Flap Your Lips Friday
Posted by Michelle Moquin on August 13th, 2010
Good morning. I don’t really have a topic for today…just going to ramble a bit, flap my lips, and say a few things that are on my mind. I hope you don’t mind. If you do, tough. :)
Ruth posted an article the other day that I hope everyone reads. It was in regards to cancer causing utensils that are being made in China and sold in places such as Walmart. Well, I have been privy to information about other dangerous products made in China that we use everyday too.
Plastic that have been manufactured in China and claim to be microwavable and safe, are simply not safe. This includes plastic containers that you dish your food into, to heat it up, or plastic containers that come packaged with food that claim they are safe to microwave: They are lying – they are not safe. These are cancer causing containers that when microwaved, the plastic is released into your food, which means you are ingesting it and absorbing it into your system. Not good. Avoid all plastics from China that claim they are microwave safe.
I watched Oprah the other day, and although it was a repeat show from last January, it is still relevant today, and even more so. Michael Pollan of Food Inc. (the movie), as well as many other foodies were featured on the show. If there is one thing that I got from the show it is this: The power of our food changing, meaning better healthier food for us, the animals, and the planet, is in the hands of the people.
We as a society can change the way food is raised and manufactured if we change the way we eat. We need to choose and eat consciously with the mantra in our heads: “Quality over quantity”. For example, most people eat meat 4-5 times a week. How about only eating meat 1-2 days and eating organic or grass-fed, free-range etc. Make a conscious effort to think and care more about your body, the animals, our planet.
Yes, organic etc., is more expensive, but again think of “quality over quantity”. Additionally think about ti this way: You pay for it now, so you won’t pay for it later in the form of health bills. Treat your body good; treat it to the best – you only have one. More and more people are getting sick because of what they are ingesting. There is so much evidence to support this it is sick. If you haven’t been reading the articles that I or my readers have been posting, then I suggest you go back and read the archives – there is a ton of good information.
Hmm..what else? Oh yeah…so Ken Buck defeated Jane Norton in the Colorado primary for GOP for Senate. A few weeks ago Buck’s gave a response to Norton’s ad, which he claims questioned his manhood: “Vote for me because I do not wear heels.” Norton’s ad suggested that he “man up”; she didn’t suggest he shouldn’t be elected because he is a man. To me, Buck’s “heel” response tells me that he believes women shouldn’t be in politics. All I can say is I hope Democrat Michael Bennet kicks his butt. We have enough bullshit, to deal with from the republican party; we don’t need Ken Buck’s bullshit, not to mention the “real” bullshit on his cowboy boots – seriously he claims he does, and is proud of it.
And a quote from Religious Right Bryan Fischer: “Permits should not be granted to build even one more mosque in the United States of America, let alone the monstrosity planned for Ground Zero. This is for one simple reason: each Islamic mosque is dedicated to the overthrow of the American government.”
I’m with Herat who chimed in the other day. It’s too bad that the plight of Muslim women wasn’t the reason for not allowing mosques to be built in the U.S. How cool would that be if we took a small step in that direction? How cool would it be if someone stood up (a male preferably) and said, “Permits should not be granted to build even one more mosque in the United States of America, let alone the monstrosity planned for Ground Zero. This is for one simple reason: Women are treated as second class citizens and, we shouldn’t allow them to practice their religion until women are treated equally.”
That’s it for me. I want to hear what’s on your mind. Flap your lips, it’s Friday – Blog me.
Robert: It is just like the bigots: They don’t care what color your skin is as long as it is white; they too don’t care how much money you make or don’t make, they consider themselves “Better”. Your successes don’t mean much should you not be blessed with white skin. Once it again, with whites, it all comes down to the color of one’s skin that makes one “better”, not giving any deference to the person who is actually better “at something”, a talent, no matter what color their skin is.
Andrea: That is so sad. I have a feeling this will not be the last of it.
Zen Lill: I guess we’re on the same page. Good. I sent an e-mail to Dr. Ehlers too. I’ll let you know when I hear from her too.
Wambui: I will let you and the rest of my readers know the details of the “aXe” as soon as I get a reply from Dr. Ehlers.
