tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30798237489291684232024-02-07T11:41:49.281-07:002 Much 2 Do About NothingRandom Thoughts, Green Buzz, Motivation, Current Events, Healthy Cooking Ideas.
Come along and relax with Rho-Rho and enjoy the ride.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-78654123751673975102011-05-29T09:14:00.001-07:002011-05-29T09:15:45.982-07:00Memorial DayFor some of us the Memorial Day weekend is just another 3 day weekend
and the beginning of summer where we usually have friends and family
over for a barbeque.<br />
<br />
For others it's a little more than
just having a BBQ, it's also honoring and remembering all the men and
woman who gave their lives for our country.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGaB4GV7uNMIkQZRFmmMMnc4Q82L5i7FFLkHlHoBRMJT2MnCbJ4Dwf2v51b-pbZuIzQgoSRwXfROCU88xldN8RgM4T8ua_blnl0LaNhJkil_S38ftpyhbPouOgtiuEqja7k44MsPaOdw/s1600/memorialday1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrGaB4GV7uNMIkQZRFmmMMnc4Q82L5i7FFLkHlHoBRMJT2MnCbJ4Dwf2v51b-pbZuIzQgoSRwXfROCU88xldN8RgM4T8ua_blnl0LaNhJkil_S38ftpyhbPouOgtiuEqja7k44MsPaOdw/s200/memorialday1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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Some of these acts of kindness will go a long way:<br />
<ul><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nylon-stripes-embroidered-banner-bracket/dp/B000059MTP?ie=UTF8&tag=2much-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="30"X50" US Nylon flag with sewn stripes & embroidered stars with 5' wood pole banner Kit with bracket" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000059MTP&tag=2much-20" /></a>
<li>Write a member of the military. There are thousands of men and women
currently in harms way in Iraq, Afghanistan and other areas. Visit a
Million Thanks at www.amillionthanks.org to find out how you can
write them and brighten their day.</li>
<li>Spend your time doing something nice for the community: Volunteer.
Whether it's at the local animal shelter, nursing home, or giving blood,
volunteering is always appreciated. Plus, you will feel better that
you did.</li>
<li>Attend a morning memorial service at your local cemetery. There is
no better way to start off the day than remembering why it is celebrated
in the first place. Your newspaper should have a schedule of start
times, but if not, just pick up the phone and call the cemetery. Place
flags and flowers at the grave sites.</li>
<li>Fly the US Flag. <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=2much-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000059MTP" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /></li>
<li> At 3 p.m. local time on each Memorial Day, pause for one minute to
remember those who have given their all for us. Participation can be as
simple as a moment of silence; ringing a bell or reading the names for
each family member who has served in the military and died; or the
playing of Taps.</li>
</ul>
And Most Important:<br />
<ul>
<li>Take time out of your day to stop and thank someone who has served
our country in the military. It's a simple thing to do, yet I've heard
from so many veterans, that a simple act of gratitude means more to them
than most people realize.</li>
</ul>
<br />
After you have shown your respect you then can get ready for the BBQ:<br />
<br />
Memorial Day Recipes:<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Here are a couple of favorite recipes that
you can try when you fire up the grill this coming weekend.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> I've always
been a big fan of lamb and the following grilled lamb recipe is one of
my favorites</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHiWgIpjwVNRwl75ytuPwAqyE8hHa_TSMI72U58adYnW_bdyLe8M80eOFVXkaTCE3cZ1cY264OoUpYp4uSt-Hl4i5cGnb4tf40ZtVoyJUWJ2yT42mLH825fGtfyp5vdiTKwRVVL4ZMcs/s1600/grilled+lamb.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHiWgIpjwVNRwl75ytuPwAqyE8hHa_TSMI72U58adYnW_bdyLe8M80eOFVXkaTCE3cZ1cY264OoUpYp4uSt-Hl4i5cGnb4tf40ZtVoyJUWJ2yT42mLH825fGtfyp5vdiTKwRVVL4ZMcs/s200/grilled+lamb.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Grilled Lamb Chops with Brown Sugar Glaze</b></span><br />
<ul style="list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding: 0px;">
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">1/4 cub brown sugar</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1 teaspoon ground black pepper</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1 teaspoon garlic powder</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">2 teaspoons ground ginger</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">2 teaspoons dried tarragon</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1 teaspoon ground cinnamon</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">1/2 teaspoon salt</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">4 lamb chops</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Directions:</span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Mix together all of the seasonings above (the
brown sugar, black pepper, garlic powder, ginger, tarragon, cinnamon and
salt)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Rub the lamp chops with the seasonings and place on a
covered plate in the refrigerator for about an hour</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Preheat the
grill on high</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Brush the grill with oil and place lamb chops on
the grill</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;">Cook 5 minutes on each side</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<u>Grilled Tequila-Lime Shrimp </u><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0LpSAvDamktnA3iS5w8dnZAP8j3EY8_CF5SXISVtAO7JG7aNDa13_AUyDBrEuZkSAjjhR5ZD-tg_JaysNMiCPcB41uZ3-N2hYOG8ual7KAUBnvVu92iNwNZ6Es-3Y4qi3uwQ-WokK7UI/s1600/shrimp.jpg" /><br />
<div class="ingredients" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Ingredients</span></h3>
<ul>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
2 tablespoons lime juice</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
2 tablespoons tequila</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
1/4 cup olive oil</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
1 pinch garlic salt</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
1 pinch ground cumin</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
ground black pepper to taste</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
6 (10 inch) wooden skewers</span></li>
<li class="plaincharacterwrap ingredient"><span style="font-size: x-small;">
1 large lime, quartered</span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<div style="border-top: 1px dotted rgb(204, 204, 204); margin-top: 20px; width: 300px;">
</div>
<div class="directions" style="margin-top: 10px;">
<h3>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">
Directions</span></h3>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Whisk together the lime juice, tequila, olive oil,
garlic salt, cumin, and black pepper in a bowl until well blended. Pour
into a large resealable plastic bag; add the shrimp, seal bag and turn
to coat evenly. Refrigerate 1 to 4 hours before grilling.
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Soak skewers at least 30 minutes in water to prevent burning.
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Preheat outdoor grill for medium-high heat. Lightly
oil grill grate, and place about 4 inches from heat source.
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Drain and discard marinade from shrimp. Thread shrimp onto prepared skewers, 5 to 6 per skewer.
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="plaincharacterwrap break">
Cook, uncovered, on preheated grill until shrimp
turn pink, turning once, for 5 to 7 minutes. Serve with lime wedges for
garnish.
</span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-62189072156362135762011-05-06T19:59:00.001-07:002011-05-06T20:00:03.961-07:00Happy Mother's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Mother’s Day is the right time and a perfect occasion to treat your mom.
Though we owe every single day to our mothers, a special day to
celebrate mom is Mother’s Day. She cares for us in the best possible
manner each day. Happy Mother's Day to all those Mom's out there.
