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Sarah Palin: Winner Of The 2010 Glenn Beck Misinformer Of The Year Award
In selecting the 2010 winner of the Glenn Beck Honorary Award for Excellence in Misinformation, Media Matters weighed the vigor and meticulous detail the 2009 recipient, Glenn Beck, brought to the craft.
Beck's dedication to fabricating facts to smear those he disagrees with is so complete, we at Media Matters for America decided to name the award in his honor. Thus, it is only fitting that the recipient of the first Glenn Beck Misinformer of the Year Award would embody the spirit Glenn Beck brings to lying, distorting, and smearing; someone who regularly promotes the very same lies and extreme rhetoric as Glenn Beck; someone who truly stands with Glenn Beck.
Sarah Palin announced [1] early this year that she would join Beck and become a Fox News contributor. Within days, Palin sat for what Beck called [2] an "eyeball to eyeball" interview. For the rest of the year, Beck and Palin would share talking points and cross-promote each other's violent rhetoric, falsehoods, and distortions -- continuing a pattern that first emerged in 2009.
Palin "Stands With" Beck
Beck Has A Long History Of Violent Rhetoric That Has Resulted In Real-World Consequences. As Media Matters for America has documented [3], Beck frequently spews violent rhetoric and pushes conspiracy theories about progressives. Byron Williams told [4] journalist John Hamilton that Beck "blew my mind," adding [5] that Beck is "like a schoolteacher on TV." Williams was arrested after being wounded in a shootout with police, and he reportedly told [6] investigators that "his intention was to start a revolution by traveling to San Francisco and killing people of importance at the Tides Foundation and the ACLU."
Beck regularly attacks [7] Tides on his show. Williams also said that "Beck is gonna deny everything about violent approach and deny everything about conspiracies, but he'll give you every reason to believe it. He's protecting himself, and you can't blame him for that. So, I understand what he's doing."
David Brock Called On Palin To "Stop This Insanity." In an October 26, 2010, appearance on The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, Media Matters CEO and founder David Brock called on Palin to "stop this insanity." Brock explained that Palin is uniquely poised to help scale back Beck's violent rhetoric. [MSNBC, The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, 10/26/10 [8]]
Palin Responded On Beck's Radio Show: "I Stand With You, Glenn." Palin later called in to Beck's radio show to reaffirm her support for Beck. From the show:
PALIN: So, you know, when I speak of your love of our Founding Fathers, and how you are helping to educate Americans about respecting our nation's history so that we don't lose what makes America exceptional, and the far, far left mouthpieces, they're twisting and perverting that message. No, what I do, I go back to what Abraham Lincoln said about standing with anybody who stands right. You stand with him when he stands right, you part with him when he goes wrong. I stand with you, Glenn. [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 10/28/10 [9]]
Palin Regularly Promotes Beck's Lies and Extremism
Palin Has Appeared On Beck's Fox News Program Three Times. Beck has hosted Palin on his Fox News program on three occasions: on March 18, 2010, January 13, 2010, and January 19, 2009 (Beck's first broadcast on Fox News).
During his January 13, 2010, interview with Palin, Beck read her an entry from his diary:
Tomorrow, I meet Sarah Palin and family for the first time. I'm actually a little nervous -- as she is one of the only people that I can see that can possibly lead us out of where we are. I don't know yet if she's strong enough, if she's well-enough advised, or if she knows she can no longer trust anyone. I don't know if she can lead and not lose her soul. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 1/13/10 [2]]
Palin Wrote Beck's "Time 100" Article. Palin wrote Beck's article in Time magazine's annual issue profiling the 100 "people who most affect our world." Palin wrote:
Who'd have thought a history buff with a quirky sense of humor and a chalkboard could make for such riveting television? Glenn's like the high school government teacher so many wish they'd had, charting and connecting ideas with chalk-dusted fingers -- kicking it old school -- instead of becoming just another talking-heads show host.
His love of the Founding Fathers inspires others to learn and respect our nation's history. Best of all, Glenn delights in driving the self-proclaimed powers-that-be crazy. [Time, 4/29/10 [10]]
Palin And Beck Hosted 9-11 Event In Alaska. On September 7, 2010, Palin wrote a note on Facebook inviting followers to join her and Beck at a ticketed event on 9-11. Palin wrote:
We can count on Glenn to make the night interesting and inspiring, and I can think of no better way to commemorate 9/11 than to gather with patriots who will "never forget." Hope to see you there! [Facebook, 9/7/10 [11]]
Palin Spoke At Beck's "Restoring Honor" Rally On The National Mall. Palin spoke at Beck's August 28, 2010, "Restoring Honor" rally in Washington, D.C:
I must assume that you, too, knowing that, no, we must not fundamentally transform America as some would want, we must restore America and restore her honor. [C-SPAN, 8/28/10 [12]]
Palin: "Lamestream Media: Watch Rerun Of Glenn Beck's Show Today." In a September 13, 2010, post to her Twitter account, Palin wrote:
Lamestream media: watch rerun of Glenn Beck's show today. Listen/Learn/Don't underestimate the wisdom of the people. Times,they r a'changin! [Twitter, 9/13/10 [13]]
On That Show, Beck Said, "There's A Lot Of Us" Who Think America Isn't Going To "Continue As A Country." On the show that Palin promoted, Beck said:
We have to set things right in this country. We have to continue as a country. Isn't that our goal? Continue as a country, and there's a lot of us that don't think we will very much longer. Did you see the national debt?
We have to ring the bell, but we have to ring it equally, equally, on all issues. No matter who's in office, we have to ring the bell. But it is important to meet on the battlefield of ideas and engage with each other, actually have a dialogue -- not between one personality and another, but American citizens having a dialogue. You wait until I show you what's happening later on the program. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 9/13/10 [14]]
Palin: Beck "Hit The Nail On The Head" In CPAC Speech. On February 20, Palin wrote on her Twitter account: "@GlennBeck hit the nail on the head in his #CPAC speech: USA is the abiding beacon of freedom & we need 'less Marx, more Madison'!" [Twitter, 2/20/10 [15]]
In That Speech, Beck Said That A Liberal "Minority" Has "Hijacked" America And "Progressivism Is The Cancer In America." In his February 20 CPAC speech Beck suggested [16] a liberal "minority" has "hijack[ed]" America, and he claimed [17] that "[o]ur government looks at the American people as the bad guy," that "[e]conomic holocaust is coming [18]," and [19] that "[p]rogressivism is the cancer in America and it is eating our Constitution."
Palin Promoted Beck's Documentary Linking Progressives To Atrocities Of Communism. On January 22, Palin wrote on her Twitter account: "Pls watch Glenn Beck's FOX documentary on Friday to learn about 'manufactured crisis'-mode of govt operatives that lead to harmful proposals." [Twitter, 1/22/10 [20]]
Beck Used This Special To Link Progressives To Hitler And Other Dictators. In previewing [21] his documentary on communist atrocities, Beck promised to show what "progressives don't want you to know." Beck opened [22] his documentary by citing Che Guevara, Josef Stalin, and Mao Zedong as "left-wing icons." Beck also suggested [23] that Adolf Hitler was a liberal and claimed [24] that Soviet genocide has been "erased" from history books.
Palin Invited Her "Friends" To Watch Beck Exposé On "Who Is Actually Running The White House." On August 26, 2009, Palin posted a note on Facebook inviting her "friends" to watch Beck. Palin wrote: "FOX News' Glenn Beck is doing an extraordinary job this week walking America behind the scenes of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue and outlining who is actually running the White House. Monday night he asked us to invite one friend to watch; tonight I invite all my friends to watch." [Facebook, 8/26/09 [25]]
During The Shows Palin Highlighted, Beck Told Viewers They Were "About To Lose [Their] Freedom Of Speech" And Suggested There Could Be A Venezuela-Type "Clampdown." During the week of August 26, 2009, Beck's shows regularly featured violent and paranoid rhetoric:
BECK: Is this America? Is it? Ask yourself that question. These are reasonable questions in apparently unreasonable times.
Is this the way we decide how things happen? Do we have these shadow operations with these new czars or advisers or whatever the hell they want to call them, calling the shots? And doing it with a hidden agenda? Doing it slowly, quietly behind the scenes and then, boom! There it is.
You are about to lose your freedom of speech in this country. If you disagree with that, please contact me and tell me how, because I'd like to live in that world. I'd like to believe that. But with everything else I have shown you this week, and then you see the clampdown by somebody who is extolling the virtues of the revolution in Venezuela, I don't know how you see that.
Could somebody, please -- I mean this sincerely -- please explain to me how this isn't anti-capitalist, revolutionary in nature, and anti-constitutional? How is this -- how does this resemble our republic and our First Amendment at all? Please answer that question. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 8/26/09 [26]]
Beck: An Early Adopter Of Palin's "Death Panels" Lie
In 2009, PolitiFact.com named Palin's claim that health care reform legislation would create "death panels" the 2009 Lie of the Year. Palin popularized the phrase "death panels" in an August 7, 2009, Facebook post. Days later, on August 10, 2009, Beck fully embraced her claim as true.
