Friday, June 19, 2009

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Number Of Bank Failures In 2009 Hits 40 Top
Regional banks in North Carolina, Kansas and Georgia were closed by state regulators Friday, bringing the total number of failed banks this year to 40, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation said.
 
Some Gitmo Detainees Resisting Move To Palau Top
More on Guantánamo Bay
 
Lisa Earle McLeod: Please Quit Drooling Over My Daughter Top
It's a middle-aged rite-of-passage. It's the moment you become invisible. It's when you realize that people (people of the opposite sex, that is) are no longer looking at you; they're looking through you. And it's even more depressing if they're gawking at your teenage daughter. For me, it happened at the mall. My then 14-year-old daughter and I were shopping, and I was in my usual mom wardrobe of exercise clothes and tennis shoes. But instead of baggy sweats, I actually had on black pants, with a matching jacket, and an unstained T-shirt, that was even a V-neck no less. My better-than-usual attire is why I assumed that the pair of 30-something men were so taken with my beauty that they did a double-take as I walked by. It hadn't happened in a while, but what with my matching jacket and pants and all - did I mention they were black velour? And the fact that I had put on mascara; it was nice to know that - even though I'm married and not trolling for men - I was still good looking enough to attract a second look. That's when I realized they were staring at my daughter. It was gross and awful on oh-so-many levels. My first reaction was maternal. What were these guys thinking? I was tempted to run up and poke out their eyes. These guys had to be at least 30, maybe even 35, and they were gawking at a 14-year-old! It was then that I turned and saw my daughter with eyes anew. Somehow, when I wasn't looking, the beautiful blond little cherub child whose hand it seemed like I had only recently stopped holding had turned into a beautiful young woman. A young woman whose self-assurance belied her junior high status and who, although oblivious to the stares, was clearly going to be getting them for many years to come. It wasn't until we got to the car that I fully processed what had happened. I was no longer the cute one. I was the matronly, invisible mother, and all the matching sweat suits in the world wouldn't turn me back into a skinny head-turning stunner. My daughter is 16 now, and I've become quite used to the gawking, although if the droolers look over 20, I consider it my motherly duty to give them an evil glare. However, it's also my motherly duty to show my daughter that, while male heads may not whip around the moment I walk into a room, I'm still happy with the way I look. I may not have her washboard abs or long blond hair. But looking great at 45 is different than great at 16, just as looking great at 60 or 70 will be different than 45. And just because most men aren't as immediately biologically drawn to older beauty, doesn't mean that it doesn't exist. It's odd and a bit unsettling to see your sweet daughter reflected in the eyes of men. Just as it's odd to realize that the world now looks at you in a different way. However just as the drooling men can't possibly comprehend my daughter's most beautiful qualities, they don't see mine either. Because as my husband and her father will tell you, truly beautiful women are never invisible to the people who love them, no matter what their age. Lisa Earle McLeod is an author, syndicated columnist, keynote speaker and business consultant. More info: www.LisaEarleMcLeod.com
 
