More Reasons To Eat Chocolate :-)

Not that you need another reason to indulge in chocolate (you probably already know it's good for your blood pressure), but isn't it delightful, delicious, and delectable that there is one? Eating chocolate shaves your risk of "cardiometabolic disorders," a cluster of conditions that nobody wants, including heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome. (Taking this vitamin also helps protect you from this nasty threesome.)
Here's the big surprise: We're talking all kinds of chocolate, not just the dark types. Even milk chocolate and cups of hot cocoa have benefits.
We're also not talking slight improvements. Research reveals that consuming a healthy amount of chocolate reduces your risk of heart disease by 37% and stroke by 29% versus eating little or none. (Not coincidentally, it also lowers your bad LDL cholesterol.) In addition, it shrinks your risk of type 2 diabetes by up to 31%. These impressive numbers emerged from an analysis of seven studies involving more than 100,000 people.
What's in chocolate that makes it so good for you? Loads of potent plant antioxidants called polyphenols, including flavonoids. Yep, the same good-for-you substances found in blueberries, wine, green tea, and olive oil, as well as many fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Among polyphenols' many powers is the ability to sooth inflammation in your body. Internal hot zones are linked to all kinds of trouble, from memory damage to joint pain and accelerated aging. (Learn more about chocolate as a healthful treat.)
A Little "Dose" Will Do Ya
Like wine, the trick with chocolate is to indulge daily without overindulging. A little goes a long way, because most chocolate contains about 150 calories per ounce, including lots of sugar and fat. Overdo and you could actually increase the health risks you're trying to prevent. In most of these studies, people had an ounce or two a day. Even smarter: Get your fix in a cozy cup of hot chocolate made with real polyphenol-rich cocoa powder, no-fat milk, and sugar-free sweetener. Bingo! All the benefits, none of the bad stuff.
Eat chocolate, die happy, and live longer. Sweet.

Now, this is the kind of medical advice I can really sink my teeth into, be it dark chocolate, milk chocolate, German Chocolate or even the occasional (very occasional) white chocolate, even though the latter is very high in saturated fat; but especially Chocolate Hazelnut cappuccinos, my fave.

In Memory of The Late Mr. Andy Rooney

NEW YORK (AP) — Andy Rooney so dreaded the day he had to end his signature "60 Minutes" commentaries about life's large and small absurdities that he kept going until he was 92 years old.

Even then, he said he wasn't retiring. Writers never retire. But his life after the end of "A Few Minutes With Andy Rooney" was short: He died Friday night, according to CBS, only a month after delivering his 1,097th and final televised commentary.

Rooney had gone to the hospital for an undisclosed surgery, but major complications developed and he never recovered.

"Andy always said he wanted to work until the day he died, and he managed to do it, save the last few weeks in the hospital," said his "60 Minutes" colleague, correspondent Steve Kroft.

Rooney talked on "60 Minutes" about what was in the news, and his opinions occasionally got him in trouble. But he was just as likely to discuss the old clothes in his closet, why air travel had become unpleasant and why banks needed to have important-soundingnames.

Rooney won one of his four Emmy Awards for a piece on whether there was a real Mrs. Smith who made Mrs. Smith's Pies. As it turned out, there was no Mrs. Smith.

"I obviously have a knack for getting on paper what a lot of people have thought and didn't realize they thought," Rooney once said. "And they say, 'Hey, yeah!' And they like that."

Looking for something new to punctuate its weekly broadcast, "60 Minutes" aired its first Rooney commentary on July 2, 1978. He complained about people who keep track of how many people die in car accidents on holiday weekends. In fact, he said, the Fourth of July is "one of the safest weekends of the year to be going someplace."

More than three decades later, he was railing about how unpleasant air travel had become. "Let's make a statement to the airlines just to get their attention," he said. "We'll pick a week next year and we'll all agree not to go anywhere for seven days."

In early 2009, as he was about to turn 90, Rooney looked ahead to President Barack Obama's upcoming inauguration with a look at past inaugurations. He told viewers that Calvin Coolidge's 1925 swearing-in was the first to be broadcast on radio, adding, "That may have been the most interesting thing Coolidge ever did."

"Words cannot adequately express Andy's contribution to the world of journalism and the impact he made — as a colleague and a friend — upon everybody at CBS," said Leslie Moonves, CBS Corp. president and CEO.

Jeff Fager, CBS News chairman and "60 Minutes" executive producer, said "it's hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much.""60 Minutes" will end its broadcast Sunday with a tribute to Rooney by veteran correspondent Morley Safer. . . .

