Obama vows help to soldiers, marks Iraq war end

FORT BLISS, Texas (AP) ? In an election-year reminder that he ended the war in Iraq, President Barack Obama vowed Friday to help soldiers, veterans and their families overcome economic and health care struggles as they return to the nation they have served.

Surrounded by a sea of men and women in fatigues, Obama saluted their service, but cautioned that a "tough fight" remains in Afghanistan even as the U.S. works to transfer security control to Afghan forces. He said the troops' return home now presents different challenges.

"After fighting for America you shouldn't have to fight for a job in America," Obama said. "To you and all you serve, we need to be there for you just like you were there for us."

Obama's visit Friday to the vast Fort Bliss Army post in El Paso came on the second anniversary of the end of combat operations in Iraq. While officially not a presidential campaign trip, the visit also served clear political aims by highlighting the end of one unpopular war and the wind-down of another and drawing attention to Obama's role as commander in chief.

Obama also visited Fort Bliss on Aug. 31, 2010, the day he announced the end of the U.S. combat role in Iraq.

"You left Iraq with honor, your heads held high," Obama said. "And today Iraq has a chance to forge its own destiny, and there are no American troops fighting and dying in Iraq."

Fort Bliss soldiers participated in the Iraqi invasion in 2003 and were among the last to serve in combat roles there. The post endured significant losses during the Iraq war and its troops are now being deployed in Afghanistan.

Before his remarks, Obama held a private roundtable meeting with service members and military families, including "Gold Star" families who lost relatives overseas.

His message to them, Obama said: "Your loved ones live on in the soul of our nation."

Obama acknowledged that for those who return, "coming home can be its own struggle." He cited the effects of post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injury.

He announced that he had, earlier Friday, signed an executive order directing federal agencies to expand their efforts at addressing the mental health needs of veterans, service members and their families and to increase measures aimed at preventing suicide.

"I know that you join me in saying to everyone who's ever worn the uniform, if you're hurting it's not a sign of weakness to seek help, it's a sign of strength," he said. "We are here to help you stay strong - Army strong."

Among the steps spelled out in the order is an increase in the number of Department of Veterans Affairs' counselors. It also orders the Pentagon and the Department of Health and Human Services to undertake a mental health study aimed at improving prevention, diagnoses and treatment of post-traumatic stress syndrome and traumatic brain injury.

Obama also renewed a call on Congress to pass measures in Obama's economic proposals specifically aimed at veterans, including one that provides tax credits to businesses that hire vets.

Veterans are a key voting bloc in the closely fought presidential race.

A Gallup tracking poll in August shows Republican Mitt Romney leads Obama, 55 percent to 38 percent among veterans. Exit polls conducted in 2008 showed voters who had served in the military preferred Republican John McCain over Obama by 10 percentage points.

At their party's convention this week in Tampa, Fla., Romney and other Republicans made repeated references to veterans. Romney broke away from the convention Wednesday to speak to the American Legion in Indianapolis.

Romney has attempted to blame Obama for threatened spending cuts in defense that will kick in if Congress doesn't come up with a deficit reduction plan by year's end. The sharp reductions in Pentagon spending and in other domestic programs were part of a deal Obama struck with Republican leaders last year and was designed to force Congress to find other means of reducing the deficit.

Obama on Friday reiterated his demands for Congress to act.

"Here's the thing, there's no reason those cuts should happen because folks in Congress ought to come together and agree on a responsible plan that reduces the deficit and keeps our military strong." He said.

Romney's campaign, however, said Obama's economic policies had made it more difficult for veterans and said more veterans would face unemployment if the defense cuts are enacted.

"As president, Mitt Romney will never play politics with our military's strength and will enact pro-growth policies to get veterans - and all Americans - back to work," said Romney campaign spokesman Ryan Williams.

