Not Everyone's Mama

Captain Paul Watson has been arrested in Germany and Costa Rica wants him extradited their way.

The German police have said that the warrant for Captain Watson’s arrest is in response to an alleged violation of ships traffic in Costa Rica, which occurred during the filming of Sharkwater in 2002. The specific “violation of ships traffic” incident took place on the high seas in Guatemalan waters, when Sea Shepherd encountered an illegal shark finning operation, run by a Costa Rican ship called the Varadero. On order of the Guatemalan authorities, Sea Shepherd instructed the crew of the Varadero to cease their shark finning activities and head back to port to be prosecuted. While escorting the Varadero back to port, the tables were turned and a Guatemalan gunboat was dispatched to intercept the Sea Shepherd crew. The crew of the Varadero accused the Sea Shepherds of trying to kill them, while the video evidence proves this to be a fallacy. To avoid the Guatemalan gunboat, Sea Shepherd then set sail for Costa Rica, where they uncovered even more illegal shark finning activities in the form of dried shark fins by the thousands on the roofs of industrial buildings.

More from an update

INTERPOL has issued a statement on their website citing that they will not publish a Red Notice seeking the arrest of Captain Watson because their Office of Legal Affairs is not satisfied that the request from Costa Rica is in compliance with INTERPOL’s Constitutions and Rules. Hopefully the German courts will come to the same conclusion soon and set Captain Watson free.

How can we help? Call, write, fax, and email! Here is a link to more info.

There is also a petition set up. Sign the petition.

Facebook, tweet, and do what you can to spread the word. Time is running out! I know some of you may not agree with his tactics, but he gets the job done for those who have no voice of their own. He should not be sitting in some jail cell in Costa Rico on a trumped up politically motivated charge. Please do what you can to fight for his release.

And please be polite in your communications, inflammatory language will not help the cause at all.

Thank you!

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copyright Dixie Allen

Hey PR reps! I have not gotten a lot of Earth Day PR requests this year to date and I’d love some!

I always will post for a charity without compensation (monetary or otherwise), year round. I also will post for businesses right now who have a product where most of the proceeds are going to charity.

I’d love to get some Earth Day articles started, I will just start running them all under the tag green so they can be found year round. (Let’s face it, Earth day shouldn’t have to be a special day. It’s something we should be aware of every day of the year, right?)

If you have something with tips, do-it-yourself projects, educational materials, etc, send it my way.

If you are a business doing something special with a product where the proceeds are going to a charity for Earth Day, send me a description of what you are doing, images of the product, where it can be found, and your social networking info.

Looking for a giveaway? I don’t do a lot of them anymore, but if it’s something special, and it will raise more awareness, we can get one going.

How do you reach me? There is a contact button right at the top of this page.

Have a wonderful day!

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I have to say, I think this is huge.  I’m a firm believer in if you give a man a fish, you have fed him today, if you teach him how to fish, you have fed him for a lifetime.

We all know that Haiti is struggling so hard still.  Aid has not come through that was promised, I know the US promised a lot of money that hasn’t been given yet.  People are still living in camps under horrible conditions and the government is trying to force them out of these camps, leaving them really, no place to go.

Through the sale of Heart of Haiti products, artisans are able to earn life-changing income for themselves, their families, and their communities. The initiative is enabling artisans to repair homes, pay school fees, and feed and clothe their families. The income also allows them to have access to better nutrition, improved education and healthcare.

I think this is the key to helping any struggling country, community, person, period.  Teach them how, give them the chance to do it on their own.  There are many talented people in Haiti, they need the opportunity to rebuild, regrow, and have something to be proud of.

The Heart of Haiti pendent is available for $10.

Have heart. Made of metal from recycled drums, this handcrafted pendant embodies the unparalleled creativity of Haiti’s master artisans. Cool textured detail creates a look of rustic beauty. With faux suede cord.

There’s a cross of the crossroad pendent for the same price that I am going to order for myself.

The Heart of Haiti collection has already led to employment of 350 artists in Haiti and has provided some financial benefits for an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 people in the country.  How awesome is that?  See, they can do it on their own if they are given the opportunity and resources they need to do it.  I don’t think the Haitian people want handouts, I think they are just as proud as any other people of the world.  They can’t do it if we don’t help them get started.

Trade, not aid.  Give them something to build on, to continue to take care of themselves for their lifetime and those to come.

To help support these artisans, check out the Heart of Haiti collection at Macy’s!  I think these would make awesome holiday presents and you’d be helping people who need it…badly.

