Happy Halloween and Nevada Day!

This Friday October 31st is my birthday. It also happens to be Halloween and Nevada Day - the day Nevada joined the union in 1864 and became the 36th state. I'll be preoccupied through the weekend so I may not get a chance to blog again until Monday.

Back to the real significance of October 31st - it's my birthday. And in the tradition of David Letterman I bring you "5 reasons why it sucks to share your birthday with Halloween." Hey, I ain't a comedian.

5. Getting the same 5 Halloween birthday cards over and over...every year.

4. Being nicknamed "spook" and "witch" since birth. This gets old after age 12.

3. Everyone around you is too busy getting high on candy, or booze, or both, to notice it's your birthday.

2. You have to share center stage with 1000 cute trick or treaters, not to mention one million reveling Nevadans.

1. There's a shortage on the champagne and chocolate you crave for a birthday dinner. All the champagne was bought up for Nevada Day, all the chocolate for Halloween.

Campbell Brown's Erroneous Opinion On Where Our Campaign Donations Should Go

First, I'd like to address CNN's Campbell Brown's erroneous idea that presidential candidates should donate a large amount of their campaign coffers to charity. Ms. Brown, when I and my fellow Obama supporters donate $5, or $50, to Senator Obama we want our money USED by the Senator himself to get elected as president. I did NOT send my hard earned money to him so that you could dictate it should go somewhere else. You have no right to suggest my money should go anywhere. It's my money, I earned it, and I have a right to donate it to my choice for presidential candidate with the expectation it will be used as I intended.

I'd bet that people who've donated money to Senator McCain meant for their donations to be used to elect him and not sent somewhere else. So, I respectfully disagree with you, Ms. Brown. It's also erroneous to believe that if we donate money to political candidates we didn't also donate to charity as well. I support charities as well. Please pay attention to your own finances and stay out of mine.

To contact Campbell Brown click here.

Informative Links

Real Clear Politics Electoral College Map and Latest Poll Data

The Huffington Post: Republicans Voting for Obama: In Their Own Words by Eric Hirshberg

National Politics Examiners

Time: McCain's Struggles: Four Ways He Went Wrong

Palin and her family have shown utter disregard for wildlife.

From Care 2 and The Petition Site Team:

Palin: Take Consistent and Firm Stand Against Moose Poaching
Target: Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin
Sponsored by: Care2

The backstory to Sarah Palin's accusations against her former brother-in-law, Trooper Mike Wooten, reveals how Palin and her family have shown utter disregard for wildlife - unless it can be used to her political advantage!

According to the Troopergate investigation, Palin's sister Molly got a permit and invited her then-husband, Trooper Wooten, to join her on a moose hunting trip. When it came time to actually shoot the moose, Molly had no interest and asked Wooten to take the shot - even though it is illegal to shoot an animal under someone else's permit. After the shooting, the Wootens brought the moose to Palin's father for him to butcher.

Sarah Palin and her family had no issue with asking Wooten to illegally kill the moose under his wife's permit, nor did they have a problem butchering or eating it. But once Sarah Palin decided she could use the moose killing to attack her former brother-in-law, she did.

Palin needs to know: Moose are not political pawns - they are majestic animals and deserve to be treated humanely!

To Sign this petition click on Care 2 Petition.















Alaskan Bear Cubs

Check out Grizzly Bay and The Truth About Sarah Palin

All facts about Sarah Palin are backed up by links to credible news sources
This page was created by Alaskans and has been online since 2007- with updates.

Al-Queda Supports McCain For President

Does anyone remember this guy?













The real enemy Osama Bin Laden was never in Iraq. In fact, Saddam Hussein hated Bin Laden and vice versa. We're in Iraq because George W. Bush lied about WMDs.

A vote for McCain Plays Right Into The Hands of Al-Queda

Lady Rose at The Diet Pulpit has an important article on the fact that Al-Queda Supporters Support McCain For President. Both The Washington Post and The Huffington are sources for this information as it was gleaned from posts on Al-Queda Message Boards. Please check this out if you're at all concerned about getting out of Iraq and going after the real enemies of America, the terrorists who attacked us on September 11th 2001.

On Al-Qaeda Web Sites, Joy Over U.S. Crisis, Support for McCain
By Joby Warrick and Karen DeYoung
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, October 22, 2008;

Excerpt:

“Al-Qaeda will have to support McCain in the coming election,” said a commentary posted Monday on the extremist Web site al-Hesbah, which is closely linked to the terrorist group. It said the Arizona Republican would continue the “failing march of his predecessor,” President Bush.

“The idea in the jihadist forums is that McCain would be a faithful ’son of Bush’ — someone they see as a jingoist and a war hawk,” Raisman said. “They think that, to succeed in a war of attrition, they need a leader in Washington like McCain.”

Source: Washington Post

Kudos For A New Year and A New You, Tip Number One

There's a little more than 70 days left in 2008. The holidays are almost upon us including the New Year. Inevitably, the New Year means New Year's resolutions. And we all know the number one resolution is weight loss.

Why wait until the New Year to start on the path to a better you? There's no time like today. To encourage you to eat healthier and exercise I'm launching a new series "Tips to a New You."

Here's your first tip to eat healthier for weight loss you can do right now.

Portion Control

Whether you're low carb, low fat, low calorie, or a combination of the three, portion control is still key. Learn simple "eye ball" techniques for measuring your portions and you will lose weight. If you aren't losing weight try precisely measuring your portions.

Here are two excellent sources for portion control:

Leigh Peele shows you how tiny mistakes in measuring servings can mean big mistakes in eating too many calories in this free online video.