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Follow Matthew Daly on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MatthewDalyWDC

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/obama-vows-help-soldiers-marks-iraq-war-end-195000270.html

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Jake Gyllenhaal, Michael Pena Hit The Streets For 'End Of Watch'

Pena describes the lengths he and his movie partner went to during filming in MTV News Fall Movie Preview.
By Kevin P. Sullivan


Jake Gyllenhaal in "End of Watch"
Photo: Open Road Films

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1692971/jake-gyllenhaal-michael-pena-end-of-watch.jhtml

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Darryl Worley Plans Tennessee River Run Weekend : MusicRow ...

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Darryl Worley

Darryl Worley?s?Tennessee River Run will take place in downtown Savannah from September 13-16, concluding with a?concert in downtown Savannah (9/15) with Worley,?David Lee Murphy,?John Anderson,?Badfinger,?Black Oak Arkansas, Zoe Z?(vocalist and cellist) and the 2012 Battle of the Bands winner.

The Cowboy Boots, Cocktail Dresses and Country Music Songwriters in the Round on Thursday, (9/13) on the lawn of Mayor, Bob Shutt and his wife?s historic Savannah home. The ?fourth and final in the 2012 series of Worley?s Songwriters? Series, sponsored by Bumpus Harley-Davidson in Collierville, Murfreesboro, and Jackson, the series has raised more than $113,000 to date.

The Tennessee River Run Golf Tournament takes place Friday, (9/14), at Shiloh Golf Course in Adamsville, and the Battle of the Bands finale will be that night at 8:00 pm at Freddy T?s in Pickwick. The bass tournament will begin on Saturday, (9/15) with a 5K run, a motorcycle poker run, a youth fishing tournament and an arts and crafts fair.

Every activity raises funds for?the Darryl Worley Foundation, which supports a variety of organizations, including St. Jude Children?s Research Hospital, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Le Bonheur Children?s Medical Center and the Darryl Worley Cancer Treatment Center.

Tickets available for $30 in advance, $35 at the gate. For more information, visit www.tnriverrun.org.

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Source: http://www.musicrow.com/2012/08/darryl-worley-plans-tennessee-river-run-weekend/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=darryl-worley-plans-tennessee-river-run-weekend

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SavingSense: RT @Savings_Nation: In one week: Fall Into Fashion Twitter Party with @savingsense @samicone @iamthatlady & @savewithshellie #saving ...

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Do Courts Expect You to Use Surveillance Cameras in Severe ...

case in pointWith employees protected by so many federal and state privacy laws these days, organizations are justifiably concerned about installing surveillance cameras in the workplace to identify employee misbehavior. A new court ruling last week addressed this tension between modern-day technology, privacy rights and your duty to expose the truth ?

Case in Point: Otto May, a pipefitter at an Illinois Chrysler plant, received nasty death threats based on his race and religion. Notes with messages such as ?Death to the Jews,? ?Time is short? and ?We will get you? appeared in his toolbox. He was subjected to derogatory graffiti, including ?Otto Cuban Jew die.? Much of the hate writings included a swastika and ?Heil Hitler? references.

In an effort to stop the harassment, the company?s HR chief and the head of union relations held two short meetings with about 60 plant employees to review its anti-harassment policy. The company also had an ?open door? policy for employees to file complaints. Still, May was exposed to more than 70 incidents over the next three years.

May gave the company a list of 19 co-workers that might have been the perpetrators. None were interviewed, and nothing changed. He suggested the company install a surveillance camera to catch the note- and graffiti-writers. The company said installing the cameras would be too complicated. The company did use swipe-card data to try to see who was in the plant when the harassment occurred.

Eventually, May sued the company, saying it tolerated a hostile work environment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. A jury awarded him $709,000 in compensatory damages and $3.5 million in punitive damages.

Chrysler appealed, arguing that it made a good faith effort to stop the harassment, that the award was ?grossly excessive? and, in fact, it may have been May himself who wrote the notes and drew the graffiti.

The appeals court upheld the $3.5 million verdict, saying, ?At some point, such an employer response sinks from negligent to reckless.? It noted the harassment lasted for more than three years and involved 70 instances. The company?s response, the court said, was ?shockingly thin? as measured against the severity of the harassment.