I am writing this post to spread the word about Heart of Haiti through a Mom Bloggers Club member program and I will receive a Heart of Haiti pendant as a thank you. Without the pendent, I still would have blogged, I think this is so important!

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Understanding insurance benefits is not the easiest job in the world, out of pocket, in network, out of network, referrals, benefits, getting through all of it can be frustrating. 

Open enrollment is coming up for many insurance companies.  It’s usually between October and December, lasts for 30 days, and is the time that you will want to make changes to your policies, switch to other policies, etc.  Aetna has written an article to help you with that, but I’ll give you a few tips to get you started!

- Figure out what is important to you?  Lots of prescriptions?  Prescription copays can add up, look for one with the lowest amount that you have to pay.  Do you want to be able to see out of network doctors without a referral?  Think about dental and vision, 2 things that are very important to my family.  Jordan and I are both in glasses and seeing the dentist every 6 months for my kids is a priority I make time for.

- Make sure you can afford the premiums of the plan that you chose.  No one, possibly not even congress, knows what will happen with the new health reform laws.  Yes, everyone is supposed to be able to get coverage, plan ahead now though and make sure you can afford yours.

- Look ahead to what you may need.  Some policies may not cover yearly physicals, but that might be something that is important to you.  They also may not cover routine screening tests.  If you are genetically predisposed to a certain thing and you want to keep an eye on that, you may want to make sure that test is covered.

- A huge one to me is making sure my doctor is actually in the network.  I refuse to switch doctors after as many years as I have been going to him. At one job we had 2 different choices, he was in one network, not in the other.  I went with the one he was in.

- Compare the plans to see which one gives you the most bang for your buck.  You definitely want to get the most out of your money!  Will you get more from getting a bit more expensive plan because you go to the doctor a lot and pay out a lot in copays?  Or do you hardly ever go and it is better having a higher copay and a cheaper plan?  Plan for emergencies too though.  You never know when one might happen, though we hope it never does.

Good luck with all of that and I hope you find the perfect plan for you!

I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and Aetna blogging program, making me eligible to get a $30 Target gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

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I got this from my mama in my email today and I loved this forward!  Had to share!  Everyone loves a good redneck joke, and I’m probably borderline.  You know, being from Iowa probably qualifies me to be one.  Or, I might have to be from a bit further south.  Heck, if you know where the redneck line ends, go ahead and let me know. 

____________________________________________________

We have enjoyed the redneck jokes for years. It’s time to
take a reflective look at the core beliefs of a culture that
values home, family, country and God. If I had to stand
before a dozen terrorists who threaten my life, I’d
choose a half dozen or so rednecks to back me up.
Tire irons, squirrel guns and grit — that’s what rednecks are
made of. I hope I am one of those. If you feel the
same, pass this on to your redneck friends.
Y’all know who ya are!

You might be a redneck if: It never occurred to you to
be offended by the phrase, ‘One nation, under God..’

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never protested about seeing
the 10 Commandments posted in public places.

You might be a redneck if: You still say ‘ Christmas’
instead of ‘Winter Festival.’

You might be a redneck if: You bow your head when
some one prays.

You might be a redneck if: You stand and place your
hand over your heart when they play the National Anthem.

You might be a redneck if: You treat our armed forces
veterans with great respect, and always have.

You might be a redneck if: You’ve never burned an
American flag, nor never intend to.

You might be a redneck if: You know what you believe
and you aren’t afraid to say so, no matter who is listening.

You might be a redneck if: You respect your elders and
raised your kids to do the same.

You might be a redneck if: You’d give your last dollar to
a friend.

If you got this email from me, it is because I believe that
you, like me, have just enough Red Neck in you to have the
same beliefs as those talked about in this email.
God Bless the USA!

____________________________________________________

I fall into all of those.  And I don’t mind if you call the time around Christmas – Winter Solstice, Hanukkah, Kwanza, or Ramadan.  Just don’t challenge my right to call it Christmas.

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Child expert Wendy Toone offers fun ways to expand your child’s mind during the dog days of summer. 

We may be in knee deep in those lazy, hazy days of summer, but that doesn’t mean we still can’t keep our kids active with challenging games and activities that will keep their minds buzzing. In fact, here are some great rainy day and car ride activities that will challenge your kids to think on their feet!

