Is Congress Murdering the 99er Nation by Neglect? “You Betcha”

Is Congress murdering the 99ers by neglecting to add a Tier 5 in the past 8 months? The undeniable answer is “You Betcha” - as Sarah Palin would say.

By legal definition, murder requires either intent or neglect of lawful duty. Careless disregard for human life also meets the legal definition of murder in America. Though the legal definitions mentioned here are not exhaustive, so far, I'd say Washington is GUILTY!

After months of petitions, fax attacks, letters, phone calls emails, marches, rallies, media coverage on 5 major networks, countless suicides and a few arrests - Congress is still not listening to the American people on the Tier 5 issue.

There is a great deal of talk out there these days about the wishes of the American people, but there isn’t a single person in Washington who gives a damn about the wishes of the American people who are not rich.

If that were not the case, Congress would actually do something about the fact that over 50 million Americans this year alone have had trouble just putting food on the table, instead of whining about tax cuts. NEWS FALSH: If you have no income - TAX CUTS will not help you at all. I do not hear any Tea Party flunky talking about that nor do I hear Mitch McConnell or Boehner discussing how this is a priority with the GOP.

In my recent article, Credit Score the New “Mark of the Beast”? I discussed how unemployment and the Washington/Wall Street created recession has hurt the credit ratings of millions of jobless Americans - making it nearly impossible to land the most menial job.

Several 99ers forwarded that article to (who else) Mr. Ed Schultz of MSNBC yesterday and today - Ed’s show opening commentary blasted this very practice by employers. [See video below] See Ed is still doing everything he possibly can to help the 99ers. Ed Schultz is the real deal - a true man of his word and one of the very few in the media who even “gets it!”

Since Tiers 3 & 4 began running out in January this year, the rolls of the UI exhaustees have grown to more than 5 million Americans. In that time, 5 bills have been brought before the Halls of Congress in an effort to extend UI benefits but ONLY by extending the dates for which to file for UI and NOT additional UI benefits.

This has confused a great many Americans, some members of Congress and most of the media to boot. It has not exactly confused NELP (National Employment Law Project - a supposed advocacy group for the unemployed) nor has it bewildered the AFL-CIO but no matter how long and hard the 99ers try to court the assistance of those 2 huge lobbying groups in Washington - the 99er Nation gets NOTHING but empty promises from both groups. When it comes to our Tier 5 to Survive - both NELP and the AFL-CIO are as worthless and uncaring as Congress.

If Sarah Palin really cares about anyone but her self - why doesn’t she donate even one dime of her wealth to help Americans in poverty? Is she waiting for us to use our “2nd Amendment Rights” to fend for our selves? Well, most 99ers have had to pawn or sell off our guns for food long ago.

The fact is that next week the Congress will be on yet another paid vacation, likely without even considering S3706 (Tier 5) or even extending the UI filing dates - set to expire November 30th. I mean what is the urgency after all? What is another 2 million plus added to the rolls of the jobless without UI benefits after all? I mean they have already ignored 5 million Americans in this exact situation for over 8 months now. What harm could possibly come from adding another few million to the bunch?

So, Is Congress Murdering the 99er Nation by Neglect? “You Betcha” they are and they do not give a damn about the hurting poor jobless Americans. Washington is blatantly guilty of committing the most callous Social Holocaust in history!

May God Bless America, save Her & Her impoverished population from the devils in Washington and from those wealthy contributors who paid to put them in office.

The Statue of Liberty should now aptly read: Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...so we can neglect and force them to starve like we do to America’s own poor......

(The entire clip is GREAT but the Credit issue is mentioned at 4:55 into this clip)

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South Park is Sued Again

So, a few years back South Park's Butters did a cute song and dance called "What What In The Butt." Before that episode aired there had been a video on YouTube withe the same title and it was a song and dance done that was basically identical to the one that the South Park episode had.

