Lofty Matters

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Craigslist has reached an agreement with lawyers from 40 states in which it has agreed to control its “erotic services” listings.

Prostitutes and sex-oriented business have often used certain sections of Craigslist to advertise their services. Often pornographic photos have accompanied their ads.

Early in 2008 the attorney general of Connecticut sent a letter to Craigslist demanding that it remove all such material from their site. They also have demanded that Craigslist enforce its own rules against illegal activity, including prostitution. After months of conversations between the two parties, Craigslist has realized their errors and have resolved to rid their site of this material.

In March they began asking their erotic services advertisers to provide a telephone number. Going further, Craigslist now is asking that advertisers provide valid identification. They will charge erotic services vendors a small fee for each ad ($10) and require that they use a credit card for payment.

Craigslist will donate the money to charities that fight child exploitation and human trafficking.

Tags: Craigslist

Happy Thanksgiving Weekend! Lots to be thankful for even in the midst of global turmoil over various situations. I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday here in the States and hope your weekend is a good one!

How about a great way to thank a service person who is currently serving our country overseas? Xerox is sponsoring a website that is making this possible. It’s FREE, it’s easy, and everyone should do this!

Lets Say Thanks

Visit this site to send a free postcard to show your support and gratitude to a service person! Simply choose one from a great selection, personalize it and add your name, and click send! It’s that easy!

An 84-year-old man with a $3,000 quarterly water bill won’t have to pay it. Neighbors organized a drive to help Norman Beckman raise $4,027.

Organizers stopped accepting the contributions that were still coming in. The donations ranged from $5 to $500.

Beckman was not able to live in his home during that time, and in his absence water pipes froze. This caused three leaks that allowed 44,700 cubic feet of water to go through the meter.

The money left over after paying the bill is being earmarked for the Salvation Army. Beckman is going to wait until Dec. 5 when Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has promised to match donations to the Army’s Red Kettle campaign.

Beckman said he felt humbled by the help he received. “It tells me there are many ways we can be proud of this community,” he said.

A professional golfer recently made headlines for his honesty. Telling the truth cost him a chance at a Professional Golfers Association card. J.P. Hayes accidentally used an unapproved golf ball for two strokes in a PGA Tour Qualifying tournament last week.

Hayes’ caddie got a ball out of his bag and threw it to him during the qualifying tour. After hitting two shots with the ball, Hayes realized it wasn’t the same ball that he started the round with and he took a two-stroke penalty.

Later after he had finished his round and thinking more about the incident, Hayes realized that the ball he was playing with was illegal. He reported the incident to PGA officials and he was disqualified.

His honesty removed him from the PGA tour for next year. Hayes is satisfied with the outcome, however. “We don’t have referees on the golf course,” Hayes said. “So it’s up to us to call penalties on ourselves. I think our sponsors appreciate it. I think our fans appreciate it. And I think it helps to grow golf as a whole,” he explained.

This is a welcome example!

Have you heard anything about the film Changes are Coming? It was 40 years in the making and this is a very unusual film - both in its history and its message. Due to a series of events, the film was never released after it was originally completed and the producer is just now ready to release it after all this time.

The basis of the plot is that Jesus Christ is ready to return to earth and in so doing He finds a circus down here - politicians, media, and citizens all playing roles as clowns in this circus we call life. Jesus gives up and never delivers the message so desperately needed to the world today.

So…what do you think? Are today’s Americans reliving the fall of Rome? Is the fall of America an inevitable event that we are hurtling ourselves toward?

Watch this trailer to get a taste of this unusual film. It’s a satirical movie, but it has an important message that everyone really should be aware of. After you watch the trailer, I would encourage you to follow the link and leave a comment at youtube to share what you thought. That promises to be an interesting conversation!

Embedded Video

Hello! We Americans are heading into Thanksgiving week here and my mind seems to be trying to spin everything into how I can be thankful for the many blessings I enjoy. There’s lots to be thankful for, that’s for sure. I think each of these current event stories are an example of something to be thankful for…each in a very different way. Cheers and happy weekend!

