February is Black History Month
Today is
International Polar Bear Day
International Sword Swallowers Day
National Kahlua Day
National Strawberry Day
The NAACP was created on the hundredth anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
1) Guinness beer began with a 9000 year lease on an unused brewery in Dublin.
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2) In Renaissance times, a trombone was called a "Sackbut".
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3) Oscar Wilde once told U.S. customs that he had "nothing to declare except his genius."
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4) The Diving Bell Spider lives underwater by trapping an air bubble in its web, and using it to breathe.
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5) Once called the Fortunato Islands, the Canary Islands were named for the dogs living there. "Canis" is Latin for "dog".
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6) Swiss troops, especially Swiss Mercenaries or "Landsknecht" were so fearsome in the battlefield that they were only allowed to serve outside of Switzerland, specifically to guard The Pope. Often called the "World's Smallest Army", the Swiss Guard's only duty is protecting The Pontiff.
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7) via Alternet [this is just a small excerpt from an extensive article]
"As people’s concerns around food security grow, the idea of urban farming is beginning to increasingly gain ground. Take as prime example, the agrihood.
The agrihood is an attempt to invert the wasteful nature of the gated community by realizing the potential of underutilized land as a source for fresh produce. From vacant lots in low-income areas to former golf-course estates, the ideal of the agrihood is to transform these areas into functioning farms. Given the massive waste of water that goes into maintaining 18 holes, or the dire need facing communities cut off from fresh food supply, the agrihood represents a growing trend that embodies the collective need to reconsider many of our current urban frameworks.
The United States is presently leading the way, with agrihoods popping up across the country. This recent, positive trend marks the intersection of land made available following the 2008 real estate bubble and the growing interest in community-supported agriculture ventures."
[Turns out Johnson & Johnson has known for a while that there were potentially dangerous cancer-causing chemicals in their Baby Powder and another one of their products, "Shower to Shower". But, J & J are in an industry that is "self-regulated", and they weren't violating any law by not reporting their findings to any Government Agency, or posting warning labels on their products, because, by law, it wasn't required. I know, crazy, right?
The media has been well aware of this story for a long time, too, but Johnson & Johnson is a big advertiser, so everyone tried to ignore it for as long as they could. It was only when a $72 million lawsuit was awarded to the family of Jackie Fox ($10 million for actual damages, and $62 million in punitive damages), that then, the media begrudgingly began to report the story.]
via Mary Bowerman of USA Today
"After her cancer diagnosis, Fox, who lived in Birmingham, Alabama, joined dozens of women suing the company for what they said was a failure to inform consumers about the dangers of talc, which is found in baby powder.
During the trial, Fox’s lawyers claimed that the company was aware of the possible risk of using products containing talc for feminine hygienic use.
A 1997 internal memo from a company medical consultant said "anybody who denies” the risk of using hygienic talc and ovarian cancer is "denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary,” AP reported.
But “it’s hard to directly link ovarian cancer to talc," Eva Chalas, chief of Gynecologic Oncology and Director of Clinical Cancer Services at Winthrop-University Hospital, said in a phone interview.
"The information on talc powder came out many years ago when they saw talc incorporated in tissue of women with ovarian cancer," Chalas said. She said concerns over talc led many doctors to advise mothers to stop using talcum powder on their babies, and to discontinue use for feminine hygiene.
She said it's important to note that in the past talcum powder contained talc that contained asbestos, but modern powder does not. "Some cancer may have been from years ago," Chalas said.
Fox’s son, Marvin Salter of Jacksonville, Fla., took over the claim after his mother’s death in 2015, two years after her cancer diagnosis, AP reported.
An attorney for Fox said this is the first claim case to result in monetary compensation.
Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said the company stands by the talc used in all “global products” and they are “evaluating” their legal options.
Nora Freeman Engstrom, a Stanford University law professor, told AP the decision "doesn't bode well” for the company, which is facing 1,200 still-pending lawsuits.
