TCP Fails To Pay CCNV For Operating Homeless Shelter

The below posted excerpt is by guest author Louise Thundercloud. Louise Thundercloud's Profile Page is on the Peace Communities Online Community found by clicking here. I looked up The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness and found the above photo and added it.

Love for the people,
-T. Love
black man f.l.u.f.f.

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TCP Fails To Pay CCNV For Operating Homeless Shelter

Yesterday I posted a short, undetailed message about a certain DC homeless shelter that was abruptly closed (which I'll soon delete). I have since done my homework and found out what happened and why. So, here it is.....

The Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP) has not paid CCNV (the Community for Creative Non-Violence) for its services for 2 months. CCNV took action so as to exact payment yesterday. Before I give any further explanation of yesterday's situation, I must first explain everyone's role.

The Government of the District of Columbia has a Dept. of Human Services (DHS). DHS has contracted out many of its homeless services to The Community Partnership (TCP) which in turn contracts out to the actual service providers such as CCNV and Catholic Charities. (Those homeless services that don't fall under the purview of TCP are administered by the Coalition for the Homeless, which answers to DHS.)

CCNV (the Community for Creative Non-Violence) is one of 3 homeless shelters in the former Federal City College. The others are the John L. Young Women's Shelter and the Open Door Women's Shelter. (CCNV has beds for men and women.) The building also houses DC Central Kitchen which feeds one meal per day to most of DC's 6,000 plus homeless and a Unity Healthcare office for DC's homeless. Every hypothermia season a temporary drop-in center is opened in the basement of CCNV for approximately 150 overnighters/walk-ins (all men) to stay warm. The majority of those at CCNV have reserved beds from night to night.

The building is actually owned by DC Government. It was wrested from the Reagan Administration and given to the city through the protests of many homeless people under the leadership of Mitch Snyder, with Mitch having gone on a 51-day hunger strike.

Finally, I can get to the jist of the story. TCP has failed to pay CCNV for running the drop-in center. They've not paid CCNV for its services for the months of January or February of this year. (Checks are due by the 15th of each month.) The unpaid staff had been holding meetings about this problem for several weeks. Finally, they decided to make a power move. So, on February 19th, the staff told all of the men in the drop-in center that they were quitting and that they, the shelter occupants, had to leave. The staff also called the media. They had to call the cops for the residents who failed to leave. Some residents also began to make calls, some to the media. DC Government's Dept. of Human Services was also called. They promised to take care of the matter. (Let's remember that it was TCP who failed to pay CCNV, not DC Government or DHS.) The shelter staff has promised that, if they don't get paid today, they'll do the same thing again, possibly longer. This could get really ugly.

I also want to point out that TCP's head is on the chopping block. Earlier on that same day I attended 2 hearings at the Wilson Bldg. In the latter one, I heard the director of DHS say that he was seriously considering getting rid of TCP. (They are in the last year of their contract.) He, Clarence Carter, has decided that many of the functions of TCP can and should be done by the employees of DHS. In these hard economic times, we must trim the fat off of government. He wants to get rid of the middle man, which in this case is operated by a woman -- Sue Marshall. He commended the agency's work, but maintained that he must save money. About an hour and a half after that hearing ended, I got word of the CCNV drop-in center fiasco. This serves as an additional reason to get rid of TCP. Things aren't looking up for TCP right now.

Other CCNV business.....

I did a video in December in which I described the caseworker role that I will take on. I've not done any casework per se. However, I AM working for CCNV in another capacity -- as a homeless advocate.

There are rumors circulating about the possible sale of the Federal City Shelter (the entire building). One such rumor claims that Georgetown U. has already bought the building. THE TRUTH: Georgetown U. has the first right of refusal on the building. This means that, if DC Government decides to sell the building, Georgetown U. would be the first to be given the option of buying it. I've yet to receive definitive word of any sale.

leadership. This latest move has indicated that the homeless are ready, willing and able to stand up and fight for their rights. That's not to speak of the fact that security is often increased at the John A. Wilson Building (City Hall) whenever the homeless and their advocates show up to speak up for their human rights. At one such event this past September, the security at the Wilson bldg. cited the actions of a certain woman from the group Mayday DC during a rally more than 5 years ago as their reason for increasing security when the homeless and their advocates showed up. She had gone out on the 5th floor ledge to unfurl a banner explaining the DC Government hates the homeless.(There is a lawsuit taking place due to people having been denied access to a government building.)

