One Amazing Girl

Congratulations to second grader Lori Anne Madison, age 6, the youngest person ever to compete in  the national spelling bee. In addition, she is adorable. She ended by missing "engluvies." the term for a bird's craw., Earlier, she correctly spelled "dirigible." Previously,in Virginia, she won by spelling the word "vaquero," the Spanish translation of "cowboy" often used in parts of the South.

Lori likes to study while swinging upside down or jumping on her trampoline, according to her bio on the event's website. She's also a competitive swimmer, has won math and science awards, and takes karate, dance and tennis classes.

This is a fabulous unbelievable feat and we will watch her bloom in the future.

Fresno Bee Racism Sexism CD 16 Election

Fresno Bee article is racist and sexist.
 
In listing Dr Loraine Goodwin as a candidate for CD 16, it mentions she is a physician. But they


fail to mention her years of work in women's health and preventive medicine. 


Dr Goodwin also has a law degree from San Joaquin College of Law and she works as a legal 


arbitrator and mediator. She also sits on the California Air Hearing Board, Central Region and 


the IRWMG where she acts to protect valley air and water. Dr Goodwin also sits on the 


Madera behavioral health board, which provides help to the poor, homeless and addicted. She 


also sat on the Madera American Disabilities Act Advisory Board which initiated ADA 


requirements to remove barriers for disabled. 


Dr Goodwin comes from a Fresno farm family that has farmed for generations. She 


understands farming needs and wants to encourage young farmers. 


If you believe in education, you can believe in Dr Goodwin. As a member of the Madera Unified 


School Board, she started the "Farm-to-school Program which gives fruits and vegetables to 


kids and pays farmers over $500,000 a year - Goodwin has proven she can bring money into 


the central valley, keep staff working and finances sound. Dr Goodwin stands up for women, 


children, disabled, seniors, families and students. We must act to reduce racism in the central 


valley. It is a hard fight...it keeps coming back. Join the GOODWIN TEAM. 


Don't trust what you read in the Fresno Bee.

Fresno State WASTES one- and- a- half million dollars on coach

Pat Hill, coach for Fresno State football, was fired today. Pat Hill has been coaching at Fresno State for 15 years, but the university says season ticket sales are down over 40% with revenues down. The record for the team this year is reported as 4 - 9. Many had been demanding the university get rid of Pat Hill all season long. This will be a costly firing. Pat Hill has 2 years remaining on his contract and he is due 80% of his salary. Pat Hill will get around $650,00 a year for the next two years, plus benefits. In addition, the university will have to hire behind the coach to fill the position.
I feel the people who continued Hill on the last contract and offered him such a ridiculously huge salary should also be fired for mismanagement of university funds. I feel the students should also vote as to how much the next coach will be paid, after all, they are getting hit with tuition increases to pay these exorbitant salaries.

FRESNO BEE LIES TO GET HMONG EMOTIONAL APPROVAL

FRESNO BEE GOES FOR RACISM AND LIES TO CUT MINORITIES

The Fresno Bee printed that the "Obama Administration" denied General Vang Pao the honor of burial at Arlington Cemetery..

The TRUTH is that President Obama's administration had nothing to do with the denial that was presented at General Vang Pao's funeral on February 5th. The decision to deny General Vang Pao was based on a decision by the white generals who oversee the military cemetery. President Obama does not select who is buried at Arlington, he is busy with a few actual wars.

The Fresno Bee struck a low blow to inject racial hatred against President Obama into the decision. Also it shows that these valley republican newspapers are prone to lie in order to get public sentiment on their side. We certainly can not trust what we read in the Fresno Bee or the Modesto Bee.

The TRUTH is that the burial issue will eventually come before President Obama, after the Hmongs appeal this decision by the generals. Amazing as it may seem, President Obama does not even handle the first appeal, so the next decision will also be made by a military review committee.  Eventually, the issue will reach the President - but it will be months because the military has a policy of following the "chain of command" and you can not circumvent the process.

The Hmong community understands the truth and will not be deceived by cheap political antics by the Fresno Bee.
See:  Youtube:  Central Valley CD19 (posted today 2/6/2011)

Obama Works to Keep Us Healthy

President Obama's appointment of Vivek Murthy to the Health Care Prevention Advisory Group has emphasized medical prevention as an important national priority.

IF YOU ARE FILING A DISCRIMINATION COMPLAINT - BE PREPARED

If you file a legal complaint against your employer for sexual harassment, or other claims of hostile workplace, you need to know what type of response the defendants will submit to the courts. It is important to keep good employee records.