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-65366032005005107942011-04-03T15:30:00.001-07:002011-04-03T15:31:25.309-07:00What Age Are We Happiest?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXQJh2aZmCW3ZUSU1MNUCr9XI7IOnFy8qAfUWPb07yYJInksHZNFQPWQ10LGobd7eQK5LoXNSKRXCFhBZ0BWRF4s6w8LHWB3QgJZov-cuM9f9H_1FhB8yuwOadYm9_VVp02hd4S5-ivs/s1600/happyface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuXQJh2aZmCW3ZUSU1MNUCr9XI7IOnFy8qAfUWPb07yYJInksHZNFQPWQ10LGobd7eQK5LoXNSKRXCFhBZ0BWRF4s6w8LHWB3QgJZov-cuM9f9H_1FhB8yuwOadYm9_VVp02hd4S5-ivs/s320/happyface.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Wait a second before you buy that <b>"over the hill" </b>cake for your buddy's 40th birthday: Research shows that satisfaction and optimism actually increase after we reach<b> middle age</b>, and peak as late as our 80s. Why? Responsibilities ease, maturity increases, and we are often able to focus on doing the things we enjoy. Of course, it helps to be in <b>good health</b>, have a <b>stable income</b>, and <b>enjoy good relationships</b> <b>with friends and family</b> when we hit old age, the Telegraph notes.<br />
<br />
Most people are <b>"averagely happy" </b>in their teens and twenties, but that declines as they start supporting a family and working at a career, says Lewis Wolpert, who wrote about the research findings in a new book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004U4RX16?ie=UTF8&tag=2much-20&linkCode=xm2&creativeASIN=B004U4RX16">You're Looking Very Well</a>.<br />
<br />
But then, he says, "from the mid-40s, people tend to become ever more cheerful and optimistic." One survey of 341,000 people found that life enjoyment started rising in the late 40s, and peaked at age 85. <a href="http://www.newser.com/story/115042/what-age-are-we-happiest.html">Source</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-35712295458480775442011-01-23T17:27:00.001-07:002011-01-23T17:28:17.803-07:00Ecotheraphy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAtY1u5__6n77oBfVDpMMg3cDVWWA2Ic-m27MGR2fHAbE3qOYnBLtMCY5-qilUX7QqeFrXat1xwxQI8YlLHAzSvgHOEPT2CK4dKTjVL6U3kXhKY9usZ6yaoQGkqGHs_sruOB0HVZBWOI/s1600/Ecotherapy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixAtY1u5__6n77oBfVDpMMg3cDVWWA2Ic-m27MGR2fHAbE3qOYnBLtMCY5-qilUX7QqeFrXat1xwxQI8YlLHAzSvgHOEPT2CK4dKTjVL6U3kXhKY9usZ6yaoQGkqGHs_sruOB0HVZBWOI/s1600/Ecotherapy.jpg" /></a></div>
<b>Once upon a time </b><br />
Once upon a time people lived in a different kind of harmony with nature. Except for the aristocracy who lived in castles and lords who collected taxes on land, most people all over the world prayed for rain and sun in the summer in order to grow a bounty of crops.<br />
There were no grocery stores and local farmers markets and in the winter, we can imagine, people learned how to stave off colds and bulk up fat reserves to make it through to the next spring.<br />
Chances are, if you were born any time before the industrial revolution, most of your energy was spent on survival. Imagine... if you weren't busy collecting, growing or storing your food, time was probably used for finding firewood, maintaining your home or shelter and doing tedious chores to maintain life.<br />
<br />
<b>Nowadays</b><br />
<br />
In the last hundred years or so, it seems as though we have made our lives a whole lot better by inventing machines that can do our dirty work, allowing us to focus on matters more spiritual in nature (or so we think.) We have dishwashers, cars, computers and communication and bank machines - our society has given birth to a whole new generation of people who don't even need to ever leave the house.<br />
Relying on the tools of computers, digital farmers like me, can even work from the comfort of our living rooms, ordering food and supplies through the phone or Internet. When our food arrives in boxes and packaging, we can nuke it in the microwave and wash it down with an energy drink fortified with all the vitamins we will ever need.<br />
<br />
With so many possibilities, and free time for creativity and introspection (we don't even have to cook,) why is it that there is so much unrest and dissatisfaction among people today? And worse, researchers find as a nation becomes more westernized, the incidences of mental illness and other diseases skyrocket.<br />
<br />
<b>Ecotherapy</b><br />
Was sickness always there and people didn't notice it, or is it possible that disease is related to the earth, nature and the condition of the world in general? These are the kind of questions ecotherapists ask.<br />
In the realm of mental health practitioners, most believe that sickness comes about when a person 'disconnects' between how they act and how they process the impact of their actions. As the person spirals out of connection between what they do and how their actions affect those around them – long-term harm and a serious pathological illness can ensue.<br />
Some proponents of ecotherapy suggest that instead of taking anti-depressants and other pills, we might do ourselves good by going outdoors in nature. This approach acknowledges that people in industrialized and western cultures, are trapped in a cycle of abuse - disconnected from and damaging nature. <br />
The abuse is everywhere: glaciers melting from global warming are harming animals and their habitat; pesticides in produce and on our lawns are causing cancer; factory pollutants are giving people asthma. This list goes on and on.<br />
Taking a down-to-earth approach for teaching the tenets of ecotherapy is ecopsychologist Craig Chalquist from the Sonoma State and John F. Kennedy Universities. He has started a website to collect ecotherapy 'best practices' to help our future survival on the planet.<br />
He says, "With all the urgent talk about peak oil and a post-carbon future, we hear very little addressing the social or psychological implications of living in such a world. And yet what point is survival if we don't survive whole?<br />
"My thought is that rather than waiting around for the empire to fall, or spending a fortune stockpiling bullets and dried apricots, why not see all this as an opportunity to experiment with practices that have been used the world over by people in peaceful communities: conflict resolution, the practice of council, clear communications skills, indigenous ways of knowing, town hall democracy, practical psychology and restorative justice."<br />
<br />
<b>Getting out in nature </b><br />
<b> </b>
There are two approaches to ecotherapy: one is earth-centered and teaches that being in wild nature will help remind us that we are a part of the world and not its dominators.<br />
When one can actually feel as though the earth is part of oneself, it becomes easier for us to do things that can sustain and heal the earth.<br />
A second path in ecotherapy is a person-centered approach where the ecotherapist recognizes that first the individual needs to be treated.<br />
Using wild nature as a means for reflection, the individual is encouraged to reconnect spiritually, with sustaining earth to be the next step in the healing process.<br />
<br />
<b>The proof is in the research</b><br />
Recent research published in Britain confirms what we might have known all along: country walks can bring startling reductions in depression and raise self-esteem. The University of Essex compared how a 30-minute walk in the country compared to a walk in an indoor shopping centre.<br />
After the country walk, 71 percent of the people reported a decreased feeling of depression and said they felt less tense. This finding was in contrast to 45 percent of the people who felt a decrease in depression after the shopping centre walk, with 22 percent of the people of the shopping center group saying they felt more depressed after the walk.<br />
Cheaper than anti-depressant drugs, walking in the countryside has no side effects and is readily available on most everyone's doorstep.<br />
Some countries in Europe have taken the ecotherapy approach to heart and have started using it in farms to treat mental distress. In Holland, they send mentally ill patients to be 'prescribed' workers on one of 600 nation-wide farms as a bona fide component of the healing process.<br />
The center Mind that helped publish this study describes ecotherapy as "getting outdoors and getting active in a green environment as a way of boosting mental well-being." Although some of the ideas taught by ecotherapy seem obvious, some deeper philosophical aspects deserve reflection.<br />
Paul Farmer, head of the center Mind, says ecotherapy will be an important part of the treatment used by mental health professionals in the future: "It is a credible, clinically-valid treatment option and needs to be prescribed by GPs, especially when for many people access to treatments other than anti-depressants is extremely limited." courtesy of <a href="http://www.ecoseed.org/en/living-green/health/article/50-health/8876-ecotherapy">ecoseed</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-25156319250241651812011-01-02T14:41:00.001-07:002011-01-02T14:42:46.515-07:00Declutter- Get Ready for 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year! If you're like most of us, by now you've written your