Regarding May?s request to install a surveillance camera to identify the harassers, the court seemed to favor the idea, saying installing a single camera focused on May?s toolbox would have been an ?important step.? (May v. Chrysler Grp. LLC,?7th Cir., 8/23/12)

3 Lessons Learned ? Without Going to Court

1. Meetings and open door policies are not enough. While having an open-door policy and holding policy review meetings is a good start, a company must also conduct a prompt and thorough investigation to stop misconduct.

2. Launch investigations ASAP. The court noted that the company did nothing for two weeks after first learning about the death threats toward May. The greater the threat, the faster the response needs to be. As a rule of thumb, it is a best practice to start an investigation within 24 hours of receiving a harassment complaint. If there?s an ?immediate? threat, this requires a more immediate response.

3. Safety trumps privacy. The court recognized that the technology of surveillance cameras exists. There now seems to be a clear expectation by judges and juries that companies should install surveillance cameras when it comes to safety issues in the workplace. That being said, companies will always benefit from having a technology policy that clearly states ?employees shall have no reasonable expectation of privacy in the workplace with regards to the premises, computers and all other company owned property.? In this case, the court noted, a camera needed to be installed in May?s work area to put a real end to the harassment. Too bad the employer pushed back, saying it was ?too complicated.? A federal employment lawsuit is even more complicated!

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5 Keys In Shaping Your Own Future

Our future is in our hands. It is never dependent on others, nor is it served on a silver platter. All we are given is basic life, and although all the things around us altogether have some influence over what we will become, what we make of ourselves is still a sum of what we decide to become.

Our future is shaped by a few traits and characteristics of our own. The sum of all these key elements makes us unique, and what actually shapes our future.

What are these key elements?

Attitude. Perhaps the most basic determinant of the type of future we will have, a person's attitude largely influences the way he thinks, he acts, he makes decisions. Even if one were born extremely talented, if he/she is constantly pessimistic, then there's a huge chance a person may not reach his full potential. Attitude encompasses one's ability to see the good behind every dark situation. Attitude makes one decide to get up after a fall, and not completely quit on one's dreams and goals. If you are a positive person, you view life as a constant string of opportunities, and not as an unending series of tests and challenges. A negative attitude makes one see the past better than it was, the present worse than it is, and the future less bright that it could be.

Education. There is a reason why our parents struggled to send us all to school. Whether we like it or not, the type and quality of education we acquire will be one of the biggest influences on our future. Doctors did not merely read medical books to be worthy of practice, and neither did lawyers. All people have a right to basic education (at least to learn to read and write), and all other subjects we are taught in school all are applicable in our daily lives (yes, Algebra included). To achieve more, you simply have to learn more. Yes, there is such a thing as "street education" - these are the practical basic survival stuff we learn by associating with society, but street education will never make architects out of dreamers. So no matter how tedious it is to acquire education, always realize that your future highly depends on your level of competency which you learn through basic lessons and teachings.

Experiences. Education is factual knowledge, while experiences are either the application of this knowledge, or that which influences our uniqueness from all other people who acquired the same basic education. Our experiences are our very own taste of real life. If a doctor who grew up in a sheltered home desires to work in a modern, top-of-the-line hospital, then a doctor who was raised in a poor society will most likely want to use his education helping the less fortunate people get well at non-exorbitant prices - maybe even for free (as in the case of doctors who live a life of missionary work). Experiences make us different from everyone else. It is the series of events that transpired in the past that greatly influences our present and our future.

Determination and Perseverance. Some people are dealt better cards than others. Some are given more challenges, or more stumbling blocks. But a person's level of determination and perseverance are the things that will help him see past what is painful and difficult. A lot of people do not amount to much in life. A major reason for this may be quitting before seeing success, or giving up when the going gets tough. Your future is fully determined by the amount of determination you have, and the perseverance to continue despite the difficulties.