For those who plan to help the homeless, CCNV could use donations of cleaning supplies for the building -- bleach, amonia, rags, mops, mop heads, pesticides. We are not in dire straits yet. The building IS adequately clean for the moment. However, the afforementioned items are in short supply.


CCNV is a self-supporting entity. Apart from using a government-owned building, they don't get anything else from the government for the majority of their services. They don't get paid for caring for the 700 people with reserved beds. They DO get paid for providing shelter to the 150 men of the drop-in center, which is only open during hypothermia.

Originally Posted by Eric Sheptock

Circulate This: Fire The NY Post Editor And Cancel the FCC Waivers

Tama/Getty



Demonstrators protest outside New York Post Midtown headquarters Thursday to protest a cartoon that many felt compared President Obama to a rampaging chimpanzee.

Dear friends worldwide working for equality,

Recently, the New York Post (owned by Fox News aka Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation) ran a clearly racist cartoon with two police officers shooting a monkey and making reference to not simply a Black Person but also a Black President.

In the last 30 seconds of the video on this page Amy Goodman asks Al Sharpton: Do you think Rupert Murdoch should be investigated overall? And Al Sharpton states that the FCC waivers that allowed Rupert Murdoch to own Two television stations and a newspaper in New York City should be 'reviewed.' Those FCC waivers should be cancelled and they should have never been permitted by such an extremist, racially biased newspaper.

Personally, I don't mind telling you that I do not believe in voting for politicians, but the greater issue here is not that the cartoon was directed at the president, but the racist tones of the image towards any Black person. I want to say thank you to everyone keeping attention on the New York Post's increasingly overt, racially biased and oppressive media tactics. What is most amazing about this issue, is that I think they were just 'testing the waters' to see how far they could go with clearly racist text and graphic slurs of a Black person. Had such a clearly racist text and graphic racial slur been done against an Irish President of the USA we would already have seen several people fired from that newspaper including the Editor.

Adams for News

Rev. Al Sharpton delivers a speech during a protest in front of the News Corp. building with film director Spike Lee at his side.

Spike Lee is calling for a Boycott of the New York Post by celebrities and I hope we can get the word out.
Info here: http://tinyurl.com/spikeleecallingforboycott

Many more groups are calling for the editor to be fired as well.

I'm going to post that letter on my blog and read it to people on my podcast and online radio show.

I would like to ask that others get the word out as well and let others know about the boycott and the call to have the editor fired.

Our actions as Black people in this matter will send a clear message to Corporate Media about how far they can go with clearly racist messages.

The Color of Change has posted a letter for people to circulate calling for the New York Post Editor to be fired and I support it and I hope you will circulate it. The below link contains the letter (that I have also printed below) that makes it very easy to use the form and very easy to send the letter.
http://colorofchange.org/nypost


Solidarity for a better world of equality,

Love for the people,
-T. Love
black man f.l.u.f.f.

To listen to a 10 minute audio broadcast summary of this article or to download it please click the MP3 file below:
MP3 File



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To: Paul V. Carlucci, Publisher, New York Post
Cc: Rupert Murdoch, News Corporation Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

New York Post
1211 Avenue of Americas
New York, NY 10036

Dear Mr. Carlucci,

I was shocked and saddened by the New York Post's recent publication of Sean Delonas' cartoon depicting a bullet-riddled chimpanzee, killed by police and thus unable "to write the next stimulus bill." The image evoked a long history of racially-charged comparisons of Black people to monkeys and pandered -- intentionally or not -- to a fringe element that fantasizes about violence against President Obama.

I am writing to ask that you publish an apology. I also ask that whichever editor approved Delonas' cartoon for publication be fired, whether it was Editorial Page Editor Bob McManus, Editor Col Allan, or another senior manager in the newsroom. I ask that you determine who was responsible and hold that person accountable.

I was particularly concerned by the Post's sole response to readers who found the image to have racist undertones. The callous statement Col Allan issued Wednesday denies a historical reality, and for him to claim ignorance of this history raises questions about his ability to effectively lead a daily newspaper geared toward a mainstream and multiracial audience.

Please publish an apology that acknowledges that it was a mistake for the Post to publish this cartoon and fire the person responsible.