Palin Introduces "Death Panels" Falsehood. In an August 7, 2009, post on her Facebook page, Palin wrote, "The America I know and love is not one in which my parents or my baby with Down Syndrome will have to stand in front of Obama's 'death panel' so his bureaucrats can decide, based on a subjective judgment of their 'level of productivity in society,' whether they are worthy of health care. Such a system is downright evil." [Facebook, 8/7/09 [27]]
Beck On "Death Panels": "I Believe It To Be True." On his radio show, Beck fully embraced Palin's claim that health care reform would establish death panels:
GLENN BECK: So, why is there no more discussion than there is on Sarah Palin and what she said over the weekend that there would be death -- what did she call it? -- a death squad? Or a death --
STEVE "STU" BURGUIERE (executive producer): Death panel.
BECK: A death panel for her son Trig. That's quite a statement. I believe it to be true, but that's quite a statement. She also called health care this -- Obama health care -- "evil." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 8/10/09 [28]]
Palin And Beck's Brazilian Oil Conspiracy Theory
Beck and Palin falsely accused the Obama administration of lending $2 billion to Brazil to benefit foreign oil interests at the expense of the U.S. economy. In fact, Bush appointees to the Export-Import Bank -- not the Obama administration -- unanimously approved the loan, and the funds must be used to purchase U.S. goods and services. Beck falsely claimed the loan was part of a conspiracy by the Obama administration to enrich George Soros. Byron Williams cited this conspiracy theory in an interview discussing his plan to target the Tides Foundation.
Palin: The Obama White House Is "Prepared To Send More Than Two Billion Of Your Hard-Earned Tax Dollars To Brazil So That The Nation's State-Owned Oil Company, Petrobras, Can Drill Off Shore." In August 2009, Palin wrote, "So why is it that during these tough times, when we have great needs at home, the Obama White House is prepared to send more than two billion of your hard-earned tax dollars to Brazil so that the nation's state-owned oil company, Petrobras, can drill off shore and create jobs developing its own resources?" [Facebook, 8/19/09 [29]]
Beck: Loan Intended To Help Soros Get Rich While The American People Are "Getting Screwed." Beck advanced the conspiracy theory that the Obama White House was giving money to Petrobras in order to enrich Soros:
BECK: I'm not sure if [Soros] knew that the administration would be making a $2 billion preliminary commitment for Petrobras, for Petrobras, for exploration, just days after he strengthened his investment. Isn't that weird? You see, he's got some connections here, but I'm sure he had no idea what was coming on the other side of the circle? No. It's probably just another one of those bad luck situations for Obama, because this doesn't seem to pass the smell test at all. No. Billionaire investor dumps money into a state-controlled Brazilian oil company; days later the American administration dumps $2 billion into the exact same company. What are the odds, Gilligan?
Let's go here. George Soros starts the Center for American Process with John Podesta. John Podesta, Center for American Progress, selects the Obama transition team. Soros buys $900 million in gasoline powered bras. Then, in a completely unrelated story, BP has their oil spill. But wait a minute, who's this guy? John Podesta. John Podesta is the guy who does all the lobbying for BP? Certainly -- I'm sorry, Tony Podesta -- certainly no relation to John Podesta, other than they're brothers. We'll have to come back to that one later in the show. So then Center for American Progress starts to make Obama policy. This one, we'll show you, laid out by Bloomberg and The Wall Street Journal. One of the policies: cap and trade, which goes right to Crime Inc. and all of the Obama friends with the Climate Exchange in Chicago. That's weird.
Then Obama suspends the deepwater drilling at 1,500 meters. He says "Hey, hey, that's dangerous! Fifteen hundred meters, that's crazy." Petrobras is drilling at 2,777 meters. Obama knows it and loans $2 billion to Petrobras. Last stop, Petrobras shareholders get rich. Oh my gosh, we're back at the beginning: shareholder, Petrobras. Getting rich. You getting screwed. You see how this works? [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 6/21/10 [30]]
Bush Appointees At Export-Import Bank -- Not Obama -- Unanimously Approved Loan To Brazil. FactCheck.org called the claim "bogus," noting that the Export-Import Bank of the United States approved a "preliminary commitment" to Brazil to finance "their purchases of U.S. equipment, products and services." At the time, "the Bank's Board consisted of three Republicans and two Democrats, all of whom were appointed by George W. Bush." [FactCheck.org, 9/18/09 [31]]
Ex-Im Spokesman: "This Is The Government Doing What It's Supposed To Do: Create Jobs." Politico's Ben Smith reported:
A spokesman for the bank, Phil Cogan, noted to POLITICO that the bank does not rely on tax money and that Palin's statement ignores the bank's central function: To lend money to foreign companies for the purchase of American goods and services.
"It has to be produced by U.S. workers," Cogan said. Palin's statement refers to "creat[ing] jobs and health benefits in the U.S."
"That's exactly what a purchase financed by the U.S. government would do," Cogan said.
In this case, Cogan said, the proposed loan would likely finance engineering services, sales of ships to service oil platforms, or drilling equipment. [Politico, 8/19/09 [32]]
Beck Repeats Palin's Falsehood That Obama Has Not Prioritized Ending Gulf Oil Leak
After Obama gave an Oval Office speech addressing efforts to stop the BP oil spill, Palin and Beck falsely claimed that Obama did not prioritize ending the spill. In fact, in that very speech, Obama said, "We will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long as it takes." Obama had previously called stopping the oil spill his "top priority."
Palin: "We Haven't Had The Assurance By The President That That Has Been His Top Priority." Palin appeared on The O'Reilly Factor to discuss Obama's Oval Office address:
O'REILLY: Tell the nation tonight what you would have said your main point in that speech. Go.
PALIN: Stopping the gusher. That's the number one priority of the nation.
O'REILLY: But nobody knows how to do it.
PALIN: We need to make sure all technology is being thrown at this problem.
O'REILLY: Nobody knows how to do it.
PALIN: Well, we haven't had that assurance that president -- we haven't had the assurance by the president that that has been his top priority. [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 6/15/10 [33], transcript from Nexis]
Beck: Stopping Oil Spill "Should Be Our Priority. But It's Not." Days later on his Fox News show, Beck adopted Palin's criticism, saying that stopping the oil spill "should be our priority. But it's not." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 6/17/10 [34]]
Obama From Oval Office "Make No Mistake: We Will Fight This Spill With Everything We've Got For As Long As It Takes." During his address from the Oval Office, Obama stated: "But make no mistake: We will fight this spill with everything we've got for as long as it takes. We will make BP pay for the damage their company has caused. And we will do whatever's necessary to help the Gulf Coast and its people recover from this tragedy." [Remarks By The President To The Nation On The BP Oil Spill, WhiteHouse.gov, 6/15/10 [35]]
Obama Had Called The Spill "My Top Priority." During a May 27 press conference, Obama said: "Those who think that we were either slow on our response or lacked urgency don't know the facts. This has been our highest priority since this crisis occurred." He also said, " But here's the broad point: There has never been a point during this crisis in which this administration, up and down up the line, in all these agencies, hasn't, number one, understood this was my top priority -- getting this stopped and then mitigating the damage; and number two, understanding that if BP wasn't doing what our best options were, we were fully empowered and instruct them, to tell them to do something different." [Remarks By The President On The Gulf Oil Spill, WhiteHouse.gov, 5/27/10 [36]]
Beck Shares Palin's Falsehood That Food Prices Have "Risen Significantly"
Palin and Beck have pushed the falsehood that grocery prices have risen significantly in the past year in order to criticize the Federal Reserve's plans to purchase Treasury securities and to stoke fears of rampant inflation. Beck has frequently warned that hyperinflation is coming while attacking progressive policies and encouraging his audience to purchase gold, food insurance, and survival food kits -- products sold by sponsors of his radio show. In fact, according to The Wall Street Journal, food prices had increased by "the slowest pace on record."
Palin: "Everyone Who Ever Goes Out Shopping For Groceries Knows That Prices Have Risen Significantly Over The Past Year Or So." Addressing a trade convention in Phoenix, Palin criticized the Federal Reserve's plans to purchase long-term bonds from the Treasury and said:
The Fed hopes doing this may buy us a little temporary economic growth by supplying banks with extra cash which they could then lend out to businesses. But it's far from certain this will even work. After all, the problem isn't that banks don't have enough cash on hand -- it's that they don't want to lend it out, because they don't trust the current economic climate.
And if it doesn't work, what do we do then? Print even more money? What's the end game here? Where will all this money printing on an unprecedented scale take us? Do we have any guarantees that QE2 won't be followed by QE3, 4, and 5, until eventually -- inevitably -- no one will want to buy our debt anymore? What happens if the Fed becomes not just the buyer of last resort, but the buyer of only resort?
All this pump priming will come at a serious price. And I mean that literally: everyone who ever goes out shopping for groceries knows that prices have risen significantly over the past year or so. Pump priming would push them even higher. And it's not just groceries. Oil recently hit a six month high, at more than $87 a barrel. The weak dollar -- a direct result of the Fed's decision to dump more dollars onto the market -- is pushing oil prices upwards. That's like an extra tax on earnings. And the worst part of it: because the Obama White House refuses to open up our offshore and onshore oil reserves for exploration, most of that money will go directly to foreign regimes who don't have America's best interests at heart. [National Review Online, 11/07/10 [37]]
Beck: "How Is The Price Of Your Grocery Bill? ... We Showed You The Projections Of Where Food Prices Are Heading: Way Up." From Glenn Beck:
I've talked about the road that we're heading down, that it will only lead to inflation. The critics all scoffed, claimed that it was deflation that we had to worry about. Me, again, 2009. Hello? Printing money.