-- First, the defendant will deny all the allegations

-- Defendants will then argue:

-- "Disciplinary actions taken against plaintiff, including termination, were based upon legitimate, non-discriminatory reasons."

-- You failed to report the alleged sexual harassment.

-- You "unreasonably failed to take advantage of any preventive or corrective opportunities provided by defendants in response to the alleged sexual harassment or other alleged behavior identified in her complaint."

-- "Defendants exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any sexually harassing behavior or other harassing behavior."

-- "The sexual harassment or misconduct alleged by the plaintiff against these answering defendants, if any, was not harassing, as any such conduct was consensual and welcomed by the plaintiff."

New Jersey May Gamble With Taxpayer Money

New Jersey may be going into the gambling business using taxpayer money. New Jersey could decide to provide as much as $200 million over 20 years to jump start a stalled Atlantic City Revel casino project. Like all gamblers, the state is hopes to recoup some or all of that investment.

In return for assisting the Revel casino project, the state would have a stake in the future success of the company under a plan to be reviewed by state officials on Tuesday.

If the project reaches certain milestones, the state could get paid back. Most likely, the money will be gathered by gangsters and scurried outside of  U.S. reach

Gov. Chris Christie is also expected to sign legislation that launches an experimental tourist district in Atlantic City in a bid to revive the troubled gaming town.

The state will take a role in policing the tourism district, with the head of a local police unit picked by the State Police superintendent. To me all of this sounds like future trouble, and a crime explosion. The state is never a safe , secure way of picking a police/ military overseer and this plan is full of potential increased governmental corruption.

DENHAM EMBARRASSES CENTRAL VALLEY WITH DRUNKEN FRAT BOY PARTY ANTICS

Reprinted from POLITICO

JAKE SHERMAN | 1/31/11 9:14 AM EST

Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) caught lots of flak earlier this year for hosting a swank, rock ‘n’ roll fundraiser months after his freshman class was swept to Washington after promising a renewed commitment to frugality and economic restraint.

And all that ire was before the nearly $80,000 in expenses was disclosed.

The night before lawmakers were sworn in, the first-term congressman’s political action committee appears to have doled out $25,000 to have LeAnn Rimes perform in Washington at the W Hotel for an event that raised eyebrows in both Republican and Democratic circles.

The PAC paid the W Hotel $22,000 for catering and lights, and audio services ran up a $5,000 tab. It also paid $10,000 for “floral expense and event design.”

It was a particularly bizarre event, even by Washington standards. Denham invited the media to the W Hotel before the event, where he vowed that “we’re conservatives but that doesn’t mean we can’t have fun.”

“Obviously this isn’t just about raising money, this is about having a good time,” Denham said to reporters before the fundraiser. “We have a great entertainer here in Grammy Award-winner LeAnn Rimes. And we’re excited about that, and excited about the event tonight.” Reporters were not permitted to attend the fundraiser itself.

The money that the PAC raised hardly covered the cost of the event — it took in $85,000. The San Manuel Band of Mission Indians donated $50,000 to the committee, and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians Native donated $25,000. Blue Shield of California’s PAC chipped in $5,000 and the American Association of Clinical Urologists and a Tennessee-based donor gave $2,500 each.

Although Denham was the face of the event, the political action committee raises money for a slew of first-term Republicans, including Reps. Scott DesJarlais (Tenn.), Robert Dold (Ill.), Renee Ellmers (N.C.), Jeff Landry (La.), Tom Marino (Pa.), Tom Reed (N.Y.), David Rivera (Fla.), Jon Runyan (N.J.), Steve Southerland (Fla.), Marlin Stutzman (Ind.) and Kevin Yoder (Kan.

CHALLENGER MEMORIES

We remember the explosion of the CHALLENGER. Killed on-board were; Gregory Jarvis, Payload Specialist; Christa McAuliffe, TEACHER; Ron McNair, BLACK, Mission Specialist, Ellison Onizuka, ASIAN, Mission Specialist; Judith Resnik, Mission Specialist; Dick Scobee, Commander; Mike Smith, Pilot.

Thanks for their service and our sympathy to their families and friends

WE SUPPORT OUR VETS and THEIR FAMILIES

Thanks Oprah for the great show about Cory and Jenny. Cory is a war survivor, but, due to a bomb injury, he lost his sight, his speech and his mobility. In addition, he has a huge temple deformity. Yet, the family, including his 2 toddler children, must move on.