Sincerely,

[Your name]

"I Caught My First Baby!" - Guest post from Emily

I received an email today from a very good friend of minea medical student, in Malawi, Africa, and she has a blog called 'Around the world in 70 days or so.' The following story was posted on her blog found by clicking here - http://www.emilyblockgeib.blogspot.com

Love for the people,

-T. Love
black man fluff

The big event: Today, at 11:02am I helped to deliver a beautiful baby boy. He weighed 2.5kg, the average weight for Malawian new borns. All ready for the delivery, and noticing that the baby's head was crowning, I called for the midwife. She came over, but did not put on any gloves. This left me and a Malawian medical student in his second week in the hospital to catch the baby. The midwife talked me through it, and I did everything. It was awesome! Mother and baby both are doing great. It was her first baby(she had had 2 miscarriages) and she pushed him out in 7 minutes. She was incredible. The baby was almost immediately placed on the mother's stomach and she was breastfeeding within 30 min.

More about births in Malawi: Here, women often refuse any pain medication as they believe it will prolong labor. In my 3 days here, I have seen it given 1 time. Most women deliver their baby's with very little screaming. Resources are definitely lacking, and nothing is wasted. Today they had to decide who should get operated on first, as only one operating room was available; a women with an ectopic pregnancy that was about to rupture, endangering her life, or a woman that had a fetus in destress with a head too large to deliver vaginally. It seems that about half of the woman that deliver here are HIV positive. Thankfully, the baby that I caught today has an HIV negative mother.

Other stuff: I'm slowly learning the local language (Chichewa). So far I know how to greet someone, say my name is, and see you tomorrow. The Malawians are very kind despite my poor accent and get a kick out of my attempts. My life

Funny T-shirt of the day: A very skinny man wearing an over-sized T-shirt saying, "Wide Load." (sorry, no pictures of this. I usually see them in passing and it would be strange to walk around with my camera out, but if I get a chance...)

Police Beat a Man Until He is Blind - More Police Extermination of Black People

Dear allies working for a better world,

I must admit, at times, it did seem like the domain www.SaveThePoorBrownChildren.org was a bit over the top. But then, after considering the history of this blog, I now realize that I am very glad that is the name of the blog...especially after learning about the News Story where the Police beat a man until he was blind.

[The link below contains a photo of the victim for mature audiences only.]
Renee, has a great article on it as well.

What should I add? Well, I guess since I am a Black male feminist, I should add that I honestly do feel like the police are systematically exterminating Black men in this country (and I have written a very long article on it) that was also published by Slingshot...but doing so in way that victimizes the most financially disadvantaged people. And yet, as a feminist, I think it is more importantlt to note that what the police are doing to Black women with guns, capitalism is doing to all poor people, of all races, with an economy that favors the rich.

Love for the people,
-T. Love
Black Man F.l.u.f.f.

More Peanut product recalls

This time I actually found a brand name of a food that I recently bought.  Check this list and make sure you're safe.

Love for the people,
-T

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Peanut product recalls

By The Associated Press – 4 hours ago

The following recalls have been announced because the products could be contaminated with salmonella, an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections, especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems:

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Grandpa Dons LLC is recalling a snack mix. No illness has been reported. The snacks were available at stores nationwide. Details by phone at 866-767-5267.

This recall includes:

_ Grandpa's Oven Santa Fe snack mix; 12-ounce pouches; best-if-used-by dates SEP1008, SEP1108, SEP1408, OCT1408, OCT2308, NOV 2408, NOV2508, OCT1109, NOV2009 and DEC2009; UPC 070678109060.

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Aspen Hills Inc. is expanding its earlier recall of select frozen cookie dough products. No illness has been reported. The recalled dough was distributed to fundraising customers nationwide between Sept. 23, 2008, and Dec. 13, 2008. Details by phone at 888-273-0302.

This expanded recall includes:

_ ABC pail; shipped 11/13/08; no date code.

_ Apple Mountain pail peanut butter; date code 08309.

_ Baker Jo's box pre-portioned peanut butter with chocolate chunks; date code 08282.

_ Baker Jo's pail peanut butter with chocolate chunks; date codes 08269, 08288, 08295, 08302, 08309, 08317, 08324 and 08337.

_ Gourmet cookie dough JT Ent pail peanut butter with chocolate chunks; date codes 08269, 08288, 08295 and 08317.

_ Arizona Gold pail peanut butter with chocolate chunks; date codes 08269, 08295, 08302, 08309, 08317, 08324 and 08337.

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Seattle Chocolate Co. Inc. is recalling select Choxie brand products. No illness has been reported. The recalled items were sold at Target and SuperTarget stores nationwide. Details by phone at 800-316-6151.