Well, ask yourself this: How is the price of your grocery bill? Has it gone up or down in this deflationary period? Your food -- up or down in this period? How about school tuition? Up or down? I could go on -- health care and everything else.
We showed you the projections of where food prices are heading: way up. Critics responded by saying, "It hasn't actually happened." Really? Check out the price survey done at the nation's largest retailer, Walmart. And the results of a secret survey showed a 0.6 percent increase in just the last two months, according to MKM Partners.
Anything notable happened in the last two months? Oh, that's right. The monetizing of the debt and the Fed announcing the 600 billion, which is actually $900 billion. QE2, the little bears told me about it. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 11/15/10 [38]]
WSJ: Food Prices Have Increased By "The Slowest Pace On Record." The Wall Street Journal reported:
Grocery prices haven't risen all that significantly, in fact. The consumer price index's measure of food and beverages for the first nine months of this year showed average annual inflation of less than 0.6%, the slowest pace on record (since the Labor Department started keeping this measure in 1968). Even if you pick a single snapshot -- say, September's year-over-year increase in prices -- that was just 1.4%, far better than the 6% annual increase for food prices recorded in September 2008.
The overall consumer price index was up 1.1% in September from a year earlier. Apart from September 2009 (when prices were down 1.3%), that was the slowest annual inflation rate for September since the early 1960s. That's not strong evidence to argue about rising prices today. [The Wall Street Journal, 11/8/10 [39]]
Palin, Beck Call Park 51 Islamic Community Center A "Slap In The Face"
Criticizing plans to build an Islamic community center in Manhattan, both Palin and Beck said that the center, known as Park51, would be a "slap" to the victims of the 9-11 terrorist attacks. Right-wing media figures repeatedly demonized Feisal Abdul Rauf, the imam spearheading the project, with Islamophobic smears and outright falsehoods throughout 2010. Foreign policy experts warned that these attacks threatened to undermine anti-terrorism efforts, and, in fact, the U.S. State Department has had a long-term relationship with Rauf, who is broadly viewed as a moderate.
Palin: Park 51 Center Is "A Slap To Those Innocent Victims Who Were Murdered That Day On 9-11." Discussing President Obama's comments about plans for Park51, Palin said:
It was shocking, because this leader of the free world has such power in his words. He should utilize that power in the word to represent the will of the people and not underestimate the wisdom of the people in America and the overwhelming majority of Americans right now are saying, "Mr. President, no, this hurts. This is a slap to those innocent victims who were murdered that day on 9-11." Build a mosque, build it somewhere, join the other 100 mosques that are already there in New York, but build it somewhere else that is less offensive and less provoking of more pain and anger. [Fox News, On the Record with Greta Van Susteren, 8/16/10 [40]]
Beck: Park51 Is "A Slap In The Face." From Glenn Beck:
So my question has been: how does building a mosque right next to the place where radical Muslim terrorists murdered 3,000 Americans -- how does that help improve the negative perception? Not really seeing the upside there especially -- especially reopening the scar because it comes as a slap in the face when you think, "you know, wait a minute. when were they going to open that again?"
It doesn't sit well with Americans. It probably sits as well as a Serbian Orthodox church on the ground where 8,000 Muslims were slaughtered in Serbranka or -- seriously, what is it? Srebrenica. Thank you very much. Whatever.
Really? Are you going to build that there? No. Why? Because it would be a slap in the face.
To describe it anything other than that is really a second slap in the face. And if they have a reason, well, I'd love to hear it. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 8/10/10 [41]]
Haass: World Watching "To See Whether Muslims In America Have Rights, Have Opportunities That Muslims In Lots Of Other Countries Don't." Richard Haass, the president of the Council on Foreign Relations and former advisor to Colin Powell, said, "One of the great ironies is the people doing this mosque, this community center, want to develop an American version of Islam that competes around the world with the Wahhabi -- with the Saudi intolerant version of Islam. So this issue now is being watched around the world to prove or to see whether Muslims in America have rights, have opportunities that Muslims in lots of other countries don't." [MSNBC, Morning Joe, 8/16/10 [42]]
NSN Policy Analyst James Lamond: Attacking Ground Zero Mosque Is "Counterproductive To Our Anti-Terrorism Efforts. James Lamond, a policy expert for the progressive National Security Network condemned comments Fox News contributor Newt Gingrich's made about Islam and against the Islamic cultural center as "counterproductive to our anti-terrorism efforts. First, at a strategic level, it plays into al Qaeda's framework that the West is at war with Islam." [The Huffington Post, 7/30/10 [43]]
Former Bush Official Armitage Discussing Mosque: Terrorists Are Winning "When We Change Our Own Ideals." On The Charlie Rose Show, former Bush deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage responded to the question, "We should put [the mosque] there and be confident about it?" by saying: "My own view is don't let the terrorists win. When we change our own ideals and our own principles, they're winning, we're not." [PBS, The Charlie Rose Show, 8/9/10, via Nexis]
State Dept. Spokesman Crowley: U.S. Has "Long Term Relationship With Rauf." State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley discussed Rauf's participation in a citizen dialogue program:
For Imam Feisal, this will be his third trip under this program. In 2007, he visited Bahrain, Morocco, the UAE and Qatar. And earlier this year in January, he also visited Egypt. So we have a long-term relationship with him. His work on tolerance and religious diversity is well-known and he brings a moderate perspective to foreign audiences on what it's like to be a practicing Muslim in the United States. And our discussions with him about taking this trip preceded the current debate in New York over the center. [Daily Press Briefing, State.gov, 8/10/10 [44]]
Beck, Palin Compare Burning Qurans To Building A Community Center
In September 2010, Florida pastor Terry Jones announced plans to burn several Qurans to protest the Park51 center. Palin and Beck both criticized Jones' plans to burn Qurans by comparing it to the plans to build Park51.
Beck: "It's Just Like The Ground Zero Mosque Plan." In a September 6 blog post to his website The Blaze, Glenn Beck wrote:
I'm on vacation and trying to unplug but the news can make that hard. I just read the story [45] about the Florida church planning to burn copies of the Koran.
What is wrong with us? It's just like the Ground Zero mosque plan. Does this church have the right? Yes. Should they? No. And not because of the potential backlash or violence. Simply because it is wrong. [TheBlaze.com, 9/6/10 [46]]
Palin: Quran Burning "Is Insensitive And An Unnecessary Provocation - Much Like Building A Mosque At Ground Zero." Palin wrote in a Facebook post:
Book burning is antithetical to American ideals. People have a constitutional right to burn a Koran if they want to, but doing so is insensitive and an unnecessary provocation - much like building a mosque at Ground Zero.
I would hope that Pastor Terry Jones and his supporters will consider the ramifications of their planned book-burning event. It will feed the fire of caustic rhetoric and appear as nothing more than mean-spirited religious intolerance. Don't feed that fire. If your ultimate point is to prove that the Christian teachings of mercy, justice, freedom, and equality provide the foundation on which our country stands, then your tactic to prove this point is totally counter-productive.
Our nation was founded in part by those fleeing religious persecution. Freedom of religion is integral to our charters of liberty. We don't need to agree with each other on theological matters, but tolerating each other without unnecessarily provoking strife is how we ensure a civil society. In this as in all things, we should remember the Golden Rule. Isn't that what the Ground Zero mosque debate has been about? [Facebook, 9/9/10 [47]]
Beck, Palin Push For "Windfall Profit Tax" On Fed -- Which Already Returns Profits To Treasury
Criticizing the Federal Reserve, Palin and Beck complained that "nobody" was talking about taxing the Federal Reserve's profits in order to return the money to the American people. In fact, the Fed returns all of its profits to the U.S. Treasury.
Beck And Palin Push To Tax Fed Profits. From Beck's interview with Palin:
BECK: Do you see that the Fed made the -- you know, Exxon had their record profit a couple of years ago. It was $45 billion. The Fed just had record profit, over $50 billion. No one's having hearings on the Fed. Nobody is looking for a windfall profit tax on the Fed. We can't even open the Fed's books. Where do you stand on the Fed?
PALIN: It's so ironic there, too, especially that you bring up this private sector company, Exxon, because in Alaska, we saw what was going on with Exxon, and we did have our own hearings on what was going on with this private sector company, and how could the state of Alaska adjust some things to make sure that there was a share of the resource.
Yet, you're right, nobody has even lifted a finger to go that route with the Fed. And it's a scary thing. It's one of those things that we're thankful for, Glenn, that you're bringing this to light. And I don't know anybody else who is, certainly nobody else who has a platform or the megaphone like you do. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 1/13/10, via Nexis]
Wash. Post: The Fed "Returns Its Profits To The Treasury... The Numbers Are Good News For The Federal Budget." The Washington Post reported on January 12, 2010, that the Federal Reserve "will return about $45 billion to the U.S. Treasury for 2009 ... the highest earnings in the 96-year history of the central bank. The Fed, unlike most government agencies, funds itself from its own operations and returns its profits to the Treasury." The Post added that these profits "are good news for the federal budget and a sign that the Fed has been successful, at least so far, in protecting taxpayers as it intervenes in the economy -- though there remains a risk of significant losses in the future if the Fed sells some of its investments or loses money on its stakes in bailed-out firms." [The Washington Post, 1/12/10 [48]]
Palin Joins Beck In Co-Opting King's Legacy To Attack Progressives
Beck promoted his August 28, 2010, rally in Washington, D.C., by invoking Martin Luther King Jr., claiming that his rally would "reclaim the civil rights movement." He has claimed that progressives have hijacked King's legacy. Palin also invoked King in her speech at the rally. Palin also misappropriated King's legacy in her book, America By Heart, in order to attack Obama.