Wealthy Texan to Save Wild Horses

The wife of Texas oil tycoon T. Boone Pickens will create a refuge for wild horses. This is in response to the federal agency that manages the animals stating that it may have to kill some to control the herds and protect the Western range. About 33,000 wild horses and burros roam the open range in 10 Western states. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) wants that population to be about 27,000.

Horses that are too old or are unadoptable for some reason are sent to long-term holding facilities. The BLM now has about the same number of the animals in holding facilities as on the range. The costs of keeping animals in the holding facilities has caused officials to consider euthanasia for these animals.

Madeleine Pickens proposes purchasing about 1 million acres to be a refuge for the horses now in holding facilities. The BLM has agreed to give her the horses once she has the land. The animals brought to the refuge will be sterilized. She will be able to take the horses the BLM takes out of the wild every year as well.

Pickens is the child of British father and Lebanese mother and grew up in the Middle East. She went to school in England and France and has always had a love for the West and wild horses.

“It’s such a beautiful sight to see,” Pickens said. “This is our national heritage, and it needs to be preserved.”

Scientists Find New Penguin, Extinct for 500 Years

Researchers studying a rare and endangered species of penguin have discovered a brand new species that disappeared about 500 years ago.

Their research suggests that the first humans in New Zealand hunted the Waitaha penguin to extinction by 1500. The demise of the Waitaha allowed another kind of penguin to thrive — the yellow-eyed species that now also faces extinction.

Competition between the two penguin species may have kept the yellow-eyed penguin from expanding north. The yellow-eyed penguin is considered one of the rarest in the world. There are currently an estimated 7,000 in New Zealand and this is the focus of an extensive conservation effort.

Can you imagine finding $7,500 in cash stuffed in a shoebox at Goodwill????? A recent Bulgarian immigrant found this cash last week while she was at her first day of work at Goodwill.

Teodora Petrova didn’t hesitate after she found the money tucked in with a pair of donated shoes. She gave the money to a manager, who told executives for the nonprofit charity. Goodwill organization says it’s eager to find the owner of the money. The charity assumes it was left with the shoes accidentally.

If the owner isn’t found, Goodwill will use the money for the charity’s job-placement efforts.

Weekend greetings to you! It’s scary how quickly the weekend rolls around again. Does anyone else think so? I mean…I like slowing down on the weekends, but the weeks are just flying by so quickly!

Here is your weekly dose of GOOD NEWS. Nice to focus on some good for a change. Sorely needed these days. Enjoy!

Extra Cash? Turn in Your Techno-Junk for Money

Brandon Mendelson is a struggling grad student at SUNY Albany.

Last week, he began using his Facebook page to advertise for empty ink cartridges and old cell phones from friends, fellow students and other people who are too busy to properly dispose of them. He plans to stockpile the donated items in a cardboard box and recycle the material with a few of the rising number of companies that offer dollars for e-waste.

As the economy tightens, more consumers are scrounging their junk drawers and bedroom closets in search of recyclable objects…including: desktop computers, digital cameras, gaming consoles, and cell phones.

RadioShack recently began an electronics trade-in program that enables consumers to use an online calculator to estimate the value of their aging electronics, including GPS devices, MP3 players, wireless phones, notebook computers and tech products. If the consumer agrees with assessed prices they see for their entered gadgets, they can ship them to the company for free. RadioShack will then send them a company gift card.

How much is the financial crunch spurring a an electronic recycling boom? Between 1999 and 2005, Americans recycled about 15 percent of their outdated or broken digital items. In 2007, Americans recycled 18 percent of their old items. This past July and August alone, Toshiba paid its e-recycling users $8,448 for their unwanted items and the company says 90 percent of the people who use the program are seeking cash.

Music to Your Ears and Music For Your Heart, Too

Songs that make our hearts soar can make them stronger too. When people listen to their favorite music, their blood vessels dilate in a similar way to when laughing, or taking blood medications.

Blood vessels opened up significantly and can be compared to how the vessels open with other activities like exercise. A similar effect has been observed with drugs such as statins and ACE inhibitors.

When blood vessels open more blood flows more smoothly and is less likely to form the blood clots that cause heart attacks and strokes. Elastic vessels also resist the hardening activity of atherosclerosis.