Lisa Earle McLeod: Is Your Body Revealing The Secrets of Your Mind? Top
We all know that body language can convey thoughts and emotions. But did you know that people are more likely to respond to your non-verbal messages than they are your verbal ones? Dr. Richard Strozzi-Heckler says, "When people listen, only 7 percent is content, the other 93 percent is body presence, which includes your tone of voice." Which means if you ask your significant other, "Sweetheart, what would you like to do this weekend?" but you're really thinking, "If you try to drag me to your mother's house again, I think I'll have to murder you," the non-verbal message is what your loving partner is going to take away. The thoughts that you have in your head affect how you hold your body, your facial expression and your tone, all of which let the other person know exactly what you're thinking. Strozzi-Heckler, founder of the Strozzi Institut e and author of "The Leadership Dojo," has spent his lifetime studying the mind, body, spirit interface, and he uses Somatics - the unity of language, action, feeling and meaning - to teach executives how to better align their bodies with their messages. He says, "The human mind is always scanning for trust and credibility." That means people are constantly subconsciously reading each other, and when they read angst or aggression, they either turn away or respond in kind, even if they don't realize why they're doing it. Which is probably why your nosy, narrow-minded neighbors find that people don't spend too long chatting with them at cocktail parties. They may say they want to get to know people, but if they make mental criticisms about everyone they meet, their bodies are going to be giving off judgmental vibes. It's kind of scary to think that your body is telling the world what you really think. After all, who hasn't had bad thoughts about others from time to time? But if you want your body to convey a more positive message, there is something you can do. You may have heard the expression, "act as if." If you want to be successful, act as if you already are. If you want to be a loving parent or spouse, act as though you already are. It might feel disingenuous or inauthentic to pretend to be something that you're not, but Strozzi-Heckler suggests that rather than thinking of it as faking, think of it as practice. If you practice with your body, which includes your mouth and your mind, your spirit will eventually follow. Strozzi-Heckler has found that 300 repetitions of something give your body the memory, and after 3,000 repetitions, it becomes part of who you are. So if you want to care more about your spouse's perspective, the next time he or she talks, practice acting like you do. If you want to be more empathetic to your co-workers, practice behaving like a person who really does want to hear about their weekend. I've been doing this for years, and it really works. I'm probably at 3,000 repetitions with my clients and kids, so thinking caring thoughts about them really is part of who I am. But alas, I've probably barely cracked 300 repetitions with my husband. However, I remain hopeful that with only 2,700 more practice sessions, I will indeed become a more empathetic and loving wife, in both mind and body. Lisa Earle McLeod is an author, syndicated columnist, keynote speaker and business consultant. www.LisaEarleMcLeod.com
 
Lydia Guevara, Che's Granddaughter, Poses Semi-Nude For PETA Top
NEW YORK — The granddaughter of Cuban revolutionary leader Ernesto "Che" Guevara is at the forefront of another revolution _ for vegetarianism. Lydia Guevara poses semi-nude in a PETA campaign that tells viewers to "join the vegetarian revolution," said PETA spokesman Michael McGraw. The print campaign is expected to debut in October in magazines and posters, McGraw said. It will be launched first in Argentina, where Che Guevara was born, and then internationally. PETA approached the 24-year-old in recent months after finding out she was a vegetarian, McGraw said. In the ad, Lydia Guevara wears camouflage pants, a red beret, and bandoliers of baby carrots while standing with one fist on her hip and the other outstretched. "It very much evokes the tag line of the ad, which is 'Join the vegetarian revolution,'" McGraw said. "It's an homage of sorts to her late grandfather." Che Guevara was a Marxist leader who played a pivotal role in Fidel Castro's rise to power in Cuba. He was executed in Bolivia in 1967. The ad is PETA's first campaign promoting vegetarianism in South America. "We say the best way to save animals is not to eat them," McGraw said. He said others who have promoted vegetarianism for PETA include Paul McCartney, Forest Whittaker and Alicia Silverstone.
 
Lisa Derrick: Bozeman Reverses Password Demands Top
The city of Bozeman, Montana has backed down over its request that job applicants hand over their passwords for social networking and blogging sites in order to get a job with city. Bozeman city officials said they'll suspend the practice of reviewing password protected information they've already received until they conduct a more comprehensive evaluation of the practice. Bozeman City Manager Chris Kukulski told news channel KULR : The extent of our request for a candidacy's password, username, and other internet information appears to have exceeded that which is acceptable in our community. The Montana ACLU expressed in more diplomatic terms what tens of thousand of people around the world felt when they read about the city's invasive requirements: Saying that they want people's username and password for social networking sites is crossing the line. Lisa Derrick is LaFiga at Firedoglake.com
 
Henry Allingham Becomes World's Oldest Man Top
LONDON — Guinness World Records said Friday that 113-year-old British World War I veteran Henry Allingham has become the world's oldest man. The previous holder of the title, Tomoji Tanabe, died in his sleep in southern Japan earlier Friday at the age of 113. Allingham is one of only two surviving World War I veterans in Britain and celebrated his 113th birthday June 6. He has been Britain's oldest man since January 2007. Craig Glenday, editor-in-chief of Guinness World Records, said the last Englishman to hold the title of world's oldest man was Frederick Butterfield, who died in March 1974 at the age of 110. Allingham joined the Royal Naval Air Service _ precursor to the Royal Air Force _ in 1915, and a year later took part in the Battle of Jutland, the war's largest naval battle. During World War II he worked on measures to counter magnetic mines. Allingham joined activities involving other war veterans after he met Dennis Goodwin, an independent inspector for residential care homes who organized trips for veterans who wanted to return to the continent where they had fought. Goodwin encouraged Allingham to share his experiences. He soon became one of the nation's most outspoken veterans and has long encouraged everyone to remember the sacrifices of those who died. He co-wrote an autobiography with Goodwin, "Kitchener's Last Volunteer," _ a reference to Britain's war secretary who rallied men to the cause _ and was made an Officer of France's Legion of Honor. He and his late wife, Dorothy, had two children. He has five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, 14 great-great grandchildren and one great-great-great grandchild.
 