Beck: 8-28 Rally Will "Reclaim The Civil Rights Movement." Promoting the rally on his radio show, Beck said, "This is a moment quite honestly that I think we reclaim the civil rights movement. It has been so distorted and so turned upside down. It is -- it's an abomination what has happened." Beck also said: "We are on the right side of history. We are on the side of individual freedoms and liberties, and damn it, we will reclaim the civil rights moment. We will take that movement because we were the people that did it in the first place." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 5/26/10 [49]]
Beck: At 8-28 Rally, We Will "Pick Up Martin Luther King's Dream That Has Been Distorted And Lost." Beck also said, "As we create history together, your children will be able to say, 'I remember. I was there.' As we -- as we pick up Martin Luther King's dream that has been distorted and lost, and we say 'We bought it when he first said it. It's time to restore and to finish it.'" [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 6/15/10 [50]]
Beck Invoked King To Proclaim: "We Are The Inheritors And The Protectors Of The Civil Rights Movement." Beck discussed Rev. Al Sharpton's statement that King's "dream" was "not to put one black family in the White House. The dream was to make everything equal in everybody's house." Beck responded: "That is not the dream. That is a perversion of the dream. We are the people of the civil rights movement. We are the ones that must stand for civil and equal rights. Equal rights. Justice. Equal justice. Not special justice, not social justice, but equal justice." He added, "We are the inheritors and the protectors of the civil rights movement. They are perverting it." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 5/24/10 [51]]
Beck: "Martin Luther King's Dream Is Being Massively Perverted. ... It's Time To Set It Right." On the June 14 edition of The Glenn Beck Program, Beck said that "Martin Luther King's dream is being massively perverted." Beck added, "It's time to set it right. One side has all the power. Enough power." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 6/14/10 [52]]
Palin: "We Fill The Spirit Of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." From Palin's speech at Beck's August 28, 2010, rally:
We stand today at the symbolic crossroads of our nation's history, and all around us are monuments to those who have sustained us over the years in word or deed. There in the distance stands the monument to the father of our country, and behind me, the towering presence of the Great Emancipator. He secured our union at the moment of its most perilous time and freed those whose captivity was our greatest shame.
And over these grounds where we are so honored to stand today, we fill the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He, who on this very day two score and seven years ago, gave voice to a dream that would challenge us to honor the sacred charters of our liberty, that all men are created equal. [C-SPAN, "Restoring Honor" rally, 8/28/10 [53]]
Palin Claimed Obama's Call For A "Fundamental Transformation" Was At Odds With MLK. In her book America By Heart, Palin wrote:
My only wish is that President Obama would follow through on this hopeful view of America. To want a better and brighter future for our country does not mean a rejection of our founding or a "fundamental transformation" of who we are. Instead it means following, in part, the wisdom of the most powerful American voice for civil rights of the twentieth century, the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Famously, Dr. King called not for a rejection of America's founding principles, but for America to "rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed." [America by Heart, Page 32 [54]]
King: The Civil Rights Movement "Must Address Itself To The Question Of Restructuring The Whole Of American Society." In his last address as president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, Martin Luther King Jr. said that the civil rights movement "must address itself to the question of restructuring the whole of American society." [A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King Jr., Page 250 [54]]
Beck And Palin Each Criticized Unnamed Media For What Fox News Itself Did
Criticizing media coverage of the debate over Arizona's controversial immigration law, Palin and Beck both criticized unnamed media for saying the law "will make it illegal to be an illegal immigrant." Fox News itself ran a similar graphic to those criticized by Palin and Beck.
Palin Criticized Immigration Language That Was Also Used In A Fox News Graphic. Criticizing media coverage of the debate over Arizona's immigration law, Palin said:
This is the problem with that lamestream media throughout our country. It's not just this issue, but so many. One of the media outlets the other day just was killing me on this one, Sean, where they had a caption across their screen that said this Arizona law will make it illegal to be an illegal immigrant?
Some bizarre type of headline like that where it was just this illustration that they just don't get it and that they are trying to turn this into something that it is not. [Fox News, Hannity, 4/27/10 [55]]
A Fox News Graphic That Very Day Read "Illegal To Be Illegal." From Fox & Friends:
Beck Adopts Palin's Criticism. From Glenn Beck:
First, I want to tell you about a headline I saw just the other day on another news network, luckily that nobody watches. Here's what it said. The banner at the bottom of the screen said, quote, "Papers, please. Law makes it crime to be an illegal immigrant."
I don't -- I mean, it's just like, you know, illegal murder is now illegal. I mean, it's illegal. We have to make something illegal that's already illegal? This is how they summarize the new law in Arizona, designed to do something that our federal government will not, and that's take illegal immigration seriously. [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 5/6/10 [56]]
Palin And Beck Jumped On Same Phony Climategate Controversy
In 2009, after emails were stolen from the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia, Palin and Beck falsely claimed that the emails proved scientists were trying to "hide the decline in temperatures." In fact, the phrase "hide the decline" referred to unreliable tree-ring data, not to a decline in global temperatures. The phony controversy surrounding the emails has been completely discredited, and, in fact, global temperatures have not declined.
Beck Claims Climate Scientist Was "Talking About A Trick ... To Apparently Hide The Decline In Temperatures." Discussing the stolen emails, Beck said, "How about Phil Jones, head of the Climatic Research Unit at the University of East Anglia? 'I have just completed Mike's Nature trick of adding in the real temps to each series for the last 20 years to hide the decline.' Yes, he's talking about a trick that another scientist previously used in a peer-reviewed journal to apparently hide the decline in temperatures. Incredible." [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 11/23/09 [57]]
Palin: Climate Scientists "Manipulated Data To 'Hide The Decline' In Global Temperatures." In a Washington Post op-ed, Palin wrote, "The e-mails reveal that leading climate 'experts' deliberately destroyed records, manipulated data to 'hide the decline' in global temperatures, and tried to silence their critics by preventing them from publishing in peer-reviewed journals." [The Washington Post, 12/9/09 [58]]
WaPo: Scientist Actually Referred To "A Problem With Data From Siberian Tree Rings." Discussing the stolen emails, The Washington Post reported, "Phil Jones, the unit's director, wrote a colleague that he would "hide" a problem with data from Siberian tree rings with more accurate local air temperature measurements." [The Washington Post, 12/5/09 [59]]
Multiple Inquiries Have Cleared The Climate Scientists Of Data Manipulation. Investigations by Penn State, the U.K. House of Commons Science and Technology Committee, and an independent panel in the United Kingdom led by former industrial scientist Lord Oxburgh have all cleared [60] the climate scientists in question of the charge that they manipulated data.
Temperature Records Show There Was No "Decline" In Actual Temperatures To Hide. In a December 8, 2009, London Times column [61], Andrew Watson, research professor at the University of East Anglia explained, "The tree-ring measure declines, but the actual temperatures after 1960 go up." Jones has similarly explained [62] that "it was absolutely necessary to remove the incorrect impression given by the tree rings that temperatures between about 1960 and 1999 (when the email was written) were not rising, as our instrumental data clearly showed they were." Indeed, measurements from each of the major [63] climate [64] centers [65] show the clear warming trend.
Palin Joins Beck In Using Media Platform To Support The GOP
During the 2010 midterm election, Palin and Beck used their media platforms to endorse candidates and encourage their followers to vote for GOP candidates.
Palin To O'Donnell: "Speak Through Fox News." Appearing on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, Palin advised Christine O'Donnell, the Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Delaware whom Palin endorsed, to "speak to the American people. Speak through Fox News and let the independents who are tuning in to you, let them know what it is that she stands for, the principles behind her positions." [Fox News, The O'Reilly Factor, 9/15/10 [66]]
Palin Touted Her Endorsement Of Rand Paul On Fox News Sunday. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Palin discussed her endorsement of Republican Rand Paul in the Kentucky Senate primary:
CHRIS WALLACE (HOST): You recently stirred up some controversy, as you often do, even your -- when you endorsed Rand Paul as the Senate -- he's running in the Senate primary for -- in Kentucky, the GOP Senate primary. And Bill Kristol, your longtime supporter, was upset with you because one of the things he pointed out -- Paul wants to close Guantanamo. He wants to send the detainees back to Afghanistan. He wants to repeal the Patriot Act. He wants to do away with any federal role in either gay marriage or drug laws, leave it to the states.
PALIN: Well, because...
WALLACE: Why would you support a...
PALIN: ... because he's a...
WALLACE: ... guy like that?
PALIN: ... he's a federalist and he wants the states to have more say in -- as we respect the Tenth Amendment in our Constitution. He wants the states to have more say in a lot of the issues.
But nobody's ever going to find a perfect candidate. There are things that I don't agree with Rand Paul and yet his domestic policies, for the most part, I do agree with. He wants limited government. He wants the feds to start taking their hands off states' issues.
