Starbucks CEO Says No More Campaign Money & I Agree

posted by Heather Murphy-Raines August 17, 2011 at 12:06 PM in In The News

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I would think it would be difficult to find anyone happy with politicians in DC, no matter their politics. The country is fed up with both President Obama and Congress. I'm fed up with them. And now? Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz is fed up with Washington, too.

Schultz is so done with them, in fact, that he's encouraging people not to give political donations. In other words, instead of talking about your dissatisfaction, put your money with your mouth is -- or rather don't put your money anywhere near Washington, no matter the candidate.

Cut them off. Close those wallets. Hit 'em where it hurts.

According to Schultz, money is the way to get change from political leaders who have "chosen to put partisan and ideological purity over the well being of the people." He told CNNMoney: "All it seems people are interested in is re-election. And that re-election -- the lifeblood of it is fundraising."

Op-Ed

George Lopez Will Leave USA if Palin Is Elected (VIDEO)

posted by Heather Murphy-Raines July 28, 2011 at 2:09 PM in In The News

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Leave already ... m'kay?Yep, another celebrity has said he will take his toys and go home if he does not like whomever the country elects. Sounds really mature, eh?

I'm a fiscally conservative mother of three, so President Obama would not have been my choice. However, never, ever did it occur to me to LEAVE the country I love, the country of my forefathers, just because my candidate did not win.

That type of partisanship disgusts me.

Watching George Lopez tell Piers Morgan he will LEAVE America if Sarah Palin wins just lost him a fan.

Op-Ed

Bill Gates Wants You to Build Him a New Toilet

posted by Heather Murphy-Raines July 21, 2011 at 11:25 PM in In The News

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Commodes aren't something I think much about, unless I can't find one when I -- or one of my kiddos -- need it most. So I was shocked to learn that two-thirds of the world's population doesn't even have access to toilets. Worse? One and a half million children die every year because of diarrhea spread due to the same reason. Truly horrific. Can you imagine losing a child due to lack of toilets?

Enter the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which has launched a challenge to reinvent the porcelain thrones of today to make them more accessible to the rest of the world.

You won't believe what's being proposed so far ...

Op-Ed

It Takes a Tough Mom to Raise a Soldier

posted by Heather Murphy-Raines July 13, 2011 at 8:45 PM in In The News

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My Then Baby Boy Dressing Up Like His DaddySergeant 1st Class Leroy Arthur Petry is the second living recipient of the Medal of Honor from the Iraq and Afghan wars. His story is the stuff of legends and epic movies. Shot in both legs, he seized an enemy grenade to save fellow rangers in harm's way. Having lost his right hand, he applied a tourniquet, and continued to give out orders.

Having proudly served my country in the reserves, with a husband who also served active duty attached to a field infantry unit in the Sinai, my heart bursts at such valor in such an exemplary soldier.

As a former soldier, I feel extreme gratitude for his service and sacrifice, but as a mother, one of my biggest fears would be if my own sons and daughter were to ever be called upon to make a similar sacrifice.

Call me a hypocrite, but how do military moms do it?

Op-Ed

Doctor Who Prescribed Watermelon Is a Scary Warning to Us All

posted by Heather Murphy-Raines July 8, 2011 at 9:24 AM in In The News

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Open up and take your watermelon??When was the last time you went into the doctor's office with a serious disease and he told you all could be cured with watermelon and hot tubs?

{eyebrow raise}

No, that never happened to you? Me neither, but just the thought of such quackery raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

Don't get me wrong. Alternative medicine has its merits when done under the trained, skilled hands of medical professionals. However, when the quack diagnosing you has no medical license, failed medical exams, and oh yes, your mother died under his care after he claimed she had Lyme disease rather than MS, don't you think just maybe you should seek a second opinion?

Let's see what lessons we can learn from this horrific story of the fake doctor who prescribed watermelons and hot tubs as a cure for a serious disease ...