Tony Hawk Skateboards At White House Top
WASHINGTON — Hey, kids, don't try this at home. Professional skateboarder Tony Hawk on Friday took a brief ride at the White House as part of a Father's Day celebration. Hawk, 41, skated in the grand foyer and the nearby Old Executive Office Building, with the permission of White House officials. The skateboarding icon, also known for his popular brand of skateboarding video games, posted photos to his Web site and Twitter page. One photo shows Hawk on his skateboard with his hands in the air in what appears to be a hallway. "...and here is my exit," he wrote in a message on Twitter, which linked to a picture of him skating. "Supposed to return at noon for the First Fathers event if they let me back in." Hawk posted other insights from his Washington visit on his Twitter page, telling fans about eating Frosted Flakes cereal inside the gates of 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. In another tweet, he says "back at White House, Tweeting live from the Diplomatic Room. Unbelievable." Hawk joined other dads, athletes and celebrities at a Father's Day forum hosted by President Barack Obama. Celebrity chef Bobby Flay helped man the barbecue grills for a White House picnic for the attendees, which included NBA players Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat and Etan Thomas of the Washington Wizards. "The Prez addressing all of us fathers before we split up to visit DC charities," Hawk tweeted. "D Wade & Etan T make me feel short." ___ On the Web: http://www.tonyhawk.com/ http://twitter.com/tonyhawk
 
Parking Meter Protesters March On Alderman's Office Top
Over 100 people, many wearing T-shirts the same bright orange color of a Chicago parking ticket, showed up to voice their frustrations with the parking meter issue in the South Chicago and East Side neighborhoods.
 
Keishla Villafane, Petite Beauty Queen, Fired By Puerto Rican Pageant Top
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — The Miss Puerto Rico Petite competition stripped the reigning queen of her crown Friday, accusing the young woman of "intolerable conduct" that included threatening and assaulting pageant staff. Keishla Villafane Rivera also used "coarse language" and violated the terms of her contract by agreeing to use her image in an advertisement without the consent of the pageant, the organizers said in a statement. Luis Santiago Productions, the pageant company, said it was obligated to dismiss the 19-year-old queen after she made death threats and assaulted staff members. Its statement provided no details of the purported misconduct. Villafane could not be reached for comment. Her attorney, Maribel Vidal, did not respond to messages left with her office in San Juan. A pageant spokeswoman, Libni Garcia, declined in an interview with The Associated Press to disclose details about the accusations, saying more information would be released in a legal action the company plans to file against Villafane. But she said problems between the queen and pageant officials began shortly after the woman won the title last August. "We were trying to handle this conduct of hers, but it was impossible," Garcia said. "It was constant." The production company appointed another contestant from last year's pageant, Tamara Perez, to serve the remainder of Villafane's term, which expires Aug. 26 with the next competition. The contest is open to 16- to 24-year-olds who are 5-foot-5 or shorter. Villafane is 5-feet-2. Beauty contests are taken very seriously in Puerto Rico, which has had five of its citizens win the Miss Universe contest. Police last year opened an investigation into allegations that someone sabotaged a beauty contestant's bid for Miss Puerto Rico Universe by dousing her evening gown and bathing suit with pepper spray. The investigation was dropped for lack of sufficient evidence.
 
