ExecutiveMom's Safety and Self Defense Blog

Author Resources By Cindy

2010 Winners - Allbooks Review Editor's Choice

Winners 2010 Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice

Shirley A. Roe, Managing Editor of Allbooks Review would like to announce the winners for the 2010 Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award. From the hundreds of books we receive each year, a few outshine the rest; Allbooks Review likes to show our appreciation of their excellence. www.allbookreviews.com


Mystery

Suicidal Tendencies
Garry Patrick

Memoir

Son of my Soul
Debra Shiveley Welch

Health

City of Gardens Health
P. Schnerch

Inspiration

Shattered Reality Inspiration
Kimberly Cheryl

Fiction

For God and Country Fiction
Daniel Reyes

Sci-Fi

Beyond Those Distant Stars
John B. Rosenman

History

Shipwreck of a Nation

Peter Nennhaus

Writing

The Step-By-Step Guide to Self-Publishing for Profit!

Pinheiro and Nick Russell


Congratulations to all of our winners. We have chosen the 8 overall best books from our list of various genres, rather than one from each genre. Books can be purchased on Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and various bookstores.

Allbooks Review is the review and author promo source for POD AUTHORS as well astraditionally published authors. Authors around the world use our service.G reat coverage for your book for twelve months +.Our complete review and author promotional package is less than $50.U.S and includes entry in the Allbooks Review Editor's Choice Award (a $50 US value) Unbelievable value!! Contact us for complete details www.allbookreviews.com

Shattered Reality - Winner 2010 Allbooks Review Editor’s Choice - Use Your Voice to Make a Difference

Allbooks Review International works with authors from all over the world both traditionally published and POD. Once a year we like to award those with a special talent.

THANK YOU FOR MAKING Shattered Reality a 2010 WINNER!!

Child Sexual Assault.  

What do you think when you hear those words?  It won’t ever happen to my child.  My children know all about “Stranger Danger”.  My child will never fall prey.  My child will tell me if someone tries to hurt them.  I will know if something is wrong.

Think again!

Child sexual assault is one of the horrific silent epidemics that is hurting children all over the world.  It will affect one in 3 girls and one in 7 boys by the time they are 18 years old. Yet it is something that no one wants to talk about.  There seems to be a disconnect in believing humans capable of such behavior and insisting it exists. The concept is hard to grasp but is very much a reality. So, as parents how do we protect our children from such things occurring? Education and prevention are key and as adults we are the one responsible for prevention. To do this, we need to arm our children with as much information as possible and we also need to believe our children should they report abuse to us. 

DID YOU KNOW?