New Year's resolutions, which could include anything from losing weight
to changing jobs, finding a mate, saving more, spending less or finding a
few extra minutes every day for yourself.<br />
<br />
Before you even think about embarking on any of them, consider this fundamental truth: <i>you can't move forward if you're stuck where you are. </i><br />
<br />
It's time to move forward, to blast your way out of the past, clear
out whats clogging the hallways, hearts and memories of your life.<br />
<br />
<br />
Get ready for 2011, <a href="http://d93c9z1qoc4ay9k6vju2vardqj.hop.clickbank.net/">declutter</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Throw out 20 things from your home and your mind.<br />
<br />
1. Magazines more than 3 months old, they are fire hazards<br />
2. Old receipts clogging the kitchen drawer, you know which drawer I mean !<br />
3. Keys that seem to have no locks that match, They haven't had for years, maybe decades!<br />
4. The belief that you are alone<br />
5. Trying to please everyone<br />
6. Stale spices & ingredients<br />
7. Medicines for conditions you no longer have or that are expired<br />
8. A single sock, glove or earring, it's mate is not going to be coming back !<br />
9. Thinking that if you let go of the memorabilia, you'll lose the memories<br />
10. The times you messed up<br />
11. Thinking you have to have all the answers<br />
12. T-shirts from the company outing you grudgingly attended two weeks before you were laid off<br />
13. Thinking you are always right<br />
14. The belief that your best days are behind you<br />
15. Clothes that no longer fit<br />
16. The need for everyone to like you<br />
17. Make-up in shades you no longer wear or can't be found in nature !<br />
18. Twisty ties, random paper clips and safety pins<br />
19. Wire clothes hangers<br />
20. Books that you will get to someday<br />
<br />
Take control of your life, declutter.<br />
Tossing things we don't need can free up more than closet space.<br />
The stress in your face and body will ease and your confidence will return.<br />
Things start to fall into place in every area of your life when you declutter ...<br />
Have fun while you declutter, you will be glad you did !<br />
<br />
<br />
So, about those New Year's Resolutions...<br />
Once you have a clear picture of what your future will be and you
systematically get rid of the clutter that's keeping you from getting
there, you'll be ready for just about anything. <br />
Lose the clutter, find your life.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-51924110085740033072010-12-14T12:02:00.001-07:002010-12-14T12:03:17.777-07:00Returning To The Workforce<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Can't believe I haven't written a blog article in almost a month but there has been good reason for that.<br />
<br />
After being<b> unemployed </b>for a little over <b>21 months</b> I am glad to say that I have <b>returned</b> to the workforce.<br />
<br />
Regardless of your length away from the workforce returning to the workforce after <b>long-term unemployment</b> can be daunting to say the least.<br />
<br />
You may not know what to expect and wonder if you can accomplish what you had previously.<br />
<br />
After being back at work for four weeks now I would like to share some tips that I feel would be very helpful to anyone returning back to work after long term unemployment.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Let others help you. You may feel a little frustrated
to have someone younger or less experienced than you "showing you the
ropes," but you may need some refreshers. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Leave your pride at the door.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Do not expect too much from yourself.</li>
</ul>
You
cannot expect that you will just be able to jump right back into your
field as if you had never left. It may take you a little while to get
acclimated again, and that is okay. You may be even in a new field. Expecting too much may make you
frustrated. It is natural that you may need a little time to return to
your previous output.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Make sure that you are mentally and physically prepared</li>
</ul>
Make sure that you get enough sleep
because you do not want to be tired. Even if you are used to staying up
late, you may need to adjust your hours if you have to get up early to
go to work. Also, you will not be able to eat any time you want so be
sure that you have a good meal before work.<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Try to be organized</li>
</ul>
Many who are returning to the workforce still have other responsibilities at home and with kids.
You may now have to juggle. Try to be as organized as possible in order
to accomplish this. Also, try to separate your work from your home life
so that you do not feel overwhelmed. When you are at work, focus on
that and do not get stressed about home.<br />
<br />
<br />
Returning to the
workforce after long-term unemployment can be challenging, but it is a
wonderful thing. Let yourself feel a sense of accomplishment. As time
passes, you will get accustomed to it, and it should become easier.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
Returning
to work after long-term unemployment is a big adjustment but it is the
beginning of a new chapter in your life. Hopefully, your new<span style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; position: static;"><span class="kLink" style="color: #009900; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-weight: 400; position: relative;"> <span style="color: black;">job</span></span></span> turns out to be the one you have always wanted, I know mine has.</div>
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Happy Holidays.......<br /><br /><a href="http://www.bukisa.com/articles/351262_going-back-to-work-after-long-term-unemployment#ixzz1877PtwDr" style="color: #003399;"></a></div>
</div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-40218394539070230462010-11-17T18:37:00.001-07:002010-11-17T18:38:24.017-07:00Prince William and Kate Middleton will live an ultra-modern - and ultra green - royal fairytale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The over-riding reason for <b>William and Kate’s </b>decision to spend their first few years of married life in remote North Wales, instead of in a royal residence, is that it will give them the privacy they will never know again.<br />
<br />
The couple have already been living as man and wife for several months on the island of Anglesey, where <b>William </b>is based at RAF Valley as a Sea King search and rescue pilot – although Kate ostensibly kept on her childhood bedroom at her parents’ house in Bucklebury, Berkshire.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
They are currently staying in a rented whitewashed farmhouse for which William pays £750 a month, and sources say there are no immediate plans to move.<br />
<br />
Clarence House has already sought legal help in protecting the location of their love-nest – we are even barred from saying how many bedrooms it has – but it is well off the beaten track with stunning views of Snowdonia and access to a private beach.<br />
<br />
The couple have used the property as a base to explore the island.<br />
<br />
Several pubs and restaurants have become regular destinations, including the award-winning White Eagle at Rhoscolyn on the north western tip of Anglesey.<br />
<br />
The couple have been seen gunning along the quiet country lanes on William’s red and white 180mph Ducati superbike.<br />
<br />
There have also been frequent trips to the Tesco supermarket in Holyhead.<br />
<br />
When in London the couple will have the use of an apartment at Clarence House.<br />
<br />
And after William finishes his three-year stint with the RAF he and Kate are expected to move into a six-bedroom house his father has had built at Harewood Park in Herefordshire.<br />
<br />
Situated in prime countryside between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye, the 900-acre estate was bought by the Duchy of Cornwall, which provides Prince Charles with his annual income, in 2000.<br />
<br />
In line with his father’s <b>green</b> principles, William’s new home has been built with every<b> eco-friendly</b> mod con available, including a reed-bed sewage system, wood chip boiler, <b>solar panels</b> and walls lined with insulating sheep’s wool. <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1330212/Kate-Middleton-Prince-William-live-ultra-green-royal-fairytale.html">Read Full Story</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-51770613323341544622010-11-04T16:33:00.001-07:002010-11-04T16:34:34.762-07:00Green On Facebook<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div>
