National American Legion Convention, Milwaukee, WI.
September 1, 2010

In what, he says, may be his last public speaking appearance before retirement from Congress, Rep. Steve Buyer (R-Ind.) used the American Legion convention in Milwaukee Wednesday as a platform for criticism of what he characterized as a partisan, hypocritical and misguided Congress.

The nine-term Congress-man and Army veteran opened his address with nostalgic tales of a boyhood in and around his father and uncle’s American Legion post in Monticello, Indiana, of which Buyer is a life member today. His talk soon turned to business, however, as he contrasted a previous generation of lawmakers with those serving today,”If God had given me the ability to choose my years of service to the nation in Congress,” Buyer said, “I would have chosen 1948 to 1964, because the individuals who served in Congress at that time…had served the nation in World War II and Korea. They understood the American character. They understood the character that was forged in the crucibles of very difficult times…to go to foreign lands, to go to places they had never been and fight for people they had never met and to leave freedom in their footsteps.”

He continued, “They understood something very powerful, something more powerful than party labels, something more powerful than being a Republican; something more powerful than being a Democrat. How about those in Congress being an American for once?”

Buyer then took Congressional colleagues to task for, in his view, claiming to care deeply for wounded and disabled veterans while enabling their plight by ignoring the needs of active duty war fighters. “When somebody enters the military,” said Buyer, “you make sure that they are properly trained, properly equipped so you don’t have to care of them the rest of their lives.” Read More »

30 August 2010
The first of 532 National Guard troops are set to begin their mission in the southern Arizona desert August 30 under President Obama’s plan to beef up border security.

ATLANTA, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire/ — A national survey conducted by the Walmart Foundation and Boys & Girls Clubs of America found that cooking meals together is the top way moms and dads get kids to eat a healthy meal, and poultry products rank as the top food for getting kids to eat protein-rich dinners. While eating meals together is an important way families bond, one in six Americans are facing tough times and are unsure of where they will get their next meal.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America helped ease the burden for families this summer by providing an estimated 3 million healthy meals and snacks to Club members across the U.S. as part of a $3.4 million grant from the Walmart Foundation. Walmart recently committed $2 billion to hunger relief efforts as part of its Fighting Hunger Together initiative.

There is no question that proper nutrition is vital for children’s development. Summer poses a challenge for kids who are eligible for free and reduced lunches during the school year but don’t have access to healthy food when they’re not attending classes. Staff members at Boys & Girls Clubs have seen dramatic increases in the number of young people who arrive at Clubs hungry as families struggle to provide for their children during the tough economic times.

Boys & Girls Club alumna Lucille O’Neal, author, mother to four – including NBA superstar Shaquille O’Neal, agrees that providing kids with healthy meals is key to proper development. Ms. O’Neal took to the airwaves today to talk about the issue of childhood hunger.

“As a mother of four and grandmother of 14, I personally know that finding the right resources for your family can be a constant struggle,” Ms. O’Neal said in an interview. “The summer feeding program at Boys & Girls Clubs helps young members gain access to healthy snacks and meals, helping students go back to school having properly developed over the summer.”

Many Clubs will offer additional food programs from October through December to ensure children are being taken care of during the tough economy. Nationwide, 61 percent of Boys & Girls Club members qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

“Eating a healthy meal is vital to the development of children, and during the summer there are kids who go hungry because they don’t have access to healthy food when they aren’t in school,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Walmart Foundation. “We are committed to fighting hunger and ensuring young people are getting the healthy meals they need.”

While some are struggling to feed their families, others are having a hard time getting their kids to eat nutritiously. Aside from cooking meals together, moms and dads are also reporting a rise in bargaining with screen time—access to television, computers and cell phones—as rewards to get kids to eat vegetables, according to the survey.

“Offering dessert for eating your dinner was a popular bargaining tool in our house,” O’Neal added. “I guess now moms are offering some time on the Internet. When it comes to getting your kids to eat broccoli, it’s okay to negotiate!”

To learn more about Walmart’s $2 billion commitment to help end hunger in America, visit www.walmart.com/fightinghunger.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America

For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) has enabled young people, especially those who need Clubs most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve more than 4.2 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs can be found throughout the country and on U.S. military installations worldwide, providing young people 6-18 years old with guidance-oriented character development programs conducted by trained, professional staff. Key programs emphasize leadership development; education and career exploration; community service; technology training; financial literacy; health and life skills; the arts; sports, fitness and recreation; and family outreach. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta.