This recall includes:

_ Dark chocolate nut truffle meltaways; 7 ounces; UPC 85239 03392 and 81014 53103; all best-by dates on or before 5 Sept 2009.

_ Dark chocolate nut truffle meltaways; 8 ounces; UPC 85239 55102; all best by dates on or before 5 Sept 2009.

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Tree of Life Inc. is recalling select snack products. No illness has been reported. The recalled snacks were available at stores nationwide. Details by phone at 800-223-2910.

This recall includes:

_ Trail mix organic; 6 ounces; UPC 030684010354.

_ Trail mix organic; 10 pounds; UPC 077420211385.

_ Trail mix athletic; 8 ounces; UPC 030684012303.

_ Trail mix athletic; 10 pounds; UPC 077420211354.

_ Trail mix western; 6 ounces; UPC 732244001702.

_ Trail mix western; 10 pounds; UPC 077420409157.

_ Trail mix everyday; 10 ounces; UPC 030684010415

_ Trail mix everyday; 10 pounds; UPC 077420211309.

_ Trail mix tropical organic; 8 ounces; UPC 030684012280.

_ Yogurt peanuts; 8 ounces; UPC 030684010477.

_ Yogurt peanuts; 20 pounds; UPC 077420401212.

_ Yogurt peanuts; 5 pounds; UPC 077420401366.

_ Carob peanuts; 8 ounces; UPC 030684010323.

_ Carob peanuts; 20 pounds; UPC 077420401113.

_ Carob peanuts; 5 pounds; UPC 077420401137.

_ Carob peanuts unsweetened; 20 pounds; UPC 077420401120.

_ Carob peanut clusters; 10 pounds; UPC 077420212127.

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National Raisin Co. is recalling selected lots of private label trail mix products that begin with the specified date codes. The brands include Champion, Southern Grove, Bloom, Food Lion, Acme, Albertsons, Jewel and Shaw's. The company said it has not received any reports of illnesses. Details by phone at 800-874-3726.

Brands sold by National Raisin Co.:

_ Champion nut and chocolate trail mix; 24-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 70044-00980; best before codes 01 02 08 N07002, 08 23 08 N07235, 08 29 08 N07241, 09 25 08 N07268, 09 26 08 N07269, 10 03 08 N07276, 02 28 09 N08059, 10 09 09 N08283, 10 15 09 N08289, 12 04 09 N08339, 12 15 09 N08350.

_ Champion White Mountain Mix; 24-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 70044-00981; best before codes 01 03 08 N07003, 03 08 08 N07067, 03 27 08 N07086, 08 22 08 N07234, 08 30 08 N07242, 02 27 09 N08058, 10 06 09 N08280, 10 25 09 N08299, 12 05 09 N08340.

_ Champion fruit and nut trail mix; 24-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 70044-00982; best before codes 08 17 08 N07229, 10 05 08 N07278, 10 02 09 N08276, 10 13 09 N08287, 12 08 09 N08343.

Brands sold by Aldi stores:

_ Southern Grove nut and chocolate trail mix; 10-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41498-17780; best by codess JAN 10 2008 N07010, MAR 15 2008 N07074, MAR 19 2008 N07078, MAR 23 2008 N07082, JUN 11 2008 N07162, JUN 19 2008 N07170, JUL 05 2008 N07186, AUG 23 2008 N07235, AUG 29 2008 N07241, OCT 03 2008 N07276, OCT 10 2008 N07283, OCT 18 2008 N07291, MAR 06 2009 N08066, OCT 01 2009 N08275, OCT 09 2009 N08283, OCT 15 2009 N08289, OCT 24 2009 N08298, DEC 04 2009 N08339, DEC 11 2009 N08346, DEC 15 2009 N08350, DEC 16 2009 N08351.

_ Southern Grove fruit and nut trail mix; 10-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41498-17781; best by codes MAR 16 2008 N07075, JUN 13 2008 N07164, JUL 03 2008 N07184, AUG 16 2008 N07228, AUG 17 2008 N07229, AUG 21 2008 N07233, OCT 06 2008 N07279, OCT 11 2008 N07284, MAR 05 2009 N08065, OCT 02 2009 N08276, OCT 07 2009 N08281, OCT 21 2009 N08295, OCT 22 2009 N08296, DEC 08 2009 N08343, DEC 17 2009 N08352, DEC 19 2009 N08354.