<div style="background-color: transparent; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
Facebook unveiled <b>"Green on Facebook,"</b>
a page dedicated to spreading environmental awareness and other "green"
news, and in tandem announced its participation in the <b>Digital Energy Solutions Campaign</b>
(DESC), a nonprofit coalition of large technology companies and trade
groups designed to solving the problems of <b>environmental</b> degradation and
energy consumption. It's organized by the Information Technology
Industry Council.<br /></div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
Facebook is the latest digital giant to join the Digital Energy Solutions Campaign <b>(DESC)</b>, a nonprofit launched in 2008 that brings together leaders in the information technology industry to work on environmental and energy consumption issues. The social network joins Intel, Verizon, Sony, Cisco, AMD, Microsoft, and Hewlett-Packard in the campaign, which works on <b>sustainable</b> best practices for large technology companies.<br />
<br />
So why did <b>Facebook </b>join? "Our ongoing philosophy has been to improve the efficiency of our infrastructure and we continue to invest tremendous resources to improve our own operations," says Jonathan Heiliger, Vice President of Technical Operations at Facebook, in a statement. "By creating and sharing innovative technology solutions, we hope to help raise the visibility of the importance of <b>environmental sustainability</b> across all industries."<br />
<br />
And let's not forget that Facebook needs to save face--the network came under fire this year for relying on coal power at its new Pineville, Oregon data center.<br />
<br />
That's not to say Facebook isn't making some genuine attempts at sprucing up its <b>environmental </b>practices. As part of its DESC announcement, the company launched the <b>"Green on Facebook"</b> page, which highlights the company's "efforts to be a green and sustainable global citizen." So far, that includes Facebook's data center energy saving techniques, as well as environmental initiatives from a number of other companies. At the very least, the page might actually get large numbers of Facebook users (nearly 10,000 people have "liked" the page so far) excited about dry environmental topics--such as data center management. Source: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1700264/facebook-joins-verizon-sonny-microsoft-in-pro-green-coalition">Fastcompany</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-40438824651108217932010-10-31T21:39:00.001-07:002010-10-31T21:40:06.282-07:00Oprah Visits Yosemite National Park!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Not sure if you caught <b>Oprah</b> on Friday, but it focused on her trip to <b>Yosemite National Park</b>. Yes that's right, Oprah is in parks news.<br />
<br />
Yosemite National Park is about to get a whole lot of publicity. Yes, the Queen of the media, Oprah Winfrey, is dedicating two whole shows to her visit to Yosemite National Park with her bff, Gayle King. <br />
<br />
Winfrey noted that African-Americans don’t typically visit national park (than 2 percent of national park visitors) and at the invitation of Yosemite Ranger Shelton Johnson, an African-American who hopes to lure more African-Americans to the parks, decided to use her show to boost African American tourism. <br />
<br />
Shelton started with a letter in 2004 asking her to film a show from <b>Yosemite </b>to peak the interest of the African American audience and this month, <b>Oprah</b> surprised Shelton by pulling up in a trailer alongside her longtime friend, Gayle King.<br />
<br />
“To get her attention to not only respond to me, she’s responding to what I’m saying. She’s seeing that here we are in one of the most beautiful places in the world and a chunk of our population does not visit places like this and it’s a problem,” said Johnson. “It’s a problem in the sense that all Americans own the national park, but not all Americans are here. And she heard that and wanted to do something.”<br />
<br />
Rangers wanted Oprah to have an authentic camping experience, so she made her own campfire, cooked her own meals, mingled with other campers and even paid for her camping spot.<br />
<br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.sustainabilityninja.com/eco-news/oprah-goes-camping-at-yosemite-national-park-50251/"> The Sustainability Ninja</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-57431929281084540772010-10-21T14:52:00.001-07:002010-10-21T14:53:02.532-07:00Zynga Moves FarmVille From Facebook to iPhone to iPad<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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FarmVille, the real-time farming simulation game, is coming to the iPad. Think watching grass grow is a bore? Think again. The blockbuster Facebook app has engrossed more than 60 million fans around the globe and has become a popular iPhone app too. The move to the iPad marks a first for developer Zynga, which will earn estimated revenues of more than $500 million this year.<br />
<br />
What's significant isn't so much the release of FarmVille for iPad owners, but the rapid expansion of Zynga to new platforms. In a space once dominated by mammoth corporations such as Activision and EA, Zynga's massive success demonstrates that indie houses are becoming the most robust players in the app market. Only last week, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg lauded Zynga for its efforts as an "underdog" fighting established gaming companies. <br />
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What's more, Zynga illustrates the potential of cross-platform development. The company's apps are simple--basic graphics and gameplay that takes advantage of social media--but the scalability is endless. FarmVille started as a Facebook app before heading to the iPhone and now iPad. We should expect Zynga's full roster to join it soon--Mafia Wars, anyone?--and eventually make to Android and other platforms.<br />
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In the past, games took forever to port, with users having to wait months before popular games headed to the Xbox or PS3 or PC. In the app world, however, scale is not an issue of time.<br />
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All right, now I must get back to tending my crops. On the iPad. Courtesy of <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1696893/zynga-farmville-ipad-facebook-iphone"> Fastcompany</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-58836406625765095822010-10-17T11:43:00.001-07:002010-10-17T11:44:27.396-07:00Meatless Monday's<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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IF you eat meat every day of the week, you may soon find yourself dining alone if a new <b>health</b> and <b>environmental</b> movement has its way.<br />
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Dubbed <b>Meatless Mondays</b>, the worldwide initiative is about cutting back meat consumption once a week for the sake of your health, budget, animal welfare, global hunger and the environment.<br />
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Part-time vegetarians, or “flexitarians” as they’re known, say it’s not a vegetarian movement, but about meat eaters doing their bit.<br />
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“It’s a creative way of getting people to think about what they’re eating, as well as about the planet,” says public health advocate and yoga therapist Vinita Chopra, who co-founded Meatless Mondays Australia in December 2009 after the movement took off in the US.<br />
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“Not everybody can buy a hybrid car or cycle to work,” she says.<br />
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“It may not be appropriate or affordable for them, whereas this is something you can do in your home and actually help the environment and your health and well being at the same time.”<br />
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The Meatless Mondays movement was first launched in the US in 2003 by the Johns Hopkins School of Public Health, primarily as a health initiative to help Americans reduce their saturated fat intake by 15 per cent.<br />
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From 2006, it took on a wider and more urgent appeal when the United Nations released a report showing that the global livestock industry was responsible for 18 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions – more than the entire transport sector combined.<br />
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Since then, groups advocating reduced meat consumption have been springing up around the world, from Canada and Brazil to Japan and Taiwan.<br />
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Meat-free menus are now being promoted in hospitals and schools across Europe and the US.