CNN reports:

In a 2008 episode of the series, Butters appeared in a music video that, according to the lawsuit filed by Brownmark Films, is a "nearly frame-by-frame recreation" of the original video, which became a viral sensation in 2007 and since then has had over 33,000,000 page views.

Comedy Central released a statement describing the "South Park" segment as a parody and saying that it's "fully protected against any copyright infringement claims under the fair-use doctrine and the First Amendment and we plan to vigorously defend those rights."

The images for this law suit can be found on E! Online for those who are interested in viewing the actual legal documents surrounding this case.

The following is the original video, and the first comment posted suggests that the version Butters did in South Park is better. Well, they're both funny. The legal documents are really worth taking a look at to see what really is going on behind the scenes.

C.R. Zazzy Builds Honda Excitement

C.R. Zazzy is the fictional spokesperson created for the Honda CR-Z to build excitement about the new vehicle.

C.R. Zazzy has filmed music videos on different college campuses, including New England School of Communications (NESCom) and Husson University it Bangor, (video below) which has made many college students very excited.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, November 17,  students can come test drive a CR-Z in front of the NESCom building from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. Those who wish to test drive the vehicle must provide proof of a valid driver's license.



That video takes place on Husson Campus and features lots of NESCom and Husson students (Nikky Raney is not in the video).

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1

I have been a big fan of the "Harry Potter" series ever since it came out.  Whenever a new book was released I'd get my hands on it immediately and finished most of them within a few days.  Over the course of the franchise the books got longer and darker as the content matured with the characters.  One of my problems with the movies of the later books, as is my problem with most movies based on books, is that the content got  cut short.  There is only so much of the story you can tell in the 2 - 2 1/2 hour time frame of a movie.  This, of course, is an inevitable outcome, movies are 2-2 1/2 hours for a reason, most people can't sit through something much longer than that.

I remember being excited for the final fight scene between Dumbledore and Voldermort that was described in so much detail at the end of "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."  In the movie, a scene that took up an entire chapter in the book, lasted for what seemed about 30 seconds (maybe it was longer than that but my perception is biased due to the huge let down I felt).  I remember thinking to myself "this is why I books are always better than the movie."   It's not that I didn't enjoy the movie, it's just that I wanted to see more of the story line than was presented.

The last book is by far the longest in the series and there's a lot that happens.  If it hadn't been cut into two movies the franchise would have suffered greatly.  So, when I heard that "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows" was going to be divided into two films I was pleasantly surprised.

The first installment of the 2 part conclusion to the Harry Potter series premiered Monday, November 16th, in New York City.  The second installment is due to come out in Summer of 2011.  The film opens Friday, November 19th in U.S theaters and marks the beginning of the end in the popular series.

The movies so far have been very entertaining, even with the content cut short, and my only qualm with splitting up the two movies is that they are being released 6 months apart.  I'm sure I'll leave the theater entertained but I can also picture myself walking out pulling my hair and screaming "I gotta wait another 6 months to see the next one!?!?!"  The wait will be worth it though if the creators stay true to the story line of the books.

John Bobst aka The Force of Nature

www.theforceofnature.net
www.doyouseewhatyouget.com

Royal Engagement Ring: Prince William Propose to Kate Middleton

Prince William proposed to his girlfriend Kate Middleton during a vacation in Kenya last month.  The engagement was officially announced via Twitter on November 14th and the Royal Families Facebook page on November 16th.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been dating since 2001, when they met during their first year attending St. Andrews University. Over the last 8 years Prince Edward and Kate Middleton have had some troubled times and the news of their engagement has put an end to the "will they, won't they" questions.

The Clarence statement reported that “Prince William has also sought the permission of Miss Middleton’s father.”  It has also been reported that Prince William gave Kate Middleton the same engagement ring that his mother, the late Princess Diana, was given by Prince William father, Prince Charles.

The wedding is  tentatively planned for the spring or summer of 2011 and it has been rumored that it will be held at West Minster Abbey, the location of Princess Diana's funeral.  A representative of the palace told NBC "Further details about the wedding day will be announced in due course,"

John Bobst aka The Force of Nature

www.theforceofnature.net
www.doyouseewhatyouget.com

After earmarks?