It is true most people, especially men will avoid injured or ill friends and relatives. Oprah pointed out that you can help by providing yard services, home cleaning services, child help, validation, cheerful talk, etc. In addition, send some money periodically. Don't ignore our wounded soldiers.

Download your videos to facebook: "Central Valley Wounded Soldiers" and introduce our wounded vets to us.

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OPRAH'S AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE - Part 1

OPRAH'S AUSTRALIAN ADVENTURE -  Part 1

Oprah takes over 300 "Ultimate Viewers" and around 200 staffers to Australia for fun, adventure, food, and education. Her views of the Great Coral Reef were SPECTACULAR. We were surprised to see Koala bears mating.

Oprah visited Uluru, a  natural sandstone site in the northern territory - described as a powerful spiritual landmark - possibly an ancient sea floor now revealed. After exploration, the group had a silent moment of gratitude and prayer.

Aborigine leaders offered handmade gifts and a tour. It was not until 1968 that aborigines were first counted as people, although they have been there for centuries. (Note: American Blacks could not visit Australia until 1970 - they were not allowed off boats or airplanes.)  In the evening the aboriginal women performed a traditional dance.

Tasmania with farms and beaches were visited...and naturally a Tasmanian devil.

Melbourne, second largest city, was a mob scene at Federation Square. Julia Gillard, the first female Prime Minister, sees herself as a role-model to girls. The crowd in Federation square was almost all white - I saw a few Africans.

Tomorrow: Part 2 of 4 Watch Oprah and Gayle climb atop a huge bridge.


Sympathy to Southern Queensland victims of the recent high-level  flooding.

NO FREE CELL PHONES FOR SOME

Thank Heaven that Gov. Brown is taking away the cell phones. Most people have a cell phone anyway and with caller ID they can separate the boss from family. For those other calls, refer to the land-line. I tried to do this with the Madera Unified School District when we did our budget-cutting. Administrators were very defensive and voted that the phones were needed.

In addition, I would say that all persons who have a cellphone can only have a basic service at government expense - no data service which is usually games and needless text-messaging. Also, if they overuse the allotted services, it should be taken from their paychecks.

BOTTLED WATER A HEALTH HAZARD - TELL THE KIDS AND SAVE BIGTIME

BOTTLED WATER A HEALTH HAZARD - TELL THE KIDS AND SAVE BIG TIME

TELL KIDS BOTTLED WATER NOT BETTER THAN TAP WATER AND SAVE MONEY

Schools sell bottled water to kids - around $1 a day - and the costs add up for families. Kids feel because the water is sold that the bottled water is BETTER - NOT TRUE!!!! School administrators don't care and continue to allow this message to be given on a daily basis. Tell kids in your communities the truth about bottled water. Also, the water sold at schools is often kept at varying temperatures (unrecorded) and for varying lengths of time (unrecorded). These storage conditions can make the water even worse with higher bacterial counts. These elevated levels of bacteria can increase oral bacterial count and increase cavities and gum disease.

Here is an article on BOTTLED WATER from the web:

How much do you know about the bottled water you drink? Not nearly enough, according toa new report released today from Environmental Working Group (EWG)."Bottled water companies try hard to hide information you might find troubling," says Jane Houlihan, senior vice president of research for the Washington D.C.-based research and advocacy group.
EWG analyzed the labels of 173 unique bottled water products and company websites to determine if companies disclose information on where water comes from, how or if their water is treated, and whether the results of purity testing are revealed. The nonprofit also looked at how effective (and advanced) any water treatment methods are. Researchers followed up by calling dozens of bottled water companies to find out which ones willingly tell consumers what's in their bottles.
The Environmental Protection Agency says on its website that consumers have the right to know where their water comes from and what's in it so they can "make informed choices that affect the health of themselves and their families." Tap water is regularly tested and consumers can find their local water info online. That's not necessarily the case with bottled water, which is not required to disclose that information to consumers. "Bottled water is a food product and every one of these companies is complying with federal law,"says Tom Lauria, of the International Bottled Water Association.
More than half of the bottled water products surveyed failed EWG's transparency test --18 percent didn't say where their water comes from, and another 32 percent did not disclose any information on treatment or purity of water.
Only three brands earned the highest possible marks for disclosing information and using the most advanced treatment methods available- Gerber Pure Purified Water, Nestle PureLife Purified Water, and Penta Ultra-PurifiedWater.
On the other end of the spectrum, these six brands got the worst marks in EWG's report because they don't provide consumers with the three basic facts about water on product labels or their company website - Whole Foods Italian Still Mineral Water, Vintage Natural Spring Water,Sahara Premium Drinking Water, O Water Sport Electrolyte Enhanced Purified Drinking Water,Market Basket Natural Spring Water, andCumby's Spring Water.
How does your bottled water brand stack up? Here's a look at the 10 top-selling* U.S. brands:
1.     Pure Life Purified Water (Nestle),EWG grade = B
2.     Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water(Nestle), EWG grade = C
3.     Aquafina Purified Drinking Water(Pepsi), EWG grade = D
4.     Dasani Purified Water (Coca-Cola),EWG grade = D
5.     Deer Park Natural Spring Water(Nestle), EWG grade = D
6.     Ice Mountain Natural Spring Water(Nestle), EWG grade = D
7.     Ozarka Natural Spring Water (Nestle),EWG grade = D
8.     Poland Spring Natural Spring Water(Nestle), EWG grade = D
9.     Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water(Nestle), EWG grade = D
10.  Crystal Geyser Natural Alpine Spring Water (CGRoxane), EWG grade =  F
Filtered tap water received the best grade (an A) from EWG because if you change your filter regularly, EWG says it is purer than bottled water, plus it saves money (bottled water can cost up to1,900 times more than what flows from your tap). Drinking tap water also takes less of a toll on the planet. EWG offers plenty of tips for filtering your tap water so that you can drink the healthiest water possible.

What should you do when bottled water is your only option?"While our top choice is filtered tap water, when you do need to choose bottled water, we recommend brands that tell you what's in the water and that use advanced treatment technologies like reverse osmosis and micro-filtration," says Houlihan. Advanced treatment technologies remove pollutants that other methods don't. You should look for bottled water products that tell you where the water is coming from and how pure it is.
Here are the results for all 173bottled water brands included in the report. You'll find that some less popular brands rank even lower than our list of top-sellers.
The advice to drink filtered tap water can seem confusing when there are often reports about the contaminants found in municipal water supplies. Just last month, for example, EWG announced that cancer causing hexavalent chromium (chromium-6) is in 31cities' tap water. Houlihan says chromium-6 is as likely to be in your bottled water as it is in your tap water and we need action from the federal government on this. She points out that a reverse osmosis filter can remove the worrisome contaminant. You can guarantee its removal in your home supply, but in many cases you don't know what's in the bottle you're drinking from.
*Sales rankings from the Beverage MarketingCorporation.

Repuublicans Fight To Make America FAIL AND STEAL OUR MONEY

John Boehner now becomes Speaker of the House
of Representatives -- and big banks, insurance companies and Wall Street
lobbyists across the country rejoice. Money is king in D.C. again.

Boehner hasn't even taken the
gavel yet and he's already laid out an extreme right-wing agenda. It starts with
a vote to repeal health insurance reform and includes gutting Social Security,
making tax cuts for the rich permanent and more.

John Boehner's House
will empower right-wingers like Michele Bachmann and Eric Cantor to roll back
progressive legislation and empower big corporations over the middle
class. Our money will go to the rich even faster and in larger amounts.

Let's just say what everyone already knows -- John Boehner's
agenda has everything to do with embarrassing President Obama and nothing to do
with creating jobs and getting America back on track. Boehner, Denham, Rush Limbaugh and others want President Obama, our country and soldiers to fail.

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Republicans Want All Money For Rich - No to Seniors

Republicans run to support tax breaks for wealthy...hopefully forever. No Republicans voted to give $250 to seniors on social security. Only Democrats voted to help seniors with a very small additional sum of money. Republicans are forcing Americans to give money to rich and leave debt and problems to poor and middle class.  We need a better Congress.

Education Reform Needed Now in Central California

U.S. is 25th and 21st in math and science. Kids in Shanghai are the top learners. We must invest in our youth. Fresno area was declared one of the dumbest areas in then U.S.
We must discontinue this disdain for education in the Central Valley and ensure our kids are getting a great education.
We must do more to ensure kids do not drop-out of school and avoid needless suspensions and expulsions. ALL KIDS COUNT.