Peace out…
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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August 13th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Turn Small Talk into Big Deals
Don Gabor
Small talk is widely considered a waste of time. Used properly, however, it can be a great way to find new business clients, network for a new job and/or form new friendships.
When we engage in chitchat, we send the message that we are open for communication… we build trust and rapport with strangers… and we identify areas of common interest, the building blocks for lasting relationships.
Here’s how to move from small talk to productive dialog in just minutes, using eight simple steps…
1. Establish eye contact, then raise a nonthreatening small-talk topic. The best topics usually are found in the immediate vicinity — where you are and what’s going on around you are two things that you are certain to have in common with people you meet.
Examples: If someone is walking a dog, ask about the dog’s breed. If you’re both in line at the bank, mention the length or speed of the line or the quality of the bank in general.
Warning: If your small-talk topic could be construed as a complaint — such as the slow speed of a bank line — phrase it in a lighthearted, joking manner. People are less likely to want to interact with you if you seem negative.
2. Target the person’s interests, and match his/her communications style. Your primary goal early in small talk is to make those you speak with feel comfortable.
Does this person perk up when a particular topic comes up? Steer the dialog that way even if it’s not what you want to discuss. Is this person immediately open and warm or initially cool and reserved? Match his conversation style, body language and speaking tone.
Exception: Smile whether or not your conversation partner smiles back.
3. Listen for a key word (or phrase) that is in some way related to the topic that you would prefer to discuss with this person.
Example: If the person you’re chatting with is a potential employer and you need a job, listen for words such as employee, staff, hiring, manpower, associates, productivity or anything related to being busy or working long hours.
4. Refer back to this key word at the next natural break in the conversation. Subtly remind the person you are talking with that he/she said this word, then ask an open-ended question related to it that encourages the other person to speak.
This creates the impression that your conversation partner raised the subject, not you — which makes it less likely that this person will resist the transition…
or that he will become annoyed with you later if it becomes clear that you have a self-serving motive for discussing this subject.
Examples: Say, “You mentioned going in to the office this Sunday — is business that brisk?” if your goal is to steer the conversation toward giving you a job interview.
Or, “You mentioned the cold weather. Is your house hard to heat?” if you run a furnace-cleaning business.
5. Determine what the person believes he needs related to your topic of interest. Once you’ve steered the chat to the topic you wish to discuss, ask probing, open-ended questions that get at what your conversation partner needs in this area.
Examples: If your goal is to land a job interview, try to get potential employers to discuss what their companies most need.
If your goal is to convince a neighbor to take better care of his lawn, steer the conversation toward landscaping or home maintenance, then encourage the neighbor to talk about what he needs to better handle these chores.
Probing questions include, “What are your biggest challenges with that?”… “Why is that a problem?”…
“In the best of all possible worlds, what would you like to have happen?”… “What do you see as your options?”… “How is your current approach working?”
At this stage, do not attempt to offer solutions to any challenges mentioned (unless you are invited to do so)…
and do not criticize the person’s past or current strategies. Simply listen and think to yourself, How could I help this person solve this problem?
6. Link yourself to the person’s needs. Mention similar situations that you have been involved with in the past… or research that you have done in the area.
Resist the urge to bombard your listener with your experience or suggestions — this comes across as pushy.
Just provide a thumbnail sketch of your relevant background, then wait for the person to ask for your assistance or advice.
Example: “That’s interesting. I’ve worked as a consultant for 20 years, and I see companies facing precisely that issue all the time.”
If the person does not ask for your advice or assistance, take it as a hint that he does not want to discuss the matter any further.
Backup plan: If you cannot serve as the solution to this person’s needs, think about who else you know who could help.
Making a referral could establish you as someone who has this person’s interests in mind, strengthening the relationship.
7. Postpone further discussions if the person wants to get down to business right away and there are others present.
Exchange business cards or phone numbers, and set an appointment to consider the matter in greater depth, ideally within a week.
Declining to discuss serious matters in social settings prevents alienating others present… and reduces the impression that you were angling for this all along (even if you were).
8. Before parting, shift the conversation to something else that you have in common with this person. It’s okay if this is something minor that’s completely unrelated to the matter you have been discussing.
People who have multiple areas of common interest are much more likely to see one another as potential friends and allies than those who have only one thing in common.