GOP leaders, apparently taking cues from Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and thrilled to be in a majority in the House of Representatives when the next Congress convenes in January, seem intent on banning legislative earmarks despite reforms initiated during the 110th Congress which brought much-needed transparency and accountability to this relatively small part of the allocation process. In fact, reforms have already reduced earmark spending by about $3 billion, to the point where the process now represents between 1% - 2% of federal spending.

But here's the million dollar question: By what new process will funding decisions be made if earmarks go away? If Congress doesn't specify allocation decisions, then it falls to the executive branch. Will spending choices made by agencies and their politically appointed heads be somehow superior to those made by our elected officials? It may sound like progress at first blush -- it's obviously got the elite GOP messaging teams excited, and right-leaning media commentators love it -- but GOP Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK) doesn't think it's a good idea at all.

Inhofe, who says publicly he'll keep right on earmarking, knows the danger in moving away from the recent reforms to adopt a new process under control of political appointees.

Is that "executive branch control" over spending really what the people who assert the government has too much control and that earmarks are simply - and always - pork spending honestly think is the "best way to rein in big government," or is it more sound-bites setting up partisan bickering that will distract Congress from taking up more important challenges?

Look, when it's done away from the light, if the media and other watchdogs fail to follow the money, then earmarking is a system open to abuse and fraud. But are we going to ask Congress to invent a whole new process during a time when the GOP controls the House while Democrats retain the majority in the Senate and prominent GOP Senators are saying that gives too much spending control to the Obama administration?

Oh that should go really quickly.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, political strategist, and photographer who recently worked as the Campaign Manager on the Madore For Congress campaign in Minnesota's 2nd District. He contributes regularly to a host of other web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Lady Gaga Restrains Out of Hand Little Monster

The Chicago Sun Times has reported that Lady Gaga has obtained a restraining order against Anastasia Obukhov, a delusional Russian fan New York from who basically said that she would kill Gaga and then commit suicide.

According to the aforementioned source, Obukhova wrote murder threats to Gaga on numerous occasions; within the letters she would even compare herself to John Lennon's assassin, Mark David Chapman.

The Digital Spy reports that the 26-year-old fan wrote:

"You come to my dreams. I want to die and I want to die together with you. I am not Mark Chapman. It is not only you who will die. I will shoot a bullet through my head, too."

That is some serious psychobabble right here, to put it nice and bluntly. No objectivity with this post - it is obvious that there is something wrong when someone compares herself to Mark Chapman. Obukhova is extremely fanatic and has been warned not to come within 500 yards of Gaga.

Let's hope the rest of the little monsters can protect the Mama Monster. Gaga is so incredibly famous, she is the top superstar pop star in the entire world right now - her following is incredible, and she is on top of world right now on her peak, and that doesn't look like it is going to end any time soon.

Christina Aguilera Gets a Star

Christina Aguilera was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Monday, November 15, 2010,  E! News reports during a quick commercial break.

It doesn't seem like Aguilera receiving a star is as big a deal as it was when Mark Wahlberg received his. There hasn't been much reporting done about Aguilera's star, but she will be getting more recognition soon when her movie Burlesque hits theaters.

Rangel declared "guilty" on most ethics charges

The bi-partisan panel of the House ethics Committee considering charges against Representative Charles Rangel (NY-15) has determined that the veteran Democrat and former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee is guilty in 11 of the 13 counts of breaking House rules they were investigating.

Rangel's appearance yesterday before the subcommittee was highlighted by a self-non-defense, arguing that he needed additional time and funds to be properly represented. The subcommittee, chaired by another Democrat, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (CA-16), was extraordinarily indulgent of Representative Rangel's repeated pleas; Rangel asserted spending approximately $2 million to date on his defense, but that expecting it might still cost half as much again his lawyers were unprepared to move forward, and that any "donated" defense provided by others would likely run afoul of FEC campaign donation limits.