The company is expected to appeal the verdict."
[This is exactly what is wrong with a society that worships money over humanity. Once again, we see corporations putting the company's bottom line over and above the safety and well-being of their customers.]
"The Vermont Senate has given preliminary approval to a measure which would legalize adult possession of up to an ounce of Cannabis. The bill, S.41, was passed on Wednesday, by a vote of 16-13. A final vote on the measure is expected on Thursday.
'Vermonters have been yearning for leadership on this issue, and the Senate is really stepping up and demonstrating it,' said Matt Simon, the Montpelier-based New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project. 'The senators did not arrive at this vote lightly. They engaged in an exceptionally deliberative process, and like most of their constituents, they have arrived at the conclusion that it’s time to end prohibition and regulate marijuana.'
On Monday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill with a vote of 4-3. The bill had been previously approved by the Judiciary and Finance committees.
In a statement issued after the vote, Governor Peter Shumlin called it, 'a big moment for Vermont.' By creating a legal market, Shumlin hopes to keep cannabis out of the hands of minors, and use the tax revenue to boost drug prevention programs.
Shumlin estimates that over 80,000 of his constituents have used cannabis in the past year. 'That’s why I will work with you to craft the right bill that thoughtfully and carefully eliminates the era of prohibition that is currently failing us so miserably,' he said.
If the bill is ultimately approved, rulemaking would not begin until the summer, and the new law would not take effect until January 2018."
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The California Democratic Party Convention is taking place this weekend! Damn! I just found out today, or I would have posted about it sooner! Sorry about that! Here's an article about it:
"The California Democratic Party will hold its annual gathering this weekend in San Jose, California. The event typically draws the elite political figures from the state, but with this being an election year; all three presidential candidates are expected to attend.
The Brownie Mary Democratic Club, California’s first chartered political club to make cannabis policy the central tenet of its platform, has announced that they’ll offer a hospitality suite for all convention-goers’ pleasure. In addition to food and drink, the suite will feature live performances from the cast of “Mary Jane, The Musical.”
The group hopes to remain at the forefront of California’s push to legalize cannabis in 2016. In addition to the presidential candidates in attendance, California Attorney General Kamala Harris, and Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez will be present. There will also be over 3,000 delegates, and another 1,000 attendees consisting of various state officials, influential businesses, organizations and activists.
In addition to hosting the hospitality suite, the group will also be present on the convention floor. They will be interacting with attendees at their double-sized booth, where they hope to bring in younger voters and meet with elected officials.
The group will hold their semi-annual meeting during the event. The California Democratic Party Convention will be held at the San Jose Convention Center, February 26-28."
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"I will build a great wall -- and nobody builds walls better than me, believe me -- and I'll build them very inexpensively. I will build a great, great wall on our southern border, and I will make Mexico pay for that wall. Mark my words." - Donald Trump
This remark prompted Former Mexican President, Vicente Fox to declare that there was no way Mexico would pay for that "fucking wall".
To which the Donald tweeted:
FMR PRES of Mexico, Vicente Fox horribly used the F word when discussing the wall. He must apologize! If I did that there would be a uproar!
To which Vicente Fox exclaimed to a shocked Maria Bartiromo on Fox Business News yesterday, "I am NOT going to pay for that FOCKING Wall, I am NOT! And he should KNOW that. And I am not going to apologize. On the CONTRARY!"
[Google it! It's hilarious! He leaned in closer to the camera, and opened his eyes super wide when he said the Curse Word! And Bartiromo's face! PRICELESS!]
12) TOMORROW IS OSCAR NIGHT
What's in those Oscars Gift Bags given to each Academy Award nominee, anyway?
The 2014 Gift Bag was valued at over $80,000. Last year's Gift Bag was worth $167,587. This year's goodies add up to $232,000 of luxury goods, including trips, plastic surgery, and even $275 worth of toilet paper!