Elementary Students Join in Pennies for Peace Program

Students at Franklin Township Elementary School are learning the power of a single penny.

They are participating in the Pennies for Peace program and have been collecting pennies to provide schooling to children in remote mountain regions of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

The pennies being raised are going to be able to make a remarkable difference because in these two countries a single penny can purchase a pencil and $1 will pay for a day of school for one child. $12 will cover one year of education for one student.

Pennies for Peace is a program of Central Asia Institute and was founded by Greg Mortensen in 1996.

Tags: Elementary Students Join in Pennies for Peace Program, Extra Cash? Turn in Your Techno-Junk for Money, Music to Your Ears and Music For Your Heart Too

There is increasing and widespread anxiety in the midst of the current economic situation that is gripping the world.

The economic condition just seems to get more and more grim. 760,000 positions have been eliminated in the last nine months. In September one in 475 homes in the US received a foreclosure notice. Pensions lost approximately $1 trillion (USD) from the second quarter of 2007 to the second quarter of 2008.

No one knows exactly what will happen next and the constant bad news is taking its toll. The American Psychological Association recently conducted two online surveys of over 2,500 people . They found that respondents’ stress levels spiked in September. In April, 66% reported that the economy was a source of stress. In September, 80% reported the same.

It’s normal to feel stressed during turbulent times, however, some health professionals have concerns that the size of this current crisis will affect the coping abilities of those who are being affected the most. There are ways to effectively manage stress. It would be a good idea to start monitoring these warning signs and think about strategies for relieving anxiety and depression.

People who are prone to anxiety, depression or substance abuse may already be feeling overwhelmed. Substance abuse or thoughts of suicide are important red flags. There are other warning signs of depression that should be taken seriously as well, though. There are both physical and mental symptoms of stress. These include fatigue, muscular tension, erectile dysfunction, lack of motivation, dizziness, headaches, upset stomach, increased irritability, anger, teeth grinding, and nervousness. When viewed individually, these symptoms may seem insignificant. However, when these symptoms affect someone who is dealing with a layoff, a foreclosure or another form of financial stress, a serious anxiety or depression can be the result.

Here are some coping strategies:

• Develop a “pause but not panic” approach to decision-making - We often want to react immediately to bad news but this can often make a problem worse.

• Eliminate negative habits like gambling, substance abuse or overeating - Instead engage in activities like exercise, meditation and hobbies.

• Consider counseling if symptoms persist - You may find useful tools for sorting through emotions and options.

• View these challenges as opportunities for growth - Look for ways to improve your professional skills, consider volunteering for work projects, and reevaluate your planned career path.

Tags: American Psychological Association, depression, Economic recession, manage stress, widespread anxiety

Democrats in the House have been conducting hearings on proposals to confiscate workers’ personal retirement accounts (this includes 401(k)s and IRAs) and convert them to universal Guaranteed Retirement Accounts (GRAs) that would be managed by the Social Security Administration.

These hearings were apparently triggered by the financial crisis of the past two months. The purpose is to reduce the losses incurred by workers and retirees whose account balances have been shrinking.

The committee is blaming Wall Street for the financial crisis and is striving to “strengthen and protect Americans’ 401(k)s, pensions, and other retirement plans.” The Democratic Congress has pledged to continue to conduct this supervision for Americans.

As it is now, 401(k) plans allow Americans to invest pretax money and their employers a defined percentage. This increases the workers’ retirement savings and also reduces income taxes. The balances are inheritable and are subject to income tax. This means that workers can pass on their wealth to their heirs — unlike Social Security. In addition, even if a worker leaves one employer and switches to one that doesn’t offer a 401(k) or pension the worker can transfer any balance to a qualified IRA.

Apparently “wealth inequalities” are the root of their concern. The current retirement system is said to “exacerbate income and wealth inequalities” because tax breaks for voluntary retirement accounts are “skewed to the wealthy because it is easier for them to save, and because they receive bigger tax breaks when they do.” They are concerned because savings incentives are unequal for rich and poor families.

Instead of tax breaks workers currently receive for contributions (and so a lower tax rate) workers would receive $600 per year from the government (adjusted for inflation). For lower income workers who have annual contributions less than $600, the government would deposit the amount it would take to equal the minimum $600 for all participants.

