read here a while knows that I have an odd marriage and close to zero sex life.  But, when the sex is good it's really good.  Really really amazing, completely mind blowing sex that leaves me convinced we're perfect for each other.  <br /><br />I'm clearly not a sex blogger.  We all know that.  And really, it's just that I don't have a good way with words that could make it sound anything other than completely stupid.  So I won't even bother to try.  Just know that yesterday was incredible. <br /><br />Hubby is wonderfully aggressive and controlling during sex.  This was the only good thing that came from <strike>my pleading</strike> our discussions about all this kinky stuff.  So while there was no spankings or beatings of any sort, it was terribly naughty and dirty.  <br /><br />Just use your imagination and you've probably got a good idea of what went on...<br /><br />Which brings me to a weird thing that happened and I'm just so completely confused but can't stop thinking about it.  I'm an over-thinker, this you know...<br /><br />(lots of stuff being done.... blah blah blah... all the good stuff an author could fill pages upon pages with)<br /><br />At this point, I am flat on my belly and he is squished on top of me and in me.  We usually find ourselves this way... I like it.  I'm more than happy a couple times over.  He's got my hair somehow, so I can't move my head.  His hand was around my throat at some point, probably still was there when this happened.  But he doesn't squeeze or anything, I can always breathe.<br /><br />I think I was hypnotized.  I remember my thoughts clearly yet I don't really remember what happened exactly.  I know I was trying to figure out what was happening.  It was like I just wasn't there for a little while. Now I don't know long this took place over.  It might have been like a minute or it could have been an hour.  The man can last  and last ;-)  <br /><br />I remember trying to figure out if I was still breathing or not.  Much thought later, it turned out that I was breathing.  But strangely I didn't care if I could or not whereas I tend to freak out if anything touches my neck at all because I might not be able to breath.<br /><br />I couldn't move.  Or maybe I could.  I was trying to figure out if I could move and decided I couldn't.  Not sure if I really tried to move or not though.  I didn't care either way, which in hindsight is really weird because I think I should probably freak out if I was paralyzed.<br /><br />I know I got quiet while I pondered all of it... and quiet isn't me. And he asked if I was okay but all I could say was "uh-huh" and nothing else came out but then again I wasn't really sure if i was okay. <br /><br />Some amount of time later (seconds or minutes) I was flipped over on my back.  My arm and head were off the edge of the bed and I was trying to figure out if that was uncomfortable.  He pulled me back on the bed by my ankles and contorted my legs up in some way so he could have his way with me that way. <br /><br />Then he accused me of sleeping while he was fucking me.  He wasn't mad and kinda laughing at me.  I think I was still in my weird little state because I was trying to figure out if I had been sleeping.  I don't think I was though.  I really think I was hypnotized.  Or high maybe?  Can you get high from too many orgasms too close together?  So high that you have no sense of consciousness at all?<br /><br />It all ended pretty quickly after that, being that he thought I was sleeping and all!

Hypnotized

Anyone who's read here a while knows that I have an odd marriage and close to zero sex life.  But, when the sex is good it's really...

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WATCH: Wakeskating at the Eighth Wonder of the World

<div class="tr_bq">Wakeskating is supposed to be fun... but wakeskating at the Banaue Rice Terraces? Hmmmm...<br /><br />Here's the video of famous wakeskater Brian Grubb that drew different reactions from the Filipino netizens:</div><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/uSoWjC2bW2Y" width="470"></iframe> <br />The video was uploaded in the Red Bull YouTube channel with a caption:<br /><blockquote>"Respect for the environment was a priority from the beginning of this project! The team has assured that the plants and wildlife have neither been damaged nor disturbed at any time during the project. All agreements have been made together with the locals and under respect of their traditions and culture.<br />Professional wakeskaters Brian Grubb (USA) and Dominik Preisner (GER) travelled to the Philippines to have an epic winch session at one of the most beautiful spots in the world. The famous rice terraces of Banaue are considered to be the Eighth Wonder of the World and were surely the perfect playground for an unique wakeskate session!"</blockquote>What's to Like and/or Dislike about the video? Share your thoughts...<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxtK37tihrNkpBgHE_faEr2vJ6JwPzpaZR2kssIN616u-101yMhLornftggGDpEcmjbvxNRSX21h53EP_Y35YC_X9WAPa04EKUZm0J59sSXz7WNdWg2XCYkFDEFcIeyLi54eisgW6FuCK/s1600/WAKESKATER+ICON+AND+PIONEER+BRIAN+GRUBB+AND+THE+AMAZING+BANAUE+RICE+TERRACES+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbxtK37tihrNkpBgHE_faEr2vJ6JwPzpaZR2kssIN616u-101yMhLornftggGDpEcmjbvxNRSX21h53EP_Y35YC_X9WAPa04EKUZm0J59sSXz7WNdWg2XCYkFDEFcIeyLi54eisgW6FuCK/s1600/WAKESKATER+ICON+AND+PIONEER+BRIAN+GRUBB+AND+THE+AMAZING+BANAUE+RICE+TERRACES+1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rice Terraces indeed! (I just felt the need to share this photo of Brian Grubb! yum!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br />

brian grubb VIDEO Viral Video wakeskating at the banaue rice terraces WATCH WATCH: Wakeskating at the Eighth Wonder of the World

Wakeskating is supposed to be fun... but wakeskating at the Banaue Rice Terraces? Hmmmm... Here's the video of famous wakeskater Brian G...