*Every 10 SECONDS a child is abused, raped or killed in the U.S.
*Today up to 5 children will die from abuse or neglect
*In 13 seconds, another child will be abused in the U.S
*ONLY 28% of the children identified as harmed by abuse are investigated
*85% of the 1.2 - 1.5 million runaways are fleeing abuse at home
*Today 6 children will commit suicide
*Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death (ages 15-24)
*Untreated child abuse increases the likelihood of arrest for a violent crime by 38 percent
*60 MILLION survivors are former victims of child sexual abuse in America today
*38% of all women & 20% of all men have been sexually abused by the end of adolescence
*The typical child sex offender molests an average of 117 children--most of whom do not report the offense
~~~ Imagine the outcry if these statistics represented a disease, which was wiping out 5 children per day, victimizing millions, and who's by-products where disabilities & expanding violence. Youth rights are really about human rights, and simple empathy is a giant first step to the benefits of increased awareness. The high jump in child abuse statistics shows the importance of youth rights by showing cases of frightening lack of knowledge!!~~~
....Go ahead....

IT'S TIME TO GET ANGRY ABOUT CHILD ABUSE IN OUR NATION!!

The saddest fact about Child Sexual Assault is the lack of knowledge and education that still exists on the subject.  DO YOU REALIZE that close to 95% of all offenders are KNOWN to the victim?? They are not those scary monsters you see on Criminal Minds and Law and Order.  They are the EVERYDAY people in our lives! The very ones we trust and love and children need to know it’s okay to tell and we will believe.  Silence, Ignorance and Apathy are the Child Predator's Greatest Allies!

What can we do?

Traditional sexual abuse programs refer to themselves as prevention programs, and by doing so, set the expectation that children can and should stop sexual abuse. That is an unfair expectation. To truly prevent something is to stop it before it happens. The only people who can prevent abuse are the perpetrators. So, prevention programs should be targeted at perpetrators, adults and teens and even society as a whole-but not children. Prevention is not the job of children. Society doesn’t expect children to prevent, or even stop, physical abuse. Programs to prevent physical abuse are targeted at adults. So, why do we expect children to prevent, or even stop, sexual abuse? That is an unreasonable expectation.

While it is unfair to EXPECT children to prevent or stop physical or sexual abuse, it is also unfair to fail to provide them with information, skills and an environment of openness that may help them to avoid, stop or tell about abusive experiences. It is important that the education we provide to children be presented in a way that is helpful to all children and does not inadvertently increase the feelings of guilt and shame experienced by children who have already suffered from abuse or who experiences abuse after the education is provided.

Once Again – Thank you all for making Shattered Reality a success – a winning book, helping other parents understand the effects sexual assault has on entire families and hopefully one day – with many voices – making a change in our legal system when it comes to educating prosecutors, judges, juries, advocates about the mindset, the fragility, the special needs of our small victims when it comes time to prosecute offenders.

Just like our Country has made a difference for those in Haiti – WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR OUR OWN CHILDREN! 

For worksheets click HERE:

For Additional Information click HERE:

Readers of Shattered Reality will:

• Realize a deeper understanding on the effects of child abuse not only on  the victim but on the family
• Learn that hope is always within reach and others who have been there that can help
• Discover how surviving abuse (even as a parent/caregiver or family member)can become personal strength.
• Gain insights into putting the pieces back together again and reclaiming your rights
• Believe that happiness can be achieve

 In the grand scale of things I am just a tiny and insignificant writer with a modest following. No matter the number, I am so grateful to all of those who take their time to read what I present. Those who take the time to judge me by the content of my writings will understand that I have a very simple and humble message to share. My work is about real people, relationships and experiences that we can all learn from. My quest as a writer is certainly not about me, for I am far too unimportant. I am just a student of the world; a minuscule, and frail embodied consciousness struggling to understand, and be a meaningful part of this great, mysterious play of life, which is set on the stage of our baffling home in the universe. 

Like most people, I have been carried where I am by the currents of life. I have one oar in the water, and do what I can against the rushing forces that surround me, but I know that I am mostly just along for the ride.

Thank you for sharing the ride with me...(You can buy your copy today at: Amazon, Barnes and Noble,)

Shedding Light on a Reality

