Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on July 2nd, 2010
Slept late…keeping it brief.
I received an e-mail from Organizing For America. Two nights ago the House passed Wall Street reform by a vote of 237 to 192. Another huge victory for the Obama Administration and all of you who helped make this happen.
I have to admit I have not been as informed as I would’ve liked to have been in regards to the Financial Reform Bill. However I do believe in it, and I am hoping that it will get passed by the Senate. We all want consumer protection, and I, as well as many of you, have had it up to here with the too big too fail.
If you’ve been ranting about the big banks, and I certainly have…if you’ve been demanding reform but haven’t done your part, now is the time to do it. Take a moment now to write your Senators, and start demanding to them that the Financial Reform Bill gets passed. We are so close. Even Maria Cantwell who opposed has now flipped, in favor of the bill.
One of the two Senate Democrats opposed to the pending financial reform bill flipped Thursday and announced that she would back a bill she had until now steadfastly opposed for being too weak, potentially bringing Democrats to within one vote of the 60 needed to end Senate debate and secure passage.
I can tell you that I may have not put much time into this bill but I have put weekly countless hours of time over the past 2+ years, corresponding with my bank, Wachovia/Wells Fargo, and Sen. Barbara Boxer in regards to the millions of people who have lost their homes to foreclosure. I have been writing to, and receiving letters from Sen. Barbara Boxer and the office of the Controller Of The Currency, in regards to my own home mortgage modification, and on behalf of many of you who have received the same responses of denial, or modifications that do very little in reducing your payments.
I conclude that bank loan modification programs such as MAP ( Wachovia/Wells Fargo) aren’t working to help people stay in their homes. Folks are foreclosing and the banks are benefitting. No revelation there. What can be changed so that the banks and the homeowners, are both winners? It has been a slow process getting answers but I hope to have that answer soon. I feel I have gained some ground, and am hoping that my results will have a ripple effect. Many thanks go Sen. Barbara Boxer for sticking in their with me, and supporting my concerns.
And speaking of loan modification programs, have you read the recent? An article just came out in the HUff Po yesterday, claiming that thousands who were denied loan modifications via Obama’s HAMP program, were improperly denied because of a high percentage of errors! A good discovery but….Oops a bit too late. Many people have already lost there homes that possibly could’ve been saved. This is just unacceptable. This article is a must read, and I encourage you to do so.
I’ll end with a video that is uplifting and a great way to go into the weekend. Thanks to Rachel Maddow who shows us just how much our president has done for this country.
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
Readers: There is much to talk about this morning. Start flapping your lips. Blog me.
Democratic Party / Donna: I was going to post the e-mail that you sent me to help bring Kagan to the finish, but I see that you already posted the e-mail. Thanks. Readers: GOP Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah and GOP Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma, are opposing Kagan’s confirmation. Please make sure that you support Elena Kagan’s confirmation into the Supreme Court. Thank you again!
Anna: Thanks for the addition. I don’t know why I couldn’t find it. Hafa Adai.
Hi Zen Lill.
Happy Friday everyone! If you’re headed out to enjoy the long 4th Of July weekend, be safe and have a ton of fun! See ya tomorrow.
Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my ‘loyal’(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.
Gratefully your blog host,
michelle
Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)
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July 2nd, 2010 at 11:41 am
Hafa adai
There is a slight buzz on the Island that members of the Guam Police Department are involved in selling drugs. I’m on it.
Peter
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:51 am
PHOTOS FOR PAIN RELIEF?
We all take comfort from the presence of a loved one during tough times — and here is a way to tap into those feelings even if that person isn’t able to be physically present.
Researchers have found that bringing a picture of a loved one to a medical procedure can help make it less painful — literally.
Naomi Eisenberger, PhD, assistant professor of psychology at University of California, Los Angeles, led a team exploring how social support can help people cope with physical pain.
Twenty-five female undergraduate students were recruited to participate in a study that they were told would “explore how people respond to comforting and uncomfortable stimuli.” The study required participants to bring a loved one to the one-hour session.
To produce the “uncomfortable stimuli,” researchers placed a probe onto each participant’s forearm. It could be heated to a temperature high enough to cause pain but not high enough to create a burn.
As the probe heated up, each subject was asked to rate the level of pain on a scale of 0 to 20. There were six different scenarios tested for each participant:
holding the hand of her loved one… holding a stranger’s hand… holding a “stress ball” to squeeze to release tension… gazing at a computer screen on which was displayed a photo of the loved one… a photo of a stranger… or a photo of a chair.
Predictably enough, participants felt less pain while holding the hands of their loved ones compared with when they held either a stranger’s hand or the stress ball.
But it also turned out that simply looking at a loved one’s photo greatly reduced pain — in fact, more effectively even than holding the loved one’s hand.
So this is easy advice you can put to use right away — carry a photo of your partner, family or a friend (or all of them!) with you to look at when something hurts.
You can do this for others, too — if you can’t be with someone you love who is sick or having a medical procedure, send a photo and explain why you think it will help — chances are, it will.
Source(s):
Naomi Eisenberger, PhD, assistant professor of psychology, Social and Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, University of California at Los Angeles.
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:52 am
Michelle
Hello!
Where are the other pictures of Zen Lill?
July 2nd, 2010 at 11:54 am
Does anyone know the definition of INTERNAL REVENUE?
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:10 pm
Peter you are a interfering ass sometimes. Look what you have done. You got to drink at 18 but you had to go and spoil it for us.
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Guam votes to raise drinking age to 21
Stars and Stripes
Published: July 2, 2010
TOKYO — The Guam Legislature voted Friday to raise the island’s drinking age to 21 from 18, according to a legislative spokesman.