And I respect that and I'm proud to support him -- again, never finding a perfect candidate. No doubt, he disagrees with me on a whole lot of issues, but -- proud to support him and others whom I can believe in. [Fox Broadcasting Co., Fox News Sunday, 2/7/10, via Nexis]
Palin Touted Her Candidate's Appearance On Fox News. Palin promoted Georgia Republican Phil Gingrey's appearance on Fox News in a Twitter post encouraging her followers to support his congressional campaign. [Twitter, 10/19/10 [67]]
Beck To GOP Sen. DeMint: "What Kind Of Help Do You Need?" Discussing the midterm elections with Republican members of Congress days before the election, Beck asked Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC), "What kind of help do you need? What should we, as citizens, be looking for in a candidate?" [Fox News, Glenn Beck, 10/26/10 [68]]
Beck: "Do Not Vote For Dick Blumenthal." Discussing the Connecticut Senate race, Beck said, "Do not vote for Dick Blumenthal. That's the one thing I do know. I know who this guy is. This guy is a guy who -- I mean, he's the chief law enforcement officer and he'll just disregard the law." He later added that all he "need[ed] to know" about Blumenthal's opponent Linda McMahon was that "she's not Dick Blumenthal." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 10/25/10 [69]]
Beck: Whitman Is "Not Jerry Brown. I Mean What Part Of This Don't We Understand?" Beck also said: "Let's try California. You've got Jerry Brown. Jerry Brown. Now, what's her face. Meg Whitman, she seems like a delightful person. But do you trust her? Is she another Arnold Schwarzenneger? Yeah, could be, could be. Is that good? Nope. But she's not Jerry Brown. I mean what part of this don't we understand." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 10/25/10 [69]]
Beck: Chris Coons Is "A Bad Candidate." Discussing the Delaware senate race, Beck said, "You want to talk about extremists? It's the progressives and the revolutionaries in the Democratic Party. Real revolutionaries. Now you look at O'Donnell. For some reason, they're all attacking her, and I have to ask myself, has anyone looked at Harry Reid's pet?" Beck then read a quote from Reid about O'Donnell's opponent Chris Coons and said that Coons is "a Marxist. The guy's a staunch anti-capitalist. You want to talk about a bad candidate. OK, you can talk about the masturbation thing all you want. Really? Is that what we've turned into in this country?" [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 9/16/10 [69]]
Beck: "I Don't Endorse Candidates, ... But I'm Going To Endorse Rubio And The Other Guy ... Over The Dirtbag Charlie Crist." Discussing the Florida Senate race, Beck stated: "I'm about to break my policy and endorse a candidate. I don't endorse candidates, I don't think anybody needs my endorsement, but I'm going to endorse Rubio and the other guy that's running for the Democrats ... over the dirtbag Charlie Crist." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 4/30/10 [69]]
Beck Suggests Reid Is A "Danger To Society." Discussing a comment Sen. Harry Reid -- who was facing a 2010 re-election challenge from Sharron Angle -- made about immigration reform, Beck stated: "Politicians will just say something like 'what are you talking about? I don't have any face. I don't have a face. You're not looking me in the eye, because I don't have any eyes. This is nothing. I don't even have a mouth. I'm not talking to you right now.' And you're like 'what the hell -- what? What are you saying?' 'Nothing, I'm not saying anything, because I don't even have a mouth. You are a danger to society, sir." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 7/14/10 [69]]
Beck: "I Agree" With Palin On Rand Paul Endorsement. After playing a clip of Sarah Palin defending her decision to endorse Kentucky senatorial candidate Rand Paul, Beck said "I have to tell you. I know Pat, because you're shaking your head, I agree with her." Later in the segment, Beck stated: "I can make friends with Rand Paul because I think Rand Paul is somebody I disagree with, but the fundamentals are there, the fundamental of the understanding of the Constitution. I would rather make a friend with Rand Paul than John McCain. If I had to campaign -- if I had to choose who am I going to campaign for, Rand Paul, from what I know about Rand Paul and what I know about John McCain, if I had to choose, Rand Paul." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 2/8/10 [69]]
Beck: Paladino "Is Damn Near Nuts. He's Still Better Than Cuomo." Discussing a controversial comment New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino said with Michele Bachmann, Beck said: "I live in the next state over from New York, and I don't even pay attention to this race. ... He's damn near nuts. He's still better than Cuomo, but he's nuts." [Premiere Radio Networks, The Glenn Beck Program, 10/14/10 [69]]


text:
If you can't get enough of Godzilla in films, you can enjoy him every day. A quick search on the Internet yields a wealth of products bearing the likeness of the big guy.
For those who collect action figures, there is an industry alone of products that offer Godzilla in various forms, as well as other monsters in the series like King Ghidorah, Mothra, Mechagodzilla, Destoroyah and others. Most of these items start at $20, although some can be obtained for less than that. Typical of the figures that are less than $20 is the Bandai Godzilla 2014 3-inch PVC figure for $13.
For the more serious collectors, figures reach hundreds of dollars, like the X-Plus Toho Series Godzilla from "Mothra vs. Godzilla," a 12-inch vinyl figure priced at $260.
Godzilla-themed figures can be found online at www.amazon.com, www.eBay.com and www.wbshop.com.
While shopping online can be convenient, there is nothing like checking out the action figures in person. The horror-fantasy convention Monsterpalooza, held in the spring and fall, draws many vendors that offer action figures from all over the realm of horror and science-fiction movies. The next Monsterpalooza is Sept. 12-14 at the Marriott Burbank Hotel. The Long Beach Comic Expo, May 31-June 1, and Comic Con, Sept. 27-28, both at the Long Beach Convention Center, also draw vendors eager to sell action figures.
A favorite shopping find is the Godzilla 2014 Movie Deluxe Destruction Pack by Bandai. It comes with Godzilla and Muto figures, three buildings, a bridge and five military vehicles. Kids can make the creatures knock down the city, swat at helicopters and wreak havoc whenever they like. Recommended for ages 4-12, $20 at www.toysrus.com.
If you would prefer to channel the large lizard more directly, step into a pair of Godzilla Feet Plush Slippers by Toy Vault. You'll be comfortable as you roar through the house, but don't stomp on the coffee table. One size fits all for $32 at www.sears.com.
Share your passion with your dog or cat by dressing them up in a plush jumpsuit by US Fashioneer. It's soft, moves with your pet and is more likely to get met with smiles than screams. It comes in extra small to extra large for $13-$15 at www.amazon.com.
— Michelle Mills and Vernor Rodgers

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - Feb. 13, 2014) - Africa Oil Corp. (TSX VENTURE:AOI)(NASDAQ:AOI)(OMX:AOI) ("Africa Oil" or the "Company") reports that in accordance with its annual employee incentive policy, the Company has granted an aggregate of 5,958,500 stock options to directors, officers and employees. The options, subject to vesting provisions, are exercisable over a period of three years at a price of $8.44 per share.
About Africa Oil
Africa Oil Corp. is a Canadian oil and gas company with assets in Kenya and Ethiopia as well as Puntland (Somalia) through its 45% equity interest in Horn Petroleum Corporation. Africa Oil's East African holdings are within a world-class exploration play fairway with a total gross land package in this prolific region in excess of 230,000 square kilometers. The East African Rift Basin system is one of the last of the great rift basins to be explored. Seven new significant discoveries have been announced in the Northern Kenyan basin in which the Company holds a 50% interest along with operator Tullow Oil plc. The Company is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange and on First North at NASDAQ OMX-Stockholm under the symbol "AOI".
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation). Such statements and information (together, "forward looking statements") relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to estimates of reserves and or resources, future production levels, future capital expenditures and their allocation to exploration and development activities, future drilling and other exploration and development activities, ultimate recovery of reserves or resources and dates by which certain areas will be explored, developed or reach expected operating capacity, that are based on forecasts of future results, estimates of amounts not yet determinable and assumptions of management.
All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Statements concerning proven and probable reserves and resource estimates may also be deemed to constitute forward-looking statements and reflect conclusions that are based on certain assumptions that the reserves and resources can be economically exploited. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect, "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements.
