12 Jul 2012

Congressional vote to repeal Obamacare: Payback to the insurance industry - GOP Leaders in Congress tell the American people: "Don't Get Sick"

By Rick Martin
Champaign:  On July 11th, the do-nothing Congress which has worked fewer days than any other Congress in modern times will be voting for the 31st time to take away health care security for the American people.  

"Obamacare does one very important thing:  Insurance companies can't rip you off anymore. Those who are fighting to gut the law today are doing the bidding of their high dollar donors from the insurance industry, plain and simple." stressed Jim Duffett, Executive Director of the Campaign for Better Health Care.

The GOP leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives and those individual congresspeople who want to repeal Obamacare are sending a clear signal that their vote today will take away health care protections and safeguards for the American people.
Specifically:
  • Tens of millions of seniors will have to pay thousands of dollars more a year for prescription drugs
  • Tens of millions of our children will now be discriminated against by the insurance industry for pre-existing conditions, and be kicked off their parents health care plans once graduating from high school or college
  • Millions of small businesses will lose tax credits now and in the future to pay for health care for their employees, and will be denied access to insurance through a large insurance pool called the Exchange
  • All Americans will be at the mercy of the insurance companies, who will be able to cancel their policies at any time, cap the level of medical coverage, and charge customers whatever they want
  • Women will be forced to pay 3, 4 or 5 times more in health care premiums
  • 30-35 million Americans will lose the shared opportunity and responsibility to purchase health insurance for themselves and their families
  • The federal deficit will increase by hundreds of billions of dollars; hundreds of thousands of Americans will face medical bankruptcy due to medical bills; and hundreds of hospitals, clinics, and other health facilities will close their doors

Duffett continues, "For tens of millions of hard working Americans and small businesses this isn't a political issue, it's a personal one.  Their health depends on it.  The taxpayers of America subsidize the health care costs of those members who will be voting to repeal Obamacare today by immorally pulling the health security rug out from beneath the feet of the American people.  Their alternative to Obamacare for small businesses and middle class families is - don't get sick.  No wonder the GOP controlled House of Representatives have a favorable rating of 10%.  Shame on you," concluded Duffett.
12 Jul 2012

Health Coach to Moms: Fall in Love with Your Food

By Ginny Grimsley
Tips to Jumpstart an Affair Your Jeans Will Remember

A lot has changed for 21st-century women, but one thing hasn't: Moms still juggle insanely busy lives and their needs usually fall last on the list, says Columbia University-certified health coach Beth Aldrich.

That includes eating - as in, really loving what you eat. Because you didn't really love that bag of chips you downed while watching "An Affair to Remember" for the 200th time, did you?

"How could you?" asks Aldrich, author of the award-winning new book, Real Moms Love to Eat (www.RealMomsLoveToEat.com). "Who could possibly be aware of chips with Cary Grant on the screen?"

It's wonderful to take pleasure in food, she says. It's even OK to eat the things we shouldn't every once in awhile - just be sure to savor every bite. "Eating in front of the TV is not savoring," Aldrich says..

"There are also plenty of great healthy ingredients that you can turn into new foods to love, even healthier versions of those favorite comfort foods from childhood. You'll finish meals feeling energized, emotionally satisfied and best of all, not guilty. And, oh yeah! You'll look great in your skinny jeans!"

Aldrich offers ways to kick off the romance:

• Make it all about YOU: Get back to the basics, remembering the pleasure inherent in the food experiences of your childhood. Think of the simple joy you had crunching into a sweet apple. How does that compare with the high-fructose corn syrup-drenched, refined wheat-flour products that leave you bloated and craving more? Whole foods - those eaten in their natural, unprocessed state, such as a baked potato versus French fries -- give you a fuller eating experience, increase energy and help you look great!

• Get naked with raw foods: Our earliest ancestors were hunter-gatherers who foraged for and consumed a wide variety of caloric intake, mostly consisting of raw veggies. Your body will thank you not long after you include more raw food into your diet, but you don't have to go the full Monty right away. Add fresh berries to your breakfast yogurt, include fresh nuts with your lunch, or replace coleslaw from the supermarket deli with a fresh recipe made from scratch.