The legislation must still go to Gov. Felix Camacho for his signature. On Friday, Camacho spokesman Shawn Gumataotao said the governor was reviewing the change and had not said publicly how he felt about the issue.
If signed into law, the higher drinking age would affect the 6,800 troops stationed on Guam.
Currently, all troops are allowed to buy or drink alcohol if they are 18 or older at off base locations, according to military officials.
Airmen 18 and older can buy and drink alcohol on Andersen Air Force Base, according to spokesman Tech Sgt. Michael Andriacco. The Navy’s on-base drinking age is 21, according to Joint Marianas Region spokeswoman Lt. Jodie Cornell.
“Andersen AFB has a long history of following laws and regulations. Our intent is to comply with local laws and work with the government of Guam to ensure a smooth transition to any change in law,” said Brig. Gen. (Sel.) John Doucette, 36th Wing Commander.
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You need to mine you own business
Ricky
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:22 pm
Here is another reason we need tough regulatory reins on the big corps. They never take responsibility for the harm they cause.
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Dow Chemical still claims Agent Orange was not harmful
As our readers already know the questions surrounding Agent Orange and related Rainbow Agents used during Herbicide Warfare in Vietnam are very complex, and extremely political issues. In fact, just like the wars to get PTSD, Gulf War Illness, Depleted Uranium, or any other the other collateral damage of war recognized once the troops come home has historically been very political.
In reaction to a question raised by two attorneys, I consulted on related evidence of Agent Rainbow (to refer to all the chemical agents used like Agent Orange), their concerns were that (1) the VA is not on average going to accept documented evidence taken from the internet for the likelihood it could be forged or in someway tampered with –
a reliability issue on one hand and laziness of VA employees (adjudicators) to adequately do their jobs on the other. Simply put VA adjudicators are not going to research the authenticity of any documented evidence provided off the internet leaving the burden of proof up to the Veteran filing his/her claim.
(2) Even if it can be proven that Agent Rainbow was used on Guam or anywhere else, a Vet still must prove exposure and a relation between that exposure and chemical contamination.
(3) In regards to dioxins existing today on Anderson AFB, Guam a Vet must prove that such chemical waste clean-up today was tied to Agent Orange use during Vietnam or when the Vet served on Guam or anywhere else.
Our belief here at Veterans Today based on the VA’s own regulations and spirit of erring in favor of America’s Veterans that is giving the benefit of a doubt to Vets filing claims is not only being ignored but the VA’s is not doing its job when VA Claim Adjudicators or Appeals Court Judges place the burden of proof on Vets instead of giving them the benefit of a doubt.
If push comes to shove, the VA and our government should and must give America’s Veterans the same (heck even more) respect and dignity it does immigrants coming to the United States today seeking U.S. citizenship.
Immigrants who have never served in the Armed Forces (and quite a few who have) are treated with legal dignity and allowed to swear under oath that the documentation they are providing to support the right to U.S. Citizenship is the whole truth, nothing but the truth, so help the God. How come America’s Veterans cannot be afforded the same dignity and respect?
Anyway, in response to the legal concerns raised by the attorneys I consulted the documentation from Innovest group the investment research company contracted by both Dow Chemical Company and Monsanto to do an investor risk assessment circa January 2005 has been determined by Veterans
Today to be an authentic document from an existing firm that has both Dow and Monsanto as clients.
Innovest Group http://www.theinnovestgroup.com/index.html
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If we continue to wait for a disaster by a corporation before we put strong regulations on that particular industry, we will continue to suffer the kinds of accidents that they give us.
Helen
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I like this one so I am repeating it for others who may have missed it.
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After she had donned her flimsy nightie., the bride watched the groom undress. “Whatever happened to you big toe?” she asked. “It’s twisted.”
I”I had toelio as a child,” answered the fellow. “And what about those pock-marked knees?” continue the girl.
“Besides,” was the reply. “I had kneesles.”
The groom’s final garment hit the floor and there was a moment’s silence. Then his bride said, “I can see you also had smallcox. ”
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Ha, ha
Liz
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:36 pm
Michelle
If women don’t support Kagan, men will get the idea they can turn the clock back. Where are the sisters when you need them>
Mildred
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:40 pm
Zen Lill
I’m with you on this one. The crooked are practically diabolical when it comes to finding ways to getting their hands on easy money.
Mark
July 2nd, 2010 at 12:44 pm
Here’s the one I like and it could stand repeating too.
=================================
An insatiable coed named Joan
Has a supersized dildo of bone:
Which is why, after class,
Though a sociable lass
She’s been known to get off on her own.
July 2nd, 2010 at 6:51 pm
Yes, Mischa, c’mon, don’t you think pics of my breasts in the striped top are more important than BP, Obasma and Kagan, I mean reallllly…get your s**t together, commander : ) (and can you picture me laughing my fool head off just writing this?)
Misch, oh ouch, that oil spill video was harsh, BP has F’d up and that whole area is screwed for many many years, there should be compensation to the small biz owners, but what do you do to make a dent in the damage to the ocean, animals and coastlines, yikes, it is just sickening…
Mark, (and anyone else) as soon as the US can figure out how to set up the infrastructure to get it all mined in Afghanistan and (once again) make it look like we’re trying to ‘help the people’ (ala ‘Economic Hitman’ style) we will go after it and make all the greedy bastages of the world even wealthier…and you can then bet Afghan women will be compromised just as Congo women are now.
I’m ready for us women to start kicking asses and taking names.
Catch you all later, happy 4th to US readers, luv, Zen Lill
July 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
[...] Peter: You are on everything. I don’t know how you do it, but you are quite the guy. Hafa adai. [...]
July 5th, 2010 at 9:14 am
[...] wrote about the financial reform bill last week in Friday’s “Flap Your Lips…”. Here is something that some of you may not be aware of, and [...]