As I continue to read more and more stories about violence against children, I am appalled.  Children burning each other, killing each other.  What has come over society? Why is it we allow these behaviors? Is it that we've lost our ability to discipline or teach right from wrong?  Where do we draw the line on tolerance? And how does one ever find justice in these cases? They violence is disturbing to me as a parent.  But, I suppose it shouldn't be....

We live in a society that allows child molesters to walk free with no consequences.  When will we see that what we have been doing as a society has not been working? That we need a "fix" to our problems.  We need to educate our children (and ourselves - for more information click HERE).  We need to teach boundaries, expectations and what is acceptable...and we need to ENFORCE those laws we already have available to us.  We need to talk about things and not keep them hidden because they shame us.  We also need to work as a group to make our communities better.  It truly does take a village to raise a child.

Today, I'm sharing a review of Shattered Reality - please pick up a copy - share it, share the message and help make a change in the way our community deals with child abuse and sexual assault.

5.0 out of 5 stars

By	A. Pohren (IA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

What is your worst nightmare? What would you do if it came true? How would you deal with it, the emotions, the pain and heartache. How would you help your loved one through the horror of a nightmare come true, while at the same time trying to hold it together yourself? These are the questions that the author, Kimberly Cheryl must deal with when she discovers the horrific injustice and gift of sweet innocence being ripped away from her cherished daughter; as she learns that someone held dear and trusted her entire life has, has done the unspeakable to her child.

Shattered Reality is the perfect title of Ms. Cheryl's work, as it describes how quickly one's sense of security can be shattered to pieces, in the blink of an eye. Sexual abuse is a very difficult and still a "hush hush" type of problem in today's society, sadly. Ms. Cheryl takes the subject and speaks of the story that she, her daughter and family had to, and still has t, endure and brings it to light in a very deep and heartfelt way. Shattered Reality is a wonderful book for anyone who has ever experienced sexual abuse, or any type of abuse for that matter. It lets people know that they are not alone and is reassuring in it's honesty.

We, as parents, and myself as a mom, try so hard to keep our children safe from harm. They are our life, our breath and our center of being. To discover that no matter how hard we try, all the precautions that are taken, all warnings, teachings and soul deep desperate ways we try to keep our children safe, circumstances can still happen to rip all of those well meaning intentions to shreds. Our children are an extension of ourselves and when they are hurt and betrayed, as are we. While reading Shattered Reality, I could feel the author's pain and emotional betrayal, the heartache and sense of desperation to make all the wrongs right again.

Shattered Reality is not an easy read, but it is one that I think helps bring to light something that all parents should be made aware of. I also wanted to mention that the author's daughter added her wonderful talent to the book with her soul searching and beautiful drawings that speak volumes with delicate pencil strokes.

You can also help victims by purchasing some of that artwork at: www.animewithattitude.com

Have a wonderful and Safe Week!

Any ideas on what can be done?

Does the Brotherhood of Fame Endow You With a Lifetime Exemption From Accountability?

When are you liable for your actions? What are they thinking?

As I sit and fill out one form after another for our attorney so my daughter's assault case can go to court in November, I find it very hard to read about not only Roman Polanski but also his supporters as they plea for a "Get out of Jail FREE card" for him. 

I truly have to wonder who I am supporting when I go to the movies and pay and arm and a leg (and yes, we are huge movie buffs) to support those who support child abuse and assault?  I am definitely going to rethink seeing the films and work of those who are supporting Polanski.  Why should I help them become richer as I struggle to pay legal fees to bring justice to our case?

I honestly don't care how old he is now or what he has accomplished.  He has destroyed a life and as most of us who have dealt with predators know, it's most likely not just ONE.  There are others I'm sure.  Maybe they haven't reported or they've been payed or... but I will bet anything they are there.  After 30 years don't you think this individual deserves justice for the wrongs done to them?  They haven't had a "get out of jail free card" to help them recover these last 30 years.  This has been a part of them they have had to deal with as Mr. Polanski has moved on freely with no recourse - no Justice!

Drugging and raping a child, then leaving the country before you can be sentenced for it, is behavior our society should not tolerate, no matter how famous, wealthy or well-connected you are.

Roman Polanski gave a 13-year-old girl a Quaalude and champagne, then raped her... am I missing something here? If he wasn't guilty, why did he run? Why not face the charges? And why is it we always make the victim out to be the "bad guy" because we don't want to believe these "wonderful" people can do "These unspeakable" things? 