About Philanthropy at Walmart

Walmart and the Walmart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. The Walmart Foundation funds initiatives focused on education, workforce development, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and health and wellness. From Feb. 1, 2009 through Jan. 31, 2010, Walmart and the Walmart Foundation gave more than $512 million in cash and in-kind gifts globally, $467 million of which was donated in the U.S. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

Program shows military veterans what it takes to gain entry into the building trades

ADDISON, Ill., Aug. 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Military veterans in Northeastern Illinois are invited to a free Open House to learn about careers in the Bricklaying, Tuck Pointing, Tile Setting and Plastering trades. The program is scheduled for September 21, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. It is sponsored by Helmets to Hardhats, a non-profit organization that helps veterans find careers in the construction industry.

The Open House will be held at the Bricklayers District Council Training Center at 2140 Corporate Drive in Addison, IL. Hands-on demonstrations will provide attendees with a look at career options in the skilled trades and what it takes to become a construction industry professional.

Instruction and career counseling will be provided by Apprenticeship Coordinators and Trainers from the International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers of Cook, DeKalb, DuPage, Kane, Kendall, Lake, McHenry and Will Counties.

The event is open to all veterans who are registered with the Helmets to Hardhats program. Registration is free and can be completed in a few minutes online at www.helmetstohardhats.org.

Bill Mulcrone, Midwestern Regional Director for Helmets to Hardhats, says, “The training and discipline received during military service makes veterans very attractive to construction industry employers.” The Open House, he adds, is an outstanding opportunity for veterans to learn how their military service can segue into a well-paying and enjoyable career in construction.

Andrew Gasca, Vietnam Veteran and Program Coordinator for the Bricklayers District Council Training Center, says, “This is a great opportunity to receive valuable insights into the trades from some of the most knowledgeable and experienced craftsmen in our area.” He also hopes that many local veterans will take full advantage of this event. “Outreach efforts such as these, designed to facilitate quality employment opportunities for veterans, were not widely available during the Vietnam era. I encourage today’s veterans not to pass up on chances like these in honor and recognition of their service.”

About Helmets to Hardhats

Helmets to Hardhats links veterans and soon-to-be veterans with building and construction trade organizations, apprenticeship programs, and construction industry employers across America. Launched in 2003 with funding from the Defense Department, the program is administered by the Center for Military Recruitment, Assessment and Veterans Employment (CMRAVE) – a joint labor-management committee created by the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO, and its principle employer associations. These organizations represent three million construction workers and more than 82,000 contractors nationwide. For more information about Helmets to Hardhats, visit www.helmetstohardhats.org.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (Vocus) August 24, 2010

Jon Secada Charities and the Mission of Saint Francis are raffling off a $3 million waterfront estate in Ft. Lauderdale (http://www.jonsecadacharities.com), FL for $30. The home features 6 bedrooms, 6 ½ bathrooms, theater room with 120” screen, game room, office, large swimming pool, 4 car garage, 100 feet on the water, and much more. Information the raffle and the other amenities can be found at jonsecadacharities.com

Secada wants to help keep the Mission of Saint Francis and the charities they support open for those in need. The Mission is the oldest treatment and social services center in Florida, and all operations have been funded solely by private donations. According to Secada, “The Mission of Saint Francis is a wonderful organization that has been helping the community and individuals by providing support and assistance in a number of different ways”.

Jon Secada

The Mission of Saint Francis is a wonderful organization that has been helping the community and individuals by providing support and assistance in a number of different ways

This house raffle (http://www.jonsecadacharities.com) is fairly simple and straight forward. You can buy tickets online through Jon Secada’s website jonsecadacharities.com or by using the toll free number listed on the website. The drawing is set for October 10, 2010. Only 300,000 tickets will be sold for the $3 Million home (http://www.jonsecadacharities.com) and the tickets are just $30 each. There is also a $1.5 million cash substitute for those of you who would rather have the cash.

