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Blog Action Day 2009
This will be my third year participating in this exciting event. Imagine! Thousands of bloggers, around the world, united - if only for one day - in one idea. For 2009, the topic upon which we are all focused is Climate Change.
For those of you unfamiliar with Blog Action Day, let me simply quote the source:
Founding Story
Blog Action Day was founded by Collis & Cyan Ta'eed in the summer of 2007. With the support of their team at Envato in Australia as well as numerous volunteers, they recruited over 20,000 bloggers to write about the issue of Environment on October 15, 2007 - making the first Blog Action Day an immediate and quite unexpected success.
In 2009, Collis & Cyan asked the team at Change.org, the world's leading blog network for social issues, to take over responsibility of Blog Action Day and expand its reach. We were honored to accept the offer.
Preparing for Blog Action Day 09 has been a true team effort, and we would like to thank the many people who have made it possible, including Happy Cog West for the beautiful site design, Brian Potstra for the pixel-perfect logo, and Seth Brau for the awesome animated Blog Action Day 09 video.
If you have a blog and an opinion - please join us.
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JMark Afghans
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God Bless!
Jules
Latest FDA Recall Notices - 09/21/09-09/27/09
Following are the FDA recalls listed for the week ending September 27, 2009:
Please visit the above links for additional information on lots, codes, packaging, and product returns.
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Genocide Intervention Network.
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God Bless!
Jules
Mopar Parts
One of the most difficult aspects of a fixed income is the pesky, unforeseen expense that throws a carefully balanced budget out the window. Shortly after Mark's lung cancer surgery, our blessed, beloved truck got sick. We took her, sadly, to a 'doctor' who lied about what was wrong and took our money for unnecessary work, leaving her still in need and us unaware.
It didn't take long before she breathed her last. At that point, the mechanic who cheated us told us what, truly, had been wrong; information withheld at a time when it might have been possible to effect repairs. A situation that has earned the individual, and the business in question, our undying enmity. We, in a word, are without personal transportation and may well be for a very long time.
Mark has explained (repeatedly) what needs to be done. Although I don't retain all of the details, I have a general idea. Not knowing what else to do, I went on an Internet search to, if possible, determine what could be done. Even at a serious discount, I discovered that the parts, Mopar performance parts, alone are incredibly expensive. Then, of course, we have the labor which, on an hourly basis, rivals the rate of any Wall Street CEO.
If Mark were healthy, it would be less of an issue, because the man can repair anything. If Mark were healthy and we had a garage in which to work, it would be virtually no issue at all. But neither of those things are true.
The one, overwhelming truth is: we have no transportation and very little chance of correcting that situation.
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We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
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at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
Interesting Quotes
Well, they're interesting to me:
Democracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.
Aristotle
I don't make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.
Will Rogers
A conservative is a man who just sits and thinks, mostly sits.
Woodrow Wilson
If voting changed anything, they'd make it illegal.
Emma Goldman
If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.
Louis D. Brandeis
It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.
Joseph Stalin
It is not in the nature of politics that the best men should be elected. The best men do not want to govern their fellowmen.
George MacDonald
If we don't believe in freedom of expression for people we despise, we don't believe in it at all.
Noam Chomsky
A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward.
Franklin D. Roosevelt
A conservative is one who admires radicals centuries after they're dead.
Leo Rosten
In this world of sin and sorrow there is always something to be thankful for; as for me, I rejoice that I am not a Republican.
H. L. Mencken
Inflation is as violent as a mugger, as frightening as an armed robber and as deadly as a hit man.
Ronald Reagan
Instead of giving a politician the keys to the city, it might be better to change the locks.
Doug Larson
Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.
John Quincy Adams
An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.
T. S. Eliot
An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied.
Arnold H. Glasow
Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don't vote.
William E. Simon
Conservatives define themselves in terms of what they oppose.
George Will
Democracy is being allowed to vote for the candidate you dislike least.
Robert Byrne
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
Your Prayers are Needed
This is one of the things that social networking does best -- rally the prayers of those who care around people, families who need them.