Even though this is suppose to be my blog, I do not know what more I can merely write about how much Mr. Andy Rooney will be missed.  After all, he was a writer's writer and he was the reason our family watched "60 Minutes" for the entire hour. Even when he retired, at least there was hope that he would return for a guest appearance, but now he has left us to go to Heaven to give his commentaries directly to God the Father and His Heavenly Host.

What A Week?!?!?!?!?!?!

Some body, correct me if I am wrong to feel invisible and taken for granted at work, especially after this week. Monday began with my encounter with Waste Management, so-called Professional garbage disposal company, whose workers do their job so half assed that my job of sweeping with broom and dust pan is doubled if not tripled (but of course at the same wage). What can I say about Waste Management Company (who coincidently, the owner of one franchise is close friends with my boss, Lora Campe); I was there when they ‘emptied’ a dumpster, with so much garbage left inside and especially underneath it that they could barely reattach the other half of the dumpster, but somehow these Waste Management workers just kept on reattaching as if none of the garbage was left behind, which reminds me of yet another reason that Issue 2 must go down to defeat. After all, it is indeed a lie from the pit of Hell that Union workers are lazier than non-union workers. These workers must get paid so low, so low that they know whatever happens they will not get fired. After all, who else will the bosses get to do the job?  If It was an Union job with Union Benefits then there really would be a line, a very long line indeed with all the many Ohio families who do not have health coverage, I doubt if there is anyone from anywhere in Ohio who would turn down an Union job doing ANY KIND of work AT ALL, no matter how far they have to drive or if they have to relocate or both.

 My job is sweeping both the North and South sides of Landerwood Plaza’s parking lot, where on Tuesdays and Thursdays, I sweep the back alley way. In the past, it has been a no cut thru, even though many people ignore the signs, but now the Solon School bus has instructions to take the alley as a cut thru. I found out when I was sweeping the bus driver expected me to get out of their way (well he, but originally I mistook for a she). Needless to say, my first reaction was to be offended, since I thought I was the only one there, legally, that was Tuesday.  Then Thursday came, he stopped, this really got me mad and then I was told that he was told to take the alley as a cut through by Management—most likely Landerwood Management—Michelle Feher of the Keyes-Treuhaft Company  (where my boss, Lora Campe, who has a free pass to operate her business any way she pleases, since as I was to ‘she does have a 2 year lease’)-. Since my boss, Lora Campe is also her tenant at 30559 Pinetree Road #236. Am I being unreasonable to be offended that no one bothered to give me a heads up about this change in policy? After all, I only work there.  

As if these were not enough, Friday, yesterday, the leaves covered the parking lots of both Landerwood North and South and the other parking lot at one half of the Center Mayfield Building at 3921 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, where there were so many leaves that it looks like someone took a leaf blower and covered the one parking lot with the leaves of both parking lots as much as they could.  I spent as much time and energy as I could, (after all, when I do a job, I like being able and turn around and be truthfully able to say-think-job well done-after all, if I did say it out loud without a cell phone in hand-people will realize that I am crazy enough to talk to myself  ;-))) without sweating blood, but could only sweep up with broom and dust pan, most of the leaves, not all the leaves and not anywhere else.  The question becomes—will anyone really believe that I worked my butt off or with they think that I got lazy and deducted out of my paycheck.

LAST, BUT, NOT LEAST, THERE IS THE BIG THANK YOU, THANK GOD FOR ONE HARRIET, who works at the Remodeling Associates Inc., who has an office there. For she saw my blight, she felt my pain. THANK GOD—THANK GOD, HE BLESSED me WITH HER. She was truly my Sister In Christ. She gave me a hug which I deeply and sincerely needed at the time, THANK GOD—THANK GOD.

This is why I probably jumped to the wrong conclusion about actually working some place else. I am so hoping for a real job, with real pay and benefits and being part of a real community that I jumped to a wrong conclusion when it looked like the interview went well.

State aid cuts lead to 1,100 levies on Ohio ballot

COLUMBUS — Despite Gov. John Kasich’s warnings that raising local taxes could hurt state development efforts, local governing bodies say they have no choice but to ask voters for money in November after enduring cuts in state aid.
On Nov. 8, voters across Ohio will decide nearly 1,100 requests for more tax dollars, ranging from school operations to parks and senior services, The Columbus Dispatch reported.
Mr. Kasich and GOP leaders have said their budget, which took effect in July, closed a massive budget hole without raising taxes, but cuts in state dollars to local governments have combined with cuts from earlier years to create an urgent need for cash, the newspaper reported.
Dozens of townships are asking residents for money to make up a 25 percent cut in state aid, with another 25 percent cut expected next year.
Cuts in state money have meant some libraries have cut back on staff and hours, despite higher demand.
Statewide, 20 library levies will ask taxpayers to maintain taxes already passed or increase the level being paid.

