Posts Tagged ‘christmas

05
Jun
13

Topiary Garden


Pearl Fryar;  a Topiary Garden Artist in Bishop, SC and self-made man

his amazing gift for making shrubs into magnificent art pieces was very moving and yes i cried; if you see the show on cable is shows the son of a share-cropper who listened to his dad and made something of himself… as Pearl says and while his neighbors, friends and some relatives wondered what was going on with this man so obsessed, so determined who truly loved but wanted to perfect his art, it became obvious that his gift…self-taught,was definitely centered from something deep and beyond.  The viewer hears the history and witnesses the progress of his story …his idea of love, peace and goodwill in a town with racial tension he not only brought people into a town that was suffering economically but some folks from the area who normally avoided each other crossed paths just to see his artistry.

He is the subject of the 2006 documentary film, A Man Named Pearl.

02
Jan
13

Want to Know More About the Tax Deal?


The White House

Last night, President Obama delivered a statement on the fiscal cliff, and the bipartisan agreement that has now passed in both the Senate and House of Representatives. The agreement keeps income taxes low for the middle class, and helps to grow the economy.

Watch the statement, and find out what you need to know about the deal.

Watch: President Obama delivers a statement

In Case You Missed It

Here are some of the top stories from the White House blog:

The Year in Review: Joining Forces to Hire American Heroes
In August of 2011, President Obama challenged the private sector to hire or train 100,000 veterans and military spouses by the end of 2013. In August of 2012, First Lady Michelle Obama announced that 2,000 American companies had stepped up to the challenge, and had already exceeded that goal — hiring 125,000 veterans and military spouses more than a year ahead of schedule.

A Digital Milestone in 2012: 100,000,000 Video Views
Earlier this month, we reached a milestone with the news that our videos have been viewed more than 100,000,000 (that’s one hundred million!) times since we launched the official White House YouTube channel on Inauguration weekend in 2009.

President and Mrs. Obama Visit Troops on Christmas Day
Continuing what has become an annual tradition that is a highlight of their holiday celebrations, President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama spent some time on Christmas Day at the Marine Corps Base in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii.

01
Jan
13

great Green info … 2013


Plasticbagsrecycle

7.3 Pounds of plastic… Mostly pvc is in artificial trees

20 Is the number of years … We must reuse artificial trees before it lowers the carbon footprint, equal to a real tree

4000 Recycle centers nationwideplease find out where you can dispose of your Xmas tree this year for compost, woodchips for gardens and or  hiking trails.

600,00 Homes …Could be powered by energy used from Xmas tree lights every year, go to holidayleds.com and find out how to recycle your incandescent lights.

A 20% reduction in meat consumption… Would have the same impact as switching from a standard sedan to an ultra-efficient fuel car.

5000 gallons of water … Is the amount it would take to produce 1lb of wheat.

20%  of the worlds’ population…  Could be fed with the grain and soybeans used to feed US cattle.

4.5% … Is the number of greenhouse gases produced worldwide by animal farming than by transportation.

1500 miles … Is the average amount it takes to get food on our tables, the road trip takes tons of energy, the gas used to commute pollutes, buy, use and support your local farmer’s markets and community gardens

660 gallons… Is about how much water it takes to grow cotton for one T-shirt.if the shirt is coloured,a lrg amt of dye rinses off into factory wastewater,ends up in rivers and some dyes have carcinogens.

just more good info from LYBL and Eatingwell.com

21
Dec
12

discover Spain’s Jewish Heritage : Santa Tracker launches on 12/24


officalgoogle

Explore Spain’s Jewish heritage online

Posted: 19 Dec 2012 08:25 AM PST

You can now discover Spain’s Jewish heritage on a new site powered by comprehensive and accurate Google Maps: www.redjuderias.org/google.
Using the Google Maps API, Red de Juderías de España has built a site where you can explore more than 500 landmarks that shed light on Spain’s Jewish population throughout history. By clicking on a landmark, you can get historical information, pictures or texts, and a 360º view of the location, thanks to Street View technology. You can also use the search panel on the top of the page to filter the locations by category, type, geographic zone or date.

Toledo, Synagogue Santamaría la Blanca
Information is included on each landmark

This project is just one of our efforts to bring important cultural content online. This week, we worked with the Israel Antiquities Authority to launch the Leon Levy Dead Sea Scrolls Digital Library, an online collection of more than 5,000 scroll fragments, and last year we announced a project to digitize and make available the Yad Vashem Museum’s Holocaust archives. With the Google Art Project, people around the world can also view and explore more than 35,000 works of art in 180 museums.
Read more about this project on the Europe Blog. We hope this new site will inspire you to learn more about Spain’s Jewish history, and perhaps to visit these cities in person.
Posted by William Echikson, External Relations, Europe, Middle East and Africa

Count down to Christmas Eve with Google Santa TrackerPosted: 18 Dec 2012 11:59 PM PST

While millions of people eagerly await Christmas Day, Santa and his elves are keeping busy at the North Pole. They’re preparing presents, tuning up the sleigh, feeding the reindeer and, of course, checking the list (twice!) before they take flight on their trip around the world.
While we’ve been tracking Santa since 2004 with Google Earth, this year a team of dedicated Google Maps engineers built a new route algorithm to chart Santa’s journey around the world on Christmas Eve. On his sleigh, arguably the fastest airborne vehicle in the world, Santa whips from city to city delivering presents to millions of homes. You’ll be able to follow him on Google Maps and Google Earth, and get his stats starting at 2:00 a.m. PST Christmas Eve at google.com/santatracker.