• Tame your cravings dragon: One of the swiftest paths to an unhealthy snacking binge is ready-made, highly-processed sweets and baked goods. The craving-attack occurs when moms are busy and haven't planned their meals for the day and it leads to a spike in blood sugar, a crash and then - another monster-sized craving. Have healthy options ready to go. Nutrient-dense whole grains such as quinoa, whole-grain toast with sesame butter, and oatmeal will turn that dragon of yours into a pussycat in no time.

• Hungry for more lovin'?: Think you could force yourself to eat an ounce of dark chocolate every day? High-quality dark chocolate - the kind that doesn't have all the fillers - actually has lots of benefits, not the least of which is ... it's chocolate! Dark chocolate contains natural chemicals that serve as mood boosters and elevate serotonin levels, which enhance our sense of well-being. Health benefits range from keeping blood vessels elastic to increasing antioxidant levels.

"The wrong way to look at the whole-food diet is as an obligation," Aldrich says. "You are doing your body and your taste buds a favor by excluding unnecessary sugar, salt and processed fats from your diet in favor of a variety of spices, fuller textures and a sexier figure."

About Beth Aldrich

Beth Aldrich is the founder of RealMomsLoveToEat.com and a certified health coach through Columbia University and the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. Her new book, "Real Moms Love to Eat: How to Conduct a Love Affair with Food, Lose Weight and Feel Fabulous" won a 2012 National Indie Excellence Book Award. Beth is also a lifestyle green-living expert, writer and public speaker. She is the founder of For Her Information Media, LLC, with productions such as the PBS TV series For Her Information, the radio show A Balanced Life with Beth Aldrich, and her blog, RealMomsLovetoEat.com. She lives in Chicago's North Shore with her husband and three sons.

12 Jul 2012

Riverside Theatre to Hold Wine Tasting Fundraiser Saturday, July 14 at Vesta

By Sarah Burnett

Iowa City, Iowa - Riverside Theatre, Iowa City's resident professional theatre invites area residents to a wine tasting party Saturday, July 14 from 6-9 p.m. at Vesta, 849 Quarry Road, Suite 100, in Coralville. Vesta is located on the round­about of the Coralville Mar­riott, near 1st. Ave. and Inter­state 80.

The event will feature samplings of a variety of wines from Vesta's wine menu. Vesta will also be serving appetizers, to complement the wine selections.

Tasting tickets are $40 and include wine tasting and two full pours. Non-tasting ticket are $25 and include non-alcoholic beverages.

$20 of every ticket is tax-deductible and includes food.  To order tickets call the Riverside Theatre Box Office at 319-338-7672.

Proceeds from the event will benefit Riverside Theatre.

For more information visit www.riversidetheatre.org.

###
12 Jul 2012

FRATERNITY MEN CYCLING ACROSS COUNTRY FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES RIDE INTO DAVENPORT

By Joey Haynes

DAVENPORT, IA - The 25th Journey of Hope team will arrive in Davenport on Thursday, July 12. The team will arrive around 1:00 p.m., please contact Ricky Rascon to confirm time and location. The team will have lunch at Happy Joe's at 2:00 p.m. That evening at 6:00 p.m., the team will have dinner and a Friendship Visit with the City of Davenport Parks and Recreation.

What: The Journey of Hope, organized by Push America, is a cycling trek that raises funds and awareness on behalf of people with disabilities in hopes to enhance the quality of their lives. Every cyclist commits to raising at least $5,500 on behalf of people with disabilities before the trip begins. Combine their individual efforts with corporate sponsorships and the Journey of Hope 2012 teams have raised more than $650,000 for people with disabilities.