What else would the 'Good Governor' expect? When the cities get less money from the state, they have to go someplace else for their money. The first place they look to is their own citizens, but have no fear that 'Big Business' might suffer. After all, some how--some way, businesses have this way of getting exempt from taxes, especially when the governor is a Republican like Governor Kasich happens to be.

Speaking of tax levies that are on the ballot that need passing for the good of others, not that any of us actually 'likes' paying taxes, but the service that the tax money pays for is an absolute necessity--'needs do come before mere wants/desires--Issue 20-the Stow Monroe Falls School Levy and Issue 25-Not a new tax, but a renewal of a tax that provides needed services for those in Summit County who have Developmental Disabilities

Summit County deputies take concessions

SUMMIT COUNTY -
Deputies of the Summit County Sheriff's Office agreed Wednesday to give back over $350,000 to their employer in order to prevent the layoff of 15 deputies, thereby maintaining the current level of law enforcement services provided by the Sheriff's Office.  The Deputies approved these givebacks by an overwhelming margin.
"This falls right in line with what FOP members have been doing all across this state to keep the doors open in law enforcement agencies.  Public employees have given over ONE BILLION DOLLARS in contractual concessions since 2008" said Jay McDonald, Fraternal Order of Police of Ohio President.
"I couldn't be prouder of the deputies.  They recognized the economic condition of Summit County, caused partially by the cuts in local government funds by Governor Kasich's Budget, and acted in the best interest of the community that they serve" said Otto Holm, the Fraternal Order of Police / Ohio Labor Council Representative.

That is the Reality of life, but-still the supporters of Issue 2 still claim-->

Watchwoman: Issue 2 is way down in the polls, so we need every one of you to get out and vote YES!  This is an extremely important issue and the unions are going insane to ensure it gets voted down.  If every right to worker would get out there and vote, we could still turn this around and keep SB 5 that was passed by the Ohio House and Senate and signed by Gov. Kashish from being repealed.  So go out Tuesday, November 8, 2011 and vote YES on Issue 2.  Don’t be discouraged.  We can still win this vote!  ▬  Donna Calvin

For the Love of Mercy and Truth, after 'giving back over $350,000 in order to keep fellow officers on the street working, can that Governor of ours continue to call our Public Employees selfish and greedy. How much more are they suppose to give back, so that our 'Good Governor' can give even more bonuses and even more tax-cuts to his rich supporters?  After all, he is the only Governor, who right after an election-with all the costs there of, that can go back on television with almost as many ads as he had to get elected, with seemingly a whole new war chest of cash. Well, when you are 'show yourself to be as bribable', as our 'Good' Governor, then it is only money.

WHAT THE . . . IS THIS????

Republican blacks are better than Democrat blacks. In the mind of Ann Coulter, that’s a fact. Coulter made the “our blacks are better than their blacks” statement earlier this week on Fox News, and she stood by the claim last night while talking to Joy Behar. Coulter said on Fox News: “Our blacks are so [...] Ann Coulter Defends “Our Blacks Are Better Than Their Blacks” Statement is a post from ...

Some body needs to educate  Ms. Ann Coulter that this whole premise is wrong. They are not 'our' blacks any more than any of us Caucasians are 'their' whites. Each and Every Human Being on this God's Green Earth is his/her OWN person, Without exception.
Only on Fox News would this B.S. be called 'News'.
As far as "Needing a 'Christian' President" goes that is equally non-sense. What we need is a competent president, even though IMO President Obama is both--He is a Christian (not Muslim) and IMO competent,to say the least. After all, The United States, unlike Ancient Israel, Is Indeed a Secular Nation. We are Governed by the Constitution and Bill of Rights. So If/When a Jewish person or Muslim or a person of whatever other religion runs for president, just as with every Christian who runs for office. The questions are still the same--Where do they stand on the issues? After all, any and all elections, IMO are all about where each and every candidate stands on the issues--foreign and domestic.

Ohio Issue 3

Proposed Constitutional Amendment                                                                 Issue 3

Proposed by Initiative Petition

To adopt Section 21 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Ohio

A majority yes vote is necessary for the amendment to pass.
The proposed amendment would provide that:

1. In Ohio, no law or rule shall compel, directly or indirectly, any person, employer, or

health care provider to participate in a health care system.

2. In Ohio, no law or rule shall prohibit the purchase or sale of health care or health

insurance.

3. In Ohio, no law or rule shall impose a penalty or fine for the sale or purchase of

health care or health insurance.

The proposed amendment would not:

1. Affect laws or rules in effect as of March 19, 2010.

2. Affect which services a health care provider or hospital is required to perform or provide.

3. Affect terms and conditions of government employment.

4. Affect any laws calculated to deter fraud or punish wrongdoing in the health care

industry.