Their spin is that they are just “rearranging the tax breaks that are available now for 401(k)s and spreading the wealth.”

All workers would have 5 percent of their annual pay deducted from their paychecks and deposited into the GRA. On top of this they would still be paying Social Security and Medicare taxes, as would their employers. The GRA contribution would be split equally between the worker and the employee. Employers also would no longer be able to write off their contributions.

Something else to consider…with a GRA, workers could bequeath only half of their account balances to heirs. With 401(k)s and IRAs, they are able to bequeath full balances. Workers who die after retiring could bequeath just their own contributions plus any interest — NO benefits received and NO employer contributions.

A recent survey reports that 33 % of Americans want the government to “enforce additional private savings.”  Democrats seem to have taken this bit of information and turned it into a request for a mandatory government-run savings.

Congressional Democrats intend to address income and wealth inequality through redistribution in the near future as well.

The idea is that even people who don’t pay taxes should get money from the government, paid for by people who do have an income.

In a recent interview, Obama said, “The Supreme Court never ventured into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and of more basic issues such as political and economic justice in society.” The Constitution says only what “the states can’t do to you. Says what the Federal government can’t do to you.”

In 2001, Obama said he was not “optimistic about bringing major redistributive change through the courts.” As president, he will likely have the chance to appoint at least one Supreme Court justice.

Tags: 401(k), financial crisis, GRA, Guaranteed Retirement Account

Happy Weekend! Another week has flown by. It was an exciting one with national and world events - full of lots of big stories. Here are a few good news stories that I think are worth highlighting. Have a wonderful weekend!

Fungus Discovered that Converts Plant Cellulose to Diesel Fuel

A fungus that can make diesel fuel from cellulose has been in trees in the Patagonian rainforest.

Professor Gary Strobel from Montana State University travels the world looking for exotic plants that may contain beneficial microbes.

Strobe published a paper in the November issue of the journal “Microbiology” outlining his discovery of the unique properties of the Patagonian fungus, called Gliocladium roseum.

They were very surprised to see it making hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon derivatives. The results were unexpected and very exciting.

Strobel calls the fuel produced by the fungus “myco-diesel.”

The fungus can even make these diesel compounds from cellulose, which makes it a better source of biofuel than anything we have at the moment.

World Leaders’ Hopeful Quotes on Obama Election Win

The following are quotes from world leaders:

YULIA TYMOSHENKO, UKRAINIAN PRIME MINISTER

“Your victory is an inspiration for us. That which appeared impossible has become possible.”

FRANCO FRATTINI, ITALIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

“Europe which is celebrating (the victory of) Obama must know that Europe be will be called on to be a producer of security and no longer merely a consumer. I think Obama will rightly call on us to take our responsibilities more seriously.”

CELSO AMORIM, BRAZILIAN FOREIGN MINISTER

“In this case hope has won over prejudice — this is good for the United States and the world as a whole.”

GRIGORY KARASIN, RUSSIAN DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER

“The news we are receiving on the results of the American presidential election shows that everyone has the right to hope for a freshening of U.S. approaches to all the most complex issues, including foreign policy and therefore relations with the Russian Federation as well.”

HOSHIYAR ZEBARI, IRAQI FOREIGN MINISTER

“I think you will hear a lot of discussion and goals and slogans during the election campaigns. When there is a reality check I think any U.S. president has to look very hard at the facts on the ground.”

TZIPI LIVNI, ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTER

“Israel expects the close strategic cooperation with the new administration, president and Congress will continue along with the continued strengthening of the special and unshakeable special relationship between the two countries.”

MOHAMED MAHDI AKEF, LEADER OF THE EGYPTIAN MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD

“We congratulate (Obama) on the confidence of the American people in him and we hope that he will change the policy of the United States toward the Middle East and toward the crimes which are happening in Afghanistan and Somalia, in other words that he adopts a just policy that restores to America its natural position of respect for humankind and democracy.”