 

When: Thursday, July 12th 1:00 p.m. (arrival) and 6 p.m. (dinner & Friendship Visit)

 

Where: Lunch:

Happy Joe's                         

201 W 50th Street

Arrival & Dinner/Friendship:

Please contact Ricky Rascon

 

Who: Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity members from across the country.
11 Jul 2012

Schilling Honors the Rock Island Arsenal's 150th Anniversary

By Andie Pivarunas
Washington, DC - Congressman Bobby Schilling (IL-17) today released the following statement in honor of the 150th Anniversary since President Abraham Lincoln signed Public Law 37-122, establishing the Rock Island Arsenal:

"The 17th Congressional District of Illinois is home to many remarkable folks and features, one of them being the Quad Cities' Rock Island Arsenal.  In the 150 years since its establishment by President Lincoln on July 11, 1862, the Arsenal has played an invaluable role in our national security and our region's economy, directly employing nearly 8,000 folks from both sides of the river and both sides of the aisle.  

"Representing the hard-working men and women of the Rock Island Arsenal is an honor.  I look forward to continuing my work with Congressman Loebsack and the rest of the Illinois/Iowa delegation to preserve the Arsenal's future and help ensure it can continue providing for our troops and contributing to our region's economy for another 150 years."

On June 29, 2012, Schilling and Congressman Dave Loebsack (IA-02) introduced a bipartisan Resolution in the House of Representatives to recognize the 150th Anniversary of the Rock Island Arsenal and its ongoing contributions to our nation's security and the Quad Cities economy.  In May, they partnered with area senators in introducing the bipartisan and bicameral Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act, which would help to keep arsenals like Rock Island warm and employees' skills sharp by requiring that the Army produce a plan to ensure they are properly workloaded.  

In the Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), Schilling and Loebsack included a landmark provision lifting the cap on the number of public-private partnerships that arsenals are able to enter into, maximizing the possibility for private-sector job growth at installations like the Rock Island Arsenal.  They also included in the 2012 bill a provision designating the Rock Island Arsenal as a Center of Industrial and Technical Excellence, further improving its ability to enter into public-private partnerships, provide for our men and women in combat, and strengthen the Arsenal's core skills and manufacturing abilities.  Both provisions were signed into law as part of the comprehensive Fiscal Year 2012 National Defense Authorization Act.  

In the Fiscal Year 2013 House conference report, Schilling and Loebsack built on their prior successes and included language ensuring that the Department of Defense recognizes in its overarching national security strategy the critical manufacturing work done at facilities like the Rock Island Arsenal.  It also reviews how to maintain those skills and therefore the employees doing the work.  They also partnered with area senators in introducing the bipartisan and bicameral Army Arsenal Strategic Workload Enhancement Act, which would help to keep arsenals like Rock Island warm and employees' skills sharp by requiring that the Army produce a plan to ensure they are properly workloaded.

# # #

To send Congressman Schilling an e-mail, click here
11 Jul 2012

TONIGHT - LIVE STREAM - GEN. JERRY BOYKIN - USA & ISRAEL

By The United West
LIVE STREAM - TONIGHT - 7pm (edt)
Gen. Jerry Boykin
The USA & ISRAEL
"The Ties That Bind"
LTG Jerry Boykin (ret.)
Do not miss General Boykin detail the importance of our relationship with Israel in these dangerous days!
???
  • 36 years in the Army
  • Original member of the US Army's Delta Force.
  • Commanded all the Army's Green Berets
  • Special Warfare Center and School
  • Served a tour with the CIA
  • Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence
  • Grenada, Somalia, and Iraq
  • Teaches at Hampden-Sydney College (Virginia).
  • Black Hawk Down in 1993
  • Books include Never Surrender:
A Soldier's Journey to the Crossroads of Faith and Freedom
  • Team leader for Team BII Report, Shariah - The Threat to America
  • Expert on defense policy, terrorism and the US-Israel relationship.
???
APPEARING WITH GEN BOYKIN
RABBI JON HAUSMAN
Ahavath Torah Congregation
Stoughton, MA 02072
TOM TRENTO
The United West
???
TONIGHT
WEDNESDAY JULY 11, 7pm (edt)
Please donate $25.00 to help us continue
LIVE STREAMING
JOIN THE FIGHT - SIGN UP AT
11 Jul 2012