_ Southern Grove nut seed and berry trail mix; 10-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41498-17782; best by codes JAN 02 2008 N07002, JAN 11 2008 N07011, MAR 09 2008 N07068, MAR 26 2008 N07085, JUN 06 2008 N07157, JUN 12 2008 N07163, JUL 06 2008 N07187, AUG 08 2008 N07220, OCT 13 2008 N07286, OCT 08 2009 N08282, OCT 20 2009 N08294.

_ Southern Grove White Mountain trail mix; 10-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41498-17783; best by codes JAN 03 2008 N07003, MAR 08 2008 N07067, MAR 27 2008 N07086, JUN 07 2008 N07158, JUN 08 2008 N07159, AUG 14 2008 N07226, AUG 22, 2008 N07234, AUG 30 2008 N07242, OCT 12 2008 N07285, FEB 27 2009 N08058, OCT 06 2009 N08280, OCT 14 2009 N08288, DEC 05 2009 N08340, DEC 08 2009 N08343.

Brands sold by Food Lion:

_ Bloom raisins and nuts trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 25439-92166; best before codes 03 07 08 N07066, 08 13 08 N07225, 10 18 08 N07291, 03 06 09 N08066, 10 24 09 N08298, 12 09 09 N08344, 12 16 09 N08351.

_ Bloom fruit and nuts trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 25439-92167; best before codes 10 27 09 N08301, 12 08 09 N08343.

_ Bloom winter blend trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 25439-92168; best before codes 08 14 08 N07226, 02 27 09 N08058, 12 05 09 N08340, 12 09 09 N08344.

_ Bloom nutseed blend trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 25439-92169; best before code 10 20 09 N08294.

_ Food Lion raisins and nuts trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 35826-06484; best before codes 03 07 08 N07066, 06 11 08 N07162, 07 05 08 N07186, 08 13 08 N07225, 10 03 08 N07276, 12 04 09 N08339, 12 09 09 N08344, 12 16 09 N08351.

_ Food Lion fruit and nuts trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 35826-06485; best before codes 06 13 08 N07164, 08 16 08 N07228, 10 05 08 N07278, 12 08 09 N08343, 12 17 09 N08352, 12 19 09 N08354.

_ Food Lion winter blend trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 35826-06486; best before dates 08 14 08 N07226, 02 27 09 N08058, 10 06 09 N08280, 10 14 09 N08288, 12 05 09 N08340.

_ Food Lion nutseed blend trail mix; 6-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 35826-06487; best before dates 03 09 08 N07068, 06 12 08 N07163, 07 06 08 N07187, 08 08 08 N07220, 12 18 09 N08353.

Brands sold by SuperValu Inc.:

_ Acme nut and chocolate trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 75090-89808; sell by codes 12 19 07 N07170, 01 05 08 N07186, 03 06 08 N07249, 02 13 09 N07225.

_ Acme fruit and nut trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 75090-89809; sell by codes 09 12 07 N07071, 12 13 07 N07164, 03 05 08 N07248, 04 05 08 N07278.

_ Albertsons nut and chocolate trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41163-42714; sell by codes 07 09 07 N07009, 07 10 07 N07010, 09 23 07 N07082, 12 11 07 N07162, 02 29 08 N07241, 03 06 08 N07249, 04 10 08 N07283, 04 01 09 N08275, 04 24 09 N08298, 05 05 09 N08310, 06 12 09 N08347.

_ Albertsons fruit and nut trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41163-42715; sell by codes 07 09 07 N07009, 09 12 07 N07071, 12 13 07 N07164, 03 05 08 N07248, 04 05 08 N07278, 09 05 08 N07065, 04 17 09 N08291

_ Jewel nut and chocolate trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 41280-11174; sell by codes 02 01 08 N07213, 02 08 08 N07220, 02 13 08 N07225.

_ Shaw's nut and chocolate trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 45674-50421; sell by codes 07 10 07 N07010, 12 19 07 N07170, 12 29 07 N07180, 04 10 08 N07283, 08 28 08 N08059, 04 09 09 N08283, 05 05 09 N08310.

_ Shaw's fruit and nut trail mix; 32-ounce resealable pouch; UPC 45674-50422; sell by codes 07 09 07 N07009, 01 07 08 N07188, 03 05 08 N07248, 04 11 08 N07284, 09 05 08 N07065, 04 07 09 N08281, 06 19 09 N08354.

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Maxfield Candy Co. is recalling peanut cluster products. No illnesses have been reported, according to the company. Consumers might have purchased recalled items under the Maxfield's, Botticelli, Hallmark and Landmark brands. The company distributes its products primarily through traditional retail channels throughout the United States and Canada. Details by phone at 800-288-8002.