Keith C. Hill, President and CEO
Africa Oil's Certified Advisor on NASDAQ OMX First North Stockholm is Pareto Securities AB.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contact Information:


text: Wednesday, May 18, 2011 Michigan Introduces Direct Access Legislation; Chapter Committed to Bill's Passage Last week the Michigan Chapter hosted a legislative breakfast in the state capital of Lansing, Michigan, following the recent introduction of HB 4603, legislation that would provide patients and consumers direct access to physical therapy services. HB 4603 was introduced in the Michigan House of Representatives May 3 and referred to the House Health Policy Committee. "We have prepared our members with the facts," said Michigan Chapter Legislative Director Mike Shoemaker, PT, DPT, GCS. "The chapter's talking points helped our members communicate with their legislators with confidence. Our commitment to finally passing direct consumer access legislation has never been higher." The breakfast drew record attendance. Attendees heard from Rep Margaret O' Brien (R-District 61, Portage), sponsor of HB 4603. O'Brien has personally benefitted from physical therapy services. She eagerly shares her personal story to educate other legislators and ask for their support of HB 4603. "We appreciate all the work from the Michigan Chapter members, the continued support from APTA, and are delighted that chapter members are ready for the ongoing work that passing legislation always requires," said Michigan Chapter President Jake Jakubiak Kovacek, PT. Michigan is 1 of 4 states that do not yet allow citizens to seek physical therapy treatment without a physician referral or prescription. Comments Way to go, Jake! Great work, and thank you for all you efforts! Posted by A. Robb Aikens on 5/18/2011 7:32 PM Keep up the hard work Michigan Chapter! Posted by Justin Johnson -> @GT_?N on 5/18/2011 8:51 PM We are cheering for you in Oklahoma! Posted by Jeff Jankowski on 5/18/2011 9:24 PM Way to go, Jake! Thanks for all the hard work you and your team have put in! Posted by Mary Sinnott -> =NYbC on 5/19/2011 3:32 PM Keep up the hard work Michigan! Keep your eyes on the prize, and help the profession bring Vision 2020 to reality. In order to enact this vision of autonomous practice many small victories need to take place including each and every state achieving direct access. Posted by Ryan Grella on 5/19/2011 4:31 PM I miss the Michigan Chapter Posted by Clarke Seyler on 5/20/2011 3:09 PM Wishing Michigan PTs great success in achieving direct access! From a PT walking on the same road in California. Posted by Lise McCarthy on 5/20/2011 3:49 PM Thank you to all of the dedicated team at the MPTA and its members for making this happen in our great state of Michigan! As Ryan Grella stated, "many small victories need to take place..," in order to meet our goals of 2020! Posted by Carol Ciesielski, PT, DPT, MPT on 5/20/2011 4:51 PM Jake and MPTA, I can remember discussions about direct access as far back as the early 80s. It's (past) time. You are fighting the good fight! Posted by Trevor Swan, PT on 5/20/2011 8:21 PM Hurray, hurray! I will keep calling and pestering on my end. As always, let me know how I can help. Thanks to Jake and Mike and the rest of the board for their fantastic efforts. I appreciate what you do and know how hard it is. Posted by Janine Moore, PT, MS, OCS, Cert. MDT on 5/20/2011 9:16 PM Thanks for HB4603. I am Michigan PT.We are doing this things for few years. Politician understand two things. Money or Vote. Michigan PT (APTA member & Non members)should have solid block of votes. Irrespective of personal preference We should vote candidate who support our bill. In simple word Michigan PT votes for sale. We can directly tell Politician 8 thousand votes are available for you if you pass PT direct access bill. These crook politician has taste of money lobby .They are hungry for votes. Simply showing good work is not going to help.We have to work on their weak points. Posted by deepak on 5/23/2011 8:44 AM Thanks to Jake and the MPTA for all of the hours and years they have dedicated to this. Keep sending in the PAC money, everyone--it is helping! Posted by Barbara BJ Simmons on 5/24/2011 1:09 PM I don't know why everyone is so excited about Direct Access. What good does it do us? The lords of the world (insurance companies) will not let that happen now. We can't see a patient, who has insurance and wants to use it, without a referral from their doctor. So could you please tell me how Direct Access is such a great thing? Minnesota has had direct access for awhile now and we have yet to have a patient come in here without a referral from their doctor. Posted by Mary Peterson on 5/26/2011 10:11 AM Thanks Prof Jake and all the members to bring us one step closer to vision 2020! Posted by Kristen McDermaid on 11/15/2013 5:37 PM


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Amanda - posted on 04/30/2009 ( 325 moms have responded )
I have heard lots of controversy here on circle of moms over the last couple of weeks as to weather or not alcohol during pregnancy is harmful or beneficial. One person keeps telling me it is the norm for people to have the occasional drink while pregnant and most people do drink while pregnant and I have always been told that there is no safe amount and to completely abstain from any and all alcoholic beverages.
This really has me thinking and curious about what other mothers thought on this topic.
So I want to know does the majority drink while pregnant, is this the new norm Or is this person who told me everyone does it just mis informed.
Are we going to be seeing pamphlets in the doctors office telling us to drink to benefit our children?
- Helpful
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text: HomeArticlesIslamic BeliefAL-MUZAYYIN - The Adorner AL-MUZAYYIN - The Adorner Harun Yahya Know that the Messenger of Allah is among you. If he were to obey you in many things, you would suffer for it. However, Allah has given you the love of faith and has made it pleasing to your hearts, and has made disbelief, deviance, and disobedience hateful to you. People such as these are rightly guided. (Surat al-Hujurat, 49:7) Loving faith, deriving pleasure from material and spiritual tastes, as well as hating disbelief and seeing it as evil, seem to be natural inclinations. However, they actually are blessings attained by Allah's favor. Allah relates this metaphysical truth in the verse quoted above. In order to show the value of this great blessing and gift to believers, Allah creates the opposite situation for unbelievers. Failing to see the beauties engendered by faith, unbelievers derive pleasure from the gloomy and troublesome system of those who are far from religion. All of the evil and indecency found in the systems of unbelief have been made to seem good to them. This secret is divulged in the Qur'an, as follows: Is someone on a clear path from his Lord like those whose bad actions have been made to seem good to them and who follow their own desires? (Surah Muhammad, 47:14) Believers, who know Allah, notice His compassion for them, recognize that they exist only by His will, and that everything they like and take pleasure in come from Him. They attain the superiority of Allah's love and faith. Believers do not need to please anyone other than Allah, and so they ask for no other being's help. Indeed, people find peace only in the remembrance of Allah. They consider doing good deeds in order to earn Allah's good pleasure, living by His religion's code of moral excellence, observing His commands and prohibitions, being concerned about their fellow Muslims, and striving for the Hereafter as sources of joy and happiness. Thu 03 Feb 201118201 تعليقات (0)أضف تعليقك تعليقات


text:
Hello, my cyber friends....this is tapper.
I have been using 100% cotton thread for machine piecing. Cotton thread is very expensive. I am thinking of changing to polycotton.
Will this make a difference to my piecing?
Do you QB members use cotton thread, polycotton or other thread for machine piecing?
I know I can depend on this board for quick replies.


text:
I have all paid theme and plugins for job board of wordpress
I need a ESL job board website which shows resumes and jobs
this is only for English teachers in Korea
1. when people see jobs then it is free
2. when people post a job then they have to pay
3. when people see a resume then they have to pay
4. If anyone post a job then they can see resumes for specific period
5. admin has to be able to add or remove the detail ( category ) of resume and job posting in easy
I bought plugins here [login to view URL]
I have paid for visual composer , front end membership, jobseek , slider revolution responsive
I also have paid for job manager and resume manager
What i need a good design with these tools
this is my target website [login to view URL]
freelancer 28 คน กำลังเสนอราคาเฉลี่ยที่ $231 สำหรับงานนี้
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Photo: Getty Images
With a body that's screaming "Come and Get It," Selena Gomez is reminding everyone how lucky Justin Bieber is with this lingerie photo.
The Instagram pic of the Texas native in a dark corset is actually a "Throwback Thursday" shot. E! Online reports Gomez and the outfit were first featured on the cover of her 2013 album "Stars Dance."
The photo comes just days after hints that Gomez and her on-and-off-again Canadian pop star beau were getting back together again.


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It is unlikely that the tens of thousands of foreign tourists flooding into South Africa for the World Cup, will take time to look into a rather embarrassing political dispute called "the toilet wars."
The dispute surrounds an effort by the city of Cape Town to provide toilets to the residents of Khayelitsha, a township, on its outskirts.
For decades, the residents of Khayelitsha have lived in tin shacks without proper sanitation, a situation that the ruling African National Congress promised to correct when it came to power in 1994.
But it took no action and last year, the opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) started putting toilets and plumbing next to each shack, with the understanding that the locals would build enclosures around them. About 7 percent of the locals either never bothered to or couldn't afford to build enclosures in the interim, and the DA-led local government eventually erected cheap tin shacks around the remainder of the toilets.
The members of the ANC's Youth League promptly tore the toilet shacks down, arguing they were insufficient and an insult to the residents, though they did not replace them.
The notion that toilets would become a matter of a rather violent struggle between two parties that fought on the same side against apartheid shows that politics in South Africa has taken a turn for the worse.
"The larger issue here is the constitutional right, and one of the most important rights, to dignity, and the way in which toilets were provided were an aberration of that right," says Aubrey Matshiqi, a senior political analyst at the Center for Policy Studies in Johannesburg. "The idea of having open-air toilets is an ANC idea, it was ANC that started building the toilets without enclosures. But both the ANC and the DA were guilty of letting the people of Khayelitsha go without services for too long."
Toilets, not roses
This much is certain: Neither party has come out smelling like roses. The Democratic Alliance – once seen as South Africa's best hope for an opposition party that could keep pressure on the ANC – has made Cape Town a showpiece for what it would like to do if given the chance to run South Africa. Its leader, Helen Zille, a former investigative journalist and liberal opponent of apartheid, was seen as the kind of person who stood on principle and wouldn't brook nonsense from her own party or from the ANC.
But now that her party's government is in charge, this toilet scandal is hurting her public image.
"We have come to the conclusion that the best way to instill a sense of ownership and an ethos of respecting property is for each family to contribute to the construction and maintenance of their own toilet," wrote DA party leader Ms. Zille, herself a former Cape Town mayor. "But this type of intervention, which encourages self-reliance and initiative, does not suit the ANC Youth League, who would rather ensure that people remain passive and powerless recipients of government handouts."
In a country with a poverty rate of more than 40 percent and an official unemployment rate of 24 percent, it's easy to see why both the DA and the ANC would spend so much time talking about toilets. Sanitation is just one of the basic services – along with electricity, drinking water, schools, and basic housing – that have been promised to the nation's poor. Pleasing those people wins votes; but failing that, turning them against one's enemy can be also be rewarding.