Coalition Ad Campaign Warns White House and Senate: "No More Defense Cuts"

By Rick Martin
Washington, D.C. July 12, 2012:  Today, the Coalition for the Common Defense launched a national advocacy campaign aimed at preventing further, draconian cuts to the U.S. military of $500 billion dollars or more in January 2013 pursuant to the "sequestration" mechanism created under the Budget Control Act of 2011. The campaign will feature a series of video advertisements demonstrating the dangerous absurdity of the sorts of deep and - worse-yet - indiscriminate, across-the-board defense spending cuts now in prospect. The first spot premiered today and can be viewed here: (http://youtu.be/9GOnUVsCbQs). The campaign is designed to encourage the American public to express their opposition to these cuts.  The Coalition will facilitate such communications with the White House and Senate through a portal at its web-site here: (http://action.forthecommondefense.org/7301/dont-let-washington-disarm-our-soldiers/).
Regarding the campaign launch and the need to avert sequestration, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., a member of the Coalition for the Common Defense, remarked:
"Defense has already paid its fair share into deficit reduction and we cannot safely and responsibly try to balance the budget on the backs of our men and women in uniform.  This campaign, and specifically the Coalition's ads, will bring home to the American people the reckless absurdity of these defense cuts - and the need to avoid the train-wreck they will precipitate."
The mandated sequestration cuts come on top of an already budgeted $487 billion reduction over the next 10 years as part of Budget Control Act of 2011.
The additional $500 billion in sequestration cuts would prove devastating, both militarily and economically.  Militarily, this would result in the smallest ground force since 1940, the smallest Navy since 1915, and the smallest Air Force in history.  Economically, sequestration could result in $62.9 billion in lost revenues for defense contractors, projected job losses of over 1.3 million, and an $86.4 billion decrease in Gross Domestic Product.
The House of Representatives has already acted on legislation that would stave off these budget reductions and their attendant impact for at least a year, giving the executive and legislative branches time to devise a different, less reckless approach to deficit reduction.  The Senate has yet to act, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and President Obama insisting that any such relief must be accompanied by tax increases.
Frank J. Gaffney, Jr. continued:
"The American people do not want the White House and the Senate to hold our military hostage to budget gamesmanship.  It is unconscionable to play politics with the arming, training and sustaining of our troops - particularly if, by so doing, the President and Senate leaders may be jeopardizing not only their missions, but their lives."
The Coalition for the Common Defense is an alliance of like-minded individuals and organizations who believe that without provision for the "common defense," as articulated by the Founders, the freedom that has allowed unprecedented opportunity and prosperity to flourish in this country would soon be imperiled. In this new age of budgetary cuts, the Coalition rejects the false choice between military strength and economic health contending that economic prosperity depends on a strong national defense. Through a series of events and strategic partnerships, the coalition is calling on elected officials, candidates for office and others who share our commitment to the common defense to uphold these principles.  We must return the United States to sensible fiscal principles without sacrificing our national security.
A full statement of principles can be located here. The Coalition of the Common Defense can be found online at www.forthecommondefense.org.
###
11 Jul 2012

134 Lives Saved With Early Diagnosis of Melanoma

By Dr. Carl W. Soderstrom
11 Jul 2012

National and Local Talent at Bluesmore 2012: Janiva Magness, The Chris Beard Band, and BF Burt and the Instigators

By Tara Richards

Music lovers and blues enthusiasts alike will revel in the live performances on Brucemore's First Avenue lawn at the 19th annual Bluesmore on Saturday, August 4 from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m. Presented by Brucemore and the Linn County Blues Society, Bluesmore will feature Janiva Magness, The Chris Beard Band, and BF Burt and the Instigators.  Cedar Rapids Bank and Trust sponsors Bluesmore 2012. Home Town Restyling sponsors the Back Porch Stage. The co-media sponsors are The Gazette and KCRG-TV9.