If approved, the amendment will be effective thirty days after the election.

Shall the amendment be approved?                                                                            ___Yes
                                                                            ___No

Arguments

• Ohio Consumers for Health Coverage argued that the proposed amendment was an attempt to block the federal health care reform bill without offering alternative options. In a statement, according to reports, the organization said,"If people are allowed to buy insurance only when they need it, insurance will get too expensive for everyone."^[11]
• Opponents of the measure claim that the wording of the proposal submitted by supporters was poorly drafted. Opponents say that the broad proposal interferes with other state laws. Among those who claim this are Jessie Hill and Maxwell Mehlman, Case Western Reserve University law professors. They stated that the language contains the banning of new health care mandates passed after March 2010, which means that this could effect further possible changes to workers' compensation, child support orders and a proposal dealing with prescription drug abuse.^[20]
• Brian Rothenberg, treasurer of the "No On Issue 3" political action committee stated: "We're trying to explain to folks that the stated purpose will have no net effect, but (Issue 3) will cost heavily in litigation. In the end, we'll have to have a number of court fights to figure out what this means."^[21]

Opposition

• The Columbus Dispatch stated in an editorial: "...trying to counter the federal law with an ineffective amendment to the Ohio Constitution is a bad idea. This is not where that battle should be fought. Ohioans, including those who agree with The Dispatch that the federal health-care overhaul is deeply flawed, should vote no on State Issue 3."^[22]
• The Akron Beacon Journal stated: "The concern, as analysts point out, is what happens to laws that have been passed since then and how Issue 3 would restrict future amendments to existing laws, among them child support enforcement orders, school immunization requirements, health data collection for public health purposes and court-ordered treatment programs. Issue 3 deserves a resounding “no.”"^[23]
• The Athens News wrote: "When you go into the voting booth on Nov. 8, be prepared to perform an election "two-fer" — vote a resounding NO for both state Issue 2 (the referendum on S.B. 5) and state Issue 3. Both are blatant examples of ideological over-reaching and in no way promote good government in our state."^[24]
• The Cleveland Plain Dealer editorial board argued: "This ill-conceived amendment to Ohio's Constitution won't do what it promises and it might do much harm. Voters need to reject Issue 3."^[25]
• The Toledo Blade also endorsed a 'no' vote, writing: "Ohio voters need not, and should not, risk this sort of harm merely to enable Mr. Obama's partisan detractors to score political points. Vote NO on Issue 3."^[26]

 

2011 initiative

A coalition of Tea Party groups and other groups announced on April 22, 2011 that it had collected more than 300,000 signatures towards ballot placement for 2011. Supporters had until July 6, 2011 to collect the 385,245 signatures from registered voters that are required for an initiated constitutional amendment to obtain ballot access. This number represents 10% of the votes cast for governor in the most recent election. In addition, signatures must be gathered from 44 of Ohio's 88 counties.^[29]
Reports confirmed that health care amendment supporters filed approximately 546,000 signatures by the July 6, 2011 petition drive deadline, more than the 385,245 needed to make the ballot. Reports are also stating that the secretary of state's office has until July 26, 2011 to verify those signatures.^[30][31][32]
The measure was certified for the ballot before that deadline that the measure did indeed collect enough signatures for ballot access.^[33]

Health care on the ballot in 2011

 

 

Legislative version

The Ohio State Legislature can propose amendments, according to Article XVI, if 60% of the members of both chambers agree to it. During the week of June 15, 2011, the Ohio State Senate voted 24 to 9 to place on the ballot. The proposal now goes to the House, where a similar vote must take place for the measure to obtain ballot access.^[42]
On June 17, 2011, the Ohio House of Representatives voted on whether to send the measure to the voters or not, needing 60 votes to do so. The measure came up short, with 59 votes in favor of the measure. The final tally was 59 to 39. The legislative version was not sent to the ballot.^[43]

National lawsuit

Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray  announced in late March 2010 that he would not be joining a national lawsuit challenging the federal government's recently approved health care law. Cordray said he believed the lawsuits are "without merit and would be a waste of taxpayer dollars."[45]

With United States President Barack Obama signing the newly passed federal health care bill into law, many states began preparing themselves to combat the health care mandates that are on the verge of taking place across the country. Some states have pending initiatives or legislative referrals for the statewide ballots, however, in other states attorney generals are joining in a national lawsuit.^[46][47]

The bottom line is--State Issue 3 is out to undo President Obama's Health Care Plan--A Plan that Is very much need, speaking as one of the many, many Americans who does not have any medical coverage, since where I work there is none offered and to buy my own is far too expensive for me to afford.