Again, if they were monsters, we would be cautious of them. They are allowed to behave this way BECAUSE they have FOOLED us into BELIEVING they are good, kind, upstanding people - they just happen to enjoy molesting children! When will we understand this? It happens ALL the time.  Read the victim accounts - there are pages upon pages of adults who are now speaking out. They didn't make this stuff up.

With all the pain and heartache we have had to endure - I've got to tell you NO ONE WOULD MAKE THIS UP...not even for the money - NONE OF THIS IS WORTH IT from a victim's stand point!! How would you like to stand in front of people in a police station, in a court room and tell about your sex life - your unwanted sex life as a child, over and over and over?? And then be questioned like you did something wrong and asked for it?? Would it be worth all that to you?

Have to tell you it breaks my hear every time I hear my daughter retell her tale with tears in her eyes each time - she becomes a different child, even after therapy...NO ONE WOULD DO THIS ON PURPOSE, FOR THE FUN OF IT....it's NOT fun!

As American citizens, as humans, as parents, caregivers, those seeking justice for any reason - how can we stand by quietly and support someone like Polanski or those that support him??  Boycott their movies and work, tell them this type of behavior is NOT acceptable and won't be tolerated.  Make your voices heard for children who are fighting for justice today. 

We need to Protect, Help, Educate, Prosecute - NOT allow this behavior to continue.  Maybe with cases such as these people will begin to open eyes to the epidemic that plagues our country and others and ask our local government and prosecutors to rid of streets of these offenders - as a parent fighting for justice I will tell you - what you see on TV in stories like Law and Order SVU or those few cases in the news are not the NORM - MOST of these offenders (84%) are NEVER, EVER prosecuted and their victims never see justice.

Thank goodness for the judge who refuses to throw out his case!

Help make a difference! Let your leaders know this is not acceptable! What do you think?

For more information visit: www.shatteredreality.org or YouTube Video

*** Wondering what Universe these Hollywood Elite live in...Here is the transcript information...Makes my blood boil!  I am still sitting here, shaking my head at the sheer lunacy of Hollywood uniting behind an admitted rapist.

As Roman Polanski sits in a Zurich prison readying to fight extradition to the United States, it seems like a good time to publish the official court transcript of the film director's guilty plea to having sex with an underage California girl. On August 8, 1977 Polanski appeared in Los Angeles Superior Court and copped to a felony count of unlawful sexual intercourse. As seen in the below transcript, he acknowledged being aware that the victim was 13 at the time of their March 1977 encounter in a Mulholland Drive home owned by actor Jack Nicholson. Polanski, now 77, fled the country before being sentenced, fearful that he would be imprisoned by Judge Laurence Rittenband, the jurist before whom he entered his guilty plea. At the time of Polanski's plea, a lawyer for the family of the victim wrote Rittenband and urged him to accept the deal, thereby sparing the child from testifying before a media horde and having her identity publicly disclosed. "Whatever harm has come to her as a victim would be exacerbated in the extreme if this case went to trial," wrote attorney Lawrence Silver. "This is not the place for a recovering young girl." Click here to read the girl's harrowing grand jury testimony about the sex crime. A copy of Polanski's probation report, prepared in advance of his yet-to-occur sentencing, can be found here. (19 pages)

Be Proactive - Being Good To YOU...

My favorite saying to my friends is: "Be Good To You"... I found as I aged and added not only work responsibility but extras such as kids, animals, husband's needs that in that mix of "stuff" I call my life I FORGOT about ME.  At one point, 8 years ago, I had a teenie tiny melt down when someone at a business meeting asked me to describe Kim....Wow - should not have been a very difficult question but it was.  Here I was 35 and I didn't know ME.  Who was Kim? Not the mother, wife, sister, family member but the person.  Who was she? I had no clue. 

Today, I'm closer to that answer but still there are times I forget that if I don't care for me and "Be good to me" first then I'm not a very good person to ANYONE else...

You may not be able to stop the rain that falls into your life, but you can turn on your windshield wiper to clear away the frustrations, criticisms, and self-doubts that, like a drenching downpour, can obscure your vision and make it hard to see where you’re going.

When you’re feeling upset or when others aren’t valuing you, what helps you see clearly again? Taking some time alone? Meditation or prayer? Journaling? Exercise? Walking in nature? Watching an inspiring movie? Talking to a supportive friend? Scheduling a massage or a session with a life coach? Make a list of the tools that work for you so you don’t forget to put them into action when the storm clouds let loose.

Love to hear what YOU do!

Have a wonderful, safe weekend and "Be Good to You!" - for an added bit of fun and self goodness, you might want to check out Sandra Brown's contest this weekend - free books and movies (for me that's fun :)