Simulating Santa’s path across the world—see it live Dec 24

In addition, with some help from developer elves, we’ve built a few other tools to help you track Santa from wherever you may be. Add the new Chrome extension or download the Android app to keep up with Santa from your smartphone or tablet. And to get the latest updates on his trip, follow Google Maps on Google+, Facebook and Twitter.

Get a dashboard view of Santa’s journey on Google Maps

The Google Santa Tracker will launch on December 24, but the countdown to the journey starts now! Visit Santa’s Village today to watch the countdown clock and join the elves and reindeer in their preparations.

You can even ask Santa to call a friend or family member.
We hope you enjoy tracking Santa with us this year. And on behalf of everyone at Google—happy holidays!
Posted by Brian McClendon, VP of Google Maps and Google Earth
28
Nov
12

Speaker of the Ugandan parliament promises to pass …”kill the gays” bill


 

Change.org
Uganda’s speaker of parliament has promised to pass a “Kill the Gays” bill in the next two weeks. Citibank and Barclays wield significant influence in Uganda, but have not spoken out against the bill.
Sign Collin’s Petition

The speaker of the Ugandan parliament has promised she will pass the so-called “Kill the Gays” bill in the next two weeks — she called it a “Christmas gift” for the Ugandan people. The bill would legalize the death penalty for LGBT people and people with HIV or AIDS.

Uganda experts say that one way to stop this bill is to get pressure from banks that have significant resources invested in the country, such as Citibank and Barclays.

Citibank and Barclays together have hundreds of millions of dollars invested in Uganda and wield significant influence in the country, just as banking lobbyists wield influence with Congress in the US. Citibank and Barclays speaking out against the “Kill the Gays” bill might be the best — and only — chance to stop it.

Collin Burton is a Citibank customer who is also gay. Collin started a petition on Change.org asking Citibank and Barclays to speak out against the “Kill the Gays” bill. Click here to sign Collin’s petition right now.

Citibank and Barclays are both big supporters of LGBT rights for their own employees, yet they invest money with a government that is threatening to execute LGBT people. “I expect Citibank and Barclays to live up to the values of equality and fairness, not just list them on their websites,” Collin says.

If Citibank and Barclays speak out against the “Kill the Gays” bill, Ugandan legislators will see that they are risking the business relationships that keep their government afloat.

Click here to sign Collin’s petition asking Citibank and Barclays to issue strong statements condemning Uganda’s “Kill the Gays” bill. The bill could come up for a vote any day, so swift action is essential.

Thanks for being a change-maker,

- Mark Anthony and the Change.org team

27
Dec
11

Protect Your Family From Online Trackers


care2 petitionsite actionAlert

As you go Internet shopping during the holidays, YOU should have the right to decide whether your personal decisions can be tracked by online marketing companies. Especially by those companies that track your children while they’re online.

Tell Congress to act now to protect your family’s online activities. »

Companies argue this tracking helps them serve you better. That’s fine — if it is your decision.

Right now these online trackers don’t have to respect your choice not to be tracked. Nor do they have to follow parents’ wishes when it comes to their own kids.

As millions of Americans do their holiday shopping online, we want to send a loud and clear message from those who want an enforceable right to say NO to online tracking.

Tell Congress to stand up for better
online protection. »

Thanks for taking action!Cori
ThePetitionSite

P.S. - Looking for a holiday gift that make a difference? Find what you’re looking for on the Care2 Holiday Gift Guide — your source for meaningful gifts like providing a goat to a struggling family, protecting otter habitat and other great gifts that can save lives: http://www.care2.com/gift-guide/

Protect Your Family From Online Trackers
Take action now.
Take Action!
  

Take action link: http://www.care2.com/go/z/e/Ag45b/zLy9/B14Sx

16
Dec
11

This Holiday, Shop Online and Help Earth Day Network


 

This Holiday: Shop on Amazon.com and help Earth Day Network!

This holiday as you do your shopping online for friends and family, it’s easy to   help support Earth Day Network and its mission at the same time!
Through a special partnership link with Amazon.com whenever you shop on Amazon.com using that link, a percentage will be donated to Earth Day Network — no matter   what items you purchase!
Earth Day related   gifts are always a favorite. And please consider books on the environment and climate change  to give as meaningful gifts or to read while you’re on   your holiday vacation.
Here are a few other items we love.