In Baltimore alone, 80,000 schoolchildren dine meat-free in their cafeterias on Mondays, and in 2009 vegetarian Paul McCartney launched the Meat Free Monday campaign with his two daughters in the UK.<br />
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Other celebrities have jumped on the bandwagon, including Chris Martin, Gwyneth Paltrow, Ricky Gervais, Sir Richard Branson and Sheryl Crow, as well as chefs such as Spago’s Wolfgang Puck and Tal Ronnen (the chef behind Oprah Winfrey’s 21-day Cleanse).<br />
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Many restaurants now offer extra vegetarian options on Mondays, and even sustainable fishing advocates are getting in on the action. <a href="http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/body-soul/why-meat-free-mondays-are-good-for-you/story-e6frfot9-1225939570987">see full story</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WHY EAT LESS MEAT? </b></span> <a href="http://7b2c6rnjp85a12eepmklmnetck.hop.clickbank.net/">6 Incredible Soup Recipes</a><br />
You’ll boost your heath. Excess meat consumption is linked to heart disease, bowel and stomach cancer and diabetes.
You’ll lose weight.
You’ll save money.
You’ll reduce your <b>carbon footprint</b>.<br />
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<a href="http://www.meatlessmonday.com/meatless-monday-in-the-media/">Join the Monday Movement</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-13132549947220145952010-10-16T11:04:00.001-07:002010-10-16T11:05:27.142-07:00Clinton to Tech Innovators and Entrepreneurs: “We Want You”<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Feeling cooped up in that dingy old cube? Life seem a little meaningless? No worries. The <b>State Department </b>will be happy to send you to the far reaches of the planet to end violence, empower citizens, and bring peace and prosperity to the rest of the world.<br />
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Public officials swinging by <b>Silicon Valley</b> usually are on the prowl for precious campaign dollars. But Secretary of State <b>Hillary Clinton </b>made a point of stopping by the Bay Area on Friday night to ask for something completely different: the tech world’s energy and expertise. “The new communication tools that you and I use as a matter of course are helping to connect and empower civil society leaders, democracy activists, and everyday citizens,” Clinton said in a speech at San Francisco’s Commonwealth Club. “We need your help.”<br />
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You might have heard how, over the past couple of years, the <b>State Department </b>has been reaching out to the tech world for help with their diplomatic and development goals, particularly through delegations of tech innovators and entrepreneurs to places like Iraq, Russia, and Mexico, where they've explored how the the Internet, mobile phones, and other tech tools can be used to build democracy and combat violence. The initiatives have apparently been working so well that Clinton carved time out of her globe-trotting schedule to make a public speech—only her third since becoming the country’s top diplomat—to implore the Bay Area's innovators to join the State Department’s efforts. “Whether you care about Haiti … violence in Mexico from the drug cartels … national treasures in Iraq,” Clinton said, “we want you to know there’s a place for you.”<br />
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Part of our approach is to embrace new tools like using cellphones for mobile banking or to monitor elections. But we’re also reaching [out] to the people behind these tools, the innovators and the entrepreneurs themselves.<br />
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We know that many business leaders want to devote some of their companies’ expertise to solving problems around the world, but they often don’t know how to do that. What’s the point of entry? Which idea is going to have the most impact?<br />
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To bridge that gap, we are embracing new public-private partnerships that link the on-the-ground experience of our diplomats and development experts with the energy and resources of the business community.<br />
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Since taking office, Clinton has appointed a Special Representative for Global Partnerships to catalyze collaboration with the private sector, hosted conferences like “TED at State,” and, most recently, set up a seed fund within US AID, Development Innovation Ventures, to provide start-up money to potential development game-changers, like a new idea for solar lighting in Uganda and a bicycle that doubles as a power source.<br />
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“Diplomacy and outreach can’t just be left to our government,” Clinton told the audience in San Francisco . “There are so many ways that we can influence what goes on in other countries.” Technology “is not a silver bullet,” she noted. “But all over the world, we see [its] promise.” Courtesy of<a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1695514/hillary-clinton-silicon-valley-commonwealth-club?#"> Fast Company</a><br />
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<b>“If you have a good idea, we will listen.”</b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-64156621852197727952010-10-06T11:30:00.001-07:002010-10-06T11:31:34.717-07:00VIDEO: Anne Hathaway and Celeb Friends In Anti Bullying PSA<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anne Hathaway, Ian Somerhalder and Jenny McCarthy have joined the battle against high school <b>bullying </b>by filming a new public service announcement (PSA) following a spate of teenage suicides across America.<br />
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Kristin Cavallari and Julie Benz also get serious in the video for The Trevor Project, a non-profit group dedicated to helping youths who are struggling with their sexuality.<br />
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The video comes at a time when America is coming to terms with a number of suicides linked to sexuality and bullying the most recent, the death of 18-year-old Tyler Clementi last week, sparked outrage after it was revealed his college roommate allegedly posted footage of him having sex with another man online. <br />
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And the celebs are urging troubled teens to seek professional support if they are being targeted. Hathaway says, "It gets better. If you or a friend are feeling lost and lonely there's someone who can help. There is hope and there is help. <b>Call The Trevor Project</b>." <br />
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"The Hills" star Cavallari adds, "If you're being<b> bullied </b>in school, you're not alone. Don't give up.