Relationships and interaction with others. No man is an island, no man stands alone. We were put on earth together with millions of other unique beings because a huge part of who we are is influenced by our ability to co-exist with others. Life suddenly becomes exciting and meaningful when you have a love partner. You success as a person may largely be due to the relationships you have with your family. Your business success may also be dependent on your ability to interact with people who will have a profound effect in your career. Relationships greatly influence our future, because no person can ever survive alone, and be completely happy.

There are other elements which have an effect on how our future is shaped. But whatever they may be, our own future is always the sum of what we decide to be.

Michael Griffiths is the CEO and Founder of Secrets Of A Super Life, providing individuals with personal development strategies to increase their purpose, passion, happiness and life fulfilment. For your free life success pack please visit http://www.mysuperlifetoday.com

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/5-keys-in-shaping-your-own-future-290664

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Give Your Body A Kick-Start With These Excellent Nutrition Tips ...

Staying healthy and eating right is not rocket science. Here are a few suggestions for choosing better, more nutritious foods. You will learn there are a lot of easy things you can do in order to get the proper nutrition.

Choosing the right nuts can boost your nutrition. Almonds are a natural snack food with high fiber and great crunch. A good portion size is a small handful of the natural nuts.

TIP! Make sure that you get enough selenium from your diet. Selenium, a mineral, can help build up tissue elasticity, so that your skin ages more slowly.

Inventing new ways to prepare your meals can be of tremendous benefit to a nutritious diet. Instead of deep frying foods or using tons of grease when cooking, simply boil or steam the food. Doing this will eliminate a lot of fat off the foods. Selecting healthy methods of preparing food will ensure that one?s diet remains nutritious.

Staying motivated and dedicated to your weight loss program is crucial for success. These are two very important factors for success. You have to be motivated to stay on track. It may be useful to set aside a specific daily time slot for your workouts. Choose a good time of day, and also an exercise you like doing.

A friend can be a great support system while you adjust to a big change in your life, such as your new diet. Your ally may have already lost weight and can help push you, or it can be someone who seeks the same results as you do and will help you when you are feeling hopeless. Having a support person is an important part of effectively losing weight.

Wheat Flour

Try replacing some of the white flour in your baked goods with whole wheat flour to boost their nutritional content. Whole wheat flour not only has more nutrients and fiber than white flour, but it is also less processed.

Some low fat diet foods are high in sugar, and possibly also sugar substitutes, to replace the flavor lost in lowering the fat content. If they say they are low calorie, then you need to look at what is utilized in its place.

TIP! Add Greek yogurt to your diet because it is a good source of protein. Greek yogurt can act as a low-calorie replacement for sour cream in your favorite recipes, especially if you purchase the non-fat variety.

Liquid intake is an often overlooked factor in nutrition. Find out how many calories you consume each day just from beverages. There?s more than enough sugar and caffeine to derail your diet, so cut back on soda and coffee. Alcohol never helped anyone?s diet either, so try not to drink alcohol as much, and definitely not at night.

Corn Syrup

When looking for ways to reduce your sugar intake, you should focus on avoiding foods and beverages that are loaded with corn syrup. Condiments, such as ketchup, contain corn syrup, so take care to read the nutritional labels of all foodstuffs and products you are eating.

TIP! Any time you consider purchasing an item at the grocery store check its label. Just because something says that it has reduced fat doesn?t mean that it is full of healthy ingredients.

Vegetables of all types, even canned vegetables, are great for your health. They are packed with vitamins and minerals that keep you healthy and satisfied. You should eat several portions of vegetables every day, such as through a salad or vegetable-rich soup.

Dairy is important, but be judicious about what dairy you eat. for example, choose products that are low in fat (such as skim milk rather than whole milk). You can improve your joint and bone health by eating dairy, but you can also get a lot of fat from it.

When you begin using the above tips in your daily life, you?ll find it easier to make nutritious choices without having to think much about it. Once you get the basics, it gets easier to incorporate good nutrition into your daily life. Good health to you!

