Can any political party be civil and still get out their message?

The woman who started The Coffee Party, Annabel Park, has discovered that the idea of gathering people together to civilly present an exchange of ideas, is naive. Nevertheless, she means well and keeps trying to make the idea work.

Will she be usurped by her own newly created political party for not being “aggressive enough?”  Read:

The Coffee party Heats Up

Tired of all the Tea Party talk, Annabel Park decided to throw a Coffee Party—and 200,000 people showed up.

“The question is whether Park or anyone else can hope to lead a successful movement based on civility instead of combat. There's a reason why pundits keep using the cliché that we're a deeply divided nation: there are intensely partisan minorities on the far right and the far left.”

GUEST OPINION: vote for prop 15

Candidates for office have to raise so much campaign money that they become beholden to the big-spending interests that fund them rather than to the voters who elect them.

But there's an alternative:

Proposition 15’s idea to levy a fee on lobbyists to fund political campaigns is worth a try

Image source

Alaska dog honored for leading troopers to fire

Step aside Lassie! We have a new dog hero for the 21st Century.

Buddy appears at a news conference in Anchorage, Alaska on Friday, April 23, 2010. The German shepherd was hailed Friday as a hero for guiding Alaska State Troopers through winding back roads to a fire at his owner Ben Heinrichs' workshop on April 4. He received a commendation and a stainless steel dog dish from the troopers. (AP Photo/Mark Thiessen)

Read the whole story here.

Archie Comics to unveil gay character in September

Move about keeping world ‘current and inclusive,’ CEO says

Archie Comics issue "Veronica 202" will introduce a new classmate named Kevin Keller, the first gay character in the Archie Comics series. The comic will be available in September 2010.

View related photos

Obama slams pending Ariz. immigration law

Gov. faces Saturday deadline; law makes it crime to be in country illegally

Excerpt:

“President Obama on Thursday criticized a pending Arizona law that would make it a state crime to be in the United States legally and requiring anyone suspected of being an illegal immigrant to produce identification.”

Click for related content

Timeline: U.S. immigration policy
Key players in the immigration debate                                                     Photo source

VIDEO: Arizona is being overrun,’ governor says

Insurer targeted breast cancer patients to cancel

Government: Software flagged new cases, sought reasons to drop policies

Excerpt:

“During the recent legislative process for the reform law, however, lobbyists for WellPoint and other top insurance companies successfully fought proposed provisions of the legislation. In particular, they complained about rules that would have made it more difficult for the companies to fairly — or unfairly — cancel policyholders.

For example, an early version of the health care bill passed by the House of Representatives would have created a Federal Office of Health Insurance Oversight to monitor and regulate insurance practices like rescission. WellPoint lobbyists pressed for the proposed agency to not be included in the final bill signed into law by the president.

They also helped quash proposed provisions that would have required a third party review of its or any other insurance company's decision to cancel a customer's policy.”

PHOTO ABOVE: Even as WellPoint targeted women with breast cancer and who were pregnant for investigation, it prided itself for having women at the helm such as Angela Braly, president and chief executive officer.

Deadly airborne fungus in Oregon set to spread

Here’s a news item that really creeps me out. Anyone who has ever seen movies like “Outbreak” knows how deadly new strains of anything can be.

This is something to be afraid of. Very afraid. Where’s my gas mask? Time to pull it out and clean it up.

The new, rare strain infects people and animals, researchers warn

Excerpt:

“A deadly, airborne new strain of fungus has emerged in Oregon. It has killed nearly one out of four known affected people so far and might also attack animals ranging from dogs to dolphins. And it is likely to spread, researchers now warn.

The new strain known as VGIIc of the fungus Cryptococcus gattii not only targets humans but has also proven capable of infecting dogs, cats, alpacas, sheep and elk. Other strains have even infected porpoises.”

 

Relax and look for the five horses here

If you enjoy optical illusions this ought to be right up your alley.

I’m always amazed at how much work the artist has to go through to create something so clever.

Do you see all five horses yet? Relax. You will.

Image source

See more at:

www.extremus.net

Seven Food Products Banned in Europe Still Available in the U.S.

The following list ought to give anyone pause. Are Europeans more concerned about food safety than we are? You decide.

Here’s one:

Food Contact Chemicals
Phthalates and bisphenols in plastic are really beneficial. They help manufacturers create plastic products with the softness and moldability needed to fulfill consumer needs. But when the food contact additives are found in the food and liquids contained by those plastics, trouble starts. Both the U.S. and Europe stringently regulate food contact use of chemicals. However, the standard of approval is different. In Europe, the precautionary principle requires that the suppliers of chemicals prove their additives safe, or they will be banned. Of course, although the E.U. has banned phthalates in toys, both phthalates and bisphenol-A remain approved for food contact uses—subject to strict regulations on their use. Go here to see the rest.

Talk about 420 parties – did you hear about this one?

Estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people exhale marijuana ...

An estimated 12,000 to 15,000 people all exhale marijuana smoke as the clock hit 4:20pm during the 4/20 event on Norlin Quad at the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado April 20, 2010.

Source - Most Emailed Photos

Throwing your dog a bone could be deadly

My Pug is very upset with this news this morning:

FDA reminds pet owners to toss bones from meals rather than feed to pets

“Some people think it’s safe to give dogs large bones, like those from a ham or a roast,” said Carmela Stamper, a veterinarian in the Center for Veterinary Medicine at the FDA. “Bones are unsafe no matter what their size.”