The recall includes the following items:

MAXFIELD BRAND

_ All American Christmas chocolates, 16 ounces, UPC 07020303311-2.

_ Chocolates with red cello, 20 ounces, UPC 07020303346-4.

_ All American rose chocolates, 12.5 ounces, UPC 07020308914-0.

_ All American rose box chocolate, 37.5 ounces, UPC 07020308915-7.

_ Square box chocolate, 12.5 ounces, UPC 07020308917-1.

_ Christmas ho ho holiday chocolates, 12.5 ounces, UPC 07020302991-7.

_ Inspirations boxed chocolate, 8 ounces, UPC 07020302991-8.

_ Inspirations boxed chocolate, 8 ounces, UPC 07020302991-9.

_ All American Chocolates, 48 ounces, UPC 07020308915-7.

_ All American assorted box chocolates, 25 ounces, UPC 07020303323-5.

HALLMARK BRAND

_ Nut caramel boxed chocolates, 12.5 ounces, UPC 07020305003-4.

_ Calligraphy box chocolate, 12 ounces, UPC 07020305007-2.

_ Calligraphy box chocolate, 12 ounces, UPC 07020305020-1.

_ Assorted chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 07020305027-0.

_ Classic gift assorted chocolates, 14 ounces, UPC 07020305009-6.

_ Signature nut assorted chocolates, 8.8 ounces, UPC 07020305010-2.

_ Nut caramel assorted chocolates, 12.5 ounces, UPC 07020305012-6.

_ Classic gift assorted chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 07020305022-5.

_ Assorted nut chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 07020305024-9.

_ Gold Crown classic assorted chocolates, 16 ounces, UPC 07020305400-1.

_ Traditional nut caramel assorted chocolates, 14 ounces, UPC 07020305401-8.

_ Classic gift assorted chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 07020305402-5.

_ Gold Crown nut caramel crisp, 14 ounces, UPC 07020305421-6.

_ Gold Crown classic assorted chocolates, 16 ounces, UPC 07020305422-3.

_ Gold Crown assorted boxed chocolates, 12 ounces, UPC 07020305502-2.

BOTTICELLI BRAND

_ Satin box chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 06508200402-5.

_ Paper box chocolates, 8 ounces, UPC 06508200403-2.

_ Assorted mixed shipper, 8 ounces, UPC 06508200403-3.

_ Dark delectable, 12 ounces, UPC 07020308597-5.

_ Caramel crunch assorted chocolates, 11 ounces, UPC 07020308596-5.

_ Classic collect boxed chocolates, 12 ounces, UPC 07020308595-1.

LANDMARK BRAND

_ Boxed chocolates, 7 ounces, UPC 63927700751-3.

___

Marich Confectionery is recalling select products. The company has not received any complaints of consumer illnesses. Details by phone at 800-624-7055.

_ Milk chocolate peanuts; 10-pound bulk item number 930; UPC 797817-0930-1; all lots ending in 071, 072, 081 and 082.

_ Milk chocolate peanuts; 8-ounce gold and black bags; item number 8930; UPC 797817-08930-3; all lots ending in 071, 072, 081 and 082.

_ Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee; 10-pound bulk item number 763; UPC 797817-00763-5; lots 141071, 255071, 274071, 309071, 063081, 063082, 064081, 064082, 067081, 067082.

_ Chocolate Peanut Butter Toffee; 8-ounce gold and black bags; item number 8763; UPC 797817-08763-7; all lots ending in 071, 072, 081 and 082.

___

1-800-Flowers.com Inc. recalled four snack tray products that contain dry and honey roasted peanuts. No cases of illness have been reported. The recalled products were shipped before Jan. 28, 2009. The product descriptions and codes are Torn Ranch Snack Trio, 6958; Torn Ranch Gourmet Bamboo Tray Large, 22661L; Martha Stewart Sweet and Savory Snack Tray Deluxe, 13762DLX; and Martha Stewart Sweet and Savory Snack Tray Small, 13762S. Details by phone at 866-257-7779.

BioGenesis Nutraceuticals Inc. is recalling all Diabetone gluco:support peanut butter chocolate bars with manufacture dates of May 8, 2008, and June 12, 2008. No known illnesses have been reported, according to the company. The recalled products were distributed nationally through natural health care providers. Affected manufacture date codes are MFG08MAY08 Fu1 and MFG12JUN08. Details by phone at 866-272-0500.