All the Best -

Stupid People and the Things they say....

I have to say that I'm a huge fan of Bill Engvall's just because he is a recent comedian who reminds me so much of my fave: Bill Cosby.  What he talks about is clean, true, fun and timeless.  As humans, we make it so very easy to be made fun of just by "being".  Two of my favorite acts of Engvall's are when he speaks about the labels that are put on objects because of the silly things people have done (and probably sued someone over)...like using the hair dryer in the shower, or what does happen to those people who actually read the directions on a bottle of shampoo (wash, rinse, repeat...do they ever leave the shower?).  And my other, like many, is "Here's Your Sign...."

Now this weekend, after a sporting accident, yes I purposefully give my child a stick and tell her to go hit a small ball and other children (field hockey), my daughter ended up with a busted up hand (she's happy - no writing in school for a while :) But we went to the ER with blood dripping, ice bags wrapping it up, arm cradled and the doctor was observant enough to ask "What brings you in here today?" Hhhmm?

Okay, so I'm as guilty as any one else of doing these things every now and again but I couldn't help passing along a group of comments I saw recently - these just happen to be ones from attorneys in court...

Since, our first big day in court is tomorrow AND my little sister is an attorney AND I needed something light to start my Monday on a Tuesday off with, I thought I'd share a smile - Enjoy and hope EVERYONE had a wonderful and SAFE Labor Day Holiday!

These are from a book called Disorder in the American Courts, and are things people actually said in court, word for word, taken down and now published by court reporters who had the torment of staying calm while these exchanges were actually taking place.

 ATTORNEY: Are you sexually active?
 WITNESS: No, I just lie there.
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: This myasthenia gravis, does it affect your memory at all?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: And in what ways does it affect your memory?
 WITNESS: I forget.
ATTORNEY: You forget? Can you give us an example of something you forgot?
 ___________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Do you know if your daughter has ever been involved in voodoo?
 WITNESS: We both do.
 ATTORNEY: Voodoo?
 WITNESS: We do.
 ATTORNEY: You do?
 WITNESS: Yes, voodoo.
 ____________________________________________
ATTORNEY: Now doctor, isn't it true that when a person dies in his sleep, he doesn't know about it until the next morning?
 WITNESS: Did you actually pass the bar exam?
 _______________________________

 ATTORNEY: The youngest son, the twenty-year-old, how old is he?
 WITNESS: He's twenty, much like your IQ.
 ___________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Were you present when your picture was taken?
 WITNESS: Are you shitting me?
 _________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
 WITNESS: getting laid
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: She had three children, right?
 WITNESS: Yes.
 ATTORNEY: How many were boys?
 WITNESS: None.
 ATTORNEY: Were there any girls?
 WITNESS: Your Honor, I think I need a different attorney. Can I get a new attorney?
 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: How was your first marriage terminated?
 WITNESS: By death.
 ATTORNEY: And by whose death was it terminated?
 WITNESS: Take a guess.

 ____________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Can you describe the individual?
 WITNESS: He was about medium height and had a beard.
 ATTORNEY: Was this a male or a female?
 WITNESS: Unless the Circus was in town I'm going with male.
 _____________________________________

ATTORNEY: Is your appearance here this morning pursuant to a deposition notice which I sent to your attorney?
 WITNESS: No, this is how I dress when I go to work.
 ______________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Doctor, how many of your autopsies have you performed on dead people?
WITNESS: All of them. The live ones put up too much of a fight.
 _________________________________________
ATTORNEY: ALL your responses MUST be oral, OK? What school did you go to?
 WITNESS: Oral.
 _________________________________________

 ATTORNEY: Do you recall the time that you examined the body?
 WITNESS: The autopsy started around 8:30 p.m.
 ATTORNEY: And Mr. Denton was dead at the time?
 WITNESS: If not, he was by the time I finished.
 ____________________________________________

ATTORNEY: Are you qualified to give a urine sample?
WITNESS: Are you qualified to ask that question?
______________________________________

ATTORNEY: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse?
WITNESS: No.
 ATTORNEY: Did you check for blood pressure?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: Did you check for breathing?
WITNESS: No.
 ATTORNEY: So, then it is possible that the patient was alive when you began the autopsy?
WITNESS: No.
ATTORNEY: How can you be so sure, Doctor?
WITNESS: Because his brain was sitting on my desk in a jar.
ATTORNEY: I see, but could the patient have still been alive, nevertheless?
 WITNESS: Yes, it is possible that he could have been alive and practicing law..