Example: “Is that Cadillac CTS yours? I drive a Cadillac myself.”
Personal interviewed Don Gabor, communications trainer based in New York City. His clients include Marriott Hotels, American Express, Time Inc. and Viacom. He is author of several books on communications, including Turn Small Talk into Big Deals (McGraw-Hill Professional). http://www.dongabor.com
August 13th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
Say, there, baby, “panted the office stud to the brand-mew typist, “do you happen to know the difference between a Big Ma and a blow job?”
“Wh-wh-what?” spluttered the young thing,
“OK, then,” grinned the fellow, “how about lunch tomorrow?
August 13th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
That was a Big Mac not Big Ma
August 13th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
This is Dr. Laura Schlessinger discussing Race with a black woman married to a white man. You can listen live by clicking on (via MediaMatters)
1. Notice how she doesn’t find it racist for a white man to come over and continually ask a black woman to be responsible for anyone black that does something he disagrees with.
2. Notice how she claims that most blacks voted for Obama because he was black. But she would have claimed a black person was playing the “race card” if that person said that most republicans and whites vote for the white person over any OTW candidate because of the candidate’s race.
Plus she left out the obvious that after 43 white men who did everything in their power to continue AFFIRMATIVE ACTION for whites, any thinking OTW logically should have arrived at the conclusion that a CHANGE in that office was due.
So, yes, most blacks voted for Obama because he was black. But that was because they were voting for a CHANGE. Meaning, some other person besides a white man occupying the Presidency.
It just so happens Obama was black, he could have be female or any other PERSON except a WHITE MALE.
But Schlessinger chose to play the “race card” and assume that it was because he was black.
That is the typical reaction from whites, they make that assumption because they themselves are so used to reflectively siding with other whites.
Case in point. When the evidence was not sufficient to convict O.J. Simpson,, whites jumped to claim that the verdict was because he was black.
Any observation of the numerous times that all white juries allow white policemen to frame, maim or murder OTWs and get off should answer why they made that reflect conclusion so naturally.
Whites know that those all white juries were being biased towards their white defendants. They are morally dishonest, because they claim there was not sufficient evidence for the all white jury to find otherwise.
So since they do it, for them, it is no great leap to suspect other races of doing it.
That is the main reason why the republican party and other sick or greedy or opportunistic white politicians can count on making white voters believe that Obama will help OTWs before he helps them.
Those Whites know that the other 43 white presidents, favorited them over OTWs. That is just an obvious fact.
Unless someone wants to argue that the AFFIRMATIVE ACTION position whites hold today is because of their superior skills in all fields and endeavors in the US A.
3. Finally I would like to add that whites especially the racists and bigots hate the fact that Blacks took the sting out of the word nigger by making it their own privately endearing word.
They just can’t stand it! Once again, the Black has turned their evil into a success story. “Nigger” is owned exclusively by African Americans. All others us it at your own peril.
Dr. Laura would have found that out had she not been hiding in a studio when she used it on the black woman. It was her moment of glory as a white racist and bigot.
For most surely had she had the nerve to use it in front of that same black woman, within her reach, she would had gotten a well deserved ass kicking. Black body guard not withstanding.
She knows that and every white person listening to that broadcast knew that. They could feel the desire of that black woman to reach into that radio and snatch a knot into that racist hypocrites’s ass.
She must have been told by her black body guard that if she didn’t apologize on air, some black woman would take it upon herself to adjust her attitude sooner or later.
As far as black women were concerned, Dr. Laura was due for and ass kicking. So the scared racist apologized. It was not genuine only self serving.
She was she was afraid of losing ratings. She knew her nigger tirade raised her ratings because she did what every gutless racist would like to do, call a Black person a nigger to their face.
No, she did it for the same reasons those other gutless racists don’t do it, to prevent the eventual ass kicking she is due.
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Now you be the judge: Here is Dr. Laura at her best.
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Dr. Laura Schlessinger has apologized after a shocking rant on her radio show this week during which she said the n-word 11 times over the course of five minutes.
In conversation Tuesday with a black female caller who was complaining about her white husband’s racist friends and their use of the word, Schlessinger said:
Black guys use it all the time. Turn on HBO and listen to a black comic, and all you hear is n****, n*****, n*****. I don’t get it.