Brian Dickie: The People's Opera - Москва Черемушки Top
So our regulars, our always curious Chicago Opera Theater audience, have voted for Moscow Cheryomushki , Shostakovich's 1959 operetta set in Kruschev's Moscow, which tells the story of a group of friends and acquaintances who have been granted new apartments in a new residential development. Of course this is satire, and hilarious comedy - well we hope so! Anyway there it is - it has been a huge hit from Vienna to Leeds! And it is certainly a change of pace for Chicago and should appeal to a huge new fun loving audience. And we will be doing it in the superb orchestral arrangement by the CSO's Gerard McBurney - this now is the version which is most widely performed and which has contributed hugely to the new found success for this piece. Shosty beat R. Strauss' Capriccio into second place, and Mozart's Magic Flute into third. Says a lot about the Chicago Opera Theater audience. I can not tell you what else we will be doing in 2011 - that is a secret until March next year. But I can assure you that what we will have is a uniquely fascinating season - manna for those really interested in opera, probably poison for the too large number of people who only like the old chestnuts. Even they seem to be getting bored with those. What is to be done? Photo: Tristram Kenton (Opera North)
 
Margot Pritzker: United We Serve ... in Chicago Top
This week, President Obama announced a new summer service initiative: United We Serve. He is calling on all people - young, old, from across the country - to volunteer this summer, from June 22 to September 11. He states that the changes cannot come solely from Washington, but we need to "build a new foundation for economic growth in America" beginning at the community level. "We can rebuild our schools, but we need people to be mentors and tutors in those schools. We can modernize our health care system, but we need volunteers in our hospitals and communities to help care for the sick and help people lead healthier lives," he said in his video address . So how will this affect Chicago? What opportunities exist for Chicagoans to take on this challenge and volunteer their time this summer - and beyond - and what opportunities can we create to maximize this initiative? WomenOnCall.org , my Chicago-based non-profit, takes a unique perspective to volunteering. It's an online network that matches women who are committed to volunteering their professional expertise with non-profit organizations that have specific and immediate volunteer needs. For example, an accountant may help a non-profit submit 990 forms, a lawyer may help review a memorandum of understanding, a public relations specialist may create a media outreach plan or help with a special event. And much of this can be done virtually - at home, while waiting in an airport or during a lunch break. I accept President Obama's Unite We Serve challenge - will you? If you're not sure how to find an exciting and unique opportunity in your community, consider volunteering your professional talents to a non-profit. More on The Giving Life
 
Cubs Comeback To Beat Indians 8-7: Theriot's Single In 10th Spoils Wood, DeRosa's Wrigley Return Top
CHICAGO — Ryan Theriot hit a bad-hop single with two outs in the 10th inning and the Chicago Cubs, saved by Derrek Lee's late homer, rallied from an early seven-run deficit to beat the Cleveland Indians 8-7 Friday. Lee homered twice, including a solo shot with one out in the ninth off former Cubs ace Kerry Wood that made it 7-all. Alfonso Soriano, who hit a game-winning single in the ninth Thursday to beat the Chicago White Sox, drew a two-out walk in the 10th from Luis Vizcaino (1-3) and stole second. Theriot followed with a grounder that took a crazy bounce past first baseman Victor Martinez. The Cubs trailed 7-0 against Cliff Lee going into the fifth and were still down 7-2 in the eighth. The Indians loaded the bases off Kevin Gregg (2-1) in the 10th before Kosuke Fukudome made a nice catch of pinch-hitter Ryan Garko's liner to center field. The Cubs beat Vizcaino, whom they released earlier this season. Wood, who saved 34 games for the Cubs last season and spent a decade with the team before signing with Cleveland as a free agent in the offseason, got a rousing ovation when announced in the bottom of the ninth in his return to Wrigley Field. But after retiring Milton Bradley, he served up Lee's homer. The crowd of 40,155 went wild as Wood absorbed his third blown save in 11 chances. The Indians took their big lead behind Lee, last year's AL Cy Young winner, on three-run homers from Luis Valbuena and Martinez. Homers by Reed Johnson in the fifth and Derrek Lee in the sixth cut it to 7-2. Joe Smith relieved for the Indians after Bradley opened the eighth with a single. Geovany Soto doubled, Johnson walked and a bases-loaded, two-run single by Andres Blanco made it 7-4. Facing reliever Rafael Perez, pinch-hitter Koyie Hill hit a hard grounder that went off third baseman Jhonny Peralta for an error, cutting it to 7-5. Soriano then delivered an RBI single that made it a one-run game. Former Cubs player Mark DeRosa also made his return to Wrigley. He got a standing ovation in his first at-bat and went 1 for 3 with two walks and an RBI. DeRosa played left field and was shaken up in the third inning chasing a foul fly by pitcher Rich Harden. As DeRosa reached for the ball in the Cubs' bullpen along the left-field line, he appeared to hit the brick wall with his hip and then came down on a telephone box, knocking the door open and exposing the phone. DeRosa limped, bent over at the hip and then after meeting with a trainer, stayed in the game. In the top of the fourth, he delivered a two-out single to put Cleveland up 7-0. Harden, in his second start since coming off the disabled list, allowed seven hits and seven runs in five innings, including the homers to Valbuena in the second and Martinez in the third. After walks to Jamey Carroll and DeRosa to start the third, Martinez sent his 100th major league homer into the right-field bleachers to make it 6-0. Valbuena hit his second homer of the season following a triple by Jhonny Peralta, whose high drive to center went off normally sure-handed Johnson's glove, and a walk to Kelly Shoppach. NOTES: Derrek Lee has a 16-game hitting streak. ... The start of the game was delayed one hour, 26 minutes by rain. More on Sports
 