Any other fun things you've heard that you can share?

9/8-SICK OUT day for school aged children!

Barack Obama is set to 'address' the nation's children. Yet again, America's parents are vocal in their disdain for this latest "teaching moment.":

From my friend over at Poison Pen comes this:
Thursday, September 3, 2009
9/8-SICK OUT day for school aged children!

Have you read any transcripts thus far as to the content or subject of Obama's Internet speech to the children? Do you have a child between PRE-K and 12th grade?
Well by authority of Obama, he wants to deliver an undisclosed speech to YOUR child AT SCHOOL on Sept 8th.

MY CHILD will be sick that day. Swine flu. It is going around...allergic to swines.
My child will NOT BE indoctrinated by BO.

Homeschooling kids do not have to worry about the indoctrination speech. Lucky for them. I wonder---is BO going to invade private schools? Do HIS children have to listen to him droll on and on about nothing. Oh wait. They live with him. I am sure he makes time to indoctrinate his own kids.

NOT MINE! As a PARENT, I CHOOSE what my child learns. If I am not satisfied with a text book offered by the school, I purchase another to teach my child the TRUTH, versus a watered down PC version of some liberal text. This happens often... I should home school....

Of COURSE, she has more, and you can find that here.

"Teach your children well," indeed!

I have an open mind, I believe my children should hear ALL sides (not just our president's personal views), I want my children learning my own family values so would like to know what is going to be said so we can discuss it as a family at home after wards, I will also want to be in attendance should our school decide to air this ... I have written our school board, etc. to find out how they intend to handle this situation.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?? Any good rebuttles for our school boards should they not allow parental attendance or share what is going to be said?  Do they even know? They prep us with meetings and signature forms and...and...before sex-ed classes why not this? (and I support sex ed)  Interesting times for sure but haven't found them to be unbiased...not impressed with health care debates to date so why should this impress me?  Sell me on the idea Mr. President and tell me why my child should be subjected?  Why not an address to the Nation on TV as usual so we can sit with our kids and discuss in our homes as families?

Fall Books - What Good Ones Are On Your List?

I hate to admit that the fall is slowly creeping up just because I HATE winter.  As a midwestern girl, I could do with 89's all year round and never, ever miss the cold, ice and snow we get but....that is only a dream since i'll never move away from my family.  Ah but a beach - Anywhere.... :)

So as I sit on my deck in the evening with the sounds of crickets, bullfrogs, my dog barking at the neighborhood "walkers" and other chirpers that fill the chorus in the night ... I enjoy my rocker, an iced tea and a wonderful new book - but I'm running short!  

Here's what's on my list so far -

Dan Brown - The lost Symbol
John Grisham - Ford County
Nicholas Sparks - The Last Song & The Wedding
Eric Wilson - Haunt of Jackals (Jerusalem's Undead Trilogy)
Sandra Brown - Smash Cut & Smoke Screen
Joanna Slan - Cut, Crop and Die: A Kiki Lowenstein Scrap-n-Craft Mystery
Irene Watson - The sitting Swing

Catherine Coulter - Knock Out
Lisa Jackson - Malice

Anyone have any new ideas or suggestions for a good read (especially for those cold nights by a fire when I'm stuck inside? or sitting in my car waiting for a sports practice to end?)  Is your book club reading anything fun you'd like to share?

Don't forget to visit www.kimberlycheryl.net (for some self promotion :)
Have a SAFE day!

Obamacare - Reading between the lines

WE NEED HEALTH CARE REFORM - don't get me wrong!  I have been on both sides - selling pharmaceuticals with wonderful insurance and being one who is uninsurable and suffering through huge bills in this system as it is BUT this is not the answer.... here is just another example of pieces that haven't been completely thought through....what happened to all the HIPPA they were promoting?  Why don't they have REAL forums and focus groups of NOT lobbyists but patients - ones with health insurance to see what they LIKE and ones IN NEED to see what is lacking and then meet as appointed groups and find out what would work for EVERYONE and ones that our representatives would ALSO be willing to use themselves.... JMO

CBS News reports another startling detail of H.R. 3200, better known as Obamacare.

Section 431(a) of the bill says that the IRS must divulge taxpayer identity information, including the filing status, the modified adjusted gross income, the number of dependents, and "other information as is prescribed by" regulation. That information will be provided to the new Health Choices Commissioner and state health programs and used to determine who qualifies for "affordability credits."

Section 245(b)(2)(A) says the IRS must divulge tax return details -- there's no specified limit on what's available or unavailable -- to the Health Choices Commissioner. The purpose, again, is to verify "affordability credits."

Section 1801(a) says that the Social Security Administration can obtain tax return data on anyone who may be eligible for a "low-income prescription drug subsidy" but has not applied for it.