ELZABETH EDWARDS FAREWELL TO A NINJA WARRIOR

ELZABETH EDWARDS FAREWELL TO A NINJA WARRIOR



Elizabeth Edwards ended a exciting life story on December 7th. At the young age of 61, her body could take no more. As a young woman, Elizabeth took the hard road of college and then law school. She had her own legal practice. She was clearly a role model and a pioneer for the education of women. Her daughter also became an attorney. Her oldest son died. In her late forties, she decided to have two more children - perhaps this was a stimulus to her eventually developing her fatal breast cancer.

Elizabeth was a ninja. She could swing the sword and dodge an attack. Her beauty in her youth is undeniable and she carried her beauty and grace into her final years.

Unfortunately, with all of her accomplishments, she will be most remembered for her battle at home between her, her husband John and his sexual partner who John paid with our hard-earned public money. Yes, John was really a "John" paying for sex.
Confronted with her cancer Elizabeth came out swinging. She was fierce and she focused on the goal - beat the cancer and live for her family. She was not a victim. She learned to live with the diagnosis and the numerous negative comments she received from well-wishers and the media. Elizabeth was certain she was winning. She felt all were really on her side . She never expected her biggest opponent was lurking in the shadows, next to her on a daily basis and feeding her lies. In fact, she bravely committed to continuing in the wife role to have John elected as President of the United States. She told all of us he was honest and the best man for the job. Little did she know the truth. And it was all about to play out on televison - no where to hide. No dignity left. Humiliation as a wife, mother and work partner. She was supposed to know John thoroughly…she was his wife. Sneaking, surreptitiously John crept and her soul and spirit were exposed and vulnerable...sharing the house, the food, the bed and usurping her energy - energy she needed to fight the cancer.
When the possibility of an affair arose, Elizabeth acted, backed by her soul mate’s reassurance, to deny the possibility of such betrayal. She assured us John was honest and honorable. The sexual partner wanted some recognition, so she and John met in hotels to enjoy their baby. I’m sure she was taking secret pictures to ensure she had the evidence, if needed, to entitle her to a significant future income.

When Elizabeth spoke with Oprah on TV, Elizabeth tried to separate herself from the problem, shew was the mom and wife. She resented this other woman tryign to come in and claim her life. Elizabeth said she worked hard for her life and this new woman would not be allowed to just come in and “takeover.” However, the demon spirit had let this other woman in. The woman could not have come in unless someone close to Elizabeth betrayed her in her time of greatest need. John opened the door and began a series of lies that created a web that sucked the life from Elizabeth. Down, but not dead, Elizabeth rose. Injured and breathless, she stood weakly on her feet…she was on her own and her kids would be her only supporters. Oprah confronted John in the hallway of his house and questioned him about the affair. John had the look of hate and disgust as he tried to answer Oprah’s questions with his trained political grace. His eyes became squinty as he looked at Oprah, casting a negative ray towards the talk-show hostess. Oprah acted as if she did not notice, but if he could have, John would have given her a left to the head. He was still playing the southern gentleman role. Meanwhile, Elizabeth struggled to grab onto any shreds of dignity she could find.

Not yet finished, the other woman moves into a house near Elizabeth and John’s home on an island in South
Carolina. Demons all and carrying an innocent baby…or a future mini demon. Only time will tell.

By now Elizabeth is gasping for air, crawling, begging for family support. "Tell this woman not to move next door on our island" - John is paying.

Then the sex tapes. The other woman was gathering evidence against John and she, a professional photographer, had been taking videos of John having sex. These tapes were found by John’s campaign manager, who became involved in the cover-up. The campaign manager was dependent on John for income, so he told John he would claim to be the father of the baby and let the women hide at his house during the pregnancy. His wife agreed to the scheme. They decided to keep the tapes just in case John tried to abandon them in the end. Of course, John, as the demon, did just that and the existence of the tapes became public. John’s sexual partner claimed the tapes were stolen from the house; the campaign manager claimed the tapes were thrown in the trash and retrieved by his wife during a clean-up outside of her room.

Elizabeth’s story is not very unusual if you watch Jerry Springer or the Maury Povitch Show. It was unusual in that we saw every bit play out in public, because of the election coverage, and the parties were wealthy, educated, people in high level jobs…running for U.S. President. How bizarre.

It was not a surprise that Elizabeth died, but an honor to her strength and will to live so long and fight for every inch of respect she could gather.

As a woman, we understand her story and we pray for her soul. She is now with her son.

John and his girlfriend are probably off partying. For them too the ordeal is ending and, like Camilla Parker Bowles, after the death of Diana, the two of them can now devise a cover story and continue in a fake shroud of respect and normalcy.

God Bless You Elizabeth. We women will not forget.