<a href="http://foreign.peacefmonline.com/entertainment/201010/89340.php"> Source</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-52488631342135463692010-10-04T10:02:00.001-07:002010-10-04T10:02:58.482-07:00The Time to Act Against Bullying is Now!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A group called Parents Advocacy Committee for Educational Rights (<b>PACER</b>) has hosted a<b> National Bullying Prevention</b> week for the past four years. This year they are observing this week as usual but have also expanded the event through the month of October.<br />
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Make<b> Oct. 20, 2010</b>, the day that bullying prevention is heard about the world!<br />
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From California to Connecticut, from Minnesota to Mississippi, join together and shout, <b>“The End of Bullying Begins with Me!” </b><br />
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Then keep the message moving, from North America to Europe, from South America to Africa, from Australia to Asia.<br />
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Stand with others around your town and around the world to raise awareness of an issue that has affected so many for so long.<br />
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Whether you are a student or a parent, with a school or an organization, raise your voice any way you can. Sing it, say it, tweet it, text it, blog it, post it, dance it.<br />
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Efforts large and small are all equally important. <br />
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More than 160,000 U.S. students stay home from school each day from fear
of being bullied. No one should have to fear going to school. Unite
with others and add your voice to the <a href="http://www.pacer.org/bullying/digitalpetition/index.asp">online petition</a>. <br />
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<b>Bullying At School And In The Workplace – See It – Stop It – Report It!</b><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-5571651746341483952010-09-30T21:22:00.001-07:002010-09-30T21:22:45.432-07:00New Website Shows Prices For Individual Health Coverage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Millions of consumers who shop for <b>health insurance policies</b> in the <b>individual market</b> will get a tool today that will help them compare prices and see inside information on how often insurers deny applications for coverage.<br />
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The Department of Health and Human Services is now posting pricing information for 4,400 individual and family health plans offered by more than 225 insurance carriers at <a href="http://www.healthcare.gov/"><b>www.healthcare.gov</b></a>.<br />
Plan information will be updated monthly, said Todd Park, HHS chief technology officer.<br />
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"The whole point is to put consumers in charge," Park said Thursday as he demonstrated the site's new pricing features to <b>USA TODAY</b>.<br />
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The insurance shopping tool returns personalized results of available plans based on such factors as where the individual lives, age and gender.<br />
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<b>Among the details insurance shoppers will get on each plan:</b><br />
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•Monthly premium estimate.<br />
•Maximum out-of-pocket cost.<br />
•Deductible.<br />
•Major types of covered services.<br />
•Percent of plan applications denied in the past three months.<br />
•Percent of plan applicants charged more than the base price.<br />
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Consumers have never had access to information about how often insurers deny individual applications or add surcharges to base plan prices, said Karen Pollitz, deputy director of HHS' Office of Consumer Support. Too often, she said, they think buying insurance on their own is similar to getting it from an employer.<br />
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"This serves as an important warning to people that's not how insurance works in the individual market," she said. The data, which come from insurance companies, are required under the nation's new health law.<br />
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Some of the plans viewed during the website preview for a hypothetical woman living in Los Angeles had denied nearly 40% of their recent applications. The health law, as of last month, prohibits insurers from denying coverage to children with medical problems. But that protection isn't extended to adults until 2014. And until 2014, insurers also can use a person's health status to charge more for coverage.<br />
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Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans, said that the industry group supports greater transparency but that insurers are concerned the application denial percentage is misleading. That number, he said, includes incomplete applications and consumers who were directed to a different policy.<br />
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Pollitz said she's comfortable that the denial percentage will be helpful to consumers.<br />
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About 16.7 million people younger than 65 have individual insurance policies, according to federal estimates.<br />
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For the data to be posted on the HHS site, a company officer must certify its accuracy, Park said. Some companies' plans are not yet included because of missing information, he said.<br />
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In addition to details about private health insurance options, the site helps consumers identify government programs they may be eligible for, such as Medicaid or new high-risk insurance pools for adults with medical problems who are unable to get insurance in the private market. Source: <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/insurance/2010-10-01-healthshoppers01_ST_N.htm">USA Today</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-78608565301377715732010-09-26T15:05:00.001-07:002010-09-26T15:05:46.916-07:00Asia Begins Embracing Solar Power<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Developing nations in Asia, it seems, are finally seeing the<b> light</b>.<br />
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In May, the Asian Development Bank started a major drive to promote <b>solar power</b> across the region. Last year, the Indian government approved an ambitious National Solar Mission, which seeks a huge increase in the country’s solar-energy capabilities. Bangladesh, with the support of the World Bank, is aiming to have one million remote rural homes supplied with solar panels by the end of 2012.<br />
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And in India, where nearly 40 percent of households have no access to electricity, companies like Selco Solar and Orb Energy have helped tens of thousands of families and small entrepreneurs purchase solar panels.<br />
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All worthy causes. So worthy and sensible, in fact, that you may well ask why on earth they did not take off much earlier.<br />
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The answer, as is so often the case, is political support — or, until relatively recently, the lack of it — and, inevitably, cost.<br />
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“The upfront costs of installing solar-electricity-generating farms, plus high borrowing costs and the fact that developing nations struggle to access long-term capital, have inhibited the growth of <b>solar energy</b> until recently,” said Seethapathy Chander, chairman of the committee on energy issues at the Asian Development Bank in Manila.<br />
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“It takes a long time before investment costs are recouped, and you need long-term financing until that stage is reached.”<br />
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That also applies to small, single-household roof panels that provide enough electricity for a few extra hours of lighting, which can make a huge difference — adding study time for children and extra hours for making and selling goods.<br />
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Rooftop solar energy can replace kerosene, which generates smoke and poor-quality light and eats heavily into the scarce resources of the poor.<br />
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“A street vendor in India might make 800 rupees a month — that’s about $16,” said Harish Hande, founder of Selco Solar in Bangalore. “But he might have to spend as much as 210 rupees of that on kerosene or candles.”<br />
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By contrast, the modest electricity produced by rooftop panels is effectively free, recouping the initial investment after a few years. But even a 15 percent down payment on a loan for a small solar home lighting system — which typically costs 8,500 to 11,000 rupees — is beyond the reach of many families, Mr. Hande said.<br />
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In developing nations like Sri Lanka or India, said Damian Miller, an American-British citizen who set up Orb Energy in 2006, the cost of a panel can be 20 percent of the annual income of a poor <b>off-grid</b> household.<br />
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In terms of the scale of the investment, he said, “it’s similar to a Western household buying a car.”<br />
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Banks were long reluctant to lend to the poor. Increasingly, however, companies like Selco and Orb Energy have been able to convince some local banks that low-income earners are creditworthy and that solar-related credits bring in solid business in much the same way that car financing does.<br />
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“The trick to making it work commercially is to make it affordable: To allow for bite-size financing that the poor can pay for, on a monthly basis, rather than in large chunks,” said Mr. Miller.<br />
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On the large-scale level — big solar farms that feed the overall electricity grid — activity also is picking up.<br />
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“Many parts of Asia have three or four times the amount of sun that Germany gets,” said Mr. Chander of the Asian Development Bank. “It makes a lot of sense to deploy solar-based electricity generation facilities here.”<br />