Over at the Institute for Policy Innovation (a free-market think tank and presumably no fan of Obamacare), Tom Giovanetti argues that: "How many thousands of federal employees will have access to your records? The privacy of your health records will be only as good as the most nosy, most dishonest and most malcontented federal employee.... So say good-bye to privacy from the federal government. It was fun while it lasted for 233 years."


They updated their piece with comment from Marc Rotenberg of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, after wondering in their article where the Electronic Privacy Information Center stood on the issue of section 431(a) of the Obamacare bill:

"We would oppose section 431(a) of the bill because it violates the intent of the Privacy Act which generally requires agencies to obtain information directly from individuals and not from other agencies."


Since the bills didn't get jammed through before Congress went on their august vacations as Obama insisted, it seems folks are getting a chance to actually read the bill and find these tidbits that would have made it through without our knowledge.

Your opinions on this mess - for me - i'm happy it wasn't shoved through in August as insisted!

A 2009 All-Star Team

Having been born and raised in one of the best Baseball Cities in America - we have had a wonderful time celebrating the 2009 All-Star Game and it's many events.  Maybe I'm just such a huge fan of our Cardinals because as a kid - even though I played for years and the neighbor, God Bless his Soul, was my coach who worked with me for years to improve - I just wasn't made for the game (soccer was my thing).  Either way, I am a die hard through and through.

So as we celebrate the greats in Baseball this evening it got me to thinking...I could choose 9 people right now (not sport players) but any 9 people who in my life, and that of others, I see as ALL- STARS...WHO would make it in my starting line up? 

First, I think I'd just have to have an entire line of pitchers - that is where I would include my family - parents (and Happy Birthday today Mom); sisters, cousins, Aunt Judy, hubby, sister and mother in law, nieces and kids. (and ALL STAR group on their own!)

It was a little harder coming up with the next 8 players for the team - there have just been so many influential people in my life this past year so here they are in no particular order:

1. Ginny - a RAD trainer, musician, survivor, and incredible friend - there isn't enough room to tell you the wonders of this incredible woman and THANKS isn't enough to say to her for the influence and blessings she's bestowed on my life.
2. Kim - Well, here's another one; have known her for years and she never ceases to amaze me; one of the best sales people I know who looks out for her clients not for the money but because she truly believes in what she is doing; She has one of the biggest and truest hearts I know and I will be forever blessed to have her in my life.
3. Debi - Hey - she's known me since I was a kid - with out her - I just wouldn't know what to do without her so not even going there...there are just some people who will forever leave a mark on your life and no matter how long we go with out talking or seeing each other within a minute we are back to the comfortable relationship we've had forever.
4. Kelly - an incredible college friend who's been there for everything; Mother of 7 - Need I say more?? I admire everything about her!
5. Cyrus Webb - Now here is a person I truly admire!  As I am an avid reader and believe in literacy as a cornerstone of our lives - this man not only believes it but has dedicated his life to promoting literacy to all. You HAVE to check him out!! So many incredible programs to be involved with.
6. Irene Watson - author of award winning The Sitting Swing and Managing Editor of Reader Views.
7. Joey Tillman - The Child Protection Community - To protect our children, we are now making the necessary lines in the sand and moves towards the needed changes together. You are invited to join their effort.
8. In the outfield, sharing space are:Beth Baughman Anderson of  Chic Galleria Publications, Melissa of Lavender Power: The magazine for thriving survivors of trauma. and Joanna Campbell Slan   author of the Kiki Lowenstein series - I truly admire women (or anyone) who work hard to accomplish something they believe in!  Best to them in their endeavors.

Whelp, there is my team ... I know my bench would be full of so many others who I just admire on a daily basis for example, Zig Zigglar, my Childhood Pastor, etc.

I do also have a few Angels in my outfield including my grandparents, dear father in law and great friend who passed last winter of cancer and whose 52nd birthday would be tomorrow.  They are all missed tremendously but know they are helping my team out daily! 

Those on my team may not be paid millions for what they do but they are sure worth more than that to me and many others !

I see my team as a WINNER today and throughout the years!  If you had to choose an ALL-STAR team for yourself, who would be included on your "bench" and why?

Don't forget to be thankful for all the blessings people leave in your life and remember to tell them often how very much they are cherished and valued - you may not have that opportunity tomorrow.  Have a SAFE and wonderful Tuesday!