A young woman was in an automobile accident yesterday and her family is praying for her return to them.
Please - I know the power of prayer - help this family, as so many of you have helped Mark and me. Pray for Kimmi and her family.
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
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Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
Appetite Suppressants
Over the years, I have done battle with my weight. Truthfully? Most of the battles were an attempt to add pounds to my small-boned frame. While being terrified that I would gain too much weight (my mother was heavy and I didn't want to look in the mirror and see her body under my face), I wanted curves.
My fear of being fat and looking like my mother has haunted me for decades. Once I was actually diagnosed - gotta love this - as pre-anorexic. The diagnosis amuses me because I I knew I was a text-book anorexic and, recognizing my problem, asked for help. Why and how the doctors chose to ignore it frightens me, to this day.
Now, the marketplace is flooded with weight-loss products that present themselves as, among other things, an appetite suppressant. Interestingly enough, most of the sites that are touting these 'amazing' compounds are filled with half-truths and fake endorsements. While any single ingredient may be safe, the combinations may be dangerous.
Anorexics, especially those who have been denying themselves food for an extensive period of time, have weakened digestive, cardiovascular, and immune systems. It wouldn't take much to push their bodies over the edge. The availability of appetite suppressants may seem like a gift to those who carry too many pounds on their body.
To those (of us) who are terrified of becoming fat, those suppressants can be dangerous.
My shape is not what it was in my teens - Thank the stars! But I'd still like curves.
Be sure to stop by
JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
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at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
Comodo Internet Security Pro
JMark Afghans, etc. is proud to announce that we are now affiliated with:
In this day of worms, trojans, viruses, and the armies of morons who troll the Internet looking to cause trouble and damage, it's not just important to have protection. It is critical. Trust me on that one.
Starting with a solid, reliable firewall, Comodo protection adds anti-virus and wi-fi coverage to the package. Top that with live, expert support and you've got security that will help you surf happy and sleep peacefully.
Don't risk your data, your personal information, or the computer on which you depend. Take a look at Comodo. You'll be amazed!
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
Squidoo that supports the
Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
Vote For JMark Afghans, etc.
at Independent Designers
We look forward to seeing you online.
God Bless!
Jules
Weight Loss Pills
In my never-ending crusade to determine whether the latest 'popular'
weight loss pills are effective, dangerous, or just ... junk, I have noticed a pattern.
Sites jump up, in your face, to tell you that Pill ABC is the best, most effective item on the market. All of this, after telling you, last week, that XYZ Pill was the only way to lose weight.
Some of those sites have links to more information about Pill ABC that are designed to make you feel that they have reviewed, tested, and confirmed their claims. (Okay, that's what virtually all of them do.) Why? Because many of them make serious money doing just that.
They are filled with testimonials that sound like a cheap ad campaign. The worst ones offer links to sites where they make money just because visitors clink that link. I seriously doubt that they do any research.
The bottom line is always the same, at least from where I'm sitting:
- Check out the ingredients
- Determine their safety
- Investigate the interaction between the ingredients
Bottom line: eat right, get some exercise, and don't believe that one pill can undo years of neglect.
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
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Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
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at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
Latest FDA Recall Notices - 09/07/09-09/13/09
The FDA has issued notice of the following recalls:
- Shil La Dang Recalls Gimbob Fish Cake and Modeum, Combination, Sultok and Bean Seolki Rice Cakes Because Of Undeclared Allergens
- Muranaka Farm, Inc. Voluntarily Recalls 60 Count Bunched Parsley Because of Possible Salmonella
- Smiths Medical Issues Urgent Device Recall Of Portex® Pediatric-Sized Tracheal Tubes
- Kilwin's Quality Confections, Inc. Conducted Nationwide Recall of Chocolate-Covered Peanuts Because of Possible Health Risk
- AFC Trading & Wholesale Recalls AFC Beancurd Sheets and Sticks for Undeclared Sulfites
Please visit the above links for additional details, including product codes and descriptions, and return information.