'Silly Bahraini Girl' Guest Post about Internet Censorship and Racism

Dear Allies and folks working for a better world,

Today I woke and decided that I am really tired (not just my standard tired) of all the blogs that only focus on problems within the USA. So I decided to publish a couple articles from folks outside the USA. SO I went looking for some blogs oustide the USA.

The following story was written by the awesome writer at the Silly Bahraini Girl Blog found by clicking here - http://www.sillybahrainigirl.blogspot.com

I also included the labels at the end of the story because I found those interesting as well.

Love for the people,

-T. Love

----------------------------------------

February 11, 2009

So the Ministry of Information announces to Reuters that they are "committed to freedom of opinion and expression" but are seeking to "prevent their abuse."

Here's their sorry excuse, where they don't tell us how many sites have been censored but blame the sheer volume on a technicality:

In a written response to questions from Reuters, the Ministry of Information said it was committed to freedom of opinion and expression but seeks to prevent their abuse.

It did not say how many websites are blocked and did not comment on claims access to political forums is prevented.

It said some websites were blocked "as a result of technical mistakes" and it was looking into the use of more advanced technology to prevent those errors.

And in case you are wondering what their solution is to rectify this huge damage tarnishing the reputation of MY country, here's where you can see their sorry remedy: http://www.unblock.gov.bh/BlockUnblock/index.faces

So now they are protecting you poor children and shielding you from the dangers lurking out there but at the same time asking you to help them save face in front of the international community.

And what is the advanced technology which is helping you Ministry of Information and Censorship in avoiding such errors and major embarrassments in the future?

Instead of wasting money on filtering software from Websense and Smart Filter and treating us - subjects - as children, pour all this money into GOVERNMENT schools and education please. God know how much we need that because the last time I went through the list of Nobel laureates, I didn't see a single Bahraini.

If you really are concerned for children in my country, be open about issues like child abuse, which are hidden in folders gathering dust. Open the court files and let the world know what monstrous men do in the absence of a personal law and how Sharia courts deal with divorce cases and the extreme injustice those mothers and children face, the first for being women and the latter for being underage.

Sadly, in this country, all of us subjects are treated as YOUNG GIRLS. Thank you for ensuring that as a Bahraini, I will always remain young, at least in the eyes of the authorities.

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February 10, 2009

Sign the Petition

I'm really curious to know why only 420 people have signed this petition against Internet censorship in Bahrain.

Does this mean that the remainder of the population is in agreement with the draconian law which bans and blocks and censors access to information without a court order - at the whim of some little child who can rest his behind on a chair and tell us what we can and cannot access online?

Are they fine with the rest of the world laughing at our country at a day and age when you cannot block out the sun, cannot say no to free speech and cannot, under any circumstances, block access to information and censor the world wide web?

And while many of you say that such a petition is useless, in a democracy, which we were the last time I checked, petitions are a legitimate and civil means of protest.

By signing the petition, all you do really is clear your conscience and say no to another injustice being committed against you, in your name.

And for those who have told me about how afraid they are to sign this petition, which they insist is useless, because adding their name to the cause will be taken against them at some point, some day, I would like to give you all a big hug and tell you that darkness is spooky, but if you all join hands, and try to draw back the curtains in one big push - maybe you will still be able to let the sun rays in.

Don't let them block the sun. Don't let them terrorise you. You have the right to access information and they shouldn't be allowed to bully you.

And if it really is a law to protect us, then let them stand up and SHUT DOWN the entire Internet -- because we want it all, or nothing at all.

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February 6, 2009

Say NO to Internet Censorship

Ever since realising that I will always be in LKG, never to be promoted to HKG, in my Wonderland, no matter what I do or who I become in life, I have decided to take things easy and sort of relax and let my silliness ooze out, drop by drop, a trickle at a time.

I would sometimes get angry no doubt .. but I would continue in my stride, knowing that nothing I think or hope for or aspire to do to usher in a real CHANGE would ever see the light of day - unless it was something silly, or stupid, or shallow - in keeping with traditions and maintaining the status quo in my Wonderland, of course.

The magic year 2002, signaled a lot of hope to many and I really am proud of myself for not dreaming and letting my stupid thoughts stray away - not one inch, not one centimeter, not one millimeter (hey .. don't push your luck... my math sucks and I can't think of a smaller measurement!)