Josette Sheeran: How The Internet Could Feed The Hungry Top
For the first time in history, there are more than a billion hungry people in the world . That's almost a sixth of the world's population. A billion people go to sleep hungry every night. There are also more than a billion people today fortunate enough to have access to the internet. You are one of them. So what would happen if the online billion turned their attention to service, and united their efforts to help the hungry billion? I think a great deal could happen. We are more socially aware now than we've ever been and we have many new ways to serve. Social networks have given the everyday Joe the power to mobilize and inspire vast numbers of people in a very short time. While service still means spending a year in a poor African country or working two nights a week in a soup kitchen, or even setting up fund-raising committees , the internet has opened up a whole world of possibilities for those who wish to help. Traditionally, service meant a few people did a lot. The web has redefined service, by allowing many people to do a little. Service has gone on-line. And the impact could be dramatic. Here are some ideas to start with: • Tweet the simple fact that there are more than a billion hungry in the world • Donate $5, in three clicks, to save a baby from malnutrition • Voice your opinions on Facebook If you want to join WFP's fight against hunger, and start serving online, check out this page (http://www.wfp.org/1billion-hungry) Online service counts. We'll appreciate it, and so will a billion other people. More on The Giving Life
 
Rob Cohen: I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! Episode 11 Recap: Losers and Winners Top
Janice is finally gone, and I was happy to see her go. Unfortunately, I know I'll miss her next week, when the editors attempt to manufacture conflict between John Salley and Sanjaya. I can't say the same about Holly. She was about as dull as it gets, which goes against everything I railed against when her sister Heidi was on the show. I guess, in reality television, it does pay to go big or go home, even if going big makes you a hated antagonist. To be honest, I wasn't surprised by last night's results. Holly blended in seamlessly, which is not a way to get votes. I don't think I'll even remember that she was ever there come Monday. And while Janice may be the character we loved to hate (once Spencer was gone), we didn't love her enough to pick up the phone and vote for her. Which leaves us with six. And so, now that this is finally becoming a game in which the majority of people leaving the show are voted off instead of choosing to leave, the question of who will win is becoming more interesting. Marginally. Here's what I think about the remaining celebrities and their chances. Sanjaya In my opinion, he's the favorite, only because the raw size of his fan base is bigger than anyone else's, especially among the types of viewers this show attracts. Who's really watching this show? People into sports? Sorry John, no. People into politics? Sorry Patti, no (although, in her case, that might help... anyone into politics would like far worse things to happen to Patti than just losing this game). People into wrestling? Sorry Torrie, no one's into wrestling anymore. No, the people watching this show are the same people who watch American Idol. Just a lot less of them. With Holly gone, Sanjaya's got a monopoly on younger viewers. He's not my pick, but I wouldn't be too upset, either. He's hard to dislike. This kid's the frontrunner. Torrie I'm surprised Torrie's made it this far. She's pleasant enough, but it's hard to enthusiastically rally behind her. I don't think she had the mass appeal going into this game to be a winner, and she didn't do anything to really make herself stand out. The only way I could see her winning is if the final decision comes down to a challenge, performed by the celebrities, rather than a vote by the viewers, which to my knowledge has not been announced (though I'm assuming it will be a vote). But she's a fighter, so we'll see. Stephen No chance. I thought he was gone this week, and I think he did, too. His performance on the show correlates with his performance in everything I've ever seen him in: mildly entertaining. He's survived this far with his last name, but he hasn't given us a reason within the show to vote for him. Patti If Patti wins, it will be the excremental icing on top of a giant shit sandwich. I had to mix and invent a metaphor because no cliché I can think of could possibly describe how terrible it would be if Miss Blago redeems herself on this show. The producers have not only given her every opportunity to tell her story, but they've encouraged us to buy it. The other celebrities may be fooled, but I don't think viewers are. Then again, you never know; people are stupid. If she wins, good for her, but it will be a disgrace for NBC. John John sealed his fate this week when he chose to give himself immunity. Sure, he might've gone home last week if he hadn't chosen himself, but if he was going home last week, he'll still be at the bottom of the barrel this week. Saving himself will prove to be his downfall: if he was the frontrunner, that selfish act may change enough minds to rob the win from him. It's the first thing on the show that's truly poetic. Lou My vote, without question, is for Lou. He's played the game the best, helped his fellow celebrities the most, and been entertaining to watch at the same time. If anyone deserves a resurgence of his career, it's Lou Diamond Philips, but he didn't take his presence on the show for granted. He worked for everything, and he brought the group together when they needed it. Does Lou have the fan base to win? I certainly hope so. But if this show has taught me anything, it's to prepare for disappointment. I hate to say this, but make sure you vote. Disclaimer: If the final winner is decided in a challenge among the celebrities, and not by a public vote, then this entirely column is moot (except for my hope that Lou wins). More on NBC
 