This appears to be behind the strategy of ANCYL, who tore down the 51 newly installed temporary enclosures and called the DA's provision of toilets a human rights violation and an act of racism by the mainly white-led DA city government. Cape Town Mayor Dan Plato last week urged Khayelitsha residents to "burn tires" in protest of the ANCYL tactics, and the ANCYL called for the mayor to be arrested for inciting violence.
All of this makes both sides look silly, of course, but Mr. Matshiqi, the political analyst, says it is the ANC Youth League which comes off looking worse.
"The ANC through the Youth League have shot themselves in the foot," says Matshiqi. "If the attempt was to shore up their support among township constituencies, they just ended up alienating those constituencies that would otherwise would have been supportive, by tearing down those enclosures. The Youth League looked like thugs."


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Sandy says : Make An Impression With a Pop-By
We love to see great ideas pop up, and we love passing them along to readers! A big THANKS goes out to our good friend Sandy Hibbard for sharing this wonderful and timely marketing tip with DTG readers. There's no better time than today -- right now -- to push your message in a friendly way. Sandy has the idea ... December 13, 2013


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The 'G2K' Getting To Know Series: Uniquely adapted musicals specifically for youth performers.
If you thought you knew the story of 'The Princess and The Pea,' you may be in for a walloping surprise! Did you know, for instance, that Princess Winnifred actually swam the moat to reach Prince Dauntless the Drab? Or that it may not have been the pea at all that caused the princess a sleepless night? Carried on a wave of beguiling songs, by turns hilarious and raucous, romantic and melodic, this rollicking spin on the familiar classic of royal courtship and comeuppance provides for some side-splitting shenanigans. Chances are, you'll never look at fairy tales quite the same way again. In this adaptation for pre-high school students, the content has been edited to better suit younger actors and audiences, but all the magic, hilarity and fun of the original are still in place. G2K? ONCE UPON A MATTRESS is the perfect show to introduce young people to the magic of live theater.
PLEASE NOTE: All schools wishing to peruse or perform a G2K musical should apply through the_Hal Leonard Corporation by firstname.lastname@example.com. Community theatres and youth organizations should apply by clicking on the license button below. For questions related to G2K musicals, contact an R&H representative at (800) 400-8160.
Music by Mary Rodgers; Book by Jay Thompson & Dean Fuller & Marshall Barer; Lyrics by Marshall Barer
© 2019 - Copyright Wisdom Digital Media, all rights reserved.


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The Invisible Cheerleaders
Posted August 14, 2013on:
- In: 30 Day Blog Challenge | Books | business | Career | Challenge | Empowerment | Entreprenuer | Inspiration | Motivation
- Leave a Comment
After a 24 hour writing break (I know, who needs to take a break from writing? Right?) I'm back to continue on with the 30 Day Blog Challenge. Writing has been easier during the past 7 days and today's prompt is:
Whose online business do you admire most and why?
Obviously The Suitcase Entrepreneur who went from working a 9-5 job to traveling the world while building her business and encouraging others to follow her path.
Laura Kessler – A Music Business professional who also has a virtual business. She provides coaching, vocal performance, consulting, executive communication and more. The first time I talked with her I was impressed with how knowledgeable and personable she is. Our first conversation lasted over an hour and even thought we were working on the same project I walked away uplifted and encourage to promote my virtual business.
Seth Godin – I was first introduced to Seth Godin's books, namely, Linchpin: Are you Indispensable? which I wrote about in a previous post. Seeking to create change and go against the norms, one always runs into people who tell you point blank "You're wrong, the system is the system for a reason, because it works!" Reading Seth Godin's books opened my eyes to the fact that even though there are accepted norms on society, we can create new norms by being unique.
There are many more people and businesses who motivate me to press on. I like to call them the invisible cheerleaders because although they don't know it, they have encouraged me to live life to the fullest and broaden my impact on others.
One of the reason I'm driven to succeed is because I was born a middle child. You know what they say about middle children, statistically they are often overlooked and feel left it. It wasn't that I felt under-appreciated growing it, it was just that I was always part of the crowd, and with four lovely sisters it was hard to stand out.
Breaking out of that crowd and going off to do my own thing made me realize that although it is fantastic to belong somewhere, it is much more rewarding to strike out on your own and create success from those ventures. There are many sources of inspiration along the way.
Who or what inspired you to take your unique path in life?


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Travel time back to Canada for Xiaojie, Jodi and Dr. Garcia. Fang Fang is going back to China for a week's visit before going back to Canada. Sarah is joining her two sisters for a two-week tour of Japan before coming back to Canada later in July. We will miss Wayo and everyone we met there!
Tag Archives: brescia
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 3): Friday
Today is our last day at Wayo! We met at 9:00am to work on our outstanding reports and discuss issues and perceptions of the last three weeks. Each of us prepared our speeches of gratitude at the farewell lunch. Ikuko-san arrived at 10:00am for our evaluation of the 3rd week and 3 weeks as a whole in detail. We shared more stories and observations about our individual experiences here in Japan. We couldn't believe how much we accomplished in three weeks and we are all very sad to leave the friends we made. Despite our language barriers, we were able to develop such strong friendships and networks with the great people of Wayo. We will miss all the friends we made including Ikuko, Reiko, Sainaa, Momoko, Aney, Yuka, Masako, Izumi, Yumiko and so on.
The farewell lunch started off with speeches from the head of the International Students Office (Hattori sensei), President Keshida and Yumiko-san. Then Dr. Garcia and all of the Brescia students gave a speech to express our gratitude. After the speeches, it was time to enjoy a delicious lunch which included a variety of Japanese dishes (oishii!). Following the lunch we were showered with presents from Wayo University. We all felt so grateful for the presents and this experience of a lifetime. We will never forget these last three weeks!!
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 3): Thursday
This morning we attended Reiko's Clinical Nutrition Lecture. Today's specific focus was on Chronic Kidney Disease. Throughout the lecture portion of the class the students followed along with what Reiko was lecturing by highlighting and writing keynotes in their textbooks. Once the lecture topics had been covered, the students independently worked on a case study following the SOAP method that we, as Brescia students, also recognized. The activity involved role play in groups of 2, one as the client and the other as the dietitian. During this time we worked on the same case in English with Sainaa and Momoko. We discussed comparisons between Canada and Japan's standards for anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and dietary data. We all brought forth great conversation and we had fun talking about something that we all have a strong passion for and interest in. Once we had worked through the case as much as we could without using their reference handbooks that were in Japanese, we showed gratitude to the students as well as Reiko for allowing us to attend their class.
In the afternoon we met Ikuko at the Konodai Station bound for Hikarigaoka. After 3 weeks packed with amazing experiences we have grown increasingly appreciative for our guides through the subway and railway systems. We are especially thankful for the amount of energy, organization and care Ikuko-san has put forth into our schedule. It is because of her and other Wayo staff that we have been able to see so much of the Japanese culture in 3 short weeks that none of us had imagined to be possible. Once we had arrived in Hikarigaoka after following Ikuko through the maze of a subway system so quickly, we walked to the Public Health Center in Nerima, Tokyo.
At the Public Health Center we were welcomed by the Dietitian who introduced us to the process that we were a few short minutes away from observing. Masako met us there and joined us for the day. Masako has been wonderfully kind translating for us throughout the past 3 weeks. She makes sure that when people are having a conversation in Japanese to involve us by letting us know what is being said, what concerns are being shared and what information is valuable.
Today the Public Health Center was hosting an event for 3 year old toddlers. In each distinct local government, parents receive a notice of invitation for their child to attend this event when they are approaching their 3rd birthday. The government mandates a health check for children 1, 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months old. Mothers receive a medical booklet to track the growth throughout the first 3 years of their child's life and this allows the government to also keep records and statistics of the youngest population. First, a Dental Hygienist presents the importance of teeth brushing and interactively demonstrates how to brush them properly. Second, a registered Dietitian presents to both the parents and children on the importance of involving their toddlers in grocery shopping and in the kitchen. She asked the parents to get their child to pick out a fruit, a vegetable and milk while at the grocery store in order to introduce them to nutrition. She also asked parents to begin to involve their 3 year old in cooking practices and emphasize food safety. It was so interesting to see how well structured and appropriate this process was for children to begin learning about their own health. Third step was a one on one counselling with a Public Health Nurse. The nurse followed a questionnaire for each child to cover basic information but she also allowed the parent to address their concerns to make the conversation more personalized to the child. Step four was for measuring the child. The next step we observed involved a medical examination by a physician. The final stage we observed was for the children to have their teeth cleaned by dental hygienists and checked thoroughly by a dentist. About 30 children were in attendance all at once, which also meant siblings and parents too. This process was so very well organized and truthfully it looked fun for the children – at each stage there was a different activity for them to be entertained.
At the end of the day, we were able to ask questions about the process and express our appreciation for allowing us to observe their event. Today we had learned so much more about how important the health maintenance of Japanese citizens is to the government of Japan.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 3): Wednesday
This morning we met at nine o'clock before heading to the computer lab to attend a class on nutrition education practice taught by Yumiko sensei assisted by Saho and Sayuri. During this class we were able to make nutrition education materials to help get the public interested in learning about healthy eating and a balanced diet. We were guided on how to make an "origami" which outlines the three basic food groups; animal products, carbohydrates/starches and vegetables & fruit. All of us were very impressed with the nutrition education materials as they are so creative and effective for teaching.