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MAG COVER: Anne Curtis for Metro

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb6bilR2M76Nm_I3YQI-A3Op4Z5xqt1iPGtsMjXDc_TF9FQ5QN8VpgI_RIueK2eD6aLap5Tr9jvCQUqknl1korrtpq9yntN_-mYKtYHX5V0jgBjXTM8SNzCW1rxAP6rdfcmMZKIKbSAlj/s1600/anne+curtis+for+metro+magazine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Metro Magazine November 2013 - Anne Curtis" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtb6bilR2M76Nm_I3YQI-A3Op4Z5xqt1iPGtsMjXDc_TF9FQ5QN8VpgI_RIueK2eD6aLap5Tr9jvCQUqknl1korrtpq9yntN_-mYKtYHX5V0jgBjXTM8SNzCW1rxAP6rdfcmMZKIKbSAlj/s1600/anne+curtis+for+metro+magazine.jpg" title="Metro Magazine November 2013 - Anne Curtis" /></a></div><br />

Anne Curtis MAG COVER metro magazine november 2013 MAG COVER: Anne Curtis for Metro

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Ideas To Find The Weight Away From Efficiently

<div style='font-style:italic;' class='uawbyline'>By Daniel Will</div><br /><br /> <div class='uawarticle'>A lot of people who've had trouble making use of their bodyweight know what a challenging and aggravating encounter it can be. It may be utterly maddening to work so difficult rather than be recognized for the endeavours. This post gives excellent ideas to help you get rid of that extra weight and remain motivated.<br /> <br /> Consider to become a espresso enthusiast if you wish to drop a few pounds. Many individuals ingest espresso nonetheless, the majority of people do not know some great benefits of caffeine. Coffee not just provides energy, but also increases metabolic process.<br /> <br /> It may look like fad diet plans are the best way to obtain a jump start on weight reduction. But if you want to shed pounds the right way, you need to steer clear of these kinds of diet plans. Despite the fact that a gimmick diet program may seem interesting primarily, eventually it can turn out to be uninteresting, especially if you're having a single dish, like cabbage soup, consistently. Dietary fads do not give you a base on which to build much better having styles. You may make much better choices in case you have much better education and learning.<br /> <br /> Receiving ample sleep is essential while you are trying to lose weight. Professionals informs us a typical grownup requirements around 8 several hours of rest each night. If you think that staying up late into the evening will manage to benefit weight reduction objectives, you will be completely wrong. Experiencing enough sleep can help your metabolic process get fixed to help you burn up your food.<br /> <br /> Don't eat refined merchandise if you would like shed weight. This will likely help you in creating much better ingesting alternatives by means of purchasing far healthier food items whenever you go grocery shopping. Most unhealthy food consists of highly processed ingredients and also glucose and body fat, so you probably will avoid it.<br /> <br /> In order for your young children to shed weight, you need to make sure that they have the proper amount of sleep each nighttime. A child's body expands since he sleeps, burning several unhealthy calories as well. Generally, a child needs to sleep seven several hours nightly. Describe the importance of rest in your child.<br /> <br /> A fantastic way of shedding pounds is usually to consume milk products just before your meals. Mill will allow you to really feel whole, for that reason, ingesting it before dinner may cause you do not to eat too much. Calcium supplements-unique milk products will also help the body by building up your bone, and leading to muscles.<br /> <br /> Leftovers are good for weight reduction. Right after creating a delicious, low calorie food, put aside just a little for tomorrow's lunch or dinner. As an illustration, you may convert chicken breast greens to some pita sandwich. It is really not only healthier than the usual take out lunch or dinner, it helps save time and money, also!<br /> <br /> When out with a cafe together with your mate, try to communicate as much as possible. Speaking to other folks will aid in decreasing you downward which means your brain has more hours to sign up when your belly is total. Taking part in discussions can reduce your ingestion.<br /> <br /> Employing leftovers to create new, nourishing meals not only assists decrease your waistline, but it additionally raises your wallet. Whilst planning your healthy supper, get ready some extra to enable you to already have it for lunch these day. A good poultry breast may be easily converted into chicken breast greens, or even a yummy chicken pita sandwich. This also is incredibly useful and helps you save time and cash.<br /> <br /> Weight reduction doesn't occur right away and it may sometimes be hard. The problem usually arises from the fact that men and women set up impractical objectives, resulting in them to feel as if they are disappointments when they usually do not view the effects that they had wished for. Placed these methods to use and find out a fresh life-style that may be much more lively and much healthier.<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'>If you want to become expert on this field, you should visit <a href="http://www.raspberryketoneplus.me">raspberry ketone plus</a> to find out more about it.</div><br /> </div><br />

Ideas To Find The Weight Away From Efficiently

By Daniel Will A lot of people who've had trouble making use of their bodyweight know what a challenging and aggravating encounter i...

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