Just like taking in proper nutrients for our overall body fitness, it?s just as essential to analyze and improve our mental fitness in order to live a fulfilled and meaningful life. One of the simplest to do so is by taking the Mental Fitness Challenge (thanks to Orrin Woodward and LIFE). The pre-challenge survey contains critical questions regarding our mental strengths in 13 inter-connected areas and what we need to work on. The actual challenge is a 90-day program containing audio CDs, tracker sheets, books and very uniquely, the ability to invite others to give you something called 360 feedback where they share their honest (hopefully) observations of your strengths and weaknesses.

Source: http://food-irradiation.com/give-your-body-a-kick-start-with-these-excellent-nutrition-tips/

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Affiliate Marketing, Power Tools For Entrepreneurs

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UN appeals for $54 mln to help Syrians in Jordan

Jordan and the UN Children's Fund issued separate appeals on Monday urging financial help for a growing number of Syrian refugees flooding the country, including children who UNICEF says are "suffering most."

Jordan said it needs $429.7 million for long-term hosting Syrian refugees while UNICEF asked for $54 million in urgent funds.

The country is hosting around 200,000 Syrian refugees -- 17,000 are sheltered at the UN-run Zaatari refugee camp in the north and half of them are children.

But record numbers have fled across the border to Jordan to flee the deadly violence at home in recent weeks and both Jordan and the UN expect their numbers to increase.

"Hosting over 150,000 Syrians is expected to cost the country about $152 million annually to cover the increasing demand on basic services and other indirect costs, in addition to $56.7 million in the form of subsidies," the Jordanian government said in a statement.

"If Syrians stay for a longer time, then there is a need for $221 million for capital expenditures," it added.

The government also expected the refugee population in the UN-run Zaatari camp to expand dramatically and reach "maybe 80,000... over the next few months of 2012."

Jordan, a desert country that faces huge water shortages and no natural resources, said these funds are needed to provide the refugees food, water, education, health care and the adequate infrastructure.

Earlier UNICEF made a similar appeal saying funds are "urgently" needed "to meet the emergency health, protection, and water and sanitation needs of the growing numbers of Syrian refugee children and their families arriving in Jordan."

"We expect to have 70,000 people at Zaatari camp by the end of this year," said the UNICEF's Jordan representative Dominique Hyde.

"We must act now because it is children who continue to suffer most. So more funding is urgently required to scale-up our emergency response activities."

UNICEF said conditions at the seven-square-kilometre (two-square-mile) Zaatari camp are "harsh, with scorching temperatures, no natural shade, and frequent sandstorms that rip through the camp."

"There was a significant increase in the number of arrivals at the camp this last weekend with more than 2,000 people crossing the border in a single night," it said.

"This number is nearly 80 percent higher than the previous largest number of Syrians crossing into Jordan within a 24-hour period."

Last week the UN High Commissioner for Refugee said that people fleeing fresh fighting in southern Syria, including in Daraa, where the uprising broke out in March last year, are pouring into Jordan in record numbers.

Last Thursday night a record 2,200 crossed the border into Jordan, the UNHCR said. Jordan's Information Minister Samih Maaytah put the number at "a record 2,324 Syrian refugees."

Maaytah said their arrivals increases pressure on Jordan and urged the international community to step up assistance to the country.

UNICEF warned, meanwhile, of the threat of disease outbreaks as the number of Syrian children refugees arriving in Jordan increases.

"This week, UNICEF is partnering with the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organisation to immunise children under five, many of whom will have missed routine vaccinations due to the violence in Syria," it said.

"UNICEF is working with partners to establish a regular vaccination programme at the camp," it said.

Hyde said children fleeing violence in Syria are at risk of suffering long-term distress without appropriate care."

"In just a few months, we expect as many as 35,000 children will be at the camp, so we urgently need to provide additional safe places and other support to protect these children who have already suffered so much," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/un-appeals-54-mln-help-syrians-jordan-114433951.html

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