1. Mind games can keep boredom away as well as physical activity. Even small children can follow an adjusted version of "I Spy." Just be sure that the clues are age appropriate and not too tricky. Look for easy to spot shapes, bright colors, or unique characteristics (animals, common objects such as pencils, etc.). Remember to let them give you the clues, too, to really work their brains. Finding an object is different than coming up with a clue for an object.

2. Once your child is a little older, around 4 years or so, theme games can be played. A favorite (still) of my kids is the animal game. "I Spy"-like clues can be given, but your child must rely on their memory and knowledge of animals instead of looking for pictures or representations of them. These types of games are great for long car rides, and you can make them more challenging, as your children get older. Go in order through the alphabet…"I have a long nose and tongue" = Aardvark (or anteater, both will work in this case); "I’m totally white and live in the cold" = Beluga whale. Get it?

3. READ, READ, READ. Reading to your child, no matter how young, increases their vocabulary, imagination, and overall cognitive abilities. Hearing language creates synapses – the connection of brain cells. Most of us parents think that reading at bedtime is sufficient. And while bedtime stories create a wonderful bonding time between parent and child, so can reading a story with your child snuggled on your lap in a waiting room. Granted, you can’t be expected to tote a small library around with you at all times. But if you know your day will include a little waiting time, why not pop your child’s favorite book in the day bag. Or maybe a story you haven’t yet read to them? Or take advantage of digital children’s books that can be downloaded to your cell phone or iPod? These digital books can do double duty, as oftentimes they are books that are enhanced with narration (sometimes even music and sound effects are added), so your little one can hear the book as they see the words on your phone or iPod screen.

So the next time you find yourself exasperated trying to tame the savage beast that is a toddler with nothing to do, try a few of these tips. Not all of them will work at all times or in every situation. But hopefully if nothing else, it will spark your creativity to engage your child and use your waiting time as teaching time. For there is no better teacher for a child than his or her own parent. Good luck!!!

Wendy Toone is a child expert having owned and operated a leading franchise children’s fitness center and now producing MobiStories, Digital Books for KidsTM, as well as being a mom to her two children. To experience the world of digital children’s picture books, visit www.mobistories.com.

To download a free copy of Mommy’s High Heel Shoes for your PC or Mac, visit MobiStories.com and enter the promo code: MHHS0710. The offer expires 8/22.Mommy’s High Heel Shoes is also available for download as an app via the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad in the iTunes store where you can check out more great story apps from MobiStories: To order a hard cover copy of Kristie Finnan’s book, Mommy’s High Heeled shoes, visit her at KristieFinnan.com. *This advertorial post is sponsored by the Role Mommy Writers Network.

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To Mr(s) FTC (wo)Man:  I am getting nothing for this post.  I just think this is the sweetest thing.

There is a 10 year old girl on Ebay who is making these cute beaded bird toys.  They are only 99 cents (plus 99 cents flat rate shipping).  I got 2 of them, one for each cage and I think I will order more just because of what she is doing it for.

She is making them to donate the money for food and supplies for parrot rescues.  I don’t know if many of you know that along with dogs and cats, birds get abused too.  It’s horribly sad.  These wonderful rescues come in and take on these parrots that are neglected, abused, who have started plucking out their feathers, damaging themselves.  Those are the ones that they are able to get to in time.  There are too many who die, just like other animals in horrible conditions.  This isn’t necessarily the rescue they support (it’s just one of the many that I know of), but The Gabriel Foundation has a video that shows some of those majestic animals in horrible cruel conditions.  It’s very hard to watch.

Just search parrot rescue on You Tube.  It will break your heart seeing the conditions these birds were kept in, but it will also lift your spirits when you see the parrots come alive under the right care.

It’s for poor birds like these that I am so impressed by this little girl.  She could make these and keep the money for herself, but she wants to put it towards helping these birds.

Here’s one of the ones that I bought –

I would have taken a picture of the other one, but I didn’t think about it until I already had it hanging from the back by their rope perch.

If you have birds, you know they love beaded toys.  Take a few dollars and buy some from this girl.  Help her help support parrots that need it.

Get your bird a few beaded bird toys here!.

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Just a little heads up!  Kushies is having a sale for Father’s Day!  You will get 15% off all orders between Friday, June 18th and Sunday, June 20th!

I personally love their Boho diaper bag (show in the ad above)!  It looks like it has room for all of my kids’ things and then some left over for me!

Mr[s] FTC [wo]man: I have been entered to win a Kushies Kritter by letting you know about the fab sale, which I would have let you know about without the chance of winning because Kushies has fabulous stuff!

This gets filed under public service announcements right?   I thought so!

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