If anybody without enough melanin says it, it’s a horrible thing. But when black people say it, it’s affectionate. It’s very confusing.
LISTEN (via MediaMatters):
After a break, the caller said she was appalled by Schlessinger’s use of the word.
“Oh, then I guess you don’t watch HBO or listen to any black comedians,” she said. “My dear, the point I am trying to make…we’ve got a black man as president and we’ve got more complaining about racism than ever. I think that’s hilarious.”
Schlessinger and the caller then got into an exchange about the use of the word:
CALLER: Is it OK to say that word? Is it ever OK to say that word?
DR. LAURA: It depends how it’s said. Black guys talking to each other seem to think it’s ok.
CALLER: But you’re not black, they’re not black, my husband is white.
DR. LAURA: Oh, I see, so a word is restricted to race. Got it. Can’t do much about that.
CALLER: I can’t believe someone like you is on the radio spewing out the n***** word, and I hope everybody heard it.
DR. LAURA: I didn’t spew out the n***** word!
CALLER: You said “n*****, n*****, n*****” and I hope everybody heard it.
DR. LAURA: Yes they did, and I’ll say it again: n*****, n*****, n***** is what you hear on HBO.
[Crosstalk]
DR. LAURA: Why don’t you let me finish a sentence? Don’t take things out of context. Don’t NAACP me, leave them in context.
“If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry outside of your race,” Schlessinger said after hanging up with the caller.
LISTEN (via MediaMatters):
She apologized the next day, opening her show with an apology.
“Yesterday, I did the wrong thing,” she said. “I didn’t intend to hurt people, but I did. And that makes it the wrong thing to have done.
I was attempting to make a philosophical point, and I articulated the “n” word all the way out – more than one time. And that was wrong. I’ll say it again – that was wrong.”
Schlessinger said she “was so upset [she] could not finish the show.”
“I pulled myself off the air at the end of the hour,” she said. “I had to finish the hour, because 20 minutes of dead air doesn’t work. I am very sorry. And it just won’t happen again.”
August 13th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
Did anyone find this comment interesting, given the context? “If you’re that hypersensitive about color and don’t have a sense of humor, don’t marry outside of your race.”
Shouldn’t she have said in that last phrase, “don’t marry a black person”? It would have made more sense in the context, which was a discussion of the propriety of using the N-word, because it was about sensitivity to using that particular word.
There was no apparent prior discussion about interracial relationships generally.
By instead using the phrase, “don’t marry outside your race,” she committed a Freudian slip that suggests that her motivation for attacking the double-standard on its use is motiviated by an otherwise-well-hidden preference for racial “purity” and segregation. Sounds like she let fly more than she wanted to.
August 13th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Wow, I didn’t even know she was still on the air.
Look, that word is “owned” exclusively by African Americans and most normal people have accepted that fact. They justifiably stole it from the racists who created it.
The only whites who can use it are actors and comedians and even then they have to be very careful with context. Members of the Anger Party just won’t accept that they lost their hateful little word. Grow up conservatives.
August 13th, 2010 at 4:58 pm
Anonymous #5 – So agreed. “Dr.” Laura is an ass, and always has been. I didn’t even know she was on the air…she’s an arrogant ass.
August 13th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
Chris Rock does a great rant on when its appropriate for a white person to use the N word, check it on youtube. I agree wth the main dude, Dr L…she’s an arrogant ass and an assumptive biagge as well. – ZL
August 13th, 2010 at 8:52 pm
You niggers are too sensitive. We invented the word nigger for a reason. We owned you and an owner can call his property what he wants to.
George
August 13th, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Robert you nailed it about that apology from the hypocrite Dr. Laura.
I am a black woman who would have been willing to do time like Oprah in the “Color Purple.” It would have been worth it to whoop that hypocrite’s ass.
If the otws on the jury had any balls, they would let me off with an admonishmentI to the white world not to believe what their lying eyes were telling them. The defendant was defending herself like those white policemen who get off were.
Madison
August 13th, 2010 at 9:13 pm
House Votes to Save and Create 319,000 Jobs;
Groundbreaking at the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco
August 13, 2010
House Votes to Save and Create 319,000 Jobs
On Tuesday, the House passed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act to save and create nearly 320,000 American jobs. This legislation will save 161,000 teaching jobs, including 16,500 teacher positions here in California – just in time for the coming school year.
The Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act is completely paid-for, in part by closing costly tax loopholes that encourage corporations to ship American jobs overseas.
In fact, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that this bill will reduce the deficit by $1.4 billion over 10 years. After passing the House by a vote of 247 to 161, this bill was signed into law by President Obama.
Republicans in Congress would rather support the deficit-busting Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest few than provide funds urgently needed to prevent law enforcement officers, teachers, firefighters, and nurses from losing their jobs.
Democrats are committed to moving America forward – creating good-paying American jobs and providing tax cuts for the middle-class. We are not going back.
Groundbreaking at the Transbay Transit Center in San Francisco
On Wednesday, I was proud to attend the groundbreaking of the Transbay Transit Center, a new transit and high-speed rail station in downtown San Francisco.
The multi-modal station will serve 11 transportation systems – increasing public transit options, reducing congestion on our roads, and cutting carbon emissions.
Through this strong public-private partnership, the Transbay Transit Center will create 48,000 new jobs, including as many as 500 jobs this year.
Congresswoman Pelosi joins Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Mayor Gavin Newsom, Senator Barbara Boxer, Chairman George Miller, and local leaders to break ground on the new Transbay Transit Center.
For generations, San Francisco and California have stood as beacons of innovation for the nation and the world. In breaking ground on the Transbay Transit Center, we are taking another step forward for the workers and families of San Francisco, the Bay Area, and California. Their hopes are riding on us.
Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my Web site. I am now on Twitter http://twitter.com/SpeakerPelosi.
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
August 13th, 2010 at 9:21 pm
Taking vitamins and still feeling tired and run down?
Check this out.
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Hidden dangers of Celiac disease
If you’re suffering from celiac disease, check your vitamins–because a new study shows that you could be missing more than the ability to enjoy gluten.
You could be badly lacking in critical nutrients.
Researchers from the University of Alberta in Canada checked 43 celiac patients between 3 and 18 years of age, and found that fewer than half of them had healthy levels of vitamins K and D.
The low K levels are probably due to the fact that celiac patients often have a hard time absorbing vitamins. The low D levels could be for the same reason–but they could also simply mean these kids are just like the rest of us.
After all, the sunshine vitamin is one of the world’s leading nutritional deficiencies.
Combined, those low levels of D and K put these children at risk for a lifetime of trouble–including osteoporosis and other bone problems.
And that means in addition to eating more foods rich in vitamin K, young celiac patients should spend a little more time outside. It’s good advice for adults with celiac, too, since odds are they’re facing some of the same nutritional problems.
Celiac disease, which is basically a gluten allergy, impacts roughly 3 million Americans–and many of them suffer for up to a decade before they’re properly diagnosed.
That allergy often causes celiac patients to suffer from terrible diarrhea, bloating, gas, malnutrition, fatigue and more. And while there is no cure, the disease can be controlled very well through careful diet.
Big Pharma, on the other hand, thinks you need drugs–and they’re hard at work on meds and even vaccines for celiac sufferers. Most of these drugs in development only allow disease sufferers to eat small amounts of gluten… and there’s no word on what the side effects may be.
But that hasn’t stopped them from banking on these meds– they expect them to reach market by 2014, and do $8 billion in sales by 2019.
Don’t wait for these meds–because today, it’s easier than ever for kids and adults alike to live a fulfilling gluten- free lifestyle.
Food labels now have warnings for potential allergy risks, making it easier to spot ingredients like gluten. In addition, there’s a huge number of gluten-free products now on the market. Adults can even quaff gluten-free beer. And today, many restaurants will be happy to provide a gluten- free meal (just be sure to call ahead and ask).
I know plenty of celiac disease patients who wish they could eat “normal” foods, but remember: a good gluten-free diet is rich in fresh vegetables, fruits and natural meats and low in carbs, cakes and processed foods.
In other words, it’s a very healthy lifestyle if you can stick to it–whether you have the disease or not.
August 13th, 2010 at 9:24 pm
George
I’m one white girl who would pay good money to see you say the N word to a black person without a gun or 50 white bigots with you.