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
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Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
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at Independent Designers
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God Bless!
Jules
HID Kits
Today, I learned something new; a situation that I just love.
Looking for something entirely unrelated, I found a site offering hid kits. Obviously, just looking at the webpage, I could see that HID kits have something to do with vehicle headlights. But, what? And what does HID stand for?
First, HID stands for High Intensity Discharge. I immediately thought of the cool, really bright headlights that you see periodically on cars and trucks. Assuming these were halogen, I read on and found that I was (again) in need of more information.
Then, I found the comparison image. Just look at the difference between halogen lights and HID xenon lights. Which would you prefer?
Me, too!
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Genocide Intervention Network.
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God Bless!
Jules
Fat Burners
Looking for the
best way to lose belly fat? Me, too.
At my age, sadly, it's common for women to carry an extra layer of ... something unpleasant {groan} ... around the middle. It isn't something we like to admit or see, but it is a part of nature. In fact, it's documented - along with the discovery that the mother's brain shrinks during pregnancy. (Whoever wrote "I enjoy being a girl!" -- wasn't.)
If you believe the claims, it would be easy to swallow a pill and remove the fat. I disagree. Strongly!
I lost my ring-around-the-middle years ago without even trying, truth be told. It involved dietary changes, serious physical effort, and great genes. I didn't do it intentionally.
When Mark was seriously ill, heading toward hospice, I was carrying a wheel chair every place we went. In and out of the back of the truck, upand down stairs, it went with us everywhere. I ate, when I could and what I craved, protein and carbs. (I made a meal of chicken breast, poached in tomato juice with veggies and pasta that was amazing.) As my body always has, I dropped weight and built muscle.
Can you get that from a pill? Websites will tell you that you can.
Can you get that from a pill -- safely? Websites will tell you that you can.
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Genocide Intervention Network.
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God Bless!
Jules
Will Your Kid Get That Degree?
I stumbled across an interesting news story today. It discusses
which high school students are most likely to graduate from college, based on a 10-year study of over 200,000 freshman.
The news, published in "Crossing the Finish Line," points to demographic factors - rather than hard work, good grades, and intelligence - as the strongest indicator of success or failure in post-high school endeavors. Gender, race, and parental education carry more weight than student effort or brains. If true, a rather sad situation.
In a nutshell, kids whose parents didn't go to or finish college, who come from a disadvantaged background, regardless of how hard they study or how brilliant they are, are much less likely to make it through four years of college.
Obviously, there will always be exceptions - thank, heaven! But, as one of those statistics, it's very disheartening to know that not much has changed in the 35 years since I went to - and didn't graduate from - college.
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God Bless!
Jules
Wow! Cover Bands ... Icky!
I am a child of the 70s - the early ones. Graduated from high school in January 1974, I am a child of the era of - among other things -
Hair Bands and the early days of Aerosmith. I knew Def Leppard, before the drummer lost his arm.
Today, because we both love music, Mark was channel surfing the radio looking for fun stuff - and ran into a plethora of cover bands. I didn't know that it would become ewwwww!! and Ewwww!! and Ewwww!!
The music was good - really good, in some cases - good enough to fool us into thinking we'd found a station that was playing the music we'd grown up with. Then, just when I started whirling around the living room in pure joy ... The voices! Oh, Lord! Oh, Heaven! Oh, NO! Ewwww!
Don't get me wrong, not all cover bands should be shot at dawn. For months, I followed a cover band from venue to venue. They were amazing! (Jim and Anna - I haven't forgotten you.) But they had this drummer who ...
while Prince was singing about odd colored rain and crying doves ...
He looked the part and - I was at the Purple Rain concert in Detroit - had a voice that was just as amazing!
Yet, today, people who have far less vocal talent are getting radio play.
It must not continue!
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JMark Afghans
We also have a page on
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Genocide Intervention Network.
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God Bless!
Jules
Apidexin Review
I've been reviewing diet pill review sites recently. Some are good and provide a (fairly) objective look at different products. Others, sadly, are filled with what
they call reviews and links to sites where they get paid for sending customers. Rather annoying.