The full House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct will hold a hearing to determine punishment and announce their recommendation to the full U.S. House of Representatives.

Consequences for Rangel could range from a House vote deploring Rangel's conduct to a fine and denial of privileges.  The so-called ethics committee is the only House committee exactly split between the two parties, and last acted to admonish then-Represenative Tom DeLay (TX-22) which seems to have resulted in then-Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert removing three Republicans. Reactions by Democrats arguably left the panel hobbled and ultimately unable to act in the cases of DeLay, Jim McDermott (WA-7), and the infamous Abramoff lobbying scandal, which resulted in such distrust of the GOP that they lost their majority in the 2006 elections.

Thomas Hayes is an entrepreneur, journalist, political strategist, and photographer who recently worked as the Campaign Manager on the Madore For Congress campaign in Minnesota's 2nd District. He contributes regularly to a host of other web sites on topics ranging from economics and politics to culture and community.

Depression & Parenting- Implications for your children by Dr. Christina Villarreal

Research studies have shown that children raised by parents affected by depression are at increased risk for academic and behavioral problems, as well as developing major depression themselves. These risks emanate from both a child's genetic predisposition for developing depression, as well as their stressful environmental upbringing, says Michelle Sherman, PhD, a clinical associate professor of psychology at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City and the author of I'm Not Alone: A Teen's Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness. "Children often assume blame or responsibility for their parents when things go wrong, like in depression or divorce" adds Sherman. Parenting is challenging on it's own, but parenting while coping with depression adds challenges that for many, become overwhelming and difficult to manage.

Parents suffering from untreated major depression are typically pessimistic and uninterested in life and social activities; they also frequently have low energy, and irritability- all of which make even the basic tasks of parenthood overwhelming. When mothers are depressed, they tend to be less organized, less responsive, more likely to express negative emotions, and less likely to be engaged with their children compared to non-depressed mothers, says Kate Fogarty, assistant professor of youth development at the University of Florida. For many children, this experience forces them to learn to care for themselves prematurely, and may place them inappropriately in the role of parental caretaker. Other children are less capable, and develop dysfunctional patterns of behavior and emotional disturbance as a result of ongoing parental neglect.

A study of 244 formerly depressed adolescents revealed that those whose mothers had a history of major depression were more likely to experience a recurrence of depression between the ages of 19 and 24, and had more frequent and severe depressive episodes. Depressed mothers had more of an impact on the adolescents' mental health than depressed fathers, according to this 2005 study by researchers at the Oregon Research Institute in Eugene, Ore., although the sons of depressed fathers were found to be more likely to consider and attempt suicide. The effects of having a father with depression has not been studied to the extent of depressed mothers, says Fogarty, but she suspects that the effect would be similar for any primary caretaker. "If this was the father and he was depressed, I would suspect there would be similar results. Researchers look at maternal depression mainly because mothers are traditionally the primary caretaker, but that’s changing" she adds.

How to support children with a depressed parent, and decrease their mental health risks:
"Depressed parents and their families should know that there is much one can do to reduce a child’s risk for becoming depressed. Just one adult who’s available and willing to help support the child can make a big difference in a child’s life when a parent is depressed," says Sherman. Additional emotional support can come from relatives in the family, a child psychologist, school teachers, church members, or other role models in community groups. Spouses of depressed parents also need support, since parental duties often fall disproportionately upon them much of the time. Couples and family therapy are also great resources that teach healthy communication, as well as how to build coping resources and resiliency in all family members.

Grandparents can also be a great resource in mitigating the negative effects of parental depression upon a child. "Frequent contact between a child and his or her grandparents, especially if the relationship is warm and nurturing, lessens the likelihood the child will develop depression later in life" according to Fogarty. "It is important for children to have a strong adult who is consistent in his or her life" adds Fogarty.