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At the same time, governments have become more willing to promote <b>alternative energies</b> and, because of falling costs, more able to do so. Courtesy of NY Times <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/27/business/energy-environment/27green.html?src=busln">Read full article</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-47785190525644178512010-09-22T14:47:00.001-07:002010-09-22T14:48:27.460-07:00GE, Better Place Team Up to Boost Electric Vehicle Infrastructure<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b>Better Place</b>, an electric vehicle infrastructure startup that envisions a network of charging and <b>EV </b>battery swap stations, got a big boost this week: a financing and technology partnership with<b> GE</b> that will see the two companies work together on technology development, battery financing, joint fleet electrification programs, and customer awareness.<br />
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The partnership makes sense--Better Place has perfected its two-minute EV battery swap system, and GE recently unveiled its <b>WattStation </b>EV charger for city streets. As part of the technology agreement between the companies, GE's WattStation will become compatible with the Better Place service network, which also includes access to battery swap stations (for those times when customers can't sit around waiting for their vehicles to charge).<br />
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<b>GE</b> and <b>Better Place</b> will also work together to boost <b>EV</b> adoption in Israel and Denmark--Better Place's first markets--with a pilot project that aims to finance 10,000 EV batteries in the country. The pair also plans launch a number of fleet electrification pilot projects, potentially in the San Francisco Bay Area, Honolulu, Hawaii, and Ontario, Canada, among other locations.<br />
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So for GE, the Better Place partnership is a piece of a larger plan to dominate the EV market. And for Better Place, the collaboration is an opportunity to further spread the gospel of the EV battery swap system--something that many vehicle makers don't subscribe to (in most cases, batteries are included with the price of the EV and swapping isn't possible). With partners like GE and Renault on its side, Better Place might just have the strength it needs to make a serious dent in markets around the world.<br />
source: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1690588/ge-better-place-team-up-to-boost-electric-vehicle-infrastructure">FastCompany</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-75707871774711656472010-09-21T23:06:00.001-07:002010-09-21T23:07:03.638-07:00Pleasure in Pain of Chilies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Late summer is chili harvest time, when the entire state of New Mexico savors the perfume of roasting <b>chilies</b>, and across the country the delightful, painful fruit of plants of the genus Capsicum are being turned into salsa, hot sauce and grizzly bear repellent.<br />
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Festivals abound, often featuring chili pepper-eating contests. “It’s fun,” as one chili pepper expert wrote, “sorta like a night out to watch someone being burned at the stake.”<br />
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Some experts argue that we like chilies because they are good for us. They can help lower<b> blood pressure</b>, may have some antimicrobial effects, and they increase salivation, which is good if you eat a boring diet based on one bland staple crop like corn or rice. The pain of<b> chilies</b> can even kill other pain, a concept supported by recent research.<br />
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Others, notably Dr. Paul Rozin at the University of Pennsylvania, argue that the beneficial effects are too small to explain the great human love of chili-spiced food. “I don’t think they have anything to do with why people eat and like it,” he said in an interview. Dr. Rozin, who studies other human emotions and likes and dislikes (“I am the father of disgust in psychology,” he says) thinks that we’re in it for the pain. “This is a theory,” he emphasizes. “I don’t know that this is true.”<br />
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But he has evidence for what he calls benign masochism. For example, he tested chili eaters by gradually increasing the pain, or, as the pros call it, the pungency, of the food, right up to the point at which the subjects said they just could not go further. When asked after the test what level of heat they liked the best, they chose the highest level they could stand, “just below the level of unbearable pain.” As Delbert McClinton sings (about a different line of research), “It felt so good to hurt so bad.”<br />
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Habaneros are very hot, although there’s a lot of variation. On the standard Scoville heat scale (Bell peppers 0, the hottest Indian jolokia peppers 1,000,000) orange habaneros run 100,000 to 350,000. By comparison, jalapenos can go anywhere from 5,000 to 50,000. Two percent capsaicin bear spray is advertised at 3.3 million units, and pure capsaicin — the chemical that causes the pain — hits 16 million. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/21/science/21peppers.html">read full story</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-32030596841260451652010-09-18T14:51:00.001-07:002010-09-18T14:52:09.412-07:00General Motors tests electric Chevrolet Cruzes in South Korea<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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General Motors says it will launch a test fleet of <b>electric cars</b> in South Korea as it continues to develop battery-powered models of its <b>Chevrolet Cruze</b>.<br />
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The automaker will begin the project at the end of October. It is working with LG Electronics on the project.<br />
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The <b>Cruze EV</b> demo fleet will be GM's first compact sedan electric vehicles to hit the road and will be powered by batteries from LG Chemical and propulsion systems from LG Electronics.<br />
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The demo fleet in South Korea will consist of <b>Chevrolet Cruzes</b> and <b>GM Daewoo Lacetti Premieres</b>. GM currently markets the vehicle under the local brand in South Korea. The project is aimed at providing data on customer acceptance and battery range.<br />
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GM says there's no plan to sell an electric Cruze in the U.S.<br />
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By testing an all-electric Cruze that has no gas engine, it's clear that GM is developing a fully electric compact.<br />
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"There's no plan to put an electric Cruze in the U.S. market," spokesman Rob Peterson said. "As battery technology matures and that (charging) infrastructure increases as well, battery-electric vehicles could hold a great deal of potential."<br />
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GM executives have said repeatedly that the power system from the rechargeable electric Chevrolet Volt will be used in more models.<br />
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The Volt can go about 40 miles on battery power, and after that, a small gas engine kicks in to generate power for the car. <a href="http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5irJ-tVEDhpcZQFk_c9f6Zr7GqzQQD9IAIHT81">Source : Associated Press</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-5817033721547341512010-09-15T16:07:00.001-07:002010-09-15T16:08:08.995-07:00Solar Flashing Beacons Improve School Zone Safety<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The city of Bethany, Oklahoma is investing in 52 <b>solar </b>light emitting diode (LED) flashing beacons to improve the <b>safety</b> of the its district school zones.<br />
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The R829 dual-flashing amber LED solar traffic beacons, provided by Carmanah Technologies Corporation and sold by local Carmanah distributor Gades Sales Inc., represent a significant safety improvement for Bethany students. The R829 <b>solar LED flashing beacons</b> will be used to reduce vehicle speeds that are approaching the school zones from nearby residential areas. Carmanah’s R829 solar LED flashing beacon is designed specifically for school-zone applications and features wireless communication between beacons, a calendar program for activation and maintenance-free operation for up to five years.<br />
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Bethany identified those safety issues surrounding its schools that were identical, which were that the residential roadways that extended from the school to the urban areas did so without obvious distinction. Vehicle speeds dangerously exceeded safe levels as traffic entered or exited the residential areas. The city’s treatment of the school zones included erecting designated school zone speed signs with accompanying dual-head solar <b>LED </b>flashing beacons.<br />
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Studies have shown that flashing beacons increase visibility of marked signage and reduce vehicle speeds by up to 5 to 7 miles per hour. <b>Solar</b> flashing beacons eliminate the need to wire or trench at the site, reducing traffic disruption and work crew time and costs. The time-to-install factor was an important one, as the city wanted to have installation completed before students and traffic returned to school in September. The need for a fast, effective solution was met by the Carmanah solar LED flashing solution.<br />
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The City of Bethany is funding the new <b>solar LED flashing beacons </b>with money provided by the US DOE Energy Efficient and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which invests in clean energy technologies that protect the environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil. Carmanah, which manufactures its products in Houston, Texas, complied with those Buy American provisions of the Recovery Act that Bethany required if the stipulations of the EECBG funding agreement were to be met. <a href="http://www.solarnovus.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1359:solar-flashing-beacons-improve-school-zone-safety&catid=41:applications-tech-news&Itemid=245">Read Full Story</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-49713035751782297152010-09-13T06:19:00.000-07:002010-09-13T06:19:27.012-07:00Here's a Happy Stat about Cybercriminals<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here's a happy stat: Hackers create at least 57,000 fake websites a week, reports <a href="http://www.securityweek.com/cybercriminals-creating-57000-fake-web-sites-every-week">SecurityWeek</a>.<br />