That said, I have also been looking into a product called apidexin.
Apidexin isn't exactly unique. It contains a combination of ingredients that are also found in several other products. In fact, I've probably looked at some of the other items on the market, and their ingredients, before.
As with so many diet / weight-loss products, many of the active ingredients are thermogenic. Singly, they may not be risky. In combination, they may cause a dangerous elevation in body temperature.
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Genocide Intervention Network.
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God Bless!
Jules
Equipment for Team Sports
It comes as no surprise that one can find webpages with just about everything imaginable. (Some days it comes as a shock, but that's a whole 'nother post.) And, being an Internet shopping junkie, I know that it's not difficult to find all kinds of
sports equipment online. I didn't know, however, that there was a site that taught about the sport, while it helped you find what you need to play the sport.
I wasn't looking for equipment and still spent hours reading about sports I'll never play or played very badly in the past. Did you know only batsmen and wicketkeepers get to wear pads and gloves? Cricket fielders have to run all over the field, trying to catch those hard balls with bare hands. Strike that one off my just-gotta-learn-to-do-this list!
To look at me, you probably wouldn't imagine my hands wrapped around a bat, squinting against the bright sun, and waiting for that perfect pitch. When I was younger, I loved softball. In fact, my favorite Fourth of July involved uncles and cousins and an impromptu game in the schoolyard behind our house. It didn't matter that I was a skinny little girl, not much bigger than the bat, -- I got a hit (off, what I'm sure was a generous pitch) and carried the memory of that small victory for years.
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Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
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God Bless!
Jules
Grand Canyon Posters from JMark Afghans
I love creating! Whether it's a new afghan design (and there are a few of those in the works) or mugs, aprons, and posters on
Zazzle. Taking a blank canvas, as it were, and watching something new emerge is amazing to me.
My latest creation - oooh I love that word - is a set of posters, featuring some of my favorite Grand Canyon Pictures. I chose a dark green border to accent, but not overwhelm the view. The view is ... everything!
With a collection of five coordinated, but unique images, they make a wonderful addition to any room - as a set, in smaller groupings, or just one, perfectly placed image.
The first two I created, titled "Grand Canyon Poster 001" and "Grand Canyon Poster 002" (brilliant, aren't I?) are slightly different views of the same location. By changing the camera angle and position, just a bit, the images appear to come from different locations. Yet, they complement each other beautifully.
Please wander by to see the rest. Choose your favorite poster - or choose them all. They were designed to need no frame, although custom framing is available.
Or start with our new collection of Grand Canyon products. (Not all of them are new, but the collection is finally pulled together for easy browsing.) I'm going to be adding to my Grand Canyon mugs, with a collection that includes different images and unique quotes.
Don't miss it!
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God Bless!
Jules
Padron Cigars
I have been a smoker for as long as I can remember. Growing up in a different time, I even smoked through pregnancies. In fact, the only time I can recall giving it up was during a particularly brutal bout with viral pneumonia.
For my lifetime, or as far back as memory serves, Cuban cigars have been illegal in this country. I have heard of the quality and that anyone who has ever smoked one will never be happy with any other cigar. When I think of particular items, Padron cigars come to mind first. They have been touted as one of the best ... period.
You can imagine my surprise when I found Padrons for sale, legally, on the internet. It intrigued me, to say the least. So, I had to do some investigating.
Apparently, beyond coming out of Cuba, what makes a Cuban cigar is the tobacco itself. A smoke shop I found online, located in Pennsylvania, is offering Cuban Padrons, "handmade with long-aged Cuban seed tobaccos" that were grown entirely in Nicaragua. They carry a number (large number, actually) of cigars from various manufacturers.
After exploring the online store, I have to admit that what I've smoked in the past could barely be called a cigar (yes, I've smoked a couple of those, too) compared to what this shop offers.
Be sure to stop by
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We also have a page on
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Genocide Intervention Network.
You can cast your
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God Bless!
Jules