Janiva Magness, a charismatic performer known for her electrifying shows, is among the premier blues and R&B singers in the world today. Her voice possesses an earthy, raw honesty and beauty born from her life experience. As a teenager, Janiva discovered her musical calling at an Otis Rush show. She formed her first band in 1985, Janiva Magness and the Mojomatics. She released a series of Indy albums before making her major label debut, What Love Will Do, on Alligator Records in 2008. Janiva has given her heart and soul to the blues during her nearly 30-year career, but the award-winning singer has reached a whole new level of intimacy in her recently released tenth studio album, Stronger for It. A gusty and dynamic musical powerhouse, Janiva has received a total of 17 Blues Music Award nominations to date. In 2009, she received the coveted Blues Music Award for B.B. King Entertainer Of The Year?only the second woman to ever win this award?and Contemporary Blues Female Artist of the Year for the third time.

Chris Beard, "The Prince of Blues," is a modern blues guitarist and singer like few others. His assertive voice and exciting guitar are a seamless combination of traditional blues with a contemporary edge. Born in 1957, Chris is the son of Joe Beard, a blues guitarist who grew up on Beale Street in the 1950s before moving to Rochester, New York. When family friends like Matt "Guitar" Murphy and Buddy Guy stopped by, young Chris became their willing pupil.?After years of playing the clubs in and around Rochester, Chris was offered the opportunity to record. In 1998, he released his debut record, Barwalkin', and earned a W.C. Handy nomination as Best New Blues Artist.

BF Burt and the Instigators have been touring the Midwest for over a decade with what they call "American Music," a mix of American blues, rock, soul, and funk. The band met in Iowa City at the Yacht Club's Monday night Blues Jam and formed a four piece group of drums, bass, guitar, harmonica, and vocals. They have had the opportunity to observe, work with, interview, and perform with blues legends like Koko Taylor, B.B.King, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Robert Jr. Lockwood, Albert Collins, Luther Allison, and many more. From local "battle of the bands" and Iowa Blues Challenge winners, the Instigators have won numerous awards. They have been featured at the Top 25 Unsigned Blues Band Competition and the International Blues Band Contest.

Advance Bluesmore tickets are $13 per adult and $12 per student or Brucemore/Linn County Blues Society member. All tickets are $15 at the gate - no discounts are available the day of the event. Children age 10 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.  Advance tickets must be purchased by August 3 and are available through Brucemore by calling (319) 362-7375, by visiting www.brucemore.org, or at the following outlets: Brewed Awakenings, Chappy's Safari Lounge, Checkers Tavern, Music Loft, Guitar Center, J.M. O'Malley's, The Longbranch Hotel, Music-Go-Round, Parlor City Pub and Eatery, and West Music (Cedar Rapids). Tickets are non-refundable.

Gates open at 3:00 p.m. Bands will perform from 4:00 to 9:30 p.m. on the First Avenue lawn at Brucemore, 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. No on-site parking is available except handicap parking by entering on Dows Lane. No pets, coolers, or outside food is allowed during the event. Food and beverage vendors are available on-site, including the Jaycees beer tent. For further information on Bluesmore, please visit www.brucemore.org, www.lcbs.org, or call (319) 362-7375 or (319) 399-5105.

Experience Brucemore, an unparalleled blend of tradition and culture, located at 2160 Linden Drive SE, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. At the heart of the historic 26-acre estate stands a nineteenth-century mansion filled with the stories of three Cedar Rapids families.  Concerts, theater, programs, and tours enliven the site and celebrate the heritage of a community.  For more information, call (319) 362-7375 or visit www.brucemore.org.

###

11 Jul 2012

Big Win for Baby Sea Turtles

By Sierra Club
The Sierra Club's Puerto Rico Chapter notched a huge victory when the island's governor signed a bill protecting nearly 2,000 acres of the Northeast Ecological Corridor from development. For more than 15 years, a proposal to build two megaresorts loomed over the Corridor, which includes one of the most important nesting grounds on Earth for the endangered leatherback sea turtle.

"Golf courses and baby sea turtles don't mix," says Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune. Find out how the Sierra Club Puerto Rico Chapter and other grassroots groups kept this wondrous place from being turned into condos and putting greens.

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