<br />
Most are set up to be clones of banks or other commerce sites, with eBay and Western Union by far the most common.<br />
<br />
Others in the top 10 include Visa, HSBC, Bank of America, Amazon, and PayPal. Search engines constantly update to weed them out, but the hackers are relentless.<br />
<br />
And because the 57,000 figure comes from the research of just one security company, the real number is probably higher, notes SecurityWeek.<br />
<br />
<b><i>The 10 most Targeted brands among all fake websites tracked by PandaLabs:</i></b><br />
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">1. eBay – 23.21 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">2. Western Union – 21.15 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">3. Visa – 9.51 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">4. United Services Automobile Association – 6.85 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"> 5. HSBC – 5.98 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">6. Amazon – 2.42 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">7. Bank of America – 2.29 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">8. PayPal – 1.77 percent </span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">9. Internal Revenue Service – 1.69 percent</span></b></div>
<div style="padding-left: 30px;">
<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">10. Bendigo Bank – 1.38 percent </span></b></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-73997084558612370182010-09-09T18:10:00.002-07:002010-09-09T18:11:28.459-07:009/11 We Will Never Forget<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We're coming up to the ninth anniversary of 9/11 and the sorrow's never gone, but we must always remember those lost.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Like other crucial historical
dates, most people remember exactly where they were and what they were
doing on that date. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Maybe you have some thoughts about the anniversary of 9/11. These are mine.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I
am so very sad that this had to happen to all of those innocent people. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This day marked the beginning of a new era in America, the era of
terrorism. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I will never forget it, ever, or the many innocent
people that lost their lives. We didn't know what was happening or
what would be hit next. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> It all happened so fast. It was unbelievable
to actually watch this happen and to see the skyline in New York without the World Trade Center after that. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So I am asking everyone out there please , regardless if you lost someone or not, please take a moment today to say a prayer for all those whose lives were taken that day.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-36927524020980180932010-09-07T10:37:00.001-07:002010-09-07T10:38:38.011-07:00New York sky-scrapers dim lights to help migratory birds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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A growing number of New York sky-scrapers are switching their lights off to help
reduce the number of birds hitting the high-rise buildings.<br />
<br />
The "lights out" project - organized by NYC Audubon (US wild bird protection
group) runs until November 1st, when migratory birds are expected to have
completed their autumn migrations.<br />
<br />
The Empire State and Chrysler buildings, two of the tallest city buildings, are
among those dimming their lights.<br />
<br />
An estimated 90,000 birds are killed in New York each year as a result of
striking glass-fronted buildings.<br />
<br />
Organizers of the annual initiative, now in its fifth year, say the bright lights
disorientate the migrating birds and override their natural navigational cues and
are asking owners and tenants of high-rise buildings to turn off their lights on
unoccupied floors or unused space between midnight and dawn<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11141196">Read Full Story</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-67259686485341675812010-08-30T20:23:00.001-07:002010-08-30T20:23:56.560-07:00Chiquita installs Green Technology in Costa Rica<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<br />
<b>Chiquita</b> has announced the release of an innovative biodigester
in Costa Rica that will improve fertilizer, reduce energy consumption,
and provide a sustainable energy source for its operations. The company
behind the famous blue and yellow sticker found on your bananas and
pineapples (along with their newly introduced <b>green </b>Rainforest Alliance sticker) is at work on a wide-sweeping <b>sustainability</b> plan.<br />
<br />
Corporate Responsibility Officer, Manuel Rodriguez, states, "This
technology enables us to harness the full energy potential of fruit
materials that previously could not be captured. It provides a
sustainable energy source for our facility, nutrient rich fertilizer for
local farmers and filters processing water. It benefits our company,
our communities and our planet. The Biodigester is the latest
demonstration of Chiquita's global citizenship and our drive to
incorporate sustainability into everything we do."<br />
<br />
Echoing Green Award recipient, AIDG
(Appropriate Infrastructure Development Group) says of biodigesters,
"As waste is processed in a <b>biodigester</b>, it is sterilized by
methane-producing bacteria and the high-methane environment; over 90% of
protozoa, cysts and disease-causing bacteria, such as E. Coli, are
killed." According to AIDG, biodigesters don't function too well in
colder climates, which won't be a problem in Costa Rica.<br />
<br />
The <b>Chiquita biodigester </b>has essentially created a "carbon
neutral circulation process," according to the press release, by taking
extra fruit material and excess water from its operations that is then
used by their facilities and local farmers. And no electricity is used,
in what they call a "unique gravity utilizing design."<br />
<br />
You go, Costa Rica. With your new biodigester and Happiest Country ranking, your capital, San Jose, may just be on track to becoming an international Fast City. Source: <a href="http://www.fastcompany.com/1685821/chiquita-goes-carbon-neutral-harnesses-fruit-power-with-new-biogester">Fastcompany</a><br />
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3079823748929168423.post-37038007383162964002010-08-20T23:38:00.001-07:002010-08-20T23:39:17.132-07:00Egg Recall, More Pressure to Pass Safety Act<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The largest <b>egg recall</b> in history is creating more pressure on Congress to pass new legislation to give the <b>Food & Drug Administration</b> more authority.<br />
<br />
While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<b>CDC</b>) began noticing an increase in cases of illness from <b>salmonella </b>in May, and noted increases to four times the seasonal norm in June and July, we're seeing a <b>voluntary recall from the company only now in late August !!</b><br />
<br />
<br />
Eggs are packed in varying sizes of cartons (6-egg cartons, dozen egg
cartons, 18-egg cartons) with Julian dates ranging from <b>136 to 225</b> and
plant numbers <b>1026, 1413 and 1946</b>. Dates and codes can be found stamped
on the end of the egg carton. The plant number begins with the letter <b>P</b>
and then the number. The Julian date follows the plant number, for
example: <b>P-1946 223</b>.<br />
<br />
<br />
It is unacceptable to delay a critical public health announcement, yet as too often happens with so-called <b>voluntary</b> recalls, it means many millions of those eggs are already in grocery stores and kitchens across the country, or on breakfast tables this week. This means that we are likely to see more people getting sick before this recall is over. The government says that hundreds have already gotten sick.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
This is by no means the first big food recall this summer. In June, <b>Kellogg's </b>recalled 28 million boxes of <b>Froot Loops, Apple Jacks and other breakfast cereals</b> because chemicals in their packaging gave the cereal an unusual smell and flavor and made some consumers nauseous.<br />
<br />
Last week, <b>Fresh Express</b> recalled 2800 cases of its <b>Veggie Lovers Salad</b> because of a positive test for e. coli contamination.<br />
<br />
In all of these cases, the food was already on store shelves and in consumer kitchens - putting our health at risk-- before the company issued a voluntary recall.<br />
<br />
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (<b>CDC)</b>, there are 76 million cases of food borne illness each year, with 325,000 hospitalizations and 5000 deaths.<br />
<br />
<b>In the United States. In the 21st century.
That's unacceptable.</b><br />
<br />
The egg recall is a good example of how an outbreak of food-borne illness can begin in one food factory and become a national outbreak involving multiple processors and stores in all 50 states. Wright County Eggs ships shell eggs to processors in eight states who then sell them across the country under at least thirteen different brands.
<b>Once the genie is out of the bottle, an outbreak like this is difficu</b>lt to contain.<br />
<br />
FDA needs expanded authority to inspect food processing facilities to
keep unsafe food off grocery store shelves in the first place, and
needs mandatory recall authority to expedite action when problems occur.
Otherwise, how can it protect consumers?<br />
<br />
The U.S. Senate has the opportunity to bring the nation's food safety
system into the 21st century by finishing the job of reforming the Food
and Drug Administration's food safety authority.<br />
<br />
The House of Representatives passed its food safety bill on a bipartisan
vote more than a year ago. The Senate's bipartisan bill has been
waiting for floor time since the Senate Health Education Labor and
Pensions Committee reported it out in November 2009.<br />
<br />
To protect American consumers, when the Senate returns in September,
it should waste no time in sending the FDA Food Safety Modernization
bill (S. 510) to President Obama's desk.<br />
<br />
<span class="articleText">Ironically, the outbreak comes just one month
after new federal egg production safety regulations went into effect, a
decade after they were first proposed by the <b>FDA</b>. </span><br />
<br />
Source <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-hitchcock/scrambled-over-easy-or-co_b_688945.html">Huffington Post</a><br />
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