Obama Radio And TV Correspondents' Dinner Speech: Excerpts Top
The White House released an excerpt from President Obama's speech at this evening's 65th annual Radio & Television Correspondents' Association Dinner. And when we say excerpt, what we really should say is punchlines. If you want to know more, Politico's Michael Calderone has a helpful post containing all the relevant information about tonight's event. I want to thank you for this opportunity to tell all the jokes that weren't funny enough for me to use when we did this five weeks ago. ... In Egypt, we had the opportunity to tour the pyramids. And by now I'm sure you've all seen the pictures of Rahm on that camel. I admit, I was a little nervous about the whole situation. I said at the time, "This is a wild animal known to bite, kick, and spit. And who knows what the camel could do?" ... Of course, most of my attention has been focused back home. As you know, we've been working around the clock on to repair our major financial institutions and our auto companies. But you probably wouldn't understand the concept of troubled industries, working as you do in radio and television. ... One problem we're trying to solve is the high cost of health care in America. And I'm pleased that in our quest to reform the health care system, I have gained the support of the American Medical Association. It proves true the old expression that it's easier to catch flies with honey. And if honey doesn't work, feel free to use an open palm and a swift, downward wrist motion.
 
How A Chicago Company Came To Sponsor Manchester United Top
When two executives of Chicago's Aon Corp. went through their mail one day last fall, they each found a large package with a leather-encased box, containing, of all things, a soccer shirt with the company's own logo emblazoned across the chest. The shirts appeared to be bonafide red home jerseys of Manchester United, arguably the most famous sports team in the world--or at least in the world outside the soccer-suspicious United States. More on Sports
 