REV, FEDERICO LOMBARDI, POPE BENEDICT’S SPOKESMAN

“Believers are praying that God will enlighten him and help him in his great responsibility, which is enormous because of the global importance of the United States…We hope Obama can fulfil the expectations and hopes that many have in him.”

YOUSAF RAZA GILANI, PAKISTANI PRIME MINISTER

“Your election marks a new chapter in the remarkable history of the United States. For long, the ideas of democracy, liberty and freedom espoused by the United States has been a source of inspiration…I hope that under your dynamic leadership, the United States will continue to be a source of global peace and new ideas for humanity.”

MANMOHAN SINGH, INDIAN PRIME MINISTER

“Your extraordinary journey to the White House will inspire people not only in your country but also around the world.”

ALI AL-SADIG, SUDANESE FOREIGN MINISTRY SPOKESMAN

“We don’t expect any change through our previous experience with the Democrats … When it comes to foreign policy there is no difference between the Republicans and the Democrats.”

JAN PETER BALKENENDE, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER

“The necessity for cooperation between Europe and the United States is bigger than ever. Only by close transatlantic cooperation can we face the world’s challenges.”

NICOLAS SARKOZY, FRENCH PRESIDENT

“With the world in turmoil and doubt, the American people, faithful to the values that have always defined America’s identity, have expressed with force their faith in progress and the future. At a time when we must face huge challenges together, your election has raised enormous hope in France, in Europe and beyond.”

HAMID KARZAI, AFGHAN PRESIDENT

“I applaud the American people for their great decision and I hope that this new administration in the United States of America, and the fact of the massive show of concern for human beings and lack of interest in race and color while electing the president, will go a long way in bringing the same values to the rest of world sooner or later.”

GORDON BROWN, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

“Barack Obama ran an inspirational campaign, energizing politics with his progressive values and his vision for the future. I know Barack Obama and we share many values. We both have determination to show that government can act to help people fairly through these difficult times facing the global economy.”

Using Thoughts and Technology to Help People Who Are Paralyzed

Neuroscientists have significantly advanced brain-machine interface (BMI) technology so that severely handicapped people who cannot even move one leg or arm muscle now can independently compose and send e-mails and operate a television in their homes - by using only their thoughts.

Some day these people may even be able to feed themselves with a robotic arm and hand that moves according to their mental commands.

Scientists recently developed a technology that allowed a rhesus macaque monkey to mentally control a robotic arm to feed itself pieces of fruit. Most recently, the monkeys not only mentally guided a robotic arm to pieces of food but also opened and closed the robotic arm’s hand, or gripper, to retrieve them. Just by thinking about picking up and bringing the fruit to its mouth, the animal fed itself.

The monkey’s own arm and hand did not move while it moved the two-finger gripper at the end of the robotic arm.

The hope is to use BMI systems for people who are paralyzed from spinal cord injury or related trauma.

Governor Jon Corzine is being vetted by Obama’s transition team as a possible Treasury Secretary candidate in the newly forming administration. The transition team has begun reviewing Corzine’s financial and personal documents as part of the vetting procedure. Because the vetting process is confidential, sources have asked not to be identified. There have been no comments by Corzine or his aides.

Corzine formerly ran the financial services for Goldman Sachs. At one point, he quickly dismissed all talk about any interest in running the Treasury Department. However, recently, he has recanted and has said, “no one’s ever going to say never.” In fact, last night Corzine stated that if President-elect Obama asked him to serve, he would consider any offer.

Corzine has deep ties to Obama, and was an early advocate for Obama’s campaign for U.S. Senate in 2004. Corzine did back Hillary Clinton in the primaries, but quickly renewed his ties with Obama after Obama secured the Democratic nomination. Since that time, Corzine has been a key economic adviser to Obama.

Corzine’s name is said to be on a short list. Current Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is also a former Goldman Sachs leader.

• Fight for what’s right for our country!
• Fight for the ideals and character of a free people!
• Fight for our children’s future!
• Fight for justice and opportunity for all!
• Stand up to defend our country from its enemies!
• Stand up for each other; for beautiful, blessed, bountiful America!
• Stand up, stand up, stand up and fight!

Nothing is inevitable here. We’re Americans, and we never give up. We never quit. We never hide from history.

We make history.

~John McCain