Category: News and Politics
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Applebee’s America reading notes
– by Douglas Sosnik, Matthew Dowd, Ron Fornier 2006 – “A How To book on fooling the public” p 218 Gut Values Connections “it’s not issues that count but gut values connections” Life Targeting It’s the Lifestyle Stupid Navigators and Influentials Religion of business; Corporations infecting faith Lloyd Hill of Applebee’s: Emotional investment in people…
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The problem with Facebook IPO
This quotation from a Facebook advertiser summarizes the difficulty Facebook will face in maintaining market value as a public company. “We still don’t have a huge correlation between Facebook fans and return on investment in an actual sales in store. Until that metric becomes a lot more solid, I don’t think our company or other…
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Martin Luther King speech: “I have a dream”
This great speech by a great American is worth reading again today on MLK Day: “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation. Five score years ago, a great American, in whose symbolic shadow we stand…
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Odetta’s birthday December 31, 1930
Please take a few minutes today to consider Odetta who would have been 80 years old today but passed away in late 2008. She is among the most powerful, most inspirational and most-respected role models in American culture over more than six decades. It seems that every artist and leader of our generation was influenced…
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Overwhelmingly pessimistic health care news
I’ve covered consumer health care finance issues for over 25 years. I focus on reporting real solutions from current events in order to be part of the solution rather than add to the overwhelming amount of negative information that dominates the media. In all this time, I’ve always had plenty to write about. Yet tonight, after perusing all of…
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Spin on “junk health insurance”
My writing this week illustrated the power of language in the most simple and classic form. I know when I’ve hit a nerve because of the number of complaints generated; it is an unfortunate fact in the political world that those who cannot directly combat free speech will attack through another means. By that measure, a sudden wave…
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A baby boomer struggles with Veteran’s Day
My mixed feelings about military service surface every Veteran’s Day. Of course I appreciate the sacrifice of those who served our country and made possible the life I enjoy living today. There is simply no way to even acknowledge the level of debt we owe to our veterans. I hold the highest possible level of…
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Social activism and the art of parenting
Social activism is a right to be cherished, encouraged and exercised freely regardless of the underlying cause or point of protest. Like any parent, I’ve learned that lecturing is not an effective communication tool with my children; it is tiresome for all of us and can damage a parenting relationship. I do allow myself one exception, however,…