No such luck, though, huh? It’s something cowards like you and Dr. Laura can only do when you know you can’t be touched.
Lois
August 13th, 2010 at 9:38 pm
Just how crooked are these big banks. When are their CEO’s going to be charged with criminal acts?
========================
Wells Fargo Overdraft Lawsuit: Bank Ordered To Pay $203 MILLION In Fees Over ‘Unfair’ Charges
First Posted: 08-11-10 05:26 PM | Updated: 08-11-10 05:28 PM
NEW YORK (AP, Eileen Aj Connelly) — A federal judge in California ordered Wells Fargo & Co. to change what he called “unfair and deceptive business practices” that led customers into paying multiple overdraft fees, and to pay $203 million back to customers.
In a decision handed down late Tuesday, U.S. District Judge William Alsup accused Wells Fargo of “profiteering” by changing its policies to process checks, debit card transactions and bill payments from the highest dollar amount to the lowest, rather than in the order the transactions took place.
That helped drain customer bank accounts faster and drive up overdraft fees, a policy Alsup referred to as “gouging and profiteering.”
The ruling detailed the experiences of two Wells Fargo customers who used their debit cards for multiple small purchases, and were then charged hundreds in overdraft fees because the order the purchases were cleared by the bank depended on the amounts.
The judge found the customers, who were part of a class action, were not properly informed of the bank’s policies on processing payments and were unaware the bank would allow debit purchases to go through when their accounts were overdrawn.
“Internal bank memos and e-mails leave no doubt that, overdraft revenue being a big profit center, the bank’s dominant, indeed sole, motive was to maximize the number of overdrafts,” Alsup wrote.
That policy would “squeeze as much as possible” from customers with overdrafts, in particular from the 4 percent of customers who paid what he called “a whopping 40 percent of its total overdraft and returned-item revenue.”
The judge dismissed Wells Fargo’s arguments that customers wanted and benefited from the policies, and detailed evidence he said showed efforts to obscure the practices in statements and other materials.
Wells Fargo’s online banking system, for example, would display pending purchases in chronological order, “leading customers to believe that the processing would take place in that order.”
“The supposed net benefit of high-to-low resequencing is utterly speculative,” he wrote. “Its bone-crushing multiplication of additional overdraft penalties, however, is categorically assured.”
Alsup also criticized the bank for allowing overdraft purchases after accounts had been drained by offering a “shadow line of credit” that customers were unaware existed.
The decision noted that the Federal Reserve has outlawed some of the practices detailed in the case, most notably debit card overdrafts permitted without customers agreeing to accept overdraft protection.
Judge Alsup ordered Wells Fargo to stop posting transactions in high-to-low order by Nov. 30 and to reverse overdraft fees charged to customers from Nov. 15, 2004, to June 30, 2008, as a result of the policy. A study cited in the decision by a Wells Fargo witness put the restitution at “close to $203 million.”
Wells Fargo spokeswoman Rochele Messick said the bank is “disappointed” with the ruling. “We don’t believe the ruling is in line with the facts of this case and we plan to appeal,” she said.
Messick noted that Wells Fargo changed its policies earlier this year, and customers can no longer incur more than four overdraft charges in one day.
Wells Fargo shares closed Wednesday trading down $1.47, or 5.3 percent, at $26.30, as the broader markets dropped sharply on economic concerns, with banks being particularly hard hit.
The case, heard in the U.S. District Court for Northern California, is Gutierrez vs. Wells Fargo.
===========================
If one of us pulled off a scam like this we would be defending ourselves in a criminal court.
Scott
August 13th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
These last weeks have been historic in the fight for civil rights.
In a momentous decision, Judge Vaughn Walker agreed with Attorney General Jerry Brown’s analysis that Proposition 8 violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution.
Following in a proud line of civil rights decisions, Perry v. Schwarzenegger clearly articulates the harm done by Prop. 8 to the LGBT community, and states that there is simply no rational basis to deny gay and lesbian couples equal rights.
Today, Judge Walker lifted the stay on his decision. Unless a higher court imposes a stay, marriages can resume across California on Wednesday, August 18th.
This is the right decision; no one should have to wait to exercise their fundamental rights. As William Gladstone once said, “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Both Attorney General Brown and I have come to the same conclusion. If I am given the privilege of being elected to serve as Attorney General, the oath that I swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States simply would not allow me to defend Prop. 8 in court.