Adults hoping to help should provide a structured environment whenever possible, most importantly, one that encourages a child to express their emotions. "That can be as simple as maintaining a dialogue with the children, keeping the lines of communication open. It can also be showing sensitivity to the child’s needs," says Fogarty. Children with a depressed parent need adults who can detect their emotional state, since they often struggle to notice their own feelings and mood. As children, they've learned to focus on the emotional states of others, as a way to anticipate the shifting moods of their depressed parent. "If a child comes home after a bad day and is visibly upset, a depressed caregiver might not be available to help them through that process,” says Fogarty.

Is there hope for children raised by a depressed parent?

Some of these children show incredible resiliency, in spite of the challenges they've faced being raised by a depressed parent. These tend to be children with higher than average intelligence, who learn early on how to utilize an array of outside resources for guidance and support. They are often capable of socially complex problem solving, appearing 'wise beyond their years.' Further, they are usually comfortable with stressful situations, making them well suited to careers that require them to anticipate and read others' emotions. They tend to be independent and self-sufficient, and are often 'the workhorse' and conflict facilitator in groups. As adults, they are usually sensitive and understanding of others with mental health issues. While children raised by a depressed parent remain vulnerable to depression themselves due to the aforementioned reasons, this experience does not mean they are doomed to repeating the life of their depressed parent. With sufficient support and early intervention, children raised by a depressed parent can go on to lead normal, healthy lives.



Please add your comments, insights and/or questions about this topic here. To contact Dr. Villarreal for professional referrals, please visit http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/59877 or www.drchristinavillarreal.com

Michael Vick | Mike Vick 88-Yard Touchdown Pass To DeSean Jackson

Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick opened the ESPN Monday Night Football game against Donovan McNabb and The Washington Redskins with this amazing 88-yard touchdown pass to former Cal Wide Receiver DeSean Jackson.

The pass, a rollout to the opposite hashmark off play-action, calling for Vick to throw to Jackson on a post pattern, was a thing of beauty. Watch Vick set himself, and use the hashmarks in the classic way preached by the late San Francisco 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh.

(Why 49ers Owner John and Jed York have went away from the system Coach Walsh made famous there is beyond logic.)

After the play LeBron James got on Twitter and tweeted Michael Vick for President.

Personally, I think President Obama's just fine.

Michael Vick | Mike Vick Eagles vs Redskins Talk Of News Morning

The Eagles vs Redskins ESPN Monday Night Football game, and then the recap of that game, ended somewhere around midnight eastern time, but it's still the media talk Tuesday morning. And why not. Philadelphia Eagles Quarterback Michael Vick, who LeBron James said should be President on Twitter, had a historic game.

"Mike Vick" became the first player in NFL History to have 300 yards passing, over 50 yards rushing (he had 80) and six touchdowns, four passing and two rushing, in one game. NFL.com said that's one of the greatest performances in Monday Night Football history, but if that's the case, who was better?

Vick Fueled By Redskins Insults

According to NFL.com, Vick and the Eagles were fueled by the taunting Washington Redskins. According to Philadelphia Center Mike McGlynn as told to the NFL, "Basically a guy tried to come over and intimidate us. It was (No.) 30 again. He said some things to our star player he shouldn't have said, and he got his. You can see on that first play. He got his."

What Eagles Cornerback LaRon Landry reportedly said referred to Vick's time in jail for dog fighting, but that's not only getting old fast, it's starting to look like an affront to God himself.  Landry was torched by Vick and DeSean Jackson for an 88 yard touchdown on the first play of the game.  That set the tone for what was to be a rout.

Vick's rise is a lot like that of Sarah Palin's, who seems angry for being disrespected in politics by the GOP. But that's for another blog post; this is Vick's time to shine.

Overall, Michael Vick has won every game he's played in and finished this year. His overall quarterback rating is 115, under 11 touchdowns, 1,350 yards, and no interceptions. In fact, Vick has not turned the ball over this year.

Michael Vick For NFL MVP? It could happen. But first, Vick and the Eagles have the New York Giants to deal with and they're not happy about losing to the Dallas Cowboys.