After a quick lunch before we took the train to the National Institute of Health and Nutrition in Tokyo. Here we were able to listen to four top researchers explain what they study (e.g., dietary guidelines, physical activity, communicable diseases, energy expenditure guidelines) and how it has affected Japan's public policies on nutrition. All of us were extremely interested in learning about Japanese nutritional policies and programs. We observed a human metabolic chamber in use which most of us have never seen before. The experience at the NIHN was both fascinating and unforgettable. We left the institute with many great resources and handouts that we can't wait to share with our fellow students in Canada.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 3): Tuesday
We went to observe the school lunch program at the Inakoshi primary school in Ichikawa this morning.
We met with the dietitian of the school who introduced us the school lunch system in Japan, where dietitians are involved in every primary and secondary school. The responsibility of dietitians in schools is to provide nutrition education through the school lunch program, foster desirable eating habits, and advocate for a healthy diet for families and the community. Their job includes managing the school lunch, giving nutrition education to students and providing counselling and alternative food options for those with food allergies. The dietitian showed the food guidelines for that school, in which she set objectives and made teaching plans for students in different grades. She also made the meal plan for each month throughout the whole year, incorporating seasonal foods and considering school events. Each specific meal plan needs to fulfill the energy and nutrition requirement set by the government. The lunch for today was steamed rice, small roasted fish, eggplant with pork, white gourd, "miso" soup, citrus jelly and milk. There was also a food tray display at the entrance area, so that when moms come to pick up their children, they have the chance to check the foods eaten and have some knowledge of the healthy seasonal vegetables. The lunch meals for about 200 students/staff are prepared by 6 workers working in the school kitchen.
We attended the nutrition class given by the dietitian to the students in grade 6 on how to taste food (she used a peach confectionery) by using the five senses. She discussed in a very lively manner how sensation affects the eating experience. The students showed a high interest in this topic. At lunch time, the food was served by a team of 5 students from the class. The serving group had to take the food (and cutlery) for the whole class from the kitchen. Before serving, they washed their hands, put on white coats, masks and caps. After lunch, they also cleaned and wiped the tables, and disposed of the garbage for cycling. We were so impressed by the school lunch program in Japan. We think it is a good way to build healthy eating habits among children! How we wish this system could be run in Canada in the future!
In the afternoon, we visited the Fujitsu clinic, a medical facility for employees and their families, in Musashinakahara and we were briefed by the company dietitian on the most common nutrition-related health problems of employees. She also showed us the online assessment forms that employees fill in before their appointments with her and she was happy to report that the nutrition counselling she provides seem to be effective in alleviating some of the health issues. We were also welcomed to visit the Fujitsu Technology Hall where we witnessed the technological progress the company is making particularly in the computer and telecommunication technologies. Of particular interest was the new "Wandant", a kind of pedometer/health recorder for pet dogs which can monitor their physical activity and some health measures such as body temperature.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 3): Monday
In the morning, we had a nutrition care management practice class. It is hard to have a class in Japan without speaking Japanese, but it is always good to know how the class is organized here. Once again, I saw the TA check the attendance at the beginning of the class. They go through the names and make the check mark. One practice I really liked about this class was the estimation of the food weight by hand, with 20 different food and food models passed around. Students estimated the weight by looking and holding them in the hand. Since measuring spoons or cups are not always available, having a rough sense about the food weight is very important in the energy and nutrient calculations
Monday afternoon is the third and the last food lab we attended. Therapeutic clinical nutrition practice is held in a smaller cooking lab which has similar structure with Brescia's. Taga sensei is a young looking gentleman. Students in my group even clapped his shoulder when they were talking to him. Their cooking labs usually have 5-6 students in a group cooperating to make a whole meal. One big difference about this lab is that there was no demonstration about cooking. We experienced the language barrier again as most Japanese students only speak a little English and the recipe we got is in Japanese with ingredients only which made it difficult for us to understand what to do on our own. Fortunately, we could still use unspoken and sign language to communicate and we were able to help with the cooking of a reduced protein and sodium for a renal diet.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 2): Sunday
A visit to Tokyo Disney Sea, the Science museum and Mt. Fuji capped the week for some of us. We had good luck with a few hours of sunshine after a rainy week. We found so many different flavored popcorns all over the park; favorite flavors are corn, milk tea, caramel, black paper, curry. Disney Sea has a very unique snack, a steamed bun with three flavors – yellow tiger tail is filled with ground chicken meat; white buoy shaped bun is shrimp flavored; and the dumpling shape is pork flavored. It is a delicious and healthy choice for snack. One thing that could make the bun even better is to add chopped vegetables in the meat; therefore, with a cup tea or milk, it would be a perfect meal in the amusement park. Technological developments and nature's bounty were on exhibit at the museum. Mt. Fuji is really a beautiful majestic symbol for Japan.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 2): Saturday
Weekend is always a good time to explore the usual Japanese life. Food tasting is a favorite way of exploring many Japanese foods.
The strict regulations to raise a Kobe cow make Kobe beef very expensive even in its original production site. Kobe beef is famous for its beautiful marbling and it iss so tender that it would melt in the mouth. "Sukiyaki" is a traditional Japanese food involving Kobe beef, tofu and vegetable. After cooking it in front of the customers, it is served in a small bow of raw liquid egg. Eating raw food is somewhat popular in some parts of Japan. Beside raw fish (in "sashimi" or "sushi"), some also consume raw chicken, squid, or half-cooked chicken liver.
We all have our preferred way of eating. Most of us prefer cooked foods as cooking makes food tender, easier to digest, and the heat applied during cooking kills most pathogens. For some, they prefer raw foods, such as raw salmon. It is therefore an individual's choice to mimic some of these practices and try the raw foods or follow their own preference of eating cooked foods.
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 2): Friday
Today we went to visit Kikkoman soy sauce factory in Nodashi city. Kikkoman soy sauce, which originated from China and developed in Japan, has become a worldwide famous brand of soy sauce. It has branches and plants in USA, Singapore and China. They make the highest quality soy sauce, follow time-honored traditions and cutting edge technology. After watching a short introductory film about the history of Kikkoman, we visited the factory with a tour guide. The ingredients of soy sauce include soybean, wheat, salt and water. Besides them, Kikkoman also uses its original aspergillus, a type of fungus, to propagate koji mold. Koji mold is one of the most important elements in making soy sauce and plays an essential role in fermenting the ingredients.
The making process of Kikkoman includes production of "koji", the essential base of soy sauce, mixing and aging, pressing and refining, bottling, inspection and shipment. The "koji" is moved to a tank and mixed with the salt-and-water solution. This mixture is called "moromi", a kind of mash, which is then fermented and aged in the tank for several months. There are three types of fermented "moromi" exhibited outside the workplace, one-month, three-month and six-month fermentation. The six-month fermented "moromi" gave off the richest flavor and aroma and in attractive brown color. There are two kinds of fabric exhibited outside the pressing area. One is before using, which is white color; the other is after using, the original white color has been dyed into brown color. The soy sauce pressed from "moromi" is called "raw soy sauce". By-products from production such as the sediment and oil are used as feeding materials for livestock and fuel for machinery operations.
It was really a fantastic field trip and informative experience for most of us!
Wayo Exchange in Japan (Week 2): Thursday
This morning we attended the science of health lecture given by Professor Namba. He talked about the strong linkage between physical activity and human health. He illustrated how sedentary lifestyle results in the chronic diseases after middle age. He also compared the physical activities of people in different countries and different sized cities. We learned from this class that physical activity can effectively prevent life-style related diseases, reduce pressure, and improve the quality of life.
We also attended the clinical nutrition lecture given by Dr. Yoichi Sakurai. He talked about how malnutrition affected the rehabilitation of patients post-operation. For example, it was reported that if preoperative loss was less than 20%, the postoperative mortality is only 3.5%, but if the preoperative loss more than 20%, then the postoperative mortality increased to a high 33%. It is critical for dietitians and other medical team workers to try to maintain the patients in good nutritional status before and after operation. During patients' hospitalization, the dietitian needs to take nutritional screening, nutritional assessment, making plans for nutritional management, carrying out the nutritional plan, monitoring and evaluation. We realized the importance of nutritional status on treatment of illness from this class. It was so interesting and informative!
After lunch, we went to the National Center for Global Health and Medicine. We were so impressed by the tidy and organized environment in that hospital. We were treated with a very special ice cream there! Not like conventional ice cream, which melts before it reaches the patients' room, this new innovative ice cream does not melt in about 30 minutes. At the same time, the flavor and delicious taste are preserved. It was awesome!
We learned from the introduction that the center can provide 300 meals or more at one time or 750 meals or more per day. The center uses the nutritional component management system for its nutritional standards. This system can provide most suitable nutrition standards selected according to individual patient's conditions and requirements.
Then we toured the workplace where they use the concept of HACCP to carry out hygiene management. The workplace is divided into food preparation section, cooking section and serving section. The food preparation section is designated as an "hygienic area", distinguished by a different floor color. There is also a specific room for final food check. Before each meal, the dietitian needs to check the contents of the dish in that room to avoid any serving mistakes. We learned the main duty of a dietitian in the hospital is to provide appropriate and best service to patients.