As we approach the end of 2011, we’d like to thank everyone for their past   support. We’re grateful too for the sacrifices and vital steps you’re all   taking to live more sustainably. Next year is shaping up to be an   especially important and challenging time,with a major election in the US   and the Rio+20 conference in Brazil. Help Earth Day Network achieve its agenda   as we Mobilize the Earth in 2012 and reach a global audience.

13
Dec
11

the Grinch’s who stole Christmas … by Tarryl Clark


Dear Friend-

As the holidays approach, each family has their own traditions that they enjoy every year. My family’s annual tree cutting is often with filled with snowball fights, a feisty debate about the best type of tree, and hot cider with friends.

We all know the story of how the Grinch stole Christmas but now he has competition from the Tea Partiers in Washington. As we all start planning our holidays in this tough economy, the Tea Party Congress wants to take $1,000 out of our pockets when we need it most. I don’t know if Boehner, Bachmann and company ever read the children’s story but they sure seem to be aiming to steal Christmas from us. In these tough times the last thing we can afford is to have our taxes raised especially during this holiday season.

We can’t wait for John Boehner’s heart to grow three sizes someday; we need to protect our hard working families today! Give $5 or more today to help us hit our goal of $2000 online today and together we will win back Congress from the Tea Party.

Right now the Democrats in Congress are attempting to stand up to the Republicans, but Boehner and his Tea Party cronies refuse to even give an inch. They are unwilling to ask part of the 1% to pay their fair share to cover the costs of these critical tax cuts.

Once again, the Tea Party is protecting their billionaire bankrollers and refusing to work for middle class families in this country. In a few short weeks, all of us will see less in our paychecks when we, and the economy, need it most.

This is why I ran against Michelle Bachmann in 2010 and its why I am running to make sure that there is one less Tea Partier in Congress next year. We can’t afford a Representative who puts their personal agenda ahead of the well-being of our country, as well as the families and communities in their district.

I for one wonder what ever happen to putting your country first. For the Tea Party it has become put the Koch brothers first and maybe country second. Even their own economists say that if we don’t extend the payroll tax cut, our country’s economy will go into a recession and much needed jobs will stop being created.

I need your help now! Please join our campaign today by contributing to help us keep the pressure on our Tea Party opponent. Together we can win back the 8th and put our priorities first in Congress.

This is a wonderful time of the year when families and communities gather and celebrate – there is no reason for the Republicans to act like the Grinch! It’s the time of year to come together and move our country forward.

Thank you,

Tarryl

P.S. We can’t let John Boehner get away with one-uping the Grinch! These tax cuts are critical to keeping our families out of another recession, and creating jobs to help us recover from the last one. Contribute $5 or more today to help me send the Tea Party a message that can’t play politics with our families and our jobs.

Paid for by Friends of Tarryl Clark 2012

14
Nov
11

Emergency Super-Comm​ittee Update with Senator Al Franken Wednesday


You should be worried — and angry.

More details are surfacing about various plans the “super-committee” on deficit reduction is considering. Proposals include cutting Medicaid, making people wait until they are 67 to get Medicare, shrinking Social Security benefits by cutting the cost-of-living adjustment, and deeper cuts to domestic discretionary programs. And some members have proposed combining these painful cuts with further reductions in tax rates for millionaires!

This doesn’t have to happen. Add your voice to the growing national chorus: slashing programs that are vital to women and families while protecting and enriching the wealthy few is wrong.

Register now for a special call on Wednesday, November 16 at 4:00 p.m. Eastern with Senator Al Franken and Deborah Weinstein, Executive Director of the Coalition on Human Needs, to learn the latest about what is happening with the super-committee and how you can take action. You can participate in the call by phone or computer (see below for details).

Time is running out. The deadline for the super-committee to approve a plan to send to Congress is November 23, and Congress has to vote on that plan before Christmas. Passage requires just a simple majority — no amendments, no filibuster.

Please help spread the word about this important call.

Sincerely,

Joan Entmacher
Vice President, Family Economic Security
National Women’s Law Center   

 
Details: When you register for the call, you will receive instructions for connecting by phone and/or computer. There will be some slides accompanying this update online, and if you want to ask questions and download materials you will need to do it by computer. But you will be able to follow everything on this 20-minute call by phone, if that’s more convenient for you. Whether you’re near a computer or not, please join us, Senator Al Franken, the Coalition on Human Needs, and many other allies on Wednesday!

22
Dec
10

FYI … a message from the Progress Report


Dear fellow progressive,

The Progress Report is heading home for the holidays, but we’ll return to your inbox early next year! Until then, stay warm and keep fighting for change.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!


Wishing you peace, happiness, and harmony
this holiday season

We’re glad to have you with us as we work to make 2011 a year of progress

CAP/CAPAF logo

P.S.: Looking for something to read over the holidays?




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