Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Our very own Captain Vanessa A. Zaragoza

Our very own Captain Vanessa A. Zaragoza

Robin,

My niece and the only child/daughter of Martha Zaragoza is in Kabul Afganistan serving as a Captin for the United States Air Force. She is another victim of the savage dog attacks that killed a military man from California. We are praying while she gets all her shots. We salute her and for her hard work and we are very proud of her.

 

Therese M. Anderson Sarasota Florida


Source: ireport.cnn.com

U.S. watchdogs target tax-exempt campaign money
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. campaign finance watchdogs challenged the tax-exempt status on Wednesday of four political groups raising millions of dollars in largely unregulated money to influence elections, terming claims they promote social welfare "nonsense."

Source: feeds.reuters.com

Flickedup.com : "Moneyball" review

The latest Brad Pitt film throws a real curveball to the conventional sports-movie, but is it Oscar worthy ? Pitt plays Billy Beane, the Oakland A's general manager who hired math whiz Peter Brand, played by Jonah Hill, to help revolutionize the game of baseball. Its the real-life story called "Moneyball". There is not a lot of time spent on the field in this film, its really all about Beane and how he made a winning organization not on roster talent, but out of statistics called 'sabermetrics. Its the moment in time when nerds took over what had always been a jock's world and it ends up being grand slam. "Moneyball" stands on its own with a strong supporting cast of personalities in a timeless David and Goliath story. Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman plays the team manager at odds with this new Ivy League math theory. Aaron Sorkin, of the Social Network, lends his pen to help in the screenwriting in a film that is not really about baseball but about human nature. There are a lot of laughs, there are some pretty of funny lines. This sports themed underdog film should make you want to stick around for the final out. The flick-o-meter gives "Moneyball" a five out of five. Brad Pitt has never been better, he and Jonah Hill should be strong considerations for an Oscar, for now. The best part is, you don't have to be a fan of baseball to care about the characters in this film. That is what makes it that much better. I have a new fan page here on the show. Whip your phone out, and scan the QR code in the video. It will take you to my new FaceBook page. Be a part of the conversation and let me know what you think.You can also find me by typing in "TheBrettside" on FaceBook. So now you know before you go.


Source: ireport.cnn.com

Strut Your Mutt-NYC

Best Friend Animal Society had it's annual dog walk on Sunday the 25th to raise money for homeless dogs.

Pier 84th on the West Side Hwy went to the dogs for a couple of hours.

 

The event started with a 2 mile walk  for dogs and their owners followed by a kissing, best costume, look-alike and dancing contest. Celebrity dogs from the Disney movie-Spooky Buddies were there to show their support

 

Booths were set up to provide yummy treats as well as yoga classes, body rubs and kissing booth.

 

There must have been a few hundred dogs who were all on their best behavior.

 

Had so much fun that I will be back again next year with my Maltese- Marley.


Source: ireport.cnn.com

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

My Personal Note - I Remember 9/11

My Personal Note - I Remember 9/11

 

Today we remember the events that took place 10 years ago – events that have forever changed the world. As I think back on that time and the impact that it had on me personally, I thought I would share of few of the memories with you.

I remember being in the gym watching the news when the first plane crashed into the WTC – I remember all of us thinking that it was simply a tourist type plane and many leaving the gym to go down to the site to take pictures. I remember watching the news when it was confirmed that this was in fact an attack. I remember when the city had fully locked itself up from all entrances and exits (all tunnels, bridges and trains were closed) – I remember my roommate and friend John Mellor being stuck in one of those tunnels trying to get into the city from the airport. I remember sitting with my colleagues and watching the news in the conference room when the buildings fell. I remember not being able to call out and let my wife know that I was ok – all lines were locked up. I remember when the city forced everyone to be north of 42nd Street (my apartment was on 36th). I remember deciding with my co-worker and best friend Stephen Frieder that we needed to get out of the city and remember running to the nearest Hertz and securing their last rental car. I remember sitting in stopped traffic for hours waiting for them to open any bridge in order to get out of the city. I remember watching people in this same traffic who were in cabs – having to finally get out of the cabs because the meter had crossed their ability to pay.