Jon Secada (born Juan Secada on October 4, 1962) is a Cuban-American singer and songwriter. Secada was born in Havana, Cuba, and raised in Hialeah, Florida. He has won two Grammy Awards and sold 20 million albums since his English-language debut album in 1992. His music fuses funk, soul, pop and Latin percussion. Secada also has worked as a songwriter for Gloria Estefan, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, Mandy Moore and other performers.

In the late 1980s, Gloria Estefan hired Secada as a background singer. He also started composing music for Estefan, including some of her best-known ballads. Among other songs, Secada co-wrote and sang background on Coming Out of the Dark Gloria’s number one hit from her 1991 album Into the Light. During Estefan’s Coming Out of the Dark tour, Secada was given the life-changing opportunity of taking over the stage and performing solo. The song was Always Something which would be featured later on his debut album. It launched his career as a solo performer.

Secada scored a No. 5 Pop hit (and a No. 5 UK hit) with his Gold single Just Another Day, and three more top 30 hits, Angel (No. 18 Pop, No. 23 UK), I’m Free (No. 27 Pop, No. 50 UK), Do You Believe in Us? (No. 13 Pop, No. 30 UK), and Do You Really Want Me (No. 30 UK) received national radio play. The Spanish-language version of Secada’s solo album, Otro Día Más Sin Verte (EMI-Latin), became the Number One Latin album of 1992 and earned Secada his first Grammy Award for Best Latin Pop Album.

For additional information visit www.jonsecadacharities.com

Letter to CMS Cites Need for Open and Transparent Oversight of the Bid Program

ARLINGTON, Va., Aug. 24 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A bipartisan group of 136 members of Congress recently requested that the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) disclose the list of homecare providers whose bids were used to calculate home medical equipment reimbursement rates under the Medicare “competitive” bidding program. See letter at www.aahomecare.org.

“Without knowing the identity, as well as the appropriate overall qualifications of these providers, we cannot evaluate the program’s impact in terms of quality and access to care for seniors we represent,” states the congressional letter to CMS Administrator Donald Berwick, M.D.

While CMS intends to release this information in the fall after contracts are finalized, members of Congress are calling on CMS to share this information now to make sure that the disastrous mistakes of the 2008 Round One of bidding are avoided and to uphold President Obama’s pledge of “transparency and open government.”

“We want to ensure that qualified providers have been chosen to provide these items and services to our constituents,” said the congressional letter to CMS.  ”The healthcare community will again have very serious problems if it turns out once more that these companies are unable to provide sufficient access to quality items and services or do not have the financial ability to operate under the new contracted rates.”

When CMS held its Round One bid for home medical equipment in 2008, Congress halted implementation and called for a re-bid of the program after numerous problems emerged. For example, under the Round One bidding in 2008, Medicare contracts were granted to providers that were not appropriately licensed and lacked experience with the devices for which they were awarded contracts.

The American Association for Homecare, which represents durable medical equipment providers, is encouraged by the House letter and urges CMS to comply with this important request.  The congressional letter, sent on August 11, asked CMS to respond by August 20.  At the time of this press release, the Association is not aware of any response so far by the agency. Read More »

By Josh Truman

PHILADELPHIA, PA //August 23, 2010 / DIVERSE NEWS — Here it goes, again!

You racist bastards! How dare you not allow a mosque on the site where 19 racist Arab Muslims called their targets, ‘White Devils’.

Proponents were given their say via the  L.A. Times;

“A block away at the counterprotest, T-shirt designer Nechesa Morgan held a sign reading, “America! When did it become OK to be a bigot and a racist again?”Her sign sparked a conversation with pedestrians. One man agreed with Morgan and said the opposition was based on intolerance.

“This bigotry has just gotten so out of control,” Morgan said.

Dalia Mahmoud, a member of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, likened the opposition to the mosque to anti-Semitism.

“America is better than that,” she said.

A bystander, Joan Shangold, said the debate showed Americans’ ignorance about Islam.”

There are many other stories with the same racism effect: Star-Telegram ; NYDN , et al.

Yup, if you are against the GZ Mosque – you are a racist.  See the mentality?

Not once has the mainstream media called those 19 Arabs that targeted the ‘white devils’  racists… not once.  A double-standard.