I am proud to have envisioned, that in our little play group, things will continue to take one step forwards and a few backwards, no matter what grand announcements were made. And don't you ever forget that I was part of that history, and that my fingers typed away lie after lie and promise after promise, giving you one bold headline after the other of how beautiful our tomorrow would be. Poor children. Of course, I was lying and singing you a lullaby, waiting for you to start nodding your heads and hopefully slip away into a sleep you never wake up from. The problem is that you could only sleep in complete darkness, and those flickers of light (read hope) disrupted your sleep, and in your insomnia, you started to plot for grand schemes, ideas such as freedom, and liberty popped into your empty heads and sadistic thoughts inspired by democracy, the decadent West and its imperialistic dreams of destroying us all, to the last standing, sitting and sleeping Muslim Arab.

Dear children,

The time of dreams is over. Wake up and smell the tear gas! Invest in good running shoes and buy good quality helmets: the first will help run away from those monstrous crowds with batons and expired tear gas canisters, while the second will shield your eyes from the wrath of rubber bullets.

And if you have access to the Internet, please sign this petition here, before that too gets banned and your cries are subdued forever!

Sleep tight! You never know what tomorrow holds for you!

Facebook Continues To Become Ethically Worse On Their Downward Spiral of Lack of Morals and Dragging Facebook Users Down WIth Them

Dear Allies and folks working for a better world,

I got a call from my friend Lauren... [thanks Lauren ;) ] ...today who told me I should call in to the NPR show about Facebook. If you read the comments and feedback you will see that a lot of people were upset that NPR even aird that story, because it was like a giant commercial for the ever oppressive facebook. After reading the comments, someone mentioned the article posted on the Consumerist blog found below. I posted a couple of their article below.

If you want to read more about my very detailed report on the activities of Facebook, that oppress women worldwide, click for an article titled

Myspace and Facebook deleting breastfeeding photos. Facebook sinks beneath Myspace by helping with evictions of homeowners at Christmas... and Facebook users allow it to continue.

I also have another article at www.networkingisfun.net titled Creating Ethical Alternatives to Facebook and Myspace_So We Can Have The Freedom of Networking Without Promoting Multinational Corporations.

To Summarize, if you have a Facebook account, I recommend closing it.

Keep working for a better world everyone. :)

Love for the people,

-T. Love

The Consumerist wrote about Facebook's new Terms of Service (TOS) :
http://consumerist.com/5150175/facebooks-new-terms-of-service-we-can-do-anything-we-want-with-your-content-forever

Facebook's terms of service (TOS) used to say that when you closed an account on their network, any rights they claimed to the original content you uploaded would expire. Not anymore:

"You hereby grant Facebook an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, transferable, fully paid, worldwide license (with the right to sublicense) to (a) use, copy, publish, stream, store, retain, publicly perform or display, transmit, scan, reformat, modify, edit, frame, translate, excerpt, adapt, create derivative works and distribute (through multiple tiers), any User Content you (i) Post on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof subject only to your privacy settings or (ii) enable a user to Post, including by offering a Share Link on your website and (b) to use your name, likeness and image for any purpose, including commercial or advertising, each of (a) and (b) on or in connection with the Facebook Service or the promotion thereof."

How Does Facebook's T.O.S. Compare To Other Social Networking Sites?

If you've been following the Facebook story over the past couple of days, you know by now that Facebook has said that they are not claiming ownership of uploaded user content: "We certainly did not—and did not intend—to create any new right or interest for Facebook in users' data by issuing the new Terms." But blogger Amanda French decided to actually compare the fine print for several social networking sites—MySpace, Flickr, YouTube, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Picasa—and she concludes that "Facebook's claims to your content are extraordinarily grabby and arrogant." Read her side-by-side comparison here.

Another blogger, Kent Davidson, posted a rebuttal to Mark Zuckerberg's post that went up yesterday afternoon. Davidson writes, "As a co-founder of my own startup in the 90s (unfortunately, never anything close to the scale of the 500-lb gorilla that is Facebook), [Zuckerberg's] post is simply damage control." He then goes through Zuckerber's statement and makes several strong counterpoints.

Also, in case you haven't seen the Facebook group that formed to protest the new TOS, they've been asked by a Facebook representative to put together a list of questions they have over the new terms. They've done just that, and posted them publicly on their group page.

"Facebook terms of service compared with MySpace, Flickr, Picasa, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter" [AmandaFrench.net]
"Facebook: "We have never claimed ownership" of members' content" [The Industry Standard]