I remember the relief we felt when they finally opened a bridge (the one we happened to be on) and getting out of the city and going to Chappaqua where Stephen lived. I remember the heart wrenching pain we all felt as we drove by the Chappaqua train station late that night seeing all of the cars that were still there – those that were lost in the tragic events of the day. I remember seeing wives and children at the train station waiting for husbands and fathers to return and the look of total desperation they had. I remember the anticipation and hope on their faces as each train emptied - only to be heartbroken as they realized that their husband and father were not on that train. I remember tears and holding and panic and rage.

I remember returning to the city the next day, walking around and that a city that is typically a faceless city – where you seldom made eye contact with anyone – that now, there was eye contact and contact made with everyone. I remember standing in front of Grand Central Station when the Presidential motorcade drove by, where a group of hundreds of total strangers began to simultaneously sing The Star Spangled Banner – not a dry eye in the group. I remember standing in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and seeing that there were two armed soldiers and each corner of each intersection (8 in each intersection) – how that pattern continued at each intersection as far as I could walk south. 

I remember going down to Canal and buying water and food for the Search & Rescue dogs. I remember the standing ovation that every fire truck received as they drove on their way to ground zero.

I remember walking by the hospitals and the staggering number of posters of people who were missing that were literally covering every inch of walls, fences, windows. I remember going to the park and seeing hundreds of people who were there uniting in the face of the reality we found ourselves in – I remember singing, candles, crying, praying. I remember being 3rd in a line of more than 10 that were wanting to buy the dinner of a group of fire men who came into the restaurant we were in. 

I remember finally being able to return home when the airports finally opened.

I remember the balance of anxiety, fear, confidence and resolution I had as I boarded that flight home. I remember completely breaking down and crying that night as I stood over Whitnee (my then 6 year old daughter) and Hunter (my then 21 month old son) watching them sleep and how grateful I was to be home. 

I would encourage all of us to take a minute and remember how incredibly fortunate we all are and remember those lost 10 years ago today.

 





Dogs on runway delay Alaska Airlines jet landing

Two dogs on an airport runway in Alaska's capital city delayed the landing of an Alaska Airlines flight.





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Monday, September 12, 2011

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Hurricane Irene turns Dog Park into Rat Park

Hurricane Irene turns Dog Park into Rat Park

I started to report on how Hurricane Irene affected a NYC dog park, thinking it was just tree damage, and discovered it had become a park for a whole new kind of animal - Rats!(Apologies for the audio quality. I think the storm the night before ruined the camera's mic.)


Source: ireport.cnn.com

Family: Arkansas man found dead in tub 'easily influenced'
The family of a man whose lifeless, naked body -- wearing what appeared to be a dog collar -- was found in a hot tub next to a sleeping weatherman in a home outside Little Rock described him Thursday as someone who was "easily influenced."
Source: rss.cnn.com

Respect the Institution of Government

I am disappointed in the acts of certain members of Congress, The GOP is once again verifying the destruction of our country by political ignorance. We have a President, he is addressing Congress about economic issues and Republicans are crying boycott because they feel he is wrong, and he very well may be wrong, but it is the duty of congressional members to show him he is wrong with facts and figures, then to state as much to the voting public to generate support and change where it is needed.

Americans continue to suffer at the hands of our representatives, whether Democrat or republican, Congress and the President were elected to serve the public trust, not a Party or set of ideals. I am tired of suffering at idiocy and political infighting, and many wonder why I remain an Independent, it is because I would be part of a system that ignores the economic security of our nation, and of future generations of Americans.

It is the responsibility of our Congress and President to answer when called, to address the issues that face America, not to place an election campaign before the issues themselves, or to act as 3rd grade children if they fail to get their way. That type of leadership has been lived by Americans long enough, and now we are at a point where the slightest mistake may create a financial default by America. It is bad enough that Americans who lose a job or suffer health issues and lose their homes are blamed for financial mismanagement by our government, but to see the very foundation of our Constitution shaken by irresponsible leadership is more than we can bear.

President Obama is on the wrong track, but he is not alone in his faults, we cannot continue to lay blame if we fail to design alternatives to our issues. Pres. Obama must create free market jobs, jobs that will reduce the unemployment rate without increasing the debt burden on Americans. To state that we can save money by cutting Gov. programs and expenses is conflicting, saving in one way, then spending in another within the same category, meaning federally paid jobs, does not pay the bill, it prolongs the inevitable in our debt and our ability to stabilize our economy.