The media is not reporting stories that should read for the GZ Mosque supporters to be sensitive to the 9/11 victims – they are saying that the victims should be sensitive to the religion and race (Arabs) that perpetrated the terrorist attack! A consistent bombardment of similar types of stories being injected with racism and multiculturalism (to sooth you) are being lambasted over the airwaves and in print in order to change your views.  This is called brainwashing.

How to you prevent this brainwashing?  Stick with what you know – the facts. Be multicultural like the media espouses but differentiate what you know is true from what is just another opinion.

It appears that there were many college students and homeless people who were on the other side of the anti-mosque protests. Their minds are easy to change.

It is time for the Mosque supporters to be sensitive to the targeted victims’  kin.

‘ 9/11 Never forget’, remember that? Ah ha, that’s because the media has removed it from their stories with the current events.

-JT

Veterans And Active Duty Service Men And Women To Comprise The In-Studio Audience On Both Nights As Well As Via Satellite From Walter Reed Hospital, Iraq And Afghanistan

Guests To Appear In-Studio Include Vice President Joe Biden, General Ray Odierno And Senator Jim Webb (D-VA)

NEW YORK, Aug. 23 /PRNewswire/ — “The Colbert Report” will welcome troops back home and celebrate their service and sacrifice by broadcasting special shows “Been There: Won That: The Returnification of the American-Do Troopscape” on Wednesday, September 8 and Thursday, September 9 at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.  The audience on both nights will be comprised of veterans and active duty service men and women in the studio as well as by satellite audiences from Walter Reed Hospital, Iraq and Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, September 8, guests will include Vice President Joe Biden, a first-time appearance, and Commanding General, United States Forces – Iraq, Ray Odierno, who memorably shaved Stephen’s head in Iraq.  On Thursday, September 9, guests will include Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), sponsor of the Veterans Education Assistance Program (the new GI Bill).

Said Colbert, “The Iraq War is over and all Americans should thank the returning troops.  And quickly before they get sent to Afghanistan.”

More info is available at www.colbertnation.com and viewers can follow Colbert on Twitter and also become a fan of “The Colbert Report” on Facebook.

“The Colbert Report” is produced by Jon Stewart’s Busboy Productions, Inc. in association with Colbert’s Spartina Productions, Inc.  Stewart, Colbert and Tom Purcell are the executive producers with Meredith Bennett and Richard Dahm as co-executive producers.  Jim Hoskinson is the director.  Lisa Leingang is the executive in charge of production for COMEDY CENTRAL.

COMEDY CENTRAL, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 98 million homes nationwide.  COMEDY CENTRAL is owned by, and is a registered trademark of, Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of VIACOM Inc.’s (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B) MTV Networks.  COMEDY CENTRAL’s Internet address is www.comedycentral.com.  For up-to-the-minute and archival press information and photographs visit Press Central, COMEDY CENTRAL’s press Web site at www.comedycentral.com/press.

MTV Networks, a division of Viacom (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is one of the world’s leading creators of entertainment content, with brands that engage and connect diverse audiences across television, online, mobile, games, virtual worlds and consumer products.  The company’s portfolio spans more than 150 television channels and 400 digital media properties worldwide, and includes MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, Harmonix, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, Nick Jr., TeenNick, AddictingGames, Neopets, COMEDY CENTRAL, SPIKE, TV Land, Atom, GameTrailers and Xfire.

By Josh Truman

PHILADELPHIA, PA / August 17, 2010 \ DIVERSE NEWS — For decades now, political correctness has been implemented by the mainstream media in order for stories to be ‘sensitive’ to others. Topics on race, for example, had converged into hyphenating some but not all Americans with the origins of their peoples’ continent. From this to recognizing people from other countries who came here illegally to be called ‘undocumented’, and so on.
See, that’s what being politically correct is supposed to do: Use words that are less offensive so as to not insult the object. Being politically correct has not only grown from what we say, but what we do as a society according to the mainstream media. From smoking, to jobs,  religion and crime, political correctness has kept true thoughts and actions in check.

Is building this mosque offensive to some? Sure it is. But because the majority of those that died or gave their lives are white and Christian, they are easily dismissed as expendable and forgotten by the mainstream media. Of course, the media has been going over-and-over again that ‘Muslims died in 9/11, too’, as if they were the targets. al Qaeda’s targets were the ‘white devils’, remember? Read More »