Measuring Portions at Restaurants Video


Learn To Eyeball Portions (I recommend you first learn exactly what a portion looks like by actually measuring).

For the first fitness tip for weight loss check out my Fitness Examiner column.

Examine The Examiners

Here's a rundown of some of the latest and greatest articles at The Examiner. Click the title links to read more.


Best Weight Loss Products For Your Mind by Carol Bardelli, Fitness Examiner

Excerpt: I've personally used both hypnosis and subliminal suggestion programs for years and find both to be valuable for weight loss and weight maintenance. Here's a mini guide to the best products in this field.

Weight Loss Made Simple CD by Matt Sison, C.Ht. and Rick Schaff, M.S.H.N.

"Create harmony between scientific knowledge and instinctual wisdom to sculpt a lean healthy body." – Matt Sison

Weight Loss Made Simple is the best hypnosis program available today. Both Rick Schaff and Matt Sison possess voices that are silky smooth and easy to listen to. The first time I finished listening to this set I wanted to immediately do so again. Talk about a "feel good" experience.

Don't spend hundreds of dollars on a hypnotist or thousands at a Hypnosis center. This CD set offers you the advice of two well respected professionals in the Hypnosis and Fitness Nutrition industry for a fraction of the price. Available through Matt Sison's Website Hypnosis and weight loss.

Overeating makes brain go haywire? by Annie Kay, Nutrition Examiner

Excerpt: Reuters news reported recently on a new study from the journal Cell that explores a contributor to the obesity epidemic.

The study's authors suggest that calorie overload (eating too much at one time) may activate a usually dormant immune system pathway in the brain, causing a chemical imbalance with far reaching effects in the body. This might be part of the reason that weight gain causes such a variety of health problems.

File this under "science can't keep up with culture".

Eat my shorts by Jamie Van Eaton, Low Carb Examiner

This is hysterically funny but you're going to have to go look for yourselves. I'm not giving away the element of surprise!

More shady acquaintances by Jay McDonough, Progressive Politics Examiner

John McCain admits to hanging around convicted felon Gordon Liddy

Excerpt: Liddy is, of course, a convicted felon who has "acknowledged preparing to kill someone during the Ellsberg break-in 'if necessary'; plotting to murder journalist Jack Anderson; plotting with a 'gangland figure' to murder Howard Hunt to stop him from cooperating with investigators; plotting to firebomb the Brookings Institution; and plotting to kidnap...


Oh, come on! Cheryl Burke is NOT fat by Gail Gedan Spencer, Weight Loss Examiner

Excerpt: Dancing With the Stars hoofer Cheryl Burke is fighting back on the boneheads who have said that she's "fat," People magazine reports.

Supermarket Cart Snooping by Linda Duffy, Denver Low-Carb Examiner

Excerpt: I admit it. I am a cart snooper. I take sneaky glances at other people's shopping selections as I pass them in the isles. Sometimes it is to remind myself of the stuff I used to buy and how unhealthy it made me (cereals, whole grain bread, low fat products...eww!).

Atkins legacy: weight loss, great health and attitude? by Amy Dungan, St. Louis Low-Carb Examiner

Excerpt: Depressed by your LC diet? One study says you should be. Source
I’m always on the lookout for the latest news about low-carb diets. Good or bad, I read it all. Today I came across a study that literally had me laughing out loud. Apparently, because I’ve been on a low-carb diet for several years, I should be suicidal by now...

Can You Say Joe Six Pack The Plumber Illegally Operates His $250,000 Plus Profit Business Three Times Fast?

Turns out this "Joe The Plumber" dude McCain holds up as the "Typical hard working American taxpayer" isn't even a licensed plumber. And this guy owes $1200 in back taxes! Hey, that's all illegal, isn't it?

It appears "Joe The Plumber," the average working Joe made famous in last night's presidential debates, who complained Obama's tax plan would not be beneficial to him, DOES NOT HAVE A LICENSE OR PAY HIS TAXES!

Oh, Joe, say it ain't so. You're a McCain-ward looking kinda guy, Joe Six Pack kinda Palin dude. And you're operating a business – that pulls in more income than the other 98 percent of us – without a license or paying all your taxes? Dude, my husband and I have a more typical small business that made under $40,000 last year together. We have a license. We're up on our taxes. What's your excuse?

McCain's gonna give tax breaks to more rich people who don't follow the rules? Why am I not surprised.

I'm not going to tell you who to vote for. I believe that's a deeply personal choice hopefully based on an educated investigation of all of the candidates, their positions on issues, and their qualifications. I am going to suggest you to do the basic research on both candidates before you commit.

I am supporting Barack Obama. While I respect John McCain for his military service, I fundamentally disagree with his politics and his plans. And his choice of a running mate mystifies me. Surely a more qualified and polished politician from the pool of possible choices would have made more sense. This isn't personal, I don't dislike McCain or Palin personally, it's just political. I'm a liberal democrat, I feel electing George W. Bush was a grave mistake and detrimental to this country, and McCain and Palin are like switching out Bush and Cheney with their political identical twins.

On the other hand, Barack Obama and Joe Biden appeal to me on many levels, not just politically. I'm not going to do a biography on them here, but I'd like to offer a few links to give readers the option of taking a closer look.

I've heard people complain they do not know what Barack Obama plans to do in office. They're certainly not looking very hard. On the Obama website he has a detailed plan on all areas for everyone to check out. To see for yourself click on Obama For America.

For an intimate look at the Obama family check out these photos at Huffington Post.

Instead of believing everything you hear in political ads of either candidate, check out the facts at Fact Checker.org.

And for fun and humorous political coverage check out these links:

Jib Jab

The Satirical Political Report

The Spoof