Alison Rose Levy: Urban Zen Connects The Dots On Personal Healthcare Top
What's the single most important service you can do to help our troubled economy recover? Take care of your health! With health care costs rising (nearing 20% of GDP), if you commit to service for health, we'll all get a double-duty payoff (benefiting both health and the buckling economy.) Yet most of us don't know where to begin, because we haven't been taught how to connect the dots on health. Usually, people ignore health until there's a problem. But now the time has come to transform health care as we know it. To do this, every single one of us has to become a health activist. Designer Donna Karan's whose foundation Urban Zen has taken the lead in transforming health care, was inspired in her activism by her late husband, businessman and artist, Stephan Weiss. "He always spoke about connecting the dots.. stepping back and looking at the big picture... seeing how things are connected," Donna recalls. As I pondered this, I saw that we do the exact opposite with health. Our medical model trains us to consider the tiniest molecule and isolate a single chemical reaction--but not to connect the dots as to how all of the molecules interact. In medical care, we zero in on a symptom and hope to find a quick cure for it, but we don't connect the dots to look at compound effects, like how and when the sum total of multiples exposures to different environmental chemicals will interact in the body to trigger illness. Love, feelings, intentions, beliefs, and thoughts influence our health status, but since we can't find them with a microscopic, we discount them. Yet these intangibles shape our life, experience, and all we hold dear. Even on the internet, when we seek out health information, we want a quick tip we can use today. But a quick tip (like eating more organic food) won't do much good if larger forces (pressures from lobbyists, the food industry, or others) undermine the policies that help put these foods on our tables. The bottom line is simply this: Personal health is inextricably interconnected with societal and environmental health. We need to connect the dots. That's why to take care of health, we must act on two fronts at once: the personal and collective. By all means, become proactive about your personal health and make the necessary lifestyle changes. You probably know what these are, and if you don't, get some good advice. But it's a mistake to tend to your own garden while ignoring social and environmental policies, some of which further health--and some of which seriously undermine health. Every day, regulators determine public policies that affect all of us--yet few are aware or take action on these policies. With an array of lobbyists aiming to influence governmental decision making, citizens have to learn to connect the dots, and stand up for access to health care, health care freedom, and a health care system and reimbursement system that are humane and caring. That's why, if you want to serve both yourself and the greater public good, find a health cause that you care about and commit to taking regular action. Whether it's single payer health care ( www.moveon.org ) , environmental cleanups ( www.ewg.org ), health care freedom ( www.citizens.org ), autism ( www.defeatautismnow.com ), caring in health care (www.urbanzen.org), teaching kids to eat healthy (www.healthcorps.org) integrative medical care ( http://www.imconsortium.org and www.bravewell.org ), lowering cancer rates in children ( www.lesscancer.org ), maintaining organic food standards, ( www.organicconsumers.org ) or others, become a health activist. Once you connect the dots, you'll see that all of these profoundly influence health. For more on health and activism, get the free Health Outlook at www.health-journalist.com More on Wellness
 
Lloyd Chapman: IT'S TIME TO END THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE'S MASQUARADE AS SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCATES Top
A recent post on the U.S Chamber of Commerce website titled, "Business United or Business Divided - What's at Stake?" is one of the best examples you could find of typical U.S. Chamber propaganda. As he did in our heated exchange on CNBC, Chamber spokesman Giovanni Coratolo struggles to piece together a series of outright lies, blatant fabrications and misdirection to try and attack me and cover up the U.S Chamber's actual pro-Fortune 500 and anti-small business track record. ( http://www.chamberpost.com/2009/06/business-united-or-business-divided-whats-at-stake.html ) If you haven't seen our debate on CNBC, you can find it on YouTube under, "ASBL President Lloyd Chapman spars with U.S. Chamber of Commerce." I hope I get a chance to finish our debate on national television sometime soon. ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWtLshGVEss ) Let me focus on Giovanni's statement referring to the annual diversion of over $100 billion a year in federal small business contracts to corporate giants as a "niche issue" that will "impact only a small sliver of the business community." The truth is, no issue affecting American small businesses has been the subject of more federal investigations and more stories in the mainstream media than the diversion of federal small business contracts to Fortune 500 firms and thousands of other large businesses. Since 2003, there have been over a dozen federal investigations on the issue and hundreds of stories. Every major newspaper in the country has reported on the problem along with major television networks like ABC, CBS and CNN. In Report 5-15, the Small Business Administration (SBA) Office of Inspector General stated, "One of the biggest challenges facing the Small Business Administration and the entire Federal government today is that large businesses are receiving federal small business awards..." ( http://www.asbl.com/documents/05-15.pdf ) In February of 2008, President Obama acknowledged the magnitude of the problem when he released the statement, "It is time to end the diversion of federal small business contracts to corporate giants." ( http://www.barackobama.com/2008/02/26/the_american_small_business_le.php ) As opposed to the U.S. Chamber's position that this is a "niche issue" that will impact "only a small sliver of the business community," this issue has negatively impacted every man, woman and child in America. You don't have to be an economist to understand the diversion of over $100 billion a year from the middle class, year after year will have a devastating negative impact on the national economy. The U.S Chamber claims to have 3 million members, 96% with less than 100 employees and 5% of those firms do business with the government. That comes out to 144,000 U.S Chamber members that are small businesses being negatively impacted by this issue. Now let's look at what the U.S. Chamber has done over the last seven years to address what the SBA Inspector General referred to as one of the largest challenges facing the SBA and "the entire federal government today." NOTHING! No lobbying, no press conference, no press releases, no blog posts, no legislation, no lawsuits, no newspaper stories, no radio interviews, nothing on their website! Why wouldn't the organization that claims to be the most powerful voice for small business in American lift a finger to address a problem that is impacting millions of small businesses, including 144,000 of their own members? Because the Fortune 500 firms that are receiving the lion's share of all federal small business contracts are some of the most powerful members of the U.S. Chamber. Dozens of Fortune 500 firms that are currently receiving billions of dollars in federal small business contracts serve on the Board of Directors of the U.S. Chamber. Take a look at stories on this issue from the Associated Press, the New York Times and the Washington Post. Take a look at the investigative stories by ABC, CBS and CNN. (AP, http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/05/07/politics/main552758.shtml ; NYT, http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/business/06sba.html ; WaPo, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1179 ; ABC, http://www.asbl.com/abc_evening_news.wmv ; CBS, http://www.asbl.com/cbs.wmv ; CNN, http://www.asbl.com/showmedia.php?id=1170 ) Now take a look at the list of firms that belong to the U.S. Chamber and serve on their board. Over fifteen Fortune 500 firms on the U.S. Chamber board have received federal small business contracts. (http://www.uschamber.com/about/board/all.htm ) Small businesses in America need to quit listening to what the U.S Chamber says and start to watch what they do. If you do that, you will quickly realize they are no friend to American's 27 million small businesses. More on YouTube
 