I stand in sharp contrast to my opponent, Steve Cooley, who has repeatedly stated that he would vigorously defend Prop. 8. If elected Attorney General, Mr. Cooley intends to use the full weight and resources of the California Attorney General’s Office to stand as a roadblock to civil rights.
California’s next Attorney General will play a pivotal role as this case continues through the court system. I reaffirm my opposition to discrimination against the LGBT community, and we will stand together in this fight. Whether through the courts or the ballot box, my commitment to justice will not waver.
In this election, the stakes for justice are high. I hope you will join me in the fight to achieve full equality for all Californians.
Sincerely,
Kamala Harris
August 13th, 2010 at 10:01 pm
Over the years, I’ve become like a broken record, telling you to avoid bottled water at all costs.
That’s because we actually know less about bottled water than the tap water in your faucets. To make matters worse, there are no sanitation requirements for bottled water processing plants.
Plus, the bottles themselves may be contributing to the contamination of the water inside.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a component of many plastics, including plastic water bottles and researchers have discovered that BPA can leach out of plastic bottles into the liquid they contain, contaminating your beverage.
August 13th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
Michelle:
Harris left this morning. I had the most wonderful time of my life. I mean that. The guy was marvelous. I have been invited to his home to meet his family. I’m a bit uneasy about it, I will admit.
I will take your advice and keep our movements secret. But I will give the 411 after the event. We agreed I could. I told him I consider this blog to be my peeps.
Even you George, in your way are familiar. You are the mean relative everybody loves to dis.
But now that I have the time to address my peeps. Here is some unpleasant health news being circulated here in London.
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LONDON — People traveling to India for medical procedures have brought back to Britain a new gene that allows any bacteria to become a superbug, and scientists are warning this type of drug resistance could soon appear worldwide.
Though already widespread in India, the new superbug gene is being increasingly spotted in Britain and elsewhere. Experts warn the booming medical tourism industries in India and Pakistan could fuel a surge in antibiotic resistance, as patients import dangerous bugs to their home countries.
The superbug gene, which can be swapped between different bacteria to make them resistant to most drugs, has so far been identified in 37 people who returned to the U.K. after undergoing surgery in India or Pakistan.
The resistant gene has also been detected in Australia, Canada, the U.S., the Netherlands and Sweden.
The researchers say since many Americans and Europeans travel to India and Pakistan for elective procedures like cosmetic surgery, it was likely the superbug gene would spread worldwide.
In an article published online Wednesday in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases, doctors reported finding a new gene, called NDM-1. The gene alters bacteria, making them resistant to nearly all known antibiotics.
It has been seen largely in E. coli bacteria, the most common cause of urinary tract infections, and on DNA structures that can be easily copied and passed onto other types of bacteria.
The researchers said the superbug gene appeared to be already circulating widely in India, where the health system is much less likely to identify its presence or have adequate antibiotics to treat patients.
“The potential of NDM-1 to be a worldwide public health problem is great, and coordinated international surveillance is needed,” the authors wrote.
Still, the numbers of people who have been identified with the superbug gene remains very small.
“We are potentially at the beginning of another wave of antibiotic resistance, though we still have the power to stop it,” said Christopher Thomas, a professor of molecular genetics at the University of Birmingham who was not linked to the study.
Thomas said better surveillance and infection control procedures might halt the gene’s spread.
Thomas said while people checking into British hospitals were unlikely to encounter the superbug gene, they should remain vigilant about standard hygiene measures like properly washing their hands.
“The spread of these multi-resistant bacteria merits very close monitoring,” wrote Johann Pitout of the division of microbiology at the University of Calgary, Canada, in an accompanying Lancet commentary.
Pitout called for international surveillance of the bacteria, particularly in countries that actively promote medical tourism.
“The consequences will be serious if family doctors have to treat infections caused by these multi-resistant bacteria on a daily basis,” he wrote.
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I know one shouldn’t start off with bad news, but in this instant, I thought you would want to know.
Evelyn
August 13th, 2010 at 10:26 pm
Just thought this might help lighten up the mood.
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August 14th, 2010 at 10:04 am
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