I fear we have reached the limit of American tolerance in our representatives and we will soon ignore our Constitution for the sake of Party dogma. Americans must rise together, not in party, but in Independence to send a hard message to Congress, our President and future candidate’s, that we will no longer sacrifice our freedoms for Party benefit..

 

 

 

 

 


Source: ireport.cnn.com

My Personal Note - I Remember 9/11

 

Today we remember the events that took place 10 years ago – events that have forever changed the world. As I think back on that time and the impact that it had on me personally, I thought I would share of few of the memories with you.

I remember being in the gym watching the news when the first plane crashed into the WTC – I remember all of us thinking that it was simply a tourist type plane and many leaving the gym to go down to the site to take pictures. I remember watching the news when it was confirmed that this was in fact an attack. I remember when the city had fully locked itself up from all entrances and exits (all tunnels, bridges and trains were closed) – I remember my roommate and friend John Mellor being stuck in one of those tunnels trying to get into the city from the airport. I remember sitting with my colleagues and watching the news in the conference room when the buildings fell. I remember not being able to call out and let my wife know that I was ok – all lines were locked up. I remember when the city forced everyone to be north of 42nd Street (my apartment was on 36th). I remember deciding with my co-worker and best friend Stephen Frieder that we needed to get out of the city and remember running to the nearest Hertz and securing their last rental car. I remember sitting in stopped traffic for hours waiting for them to open any bridge in order to get out of the city. I remember watching people in this same traffic who were in cabs – having to finally get out of the cabs because the meter had crossed their ability to pay.

I remember the relief we felt when they finally opened a bridge (the one we happened to be on) and getting out of the city and going to Chappaqua where Stephen lived. I remember the heart wrenching pain we all felt as we drove by the Chappaqua train station late that night seeing all of the cars that were still there – those that were lost in the tragic events of the day. I remember seeing wives and children at the train station waiting for husbands and fathers to return and the look of total desperation they had. I remember the anticipation and hope on their faces as each train emptied - only to be heartbroken as they realized that their husband and father were not on that train. I remember tears and holding and panic and rage.

I remember returning to the city the next day, walking around and that a city that is typically a faceless city – where you seldom made eye contact with anyone – that now, there was eye contact and contact made with everyone. I remember standing in front of Grand Central Station when the Presidential motorcade drove by, where a group of hundreds of total strangers began to simultaneously sing The Star Spangled Banner – not a dry eye in the group. I remember standing in front of Saks Fifth Avenue and seeing that there were two armed soldiers and each corner of each intersection (8 in each intersection) – how that pattern continued at each intersection as far as I could walk south. 

I remember going down to Canal and buying water and food for the Search & Rescue dogs. I remember the standing ovation that every fire truck received as they drove on their way to ground zero.

I remember walking by the hospitals and the staggering number of posters of people who were missing that were literally covering every inch of walls, fences, windows. I remember going to the park and seeing hundreds of people who were there uniting in the face of the reality we found ourselves in – I remember singing, candles, crying, praying. I remember being 3rd in a line of more than 10 that were wanting to buy the dinner of a group of fire men who came into the restaurant we were in. 

I remember finally being able to return home when the airports finally opened.

I remember the balance of anxiety, fear, confidence and resolution I had as I boarded that flight home. I remember completely breaking down and crying that night as I stood over Whitnee (my then 6 year old daughter) and Hunter (my then 21 month old son) watching them sleep and how grateful I was to be home. 

I would encourage all of us to take a minute and remember how incredibly fortunate we all are and remember those lost 10 years ago today.

 




Source: ireport.cnn.com

Family: Arkansas man found dead in tub 'easily influenced'

Family: Arkansas man found dead in tub 'easily influenced'
The family of a man whose lifeless, naked body -- wearing what appeared to be a dog collar -- was found in a hot tub next to a sleeping weatherman in a home outside Little Rock described him Thursday as someone who was "easily influenced."
Source: rss.cnn.com

Teen bit by dog while protecting younger brother, police say - Deseret News

Teen bit by dog while protecting younger brother, police say - Deseret News
Shawn Josephson. In an attempt to protect his brother, the 14-year-old put the young boy on his shoulders and kicked the dog, Josephson said. The dog responded by biting the boy's calf before running off. The boys' mother took the older brother

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