Sotomayor Quits Belizean Grove Top
WASHINGTON — Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor resigned Friday from an elite all-women's club after Republicans questioned her participation in it. Sotomayor said she resigned from the Belizean Grove to prevent the issue from becoming a distraction in her confirmation hearings. In a letter to Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont and Republican Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, the federal appeals court judge said she is convinced that the club does not practice "invidious discrimination" and that her membership in it did not violate judicial ethics. But she said she didn't want questions about it to "distract anyone from my qualifications and record." Federal judges are bound by a code that says they shouldn't join any organization that discriminates by race, sex, religion or nationality. The Belizean Grove bills itself as women's answer to the 130-year-old all-male Bohemian Club in California. The club owns a 2,500-acre camping area in northern California called the Grove. Chief Justice Earl Warren belonged to the Bohemian Club beginning in the 1940s, before he joined the court and long before the federal judiciary adopted a code of conduct. "The Belizean Grove is a constellation of influential women who are key decision makers in the profit, non-profit and social sectors; who build long term mutually beneficial relationships in order to both take charge of their own destinies and help others to do the same," the group says on its Web site. There are about 115 members, the club says. Earlier in the week, Sotomayor defended her participation in the group, telling senators that it involves men in some of its events and that she was unaware of any man who had tried to become a member. Sotomayor's backers noted that the court's only current woman, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, belongs to the membership-only International Women's Forum. So did former Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, who defended her involvement in all-women groups during her Senate confirmation hearings in 1981. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy faced similar questions over his longtime membership in the all-male Olympic Club in San Francisco. Kennedy resigned his membership in October 1987, as he was under consideration for the high court. Sotomayor also told the senators that the search of documents from her time as a director of a Puerto Rican advocacy group is complete. Republicans had complained that Sotomayor initially omitted from the records she sent the Senate Judiciary Committee a report she signed urging the Puerto Rican Legal Defense and Education Fund (now known as LatinoJustice PRLDEF) to oppose reinstitution of the death penalty in New York in the early 1980s. The report, which has since been provided, said, "Capital punishment is associated with evident racism in our society." It noted that African-Americans at the time made up 47 percent of death row inmates, but only 11 percent of the U.S. population. More on Sonia Sotomayor
 
Huff TV: Arianna On CNN, Discusses America's Response To Iran Top
Arianna appeared on CNN's "Situation Room" along with Tony Blankely to discuss the U.S.'s response to the ongoing situation in Iran. More on CNN
 

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