2016 OCSCAR GIFT BAG SWAG
- Haze Dual Vaporizer ($250)
- Personalized M&Ms ($300)
- A 10,000-meal donation made in the nominee's name to an animal shelter or rescue of their choice ($6,300)
- A lifetime supply of Pu-erh Tea Nourishing Cream and Pu-erh Tea Cleansing Bar ($31,200)
- A year of Audi car rentals from Silvercar ($45,000)
- 10-day all-expenses-paid trip to Israel ($55,000)
- Tribute video services ($125)
- Caolion Ultimate Pore Care gift set ($134)
- Healing Saint Luminosity skin serum and hair follicle stimulant ($193)
- Private 15-day walking tour of Japan ($54,000)
- 10 personal training sessions with Alexis Seletzky ($900)
- Belldini gift certificate ($300)
- Chocolatines Drunken Fig Cake Bites ($35)
- Dandi Patch anti-perspirant solution ($21)
- Delovery gift basket ($2,000)
- Fit Club TV "Ultimate Fitness Package" ($6,250)
- Gleener on the Go ($12)
- 3-day stay at the Golden Door Resort & Spa in San Marcos, CA ($4,800)
- 3-night stay at the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria in Sorrento, Italy ($5,000)
- 3-night stay at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Lake Como, Italy ($5,000)
- Greenhill Blanc de Blancs wine ($39)
- Hydroxycut Gummies ($20)
- 3 fitness training sessions with Jay Cardiello ($1,400)
- Joseph's Toiletries toilet paper ($275)
- Sterling silver necklace ($150)
- El Silencio Mezcal ($75)
- Mission1 protein bar ($6) [Ha ha! One lousy protein bar? Gimme a break@!]
- Nuelle Fiera arouser for her ($250)
- Phantom Glass screen protector ($50-60)
- Purely Inspired Organic Protein ($20)
- Rouge Maple culinary products ($99)
- Sedone Lace makeup brush set ($110)
- Steamist spa system ($5,060)
- Sundial powder coating ($500)
- Blow dryers and flat irons ($250)
- Vampire Breast Lift ($1,900)
- 740 Park plastic surgery ($5,530)
[Now that I see what's on there, I'm not so impressed. Seems like a lot of folks donated "Gift Certificates" in an attempt to get Free Publicity, and they're banking on not too many nominees actually taking them up on their offer. Aside from the trips, there's not much that would interest me….well maybe a "Vampire Breast Lift" for $1900! NOT!!]
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*NOTE* - Please understand that I do not claim to be a “journalist”. I am only passing on bits of information, which others have researched, that drift through my awareness, on any given day. I watch, read and listen to any number of different news and entertainment sources, and it’s more than anyone could possibly intake and retain in a day, so I created this little daily “cheat sheet” for myself, so that I could remember all these oddball facts. Then I decided to share these tidbits, and thus was born the Daily TILT. I do this for fun. I hope you enjoy it.
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[Snarky comments by me are usually in brackets like this].
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**NOTE: I purposely do not include links or photos in the TILT. The idea is to not have one story be highlighted above all the others. And sometimes links can be stressful. I, myself, sometimes get conflicted when presented with too many choices, so I thought I'd save you the trouble of having to make any of those types of decisions for a few minutes, while you read the Photo and Link-Free TILT!
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***My Daily Sources are usually one of the following: Democracy Now, The Daily Kos, Thom Hartmann, care2, Mother Jones, David Pakman, Ring of Fire, Jim Hightower, Alternet, Bill Press, Wired UK, John Fugelsang, Lee Camp, Bill Maher, The Huffington Post, The Daily Show, TYT Network, todayifoundout, Truthout, DIGG, Think Progress, Politico, Salon, Star Kelley, Friends of the Earth, Talk Media News, NRDC, Pirate Television, The Upworthiest, The Chase, The View, Soul Pancake, The Petition Site, Bioneers, TechKnow, The Daily Beast, PPP, YouTube and occasionally, MSNBC.
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