Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from November, 2013

Want Some Caramel With That Popcorn?

If you like caramel on your popcorn, you can appreciate this. (Or you may never think of the two items the same way again). This year, the president pardons two Thanksgiving turkeys, Caramel and Popcorn.  Last year's turkeys were named Cobbler and Gobbler. If you're wondering how  Caramel and Popcorn  got their names, continue reading. From the White House: The names of the turkeys were chosen from submissions from elementary schools in Roseau County, Minnesota, where the turkeys were raised.  This year, the American public once again decided which of the two turkeys – Caramel or Popcorn – would become the 2013 National Thanksgiving Turkey by casting a vote for #TeamCaramel or #TeamPopcorn on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.   Popcorn won the title of National Thanksgiving Turkey. As the long-standing tradition continues, the two turkeys (both 20 weeks, and weigh around 30 pounds) will be selected to live out their days at Mount Vernon, instead of on someone&

Medal of Freedom Awards 2013

This year's group of the Presidential Medal of Free Awards read like a Who's Who of sports, entertainment, music, medicine, and media. Sixteen individuals, each accomplished in their own right, took the stage with President Obama as he read each name out loud, highlighting their incredible journeys that got them to their life stations. Oprah Winfrey , former president Bill Clinton , Arturo Sandoval , Ernie Banks , Gloria Steinem , country music singer, Loretta Lynn , and others, rounded out this group of talented individuals. The president joked about how he and Oprah's names, at first, weren't accepted as 'status quo' by those less understanding of people's differences. "She was told she should change her name to Susie", he said recalling the time early in her journalism career where her employer also told her she was "too funny looking" for TV. (We're sure he's eaten crow several times over). In a world where acce

Affordable Care Act Extensions Being Offered

President Obama announced today that Americans who lost their health care plan as a result of the Affordable Care Act  can regain their plans, at least for a year. Speaking today in the James Brady briefing room, the president explained this new initiative in the wake of the failed HealthCare.gov web site and looming concerns over mandated ACA policy concerns. Said the president, "Insurers can extend current plans that otherwise would be canceled into 2014 and Americans whose plans have been canceled can choose to re-enroll in the same kind of plan."  Adding, "This fix won't solve every problem for every person, but it's going to help a lot of people. Doing more would require work with Congress." Uh, oh.  The 'C' word. Working with Congress is like trying to get a six year-old to keep their shoes tied. We know that Congress has been the bane of the Affordable Care Act from the beginning.  The president's apology for the website'

Who's That Girl?

Starbucks customer favors U.S. Congresswoman If you didn't know any better, one might say this lovely lady pictured below looks a lot like former Arizona Congresswoman Gabrielle 'Gabby' Giffords . Giffords represented Arizona's 8th congressional district from 2007 until her resignation on January 25, 2012, after having survived an attack on her life when she was shot in a mall parking lot while speaking to a group of her constituents. We spotted the Giffords look-a-like (including the eyeglasses) while she was having coffee in a university Starbucks and immediately noticed the resemblance. Valerie meeting with friends at Starbucks. Photo/CD Brown. She told us her name is 'Valerie', and to our surprise said no one had ever told her she looked like Gabby Giffords. "A younger Hillary [Clinton], but not Giffords", she said. "Oh, you do look like her!", exclaimed one of the women in her party, after making the connection. We as

From Richmond: Virginia's Race for Governor

The Gubernatorial election night saw a modest crowd of supporters inside Richmond's Marriott Hotel, but speeches from the candidates and a rather unexpected demonstration on a topic that still divides Democratic and Republican parties, made for an interesting evening. Hear speeches from those who did not win - Ken Cuccinelli and E.W. Jackson, candidates for Virginia Governor and Lieutenant Governor, and more. E.W. Jackson - Invokes the 'spirit' of George Washington with wife and daughter at his side. (What?) Ken Cuccinelli to his constituents. "We fight for Virginia values."  Cuccinelli conceded his loss to Democratic candidate, Terry McAuliffe (but doesn't plan to congratulate him any time soon). Group ( Casa In Action ) outside Richmond Marriott has message for Eric Cantor .  "Stop holding up immigration reform."  The group's concern are lack of jobs, education, and the deportation of American immigrants as it continues to br